Black Magic Rose Chapter 1
byChapter 1: Prayer and Descent
Late at night, in the Shu Family’s abandoned annex.
The air was thick with stale dust and a deeper scent, the scent of oblivion. Moonlight struggled to penetrate the stained glass windows, casting distorted and mottled shadows on the floor, like the final spasms of some dying creature.
In the center of the room, a young man knelt on the cold floor.
He was thin; the oversized, old-fashioned pajamas hung loosely on him, emphasizing his skeletal frame. His shoulder-length black hair was messy, obscuring part of his face, but the exposed skin was an unhealthy, almost transparent pale in the weak light.
He was Shu Yijin. The Shu Family’s nominal young master, but in reality, a discarded son and an Ill-Omened Being.
Currently, he was chanting in a low, hoarse voice, using an ancient and obscure language. The tone was deep and rough, carrying a strange rhythm that sounded less like a prayer and more like a summons, or perhaps… a transaction. Every syllable seemed to carry weight, striking the silent air and causing the dust motes to tremble slightly.
“…I offer my broken body as an altar, my despair as a fuse… Ancient Existence, lingering Beyond Dimensions… please listen… please descend…”
There were no tears in the young man’s eyes, only the dead ashes of resignation. He knew his value had been completely drained by the family. His final use was to replace his favored younger brother and marry Wen Jingheng, the Wen Family’s eldest young master, who was rumored to be a lost cause even for an Auspicious Marriage, having long since become a vegetable.
A ridiculous wedding, adorned with a discarded son, dedicated to profit and superstition.
He was unwilling. But he was even more unwilling to die silently, like a humble insect, in this corner forgotten by the world.
So, he had scoured forbidden texts and found this ritual, listed as an absolute taboo. Legend said that what answered the user’s call was not a benevolent god, but an unnameable entity that brought disaster and Annihilation. But what did it matter? For someone who had nothing, destruction was better than this ant-like existence.
“…I am willing to offer this body and name… in exchange for the liberation of my soul, and rebirth in a new realm… I beg your esteemed presence… to descend upon the remnants of this world…”
The chanting grew more frantic. Cold sweat beaded on the young man’s forehead, and his body began to tremble uncontrollably. The temperature in the room seemed to plummet, yet also strangely rise. The mottled shadows on the walls began to writhe and stretch, as if gaining a life of their own.
An invisible, suffocating pressure began to coalesce.
Just then—
Buzz!
A faint resonance, as if from the depths of the soul, sounded. The air in front of the young man rippled like water, and a vague, indescribable phantom slowly emerged. It had no fixed form, seemingly composed of pure shadow and chaos. Only two points in the center glowed with scarlet light, like two burning, emotionless gems, quietly “watching” the kneeling young man.
The young man felt his soul tremble—the most primal fear of life facing an existence far beyond comprehension. But he gritted his teeth, lifted his head, and used his last ounce of strength to say, “Trans… action…”
The phantom made no sound, but a stream of information poured directly into the young man’s mind, cold, vast, and carrying the silence of eternity.
Can be done. This body, this name, this karma, I accept. Your soul, as agreed, will be sent to the realm of new life.
The next moment, the young man felt a gentle yet irresistible force envelop his soul, as if lightly drawing him out of a heavy, worn-out shell. Before his consciousness completely dissipated, the last thing he saw was those two points of scarlet light, falling like meteors into the body he had just vacated.
…
“Shu Yijin” slowly opened his eyes.
They were crimson eyes, like the finest rubies—deep, magnificent, yet radiating a non-human coldness and detachment. He, or rather “It,” slightly moved his fingers, adjusting to this newly acquired human male body.
“Truly… a fragile vessel.” A low, pleasant voice spilled from “Shu Yijin’s” throat, carrying a hint of lazy fastidiousness. He stood up. His movements were stiff at first, but quickly became fluid and graceful, as if this body had always been his.
He walked to the dusty full-length mirror in the room. Reflected in the glass was a delicate and soft face. His black hair (which had been magically grown to waist length the moment of descent) draped down like fine silk. His skin was a near-sickly white, which, paired with the crimson eyes, created a strange and captivating beauty. Especially the subtle sense of brokenness deep within his gaze, enough to stir the protective instincts of any observer.
