When the Black Moon Rises - Chapter 115
Chapter 115
She had no choice.
From Sehwa’s perspective, her mother's actions weren't those of someone considering the consequences.
It was the same as when Sehwa herself had knocked over the tray of Fatal Fragment poison at the execution ground in her past life.
Her mother had resolved to die. Thinking she would die here, she was making one last attempt to inflict as much damage as possible.
‘No…’
Her mother was a woman of action, so she might bite her tongue in this moment of confusion.
The horrifying events of her past life, the image of her parents’ heads being severed, blood spurting everywhere, seemed to engulf her vision once more.
‘No!’
However, she couldn't reveal her presence just yet.
She was prepared for her identity to be revealed in the process of carrying out her plan, but she couldn't become known as an enemy of the Ju Clan before finding her brothers.
So, Sehwa swung her un-nocked bow with all her might at the head of the warrior who had escorted her mother.
Crack—!!
Blood splattered with a sickening thud, as if she had struck him with a rock.
The warrior collapsed without a sound.
The poisonous powder spread like fog, quickly obscuring their vision.
However, despite witnessing this, none of the warriors filling the courtyard felt a sense of crisis.
This kind of poisonous powder wasn't a big deal to them.
All they had to do was hold their breath, close their eyes, and use their spiritual power to dispel the powder.
But then…
Crack—!
Whoosh!!
A sudden gust of wind followed the sound of shattering stone.
Those who had reflexively opened their eyes at the unfamiliar presence screamed as they saw a whirlwind of dust and poisonous powder rushing towards them.
“Aaargh!”
“Uwaaagh!”
Before they could even summon their spiritual power, the warriors, their eyes stinging from the powder, clutched their faces and collapsed.
“Oh my god! Someone’s there! Protect the Mystic Ruler!”
Clang!
Sharp blades, aimed in all directions, flashed through the hazy smoke.
Even though they could barely see, the warriors formed a protective circle around the Mystic Ruler, their swords drawn.
“Madam! Come this way!”
The guards pulled the Mystic Ruler towards them, and the Fifth Madam’s maids also formed a protective circle around Ju Suyeon.
“You too, come here!”
Even as she hid among her maids, Ju Suyeon didn’t let go of Cheon Sua and pulled her along.
“Damn it! The poison won’t disperse!”
“Move!”
A warrior, who seemed to be a high-ranking officer, pushed aside those in front of him and unleashed his spiritual power.
A surge of deep red energy erupted, and the poisonous powder around him quickly dispersed.
But that was all. The hazy, fog-like powder, as if alive, flowed back towards them.
“Gasp!”
“Ugh!”
Several warriors, caught off guard by the dispersing smoke, clutched their throats and coughed up blood.
Thud! Thwack!
Meanwhile, the sound of shattering stone continued to erupt from among the warriors who had escorted Cheon Sua.
“Southeast!”
“No, west!”
The high-ranking officer who had escorted Cheon Sua also flinched as he heightened his senses.
Even though he hadn’t sensed anything, something had kicked him in the side.
Thud!
“Ugh!”
He gasped, a sharp pain, as if his insides were bursting, momentarily taking his breath away.
Just as he felt his mind clouding over, something struck the back of his neck.
“!!”
“G…ah…”
As the sounds grew closer, the Mystic Ruler’s withered face turned pale.
No matter how much spiritual power he used, the poisonous powder refused to disperse.
‘This is insane…’
It wouldn’t disperse even with his spiritual power?
Then there was only one person who could do this.
‘Baek Giha! Baek Giha is here!’
“What are you all doing! Protect me and retreat! Hurry!”
‘Baek Giha! That bastard!’
He didn’t understand why Baek Giha, whom he thought had returned to the Baek Clan, was here.
But if he was trying to assassinate him amidst the chaos…
‘We can’t deal with him if we’re panicking like this!’
“Mystic Ruler! This way! I’ll escort you!”
His throat burned as if on fire from having inhaled slightly while speaking.
But there was no time to lose.
The guard focused his spiritual vision, prepared to be blinded.
“The rest of you, cover the rear! Don't let them follow us! Understand?!”
Just then, the Fifth Madam rushed towards the source of the commotion.
“Take me with you, Mystic Ruler! Take me!”
She ran as if flying, clutching Cheon Sua by the neck, and jumped into the midst of the Mystic Ruler’s warriors.
Having recently switched bodies, she lacked the spiritual power to react properly.
‘Why couldn’t she go somewhere else? Why does she have to drag me along?’
