When the Black Moon Rises - Chapter 186
Chapter 186
A hand suddenly appeared before her, holding something.
“Here. Take this.”
‘…Why is he giving this to me…?’ She hesitantly held out her hand.
Something was placed on her palm.
It was a transparent, golden Spirit Orb, its purity evident even at a glance.
“You don’t have to absorb it, and you don’t have to return it. Just consider it.” As if feeling that wasn’t enough, the Kang Clan Head hurriedly added, “And if you need more, just ask. I’ll give you as much as you need.”
“But there might be a war soon, Clan Head Kang. You should conserve your strength. This is too much. Why are you suddenly…”
Just then, the Cheon Clan Head’s head popped up over the Kang Clan Head’s shoulder. His face turned red as he saw the Spirit Orb in Sehwa’s hand. “Kang Clan Head! You were doing this behind our backs?!”
The Jang Clan Head also looked over the Kang Clan Head’s other shoulder. “What’s the meaning of this?! So, you were jealous that this young lady was called Baek Ju Cheon Jang Sehwa! You wanted the Kang Clan name included!”
“Such a sly fox! Even so, it can't compare to the spiritual power we shared with her during her transformation! Trying to get a free ride—”
The Clan Heads were now shouting at each other, dropping all formalities.
Just as Sehwa was about to intervene…
The Kang Clan Head spoke, “That’s enough. This is my sincere offering for the greater good.”
“The greater good?”
“Yes. I’ve been worried ever since I first heard about the Corrupt Dragon.”
“Worried?”
As the Kang Clan Head’s expression turned grim, the Cheon and Jang Clan Heads quieted down.
“Clan Head Baek is also a Divine Beast, but can he defeat the Corrupt Dragon? The Ju Clan has ruled the Mystic Realm for so long because only a dragon can defeat a dragon.”
The Kang Clan Head’s gaze, shadowed, briefly met Sehwa’s.
“If the Corrupt Dragon has truly revealed itself, you’re probably the only one who can defeat him. A few Spirit Orbs won’t be of much help to someone with your immense power, but I couldn’t offer you any less.”
Everyone in the meeting room was now looking at the Kang Clan Head, who was bowing his head before Sehwa.
“I’m ashamed to ask this of you, but there’s no other way. Please, lead our armies and face the Corrupt Dragon.”
He knelt before her.
Sehwa, surprised, quickly stood up. “Clan Head Kang! Please, get up!”
He shook off her hand and looked up at her, “In return, the Kang Clan pledges its absolute loyalty to you, and we will offer you our full support. Even if you ask for my own spiritual power, I won’t hesitate.”
“…!”
“C-Clan Head Kang!”
Even those who had been sitting stood up.
Sehwa, flustered, tried to help him up again. “Please, Clan Head, there’s no need for this. The alliance still needs your strength.”
“That’s precisely why I’m saying this. I haven’t seen this Corrupt Dragon myself, but history and records tell us how powerful the Ju Clan’s Divine Beast is.”
“…Clan Head Kang…”
“To ask you, a young lady who just completed her transformation, to face the Corrupt Dragon is like asking you to sacrifice yourself for the entire Mystic Realm.” He met Sehwa’s gaze. “How can I value my own life when making such a request?”
He took out all the Spirit Orbs from his sleeves and placed them at Sehwa's feet. A dozen Spirit Orbs shimmered at her feet. “So please accept this, as a token of our vow. We will not let you walk this path alone. The Kang Clan will stand by your side in every battle.”
A heavy silence fell over the meeting room.
Everyone was looking at Clan Head Kang and Sehwa.
Her slender, white hand picked up the Spirit Orbs.
Sehwa looked at Clan Head Kang.
The transparent, golden Spirit Orbs were incredibly pure. He must have extracted more than half of his own spiritual power to create them.
“I never intended to run away. This is a path I must walk.” Sehwa, sensing his resolve from the power contained within the Spirit Orbs, helped him up. This time, he didn't resist.
“I understand your sacrifice. It’s my duty to face the Corrupt Dragon, but I’m grateful for your support.” Sehwa clutched the Spirit Orbs tightly in her hand. “I’ll accept your offer and use them well.”
“You will?”
“Of course.”
“And you accept the Kang Clan’s pledge of loyalty?”
“I can’t accept the oath of an entire clan, it should be directed at the leader of the Six Clans.”
“Very well. As long as you accept. But please remember that the Kang Clan is always ready to serve you.”
