When the Black Moon Rises - Chapter 128
Chapter 128
“You…!”
Before Yi Hong-cheon could even raise his baton, a man with a contorted face pushed through the crowd and stepped forward.
“Didn’t you say you would offer your life?!”
Those around him grabbed his arms, trying to restrain him.
But he, his lips trembling as if he were about to cry, shouted at the King again, “If you said you would offer your heart, then do it! You’re hesitating, that’s why it’s not raining!”
Even as the officials grabbed him and forced him to his knees, he continued to shout, “Come to your senses! We’re all going to die anyway! I’m about to start eating my own flesh and drinking my own blood! What’s there to be afraid of saying to the one responsible?!”
His words ignited a spark in the crowd, their expressions changing instantly.
“…That’s… right!”
“Right! Whose fault is this?!”
“Yes! If you said you’d offer it, then do it! The heavens are angrier because you’re all talk!!”
The plaza descended into chaos in seconds.
Stones, dirt, and shoes flew towards the altar, as if to vent their pent-up frustration.
It’s your fault!
This is all your fault!
King Ik-gwon, pushing aside the guards who tried to shield him, stood there and took the brunt of their anger.
Thud!
Crack!
He endured it silently, even as stones struck his forehead and dirty shoes hit his face.
No matter how much these stones hurt, nothing could hurt him more than the fact that he was helpless.
Nothing could be more frustrating and horrifying than his own powerlessness, forced to simply wait for this disaster to pass.
Tears welled up in King Ik-gwon's closed eyes. Another stone flew towards him.
It was at that moment.
Whoosh—!
A streak of light darted through the crowd.
Leaving a trail of radiant light in its wake, it landed before King Ik-gwon, spreading its massive wings.
Flash!
“!!”
The enraged crowd froze, their eyes wide with surprise.
‘…W-What… is that?’
A bird, of a size and shape they had never seen before, circled protectively around King Ik-gwon, crying out.
“—!”
Each cry unleashed a burst of five-colored energy, shattering the incoming stones and shoes.
As everyone stared, their breath caught in their throats, a sudden silence fell over the plaza.
Tap, tap. Light footsteps echoed through the silence.
A woman, enveloped in the same radiant light as the bird, walked towards them, her expression calm, a stark contrast to the chaotic scene.
The crowd, which had been blocking the path to the altar, parted like waves, retreating hesitantly.
As the woman raised her right hand, the bird circling King Ik-gwon took flight.
It landed lightly on her arm, as if weightless.
The anger in the crowd’s eyes dissipated, replaced with bewilderment.
What was that?
While she had a human form, no one thought of her as human.
‘…She’s here.’
King Ik-gwon’s lips trembled as he looked at Sehwa.
‘Oh my god. She’s here.’
The one who had told him to prepare for the rain ritual in three days…
The one who had promised to stop those monsters…
‘…She really came!’
King Ik-gwon’s legs gave way, and he collapsed to the ground.
He didn’t even try to get up, just stared at Sehwa, approaching him, enveloped in a divine light.
“I’m a little late. I apologize.”
King Ik-gwon shook his head as she drew near.
“…Not at all.”
Just her presence…
The fact that she had kept her promise and appeared…
“There’s no need to apologize.”
She smiled, looking at the speechless King Ik-gwon.
“Don’t worry. I won’t let this continue.”
A gentle smile graced her lips.
Leaving the King, who looked as if he were about to cry, Sehwa walked towards the altar.
Reaching the top of the high platform, she ran her slender, white fingers over the first chest.
They were the same chests Choi Deokmun had placed in the backyard of the Minister of Rites’ residence.
The light surrounding her body transferred to the chest like fire.
As the first chest began to burn, she touched the surface of the second chest.
The second chest was also engulfed in spiritual flames.
And then the next, and the next.
After imbuing all the chests with her spiritual power, she stood at the top of the altar and looked down.
Everyone below was looking at her, their eyes filled with a faint glimmer of hope.
As if sensing their hope, a dark red spiritual power fluctuated in the distance, in the direction of the Lake of Blood.
‘—!!’
The spiritual power writhed in agony.
Like a serpent that had failed to ascend to the heavens and fallen back to earth, it thrashed about before turning its head towards her.
Its gaze, filled with a fiery red spiritual power, met Sehwa's.
She sent the bird flying, as if to protect the people watching her.
