The next day at noon, salute cannons wet off. Amidst the majestic melody, musicians played the stately yet celebratory march. As everyone cheered, a handsome man rode out of the gates on a white horse.
He was dressed according to the ancient law. He wore a laurel crown made of white silver and a gold cloak and armor. He sat straight-backed on the white horse, regal like a prince.
The girls who had been invited to the wedding and were standing on the grass of the manor stared and yelped. Donna, wearing a wedding dress and surrounded by girls, lowered her head shyly when she saw her fiancé’s enthusiastic gaze.
Under the emcee’s guidance, the best men walked the white horse and cheered Donna’s name in unison, blessing this new couple.
In the crowd, Brady gazed at his daughter’s shy yet happy expression, and grinned from ear to ear. As the descendant of a fallen noble family, he had toiled his entire life in the customs department of the First Department. After many conspiracies, plans, and exchanges of interest, he finally rose to top and established a large family business in Avalon’s midtown. He had been worried over not having an heir, but seeing his daughter’s happiness now, he was satisfied. As long as she was happy, everything was worth it.
“Congratulations, Lord Brady.” The wedding guests all came up to him and he welcomed all of them. At certain points of the conversation, he would hold his belly and laugh heartily. Life was hard and there were not many days of celebration. One must learn to be content.
“Dear Brady.” A middle-aged man with a white turban walked over and embraced him with a warm smile. Like the other wealthy Indian merchants, he was covered in gold and silver accessories. There was also a giant and breathtaking gem on his turban. Of course, there was also the smell of curry.
Brady furrowed his brows imperceptibly but quickly smiled again. “Thank you for coming. Today is a day worth celebrating. Please do not hold back.”
The Indian merchant chuckled. He waved for a servant to bring up the prepared gift. A golden holy emblem embedded with gemstones and diamond pieces sat atop the red velvet in the box.
Brady was instantly overjoyed. “Is this a holy emblem blessed by the Pope? How could I…this is too precious of a gift.”
“This is insignificant compared to our friendship.” The Indian smiled meaningfully. “I hope our friendship will continue.”
“Naturally.” Brady nodded. Their gazes were in tacit agreement.
No one would reject such a generous friend. Plus, one only needed to help out a little to maintain this friendship. Receiving this promise, the Indian merchant left in satisfaction.
Soon, all the guests had arrived and the priest overseeing the wedding finalized the last preparations. In the flurry of movements, everyone was getting ready nervously. However, Brady had finally relaxed. He sat below the stage and gazed happily at the couple in the distance.
They were a perfect pair—their families were of the same status, the groom was handsome and the bride beautiful, and both had high morals. The more Brady looked, the more satisfied he was. It was great he could have a young man like that to inherit his business and connections.
“What a nice young man,” someone praised. He placed his bowler hat on the table and sat down beside Brady. “A lawyer graduated from the National University and working for the government; young and accomplished. In fact, he is highly regarded by his superiors. He should be sent to the Eastern Indian Trade Company soon, right? What a bright future!”
Hearing someone speak of his son-in-law, Brady instantly grew proud. However, when he turned around, he was met by an unfamiliar young man. He had an enthusiastic smile that made one feel happy just looking at it. However, this was a wedding, but he was dressed entirely in black as if he was attending a funeral. As he smiled, his long and narrow eyes squinted, hiding the coldness within.
“Who are you?” Brady furrowed his brows. He looked to his guards; the burly men paced through the crowd but did not acknowledge the youth’s presence.
“Mr. Brady, please do not be nervous.” The youth shrugged. “Me? I’m just a guest at this wedding.”
“Are you a musician?”
Seeming to understand something, Brady’s expression darkened.
Many unaccomplished musicians in Avalon would use their position to get free food at others’ ceremonies and ask for money. Others might be helpless against this, but if this guy planned on trying this at Brady’s event, he was at the wrong place!
He coldly pulled a checkbook from his pocket and scribbled a large sum. Tossing it over, he said, “Sir, today is my daughter’s big day. There are many members of the Musician Division here today as well. I hope you’ll understand and not try to destroy your own future.”
“Ah, I’m sorry, you seem to have misunderstood me. I am not here to cheat you.” The young man smiled awkwardly and pulled a small box from his arms. “Today is my first visit and it’s coincidentally your daughter’s big day. I did not have much time to prepare a gift. I hope you like it.”