“After receiving such a generous offering from you, Clan Head, you might as well call me Kang Sehwa. I feel like we’re family now.”
A smile finally touched the old Clan Head’s lips at those words.
Seeing this, the Cheon and Jang Clan Heads, their faces falling, hurriedly approached Sehwa.
“Our Cheon Clan will do the same! You know that, don’t you? Ah, this is not the time for this. I’ll give you my Spirit Orbs too. Here, take them.” “What are you talking about?! She already has enough Cheon Clan spiritual power. She should receive the Jang Clan’s!”
The Jin Clan Head, sensing the change in atmosphere, also joined in, “She doesn’t have any Jin Clan spiritual power yet! She should receive ours!”
Sehwa shook her head, smiling. “Please, there’s no need. We’re already allies.”
“Allies? Not family?”
The Cheon and Jang Clan Heads’ faces fell, the Jang Clan Head’s even more so.
“Th-Then…”, he began.
“Yes?”
“Are you… really going to absorb the Kang Clan’s Spirit Orbs?”
Of course, she was.
Before Sehwa could answer, the Kang Clan Head interjected, “My apologies, but from now on, the Kang Clan will be in charge of strengthening Lady Baek Ju Cheon Kang Jang’s spiritual power, so please don’t worry, other Clan Heads.”
He was placing himself below Sehwa's parents' clans and her betrothed's clan, and while the Cheon Clan Head seemed relieved, the Jang Clan Head was indignant.
“N-No, what?!”
The bright, full moon shone down on White Stone Pavilion.
Autumn insects chirped loudly in the grass, enjoying the last days of warmth before winter.
Small feet padded silently along the hallway.
The servant passing by didn't even notice her.
It was Sehwa, moving deeper into the quieter parts of the residence.
She climbed the stairs silently and stopped before a large door.
It was the Baek Clan Head's room.
Multiple barriers, unusual for this room, were protecting it.
Sehwa channeled the spiritual power she had been given.
As a white aura flickered around her hand, the barriers dissipated silently.
She slipped inside, her movements quiet.
Baek Giha was lying on the large bed, his back to her.
‘He refused to let me come at night…’
He didn’t move, even as she approached.
She was concealing her presence with her spiritual power, but he was a warrior.
‘I had a feeling… when I saw the barriers around his room…’
The fact that he hadn’t noticed her presence immediately showed how exhausted he was, her gaze darkening.
She approached the sleeping man and carefully placed something on his back, near his shoulder blade.
A small, red scale, glowing faintly, sank into his skin.
A small mark, like the one she had borne in her past life, appeared on his bare skin.
Baek Giha, finally noticing her presence and recognizing who it was, slowly turned around.
Sehwa quickly dissipated the spiritual power in her hand.
“…Why aren't you asleep? It’s late.”
His voice was hoarse.
And despite his usual vitality, his face was etched with fatigue, undoubtedly from the pain he had been enduring in silence.
“What brings you here?”
He had told her not to come, yet he didn't seem to mind that she had bypassed his barrier and entered his room. He turned to face her, a gentle smile on his face. “Come here. Lie down. Your father’s not here, so you might as well stay.”
“Should I?”
She nodded without hesitation.
He moved over to make space for her.
She climbed onto the bed and lay down beside him, their heads resting on the same pillow, their eyes meeting.
The drowsiness in his eyes disappeared, replaced by warmth.
His long fingers gently stroked her hair. “So, what brings you here at this hour? Did you miss me?”
“That too, and… I was wondering what you were thinking about earlier.”
“Hmm?”
“You didn’t answer the Clan Heads.”
“Ah… that…”
“I’m worried about that barrier. It seems like the Corrupt Dragon is growing stronger, so wouldn't it be better to launch a preemptive strike before the situation changes?”
He looked at her silently.
After a long pause, he finally answered, “If we attack now…”
If they attacked now…?
‘What? Is there a reason…?’
Was his condition perhaps worse than she thought?
Or was he waiting for the Corrupt Dragon to self-destruct, as he had mentioned before?
“…then you’ll have to be the vanguard.”
“What?”
Baek Giha’s voice trembled.
He, who had never shown fear on any battlefield…
“They’ll all expect you to fight the Corrupt Dragon head-on and get hurt, just like Clan Head Kang did earlier.”
As Sehwa blinked, surprised by his words, he added fiercely, “I can’t let that happen.”
“Giha…”
“I can’t let you…”
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