When the Black Moon Rises - Chapter 99
Chapter 99
At that moment, someone descended the stairs, their voice gentle and unaffected by the powerful spiritual energy-laden screams.
"Don't pressure the Mystic Ruler too much, my lord."
It was a woman in bright red clothing with an exposed neckline, her appearance bewitching. Her ebony hair, long enough to trail the ground, followed her white footsteps a moment later.
"...You've arrived."
She was the Fifth Madam among the eight known consorts of the Mystic Ruler.
"Being in the Mystic Ruler's position, there must be countless matters to attend to. With these unexpected situations arising one after another, he must have been quite overwhelmed."
- What is it?
"I came down to call the Mystic Ruler because I heard someone brought information about the young lady you're looking for."
Grrrr-
Something twisted threateningly, as if displeased by those words. Once again, the sharp metallic sound of chains clashing followed.
"What use is there in rebuking him further here? We should go out and work if we want to get our hands on that young lady as quickly as possible."
The massive yellow eyes continued to glare at the Mystic Ruler, gleaming dangerously.
However, when the woman approached with another smile, the eyes slowly closed their lids.
"Go quickly, Mystic Ruler. There's no time to waste if you want to find that young lady."
The Mystic Ruler nodded to the woman in gratitude.
"No need to thank me, but in return, prepare a new body for me too."
The woman complained while touching her eyes, saying that even this body was starting to show wrinkles.
"When I checked before, there was a girl named Ju Suyeon among those who came to pay respects. I believe she was Elder Jayun's daughter?"
A pretty face and smooth skin. A graceful figure. A young and beautiful body that hadn't even undergone exuviation yet.
A look of ecstasy spread across the woman's eyes as she imagined it.
"I think it's about time for exuviation. Why don't you summon her?"
The woman added, curving her red lips.
"So I can have her."
Though it was a brief time, the old man emerged from the secret room looking as exhausted as if he had spent a decade there.
The Chief Attendant, who had been pacing anxiously at the entrance, rushed over as soon as he saw the old man.
"Mystic Ruler, we have an urgent matter."
'What is this? I thought the Fifth Madam was just making an excuse to get me out, but was there really news that arrived?'
"What's all this fuss about?"
"The Baek Clan warriors, led by their Clan Head, have come requesting an audience."
At those words, the Mystic Ruler's eyebrows twisted fiercely in displeasure.
So what if those bastards came? Why rush over so urgently calling it a big matter?
"What is it? Did they come armed? Are they threatening to start another war?"
"That's not it."
"If that's not it, then there's no issue! Tell them I'm not meeting anyone right now!"
Despite the old man's angry appearance, which should have made him back away, the Chief Attendant still carefully opened his mouth while reading the situation.
"The Baek Clan Head says he must leave right now... Since it will take time to prepare the compensation items, he says he will take Elder Myoungyoon as both guarantor of the compensation and the person responsible for the disappearance case, confiscating all his assets."
"What?!! What nonsense is this!"
'No, could these crazy bastards be conspiring together!'
In the past, if the Baek Clan Head had made such a demand, he would have gladly handed over Ju Myoungyoon.
After all, those two had spent ten years killing each other's family and friends, and he believed their relationship could never be mended even if they were reborn.
But the current situation was completely different from then.
Wasn't Ju Myoungyoon's daughter supposed to be betrothed to Baek Giha? Even their interactions, from what he had observed, didn't seem as hostile or bad as he had thought.
Moreover, wasn't this the time when he needed to mobilize everything he had to find Ju Myoungyoon's daughter?
By now, even that stubborn warrior must have realized that it was he who had tried to take his daughter.
How could he know if all these words weren't just an attempt to spirit away his daughter?
Even if that wasn't the case, there was no way he could send away someone who could be a hostage when they hadn't found Ju Myoungyoon's daughter yet.
The old man, grinding his teeth and suppressing his malicious intentions, crossed through the estate's interior to enter the audience chamber.
Inside the audience chamber, Ju Myoungyoon and Baek Giha were already seated.
Their calm and peaceful expressions fueled the old man's anger, but he couldn't lose his composure in front of that young Divine Beast, so he deliberately concealed his rage.
The old man passed by, checking Ju Myoungyoon from the corner of his eye who sat in silence, and took the highest seat.
"Leaving so suddenly. This quickly."
And while announcing that you'll take the compensation items as you please?
Originally, he had planned to hand over Myoungyoon's daughter and send them back right away, but the situation had changed too much from then.
Kyunghyun, the son that the Six Clans wanted. That old warrior. And his daughter.
Now, he couldn't send any of them to the Baek Clan.
"No matter how urgent it is, this is too sudden and doesn't make sense."
To the Mystic Ruler's low voice, Baek Giha responded with a composed expression.
"The Elder, who is responsible for compensation, agreed to my decision to handle matters quickly and volunteered to help by offering all his assets. The discussion is concluded, so I don't understand why this doesn't make sense. I'm the one who's confused."
