When the Black Moon Rises - Chapter 165
Chapter 165
“......”
“What?”
Both Sehwa, who had been staring intently at the First Consort, waiting for her to speak…
And Baek Giha, his eyes narrowed…
“…What do you…”
…were momentarily speechless.
How could she call the Corrupt Dragon her son, while sitting in the position of his consort?
“What are you talking about? How can you be his consort, then?”
“I’m not really his consort. That position is a mockery, created by him.”
The First Consort carefully considered what she could and couldn't reveal.
Then she pulled up her long sleeve.
A small, round mark was visible near her elbow.
“This mark has a restriction. It’s not that I don’t want to talk, it’s that I can’t.”
The mark was different from what they knew, but after seeing the Mystic Ruler’s seal, they recognized it for what it was.
“If I speak out of turn, I’ll never be able to die.”
“But you’re useless to me if you stay silent,” Sehwa tapped the table. “How do I know you’re not just using that as an excuse to hide something?”
“…There’s something called the Red Dragon’s Spirit Orb.”
“Red Dragon’s Spirit Orb?”
“It’s a small Spirit Orb embedded in the Mystic Ruler’s sword. You’ll know it when you see it.”
Sehwa recalled the Spirit Orb she had once possessed, the one that had been stolen by Seowol.
“Bring it to me. No, bring it here and take it. Then I’ll be able to speak freely, regardless of the restrictions, and you…” The First Consort met Sehwa’s sharp gaze and added, “…you’ll need it to kill the Corrupt Dragon.”
“Is she lying?”
“But it’s true that we’ll be in trouble if the Red Dragon’s Spirit Orb remains in the Mystic Ruler's possession. Even if he can’t use it, the Corrupt Dragon might.”
“…It’ll be much more difficult to rescue my brothers and retrieve the Spirit Orb…”
“......”
After a moment of thought, Baek Giha said, “Take your vassal with you.”
“Him? Why?”
“We were able to infiltrate the Ju Clan territory because we could bypass the barrier in our Divine Beast forms. In that sense, Choi Jangmyung, who's made of your spiritual power, might also be able to bypass it.”
Baek Giha nodded, as if convinced. “Perhaps his transformation into a bird of prey was in preparation for this. Tell him—”
“Clan Head.”
A warrior hurriedly approached them. “What is it?”
“The Yeo Clan Head has returned. He requests an urgent meeting with all the Clan Heads.”
“That's strange. Why did he come back? He would want to see the extent of the damage himself.”
A knowing smile touched Baek Giha’s lips. “He must have realized that if the attack was real, the Ju Clan has abandoned him. So he needs to make excuses to the Six Clans before they abandon him as well.”
As expected, the Yeo Clan Head’s face was ashen.
It was a strange sight.
No matter what the Yeo Clan Head said, the other Clan Heads simply stared at him in silence, waiting for Baek Giha.
The Yeo Clan Head, flustered, stammered, then averted his gaze, his face darkening.
“What brings you back, Clan Head Yeo? You should be in Seodong Province.” Baek Giha asked, his voice laced with concern, as if he hadn't heard anything from the messenger.
The Yeo Clan Head’s expression brightened slightly.
“Clan Head…”
“It seems like an urgent matter, so please tell us.”
“But… it seems not everyone is here yet…”
The Yeo Clan Head’s gaze wavered.
The Jin Clan Head, his only ally, wasn't present.
“…Where’s the Jin Clan Head?”
“Something came up. Anyway, why did you call for this urgent meeting?”
“Well…”
He wondered if he had said too much to the Jin Clan Head.
He hadn't told him everything, of course, but he was still worried.
“What's wrong? Is it something you can’t discuss without the Jin Clan Head?”
“No, it’s not that…”
“Then tell us. I’m also very curious about this urgent matter that made you return without even assessing the situation in Seodong Province.”
“!” The Yeo Clan Head, who had been glancing around nervously, looked up at Baek Giha’s words.
…He had been found out.
He bit his lip.
“…W-What happened to the… messenger…?”
“Is that important? I haven’t been paying attention, but he must be somewhere. Perhaps still in the Baek Clan, or he might have returned to the Yeo Clan.” Baek Giha added with a sly smile, “Or perhaps… he’s gone to the Ju Clan.”
“…!”
The Yeo Clan Head jumped down from his chair and knelt before the other Clan Heads.
“The Yeo Clan will be the vanguard.”
“What?”
“I made a mistake in my judgment. I was careless…”
The Yeo Clan Head bowed his head to the floor and pleaded, “Please forgive me, Clan Head. If you do, the Yeo Clan will be the vanguard of the Six Clans and fight against the Ju Clan with all our might.”
