When the Black Moon Rises - Chapter 90
Chapter 90
Sa Jungsan's face turned pale in an instant.
"W-what? That's impossible. They killed a hundred guards and the Mystic Ruler did nothing?"
"It's a complicated situation. Please look into the details yourself. Elder Myoungyoon blocked the gates to prevent things from escalating further, so please return for today."
Sa Jungsan narrowed his eyes and scrutinized Youngsun's face carefully.
"If you're trying to send me away with some trick, I won't let it slide. I know the merchants were coming and going this morning!"
"How could you say such a thing? Ask any member of the Ju clan in the territory and they'll tell you the same. The incident happened when all the Ju clan members had gathered."
Youngsun shook her head as if the memory still gave her chills.
"If you're still doubtful, call those merchants and ask them directly. We only bought grain. We couldn't neglect feeding the fifty-four Baek clan members, fearing another incident might occur."
At her insistence to ask anyone, Sa Jungsan's expression grew serious as well.
'W-what? Did I come here for nothing?'
He had come first as a representative to check on Myoungyoon's condition, but if it was true...
'If something happens after I came first, I might end up taking all the blame. Maybe I should go back and send someone else to prod Myoungyoon.'
Those crazy Baek clan members had already killed over a hundred people in Ju clan territory.
If even the Mystic Ruler couldn't stop them, perhaps the situation was truly dangerous.
'Why didn't this fool tell me such important information first?'
Having decided this wasn't something he should take the lead on, Sa Jungsan called someone from his entourage.
"Hyeongbo, come here."
At his gesture, a small boy with a limp quietly emerged from the group.
"I'll leave this one here. When Elder Myoungyoon has time, have him send me a letter through this boy. He'll know where to find me no matter where I am."
Youngsun, who was used to such arrangements, simply nodded without adding more words.
After all, suggesting they use their own people to deliver messages wouldn't work anyway.
"Very well. I'll relay your message to the Elder exactly as you've said."
"Good. Hyeongbo, you better do your job properly. Understand! Or this time I'll break that leg I spared last time."
"...Yes, sir."
Looking at the boy who answered in a submissive voice, Sa Jungsan clicked his tongue in disapproval.
Soon after, he dusted off his sleeves and left with his entourage.
Watching Sa Jungsan leave, Youngsun also let out a long sigh.
"Did he call you Hyeongbo? You need to be careful with your words inside and stay only where you're told. Understand?"
"Yes, miss."
"What's with 'miss'? Just call me Youngsun."
"Yes. Sister Youngsun."
As Youngsun quietly observed the boy before her, she noticed multiple marks that looked like bruises, though they had faded considerably.
'How cruel they are to these children of the branch families, while being branch families themselves.'
The boy never raised his gaze to look directly at Youngsun.
He didn't seem afraid of what she might do to him; rather, he seemed unwilling to risk causing even the slightest offense. This was typical behavior of those who had served for a long time.
"How old are you?"
"I turned sixteen this year."
"Sixteen? With that body?"
The skinny boy's build was so small she had thought he couldn't be more than twelve.
At that moment, his stomach growled loudly.
Though the boy hurriedly covered his stomach in embarrassment, the sound continued.
"Even though Elder Jungsan sent you, everyone who enters the estate must be investigated. I'll give you food first, but afterward, you must answer all my questions in detail without hiding anything. Understand?"
"Yes, Sister Youngsun."
"Good. Let's go."
Youngsun led Hyeongbo into the estate.
Still keeping his gaze lowered, the limping boy followed behind her, watching her feet as she walked ahead.
Baek Giha had spent the entire morning carefully choosing his words, trying to explain the past from his perspective.
He was extremely careful, thinking that if he tried to speak for Sehwa's position carelessly, things could go wrong.
After considering where to begin, he started from the day he first met Sehwa at the border.
Though it must have been hard to believe, Ju Myoungyoon never broke eye contact as he listened to what Baek Giha had to say.
As the light through the closed window gradually brightened, then turned yellow again, Ju Myoungyoon finally broke his long silence to ask a few questions.
"So, you're saying my daughter was tortured for five years before being killed?"
"About those five years, it's as I told you. I didn't see it directly, and when I found out later and tried to save her, I couldn't."
"And because Sehwa used your wish, you're no longer immortal?"
Instead of answering, Baek Giha infused his fingernail with spiritual power and deeply cut his wrist.
Ju Myoungyoon knew how quickly this Divine Beast's wounds healed from their encounters on the battlefield.
But now it was different.
The bleeding wouldn't stop easily, and only after he pressed hard on the wound and waited did it slowly begin to heal.
"..."
After confirming this, Ju Myoungyoon fell into another long silence.
Then, in a terrifyingly low voice, he asked one more thing.
"All those disappearances... were they really..."
The warrior's tightly clasped hands trembled slightly.
"Were they really... the Mystic Ruler's doing?"
Instead of answering, Baek Giha just quietly looked at him.
Because he knew that although it was phrased as a question, it wasn't really a question.
