When the Black Moon Rises - Chapter 155
Chapter 155
Thud!
Everyone was startled by the sudden attack, but only the newcomers were truly surprised.
Those who had fallen into the chasm and returned seemed to understand what was happening without needing an explanation.
The Captain, jumping off his horse, twisted Elder Jaehyun's arm, who was groaning in pain from the fall, and tied him up tightly.
“…W-What… C-Captain! Elder! What’s the meaning of this?!”
Neither Baek Giha nor Baek Manyong had been informed about this, so they couldn’t grasp the situation immediately.
Just then, Sehwa dismounted.
Taking an arrow from one of the three sisters, she approached Elder Jaehyun, who was being held down by the Captain.
After scrutinizing him with a sharp gaze, she held the arrow by its fletching and used the tip to slice through his clothes.
Rip!
As the neatly cut fabric fell away, revealing what was beneath…
“!!”
“That’s…!”
Baek Giha and Baek Manyong’s eyes widened.
Baek Manyong rushed forward and ripped open the elder’s robe.
Rip—!
Layers of bandages were tightly wrapped around the elder’s chest, but beneath them, visible through the tear in his robe, was not a wound, but…
…a circular mark, clearly visible in the light.
The Mystic Ruler’s seal.
“You…” Baek Manyong’s face turned crimson as he grabbed Elder Jaehyun by the collar. “You bastard… you dare bear the Mystic Ruler’s seal, a Baek Clan elder?!”
“!”
The Captain, who had been looking on in surprise, was shocked by the words “Mystic Ruler’s seal.” “T-That’s the Mystic Ruler’s seal?”
Those who had been suspicious of Jae Munju's behavior finally understood.
“…It was the Ju Clan’s doing…”
Youngmoo, about to say something with a triumphant expression, was quickly silenced by her sisters.
“Haha, see? I told you, our lady is always ri—Mmmpph!”
An interrogation was immediately set up.
Elder Jaehyun and Jae Munju were brought before them, surrounded by Baek Clan warriors.
“Th-There… must be some misunderstanding… the Mystic Ruler’s seal? That’s… that’s impossible…”
“......”
“Why… why aren’t you saying anything?! Clan Head! Chancellor! If this isn't a misunderstanding, then I must have been framed!”
The middle-aged man pleaded, his gaze sweeping over the hostile faces surrounding him. “You all know how hard I’ve worked for the Baek Clan! How can you accuse me without even investigating?!”
Elder Jaehyun’s trembling voice was filled with indignation, as if he had been wrongly accused.
Jae Munju, having regained consciousness, also looked bewildered.
“I don’t understand what’s going on. You all know my past. I barely escaped the Ju Clan territory with my life, after being treated like a slave. I’ve been living in fear of being expelled from this paradise…”
Jae Munju burst into tears. “How can you not even give me a chance to explain? What did you do to me while I was unconscious that made you accuse me?!”
“You’re still saying that, even after I’ve kept all my promises?” Sehwa said, looking at Jae Munju, blinking slowly. “I followed your request and found the antidote on your person. Are you still claiming it’s a misunderstanding?”
“It is!” Elder Jaehyun interrupted Jae Munju.
“I might not know the exact details, but I can guess what happened! You’re taking revenge for the tea incident yesterday!”
Sehwa raised her hand to stop the three sisters, who were about to step forward.
Elder Jaehyun, his face contorted with rage, shouted at Sehwa, “As expected of a Ju Clan member, holding grudges forever! You have to eliminate anyone who displeases you, is that it?! How dare you persecute innocent people and sow discord among the loyal members of our clan?!”
“How dare you accuse our Lady of the House after showing up with the Mystic Ruler’s seal, you traitor?!” Baek Manyong’s face turned red with anger. “Alright! Let’s say there was a misunderstanding! But that was before the Mystic Ruler’s seal was found! Do you think any excuses or explanations matter now that a Baek Clan elder has been found bearing that seal?!”
“B-But…” One of the warriors following Elder Jaehyun asked hesitantly, “Chancellor, what exactly is the Mystic Ruler’s seal? What makes you so certain that our elder is the culprit?”
“It means he’s a slave who has pledged his loyalty to the Ju Clan’s Mystic Ruler.”
“…What?!”
Sehwa, after silencing the enraged Baek Manyong with a slight gesture, spoke calmly, “You’re Elder Jaehyun, I presume?”
“That’s right! You bitch! You think I’ll fall for your tricks—”
“I’m not interested in your resolve,” Sehwa interrupted him, leaning back casually. “Anyway, there’s something I want to share with everyone here. So listen closely, Elder.”
