CHAPTER 167: IT’S OVER

She rushed forward, the ground beneath her exploding as she launched herself straight toward the abomination.

It swung its enormous arm, a wave of corrupted energy rushing toward her like a storm.

Ling Yu met it head-on.

Her sword sliced through the dark surge, splitting it apart before it reached her. The shockwave shattered nearby branches and uprooted moss, scattering debris like dust in a hurricane.

She landed on one of the creature’s shadowy arms, running up its length with perfect balance. Each step she took burned through the darkness beneath her feet.

The creature roared, swiping at her again, but she leapt into the air, flipping forward. Her sword glowed brilliantly as she whispered a curse incantation under her breath, one that merged her curse with the Tree’s blessing.

"Consume... then purify."

Her sword plunged straight into the creature’s chest.

There was a blinding flash, half light, half darkness, followed by an earth-shattering scream that echoed through the entire forest.

The air rippled, and a shockwave burst outward, tearing through the clearing.

The corruption began to disintegrate, its dark form fracturing into countless shards that dissolved into faint dust. But as it vanished, a final surge of darkness erupted, slamming into Ling Yu’s body.

She gasped, feeling it seep through her veins.

Her knees hit the ground, her sword embedded in the soil beside her. The curse mark on her skin flared so brightly that it looked almost alive, the veins beneath her flesh glowing black and gold in alternating pulses.

Fluffy cried out from above, its wings fluttering in panic as it darted down toward her shoulder, pressing its tiny forehead to her cheek as if to comfort her.

The warmth from its glow clashed with the cold in her veins, and slowly, painfully, the black light began to dim.

Ling Yu’s breathing steadied, but she could still feel it, the lingering presence of the corruption she had absorbed. It was now a part of her.

She knew this outcome was inevitable, but even so, the weight of it settled heavily in her chest.

Still, she looked around the clearing, the once-red moonlight now replaced by soft, silvery glow. The roots of the World Tree no longer pulsed with darkness. The air was clear again.

She had done it.

"...It’s over," she murmured.

The silence that followed was almost sacred. The forest seemed to exhale, as if the land itself had been holding its breath.

Tiny motes of green light drifted down from the canopy, blessings from the spirits, silent thanks for her deed.

But Ling Yu’s gaze was distant.

The resonance with her curse was still there, faint, but insistent, whispering to her in the back of her mind. Every kill had strengthened it. Every absorbed soul had fed it.

And though she was victorious, she couldn’t shake the thought that maybe she had taken one step closer to losing control.

Her hand trembled slightly as she reached for her sword, pulling it from the earth.

The once-pure blade now had faint black veins running along its surface. She traced them with her thumb, expression unreadable.

Behind her, the soft rustling of leaves signaled that she wasn’t alone anymore.

"Damned woman!"

Nie Ziyu’s voice rang through the forest as she and the others finally caught up, their faces pale with worry. Song was right behind her, his sharp eyes scanning the destruction.

When they saw Ling Yu’s figure standing alone amid the broken clearing, their breath caught.

She looked ethereal, otherworldly; bathed in moonlight, her white cloak tattered, her hair a cascade of silver and black. But the aura surrounding her was unsettling. Half of it radiated warmth, life, and sanctity. The other half was deathly still, suffused with shadow.

Nie Ziyu was the first to move, rushing forward to steady her. "You— You did this all by yourself?"

Ling Yu glanced at her, her tone calm but weary. "It’s done. The corruption won’t return here."

Ye Qingxue’s eyes widened as she took in the sight of the broken ground and lingering traces of ash. "You fought that... thing alone?"

Ling Yu didn’t answer. Her silence was enough.

Xian Yu’s gaze lingered on her arm, on the black veins still faintly visible under her skin. His expression darkened.

He didn’t say anything, but the faint tightening of his jaw spoke volumes.

Finally, Ling Yu sighed softly. "It’s alright. The Tree’s spirit will heal the rest. I just need some time."

But when she turned away, none of them missed the slight stagger in her step.

Xian Yu moved before she could fall, catching her effortlessly.

Her body was cold, but she didn’t resist, just closed her eyes, her voice barely audible.

"I told you not to come..."

"And you told us not to worry, Mistress." Xian Yu replied quietly. "Guess neither of us listens well."

Fluffy chirped softly from her shoulder, its tiny paw brushing her cheek.

Ling Yu let out a weak laugh before her voice faded into a whisper.

"Then stay... until it’s quiet again."

The last thing she heard before she drifted into unconsciousness was the sound of the forest singing again, the soft hum of leaves brushing against one another, alive, renewed.

And deep beneath the roots of the World Tree, the echo of her curse pulsed faintly, a heartbeat intertwined with both light and shadow.

The moment Xian Yu slid his arm around Ling Yu’s waist to steady her, he could feel just how cold her skin was beneath the thin fabric of her battle-worn cloak. Her breathing was shallow, almost silent, as if her entire body had been wrung dry of energy. For someone who stood at the front of every battle, she looked unbearably fragile in that instant, pale lashes lowered, lips slightly parted as she exhaled faintly against the night air.

"Easy," Xian Yu murmured, adjusting her arm over his shoulder so she could lean more of her weight on him. A faint pulse of warm spiritual energy spread from his palm to her back.