Tick, tick, tick.
The second hand of the antique clock hanging on the wall followed its course, only to catch for an instant, as though time had suddenly stopped, before continuing forward.
The dim light overhead flickered, the meager current left after the power had been cut flowing through at an extremely low voltage.
Hundreds of years had passed, but Belial would never forget the owner of those dark green eyes.
He curled his lips into a suggestive smile. In that human skin, he almost looked respectable. He gave an improper, flirtatious gentleman's bow, affected and coy.
"Ah, long time no see, my love."
The two teams met-or rather, Xie De's team had hurried along and finally caught up with Hu Songlin before the earthquake began. Hu Songlin and the demon occupied a corner of the lowest floor, one crouching and one standing. Neither had any intention of hiding. They were right out in the open, visible the moment the others arrived.
Hu Songlin looked up at the clock as its hands ticked onward, second by second.
Hearing their approaching footsteps, Hu Songlin and Belial both looked toward the door.
Belial, however, reacted faster than Hu Songlin.
"Oh, darling, you look so much more haggard than you did centuries ago. How pitiful..."
"..." Just my rotten luck.
"So it really is you, Belial."
Xie De stood in the dim light outside the door, his entire figure cast in shadow. He braced a hand lightly against the wall and took a few steps forward into the light, his features sharp and cold, the chill from outside still clinging to him.
But he soon withdrew his hand and curled his lips. A condescending amusement entered his icy expression as he sized Belial up with blatant disdain, then sneered.
"After all these centuries,