When the Black Moon Rises - Chapter 163
Chapter 163
It was a dragon.
A magnificent, crimson dragon, its scales shimmering in the sunlight reflecting off the lake, was right there before their eyes.
Waves of spiritual light rippled around its scales like heat haze, and tiny particles of light, like scattered stardust, twinkled amidst the crimson aura.
A breathtakingly harmonious blend of colors, like the twilight sky, enveloped the dragon's body.
“Oh my god…”
It was a truly divine and majestic dragon, perfect in every way.
The energy emanating from the dragon was different from the Ju Clan’s spiritual power they were familiar with.
It wasn't as aggressive, but softer, its color lighter.
Yet, the immense and powerful aura was unmistakable.
A faint gasp escaped someone's lips. “How… a real dragon…”
It was at that moment.
Baek Manyong darted forward like an arrow and prostrated himself before the giant crimson dragon.
“Incredible… Lady of the House… Our Lady of the House…” His eyes shining with awe, he stammered, “Even if a thousand master craftsmen spent their lives carving the rarest jade, could they create such blinding, breathtaking beauty? Words cannot express my admiration… Such noble presence… such elegance, recognizable even from a thousand miles away… whether viewed from the front, the back, or while doing a cartwheel, there’s no doubt that you are the Lady of the House of the Baek Clan, and I, Baek Manyong, pledge my eternal loyalty to you, even after a thousand, ten thousand, nay, a hundred million years—”
“…!”
As Baek Manyong continued his fervent praise, the Clan Heads and Ju Myoungyoon, who had been momentarily stunned, snapped out of their daze, their gazes sharpening.
“Baek Clan Chancellor, I warned you to watch your tongue,” Ju Myoungyoon said, his voice low and menacing. “What are you talking about?! Calling my unmarried daughter ‘Lady of the House’ repeatedly! Are you out of your mind?!”
The Cheon Clan Head, cutting him off, also raised his voice, “Indeed! Calling an unmarried girl ‘Lady of the House’! Are you insane?! And the Baek Clan’s prestige? Does this child belong to the Baek Clan? What nonsense are you spouting?!”
Ju Myoungyoon, feeling emboldened by the Cheon Clan Head’s support, glared at Baek Manyong. “That’s right! My unmarried daughter is a Ju, and yet you keep calling her—”
“Whether viewed from the front or the back, she’s a Baek?! Are you blind?! Even while cartwheeling, that's clearly the aura of the Cheon Clan! Indeed! How could such a beautiful and elegant spiritual power be anything but the golden light of the Cheon Clan?! She is truly a child of the Cheon Clan!”
“…What?” Just as the dumbfounded Ju Myoungyoon was about to retort, the Jang Clan Head interjected, his eyes narrowed, “What are you talking about?! Look closely at her spiritual power! Can’t you see the unmistakable blue waves of the Jang Clan mixed within? How could the red spiritual power of the Ju Clan and the golden spiritual power of the Cheon Clan create such a majestic and mystical crimson hue?!”
The Jang Clan Head declared confidently, as if they were blind if they couldn’t see it, “The blood of the Jang Clan, which flowed through her ancestors, has manifested itself in her! Without the blue spiritual power of our Jang Clan, such a captivating crimson aura could never exist!”
“How can you say such absurd things, just because you covet the power of a Divine Beast?!”
The Clan Heads shouted over each other, each insisting that they were right.
Baek Manyong, watching the scene with an amused smile, his hands on his hips, simply said, “Say what you will. She’s our Lady of the House. Haha.”
The Clan Heads, who had been arguing all the way back to the meeting room, couldn’t hide their excitement.
Their faces were flushed, their voices animated.
The atmosphere had completely changed.
Instead of worrying about the Ju Clan’s attack, they were now laughing, speculating about how the Yeo Clan Head would react when he returned.
Just then, Sehwa, having changed into dry clothes and dried her hair with her spiritual power, quietly entered the room.
As usual, she had merely made her presence known, intending to listen to their discussion from the sidelines, when…
“What! Why are you standing there?”
“…Pardon?”
“Ahem.”
The Cheon Clan Head, realizing he had spoken too informally, cleared his throat and corrected himself, “I apologize for my informality earlier, young lady. I just felt close to you because you resemble Sua so much. Please don't mind it.”
“Please, there’s no need to be so formal,” Sehwa replied politely. “As you said, Clan Head Cheon, you’ve known my mother since she was a child, you’re like an uncle to me. I’m honored that you’re speaking so formally.”
“That’s right! Of course! I’m your uncle!” The Cheon Clan Head’s face flushed, and a wide smile spread across his face. “As expected of Sua’s daughter! You’re truly exceptional! I made a good match for Sua. The extraordinary talent and wisdom of the Cheon Clan bloodline are clearly visible in you.”
“…What?”
