Chapter 195: The end of the Beginning

The words sent a chill through Ru Yi’s body, it made her stomach turn. Her thoughts immediately returned to the nightmares that had plagued her, to the battlefield she had found herself in. and ultimately...to the triplets lying dead in front of her.

"What do you mean I have a weapon inside me?" she asked, confusing marring her features.

She had thought the shadow was nothing more than a manifestation of a split soul after transmigrating into her current world. At least that was how she understood it.

Now, she wasn’t so sure anymore.

"The shadow is independent of the body it possesses," General Sheng explained without giving away too much. "It all depends on who’s controlling it."

"Someone else can control it?"

"That’s the whole point." General Sheng looked toward the mountains ahead. "It can be used to consume spiritual energy. It can tear through protective formations, enter another person’s shadow and sever the connection between their body and their cultivation."

Ru Yi’s blood ran cold. "And if someone were powerful enough to control it?"

General Sheng finally looked at her. "They could turn armies into corpses without drawing a sword."

Ru Yi stopped breathing. That was why he wanted her.

Not because of Ashen Fortress...that wasn’t his end goal. But because he wanted the power inside her while using the Eclipse relic.

General Sheng leaned closer. "And you are going to help me awaken it." For the first time a predatory grin spread across his face. "In return I’ll give you all the power in the world. You’ll be able to rule by my side.

Ru Yi shook her head. "No. I’m not going to help you be a power craze tyrant."

His expression remained calm. "It’s time to finally show everyone who ever looked down on you what you’re capable of.

Ru Yi could see through his emotional manipulation. "Don’t play games with me. I’m not going to be a part of your dirty work."

"You don’t have a choice."

They finally made it to the ruined courtyard. Two soldiers escorted her while General Sheng followed a few steps behind, his expression unreadable as the order was given for the army to withdraw.

One by one, the soldiers surrounding Ashen Fortress began lowering their weapons and retreating toward the mountain road, leaving behind the wounded, the broken siege equipment, and the devastation they had caused.

Ru Yi kept looking back.

She saw the children gathered inside the castle, their frightened faces peering through the windows. She saw Officer Liang helping the wounded soldiers toward the remaining shelters.

But none of them looked in her direction. But Qingyue was the one Ru Yi searched for. She finally saw her standing atop the damaged wall, perfectly still as she watched the soldiers take Ru Yi away.

Their eyes met.

Ru Yi’s lips parted, but Qingyue looked away.

Something inside Ru Yi cracked.

General Sheng’s carriage waited beyond the gates, its dark wooden frame decorated with the crest of his family and drawn by four powerful horses. One of his soldiers opened the carriage door, but Ru Yi stopped before stepping inside.

"Lets be clear before we leave," Ru Yi told General Sheng. "I’m only following you because I don’t want these people to get hurt. But whatever your plan with the Eclipse relic is, I’m not a part of it."

Sheng glanced at her. "You don’t understand what you’re refusing."

"I understand perfectly." Her voice shook, but she forced herself to meet his gaze. "You want to turn whatever is inside me into a weapon. I won’t help you do that."

Officer Sheng’s expression remained calm. "You would rather watch the people you care about suffer then?"

Ru Yi’s eyes moved toward the fortress. "They already suffered because of me."

For the first time, something cold entered General Sheng’s expression. "Very well." He turned toward his soldiers. "Burn it all to the ground."

Ru Yi froze. "What?"

"The fortress." General Sheng looked towards the Western tower. "There’s no need for me to keep my end of the bargain if you won’t keep yours."

His soldiers immediately began moving.

"Wait!" Ru Yi stepped away from the carriage. "But you said you were retreating."

"I am."

General Sheng looked at her. "But I never promised to leave the fortress standing."

Ru Yi stared at him in horror as soldiers began carrying torches toward the abandoned buildings. "You can’t do this. The condition was that I would go with you and you’ll call off your soldiers."

"True. But you’re of no use to me if you won’t coperate." General Sheng’s gaze shifted toward the fortress. "The people will live. The fortress will not."

The first torch struck the wooden roof of an abandoned building and flames caught immediately.

Ru Yi’s breath caught as smoke began curling into the sky. "No." She turned toward the gates. "Stop!"

Sheng caught her arm before she could run.

Ru Yi fought against his grip. "Let me go!"

"You’re leaving with me."

"They’re still in there!" The sight was even more horrific as the fire started to spread. "Everyone will die," she cried.

"So will you, if you continue resisting."

Another building caught fire. Then another.

The flames spread rapidly through the old wooden structures, climbing toward the towers that had survived centuries of war.

Ru Yi watched helplessly as the place Qingyue had sworn to rebuild began burning around the people she had grown to love. She saw Lieyin rush toward the flames. She saw Yexue pull soldiers away from a collapsing building.

And finally, she saw Qingyue standing on the wall as smoke surrounded her.

Ru Yi screamed her name. "QINGYUE!"

Qingyue looked toward her. For one terrible moment, neither of them moved. Then Qingyue turned away first.

General Sheng opened the carriage door. "Get inside."

Ru Yi’s tears fell freely now. Just hours ago she’d slept in the arms of the women she loved. Now, she was leaving behind a fortress in flames and the three women who had once been her home.

As the carriage began to move, Ru Yi pressed her hand against the window and watched Ashen Fortress disappear behind the smoke.

Fine.

If General Sheng wanted the monster inside her, then he was going to discover one very important thing. It belonged to her. And she would rather destroy herself than allow him to control it.