When the Black Moon Rises - Chapter 212
Chapter 212
Their gazes met.
They knew what they had to do.
And they knew the consequences.
What could they possibly say in this situation?
The Red Dragon, its gaze fixed on Baek Giha, closed its majestic eyes.
The crimson flames that had burned away the darkness gradually subsided, the gleaming scales shrinking, fading, like weathered rock, revealing the red robe, the pale face, the dark eyes.
Even though the Red Dragon, a beacon of light amidst the darkness, was gone, she, bathed in a soft glow, overlooking them from within the barrier, was even more radiant.
Baek Giha didn't speak.
As the Red Dragon's aura faded, the miasma tried to cling to Sehwa, brushing against her clothes, her hair, despite her attempts to push it away with her spiritual power.
She spoke, her voice steady, her expression calm, hiding her fear, her hesitation.
"I…”
But her voice caught in her throat.
She paused, then continued, "I…”
But what could she possibly say?
That she was sorry for leaving him alone?
That it was a blessing he wouldn't remember her?
That there would be nothing left of her, like melting snow, while he would continue to live, to experience countless springs, alone, for eternity, and that it was a relief he wouldn’t remember her, wouldn’t have to suffer?
None of those words were meant for him.
She had to hide her emotions, she didn’t want to cry in front of all these people, but tears welled up in her eyes.
She knew she had to purify the miasma now, yet she couldn't tear her gaze away from him, from his beautiful face.
It was then.
“Sehwa!”
“My Lady!”
“Young Lady!”
The sound of hooves echoed across the plains, countless horses galloping towards them.
She turned, startled, and saw her two brothers leading the charge, their faces grim, their swords blazing with spiritual power.
They couldn't see inside the barrier, so all they saw was the darkness and Sehwa, her form shimmering, holding back the miasma.
And the black fog was now rushing towards them.
‘No!’
She waved her hand, and the barrier surrounding the riverside expanded, a wave of white light engulfing the newcomers, shielding them from the miasma.
“......”
But even though she had protected them, she couldn’t help but feel a sense of dread.
The miasma, pushed back by the expanding barrier, was now spreading even faster, outwards.
“!!”
Those who had just arrived, unaware of the situation within the barrier, were shocked to see the Ju Clan warriors lying on the ground, defeated, their bodies mangled, their will to fight broken.
They had rushed here, their faces grim, ready to fight, but the battle seemed to be over.
Just as their expressions softened slightly…
…someone, looking at the trembling Ju Clan warriors, cried out, “Yoonkyul!”
An elderly man jumped off his horse and rushed towards the Ju Clan warriors, his face etched with worry. He was one of the Ju Clan members who had been exiled and then returned with Elder Jayoon.
“Yoonkyul!”
He seemed oblivious to the miasma, to the red dragon in the sky, his eyes only for the warrior named Yoonkyul, his face flushed, his hand gripping the warrior’s arm.
“What are you doing here?! I heard you were doing well at the Mystic Ruler’s residence, that you had been promoted! Why are you here, like this?!”
‘Oh no, he knows the owner of this body…’
The Ju Clan warrior’s face twisted in dismay as the man shook his arm.
‘Damn it! Baek Giha is already talking about killing us all, and if they find out about the body switching, I’m finished!’
Spiritual power was everything to a Ju Clan warrior, but the Mystic Ruler hated sharing his Spirit Orbs, so when a favored warrior needed a new body, they would choose someone from the Ju Clan with a suitable level of spiritual power, just like Yoonkyul's.
And now, in this life-or-death situation, someone who knew him had appeared.
He was about to shake the man off, claiming that he was loyal to the Mystic Ruler, that he no longer had a father, when…
‘Wait…’
His expression changed.
‘This… could be an opportunity…’
He wasn’t sure if this man was his father or his uncle, but he seemed to care about him.
‘He must be on Baek Giha’s side, so if I act grateful, if I beg him to save my life, he might help me escape!’
Just as his eyes gleamed with a calculating glint…
…Elder Jayoon stepped forward and blocked his path.
