When the Black Moon Rises - Chapter 167
Chapter 167
“I need medicine. If you have any, please share some with me.”
He spoke desperately, “Please, I beg you, Lady Sehwa.”
‘…What is he talking about…?’ Sehwa blinked, staring at Cheonryeong.
Young Lord Ju Kyunghyun?
Ju Kyunghyun, the original Young Lord, was already dead, his body taken over by his father.
‘Could this be… a trap set by the Mystic Ruler, using this man…?’
He had done everything he could to kill her and take her spiritual power. Was this the purpose of the invitation?
Sehwa’s gaze sharpened, her voice turning cold and menacing. “This is within Clan Head Baek’s barrier. How did you get in here?”
“I-I followed you. I saw you and followed you, and when the barrier appeared, I jumped in with the Young Lord.”
“......”
“I… I was injured when the barrier was activated. The Young Lord must be even more severely injured. There’s no time to lose.”
As Sehwa continued to stare at him, Cheonryeong bowed his head to the ground, pleading, “I know you must be hurt by the Young Lord’s words, but you were close, you cared for each other. Please, share some of your medicine with him.”
“Where is he?”
“He’s nearby.”
“Then lead the way. I’ll check on him.”
“R-Really?! You’ll help us?”
“I didn’t say I would help. I said I’ll check on him.”
Despite Sehwa’s cold response, Cheonryeong’s face lit up, as if she had promised to save his master.
“This way… quickly…”
But then he hesitated.
He swallowed and added, “There’s… something I need to tell you. Kyunghyun… he’s not… himself…”
“What?”
“H-He’s not himself, but… he’s still Kyunghyun… please understand…”
Growing impatient, Cheonryeong turned and called out to Sehwa, “This… this way… He’s here…”
“......”
Sehwa, her eyes narrowed, a sly smile playing on her lips, followed him.
What was he planning?
Did he think she would be off guard since they hadn’t reached the residence yet? Was he planning to attack her here?
If so, she would show him how wrong he was.
To move so freely within someone else’s barrier, he must have lowered his spiritual power to a level similar to a human’s, without damaging his Core.
That was why neither she nor Baek Giha had sensed him.
And if the other warriors hiding here had done the same…
‘Then I have nothing to fear, even if there are hundreds of them.’
Thinking this, she channeled her sharp, cold spiritual power and enveloped her body in a protective aura.
Her eyes narrowed, and she followed Cheonryeong, one step at a time.
Soon, a faint smell of decay reached her.
When the stench became stronger, he parted the bushes.
“H-Here… Lady Sehwa… He’s here…”
“…!”
Good.
No matter what he was planning, she wouldn't let him live.
She would cripple him and use him as a hostage to exchange for her brothers.
But as she approached, her eyes narrowed, she couldn't believe what she was seeing.
How could this be?
It was the body of the previous Mystic Ruler.
“…This…”
“Don’t be alarmed. His… his body might be different, but… he’s still… Young Lord Kyunghyun…”
“......”
The previous Mystic Ruler was currently possessing Ju Kyunghyun’s body. And after the body switching, the previous body should be dead.
So who was inside this body? Ju Kyunghyun?
The stench of blood and decaying flesh emanating from the frail old man was overwhelming.
The wounds Sehwa had inflicted with her five-colored flames hadn’t healed and were festering.
“If he really is the Ju Clan’s Young Lord, why is he here? In this state?”
“…That’s…”
“And I’ve already met the Young Lord. He personally gave me the invitation to the inauguration ceremony, that’s why I’m here.”
“…I know you won’t believe me, but… the one you met… wasn't Kyunghyun… This is Kyunghyun… It’s true…”
“Then explain. Why should I believe you and heal him based on your words alone?”
Sehwa was right.
But Cheonryeong couldn’t explain this incomprehensible situation to Sehwa.
“If you just give us some medicine, if you just help him a little, I’ll tell you everything.”
“......”
“I swear, I won’t hide anything. I’ll tell you everything.”
Cheonryeong hesitated.
He knew Sehwa would be angry if he said this, but he had to.
He closed his eyes. “…If you save him… I’ll tell you about your brothers, Gahan and Gayoon.”
