When the Black Moon Rises - Chapter 175
Chapter 175
The buildings, unable to withstand the spiritually enhanced flames, were completely burned down.
All the servants tried to salvage the precious ceremonial items, but it was impossible to retrieve anything from the inferno.
The inauguration ceremony was scheduled for midnight, and they needed to find a way to replace the destroyed items.
So, the Ju Clan’s treasury, which had been sealed for a long time, was opened.
Countless treasures, untouched for centuries, were brought out.
As if to erase the unfortunate incident, the Mystic Ruler ordered an even more extravagant inauguration ceremony than before.
Golden lanterns were hung every three steps along the hallways, and beautiful paintings and decorations filled the ceremonial hall and the surrounding buildings.
A red moon, its light amplified by the Ju Clan’s Red Dragon's power, hung high in the sky, on this most auspicious day of the year.
The large residence, illuminated by thousands of lanterns, glowed beautifully, as if floating in the air.
In the late evening, the residence gates, which had been closed for the preparations, finally opened.
An endless stream of carriages, carrying Ju Clan members to the inauguration ceremony, entered the residence.
As they entered the ceremonial hall, their curious gazes darted around.
“Huh? Was that black smoke we saw earlier not a fire?”
“Indeed. I thought it was.”
“But it seems the other Clan Heads aren’t attending.”
“Someone said they saw Clan Head Baek entering the residence, so he must be here, but there are no seats prepared for the other clans. Perhaps they’re all absent.”
The elders, hearing the clan members’ whispers, exchanged grim looks.
“It seems they managed to finish the preparations without revealing the incident.”
One of the elders muttered, and another elder replied, “But there are no offerings, no guests… This inauguration ceremony is a disgrace.”
“Well, we’ll have to endure it this time. The Six Clans are too arrogant now.”
“And our Young Lord…”
One of the elders trailed off, as if he had more to say but didn’t want to voice it.
Another elder, with a wry smile, defended the Young Lord, “He must have been impatient. And it’s true that Baek Giha shouldn’t have erected a barrier here. It was a clear sign of disrespect, so it’s understandable that he wanted to retaliate.”
“I hope he won’t use the fire as an excuse to cause more trouble.”
Another elder sighed, “If the previous Mystic Ruler were here, he would have guided the Young Lord… I don’t understand why he abdicated so suddenly without even showing his face…”
Just as the elders were murmuring amongst themselves…
“Clan Head Baek and his wife have arrived,” a servant announced, and the Ju Clan members’ eyes widened.
“?”
“What did that servant just say?”
“Wife? Clan Head Baek is married? To whom?”
As the Ju Clan members exchanged bewildered glances, two figures, dressed in white ceremonial robes, slowly approached.
Seeing Sehwa walking next to Baek Giha, their jaws dropped.
“My god… it’s Elder Myoungyoon’s daughter!”
“Goodness, wasn’t she missing? When did she return and get married?!”
“Wait… now that I think about it, Elder Myoungyoon suddenly liquidated all his assets and gave them to Clan Head Baek as compensation… Perhaps he knew about his daughter’s marriage and decided to transfer his family registry to the Baek Clan?”
“No way, Elder Myoungyoon wouldn’t do that.”
“That’s right. Weren’t those two the fiercest rivals on the battlefield? Perhaps he did it to protect himself while staying at the Baek Clan.”
As they whispered amongst themselves, their gazes followed Sehwa and Baek Giha, not missing a single movement.
The two of them, dressed in pristine white robes, stood out amidst the crimson lanterns and red ceremonial robes.
Baek Giha’s handsome features, accentuated by the flickering lights, were striking.
His powerful physique, clearly that of a skilled warrior, exuded an undeniable aura of dignity, despite being partially hidden by his robes.
The woman next to him was equally captivating.
Dressed in a simple, pure white robe with subtle embroidery, her long, black hair flowed freely down her back, unlike the Ju Clan women with their elaborate hairstyles.
Her simple style, adorned with just a few hair ornaments, was both innocent and alluring.
Compared to her, the Ju Clan women’s elaborate hairstyles seemed overly ostentatious and fussy.
Even though a red moon, amplifying the Ju Clan’s spiritual power, hung in the sky, it felt as if these two were the true protagonists of this night.
“Ah!”
Just then, the young lady next to Clan Head Baek stumbled slightly, as if she had stepped on her robe. Baek Giha instantly caught her by the waist. His movement was so swift and precise that it was clear he had been paying close attention to her every move.
Someone sighed softly, and then, as if contagious, sighs rippled through the crowd.
“How lucky she is, to have the leader of the Six Clans, the only Divine Beast in the Mystic Realm, as her husband! And he’s so devoted to her!”
“I should have been the first to propose a marriage alliance.”
“Me too.”
