Chapter Eighteen
Ling stood at the center of the battlefield, his breath heavy, his chest rising and falling with raw fury. Across from him, the King of Ryuu stood firm, his soldiers lined up behind him, awaiting his command. But Ling's golden eyes were fixed only on one person—Yuchen.
Yuchen stood beside the enemy king, his lips curled into a smug, devilish grin. His presence alone was enough to ignite the rage burning inside Ling. Memories flooded his mind—the boy who had once been his brother, the one who had always sought to outshine him, the one who had betrayed him.
Ling could still feel the sting of the enchanted blade Yuchen had driven into his flesh years ago. That betrayal had cost their parents' lives, had cost everything. Ling clenched his fists. He regretted sparing him back then.
Not this time.
This time, he would end Yuchen once and for all.
The battlefield was eerily silent for a moment, the tension suffocating. Then—
"ATTACK!"
Swords clashed, arrows rained from the sky, and the ground trembled beneath the force of battle.
Ling moved like a shadow, his bare chest glistening with sweat and streaks of blood, his sword an extension of his fury. The soldiers of Ryuu had fought in many wars, but they had never faced him. They had never witnessed the wrath of the Shadow King.
His eyes glowed red, his breathing deep and wild. He tore through enemy lines with terrifying ease, his blade slicing through armor, flesh, and bone. He fought like a demon unleashed, his movements precise, ruthless, unstoppable.
The soldiers of Ryuu hesitated—fear creeping into their eyes.
Yuchen's grin faltered as Ling charged toward him, blood staining his hands, his sword gleaming with death. Yuchen barely had time to react before Ling's blade met his.
"You should have killed me when you had the chance," Yuchen sneered, his voice dripping with arrogance.
Yuchen smirked, though his grip on his sword tightened. "I only wanted to be loved."
The words were barely out of his mouth when an arrow whistled through the air—thud! It pierced Yuchen's chest.
His eyes widened in shock. Blood dripped from his lips as he staggered back.
Ling watched as the betrayal came full circle. Someone from Ryuu had turned against Yuchen—the betrayer had been betrayed.
Yuchen let out a weak, bitter laugh. "So this… is how it ends."
Then he collapsed, lifeless.
Ling stood over his fallen body, gripping his sword tightly. He should have felt satisfied. He should have felt something. But all he did was stare.
"He deserved it," Ling muttered under his breath.
Jian, the commander of the guards, approached swiftly. "My king, winter is approaching fast. The King of Ryuu has escaped—badly wounded, but still alive. They are regrouping, but we have no time to chase them."
Ling exhaled sharply, his body finally feeling the toll of battle. Jian was right—they needed to return to Mora.
But then—
A sharp pain shot through Ling's side. Blood seeped from a deep wound he had barely noticed in the heat of war. His vision blurred slightly.
"My king," Jian said urgently. "You need medical attention. We must set up camp."
Ling clenched his jaw. Two weeks stood between them and Mora. The winter winds had already begun to bite at their skin.
But none of it mattered.
Because for the first time in years, he had avenged his past. And yet…
Something about Yuchen's final words haunted him.