The Mystic Ruler grimaced, taking advantage of the moment when his vision was obscured.
But he couldn't reveal his true feelings unless he was certain that this woman would die here.
“Of course, we’ll go together. Come this way!”
Deciding they needed to escape the poisonous powder first, they hurriedly retreated.
“Mount your horses!”
“The rest of you, cover the rear!”
Blood trickled down Sehwa’s lips, bitten in frustration, amidst the chaotic scene.
The poisonous powder was blocking the enemy's vision, but it was also blocking hers.
She had manipulated the wind so that she could see and breathe without difficulty, making her situation slightly better than the enemies’, but that was all.
The Ju Clan’s suppression seal was a vicious artifact that gradually drained the wearer’s life force, and it couldn't be broken without the key.
If she let them escape now, even if she rescued her mother, she would lose her again soon.
Sehwa asked Baek Giha, who had followed her into the chaos and was frantically searching the clothes of the unconscious warriors, “Do you have it?!”
“No!”
Her face contorted at his answer.
“Execute her!”
“Carry out the sentence!”
Rage surged through her, as if she were once again facing that helpless situation where their deaths were being called for.
“I heard a voice! Over there!”
Those who had been outside the residence, hearing the commotion, rushed in, adding to the chaos.
‘This isn’t working.’
She couldn't waste any more time. If she did, she might lose her mother without finding the key amidst the confusion.
Gritting her teeth, Sehwa gathered all the power within her, ignoring the risk of transforming into a white tiger.
This was the first time she had done this.
Until now, she had never unleashed all her spiritual power like this, worried about revealing her mixed spiritual powers.
Crimson flames and blue waves of spiritual power erupted.
White whirlwinds and golden raindrops of spiritual power swirled around her.
‘Ah…’
Sehwa moaned softly, embracing the power surrounding her.
What was this?
How could she describe this feeling?
It felt as if pillars connecting the heavens and the earth were rising from her body.
A dizzying sense of exhilaration.
A fear that she might lose herself within this immense power.
And then, in an instant, Sehwa transformed into a streak of light and shot forward.
The dust and poisonous powder that had been obscuring her vision parted like waves, scattering around her.
A trail of sparkling power, like a river of light, pushed everything aside.
The Mystic Ruler’s warriors, pouring into the residence, were also swept away by the powerful force, collapsing without even a scream.
How could he describe the sight of Sehwa unleashing that power?
Baek Giha stared blankly for a moment, mesmerized.
It was Sehwa, it was definitely her, but he couldn’t find the words to describe what he was seeing.
Part human, part beast.
She resembled a dragon, and a white tiger.
A deer, and a completely new being, unknown to the world.
That being, pushing aside everything in its path, charged forward.
Its eyes, fixed on its target, shone with a bright, white light.
The Fifth Madam frantically rode her horse with Cheon Sua in front of her.
At this moment, the fact that she had come here to take care of First Madam…
The thought that she wouldn't survive if she returned alone without the First Madam…
None of it crossed her mind.
Even though Cheon Sua, whom she had knocked unconscious before bringing her here, was a burden, Ju Suyeon had no intention of abandoning her.
She had a feeling.
That whatever had attacked the residence had come for this woman.
‘Damn it, if only I hadn’t switched bodies… if only I could use my spiritual power properly…’
The Fifth Madam, cursing herself for switching bodies at the wrong time, continued to ride forward.
But why…
“Gasp… gasp…”
The warriors were blocking the rear, and the residence, filled with screams, was getting further and further away…
Even though she was escaping so quickly, why didn't she feel safe?
‘Is it because I have this bitch with me? Does that thing think it’s chasing me?’
It was then.
“It’s… it’s coming! It’s coming!”
Someone screamed from behind the Mystic Ruler’s procession.
“Aaargh!”
“Ugh!”
Screams followed before they could even draw their swords.
What was that? What was going on?!
She wondered how many were chasing them, how strong they were, who they were… but the Fifth Madam continued to ride without looking back.
She was worried that even a moment's hesitation would allow the attacker to reach her.
But then…
She saw the Mystic Ruler stopped in the distance.
The old man was looking back at her, as if he hadn't even thought of running away.
His withered eyelids blinked, as if he couldn't believe what he was seeing.
Finding it strange, the Fifth Madam instinctively looked back.
“!!!!”
It was only a momentary lapse in her focus.
But that moment of carelessness changed her fate.
“W-What… what is that?!”
Whatever it was, shining in various colors, chasing her with terrifying speed, caught up with her and engulfed her.
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