Chapter 82 Eyes of Darkness

A wretched scream rang out. Han Shuo clutched his lower body, rolling off Vannie and curling up in agony; his mind had completely returned to normal.

Vannie sat up, straightened her clothes nonchalantly, and slid off the bed. She shot Han Shuo a triumphant sidelong glance, snorted softly, and said, “Well? Now you know how formidable I am?”

“Miss Vannie, wasn’t that a bit much?” Han Shuo grimaced, still clutching his aching lower half.

“Damn you! How dare you still talk back? I let it slide last time at the pool, but this time you… you actually violated me again! The fact that you’re still alive is already a mercy!” Vannie’s anger flared as she recalled what had just happened, and she glared at Han Shuo with a face full of righteous fury.

Han Shuo slid off the bed, composed himself, and sat down beside Vannie, saying calmly, “Let the past be past. Let me recite a magic incantation for you.”

Seeing Han Shuo’s solemn expression, Vannie knew he was deliberately trying to gloss over the incident and grew even more irritated. Just as she was about to scold him, Han Shuo suddenly began reciting a spell. At first, Vannie didn’t pay it any mind, but as he continued, her expression transformed to one of shock. Her bright eyes sparkled with an inexplicable excitement, fixated on Han Shuo as she asked, her voice trembling, “This is necromancy—I can feel it. But how is it that I’ve never heard of this spell before?”

“That’s the incantation for the advanced spell ‘Necrotic Canopy.’ It’s a branch of necromancy that was lost many years ago. I came across it by chance,” Han Shuo explained, watching Vannie’s face light up with astonished delight.

“Tell me everything! Were there any other lost necromancy spells? Hurry and tell me!” Vannie, who had devoted herself to the study of necromancy, had forgotten her anger the moment she heard the ancient incantation. She pressed Han Shuo urgently for more.

Letting out a silent sigh of relief, Han Shuo composed his thoughts and then nodded. “There’s another spell—an evil one—called ‘Corpse Revival.’ I also came across it by accident. Miss Vannie, you must understand these are all lost spells from our necromancy discipline, so I need you to keep this a secret for now.”

Vannie was no fool. She immediately understood, nodding vigorously in agreement and urging Han Shuo with her eyes.

Han Shuo then carefully described the incantations and gestures for both ‘Corpse Revival’ and ‘Necrotic Canopy’ to Vannie. He also brought up several unsolved magical questions, one by one, seeking her insight. Vannie, overjoyed, had long forgotten Han Shuo’s earlier impropriety and patiently explained every difficulty he encountered.

Han Shuo knew he would have to use these necromancy spells eventually, but until his strength grew, he had no intention of letting others know about these secrets. However, Vannie was not only a high-ranking necromancer but someone Han Shuo admired. He knew she was sharp-tongued yet soft-hearted, and genuinely cared about him. Besides, there were magical theories he could only truly grasp through her guidance.

Unconsciously, Han Shuo spent the night in Vannie’s room, their discussion stretching into the late hours. Vannie, who had been so elated earlier, began to yawn repeatedly. Noticing how late it had become, she covered her mouth with a hand, yawned lazily, and said, “It’s late. I need to rest. I’ve answered all your questions, so you should go back to your dormitory and get some sleep. Oh, by the way, I arranged a dorm for you, but you’ve never stayed there, have you?”

Han Shuo nodded, rose, and walked to the door. Just as he was about to leave, Vannie suddenly called out, “Bryan, don’t think I’ve forgotten the trouble you’ve caused me. However, if you study hard and graduate quickly from the necromancy department, perhaps I might forgive you!”

Han Shuo paused at the door, turning to see Vannie gazing at him expectantly. Her expression grew serious as she said, “Bryan, with your talent, this isn’t a difficult thing. As long as you’re willing to work, you can become a truly formidable necromancer and obtain everything you desire!”

“Including you, Miss Vannie?” Han Shuo blurted out instinctively.

Vannie’s heart gave a sudden jolt. Seeing Han Shuo’s infatuated gaze, her cheeks flushed scarlet. Then, flustered and angry, she snapped, “Out! Get out, you incorrigible rascal!”

Han Shuo was delighted. He felt that Vannie might have feelings for him after all. From their recent conversations, he sensed her hope for him. Thinking it through, Han Shuo realized that if he wanted to win Vannie’s heart, his current strength and status were still far from enough.

“Don’t worry. I’ll give it my all—you’ll see soon enough!” He paused at the door, whispered these words, and vanished into the darkness.

After leaving Vannie’s room, Han Shuo did not return to the dormitory she had arranged for him. There were people watching the entrance, and the rooms were closely packed together. Han Shuo didn’t want his movements to be discovered and risk drawing the attention of Shadow or Grover.

Especially since Vannie had just mentioned she felt someone had been following her, Han Shuo grew even more vigilant, unwilling to expose himself.

He mulled over his situation. It seemed he should purchase a house off campus—otherwise, after returning to the Empire, he’d have nowhere to stay. With his own private residence, he wouldn’t need to activate the magic circle at the cemetery behind the academy every time.

As Han Shuo pondered this and passed by the Dark Arts Library, the sound of turning pages suddenly reached his ears. Startled, Han Shuo immediately concealed himself in a shadowy corner near the library.

With a slight movement of his neck, three spirit demons slipped out soundlessly, gliding into the library under the cover of night. By the faint glow in the hands of two figures inside, Han Shuo recognized their faces: the old mage Duke and the high-ranking swordsman Eric.