While the Baek Clan was the leader of the Six Clans, the Clan Heads were essentially equals.
So, the Yeo Clan Head’s actions showed how desperate he was.
The Cheon Clan Head sneered, “Vanguard? Can we even trust them? They might pretend to be the vanguard, then join the Ju Clan and attack us from behind when our main forces arrive.”
The Yeo Clan Head’s eyes flashed. “Clan Head Cheon, watch your words!”
“How dare you speak to me like that?! We all know you tried to negotiate with the Ju Clan’s Mystic Ruler to become their vassal clan!”
“!”
“Who knows, you might even be using this situation to prove your loyalty to the Ju Clan!”
“Clan Head Cheon, please… I…” The Yeo Clan Head quickly changed his tone and pleaded, “I just… I just want a chance to redeem myself. I can’t let my clan be annihilated because of my mistake…”
“......”
Seeing the Clan Heads’ silence, the Yeo Clan Head added, his eyes squeezed shut, “I’ll resign as Clan Head if you wish.”
“…!”
“So even if you can’t forgive me, please… don’t let the Yeo Clan be annihilated because of their incompetent Clan Head…”
“......”
As Baek Giha watched the Yeo Clan Head, his fists clenched so tightly that his knuckles were white…
Sehwa, who had been watching quietly, gently unfurled his fingers and spoke, interrupting the other Clan Heads. “That’s funny. If you’re resigning, then resign. Why add the condition ‘if the other Clan Heads wish’?”
“…What?”
“You know they can’t let you resign so easily, don’t you?” Sehwa's gaze sharpened. “A Clan Head resigning without a valid reason right before a war with the Ju Clan would only suggest discord among the Six Clans.”
“…You…!”
The Yeo Clan Head, stung by her words, turned to the other Clan Heads and said, “This is a serious matter concerning the future of the Six Clans! How can you let this young girl interfere with the Clan Heads’ meeting?!”
“What?! How dare you speak to our Young Lord Baek Ju Cheon Jang like—”
The Jang Clan Head stepped forward, blocking the Cheon Clan Head, who had risen angrily, and said, “With such poor judgment, it would indeed be better for you to step down, Yeo Clan Head.”
“What did you say?!”
“You should at least understand why this young lady is allowed in this meeting, a meeting only for Clan Heads, and why no one is objecting to her presence or her words.”
The Cheon Clan Head nodded in agreement. “Indeed. With such poor judgment, you’ll lead your clan to ruin. So, as you said, you should step down as Clan Head.”
“......”
The Yeo Clan Head, seemingly not expecting to be taken seriously, could only stare at them, speechless.
“Ah, but before that, we should find out how much the Jin Clan Head was involved. Now’s the time to question him, while he’s still off guard.”
Sehwa stopped the Clan Heads, who were about to summon their warriors. “It would be troublesome if he sends a message to his successor, so you should officially transfer your leadership here, in front of us.”
“Y-You… how dare…!”
“Do as she says, Yeo Clan Head.” A low, powerful voice interrupted them.
It was Baek Giha.
“C-Clan Head!”
“I heard your plea to protect the Yeo Clan. Then you must show us your sincerity.”
“Clan Head, but transferring my leadership and stepping down without a word to my clan, in front of everyone…”
“You betrayed us without even considering the consequences?!”
Crash!!
A lightning bolt suddenly struck the clear window, cracking the glass.
“…!!” “C-Clan Head…” “Clan Head…”
Baek Giha walked towards the Yeo Clan Head.
His handsome face was cold and hard, his dark eyebrows furrowed in anger, a sharp, blade-like aura emanating from his body.
Frost formed on the floor with each step he took.
He warned the Yeo Clan Head, “You know that if you remember how we’ve dealt with traitors in the past, the fact that I’m not executing you on the spot is already a testament to my patience.”
“B-But… without us, the Six Clans alliance will be weakened…”
“Do I look like I’m afraid of that? You’re mistaken.”
“…Clan Head…”
“The only reason I’m not killing you right now is because I promised the messenger I wouldn’t abandon the Yeo Clan.”
His voice was calm, but the menacing aura surrounding him was unmistakable.
“So choose. Will you cooperate with us while I’m still treating you as a Clan Head? Or will you be treated as a traitor and expelled from the Six Clans?”
“…!”
The Yeo Clan Head trembled under Baek Giha’s chilling gaze.
He knew how powerful Baek Giha was.
How could he forget the might of the Divine Beast who had single-handedly defeated the Ju Clan, the rulers of the Mystic Realm?
But this… this fear was different.
Baek Giha wasn't someone who would threaten those under his protection.
But that gaze…
He would be annihilated.
“…Anything…” the Yeo Clan Head gasped, nodding weakly, “…I’ll do as you say…”
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