The soldiers who regained their sanity through Yuyan stood confused, while the little children who had been kidnapped earlier clung to their mother, staring wide-eyed at their father. Even the woman herself was shaken, her gaze fixed on the man she had once trusted.
"He told those men to kidnap us," the younger child whispered, her voice trembling.
The man dropped to his knees, both legs sinking into the dirt as tears streamed down his face. Once, he had been a brave farmer, a good husband, a loving father. But Ji Woo's soldiers had taken him, broken him, and bound him with forbidden spells until he became nothing more than a puppet.
"My heart was not my own," he choked out, lifting his face to his wife. "They twisted my mind. Every step I took, every word I spoke—it wasn't me. I would never harm you… never our children."
"His voice cracked, his hands trembling as he reached for them, afraid they might push him away."
The woman's eyes welled with tears. She pulled her children closer, torn between fear and love. Slowly, the eldest child stepped forward and touched his father's arm. "Papa… you're back?"
The man broke down completely, gathering his children into his arms as his wife finally knelt beside him. The truth in his eyes and the warmth of his embrace told her enough.
One by one, the other men who had been freed by Yuyan's touch also fell to their knees, holding their families and weeping openly.
The farmer turned to them. Their voice tremble as they said "If not for you three, we would have be lost forever. You did not just fight for us—you gave us back our lives. How can we ever repay such a debt?"
"You owe us nothing," Yuyan said gently, her eyes softening. "Just live. Protect your families." That's all that matters "
After that, Yuyan led them to a hidden place. There, she lifted her hands and cast a spell. In a flash of light, they all disappeared from the battlefield and reappeared safely in Lianhua.
Meanwhile, far away, Ji Woo stirred. As her as Yuyan free some of the soldiers , one by one.
"Someone is breaking my spell," she hissed. Her voice grew sharper, echoing in the dark chamber. "Who dares play with fire? I am Ji Woo, the great witch who has survived both fire and time—the most powerful being in the world!" Her lips curled into a bitter smile. "I will destroy anyone who dares step on my toes."
Furious, she stormed into her spell room—a chamber heavy with shadows, filled with the relics and secrets of her craft. Shelves lined with forbidden scrolls as she entered. At the center of the room stood a massive crystal, draped in cloth. She tore the covering away, and the crystal pulsed to life with an eerie glow.
Whispering incantations, she waved her hand over it. The mist inside the crystal shifted, and slowly, the image of three figures appeared—Yuyan, Tian Yu, and Leng Yue, fighting fiercely against her soldiers.
Ji Woo's breath caught. Her eyes widened, and she staggered backward as if struck.
"M… Mei Lian," she whispered, her voice breaking. "She was born a witch. She still carries her power… and now she has reunited with Tian Yu…" Her hand shook, tears gathering in her eyes. "When I first saw her, I thought she was reborn an ordinary girl…"
For a moment, sorrow glimmered across her face. But in the next heartbeat, her tears burned away, replaced by fury.
"No," she snarled, her voice shaking with rage. "I must kill her. No matter what it takes
As Ji Woo stormed into the throne room, Fang Leng was nowhere to be seen. Her eyes narrowed, and with swift steps she turned toward their chamber.
Inside, she found him. Fang Leng was seated on the bed, a courtesan by his side. She poured wine into his cup, her delicate hands rubbing his chest while whispering sweet words into his ear.
Rage flared in Ji Woo's eyes. She strode forward, grabbed the courtesan by the arm, and dragged her away. Her fingers tightened, ready to strike and kill the girl on the spot.
But before she could act, a voice thundered through the room.
"Don't you dare."
Ji Woo froze, her grip faltering. That was not Fang Leng's voice. It was far different,
filled with menace. It was the voice of Hei Xiezhi, the Black Scorpion.
Her lips curled into a cruel smile. "And what if I kill her?" she asked, arching a brow.
"I will stab myself," Hei Xiezhi replied coldly.
Ji Woo rolled her eyes. "Then I'll simply look for another body."
Hei Xiezhi's voice sharpened with irritation. "Do you mean to say that if I stab myself now, you can easily save him? You should be grateful that I didn't kill you when I had the chance, witch."
Ji Woo's confidence faltered. She stammered,I will deal with you later." She turned and gave the courtesan a deadly stare before storming out of the chamber in frustration.
Fuming with rage, Ji Woo stormed into her spell room. She slammed the door shut and began chanting in a low, venomous tone. Her fingers traced symbols in the air as she prepared her ritual. Soon, she lit a stick of incense, its thick smoke curling upward. The sharp, bitter scent quickly filled the room, seeping into every corner like poison.
Hei Xiezhi's body began to tremble, his breaths turning ragged. His eyes flickered violently between his own will and the spell trying to bind him.
"Run!" he suddenly screamed, his voice breaking through—the tone so desperate and raw it startled the courtesan by his side.
She froze, staring at him wide-eyed. This wasn't the same man who had been whispering sweetly to her a moment ago. Fear gripped her heart. She staggered back, lips parting, but no sound came out.
Before she could move, fang Leng lurched forward. His hand clamped around her wrist with brutal force. In one swift motion, he yanked her close and sank his fangs deep into her neck.
Her scream died in her throat. Her body convulsed, her face draining of color as he drank her dry. Moments later, she hung limp in his arms, then, he threw her lifeless body on the ground.