“A gift?” Brady scoffed and took the box. What kind of gift would people who came for free food give?
“Won’t you take a look?” The man’s eyes were eager.
Brady scoffed again. If the man wanted to be humiliated then there was no harm in looking. However, he froze after he opened the box. In the box was a large egg-sized ruby. Its color was flawless. He could not find something at this level even in Avalon’s best jewelry store.
But why did this look…so familiar?
He picked up the gemstone in confusion and felt that it was wet as if it had been dipped in water. His thumb came away scarlet…it was blood! It finally dawned on him that this gem was the one that the Indian merchant wore on his head and valued more highly than life itself!
Chilled, he yelped. “You—what did you do to him?” He stood up abruptly and wanted to retreat but realized that he could not move anymore. His yelp seemed to have been swallowed by something. No one noticed them.
“Sit down.” The young man looked up at him. His long and narrow eyes were open now. His pupils were pure black, like a wind tunnel leading toward somewhere. They were terrifying. His voice was not gentle; it was an irresistible command.
Brady softened involuntarily and collapsed onto his chair. He finally realized there was a small note on the bottom of the box. The words on it were sharp yet inexplicably elegant: Your loyal friend, Sherlock…
“You—you…” His pupils constricted instantly; he almost suffocated. Here, it felt as if he had fallen into an icebox. The legend, the shadow shrouding Avalon, the controller of the dark rules…truly existed!
“Do not say the name aloud, sir.” The young man casually raised his forefinger and placed it before his mouth. “This name doesn’t suit this joyful event. Just view me as a wedding guest.”
Brady shuddered. He wanted to yell for help but his instincts told him that it was best to sit quietly. He gazed around with his periphery vision and discovered that everyone was still bustling around. No one noticed them as if they had been isolated and became a lonely and hopeless island.
A few men in musician robes furrowed brows. They had been invited to this wedding and looked up after sensing the aether waves. When they saw the young man at the table and the trademark hat on the table, they blanched. They quickly looked away and pretended that nothing had happened. Some even rose and left quietly.
Seeing this situation, Brady was completely hopeless. Drenched in sweat, his face paled and he slumped into his seat, almost slipping off. In the crowd, the blissful Donna looked back. Seeing her father’s expression was off, she walked over. “Father, are you alright? Do you feel ill?”
Brady’s lips quivered and he tries to speak, but no words come out. His daughter’s concern deepened his fear. She should not have come over.
Donna, go! Hurry and go…he yelled in his mind.
“Relax, sir. A wedding is a sacred ceremony and only happens once in a lifetime. Do not act out of sorts here and do not disappoint your daughter,” a hoarse voice sounded in his mind. The young man drinking tea glanced over with dark eyes. “She doesn’t know that you’re working with the Indian drug smuggler, right?”
It felt like Brady was struck by lightning. He forced himself to calm down and placated his daughter gentle. However, his fear grew. “What…do you want?” he gathered his courage and asked. He waited for his final result.
Before, the Vengeful Spirit was just a legend. However, starting last month, it became a nightmare that haunted everyone. One month—apparently only one month—after the Shaman disappeared, hundreds of mafia leaders who dared to have their own ideas were personally thrown into the sewer by the Vengeful Spirit.
He was extremely cold and cruel. Apparently, everyone in the family, regardless of age, would disappear. Some were killed in horrible ways as a warning. The site was a total nightmare.
Brady had always thought that a downtown redneck would not dare to do anything to an official like him. However, the man was now right in front of him.
“I am an important figure of the Anglo customs department!” His voice shook. “If you do something to me, the country will not let you go!”
“Has my reputation really become that bad?” The young man was stunned but then he chuckled wryly. He muttered to himself, “That Watson, what did he do in my name?”
Before Brady could reply, the priest walked over and asked, “Mr. Brady, can the wedding begin now?”
Brady looked back stiffly and gaped at the priest. He did not know what to say. “Father, in just a moment. I still need to speak to this man.”
The man gazed at the priest and the priest froze in place. Then the man asked, “Are you religious?”
Brady nodded stiffly.
“Did you know that there’s a passage in the Bible like this?”
The young man rose slowly and took the Bible from the priest. He flipped carelessly to the middle and read a passage to the stunned man. His expression was solemn and powerful; his voice was raspy like scraping metal.
