When the Black Moon Rises - Chapter 125
Chapter 125
“......”
Choi Deokmun, his face bewildered, accepted the large hawk that Baek Giha handed him.
His legs buckled momentarily under the weight of the hawk, which was too heavy even for a grown man to carry easily.
“......”
“......”
Still unable to shake off his stunned expression, Choi Deokmun looked at the sleeping hawk, then at Sehwa’s face.
Then back at the sleeping hawk, and then at Baek Giha’s face.
He looked back and forth between them before asking Sehwa in a flat voice, “…My… son?”
“…That’s… what happened.”
“......”
“......”
“…Really… my son?”
“…Probably… I think.”
Probably?
“We’ll have to wait until he wakes up…”
Unlike her usual confident self, Sehwa avoided Choi Deokmun's bewildered gaze.
“......”
Choi Deokmun couldn't believe what was happening.
A true form changing during exuviation was unheard of in the history of mystics. It was as impossible as a human suddenly turning into a fish.
So he stared at the giant hawk with its mystical feathers, speechless.
Its energy felt completely different from his son's, and its true form, revealed after exuviation, was unbelievable.
‘His true form was definitely a field mouse…’
Then where did this hawk come from?
‘…Did she… cheat on me? No, that’s impossible. She’s not that kind of person.’
Moreover, Choi Jangmyung had been the spitting image of him in his younger days.
But to suddenly become a hawk after exuviation…
‘His true form was clearly a field mouse. How could he transform from prey to predator…?’
Could there be anything more absurd?
The very idea of this hawk being his son was incomprehensible.
So Choi Deokmun looked at the hawk again, then at Sehwa, then back at the hawk, and then at Sehwa once more.
“So… when will this hawk wake up?”
“…That…”
That?
“…That…”
Sehwa averted her gaze again.
Then, as if feeling compelled to do something, she moved to take the hawk from Baek Giha.
But Baek Giha, standing guard beside her, intercepted and lifted the hawk before she could reach it.
“Why don’t we take him to his room? We can’t leave him like this, even though we don’t know when he’ll wake up.”
Choi Deokmun nodded and stood up, agreeing with him.
“This way, please.”
As he led them to his son’s room, the large, five-colored hawk in Baek Giha’s arms let out a soft snore.
Sehwa looked at Jung Chihwa with a worried expression.
“I still think it’s better for you to leave the capital…”
Sensing her concern, Chihwa chuckled.
“You’ve paved the way for me, so I have to do my part.”
Jung Chihwa's voice was noticeably brighter than yesterday.
“Will it really rain during the rain ritual?”
“Yes.”
Sehwa nodded, a slight smile playing on her lips.
Even after hearing the explanation, Chihwa couldn’t understand how Sehwa could guarantee that it would rain during the rain ritual.
But she knew one thing for sure.
How sincere her friend had been when she promised to help and protect her.
“But what is all this? Do we need all this for the rain ritual?”
“Yes.”
The backyard of the Minister of Rites’ residence was overflowing with goods. Not only had they brought in the grain and medicinal herbs Sehwa had requested, but there were also numerous boxes of Spirit Stones sent by Choi Deokmun.
“I’ll use the grain and herbs as you instructed, but what are these stones for?”
“......”
“What? Why won’t you tell me?”
“To keep you in suspense.”
“What?”
“Haha.”
As Sehwa laughed, Chihwa’s gaze softened.
‘How can she be so beautiful?’
Sehwa had said she would look different, and she had returned as if she belonged in a different world.
‘Perhaps she always belonged there… and I became her friend?’
“By the way, I’ll make the announcement, but will people really listen?”
“Even if not everyone, some will surely follow the instructions. If nothing happens after the rain ritual, they can just take the grain and herbs back, so there's no loss for them.”
“But there might be some backlash. How about we just go out secretly and…”
Chihwa trailed off, shaking her head.
If Sehwa said so, she should just trust her. She was her friend, after all.
Chihwa suppressed her curiosity.
Instead, she asked, “Alright, I won’t ask about the rain ritual or the stones. But tell me just this.”
“What?”
“Who was that handsome man next to you?”
“Handsome man?”
“Yes, the one who kept following you around. Isn’t he Young Master Baek?!”
She hadn't recognized him at first, as his appearance had changed so drastically.
But as she thought about why he looked so familiar, it suddenly clicked.
He was the Baek Clan Young Master they used to talk about when they were in school.
“Isn’t he the one? You used to hate the Baek Clan, what happened?”
“......”
“Hmm? Tell me. You said you hated the Baek Clan, that you preferred the Ju Clan.”
“…No, you’re mistaken.”
Sehwa’s cheeks flushed at her friend’s question.
Unlike earlier, her voice was small, and her lips were trembling, her face clearly that of someone in love. Chihwa barely suppressed a smile.
