Hanbin's appearance underwent a striking transformation as he entered the enigmatic space. His short, damp hair elongated instantly, cascading like a dark river down to his waist, smooth and silky. His modern dress dissolved into a black hanfu adorned with intricate red embroidery, giving him an air of both elegance and danger.
The place he had entered resembled a cavern, dimly lit by the faint glow of crimson lanterns hanging from jagged walls. The atmosphere was thick with an ancient, almost oppressive energy. He approached a wooden bed intricately carved with dragon motifs and settled onto it gracefully.
On a low wooden table beside the bed sat a delicate bottle of wine, its dark liquid glinting ominously. Without a word, Hanbin poured the wine into a small porcelain cup, the liquid swirling like blood under the faint light. He brought the cup to his lips, savoring the bitter warmth as his gaze drifted into the distance, lost in thought.
With a sudden, calculated motion, he raised his hand. Folding his ring and thumb fingers inward, he extended the rest, forming a sharp, deliberate gesture. A quiet intensity filled the air as he softly muttered a name, his voice laced with an otherworldly resonance:
"Jeon Suwon."
The name echoed faintly within the cavern, as if the very walls were alive, carrying the weight of his intent.
This was his most frequently used magic technique, "words spell". As if summoned by his gesture, a cloudy, mirror-like surface materialized before him, rippling like disturbed water before settling into clarity. The hazy reflection began to shift, revealing Suwon in her cram school. She was seated at her desk, her head bent low over her books. Despite her diligent appearance, her face was pale, almost ghostly, and her movements were sluggish.
Hanbin's eyes darkened as he watched her, his sharp gaze unyielding. He raised his wine cup to his lips and drank slowly, his attention entirely fixed on the mirror. The flickering light from the lanterns illuminated his face, casting shadows that made his expression even more unreadable.
Just then, the soft echo of footsteps resounded in the cave. A figure emerged from the shadows, dressed in a sleek suit and formal trousers. The man's posture was stiff yet composed, his presence emanating an aura of authority. He stepped closer and stopped a respectful distance away from Hanbin.
"My lord," the man said in a low, reverent tone, bowing slightly.
"Lord Gyeo Jin is asking for you," the assistant said, his expression strict and composed.
"Why?" Hanbin's voice had a mature depth, matching his composed demeanor.
"The cursed journal is missing from the archive," the assistant replied, his tone flat and devoid of emotion.
"What? When?" Hanbin asked, his face remaining calm and unreadable, showing no trace of worry.
"From the morning," the assistant replied flatly.
Hanbin paused for a moment, his sharp eyes narrowing slightly. "That means someone is practicing dark arts or planning to..." His words trailed off as he took a deliberate pause.
After a few seconds, a smirk curved his lips. "Interesting... After such a long time, something finally happened in 燃谷 (Rán Gǔ)
This is going to be fun," he said, his tone laced with amusement, as if anticipating an enjoyable game.
Rán Gǔ, VALLEY OF IGNITE, it was the name of their realm, the demon realm.
The room Hanbin entered exuded an air of ancient mystery. Dimly lit, it resembled an old palace library, its towering bookshelves brimming with leather-bound tomes. Standing before one of the shelves was a tall figure, draped in a bloody red hanfu, his long, silky hair cascading elegantly down to his waist. His sharp gaze was fixed on the book he held, an aura of authority surrounding him.
"I heard something happened," Hanbin remarked casually, breaking the silence as he stepped into the room.
The man turned to face him, his expression stoic yet commanding. His voice carried a weight that demanded attention. "Find the journal as soon as possible."
Hanbin frowned, leaning lazily against a nearby shelf. "Why me again?" he muttered, a hint of irritation in his tone. Clearly, he wasn't fond of being assigned more work.
"I'm the youngest among all of you. Why do you always make me do the work?" Hanbin's voice was thick with irritation, the frustration clear in his tone.
"Because, out of all of us, you're the only one who's lazy and doesn't have any official duties," Gyeo Jin replied, his expression stern.
Hanbin scowled, disliking the nagging, but Gyeo Jin was always the one who took it upon himself to keep him in line.
"Before the sun rises, find it and return it to the archive," Gyeo Jin ordered, his tone both demanding and laced with worry. "Or else someone will take matters into their own hands."
"We're not just anyone," Hanbin muttered, his expression darkening, "but demons."
