When the Black Moon Rises - Chapter 166
Chapter 166
Sehwa glanced at the man walking beside her.
Noticing her gaze, he asked, “What? Do you have something to say?”
“No… it’s just…”
“Then what?”
“…You seemed really angry.”
“How could I not be?”
His voice, however, was gentle.
His expression, as warm as ever, didn't match his words.
“He started plotting the moment he heard about the Corrupt Dragon. He didn’t consider the Six Clans or his clan members at all. Even after hearing what the Corrupt Dragon had done.”
His eyes narrowed slightly.
His voice turned colder. “How can I forgive someone who was willing to sacrifice the members of the other five clans for his own gain? I showed great restraint by not executing him on the spot.”
“......”
“What?”
“Your hand…”
Sehwa took his right hand, and Baek Giha looked down.
Blood was welling up in his palm.
Sehwa frowned. “Why do you keep hurting yourself?”
“It’s a… habit…”
“…It upsets me.”
Seeing her genuine concern, Baek Giha averted his gaze.
“It’s alright. I’ve been holding a sword since I was young, so my hands aren’t exactly—”
“......”
“I won’t do it again.”
“Good.” Sehwa healed his hand. “You’re mine. So are your hands.”
Baek Giha’s eyes softened at her words.
As they walked hand in hand towards their quarters, Sehwa looked around.
Even in this short time, she could see preparations being made for the war against the Ju Clan.
She hesitated, then spoke, “I’ve… never seen a war before. I spoke confidently, but… what if I falter when I see the carnage?”
“You?” Baek Giha chuckled at her unexpected worry. “Why are you laughing?”
“It’s funny because you don’t know yourself at all.”
“But I might.”
“No way. I’m more worried about you risking your life too much.”
His words were sincere, and his hand, holding hers, turned slightly cold.
Sensing his anxiety, Sehwa tightened her grip on his hand and whispered, “I’ll be careful. You too. Let’s both stay safe and finish this.”
Baek Giha’s hand tightened around hers as well, and they continued walking through the hallways of Baekseok Residence, hand in hand.
They had to act quickly, lest the ascension of the new, young Mystic Ruler become a turning point for the Ju Clan, uniting them.
They couldn't let the Mystic Ruler, who had taken over his son's body, and the Corrupt Dragon, who had been pushed back by Sehwa, gain more power and plot something else.
Even though their own preparations were incomplete, they couldn’t allow the Ju Clan to fully prepare.
The Clan Heads carefully gathered their warriors.
Time passed quickly as they strategized, considering various scenarios.
“Ugh…!”
A figure writhed on the large bed, clutching their chest.
The air in the room crackled, even though all the doors and windows were shut tight to block out any light.
The room wasn’t cluttered.
But every piece of furniture was exquisite, hinting at the owner’s high status.
The figure’s eyes, staring blankly into the darkness, were bloodshot.
The blue veins throbbing beneath the skin of his clenched fists spoke of his agony.
After a while, the figure, who had been biting back his groans, finally relaxed, collapsing onto the bed.
His breath came in ragged gasps, his heart pounding.
But there was no time to recover.
The second wave of pain was coming.
“Ugh…”
Before the tension in his body could fully dissipate, Baek Giha clutched his chest again, as if his heart was being ripped out, his body writhing.
Unable to tell anyone about the source of his pain, he suppressed his groans, even though the room was shielded by a barrier, afraid that someone might hear and discover his secret.
The night was long, and the relentless pain seemed even longer.
“…Sehwa…”
Her name escaped his lips, a desperate whisper.
“Ju… Sehwa…”
“When you’re sick, I want to sit by your side all night and take care of you. I want to hold your hand and tell you not to be sick.”
He wanted to see her.
He wanted to hold her warm hand and tell her how much he was hurting.
But he couldn't.
“And I’ll wish I could be sick in your place… Because I love you.”
He raised his trembling hand and reinforced the barrier surrounding the room.
Even if everyone else found out, she couldn’t.
He suppressed his cries, even though he felt as if his body was being torn apart, making sure that not a single sound escaped the room.
“Haa…”
He felt as if his limbs were being ripped off. He longed for her.
He closed his eyes, picturing her gentle smile, and steeled his resolve.
He had to kill more.
So that she wouldn’t have to.
So that he alone would bear the burden of losing his divinity.
“Ju Sehwa.”
When the war began again, he would have to kill even more. He had to control his spiritual power somehow.
