"You are with a child, my lady," Hana whispered. She didn't know whether the words were meant to bring joy or sorrow.
Yue Rong's face crumpled. "It can't be," she murmured as tears slid down her cheeks. "I'm doomed, Hana." Her body trembled.
Hana held her hands tightly, trying to steady her. "Tell me what happened," she said gently. "You don't have to carry it alone."
Yue Rong's lips parted but no words came at first. When she finally spoke, her voice was barely audible.
"I… I did something terrible," she murmured. "And it turned back on me."
She wiped her tears with trembling fingers.
"I was drugged," she said slowly. "He said I asked for it… but I wasn't myself. I don't even know his name. I don't know where he came from. When it was over, he just left."
Hana's breath caught.
"What should I do?" Yue Rong asked, gripping Hana's sleeve tightly. "How do I raise a child when I don't even know who the father is?"
Hana's heart twisted at the sight of her breaking apart. She pulled her into her arms, and she cried against her shoulder.
Then suddenly, as fear rushed back into her chest, she pushed Hana slightly away and grabbed her hand, pressing it to her own chest.
"You might be wrong," she said desperately. "It was only once. I was unconscious. That shouldn't count, right? I might not be pregnant… right?"
Hana couldn't answer. Tears finally slipped from her eyes.
At that moment, the door opened.
Mister Ha entered the house just and the children ran into his arms.
"Where is your mother?" he asked gently.
"She's with Aunty," Ha Rin answered. "Aunty didn't eat and has been sleeping."
"Madam," he called as he walked toward the room. "I'm home."
The moment he stepped inside and saw the scene before him, he froze.
"What happened?" he asked quietly.
Hana looked at him with red eyes.
"She is pregnant," she said. "She was drugged. She doesn't know the father."
Yue Rong suddenly stood up in panic and staggered forward.
"I can get rid of it, right?" she cried. "There must be something I can take to wash it away. I don't want it!"
Mr. Ha's eyes filled with pity. He stepped forward and gently held her shoulders.
"The life is not yours to take," he said quietly. "The child is innocent. You cannot destroy another life because of someone else's mistake."
He looked at her firmly.
"My wife and I will take care of you. We will take care of the baby too. But please… don't try to harm it. You might lose your own life."
Those words shattered what little strength she had left.
Her knees gave way and she collapsed to the floor, crying openly now.
"Mimi… forgive me," she sobbed. "Forgive me…"
Her voice grew weaker with each word until she finally lost consciousness in Hana's arms.
---
Years had passed since Ji Woo began searching for a way to make herself and her husband, Fang Leng, immortal. She had slaughtered men, women, and even children in her desperation, yet every ritual ended in failure.
As darkness fell over the kingdom that night, Ji Woo stormed into the hidden chamber where she carried out her plots. Since Tian Yu's transformation had failed, her mind had grown even more unstable. She paced the room restlessly, trying to think of another method, another sacrifice, another forbidden spell.
Then, without warning, the air in the room shifted.
The space around her felt strange and heavy, sending a chill down her spine. A presence filled the room, dark and suffocating. Ji Woo slowly turned around.
And then she froze.
Standing behind her was a creature shaped like a man but clearly not human. He had rough skin, two curved horns on his head, and burning eyes filled with hunger. He looked terribly horrible and ugly that even Ji woo was a little terrified.
"What are you?" Ji Woo demanded, stepping back. "And what do you want here?"
The creature laughed loudly. "So this is the infamous Ji Woo," he said mockingly. "I never imagined you capable of fear."
Regaining her courage, Ji Woo straightened her back. "Say what you want," she snapped.
"I am here to help you," the creature replied.
Ji Woo's eyes narrowed. "Help me with what?"
"With what you desire most," he said calmly. "A life that will never end. An immortality neither man nor god can stop."
Her breathing slowed as she studied him. "And what do you want in return?"
"You and your bloodline will worship me forever," he answered with a smirk.
Ji Woo found the condition too simple. A slow smile curved her lips. "Then tell me," she said, "how do my husband and I gain immortality?"
"You must submit to me first," he said. "Kiss my arm."
Without hesitation, Ji Woo stepped forward and kissed his hand.
"From this moment on, you and your children belong to me," he declared, his laughter echoing around the chamber.
"There was once a dragon that terrorized the world," he said. "The three realms joined forces and destroyed it. But its egg survived. The Witch Queen hid it centuries ago."
"Find the egg," he said. "Hatch it with your husband using witch fire at the center of the earth."
Then his tone darkened. "But beware of the Great Seer."
With that final warning, the creature vanished.
After the creature vanished, Ji Woo left the chamber in silence and walked toward the throne room. The palace was quiet, yet the air carried a heavy, sickening smell.
She pushed open the heavy doors.
Fang Leng was there.
Several prisoners were forced to kneel before the throne, their hands bound, their bodies shaking violently. Fang Leng moved among them slowly, like a predator enjoying the wait. He lifted one victim by the chin, forcing the trembling face upward.
Then he leaned in.
A faint, unnatural sound escaped him as he sank his fangs into the prisoner's neck. Warm blood filled his mouth as he drank deeply. The prisoner's body stiffened, his eyes glazing over as his strength was pulled away with every swallow.
In moments, the life drained from his limbs. He released him at last, and the body collapsed to the floor like an empty shell.
One by one, he did the same to the others.
When the last body fell, lifeless and dry, Fang Leng straightened and wiped his mouth with the back of his hand. His eyes glowed faintly, his breath steady and satisfied.
"Always busy," he said calmly, without turning to her.
She scanned the lifeless bodies scattered across the floor and frowned.
"Do you really need to drink this much?" she asked.
Fang Leng chuckled, wiping his lips with his thumb. "I was just bored."
Ji Woo stepped over the the body without a hint of hesitation. She stopped in front of him, rose on her toes, and whispered against his ear, "You truly are a devil."
She tease pressing her lips to his, kissing the lingering blood from his mouth.
He finally looked at her, his lips faintly stained. "And you," he replied evenly, "still chasing illusions?"
"Illusion?" she murmured with a smirk." I have found a way"