When the Black Moon Rises - Chapter 215
Chapter 215
When she regained consciousness, she was looking down upon the world.
Her vision had completely changed in an instant.
The sight of a small bird was hers, as was the sight of the wind struggling to cross the corruption-filled land, brushing against dry branches.
The grand harmony and immutable principles that governed the world appeared before her eyes, readable like letters.
Explosive Spiritual Power welled within her.
However…
“Baek Giha!!”
He wasn’t in this world.
Even borrowing the eyes of the world, she couldn't find him.
The immense power surged within her, as if welcoming Sehwa.
It seemed to whisper that this world was hers for the taking.
But without him… without being able to find him even with this Spiritual Power…
‘What use is this power?’
No matter how vast this power was, what it could do, or how it should be used, none of it mattered to her.
In the distance, the figures of her enemies flashed past.
“Display the heads of the traitors in the square! Tear their bodies to shreds and throw them to the dogs!”
She still suffered from nightmares from time to time.
On rainy days or dark nights, voices that seemed impossible to erase relentlessly tormented her ears.
But despite her hatred, even the sight of her enemies didn't register in Sehwa’s eyes at this moment.
“Where are you? Can you hear me?! You, where are you?!”
What had that beast done to him?
Even the Reverse Scale couldn't protect him in that situation, so had he perhaps been annihilated within the light?
The thought of his last moments, battered and wounded, drove Sehwa to the brink of madness.
She cried out.
“Baek Giha!!”
Transparent tears streamed down her face. She screamed his name without rest until her face was flushed red.
But the world was too vast, and she was too small. Her voice felt like it would never reach anyone.
“Please, give him back.”
Tears streamed down her face as she pleaded.
Was it because she had refused the great mission given to her by heaven?
I don't need anything.
Not this power, not this world, none of it.
I need him.
The more she rejected the power, the more her existence faded.
The immense power that had filled her body disappeared, and her physical form became transparent, as if it might vanish at any moment.
Once again, the bright waterfall appeared, as if to swallow her whole.
Even seeing it, she wasn’t afraid.
Revenge, her mission, none of it mattered to her now.
No matter what was happening to her, only one worry filled her mind.
Then, something soft touched her cheek.
She turned to see a giant White Tiger with warm eyes looking at her.
“You…”
A smaller Red Dragon came and stood beside Sehwa.
Far away, an Azure Dragon/Turtle, straining with every fiber of its being, was approaching, though it was hard to tell if its desperate crawling could be called running.
Beside it, a Golden Stag signaled its presence with elegant eyes.
“You guys…”
The turtle and stag, having breathlessly approached, passed her by.
Narrowing their eyes in acknowledgment as they ran forward, they jumped into the waterfall without looking back.
“!!”
Meanwhile, the Red Dragon and White Tiger also left her and approached the waterfall.
The Red Dragon, too, jumped into the waterfall without looking back at her.
The last remaining White Tiger turned around before the waterfall.
It blinked quietly, its gaze filled with various emotions as it looked at her.
Its blue eyes curved gently as it gazed at her.
With a peaceful expression, it willingly threw itself into the waterfall.
They became pure white light and merged with the enormous waterfall.
Then, a brilliant white light exploded from the waterfall, so bright she couldn't open her eyes.
Her surroundings rapidly receded, and the wind against her face made it hard to even keep her eyes open.
When she opened her eyes again, there was nothing around her.
Not her enemies, not the world, not the waterfall, not the harmony and immutable principles.
Nothing but a tiny, yet brightly shining soul.
Oh my god.
“You!”
She flew towards the soul and embraced it.
A warm, gentle warmth emanated from the small soul.
How could she not recognize it?
Why are you in this form? Why are you here like this?
Seeing this man waiting for her here, in this state, made her feel faint.
“…Why are you alone in a place like this?”
Transparent, hot tears poured down Sehwa’s face once more.
“…Do you regret becoming like this?”
Hot emotions welled up within her, constricting her throat, making it hard to breathe.
“Thank you” felt too insignificant, and “I’m sorry” felt even more so. She didn't know what to say.
“Baek, Giha.”
But now, it was alright.
Now that she had found his soul, she had nothing more to wish for.
At that moment, as all her desires and aspirations vanished, her world turned upside down once again.
Afraid of dropping his soul, she quickly tucked it inside her clothes and held it tight.
Warm light filled her surroundings, and remnants of the immense power lingered around them.
Amidst the halo of light, feeling their souls mingling, a gentle smile bloomed on Sehwa's tear-stained face.
“Can you hear me?”
She whispered softly, her red lips parting.
