When the Black Moon Rises - Chapter 168
Chapter 168
The middle-aged man slumped back in his chair, as if his strength had left him, after hearing something in the dimly lit meeting room.
“......”
Unable to speak, he stared blankly ahead, then asked the person standing before him, “So… then my… my daughter… Suyeon… is she… dead?”
“…Most likely.”
“......”
“I’m sorry… to be the bearer of such news.”
Ju Jayoon stared blankly, as if he hadn’t heard Ju Myoungyoon’s words. ‘Suyeon… dead? My little girl?’ His daughter, whom he had been unable to care for properly due to his duties on the battlefield, was still so young, having just completed her transformation. What had happened to her?
Ju Jayoon’s mind raced back to the day he had parted with his daughter. Something had felt off, even then.
The sudden reassignment to a remote region, and then the offer to have his daughter stay at the Mystic Ruler's residence…
He had wondered if it was to emphasize the importance of his mission, but he still couldn’t understand why they would want his daughter to stay there, even though she was young, she had already transformed.
“…Is that… why I was sent away…?”
“Most likely. The families of those whose bodies were taken over have all been sent away from the main Ju Clan territory.”
“......”
“My guard, Sa Danyoon, has located everyone. You might not believe me now, but you’ll understand when you meet them and hear their stories.”
“…I… I still—”
“Get ahold of yourself!”
“!”
“I know it’s hard to believe, I know you don’t want to believe it, but you can’t just sit here and do nothing! You’re a father! You have to retrieve your daughter’s body!”
At Ju Myoungyoon’s sharp words, Elder Jayoon clenched his jaw and stood up. “…I’ll speak with them and see what they have to say. But you, brother…” he said, his eyes bloodshot as he looked at Ju Myoungyoon, “…If you’re lying to me, if you made all this up to use me, then you’ll regret it. No matter what I do.”
Ju Myoungyoon nodded, his expression softening. “Of course. If I’m lying, I’ll accept any consequences, any demands you make.”
As Ju Myoungyoon left the meeting room, Sa Danyoon, who had been waiting in the hallway, approached and supported him.
“I’m fine.”
“You look tired.”
“He just lost his daughter, wouldn’t you be tired as well?”
“......”
“How many are there, like him?”
“Sixty-four, according to my investigation.”
“Haha…”
‘This is insane… To think they trusted and followed such a monster…’
He hadn’t been able to believe it when Sehwa and Baek Giha told him that the Mystic Ruler was consuming the missing children.
‘To think he was preying on his own clan members as well… Sixty-four in this generation alone… I can’t imagine how many he’s sacrificed over the years…’
Ju Myoungyoon had sent Sa Danyoon to investigate those who had been reassigned to remote regions under strange and inexplicable circumstances shortly after leaving the Ju Clan.
He hadn't known the truth back then.
He had thought they were discarded by the Mystic Ruler, just like him, and he wanted to know what had happened to them, if they had also faced threats to their lives.
“Let’s leave as soon as Jayoon is ready. Where to next?”
“The border outpost about ten miles northeast of here. Ju Manui and Ju Jongyeong are there.”
“…We don’t have much time if we want to meet everyone on the list. Let’s hurry.”
“Yes.”
When Choi Jangmyung returned, having quickly gathered firewood, worried about Sehwa being alone, she was gone.
He looked around, but there was no trace of her, only the chirping of crickets.
Baek Giha had warned him beforehand.
He mustn't use his spiritual power within the barrier in the Ju Clan’s territory.
If he did, the powerful barrier would detect him as an intruder.
So he couldn't use his spiritual power to search for her. And more importantly…
‘Did she perhaps go somewhere with Clan Head Baek to talk privately?’
If so, it wouldn't be appropriate to search for her.
So he leaned against a nearby tree and waited.
Sehwa finally returned just before dawn.
Seeing her packing up their campsite as if nothing had happened, Choi Jangmyung, who had been waiting for her all night, cautiously approached her. “Please let me take care of that, my lady. You should rest.”
“It’s fine, I can do it.”
“......”
“What? Do you have something to say?”
“…No, my lady.”
“It’s not ‘nothing.’ What is it? Ah, perhaps you’re tired from riding without rest?”
