The following morning, at the crack of dawn, Wooyun rose from his sleep, letting out a small yawn.
As he lifted his arms to stretch himself, he ended up bumping into something hard and solid. With furrowed brows, he looked down and saw a handsome young man lying next to him. It was Eun-woo, still asleep. His usual stern face was now relaxed, free of any frowns.
Looking at him closely, Eun-woo really was a locker. Definitely the kind of guy who would be popular with girls. He suddenly thought of his friend Nam Sooyee who was a sucker for this type—the stern and serious young master with a secret heart of gold. A sad smile formed on his lips at the thought of his friend. It was unfortunate because he was about to leave the only friend he had managed to make in this world. "I'm sorry we didn't get to hang out more often. Even if all the training and constant nagging got on my nerves, I knew everything you did was for my own good. I really will miss your constant yapping as well."
He then reached down and brushed a loose hair from Eun-woo's face. His fingers lingered there for a beat, surprised by how soft the light brown locks were. He then turned his attention to the sky that was growing lighter with each passing moment and sighed. It was time for him to go.
He gathered his things and made sure not to make any sounds so as to not disturb Eun-woo's sleep. He turned back and gave the young man one last glance before closing the door.
At that same moment, Eun-woo opened his eyes.
Wooyun made it outside after checking out of the inn. He wasn't sure how to proceed from here as the seven days he had been given hadn't run out yet. It had only been five days but Wooyun knew the longer he stayed with Eun-woo, the harder it would be for him to leave. Just as he was about to head down the road and figure things out once the sun rose fully in the sky, he heard a rumbling sound coming from the distance.
With furrowed brows, he turned around and saw a carriage coming towards him. The carriage was unlike any ordinary one he had seen before. Black as ink, its surface shimmered faintly under the rising light, as though carved from obsidian and shadow. The horses pulling it were equally majestic—tall, muscular beasts with eyes faintly red, their manes woven with silver thread. The emblem on the door—a withering lotus encircled by serpents—was less than inconspicuous and Wooyun knew immediately who it belonged to.
One of his favourite scenes from the book is when Seo-yoon stands up to her evil stepmother and runs out of the home. Even though she felt free and liberated, she was also at a loss:
"What am I to do now? I am a young woman without a place to call home." Just as she felt like all was lost, the carriage carrying the charming demon lord pulled up in front of her as if waiting for her pleas. Baek Junghwa emerged from the carriage looking like a dashing dark lord ready to scoop up his future wife. "I will give you the home you so desperately wish for. All you need to do is follow me."
Wooyun blinked as he felt a sense a déjà vu fall upon him. The carriage rolled to a slow halt just a few feet from him, and for a moment, all was still. Then, with a gentle click, the door opened.
Baek Junghwa stepped down with an air of unhurried grace. The wind played with the ends of his long dark hair as he leveled his dark, unreadable eyes on Wooyun. His hand rested casually on the hilt of the obsidian sword at his side, and though his expression held a faint, polite smile, there was an unmistakable glint of cunning in his eyes.
"You're early," Wooyun said, after recovering from his daze.
"That I am."
"…But we agreed on seven days…"
Baek Junghwa tilted his head as if confused by his words. "Did you expect me, the demon lord to abide by these rules?"
Wooyun blinked. "Um…what?" I distinctly remember agreeing upon seven days. Why change his mind now?
His gaze softened when he saw the bewildered look on Wooyun's face. He had to hold back a laugh. "I grew… impatient." His eyes swept over Wooyun in an assessing glance, lingering on the bag over his shoulder. "And from the looks of things, you were already prepared to leave."
Wooyun nodded, unsure what to say. Something about Junghwa's presence always made the world seem quieter, more still. Dangerous and calm, like a blade beneath still water. He didn't bother questioning his choices since he was right. He was ready to leave and happy to set off already.
The demon lord then extended his hand—not as a command but as an invitation to enter the carriage. Wooyun stood there for a moment but only for a moment as he turned around and looked up the window of his room. When he saw that it remained empty, he took a deep breath. Despite himself, felt strangely grateful. Grateful that he hadn't been left to linger, to second-guess, or stumble through another goodbye.
"Let's go, then," he said, stepping forward and taking the offered hand. Junghwa's fingers were cold, his grip firm as he entered the carriage. Junghwa's eyes flickered briefly up the window, his eyes darkening slightly before entering the carriage himself.