“Ju Sehwa? How can such a wise, capable, and perfect descendant of the Cheon Clan bear the Ju name? From now on, you should be called Cheon Sehwa.”
“Clan Head Cheon, what are you talking about? I’m her father! Mystics traditionally take their father’s surname! How can you change my daughter’s name as you please?!”
“You can see for yourself! Does she possess the spiritual power of the Ju Clan? She’s clearly inherited the Cheon Clan’s spiritual power!”
“Clan Head Cheon! Please, my daughter—”
“Alright, alright, I understand. Then we’ll call her Ju Cheon Sehwa. Don’t worry too much. And who knows, I haven't chosen my successor yet. Perhaps she’ll become the next Clan Head of the Cheon Clan after I die.”
“What?”
Just as the dumbfounded Ju Myoungyoon was about to retort, Baek Manyong interjected, “Oh dear, Clan Head Cheon, what are you saying? She’s the Lady of the House of the Baek Clan! Then it should be Baek first! Baek Ju Cheon Sehwa! If she becomes the Young Lord, it would be Young Lord Baek Ju Cheon, and if she becomes the Clan Head of the Cheon Clan, it would be Clan Head Baek Ju Cheon!”
“N-No, wait!”
“The Chancellor makes a good point! But how can you exclude the Jang Clan?! Can’t you see the blue waves of the Jang Clan flowing through her spiritual power?! It can’t be Baek Ju Cheon, it has to be Baek Ju Cheon Jang!”
“There’s not a trace of the Jang Clan in her! And Baek? How can you put Baek first when they’re not even married?! No, it has to be Ju Cheon! Ju Cheon!”
As the Clan Heads bickered, Sehwa sat down on a chair in the corner of the room.
Her throat felt dry at the thought of being called Young Lord Baek Ju Cheon Jang, so she looked for some tea.
There was a teapot and a cup nearby.
As she poured the tea, steam rising from the hot liquid…
“No! You can’t!” The Cheon Clan Head rushed over and stopped her. “You can’t drink it while it’s so hot! You’ll burn your tongue!”
“…I drank it like this before.”
“I wasn’t paying attention earlier. I apologize.”
“Clan Head Cheon, you should be honest and say you didn't care about her before, and now the situation has changed.”
“No, what are you—?”
As the commotion showed no signs of abating, Sehwa, sighing, considered excusing herself, when a calm, low voice cut through the noise.
“That’s enough.”
Baek Giha didn’t say anything more.
But as they met his unwavering gaze, the Cheon and Jang Clan Heads quickly calmed down.
“…Ahem.”
“…Hmm.”
Baek Giha continued, seeing that they had lowered their voices, “There’s only one thing we need to discuss now. How we should deal with the Ju Clan, now that the Yeo Clan has suffered such a devastating attack, not just a minor skirmish.”
“The Yeo Clan betrayed us. It’s their own fault that their territory was destroyed after they tried to negotiate with the Ju Clan. Why should we care?”
“It’s not that simple. If the Ju Clan attacked after we publicly announced the Yeo Clan’s betrayal, it would be different, but as it stands, it looks like the Ju Clan is targeting the Six Clans. If we reveal the Yeo Clan’s betrayal now, it’ll just look like we’re abandoning them.”
“…That’s true.”
“And if we expel the Yeo Clan from the Six Clans alliance, I doubt their Clan Head will admit his betrayal.”
“And attending the inauguration ceremony is also a problem. He sent invitations to all the Clan Heads, right after attacking the Yeo Clan. How can we leave our territories and go to the Ju Clan now?”
“So, what do you suggest we do, Clan Head?” The Cheon Clan Head asked Baek Giha, lowering his voice. The Jang Clan Head, his eyes gleaming, added, “I will follow your decision, Clan Head.”
“I…” Baek Giha raised his chin, a sharp glint in his eyes. His breathtakingly handsome face hardened, and his red lips parted, his voice firm and resolute. “I intend to kill the Corrupt Dragon.” His dark eyes flashed. “I intend to kill the Mystic Ruler, who prolongs his life through forbidden means, defying the Heavenly Mandate and consuming the lives of others.” His voice, unlike its usual gentle tone, was filled with killing intent. “I will not forgive the other Ju Clan members who have abandoned their principles. And…” Baek Giha straightened his posture and walked towards Sehwa, his unwavering gaze fixed on her. “And I will ensure that a new era begins at my master's feet.”
“What? …Master?”
Just as the Clan Heads, confused by his sudden change in demeanor, were about to question him, he knelt before Sehwa and gently lifted her hand, pressing his lips against it.
“…!”
The old Clan Heads, who had never witnessed such a public display of affection, blushed.
Baek Giha, closing his eyes and inhaling her scent, turned to them and said, “So, let’s end this pointless discussion. The Baek Clan already belongs to this lady, so you might as well call her Baek Sehwa.”
“…!”
“Huh!”
😂😂
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