“What?! Clan Head! How can you just stand there and watch as this little girl acts as if she owns the place?! She knows nothing about the Baek Clan—”
“It was shortly after the war ended, a little over a month, less than two months. It was when you sent the official announcement to the Ju Clan to hold their Young Lord as a hostage.”
Sehwa’s voice, though not loud, was clear and unwavering, reaching everyone present.
“You must have been afraid of the Ju Clan retaliating after their defeat. But when you arrived at the Ju Clan, you were treated with the utmost respect.”
“…Th-That’s…”
“And you must have been shocked by the Ju Clan’s extravagant lifestyle. But there was something even more surprising. The next day, the Mystic Ruler summoned you for an audience.”
“......”
“He must have planted a seed of discord and branded you with his seal. So, tell me, what did he promise you? Did he offer you the position of Head Elder in exchange for eliminating Elder Simjung?”
“......”
“Or was it something else? Tell me, Elder, what is your family situation?”
Baek Manyong answered promptly, “He has a daughter of marriageable age.”
“Ah, I see. Did he promise to make your daughter his Lady of the House?”
“......”
Elder Jaehyun could only stare at her, his mouth opening and closing wordlessly.
How did she know all this?
She wasn’t the only one who noticed his expression.
The Captain, the Baek Clan warriors, the Chancellor, and the maids all understood what Elder Jaehyun was thinking.
The atmosphere in the interrogation room turned icy cold.
“N-No… you can’t believe her… you can’t believe what she’s saying…” Elder Jaehyun stammered, belatedly noticing their gazes, but no one was listening anymore.
His face paled even further.
“This is absurd…! I did visit the Ju Clan residence, but it was official business! I never even met the Mystic Ruler! Someone must have branded me with this seal—”
“Then remove it yourself,” Baek Manyong said in a low voice.
The Captain agreed, “Indeed. If you can remove it yourself, we’ll believe you.”
“N-No… you…”
Even Jae Munju stopped protesting and remained silent.
Elder Jaehyun’s gaze darted around, but no one was on his side.
Not the servants who resented the Ju Clan, not the warriors, not the Chancellor.
Even Baek Giha was staring at him coldly.
Elder Jaehyun’s face turned ashen. “W-What’s the big deal about a small mark like this?! Why are you all turning against me?!”
“Because you can’t remove it. Because you’ve already tried,” Sehwa added, a cruel smile playing on her lips, “and failed. You wouldn’t be hiding it under layers of bandages if you hadn’t tried countless times. But it didn’t work, did it? It’s not something you can remove.”
“Y-You… bitch… you think I’ll let you get away with—”
“Baek Kyungyoon!!”
Slam!
Baek Giha slammed his hand on the armrest, roaring, “Don’t test my patience any further! Do you think I can’t distinguish between the Mystic Ruler’s seal and a fake?!”
“!”
“You’ve had enough chances. Don’t expect any mercy from me if you continue to waste my time!!”
“C-Clan Head…”
“Speak! What did the Ju Clan’s Mystic Ruler promise you?! How much of our clan did you sell out?!”
“N-No, Clan Head! That’s not true!” Elder Jaehyun pleaded, his forehead pressed against the ground. “I would never betray our clan! You know how hard we fought against the Ju Clan to get where we are! So this mark… this mark… That night, when I visited the Ju Clan residence… the Mystic Ruler summoned me…”
Elder Jaehyun trailed off, clutching his chest. “…The Mystic Ruler… that night… in the audience chamber… the audience chamber…”
“Elder Jaehyun…”
As if a sudden realization had dawned upon him, his eyes widened in terror, and he crawled towards Baek Giha on his knees. “P-Please… spare me… Clan Head… p-please… spare… me…”
“…?!”
As Elder Jaehyun’s voice trailed off, Baek Manyong shouted, “Elder Jaehyun! You think you can buy time by—”
“N-No… this… this…”
Elder Jaehyun’s face, drenched in sweat, turned pale, then ashen.
The light faded from his eyes.
“Kuh…”
“?”
“Ugh… uh… huh…”
Clutching his stomach as if in sudden pain, Elder Jaehyun collapsed face down on the ground.
And then…
“!!”
“!”
A small mark was visible on his skin.
And from that small mark, a massive surge of spiritual power erupted.
The fractured spiritual power, like the roots of an ancient tree, instantly consumed Elder Jaehyun.
“Aaargh!”
Elder Jaehyun’s body convulsed, as if burning alive, his screams echoing through the room.
“Elder!”
“Elder Jaehyun!”
By the time Baek Giha reached out to him, Elder Jaehyun’s body, after one last agonizing scream, had vanished without a trace.
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