When the Black Moon Rises - Chapter 140
Chapter 140
Without even a moment to eat or unpack, Sehwa was led by Baek Giha to meet her mother.
The moment Sehwa mentioned that her brothers seemed to be in the Ju Clan, Cheon Sua’s legs gave way.
“Mother!”
“Madam!”
Ju Myoungyoon quickly caught her in his arms before she could collapse.
“It’s my fault. I should have let them escape earlier. Because I was captured…”
“Don’t be absurd. It’s their fault for capturing you, how can you blame yourself?”
“Father’s right. And we don’t know for sure what happened to my brothers, so please don’t worry too much yet.”
It was just pouches, after all.
She hadn’t intended to underestimate the situation and put her brothers in danger.
But she couldn’t overestimate it and walk into a trap either.
She had to make a sound judgment.
At Baek Giha’s summons, the heads of the Six Clans—Cheon, Jang, Kang, Jin, Yeo—along with their key members, quickly gathered in the meeting room.
“What kind of bullshit is this?!”
Slam!
The Cheon Clan Head slammed his hand on the table, roaring.
“He didn't even show his face when we were desperately searching for our missing children, and now he’s personally delivering invitations to his inauguration ceremony, worried that no one will attend?! And he’s even threatening us by holding our children hostage?!”
Cheon Sua was deeply worried about her sons, who were still missing.
The Cheon Clan Head, witnessing her distress, was also enraged by the news.
“How about we use this opportunity to attack the Ju Clan first?”
Everyone’s eyes lit up at the Cheon Clan Head's suggestion, except for the Jin and Yeo Clan Heads, who looked troubled.
The Yeo Clan Head spoke hesitantly, “But…”
“But?”
“N-Nothing.”
He averted his gaze anxiously and bit his lip.
The Jin Clan Head interjected, “Attack? That’s a bit much. We’ve been at war with the Ju Clan for a long time as the Six Clans’ alliance, but that was to resolve the disappearances, not to actually wage war against them.”
The Yeo Clan Head, as if echoing his thoughts, agreed, “That’s right. The Ju Clan has always been the ruler of the Mystic Realm. If we continue to show hostility towards them, wouldn’t we incur the wrath of the heavens…?”
The Jang Clan Head, taken aback by their words, asked, “What are you talking about? Are you saying that after hearing about the Corrupt Dragon and the Mystic Ruler taking over his son’s body?”
“We haven’t seen it ourselves, have we?”
“What?”
“That’s right. It’s just speculation. We haven’t witnessed it with our own eyes. It’s a bit much to wage war against the Ju Clan based on a baseless rumor…”
“Yes, and there’s no proof that the Mystic Ruler took over his son’s body.”
The Cheon Clan Head scoffed and retorted, “A baseless rumor? Then how do you explain the disaster in the Human Realm stopping?”
“I haven’t seen this ‘Corrupt Dragon’ myself, but if the Ju Clan’s Mystic Ruler was causing a disaster in the Human Realm, it’s because the humans disobeyed the mystics’ orders and acted insolently.”
“That’s right. The Ju Clan has always controlled the Human Realm through the outpost. They must have had a reason to punish them.”
“I can’t just ignore that. If someone committed a wrong, they should be punished individually. Why should countless innocent people be killed along with them? Are you saying they deserved it?”
“Well, it’s not exactly like that, but… anyway, if we’re going to attack the Ju Clan, our Jin Clan will not participate.”
“Our Yeo Clan as well. We’re only interested in finding the missing children, not in becoming enemies with the Ju Clan.”
With that declaration, the Jin and Yeo Clan Heads left the meeting room.
The faces of those remaining darkened.
The Jang Clan Head, his face lined with age, ran a hand over his face. “It was a mistake to share the information about the Corrupt Dragon.”
“…It seems so.”
Baek Manyong, who had been observing the argument quietly, asked, sensing the tense atmosphere, “Are you saying that their decision was influenced by the Corrupt Dragon?”
The old Clan Head nodded. “Yes. The only reason the Six Clans could raise their swords against the Ju Clan was because, besides the Baek Clan Head, no other Divine Beast had emerged.”
The Cheon Clan Head clicked his tongue and added, “The Ju Clan’s dragon, with its all-seeing eyes, has always maintained order in the Mystic Realm for generations.”
It wasn’t surprising that they were afraid, now that they knew a dragon, even if not a true Divine Beast, was still in the Ju Clan.
“So what should we do now?”
“…This is troublesome.”
“I doubt those who left the meeting room will easily join forces with us again. This is a problem.”
A heavy silence fell over the room.
Sehwa spoke cautiously, “If they want to leave, can’t we just let them?”
“It’s not that simple. Before we occupied the outpost, it might have been possible, but now, we’re practically at war with the Ju Clan.”
They had informed the heads of the Six Clans about the situation in the Human Realm, demonstrating their resolve to not let such things continue, but…
Those who hadn’t objected before were now backing down.
“How about making them promise not to join the Ju Clan and act as spies? Make them swear an oath on their spiritual power.”
“Hmm? But such oaths can’t be permanent. They can always find loopholes.”
“It’s to buy us time. Time to prove that the children have been killed and that the Corrupt Dragon isn't a Divine Beast, but a corrupted, cancerous being.”