"If that's how the Baek Clan handles matters, fine, but in the Ju Clan, we cannot proceed with matters at will through discussion with just one Elder."
"How strange. It seems all compensation matters until now have been handled by this person alone."
Raising the corner of his mouth, he countered the Mystic Ruler's words.
"Or perhaps you'll provide the lacking resources yourself, Mystic Ruler? Well, that would be fine too. After all, you haven't taken responsibility for any part of the compensation yet, leaving it all to the Elders, haven't you? It's about time you took direct action."
"What, did you say?"
"If you could do that, would one Elder's assets matter? We'll leave immediately with whatever you provide right now. Ah, but that's impossible, isn't it? You have your dignity to maintain. Once you've said something isn't available, it must remain unavailable until the end. It would damage your prestige if you changed your mind midway."
"Baek Clan Head!"
The Mystic Ruler shouted at Baek Giha's insulting words.
"Why are you angry? What I said isn't wrong."
'This bastard.'
The old man desperately suppressed the rage boiling deep in his stomach while gripping the armrest.
This was all a ploy to provoke his anger.
Knowing this, he couldn't simply give in as the other wanted.
'Insects like clans! When the Ju Clan was at the height of its glory, they were just insects who couldn't even cross the threshold of our territory!'
How much longer must he endure such humiliation?
How could the heavens bestow a Divine Beast upon such a clan and subject him to this disgrace?
Ten years might have been just a brief moment in his long life, but these days of humiliation felt not like moments but like endless eons.
The desire to twist that irritating tiger cub's neck and cruelly tear him limb from limb boiled over.
"..."
But to do that, he needed to be patient now.
He couldn't start anything more until he properly handled the tasks entrusted by that person.
'For that, I need to find that woman first.'
"Baek Clan Head. Don't speak carelessly without knowing the circumstances. Moreover, this isn't a matter that Myoungyoon can decide on his own. I'll say it again, but that's not how the Ju Clan does things."
The old man's gaze now shifted to Ju Myoungyoon.
"Myoungyoon. With so many following you after defending the frontlines for long years, have you not considered how the Ju Clan's dignity will be trampled when word spreads that you, such a person, had all your assets confiscated and handed over to the Baek Clan?!"
Knowing that Ju Myoungyoon valued responsibility to the clan above all else, the old man tried to provoke that aspect of him.
"Was pleasing the Baek Clan so important to you?! How could you decide this alone without consulting me! You should have thought of the clan first! Even if the Baek Clan Head demanded compensation right now, you should have considered the clan's situation once more!"
"..."
However, contrary to the Mystic Ruler's intentions, Ju Myoungyoon merely closed his eyes steadily upon hearing those words.
'It's not the clan's dignity, but your dignity, Mystic Ruler.'
Ju Myoungyoon felt like laughing now, as it was clear that even the reason for blocking the journey to the Baek Clan was solely out of concern for the Mystic Ruler himself.
He had been blind. He himself.
In a calm voice, he opened his mouth.
"I don't understand why you're suddenly acting this way, Mystic Ruler. Wasn't I supposed to handle the compensation matters on my own anyway?"
"What?"
"Who is helping me? Have you forgotten how all the Ju Clan Elders unanimously withdrew, saying they had no strength left to take responsibility for anything anymore?"
Ju Myoungyoon reproached with his gaze as he stared directly at the old man's ancient face.
'Yes. Even you, Mystic Ruler, did the same.'
He didn't know what his own gaze looked like, but the Mystic Ruler, receiving the warrior's unwavering gaze, did.
"...!"
The Mystic Ruler trembled in genuine shock as he read the regret and faint contempt contained in that gaze.
'You dare.'
The old man's lips twitched with uncontrollable fury.
'You dare to...'
A mere hunting dog. A mere beast whose only purpose was to follow orders, daring to criticize its master?
And in front of that young Baek Giha, no less?
The old man's grip on the armrest was stronger than when he had faced Baek Giha.
He was barely able to resist the urge to immediately gouge out that insolent old warrior's eyes.
Barely controlling his trembling voice from anger, the Mystic Ruler began speaking in a coaxing tone.
"True. I admit I was somewhat negligent in those matters. But Myoungyoon, isn't it unfair for you alone to bear such a heavy burden in this matter? I'll immediately summon the Elders and-"
"My apologies, Mystic Ruler."
Baek Giha cut in, interrupting the old man's words.
"I understand how you'd like to handle this, but I cannot wait."
"Baek Clan Head, wait a moment. Can't you see I'm speaking with my Elder?"
"With all due respect, I keep saying this because it seems you're misunderstanding something."
Baek Giha's calm gaze turned sharp as he slowly rose to his feet.
"You should stop deluding yourself that you can make any decisions. What to take from here, when to take it."
His piercing voice shot through the Mystic Ruler's chest like an arrow.
"That is for me to decide, not you, Mystic Ruler. Do you understand?"
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