When the Black Moon Rises - Chapter 198
Chapter 198
The Mystic Ruler was practically clinging to Danguk as he walked.
Each step sent a jolt of pain through his wound.
He gritted his teeth, enduring the pain, and continued to issue orders, summoning the warriors. “Gather all the warriors! Everyone! Even those guarding the consorts’ quarters and the gates!”
“Mystic Ruler, then there will be no one left to guard the residence.”
“Leave the residence unguarded! It doesn’t matter! Just gather everyone! And prepare the carriages!”
Fear flickered across the servants’ faces at his words. Why was he summoning all the warriors? Was someone attacking the Ju Clan again?
Then what about them? What were they supposed to do? Flee? Hide? Were they on their own?
Their anxious gazes darted around.
In the past, they wouldn't have even considered running away. No one would have believed that the Ju Clan could fall.
The belief that “The Mystic Realm belongs to the Ju Clan,” ingrained in them over generations, had been absolute. So, wherever they fled, they would still be within the Ju Clan’s grasp.
But now…
The wall of fear had begun to crumble.
The Mystic Ruler’s residence, a symbol of power for thousands of years, was in ruins.
The Red Dragon’s Spirit Orb, the sacred treasure of the Ju Clan, had been stolen.
And the Corrupt Dragon, who had suddenly appeared, spreading a foul stench and devouring Ju Clan members, had sealed off the Ju Clan territory with a powerful barrier.
The Mystic Ruler had declared, after the chaos subsided, that the Corrupt Dragon was the Ju Clan’s guardian, sent to fulfill the promise of the clan’s thousand-year prosperity, but who would believe that?
They could still feel the barrier draining their life force, weakening their bodies and spiritual power.
Those working within the Mystic Ruler’s residence had been able to endure, thanks to their relatively strong spiritual power.
‘But countless clanless mystics serving in the elders’ residences must have died…’
And yet, he was summoning all the warriors and leaving the residence unguarded.
It was as good as abandoning them.
And more importantly…
“How dare that shameless son of a bitch murder his own father and usurp his position?!”
The former Mystic Ruler’s words at the inauguration ceremony couldn’t be erased, not even by the ensuing chaos.
‘How could he do such a thing, just to become the Mystic Ruler? Even the lowest of creatures have filial piety…’
And the inauguration ceremony he had tried so desperately to hold had failed.
‘That black barrier could reappear at any moment… wouldn’t it be better to run away now?’
The servants tried to hide their fear, but their trembling lips and pale faces betrayed them.
The Mystic Ruler, however, was busy issuing orders to the assembled warriors.
“You! Go to the elders’ residences and tell them I need their private armies— No, wait.” He paused, his voice trailing off. ‘Considering that Sanghyun is still refusing to come, they must be questioning my authority…’
He knew, better than anyone, that his position was precarious. ‘But something must have happened, with the Corrupt Dragon suddenly moving…’
He shifted his gaze anxiously.
‘There’s a chance that those I summon for help will turn on me instead…’
Weren't they the same people who had tried to appease Baek Giha during the fire incident?
They might try to save themselves by handing him over to Baek Giha.
“Mystic Ruler, should we go to the elders’ residences?”
“No. We’ll go on our own.”
There were quite a few warriors left in the residence. He had ordered everyone who wasn’t severely injured or incapacitated to assemble.
The warriors, their faces pale and drawn, many of them still recovering from their injuries, didn't look happy to be dragged out of their beds.
Some of them even seemed to resent the summons.
The Mystic Ruler observed them, his eyes narrowed.
‘They have no choice but to obey…’
Those who served in the residence were forced to consume “Guduks” before signing their contracts. Guduks were insects, secretly bred by the Ju Clan, filled with a potent poison and spiritually bound to their master.
They remained dormant within their host’s body, only activating when commanded by their master, exploding and killing the host.
The Ju Clan’s Guduks only obeyed the Mystic Ruler.
So, no matter how much they resented him, the warriors had to obey.
The Mystic Ruler, in Ju Kyunghyun’s body, smiled coldly, committing the faces of those who couldn’t hide their resentment to memory.