The interior of the carriage was just as striking as its exterior—dark wood panels carved with swirling motifs, velvet cushions of deep plum, and lanterns that glowed with an unnatural blue light, casting faint, shifting patterns along the walls. The air inside was scented faintly with sandalwood and something colder.
Wooyun settled into his seat across from Junghwa, his back straight and his hands folded awkwardly in his lap. He tried not to show how tense he was, though every bump of the wheels beneath them reminded him that this wasn't just a ride—it was a transition into something unknown.
Junghwa watched him quietly, elbow resting against the armrest, chin in hand. Feeling his gaze, Wooyun looked up and nearly gasped as he saw the man closer this time. Baek Junghwa did possess ethereal almost god-like beauty—both haunting and mesmerizing. Those eyes who stared outside the window as the scenery changed were black but upon closer inspection, held some shimmering hues of silver within his irises. His features were sharp just like his demeanour—his nose long and narrow, his lips full but tinged with a ghostly grey making him look almost as if he was undead.
Unlike the last time he saw him, the demon lord was dressed in flowing layers. Still obsidian in colour, but with a different design. His inner layers were a muted blend of white and grey, adding depth to his dark silhouette. A meticulously crafted overcoat, adorned with intricate embroidery and a brooch-like ornament draped over him making him look like a rich and powerful master you couldn't mess with. Baek Junghwa was a paragon of perfection. In layman's terms—he was fine as hell. A prince charming cloaked in dark robes.
Junghwa's silvery black eyes locked onto Wooyun's, his expression filled with quiet amusement. Wooyun's body stiffened under his gaze.
This man was peculiar. Although he didn't sense any malice or ill intent from him, Wooyun couldn't shake the feeling that he was dangerous. It was a different kind of danger—one that didn't make your hairs stand on end but instead quickened your pulse, made your body tremble, and triggered your fight-or-flight instincts. He was a charming yet treacherous man, exuding both a calming and eerie presence. In short, Baek Junghwa made Wooyun feel uneasy. To make matters worse, Wooyun couldn't decipher what he was thinking; it was like facing an impenetrable wall. He was truly a man of many faces—literally.
"You've been staring for quite some time now, is there something you want to say?"
Wooyun pondered those words for a moment before speaking up. "Is that your real face?" He asked, not beating around the bush.
Junghwa blinked for a moment before a deep chuckle resounded from his throat. Though he didn't answer the question, the look in his eyes was enough for Wooyun to know the answer.
It was his true face.
Strange, he thought. Why does a person even need to hide such a beautiful face?
"An unexpected compliment, but I thank you for it."
"…What?" Wooyun blinked. "Did I just express my thoughts out loud?"
Junghwa folded his lips in an attempt not to laugh. The more he looked at Wooyun, the more he found him amusing. It was a good idea to bring this fellow with me. He thought.
Wooyun's gaze fell on the man next to Baek Junghwa. He recognized him from the market, though he looked different this time, likely due to the bone reformation technique.
Where he had once appeared intimidating, the man now had a softer face—sharp but less menacing. His shoulder-length hair was tousled and well-kept, a muted smoky black with lavender-grey highlights. He was pale with cool undertones, less ghostly than Junghwa, and his greyish-blue eyes held an unreadable expression.
With high cheekbones and thinner lips that formed a contemplative line, he stared out the window. His charcoal robe was both elegant and practical, featuring subtle red patterns along the trim.
Feeling Wooyun's gaze on him, the man turned to look at him, a frown adorning his face. Wooyun was startled by his sudden attention on him and quickly tried to smile at the man as he introduced himself.
"Hey. I'm Han Seo-yoon. I'll be in your care." He said casually before realizing he was now speaking to someone older than him. Oops.
His frown deepened. "Hey?" He echoed coldly.
Junghwa who had since turned his attention back on Wooyun smiled. "Be nice Jaha. We will be together for a long time. It's good to get along."
Jaha scrunched his face as if the thought of getting along with Wooyun didn't please him for a single second. He then let out a resigned sigh. "My name is Lee Jaha. First guardian to the Demon Lord." He said curtly.
Wooyun looked at him curiously despite his dismissive tone. "First guardian?"
Jaha glanced at Junghwa who shrugged in response. "You might as well tell him since he'll be entering the Blood Moon Sect soon."
Jaha was quiet for a moment before sighing again. Wooyun looked at the young man who once again looked like he wanted to be anywhere else but here.
Looks like we'll be getting along swimmingly. Wooyun thought.