As everyone watched Baek Giha and Sehwa, who were walking without any attendants…
The First Corps Commander quietly approached Ju Kyunghyun, who was also watching them from a distance.
“The preparations are complete, as you commanded. I’ve placed artifacts imbued with the Baek Clan’s spiritual power in the burned-down buildings, so you can detain them for a few days under the pretext of an investigation.”
Seeing that the Mystic Ruler remained silent, he continued, “But Mystic Ruler, the elders aren’t pleased with what happened earlier, and there are so many Ju Clan members present, are you sure it’s wise to act so openly?”
“Now that the Red Dragon’s Spirit Orb is unsealed, I can face Baek Giha, whether I’ve transformed or not. And I can activate the remaining artifacts as well.”
“But still…”
“I have to confront him before the clan. And if I can frame him for the fire, I can solidify my position as the new Mystic Ruler, even if my transformation is delayed.”
“But what if the Clan Heads of the Six Clans cause trouble after seeing how you treat their leader at the inauguration ceremony?”
“What can they do? By then, I would have consumed both of them using the power of the Red Dragon’s Spirit Orb. They can send me a letter of condolence after I’ve devoured them completely.”
Unsealing the Red Dragon’s Spirit Orb was his last resort.
To use such a precious and powerful treasure, passed down since the beginning of the Mystic Realm, just once…
But he was desperate.
‘…He must be dead by now…’
The body containing his son’s soul was in critical condition, and without medicine, he wouldn’t have survived.
And without his soul, there was little chance of him transforming.
So tonight was his last chance.
‘Ju Sehwa won’t act rashly, knowing her brothers’ lives are in my hands. And if I can just subdue Baek Giha for a moment and activate the artifacts…’
The Mystic Ruler’s eyes gleamed menacingly as he watched the couple walking towards their seats.
“Are you alright? Can you sit?”
“Of course.”
Sehwa nodded at Baek Giha’s soft question and gracefully took her seat.
Baek Giha was slightly impressed, seeing that she showed no signs of discomfort.
“You’re amazing.”
She had stumbled earlier not because she was tired, but because she had hidden several daggers, a bow without a string, and several arrows beneath her beautiful robe.
She had taken them from the warriors the Mystic Ruler had left to guard the barrier, after they were defeated.
He had been worried if she could carry them all undetected, but seeing her not only managing to bring them in but also sitting down gracefully, he murmured in admiration, “You really are amazing.”
“I told you I could do it.”
“Yes, I know. So…”
Numerous warriors were stationed around the ceremonial hall, including near where Sehwa and Baek Giha were sitting.
Even if he asked them to give them some space, they would refuse, saying they had to be on guard in case someone tried to disrupt the ceremony because of the fire.
So Sehwa sat still, her posture elegant, her gaze straight ahead, careful not to make any noise with the hidden weapons.
The wait wasn’t long.
The musicians began to play, and a large flame rose from the altar.
Dancers, holding red silk scarves, gracefully moved to the space before the altar and began to dance, their movements depicting the first Mystic Ruler’s ascension, the first Red Dragon.
Normally, the Young Lord would be the first to appear, but today, the First Corps Commander appeared first, carrying a long wooden box towards the altar.
A red aura, visible to anyone with spiritual sight, flickered around the box.
“!”
Sehwa’s eyes widened. She had once possessed the Red Dragon’s Spirit Orb.
“That’s…”
Baek Giha also recognized the aura and tensed.
“It’s the Red Dragon’s Spirit Orb.”
“He actually brought it out…”
“But that aura… what is that? I’ve never seen such a reaction before, not even when I had it…”
As they stared at the box, the music intensified.
And then, the Young Lord appeared.
His body, from his shoulders to his feet, was enveloped in a shimmering, golden image of a red dragon.
His eyes, fixed on the altar, shone brightly, perhaps with the anticipation of soon becoming the Mystic Ruler.
As the Ju Clan members murmured amongst themselves, noticing his appearance,
“The Young Lord looks different today,”
“Perhaps it’s because of the ceremonial robes…”
The Mystic Ruler’s gaze flickered towards Sehwa and Baek Giha, a predatory glint in his eyes, his desire to tear into her flesh and drink her blood undisguised.
Their gazes, filled with conflicting desires, met in the air.
The Mystic Ruler, a cruel smile playing on his lips, continued walking towards the altar.
Just as he took a few more steps…
A voice, loud enough to be heard over the music, boomed through the hall.
“How… dare you…”
Everyone’s head snapped towards the voice.
Someone who shouldn’t be here had appeared.
“F-Father?!” Even Ju Kyunghyun, who had been confidently approaching the altar, faltered.
“You covet the position of Mystic Ruler so much that you’re willing to steal everything from your father and endanger his life?!”
‘My… god… How…!’
His son, whose soul he had trapped in his dying body…
His son, whom he had been searching for…
…was here, staring at him.
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