“But how can we find proof? The delegation to the Ju Clan for the inauguration ceremony has to be kept small, considering the risk to their lives.”
“Remember what I said at the outpost? About bringing a gift to Ju Kyunghyun?”
“Yes.”
“I think I’ll be able to find proof after delivering that gift. So please leave this to… us…”
Sehwa, gesturing towards Baek Giha with a blush, met his warm gaze and her eyes reddened.
Baek Giha's ears also turned red at her words.
They smiled at each other, then quickly averted their gazes, noticing the stares of the others.
“S-So… ahem… we’ll go to the Ju Clan, just the two of us.”
Ju Myoungyoon, who had been glaring at their lovey-dovey display, finally relaxed his expression after Cheon Sua elbowed him and asked gruffly, “What kind of gift are you planning to give him?”
“Well, there’s only one gift that would make them lose their minds, isn’t there?”
“You know how sensitive we are about our older sister’s health.”
“Why would I pity them? I’m the most pitiful one in this Mystic Realm. I have to struggle and cling to life because of you!”
‘A hostage deserves a hostage in return, doesn’t it?’ Sehwa smiled gently and replied to Ju Myoungyoon, “I’ll kindly inform them that if they dare harm my brothers, I’ll flay their hostage alive and tear him limb from limb.”
Sehwa’s eyes gleamed menacingly as she tightened her grip on the pouches and smiled.
“You’ll be staying in this room.”
“Here? This room seems too extravagant.”
“What are you talking about? There’s nowhere in this residence that you can’t use. I would gladly give you an entire floor.”
Baek Giha added, as if it pained him that he couldn’t offer her more.
The servants and maids exchanged disbelieving glances.
‘…My goodness… can our Clan Head even smile like that? I thought he was incapable of showing any emotion.’
‘…To think he could look at someone with such tenderness…’
Their Clan Head was a just and righteous man, deserving of respect.
But perhaps because of the heavy burden he carried…
He always had a stern expression, an unyielding aura, as if he would rather break than bend.
But the Clan Head before them now seemed like a different person.
He was personally carrying the young lady’s luggage, without even letting the servants help…
He was choosing a room for her and escorting her there himself…
But they understood his feelings.
Her beauty, which made them stare blankly as if mesmerized, was beyond words.
Even the most renowned beauties in history would pale in comparison.
The maids gulped, imagining the immense power this young lady must possess, judging from her appearance.
The long rays of the setting sun streamed into the spacious room through the south-facing windows.
And the red glow of the sunset suited her so perfectly.
As if she were the embodiment of twilight, they felt the same awe and reverence they felt when gazing at the blazing sunset.
So, even though the Clan Head had offered her not just his own room, but the entire residence, no one seemed to fully register his words.
“…Bring…”
The servants, stunned and bewildered by their Clan Head’s transformation, didn't hear his command and asked, “P-Pardon? Y-Your… pardon, Clan Head. Please repeat your command.”
“I said, bring all the Spirit Orb chests from my room.”
“Gasp! C-Clan Head, please reconsider! We can’t touch those chests!”
There were several chests containing large Spirit Orbs in the Baek Clan Head’s room.
They had been left by generations of Baek Clan Divine Beasts and had never left the Clan Head’s room since they were created.
To ask them to bring those out…
And judging from the atmosphere, he was going to give them to this young lady…
‘Even if she’s the future Lady of the House, isn’t it too much to give her such precious Spirit Orbs before the wedding ceremony…?’
Seeing the servants’ hesitant expressions, Baek Giha's eyes narrowed dangerously.
“Then I’ll bring them myself. And from now on, this lady will reside permanently in the Baek Clan, and I will choose those who will serve her. The Baek Clan Chancellor will personally select them, and they will attend to her every need. Understood?”
The servants bowed their heads obediently at the Clan Head’s sharp tone and chilling gaze, a side of him they had never seen before.
But their curiosity was piqued.
Was she really going to be the Lady of the House?
If so, which clan was she from?
Which clan had produced such a dignified, beautiful, and powerful daughter?
So, the head servant, who had followed them in to attend to their needs, hesitantly spoke, “Clan Head, if you’ll permit me, knowing who our guest is would allow us to serve her better.”
“Are you saying you’ll treat her differently depending on who she is?”
“Of course not! I simply meant that if we knew why she was here, we could better anticipate her needs.”
“This lady is here—”
“I’ll explain.”
Sehwa stepped forward gracefully, stopping Baek Giha from speaking. “I’m Ju Sehwa, sent from the Ju Clan to investigate the disappearances.”
“!!”
“!!!”
The servants and maids in the room froze.
But Sehwa simply smiled brightly at them, as if she had expected this reaction.
“Yes. Now that you know my name and identity, will you help me?”
“......”
Her voice was as clear as a chime, her smile breathtaking.
But the servants and maids were still speechless.
What was she talking about?
Hadn’t a Ju Clan Elder already arrived to investigate the disappearances?
Why was this young lady claiming to be in charge of the investigation?
And the Clan Head…
‘…He’s looking at her with such a warm smile… such undisguised affection… and she’s a Ju…?’
“A-Are you saying… you’re a Ju Clan… young lady?”
“Yes.”
The atmosphere in the room instantly changed, their expressions hardening as they looked at her.
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