“Shu Yijin… hmm, the name is acceptable.” He extended a slender finger and lightly brushed his own cheek in the mirror. His fingertip traced the corner of his eye, where there seemed to be a naturally slight upward curve, suitable for a gentle, harmless smile. “A good disguise.”
He sensed the condition inside the body. A power strong enough to cause stars to fall was currently tightly bound by layers of golden, shimmering chains. That was the work of Wen Jingheng—his dear “fiancé,” the former Savior. The Seal was firm, but not entirely without flaws. After all, the caster himself was in deep slumber, and the Seal had become a river without a source.
And now, he was going to the side of that caster.
Thinking of this, the corner of Shu Yijin’s lips curved slightly, revealing an extremely faint, yet genuine smile. The naturally gentle curve at the corner of his eye was pulled by this smile, instantly giving his entire face a breathtaking charm. However, the cold elegance and murderous intent that flashed deep within his crimson eyes revealed the true nature beneath the gentleness.
“Wen Jingheng…” He whispered the name, his tone soft, like the most intimate murmur between lovers, yet carrying a playful coldness. “To wake you from your long sleep, and have you watch everything you protected… including yourself, step by step toward the finale I have meticulously prepared. This should be a very interesting drama.”
He needed a new identity, one that could legitimately approach the core of the Seal (Wen Jingheng). This young man, abandoned by his family and used as a replacement pawn, was the perfect stepping stone sent by fate (or rather, one of the many “coincidence” seeds he had sown).
He closed his eyes. An invisible, formless, yet vast and boundless mental power silently spread out from him, like mercury flowing across the ground, quickly covering the entire Shu Family, and even further, the consciousness layers of people associated with the name “Shu Yijin.”
Memories were silently modified and overwritten.
In everyone’s perception, Shu Yijin, the unremarkable discarded son of the Shu Family, had possessed ominous waist-length black hair and crimson eyes since childhood, and was known for his timid personality and poor health. Now, for the sake of family interests, he was about to be married into the Wen Family to perform an “Auspicious Marriage” for the sleeping eldest young master.
As for any subtle discrepancies regarding the young man’s original appearance and experiences, they were naturally “rationalized” under this high-level mental interference.
Having completed this, Shu Yijin showed no sign of fatigue; instead, he seemed more intrigued. He pushed open the creaking door. The Shu Family servants, who had previously ignored him, now showed a flicker of imperceptible fear and disgust in their eyes when they saw him, but they respectfully lowered their heads and addressed him as “Young Master Yijin.”
They couldn’t articulate why they were afraid, only that this young master possessed a chilling aura, especially those red eyes—stare too long, and it felt as if one’s soul would be sucked in.
Shu Yijin was oblivious to all this, or rather, he welcomed it. He enjoyed the pleasure of being cloaked in fragility while actually controlling everything.
A few days later, a simple, almost perfunctory “wedding” quietly took place at the Shu Family annex. There were no guests, no blessings, only a steward sent by the Shu Family, who expressionlessly read the marriage contract, and then escorted Shu Yijin, dressed in an ill-fitting suit, along with a few pieces of luggage, into a black sedan heading for the Wen Family.
The scenery outside the car window rapidly receded, moving from the dilapidated suburbs toward the bustling city center. Shu Yijin leaned back in the rear seat, his posture relaxed, his fingertips lightly tapping his knee, as if he were not going to an absurd replacement marriage, but to a long-awaited feast.
He looked out at the towering buildings, the hurried crowds rushing about their livelihoods, and a faint trace of mockery crossed his crimson eyes.
This hypocritical, numb world, built upon countless sacrifices and lies… its destruction would surely be a very… beautiful thing.
And it would all begin beside his sleeping “arch-nemesis.”
The car finally drove into a vast, heavily guarded manor. The architecture here was stark and modern, completely different from the stale, decaying atmosphere of the Shu Family, yet it also conveyed a sense of oppression.
The person sent by the Wen Family to receive him was a stern-faced old butler. His gaze toward Shu Yijin held undisguised scrutiny and contempt, but his manners were impeccable.