He then addressed the warriors, his voice mournful and benevolent. “Why would our guardian have to leave so suddenly? The enemy must be attacking us again, taking advantage of our weakened state.” He continued, his voice resonating with a practiced sincerity, “Throughout history, the Ju Clan has faced countless crises. And we’ve always overcome them. We’ll overcome this as well, won’t we?”
“......”
What crisis could possibly threaten the Ju Clan, the rulers of the Mystic Realm? He was simply trying to rouse their sense of urgency, but…
‘Those insolent bastards aren’t even responding…’
He cleared his throat and continued, his voice firmer, “Don’t worry. I, the Mystic Ruler, will be with you.”
Of course, this wasn’t a real battle. He was simply pretending to support the Corrupt Dragon so he could ask for a body switch. What lies couldn’t he tell?
“We’ll fight together, side by side, and we won’t retreat—"
Just then, a warrior interrupted him. “So you won’t be abandoning us and running away again, like you did when the First Corps Commander was down?”
“…What?!”
“I saw it! When the First Corps Commander, who was protecting you, fell and reached out for help, you—”
“Silence!!”
‘How dare he mention that here?!’
“How dare you accuse me of such a thing?! We were all hallucinating because of the poison Baek Giha used! And you dare speak of your delusion as if it were real?!”
“Then is that Black Dragon a Divine Beast?”
“What?! Are you questioning my word?! Are you doubting that He is our guardian?!”
“......”
The warrior’s expression showed his disagreement, but he remained silent, remembering the Guduk within him. The other warriors also remained silent, their expressions grim.
The Mystic Ruler knew he had to act even more confidently in this situation.
‘I control the Guduks within their bodies…’
But even if he brought these warriors with him, he couldn't be sure if the Corrupt Dragon would be satisfied and agree to the body switch.
It was rare for the warriors to voice their dissent so openly, so he had to find a way to deal with this, and…
‘I don’t have time!’
This body was reaching its limit. He had to switch bodies before his soul became trapped.
“Mount your horses! Now! We’re—"
Just then, he had an idea. ‘Artifacts!’
He turned to a servant. “You! Where are the artifacts we planted around Baek Giha's quarters?”
“W-What?”
“The artifacts! Where are they?!”
“Th-They’re… in the storage room… Commander Ilbo put them there…”
“Bring them here! Now!”
The servants scurried away at his command.
‘Why didn't I think of that before?’
The artifacts he had prepared for Baek Giha’s visit were specialized in absorbing spiritual power. ‘The Corrupt Dragon coveted Ju Sehwa’s power even more than I did, perhaps he moved to capture her.’
He recalled the Corrupt Dragon, its aura dark and menacing. ‘He erected a barrier and was desperately trying to heal himself, so perhaps that’s true…’
If he followed the Corrupt Dragon and found him fighting Ju Sehwa, the artifacts would be useful in capturing her.
‘If I help him absorb her spiritual power with the artifacts, he’ll gladly switch bodies with me.’
But she wouldn't be an easy opponent.
He had to be prepared for a fight.
‘Spirit Orbs! Yes, I need more Spirit Orbs!’
The artifacts required spiritual power to function, so he needed to bring extra Spirit Orbs just in case.
“You! Take this and bring all the chests of Spirit Orbs from the treasury! Hurry!”
He handed his Spirit Orb, which opened the treasury, to a servant.
The remaining servants rushed off to the treasury.
Soon, a large pile of Spirit Orbs and artifacts was gathered before him.
He noticed that one of the artifacts had a slightly different aura, but he didn’t have time to examine it closely.
“Ugh…”
His wound throbbed painfully.
Consuming a Spirit Orb wouldn’t heal it, so he had to hurry.
“Load these onto the carriages, and mount your horses!”
‘With these Spirit Orbs and artifacts, I might finally be able to kill that bitch, Ju Sehwa.’
And perhaps…
…he could consume her spiritual power and use it to heal himself and even transform.
‘Yes, this time, I’ll succeed. I have to!’
The Mystic Ruler’s eyes burned with a desperate hope.
Everything would go according to plan.
Just as it always had in the history of the Mystic Clan!
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