“Ju Sehwa.”
Fortunately, just calling her name helped him endure the pain.
And so, he endured the long, agonizing night alone.
“Then we’ll be going. We’ll leave the rest to you.”
Baek Giha, standing next to Sehwa, addressed the Clan Heads, Ju Myoungyoon, and Baek Manyong.
The Jang and Kang Clan Heads, along with Baek Manyong, nodded and replied, “Don’t worry, Clan Head. We’ll proceed as planned as soon as we receive the signal.”
“We’ll keep an eye on the new Yeo Clan Head and the Jin Clan Head.”
“Please take care, Clan Head. You're not alone.”
“Please take care of our Young Lord as well.”
“What are you saying, Clan Head Cheon? Of course, the Clan Head will take care of our Lady of the House.”
“You can’t be sure about such things until the wedding ceremony is held. Who knows, our young lord Cheon Ju Baek Jang might marry someone else—”
The Cheon Clan Head, seeing Baek Giha’s stare, chuckled awkwardly.
“I was just joking. Of course, our Young Lord will marry—”
“I told you to call her Baek Sehwa,” Baek Giha interrupted him coldly, turning away, then addressed Ju Myoungyoon, “Are you leaving today as well, Father?”
“Yes. I’ll be leaving with my wife to take care of a few things.”
“It won’t be easy. Please be careful.”
“I’ve already sent my guards ahead, so we’ll be fine. I’m more worried about… my children… I entrust them to you, Clan Head Baek.”
“Don’t worry. We’ll return safely.”
As Baek Giha spoke with Ju Myoungyoon, Youngchae, seeing Choi Jangmyung bringing their luggage, said, “I’d like to accompany you, my lady.”
Sehwa patted her head. “I’d like that too, but you have more important duties here.” She glanced towards the room where the First Consort was being held. “You know what to do if I don’t return by the promised time, right?”
Youngsun and Youngmoo nodded, their faces grim. “Don’t worry, my lady. We’ll keep watch and carry out your orders.”
“Good.”
With a few bags loaded onto three horses, their preparations were complete.
Baek Giha, Sehwa, and Choi Jangmyung mounted their horses.
“Have a safe trip!”
“Take care! Don't worry about us!”
They nodded at their well-wishers and kicked their horses' flanks.
Neigh!
The large warhorses galloped away at an incredible speed.
Chapter 6
Sehwa, Baek Giha, and Choi Jangmyung rode towards the Ju Clan territory without rest.
It took them less than three days to reach the outpost at the border.
Despite being a strange group, without gifts or an escort, they spoke to the outpost soldiers with a confident air.
No one dared to stop Baek Giha, the Divine Beast, and since they had the Mystic Ruler's invitation, they easily entered the Ju Clan territory.
From here, it would only take two days to reach the Mystic Ruler’s residence.
“Let’s rest for a while,” Baek Giha suggested, stopping their horses.
“We’ve been riding non-stop. We’ll reach the residence tomorrow, so we should rest and recover our strength.”
Ever since entering the Ju Clan territory, Baek Giha had been maintaining a barrier around them to conceal them from the Corrupt Dragon.
Since they didn’t know the extent of the Corrupt Dragon’s power, it was a precaution against the Ju Clan’s Red Dragon, who was known for its all-seeing eyes.
So, after four days of travel, they finally made camp by the roadside.
Sehwa’s expression was slightly clouded as she watched the flames.
The atmosphere at the Ju Clan outpost they had passed earlier had been rather tense.
‘…It seemed like they were looking for someone… could it be my brothers? Did they escape? Or were they never captured in the first place?’
Were her brothers really at the residence? If they were still hiding somewhere in the Ju Clan territory, were they safe?
She tried not to worry, knowing there was nothing she could do for now, but her anxiety lingered.
As she stared into the fire, lost in thought…
Baek Giha excused himself, saying he was going to check if any Ju Clan soldiers were following them.
Choi Jangmyung was away gathering more firewood.
Rustle.
Rustle.
Something rustled in the bushes near her feet.
‘Hmm? What’s that?’
Sehwa turned her head.
“Lady Sehwa…”
“…You…!”
“P-Please… help… The Young Lord is in danger…”
“What?”
“Please save the Young Lord… I beg you… help me… Lady Sehwa…”
Cheonryeong, Ju Kyunghyun's guard, covered in blood, was hiding in the bushes, calling out to her.
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