When the Black Moon Rises - Chapter 136
Chapter 136
Sehwa, frowning, stepped forward.
“What’s the meaning of this?! Let go of each other this instant!”
“Oh, Lady of the House!”
“......”
Baek Manyong immediately released Choi Jangmyung’s hair upon seeing Sehwa, but…
“Ow, ow, ow! Let go! Are you still holding on?!”
Choi Jangmyung, seeing Sehwa, looked down apologetically…
But he didn’t loosen his grip on Baek Manyong’s hair.
“You too! Let go of him!”
“......”
“J-Jangmyung…”
Choi Deokmun also didn’t understand what was happening.
However, he knew that when his son got angry like this, there was always a good reason.
“Isn’t he here to check on your health? You shouldn’t act so rashly, no matter the reason.”
“......”
But Choi Jangmyung still didn't look up.
“Agh!”
Hearing Baek Manyong cry out, Sehwa ordered again, her voice sharper this time, “Let go of him.”
“......”
“I said, let go.”
Choi Jangmyung finally released his grip and slowly turned around.
Having transformed and returned to his human form, his appearance had changed drastically.
He had been considered handsome before, but now, even Choi Deokmun could only stare at his son in disbelief.
His body, enveloped in a radiant, colorful spiritual aura, and his strikingly handsome features momentarily stunned everyone who knew him.
Finally, Choi Jangmyung spoke, “This man insulted you, my lady.”
“??”
“That’s a preposterous accusation! Lady of the House, I would never do such a thing!”
Choi Deokmun, watching anxiously, bowed to Sehwa, “My lady, Jangmyung has never been angry at anyone before. There must be a reason why he’s acting like this. Could you please hear him out?”
Sehwa approached Choi Jangmyung and examined him.
Fortunately, he seemed to have completed his exuviation without any problems and was fully recovered.
Not noticing Choi Jangmyung’s reddening ears as she stood close to him, Sehwa asked calmly, “What happened?”
“He insulted you with words I can’t bear to repeat.”
“I would never do such a thing! I'm prepared to serve the Lady of the House, the future consort of the Baek Clan, with the utmost respect, just like our Clan Head! My loyalty is absolute—”
“I understand. So, what did he say?”
“......”
“......”
Sehwa had asked a simple question to understand the situation, but both of them remained silent.
Choi Jangmyung seemed reluctant to repeat the words.
And Baek Manyong was worried that the words might actually be insulting.
The silence continued.
Seeing that they weren’t going to speak, Baek Giha sighed and stepped forward.
But just then…
Another servant rushed in, panting, towards Choi Deokmun.
“M-Master!”
“What is it now?! What happened?!”
“W-We have another guest! Another esteemed guest, just like the ones who just arrived.”
“What?!”
Choi Deokmun, who had been about to tell them to send the guest away, was taken aback.
Another mystic? At his house? Who?
But this guest didn’t bother waiting at the door.
“Are you the one who became my daughter's vassal?”
Sehwa and Baek Giha were both surprised to see the person who appeared shortly after the servant.
“Father?”
“Father!”
It was Ju Myoungyoon.
“You’re saying the announcement for the Mystic Ruler’s inauguration has already been made?”
“Yes. That’s why I came to call you two back to the Mystic Realm.”
“It usually takes at least six months to prepare for such a ceremony. How is it happening so quickly…?”
“And I received an invitation to the inauguration ceremony.”
Ju Myoungyoon took out a letter from his sleeve and handed it to Sehwa.
“The Mystic Ruler sent you an invitation, Father?”
Sehwa quickly took the letter and unfolded it.
The content was simple. It contained congratulatory remarks on the new Mystic Ruler's ascension and the date of the ceremony.
Sehwa’s face contorted.
“What about my brothers? Did you find them? Are they being held by the Ju Clan?”
Ju Myoungyoon took the letter back from Sehwa and put it back in his sleeve.
“I couldn’t find any trace of them, even after searching the entire border area, so I’m also worried that they might be captured… That's why I'm thinking of attending this ceremony.”
“Father!” Sehwa exclaimed in surprise. “You know it’s a trap! Why would you go? Giha and I can continue searching for my brothers—”
Ju Myoungyoon shook his head and added, “Since we’ve occupied the outpost, the second war has already begun. I also believe my sons haven’t been captured yet, but I can’t be sure. So I need to confirm.”
“Father!”
“It’s my duty as their father to rescue them. And if the Clan Head really…” Ju Myoungyoon gritted his teeth, “…if he really prolonged his life by taking over the Young Lord’s body, then I’ll deal with him myself. As a member of the Ju Clan, I cannot allow our clan to fall so low.”
“No, Father, I understand how you feel, but please allow me and Sehwa to go.”
“What?”
“Excuse me?”
Both father and daughter stared at Baek Giha in surprise.
“But my daughter is currently considered missing by the Ju Clan. It would be too dangerous, and there would be no justification for her to appear with the Baek Clan Head.”
“…Therefore…” Baek Giha said, seizing the opportunity, his face serious, although he couldn’t meet Ju Myoungyoon’s gaze, his eyes downcast, “…if we hold a marriage ceremony between myself and your daughter, and she attends as the wife of the leader of the Six Clans’ alliance…”
“What?!”
“Of course, I believe the wedding ceremony should be grand and flawless, a magnificent and glorious event befitting our status, known throughout the Mystic Realm. And I will ensure that it is.”
…What was he talking about?
Ju Myoungyoon stared at Baek Giha, his eyes wide.
He could hear the words, but couldn't understand them.
“But given the current circumstances, wouldn't it be better to hold a small, private ceremony for now, and then hold a proper one later?”
“......”
“Of course, we will definitely hold another ceremony later! And it will be on a scale unlike any other, a grand and beautiful event that will be talked about for generations to come!”
“......”
“Please believe me. I’m serious.”
“......”
Ju Myoungyoon looked at Baek Giha, who was still spouting nonsense, then at his daughter.
His daughter, who should have been stopping Baek Giha, was silent, her cheeks flushed.
‘What is going on? Why am I listening to assurances about the scale of a wedding ceremony?’
Why was he talking about a wedding at a time like this, when they were discussing who would risk their life attending the new Mystic Ruler’s inauguration?
“…Putting aside the wedding, why are you saying my daughter should go with you?”
“Well, of course—”
“Of course?”
Under Ju Myoungyoon's gaze, Baek Giha struggled to find the words.
“…Well…”
He couldn’t just say he wanted to hold the wedding as soon as possible and announce to everyone that ‘this woman is my wife,’ not in front of Ju Myoungyoon.
And if he missed this opportunity, who knew when they would be able to get married?
Fortunately, both Ju Myoungyoon and Madam Cheon seemed to approve of him.
He had to get married quickly, before their opinions changed and the engagement was called off.
But he couldn’t say that his worries about the wedding were as strong as his concerns about the Mystic Ruler’s inauguration.
‘…The biggest obstacle is her brothers.’
He was worried about them, of course, but the last time he saw them, they had glared at him as if he were a scoundrel.
So he desperately wanted to get married before they returned to the Baek Clan.
“Well… ahem…”
Unable to voice his true thoughts, Baek Giha just cleared his throat repeatedly.
It was then.
“I’ll… I’ll explain.”
“??”
“??”
Sehwa, her cheeks flushed, her eyes downcast like Baek Giha, interjected. “Well…”
“Well?”
“We… that is… we care for each other deeply, so we want to be together, no matter what. If Clan Head Baek has to go to the Ju Clan, I want to be by his side, Father.”
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