“These clothes, they were wedding clothes. You knew, right?”
On the day of the battle, she had donned red ceremonial robes that resembled a wedding dress.
It was completely inappropriate attire for the battlefield.
But just as the Corrupt Dragon had said, if she was to die alone, forgotten by everyone, she wanted to disappear as his wife.
But how had he known and appeared wearing white robes reminiscent of a man's wedding attire?
In the end, they had ridden at the forefront of the warriors, side-by-side, in their white and red robes.
The memory brought a smile to her face, and she decided to share a secret she had kept hidden.
“You asked me once. When did I start liking you?”
It was before resolving the drought in the Human Realm, when they were checking the Spirit Stones for the Rain Ritual.
Tricked by her companion, she had declared that she liked the Baek Clan the most, and after that, she had to endure Baek Giha’s rather persistent questioning.
When did you start liking me? Did you think of me even a little while you were in the Baek Clan?
As the questions continued, she couldn’t help but think about it, even though she tried not to.
When had it been?
“Look. That’s the man I was talking about. What do you think?”
From the time Jung Chihwa, disguised as a man, had pointed at someone with a glance and asked that question.
“I hate the Baek Clan.”
“Huh?”
“I really hate the Baek Clan.”
From the time she had answered like that, her lips set in a firm line.
Yes, it was from that time. She had been aware of him even then.
“Look. He's still looking. I told you he was looking at us.”
That gaze had felt good.
As if sharing a secret, she whispered the events of that day to the soul in her arms.
When I went to the Baek Clan and met you again, I recognized you that day too. I was actually quite embarrassed to meet you in such a disheveled state, after being bullied by the Baek Clan members.
In that short, comforting moment, as if time flowed only for them, she poured out her heart.
Everything around her was warm, and he was with her, in her arms.
As if she would never lose this soul, even if it meant making many mistakes.
Holding him tightly in her embrace, she closed her eyes.
The riverside, thick with black corruption and the stench of decay, was in ruins.
As if all the world's sorrow had gathered there, loud wails filled the air outside the five-colored pillar of light.
“Sehwa!”
“Clan Head!”
“Young Lady!”
Parents who had watched their young child go to their death.
Brothers who had watched their beloved younger sister disappear.
Sisters who had watched their precious young lady vanish.
And vassals who had lost their lord, whom they cherished more than their own lives, all wept together.
“No! No!!”
Among them, Ju Myoungyoon’s cries were the most heart-wrenching.
He had already heard what his daughter had gone through in the past. He knew all the hardships she had endured to save everyone and set things right.
And now, his daughter was trapped inside that pillar of light.
How could he not understand what that massive pathway of Spiritual Power surrounding Sehwa signified?
And who here didn't know what the Baek Clan Head had been thinking when he jumped inside before the pillar solidified?
“Sehwa. Sehwa!”
Ju Myoungyoon, his trembling hands clutching the dry earth, bowed his head to the ground.
To sacrifice you like this again… To lose you again, after you struggled so hard to save everyone…
Even if his internal organs were torn apart while he was still alive, it wouldn't be as painful as this.
As everyone collapsed, sobbing and wailing, Baek Manyong stood silently, staring at the white pillar.
He knew.
How resourceful his Clan Head was.
How accurate and quick his judgment was.
If the Clan Head, after entrusting him with the aftermath, had jumped inside, it meant he believed there was absolutely no chance of survival.
It meant he had accepted that he would never return.
“…Clan Head.”
He clenched his fists so tightly that his nails dug into his flesh.
‘How could this happen? How could this be?’
He desperately swallowed the emotions that threatened to erupt if he relaxed even slightly.
Hadn’t the Clan Head finally found a place to belong?
He had just begun to think about his own life, just begun to find a little happiness.
He had finally found a place to rest his heavy, burden-laden shoulders.
But no matter how much everyone screamed their names until their throats were raw, the pillar of light, firmly embracing those inside, showed no sign of dispersing.
Baek Manyong squeezed his eyes shut and then opened them again.
‘I can't just sit here and do nothing.’
That was right. He was the Baek Clan’s one and only Chancellor, entrusted by the Clan Head.
“Here is my seal, and the locations of all the Spirit Orbs and Spiritual Energy that control the barriers and seals. Keep them safe.”
“If anything happens to me, if I cannot return, take these and lead the clan. You will be the head of the Baek Clan then. Do you understand?”
‘No. No matter what happens, I am the Chancellor who serves the Clan Head.’
So please…
Blood flowed from between his tightly clenched teeth, but Baek Manyong didn't even feel the pain.
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