It was from these two that Han Shuo had obtained the green orb that opened the Death Cemetery at the necromancy department’s back mountain. Confident that Han Shuo was doomed after receiving a blow from his sword infused with battle energy, Eric hadn’t bothered to check Han Shuo’s body. Han Shuo hadn’t expected to see them again here in the Dark Arts Library after several months.

“Be careful. There are many formidable figures at Babylon Magic and Martial Academy. Don’t alert anyone, or we’ll be in serious trouble,” Eric said, his voice stern as Duke’s page-turning grew too loud.

“There’s still nothing! None of these necromancy books mention anything about the ‘Eye of Darkness,’” Eric complained in a low voice, now handling the books more gently.

“Hmph, the ‘Eye of Darkness’ is the key to the Death Cemetery. We went through so much to obtain it, only for it to vanish. When Dylan died, it wasn’t on him. We searched his place thoroughly, but found nothing. Why did it disappear? This is very strange. Babylon Academy holds a trove of necromancy books—maybe we’ll find a clue here. Otherwise, if our superiors blame us, we’ll be in big trouble,” Duke said, glaring at Eric.

Outside, Han Shuo, spying through the spirit demons, clearly observed their conversation and expressions. Only then did he understand that the orb he possessed was called the “Eye of Darkness.” It seemed the two were searching the library for secrets about the Eye, just as Han Shuo himself once had.

After a while, finding nothing, the two left the library dejectedly, hurrying down a back path leading away from Babylon Academy.

From their conversation, Han Shuo gathered they were likely connected to some organization. Now that he had the “Eye of Darkness,” Han Shuo wanted to learn more about them and see if they posed any threat to him. Using his three spirit demons, he followed them at a distance as they moved toward the back mountain.

The two did not return to the cemetery. Once outside the academy’s grounds, they turned and made their way quickly toward the northern district, finally entering a secluded courtyard. The three spirit demons followed, but as they tried to slip inside, Han Shuo sensed one of them hit an unseen barrier. Immediately, a voice sounded from within: “Who’s there?”

Startled, Han Shuo realized there must be some kind of ward around the courtyard. Otherwise, in their invisible, intangible state, the spirit demons would never have been detected. Sensing danger, the spirit demons retreated at once. Far in the distance, Han Shuo urgently directed them to flee in three different directions.

After a while, the three spirit demons returned to Han Shuo’s body from three separate paths. Only then did he breathe easy. He memorized the location of the courtyard, understanding that powerful figures were stationed there, and temporarily gave up on further investigation.

Just as he was about to leave, he realized he was in the northern district, not far from Phoebe’s residence. By now, dawn was breaking. Remembering his promise to deliver food to the dwarves, he spent a silver coin on breakfast along the way and headed for Phoebe’s house.

When Han Shuo arrived at Phoebe’s door, he immediately noticed that her residence was now heavily guarded. The faintest sounds of breathing came from just inside the entrance—clearly, highly skilled people were stationed there. He also sensed a place within the courtyard where the air didn’t flow, indicating a ward had been set up.

Approaching Phoebe’s door, Han Shuo knocked softly. Instantly, someone approached from within—not opening the door, but instead asking quietly, “Who’s there?”

“My name is Bryan. I’ve come to see Miss Phoebe,” Han Shuo replied softly.

“One moment, please.” The person inside answered, and another set of footsteps hurried off. Soon, two sets of footsteps returned.

“Is that you, Bryan?” came Phoebe’s voice from behind the door.

“It’s me,” Han Shuo replied.

Relieved, Phoebe instructed, “Open the door. It really is Bryan.”

The door swung open. On either side of Phoebe stood two swordsmen in silver armor, their faces rough-hewn and weathered by sun and wind—clearly, both were skilled warriors.

“Come in quickly. It’s been over ten days since we last saw you. Phoebe mentions you all the time, saying that if you were around, your extraordinary reflexes would spare us much trouble,” said Phoebe, smiling, though fatigue was evident on her face.

“You don’t look like you’ve had it easy lately. Last time I was here, your defenses weren’t nearly this tight,” Han Shuo remarked, teasing her as he glanced around.

Phoebe sighed, “Don’t mention it. Since the last banquet, in just over ten days, Miss Phoebe has survived three assassination attempts—each more dangerous than the last. These people are from the Blazing Fire Mercenary Group, whom Miss Phoebe hired at great expense, but even they’ve lost three injured and two dead. It seems Grover is growing desperate, and things are getting more dangerous for us all.”

As they walked to the main hall, Han Shuo sensed two more mages and a warrior lurking in the corners—each a formidable presence. With so many experts guarding Phoebe, and her own skills as a swordswoman, yet still suffering such casualties, clearly Grover and the Shadow organization were truly dangerous.

Once more, Han Shuo released his three spirit demons, which slipped out silently from his nape, bypassing the mercenaries’ wards and settling in three directions on the roof, quietly watching everything.

A moment later, Phoebe entered with a tall, athletic beauty whose fiery red hair was tied back in a ponytail. Her skin was bronzed, her figure robust and powerful, her chest and hips generous, and she carried a broadsword on her back—clearly, she was also a swordswoman.

“Bryan, it’s so good to see you again!” Phoebe exclaimed, delighted.

“So, this is the miraculous Bryan you told me about?” the tall, red-haired woman asked skeptically, eyeing Han Shuo.

“Yes, Candice!” Phoebe replied.

“I’ll see for myself if he’s as amazing as you say!” With a snort, Candice drew her broadsword in a flash and swung it fiercely at Han Shuo. As the blade swept through the air, crimson fire leapt across its surface, transforming it into a flaming dragon. Clearly, she was a magic swordswoman.