Demon Slaying Chronicle -- (2) Portrait Painting in Summoning

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Features: Fantasy, Wuxia, Suspense, Horror. A seminal work by Lee Eun-hee, a pioneer of Korean fantasy. An adaptation of the novel is coming to China in the form of a film and an online game. The English version has caused a sensation in Europe and America, hailed as a classic of Eastern fantasy. In the summer of 1993, in a Korean online chatroom named "SUMMER," Lee Eun-hee, a young engineer who graduated from Seoul National University with a degree in mechanical design, posted excerpts of his creation, "The Exorcist Chronicles," online. It immediately sparked a sensation, causing his popularity to soar, and the entire chatroom transformed into a "The Exorcist Chronicles" room. In 1994, the first seven volumes of "The Exorcist Chronicles" were published by Seoul's DULNYOUK Publishing House, causing a massive stir. It almost led to a nationwide frenzy of reading, with some readers even saying that he lived solely to wait for the next volume of "The Exorcist Chronicles."
Continuing until July 2001, "The Exorcist Chronicles" was published in its 19th volume, becoming a monumental work. Statistics show that by the end of last year, "The Exorcist Chronicles" had sold over 10 million copies in Korea, while the country's total population is over 40 million. Although the first release in China only includes the first three volumes—"A Voice Calls You to Open Your Eyes," "The Portrait Calls," and "The Secret of the Grasshopper Sword"—the magical, wuxia, horror, suspense, and psychological analysis features characteristic of Korean horror novels are fully evident in them. Additionally, the esoteric Buddhist philosophy and legendary tales unique to Korean culture are also woven into this work.
"The Exorcist Chronicles" is hailed as the cornerstone of "Korean Horror." It follows the struggles of four main characters—four "Exorcists"—against evil forces in the human world. The story narrates how supernatural demons, ghosts, and other paranormal phenomena torment humanity, and how the four "Exorcists" rise to fight them. Along the way, tales of sages who aid them and malevolent figures who obstruct them are interwoven. The four "Exorcists" are super-powered individuals who have experienced extraordinary adventures. Under no circumstances would they harm humans or use their abilities on ordinary people. Initially, they quietly rescued those tormented by vengeful spirits and malevolent ghosts, gradually embarking on the path of "exorcism" and ultimately embracing their mission to dispel evil.
"The Exorcist Chronicles" is divided into four parts—Domestic, International, Mixed World, and Apocalypse—with a total of 19 volumes. Each book contains several stories of varying lengths and quantities. These stories are relatively independent yet interconnected. Not only are the plots thrilling and suspenseful, but the background settings are also meticulously crafted. The use of Eastern symbols such as exorcism rituals, demon summoning, samurai imagery, and supernatural mental powers constructs a unique atmosphere of horror that blends fantasy and wuxia elements.