The bar was dimly lit, with only a few patrons scattered around. Hanbin entered, the faint hum of conversation barely masking the sound of his boots against the wooden floor. He wore a black leather jacket, his hair styled like his usual high school self, yet his overall demeanor made him seem older, more commanding.
Scanning the room, his sharp eyes landed on someone. Without hesitation, he walked over and sat on the empty stool beside the man, casually ordering a drink.
"A high school student shouldn't be drinking alcohol," the man beside him remarked without even sparing a glance.
Hanbin smirked, leaning slightly against the counter. "I can drink because I'm not just any stupid student," he replied mockingly, his tone laced with arrogance.
The man, who appeared only slightly older than Hanbin, let out a faint chuckle. "Why are you here again?"
Hanbin's gaze was piercing as he leaned in slightly, his smirk widening. "You need to give me something I'm looking for," he said, his voice calm but demanding, as if he already knew the man's secret.
The man didn't flinch, continuing to sip his drink with a composed demeanor. "As always," he said with a sly smile, "the youngest lord is always one step ahead of us."
"Yes, I am," Hanbin replied confidently, taking a slow sip of his drink. His commanding tone cut through the ambient chatter of the bar. "If you're done playing games, give me back that journal."
JunHo, the man beside him, shrugged nonchalantly, his expression casual. "But what can I say? That journal isn't with me," he replied smoothly. "Maybe someone else is trying to find a way to kill you—besides me, of course."
Hanbin chuckled, his laugh growing louder as if he'd just heard an inside joke. "Kill me? Oh, JunHo, you're still as funny as ever," he said, nearly doubling over in laughter. "We've been friends for over 3 thousand years, yet you still don't know me well."
JunHo turned his head slightly, his dark, piercing eyes locking onto Hanbin's. His expression turned cold, a faint smirk tugging at his lips. "Friends….Is that so?"
As JunHo's eyes glowed an ominous red, he softly muttered, "眠 (Mián)." Instantly, everyone in the bar slumped in their seats, falling into a deep sleep, leaving only Hanbin and JunHo awake.
Hanbin remained unfazed, swirling his drink casually in the glass. "Did you really need to go that far?" he asked with a smirk, his tone laced with amusement.
JunHo's lips curled into a wicked grin. "Our every meeting should be deadly for you" he remarked, his voice calm yet threatening.
With a slight movement of his hand, a flurry of enchanted paper leaves materialized and darted toward Hanbin. Their sharp edges gleamed under the dim bar lights.
Hanbin, still holding his drink, merely swept his index finger lazily through the air. A flicker of flames ignited, instantly consuming the paper leaves before they could reach him. The fire's glow reflected in his eyes as he smirked, unbothered. "You'll have to do better than that, JunHo."
"I'll give you a chance," JunHo said, his tone calm but charged with an undercurrent of challenge. "Bring me the Spirit Bell, and I might help you find the journal."
Hanbin raised an eyebrow, sipping his drink with an air of indifference. "So this was always your plan?" He sighed, his voice sharp. "But do you still believe ringing the Spirit Bell will bring Hae Mi back to life? You're still as foolish as ever, JunHo. Hae Mi is gone. Dead. And the Spirit Bell can't resurrect demons—it only works on humans."
JunHo leaned closer to Hanbin, his smirk unwavering. "You think I'm acting without knowledge?" His voice dropped, laced with mockery. "Hanbin, being a powerful lord doesn't mean you know everything."
With that, JunHo stood, his confident smirk never fading as he turned to leave the bar. As the door closed behind him, the enchantment broke. The patrons who had been put to sleep began to stir, completely unaware of the deadly exchange that had just unfolded.
As Hanbin stepped into the classroom, his sharp gaze instinctively sought out one person—Suwon. Sitting stiffly at her desk, her unease was written all over her face. She was clearly panicking, and the sight amused him. A smirk tugged at the corner of his lips, but before he could dwell on it, a voice broke through his focus.
"Hanbin, why are you late today?" a cheerful classmate called out.
The shift in his demeanor was almost imperceptible yet striking. His dark, piercing gaze softened, replaced by a warm and approachable light. Flashing a friendly smile, he replied casually, "I overslept."
The class erupted into laughter, the tension in the room dissolving as Hanbin seamlessly adopted the role of a normal, carefree student. But beneath the surface, his thoughts lingered on Suwon's reaction.