"You're saying he devoured those children... to take their spiritual power?"
The warrior closed his eyes, seeing the truth in Baek Giha's unwavering gaze.
A faint breath passed between his lips and stopped.
Baek Giha watched with somewhat pitying eyes as the warrior seemed to be holding something back for a while, his teeth clenched.
What would it feel like to be told that something you had devoted your entire life to wasn't worth it at all?
How would it feel to learn that the path you had rushed down, sometimes neglecting even family, had been leading to a cliff?
Baek Giha could understand why he might look as though he had given up on life when he stood up.
But when his closed eyes opened again, they held a fierce determination.
"Clan Head Baek. Perhaps you could grant me one request as well?"
"Please speak."
Baek Giha leaned forward, resting against the table.
"That is why I came here."
Sehwa sat in her room, watching the Divine Dragon's spirit orb.
The person with the strongest bloodline and spiritual power in the Ju clan.
This was the Mystic Ruler's condition.
'If I could only absorb this spirit orb, things would be simplest. I could take the Mystic Ruler's position where no one could oppose me.'
But if even the previous Mystic Rulers and the current power-hungry Mystic Ruler who desperately wanted to devour this spirit orb couldn't do it...
'What conditions are needed to absorb this?'
As she quietly gazed at the small red spirit orb, lost in speculation, someone carefully knocked on her door. It was Baek Giha.
"What happened? Why did you and Father talk for so long?"
"...Well. Elder Myoungyoon has called for you too, so let's go together for now."
"Me too?"
Father was calling for both him and her?
"Tell others not to disturb us, as this might take a while."
He even wanted them to say that?
'What could this be about?'
She felt both confused and worried for a moment.
Though she wanted to press him to explain what was going on first, she knew that if it was something he could tell her, he would have already given her a hint.
She had that much trust in him now.
"Alright."
Without asking further, Sehwa nodded and called for Youngmu and Youngchae.
After instructing them not to disturb them for a while, she followed behind Baek Giha.
Youngsun personally took care of the boy called Hyeongbo instead of leaving him with other servants.
She was careful because the child brought by a branch family elder might be acting as a spy.
Though she couldn't simply suspect him when the boy was so thin and clearly showed signs of abuse.
He was so hungry that he kept stuffing food into his mouth while his stomach continued to growl.
But even while watching this, Youngsun didn't let her guard down.
She thoroughly questioned him about his background, not even giving him time to finish his meal slowly.
After all, wasn't this a time when her young lady was planning something important?
Even a tiny hole would be enough to break a great dam.
One couldn't be too careful.
How long had he served Elder Jungsan? Were the bruises on his skin from punishment? If so, why was he punished? Did he have family?
To check if he might be lying, she would ask this question after that question. Then she would repeat questions she had asked before. It was a kind of test.
Sometimes the boy stumbled over sudden questions.
But even when she asked about very minor, strange things, or repeated questions after a long time, the same answers came out.
After the lengthy interrogation, Youngsun assigned him a place where he could stay without meeting anyone.
Though she saw nothing suspicious about him, it was one more precaution against any possible situations.
But before walking there, the boy hesitated greatly before turning to look at her and asking:
"Sister Youngsun. If it's alright, may I ask just one thing?"
"What is it?"
"Well, that..."
"You can speak comfortably. What is it?"
"...Why isn't Lady Yeonju staying here, and instead coming to Elder Jungsan's estate?"
"...What?!"
"I mean Lady Sa Yeonju... Ah. I absolutely don't dare to interfere in the affairs of such high-ranking people. I just wondered how long she would stay when she comes to Elder Jungsan's estate. That's all I was curious about..."
Youngsun barely managed to compose her surprised expression and calmly asked:
"Did Lady Yeonju send word to Elder Jungsan?"
"Yes. They were supposed to meet at Elder Myoungyoon's secret residence today."
Clear fear showed in the boy's downcast eyes.
"I always have to serve her when she comes. And if I make a mistake, she... she beats me so painfully..."
He said he had no complaints about whatever punishment she gave since it was the result of his improper work.
But if she knew about the secret residence, why didn't she just stay there, and why did she keep coming to Elder Jungsan's estate?
He was very curious about that but had nowhere to ask, so he was asking Sister Youngsun.
As the boy begged her not to scold him too harshly, Youngsun fixed him with a stern gaze and asked:
"Say it again. Lady Yeonju was supposed to meet Elder Jungsan at Elder Myoungyoon's secret residence today?"
Sa Yeonju knew all of Myoungyoon's secret residences.
And those residences now held countless amounts of grain, medicinal herbs, and spirit stones.
The very items that would be crucial for what her young lady was planning.
"You must speak accurately. If there's even a slight lie, I won't let you off easily either."
Frightened, Hyeongbo hurriedly answered:
"It, it's true! Why would I lie about such a thing? Elder Jungsan said that girl was being annoying, and Hyeongbo clearly...!"
The boy briefly froze before correcting himself and adding:
"I clearly heard it."
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