“!”
She didn't care whether Ju Kyunghyun lived or died, as she harbored no goodwill towards him, but…
‘…I have to know about my brothers. I thought everyone who had their body taken over died, but if they’re alive like this…’
“You better tell me everything if I heal him.”
“Of course! And we’re inside the Baek Clan’s barrier. I can’t escape, I have no spiritual power.” Cheonryeong bowed his head to the ground again, his voice trembling. “So please… don’t let my master die…”
“......”
He didn't seem to be lying.
“Wait here.”
Sehwa, after a moment’s hesitation, channeled her spiritual power and pushed against the barrier.
She didn’t have to do it twice.
Baek Giha, sensing the disturbance, immediately appeared.
“What’s going on? …Who is this? How did he get inside the barrier?”
Since Cheonryeong was still bowing his head, Sehwa explained the situation.
“…The Young Lord?”
Baek Giha’s gaze turned to the frail old man lying on the ground, his body emanating a foul odor.
He looked much thinner than they remembered.
His face was gaunt and ashen, covered in wounds, making him almost unrecognizable. But…
“That’s definitely the Mystic Ruler’s body,” said Sehwa. How could they not recognize the Mystic Ruler, who had ruled the Ju Clan for so long?
It was definitely the Mystic Ruler’s original body, not a substitute.
She just couldn’t believe that Ju Kyunghyun was inside.
“I want to hear what he has to say, not just about my brothers, but also about how he ended up like this.”
“This could be another trap.”
“You’re here, and I won’t heal him completely.”
“Alright. But be careful.”
Sehwa nodded and approached the Mystic Ruler.
The stench of death emanated from the old man’s pale body.
As she reached out to him, Cheonryeong cried out in alarm, “N-No! Medicine! He needs medicine! He’s in critical condition! Please, give him medicine first—”
Flash!
As a bright light erupted from Sehwa’s hand, silencing Cheonryeong, it enveloped the old man’s body like a waterfall.
The stench in the air lessened slightly, and before Cheonryeong's eyes, the old man's wounds began to heal.
“!”
The festering wounds, filled with pus, began to close, their dark color fading.
The gaping wounds, which looked like they were infested with insects, gradually closed.
The old man’s complexion improved drastically.
His ashen face regained some color, and his pale lips turned slightly pink.
“…Ugh…”
The old man let out a soft groan, his face contorting slightly.
Taking that as a sign that his condition had improved, Sehwa withdrew her power.
Cheonryeong rushed to the old man's side. “K-Kyunghyun! Young Lord!”
“U-…Cheon… ryeong…?”
“Yes… it’s me… it’s me… Kyunghyun…”
“…Where… are we…? Did we… leave the territory…?”
“No, we’re still in the Ju Clan territory.”
“S-Still… in the Ju Clan… territory…?”
“I couldn’t move you any further, you were in critical condition. How are you feeling? Are you better now?”
Ju Kyunghyun finally focused and realized that he could breathe much easier than before.
The pain in his wounds, which had been so excruciating that he had wanted them cut off, had lessened considerably, and his vision, which had been blurry, had cleared slightly.
“I… see…”
“That’s a relief…”
“Where… did you get… such good medicine…? Did you… overexert yourself… to get it…?”
“This isn’t my medicine. Lady Sehwa helped us.”
“…What?”
“I saw her here and asked for her help. And she—”
“!”
Ju Kyunghyun’s head turned sharply, cutting Cheonryeong off.
He could only move his head slightly, but it was enough to see who was standing beside him.
His face contorted in disbelief as he spoke in a trembling voice, “S-S-Sehwa…?”
“…Are you really… Ju Kyunghyun?”
At her cold question, the old man nodded desperately.
He nodded repeatedly, as if afraid she wouldn't believe him, despite his weakened state.
He whimpered, “It’s… me… Sehwa… I’m… Ju Kyunghyun… It’s me… I… I need to find my body… I have to… get it back…”
“......”
“Se… Sehwa… please… help me… I’m Ju Kyunghyun… It’s me… I need… my body…”
Comments
Post a Comment