“Are you Yoonkyul’s son?”
“Yes? Yoonkyul is my—”
He paused, his gaze meeting Elder Jayoon’s, then turned to the Ju Clan warrior, and said, “This is Elder Jayoon. Yoonkyul, greet your father’s superior.”
‘So it’s my father…’
The warrior quickly put on a distraught expression and said tearfully, “Elder Jayoon, I apologize for appearing before you like this. As Father said, I was just a servant in the Mystic Ruler’s residence, but they forced me to come here, saying they were short of warriors.”
“......”
“Father, I was dragged here against my will, and now they’re forcing me to fight! Please, save me! Please, Father!”
He sobbed convincingly, but Yoonchuk’s face paled, as did Elder Jayoon’s.
“…I suppose there are many familiar faces here…”
Elder Jayoon said, his voice cold, his gaze, hard and unforgiving, sweeping over the Ju Clan warriors.
“So it’s true… Elder Myoungyoon was telling the truth…”
“Father?”
“How dare you call me Father? You’re my younger brother.”
“!”
“You should have just pretended to have lost your memories. To take over my only brother’s body…”
The other Ju Clan members, their faces pale with shock, also rushed towards the Ju Clan warriors, desperately searching for their missing loved ones.
They had hoped Elder Myoungyoon had been mistaken, but he had been right. Their family members' bodies had been stolen.
Meanwhile, Baek Manyong, Ju Myoungyoon and Cheon Sua, their two sons, Youngsun, Youngmoo, and Choi Deokmun rushed towards Baek Giha.
“Clan Head!”
“Clan Head Baek, what’s going on?”
“What is that black miasma outside? What about the Corrupt Dragon?”
“We heard the explosions and thought you were fighting him, is he still hiding?”
“......”
Sehwa was still outside the barrier, and the Six Clans’ warriors were scattered, fighting the Ju Clan warriors, so it was natural for them to direct their questions to Baek Giha.
But he didn't answer, his gaze fixed on Sehwa, his expression unreadable.
Ju Myoungyoon’s lips were pressed into a thin line. He had assumed that things were going well since the dragon's massive form had disappeared from the sky, but he had a bad feeling about this.
Just then, Youngchae came running towards them, her face streaked with tears.
“Elder! Madam!”
Her voice was hoarse from crying.
“It’s my lady! She might die! She killed the Corrupt Dragon, that monster, but it unleashed its miasma before it died! Everything it touches rots and withers, and only she can purify it!”
She continued, her voice barely a whisper, “But… but… she’ll die if she does…”
She burst into tears, sobbing uncontrollably, “What do we do?! She’ll die if she purifies it! What do we do?!”
Those within earshot froze, their faces pale.
They had seen the miasma from afar, but had assumed that the battle was over, that everything was alright.
‘What… what is she saying…?’
They looked at the darkness outside the barrier, a wave of dread washing over them.
“How can she—”
Baek Manyong stammered, his voice trembling, when Ju Gahan suddenly shouted, “How can we expect Sehwa to deal with this alone?! She’s a Divine Beast now, yes, but how can we expect her to handle this by herself?!”
Ju Myoungyoon's face was grim.
“What did she need to purify it? Spiritual power?”
Ju Gayoon and Baek Manyong chimed in.
“I’ll give you my spiritual power! Let’s gather it from everyone here!”
“The Jang Clan’s spiritual power has healing properties! We might need it! I’ll go and get Clan Head Jang!”
“Sehwa.”
Cheon Sua looked up at her daughter.
“Is it true? What Youngchae said? Can only you purify the miasma, but you’ll die if you do?”
“......”
“Answer me!”
Sehwa, afraid her voice might tremble, just nodded.
Cheon Sua scoffed.
“Then don't do it! You don’t have to purify that filth!”
“…What?”
“There are countless mystics in the Mystic Realm, countless warriors here! Why should you sacrifice yourself?! Since when has the world revolved around you?!”
Her face, which had seemed calm, twisted with rage as she screamed, “Your life is the only solution?! Then let them all die! If they’re so dependent on you, then let them all die!”
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