“…I was just… worried… when you left without me…”
“What?”
“…But you’re back, so it’s alright…”
Sehwa realized that she had left without telling Choi Jangmyung, who had gone to gather firewood.
She had returned late at night after a long conversation with the unexpected visitor.
But since they had been within Baek Giha’s barrier, they had known they were safe, so she hadn’t thought to send a message.
Sehwa smiled gently. “You don’t understand how barriers work, do you? No one can enter or leave once a barrier is activated. If the barrier is maintained, like last night, then everyone inside is safe, so there's no need to worry.”
“......”
“Why are you looking at me like that? Do you have something to say?”
Choi Jangmyung smiled and shook his head. He had seemed worried just moments ago, but now he was suddenly cheerful. Was he happy to learn about barriers?
“Silly.”
“I’ll pack everything, so please rest for a while.”
“No, I—”
Sehwa was about to decline his offer, but Choi Jangmyung was faster.
He extinguished the fire and cleaned up the campsite, quickly folding the blankets neatly.
As he did so, the barrier surrounding them dissipated.
‘He’s taking down the barrier. Their conversation must be over.’
Just as she thought this, she heard footsteps approaching from behind.
Baek Giha appeared.
“Did it go well—?”
“What did you talk about?”
“What? What do you mean?”
Baek Giha gestured with his chin towards Choi Jangmyung, who was busily packing. “He didn’t know about the barrier. He must have been worried all night, so I explained it to him.”
“That’s a convenient excuse,” Baek Giha said, his lips curving into a sly smile.
“What? What did you just say?”
“Nothing.”
“......”
Baek Giha glanced at Choi Jangmyung, his gaze cold, then shook his head, as if it was nothing. “Did the conversation end well?”
“Yes. We agreed to meet again, so we’ll see her soon.”
“Then let’s go.”
If they kept to the main road, they would reach the Mystic Ruler’s residence by afternoon.
Sehwa opened one of the bags packed by the three sisters and took out a red robe. The elaborate, golden embroidery on the luxurious garment stood out against the crimson silk.
After putting on the robe, she mounted her horse.
Her unbound, black hair swayed around her as she moved.
Her crimson eyes, like chips of the starlit sky, shone brightly, devoid of fear, her gaze fixed straight ahead.
The two men stared at her, mesmerized.
It was still dark, the sun yet to rise, but her figure shone brightly in the darkness.
Sehwa, gazing towards the Mystic Ruler’s residence, finally noticed that the two men hadn’t mounted their horses yet and said, “Are you not coming?”
“…Ah, right.”
“…Coming.”
Clearing their throats awkwardly, the two men mounted their horses, and the three warhorses galloped down the road once more.
The darkness of the night slowly receded, the first light of dawn painting the sky.
Soon, the warm rays of the sun shone down on them as they rode.
After a while…
Sehwa, noticing faint lights flickering below the cliff they were riding along, pulled on the reins, her red robe billowing in the wind.
She stood at the edge, bathed in the bright sunlight.
The wind, already carrying the chill of winter, wasn’t as cold as her gaze as she looked down.
After staring at the lights for a long time, she turned her horse around, and a grand, octagonal roof came into view, surrounded by numerous flags.
It was the Ju Clan residence.
Slam!
“You still haven’t found him?!”
“I-I apologize…”
The Chief Attendant trembled before the Young Lord, who was soon to become the Mystic Ruler.
“How can you not find him, with him in such a frail state?!”
“But the search has to be discreet… if we use the warriors, we’ll find him quickly.”
“Do you think I don't know that?! That’s why I told you to be discreet!”
The Chief Attendant flinched and closed his eyes at the Young Lord’s roar.
“The moment you find Cheonryeong, tear him limb from limb and flay him alive! And you…!” The Young Lord’s sharp, snake-like gaze pierced the Chief Attendant, who gasped. “You’re no different. If you don’t find him by tomorrow, you’ll meet the same fate. Understand?!”
“Y-Yes!”
Even after the terrified Chief Attendant fled the room, the Mystic Ruler, his anger still burning, slammed his fist on the table.
His anxious gaze darted around.
“Damn it! I should have transferred to a new body sooner!”
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