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#440 - Chapter 174: The Red-robed Woman's Farewell

When Liu Yuan returned to the ruins of the Great Wall, it was already dusk. In the distance, two women were supporting each other as they walked towards him. They were dressed in bright red robes, making them particularly eye-catching. As they got closer, he recognized them as Melisandre and Kinvara, priestesses of R'hllor.

At this moment, half of an ice spear was lodged in Melisandre's chest, the tip of the spear deeply embedded in her body. Strangely, her mental state was unusually excited. She suddenly broke free from Kinvara's support and leaned forward with all her might. She snatched the ruby necklace from her neck and unhesitatingly placed it in Kinvara's hands. Then, she continued to walk heavily in the snow, each step appearing particularly laborious.

Under Liu Yuan's astonished gaze, Melisandre's skin began to age at an alarming rate. Her once smooth and delicate skin gradually became rough, and wrinkles spread like spiderwebs. In a matter of seconds, she transformed from a mature woman in her thirties into a hundred-year-old woman with a wrinkled face and a weathered appearance. Her vibrant red hair instantly lost its luster, turning gray and falling out strand by strand. Her eyes were sunken, her lips were chapped, and her teeth began to loosen. When she was about twenty steps away from Liu Yuan, she suddenly knelt down, her shriveled head revealing a bizarre smile towards him. This smile sent shivers down his spine.

Immediately afterward, a faint red glow gradually dissipated from her body, as if drawn away by an invisible force. Finally, Melisandre collapsed powerlessly to the ground. With a soft crackling sound, her body quickly turned into a pile of ashes, scattered on the snow. Surprisingly, her red robe remained intact, without any signs of damage or burning.

Liu Yuan felt bewildered, unable to understand what had just happened. Was this a unique form of self-immolation practiced by followers of the Lord of Light? This method of death left him utterly perplexed, and he frowned as he stared at Melisandre's remains, his mind filled with questions and confusion. Kinvara, who had witnessed Melisandre's death, wore a solemn expression, her eyes gleaming with unwavering resolve.

As Liu Yuan approached, Kinvara suddenly knelt down, clasped her hands together, and prayed to him with utmost devotion. Her voice was filled with reverence and awe as she loudly proclaimed, "Great Galon, you are indeed the prince who was promised! You have not only slain the Night King but also reclaimed my Lord's artifact, 'Lightbringer'. Please accept my respect and loyalty!"

Liu Yuan looked at her in confusion, unsure why she was reacting in such a way. He raised 'Lightbringer' in his hand, pointed it towards Melisandre's ashes, and asked sternly, "Can you explain what's going on here? The war is won, why would she do this?"

Kinvara hesitated for a moment, seemingly contemplating how to answer. Finally, she took a deep breath and said slowly, "Lord Galon, I am deeply saddened by what happened to Melisandre. She sustained severe injuries in the previous battle and was in critical condition. Despite our best efforts to heal her, her injuries were too severe to recover from. Knowing that her time was short, she chose to return to the embrace of my Lord. This was her personal decision and a testament to her unwavering faith. As for some of the secrets within the church, I must beg your forgiveness, but I cannot reveal them to you in detail."

Liu Yuan frowned, pondering Kinvara's words. He realized that there might be deeper reasons and backgrounds hidden within. He looked down at Kinvara and noticed the ruby necklace she held in her hands, which was surrounded by a faint divine power. A thought flashed through his mind, realizing that this gem might be related to Melisandre's actions. He nodded and said, "I understand. You rely on the power within to achieve longevity. A long life can indeed be a torment for some."

Kinvara wanted to say something, but Liu Yuan raised his hand to stop her: "You don't need to explain, and I don't want to know." Liu Yuan himself didn't want to get involved with their R'hllor church, because his goal was to excavate the remains left by the ancient gods.

Liu Yuan turned around and looked at the Great Wall in the distance. Countless bonfires were burning there, and human soldiers were gathering the corpses together for cremation. Although they were very tired, they were still able to see the excitement brought by victory.

"The war in the North is finally over..." he murmured to himself, his voice soft but full of emotion. His gaze passed over the Great Wall, and now only the two kings in the South remained. Once they were dealt with, Daenerys could be placed on the throne.

However, this victory did not come easily, and the human coalition paid a great price. The cleanup of the entire battlefield lasted for six full days. The number of corpses and bones that needed to be burned and buried exceeded one million, and the sky was filled with the burnt smell of flesh and bones. Many soldiers vomited while handling these corpses, and the entire army participated in the aftermath, even mobilizing some civilians to help. This scene was heartbreaking, but it was also the cruel reality of war.

However, despite the massive destruction caused by the war, there were still some gains. Although the weapons carried by the wights were old and broken, their sheer number made up for it. There were also quite a few broken armors and other metal products, which were a valuable asset in the resource-scarce North. These metal products would be recycled and used to manufacture new armaments and agricultural tools to improve the lives of the northern people and enhance the equipment of the army.

At the same time, Castle Black became an important meeting place. The main lords who formed the coalition gathered here to discuss the gains and losses of this battle, as well as the next steps.

Five of the Seven Kingdoms' Warden families were present, including Robb Stark, Prince of the North. He represented the northern lords in pledging allegiance to Daenerys and promised to support her ascension to the Iron Throne. This decision caused a sensation, because Robb Stark, as the leader of the North, possessed the largest territory and influence. His public statement could affect the entire situation in Westeros.

Daenerys gladly accepted Stark's allegiance. Although the two families had feuds, both sides had paid the price of life, which was considered even. Moreover, several of the Stark family's children were Galon's students. Because of her love for Galon, she expressed her willingness to cooperate with him to build a better kingdom. She emphasized the importance of unity and mutual assistance, hoping that all regions could work together, eliminate barriers, and jointly maintain the peace of Westeros.

Edmure Tully, Duke of Riverrun and Robb's uncle, had always stood firmly on the side of the Stark family. Now, as the Governor-General of the Trident, he solemnly announced that the lords of the Riverlands would return to the rule of the Targaryen family. This decision meant that the Tully family, like the Stark family, had fully sided with the Dragon Queen's camp.