As the giant bird enveloped the people with its light, the world was plunged into darkness.
A massive, red spiritual power blazed like hellfire in the darkness.
And at the edge of the flames, a figure stood.
Not human, nor mystic.
A gigantic, terrifying figure, made of an ominous energy that made their breath catch in their throats.
Its eyes, slitted vertically like a snake’s, scanned Sehwa.
—We finally meet, Myoungyoon’s daughter.
Sehwa watched with sharp eyes as the figure approached her slowly, a relaxed expression on its face.
She had had a slight hope.
That there would be something wrong with him, since he was unable to reveal himself openly and had to resort to stealing the lives of humans.
That she would be able to handle him even without Baek Giha.
But the Corrupt Dragon's power, witnessed firsthand, was far more terrifying than she had imagined.
Even a fully awakened Divine Beast would struggle against him, let alone her, who hadn’t even fully awakened yet.
‘…But I can’t lose.’
So she had no choice but to try.
“You know me?”
—Me?
The Corrupt Dragon’s gaze sharpened.
—Such impudent words. How can you be so confident when you haven’t even fully transformed into a Divine Beast? What will you do if I tear you apart right now? Ah, are you relying on the Baek Clan Head?
“......”
—If so, I’m deeply disappointed. Do you think he can defeat me? Haven’t you noticed that something is wrong with his spiritual power?
His lips curled into a sneer amidst the flames.
Those foolish mystics might be praising the half-baked Baek Clan Head, but they couldn’t fool him.
The Baek Clan Head’s spiritual power was like a patchwork of torn pieces, forcibly stitched together.
Having massacred enemy warriors to gain the upper hand in the war against the Ju Clan, Baek Giha’s power was also declining.
He must be suffering a pain akin to having his limbs slowly torn apart.
At the Corrupt Dragon’s mocking words, Sehwa’s gaze flickered briefly in Baek Giha’s direction.
‘…You have to stay healthy.’
The words she had heard long ago echoed in her mind, now directed at someone else.
It had been before she had turned back time, when she had been staying at the Baek Clan.
Just before she was to return to the Ju Clan, he had rushed out to her after having been absent for a day, blocking her path and speaking hurriedly,
“You have to… stay healthy. Understand? You have to stay healthy.”
Baek Giha probably hadn’t realized the look in his eyes as he looked at her.
He had pleaded with her not to get sick, not to be sad, his words like a prayer.
Even now, after turning back time and changing everything, Sehwa knew that Baek Giha still whispered those words to her whenever she was asleep.
Sehwa had realized that something was wrong with his spiritual power from the white tiger she had met during her transformation.
So she had healed him with the Blue Turtle’s spiritual power, believing she had completely cured him.
But it wasn't something that could be fixed so easily.
The flaw within him would disappear temporarily, only to resurface later.
She now knew the reason.
That was why she had to keep Baek Giha away from this place.
By telling him that the Ju Clan warriors might sense the spiritual fluctuations and come through the gate, asking him to block it with a barrier, and pushing him away.
She had even given him her Spirit Orb, just in case something happened to her.
She had said that the Spirit Orb would tell him if something happened to her.
She knew it was foolish.
At a time like this, when she had to face the Corrupt Dragon, when she needed every ounce of spiritual power, even the slightest difference could cost her life.
But…
“You’re wrong. I never intended to rely on him to fight you.”
Closing her eyes, sensing the energy of the countless Spirit Stones prepared on the altar, Sehwa drew upon her power.
A five-colored light blazed like a beacon in the darkness.
“So, from beginning to end, you’ll be facing me.”
—What? Do you already know…?
She now knew how he had felt when he spoke those words to her. Because she felt the same way.
She didn't want him to get hurt, just like he didn't want her to.
She would give her life to protect him from even the slightest scratch.
Her anxieties remained, heavy as mountains.
She couldn't guarantee her own survival against the Corrupt Dragon’s flames.
But just thinking of him…
“You have to stay healthy.”
‘Yes.’
“Don't get sick, and don’t be sad.”
‘Yes.’
Just thinking of his trembling voice, and the way he always smiled back at her, protecting her…
‘Yes.’
…made her feel like she could do anything.
Just like now.
The light surrounding the Spirit Stones blazed fiercely.
Even if the Corrupt Dragon was far more powerful than her.
Even if it meant facing death.
“So try and tear me apart.”
She wasn’t afraid.
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