Just then, the man in question walked towards them.
Chihwa, a mischievous glint in her eyes, decided to tease her friend.
“What? Why is your voice so small? Do you still prefer the Ju Clan?”
“Stop it.”
“Tell me. Then I’ll stop asking. Who do you like more?”
“......”
“I’m serious. Tell me, and I’ll leave you alone.”
As she held Sehwa’s hand, preventing her from turning away, Sehwa sighed and answered softly, “Baek.”
“What? I can’t hear you.”
“......”
“Hmm? Who do you like more? Did you say Ju?”
“Oh, honestly. Baek. I like Baek more than Ju. Are you happy now? Yes, I like Baek more. I like Baek very, very much!”
Just then…
Clang!
A loud clattering sound made Sehwa turn around.
Baek Giha, his face flushed crimson, was standing there, staring at them, having dropped something.
Sehwa’s face froze as well.
Jung Chihwa, quickly covering her smiling lips, stood up and excused herself.
‘Young love…’
No matter how beautiful the couple, it was hard to watch a friend's love life unfold from up close.
The plaza in front of the palace gates was bustling from early morning.
The sounds of busy preparations drew people out of their houses, curious, even those who were usually too weak from hunger to move.
“What is it? What are they doing?”
“It looks like they’re building something.”
A voice clicked its tongue amidst the curious onlookers.
“What else would it be? It’s an altar. They’re probably going to hold another rain ritual.”
“Another rain ritual?”
“…The King must have lost his mind. If he has money to waste on such useless things, he should give it to me.”
“But they have to do something. They can’t just sit around and do nothing.”
“But do you think it’ll rain just because they hold a ritual? It seems like the heavens won’t be appeased until they’ve dried up the entire land.”
“That’s right. Even if it rains after the ritual, we have nothing left. How are we supposed to survive the year, let alone the long winter?”
“And who's going to perform this rain ritual? The Minister of Rites abandoned his family and fled the capital, afraid of being executed.”
So who were they going to make the scapegoat this time?
Having lost all hope in the rain rituals, people began to argue amongst themselves.
Just then, they noticed a commotion at the Minister of Rites’ residence, which they thought had been abandoned, and gradually lowered their voices.
What was going on?
The residence had been tightly shut, the inhabitants hiding inside, afraid of the officials’ arrival.
But today, not only were the gates wide open from early morning, but several servants were sweeping the courtyard and the street in front of the residence, busily preparing something.
‘What are they doing?’
A simple wooden table was set up, and servants, carrying heavy bags, placed them next to the table.
“Everyone, line up! We’ll be distributing grain and medicinal herbs, so line up!”
‘Grain?!’
‘Grain?!’
The people, who had been glaring at the residence as if questioning their audacity to open the gates, rushed forward with wide eyes.
They quickly formed a line in front of the table, glaring at anyone trying to cut in line.
“There’s plenty, so there’s no need to rush! Everyone will get a share, so don’t push! Line up slowly!”
Their gazes were fixed on the bags next to the table.
While there seemed to be a considerable amount, how many mouths were starving in the capital? And how many people were already lining up? It definitely wasn't enough for everyone.
There was no sign of more supplies being brought out from the residence.
‘They call that plenty?’
“Here you go.”
As the line formed, the servants at the table opened the bags.
They handed out a handful of grain and a small amount of medicinal herbs in small pouches.
“......”
They now understood why the servants had said there was plenty.
Many people were starving, so they should be grateful for anything.
‘…But still… is this all they’re giving?’
“However, please follow these instructions carefully.”
One of the servants distributing the pouches raised his voice, standing next to the guards protecting the bags. “First, do not eat this right away. Second, scatter it widely on your parched fields!”
“?”
“Third, there will be a rain ritual in two days. You must do this before the ritual begins!”
Both those receiving the pouches and those still in line were dumbfounded.
They had heard that the Minister of Rites had fled the capital in fear of the King’s wrath, but…
‘Have those remaining in his residence gone mad as well?’
Someone in line, unable to contain their disbelief, asked, “Scatter it on the parched fields? Are you telling us to feed the rats and birds?”
“We don’t even have enough to eat, and you’re telling us to feed the animals?!”
“What kind of trick are you trying to pull, giving us just a handful of rice?!”
“And a rain ritual? Do you think it’ll rain just because you hold one?!”
The murmurs turned into angry shouts.
They would take the handouts, since they were desperate, but…
They couldn’t steal the bags with the guards standing there.
Their faces turned red with anger, feeling insulted by the meager pouches.
It was then.
“If you do as we say, it will definitely rain during the rain ritual!”
The Minister’s daughter, who had been wandering the streets in disheveled clothes yesterday, now stepped forward, neatly dressed, and announced, “The heavens have promised to send rain during this rain ritual, so trust us and scatter this on your fields.”
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