“Young Master Yijin, please follow me. The eldest young master’s room is on the top floor.” The butler’s voice was flat and emotionless. “Given the eldest young master’s condition, we will trouble you to… take careful care of him from now on.”
“It is my duty.” Shu Yijin nodded slightly, his voice as soft as a whisper. He appropriately displayed a touch of timidity and sorrow on his face, perfectly embodying the image of a discarded son forced into a wealthy family with an uncertain future.
A flicker of impatience crossed the butler’s eyes, but he said no more, turning to lead the way.
They took a private elevator directly to the top floor. The hallway was covered with thick carpet, absorbing all footsteps, making the silence suffocating. At the end of the hall was a heavy solid wood door.
The butler pushed the door open and stepped aside. “This is the eldest young master’s room. Doctors and nurses will come for scheduled check-ups daily. At other times, unless instructed, no one will disturb you. Your necessities have been prepared. If you need anything, you may ring the bell.”
Shu Yijin thanked him softly and stepped inside.
The door closed quietly behind him, sealing off the outside world.
The room was large, decorated in minimalist, cool tones. The massive floor-to-ceiling curtains were drawn, leaving only a bedside lamp that cast a warm, dim glow. In the center of the room, a man lay quietly on a wide medical bed.
The air was faintly scented with disinfectant, along with an indescribable odor unique to long-term bedridden patients.
Shu Yijin did not approach immediately. He stood by the door, his gaze slowly sweeping the room, finally settling on the sleeping man.
Wen Jingheng.
Even in a coma, his face pale and his body slightly thin from prolonged stillness, the contours of his face were still deep and sharp. A hint of his former coldness and imposing presence was visible between his brows. His thick black hair was meticulously groomed, indicating that he was still being carefully looked after, even in his unconscious state.
Shu Yijin’s crimson eyes narrowed slightly as he slowly walked closer.
He stopped by the bed, looking down at the face that had once caused him considerable trouble. It was this human who, relying on the Holy Energy in his special bloodline and his tenacious will, had ultimately Sealed him away.
Now, the positions of hunter and prey seemed to have been reversed.
Shu Yijin extended a pale, slender finger, the tip carrying a hint of coolness, and lightly aimed it toward Wen Jingheng’s brow—one of the areas where the sealing energy was most concentrated.
Just as his fingertip was about to touch the skin, an anomaly occurred!
The dormant Evil God Essence within him, bound by layers of Seals, actually stirred slightly! Although extremely faint, like a small pebble dropped into an ancient well, it was undeniably a ripple of power!
Shu Yijin’s finger paused mid-air. A flash of genuine surprise crossed his crimson eyes, immediately replaced by intense interest.
He changed his mind. His fingertip traced the curve of Wen Jingheng’s brow bone, slowly sliding down the high bridge of his nose, finally resting on his bloodless, beautifully shaped thin lips. The movement was gentle, almost a caress, yet carried the scrutiny of evaluating an object’s worth.
“Heh…” A low, husky chuckle echoed in the silent room. Shu Yijin bent down slightly, leaning close to Wen Jingheng’s ear, whispering in a seductive, airy voice that only the two of them could hear:
“It seems our ‘connection’ is deeper than I imagined, my dear… husband.”
He straightened up, his gaze falling on an exquisite vase placed on the bedside table. A few vibrant red roses were arranged in the vase, the only splash of color in the room, and a symbol of the Wen Family’s maintained dignity.
Shu Yijin reached out and casually plucked a rose. He squeezed his fingers slightly, and the delicate petals were instantly crushed. The bright red sap stained his pale fingertips like blood.
He looked down at the jarring red, then looked up at Wen Jingheng, who was oblivious on the bed. The cold, joyful light belonging to the Evil God flickered again in his crimson eyes.
“From today onward, I will… ‘take care’ of you properly.”
“Until the moment you can no longer rest peacefully.”
He released his grip, and the crushed petals drifted silently down. Shu Yijin turned and walked toward the room’s private bathroom to wash the rose sap from his fingertips. The dim light stretched his shadow long across the thick carpet, like a gently opening, tender prison.
And the center of the prison was Wen Jingheng, still floating in the darkness.
A dangerous game, beginning with disguise and calculation, quietly raised its curtain under this seemingly peaceful, dim glow.