“Thou shalt hold the self-evident truth in awe and advocate justice; this is well. Thou shalt love thy neighbors as thyself; do no injustice. Thou shalt know sinners suffer. He carries poison and nurtures nothingness. His flame is short-lived and his light does not shine.” After finishing, he closed the Bible and looked down at Brady. “Do you understand what I mean?”
There was no smile in his eyes. It was replaced by metallic fierceness tinged with blood. Brady could not meet his eyes. The man had stopped talking but the raspy voice still echoed in Brady’s mind like thunder. It pounded at his last bit of sanity until he practically broke down and cried.
“What…what do you want…”
“Brady, I want you to be a good father.” The young man petted his hair sympathetically, like a saint petting his lamb. “Not a dead father, but a live one with a good career and family. Be a good man and make your family proud. You’ve made many mistakes but you can still survive to old age with a large family and die happily. Are you willing to be this type of father?”
“I…yes!” The next moment, Brady nodded wildly as if he had received salvation and choked out, “I’m willing!”
“Good.” The young man nodded in satisfaction. “A wise and just choice, sir. Just as the legends say, you will receive happiness due to your reverence of the self-evident truth.”
Putting on his hat, he gave Brady one last glance. In that moment, all barriers seemed to disappear. The hustle bustle and blessings of the outside world finally traveled to his ears. Hearing the sounds, Brady’s sweat poured out and he practically passed out.
It had only been half a minute but it felt as if he had returned to the world from hell. He was so happy he could cry because the sudden grim reaper had bid farewell.
–
Amidst the solemn music of the wedding march, the guests watched as a young man with a Bible replaced the priest and stood between the couple.
“It is obvious that you love each other and will last for a long time.” Under everyone’s shocked scrutiny, the young man held Donna’s hand with his left and the man’s hand with his right. He asked Donna, “Donna, do you take this man as your lawfully wedded husband, to have and to hold, from this day forward, for better or for worse, in sickness and in health, to love him, care for him, respect him, accept him, until death do you part?”
“I…I…” Donna looked below the stage. Seeing her father nod, she let go of her worries and gazed at her lover with gentle eyes. “I do.”
“What about you, Groom?” The man who had replaced the priest looked to the groom.
Faced with the solemn question, the groom puffed up his chest and replied, “I do, sir! I love Donna and I’m willing to protect you with my life!”
“Good, all of your words are genuine.” Pleased, the man placed Donna’s hand into the groom’s. “I am overjoyed in seeing you vow to love each other. I now declare thee as husband and wife. Please exchange rings and the groom may kiss the bride.”
Under everyone’s gazes, the shy bride and groom exchanged rings. As the people applauded and cheered, they kissed deeply. Today was their day of joy and this moment would never be forgotten. The young man who had overseen the wedding had now disappeared.
Outside the door, the young man with a bowler hat climbed into the carriage. One side of the seats in the carriage had been removed and replaced with a wheelchair. The young man on the chair was reading a book. He had plain looks. Other than his defined features, he had no other unique points. However, sometimes his squinted eyes would flash with terrifying steel gray light.
“Aren’t your tricks too gentle?” He closed his book and glanced at Ye Qingxuan.
“It’s just a small punishment.” Ye Qingxuan lay on the seat lazily and fanned himself with the hat. “And anyway, I’ve already attended four funerals today. You should at least let me relax at a wedding, right, Mr. Watson?”
Watson shook his head. “When you wallow in that fake mercy every day, don’t you feel like you’re slacking on your duties as the manager of the illegal trade in Anglo?”
“Watson, you’re so heartless.”
“Sorry, that’s how I am.” Watson scoffed. “If you aren’t willing, you don’t have to throw everything to me. I’ll get onto a ship to Wales, buy a manor, and retire.”
“Ah, don’t be like that. Wales is so boring. They only have sheep there. And are you sure you can move around like this?” Ye Qingxuan shrugged. “Don’t you think Avalon is beautiful in comparison? There’s work every day and money to take every month!”
Who do you think did this to me?! Watson’s mouth dropped open but he did not know how to respond. Never in his life had he met someone who spoke so shamelessly while pretending he was doing it for the interest of everyone.
After a long while, Watson sighed dejectedly. “Ye Qingxuan, let’s fight. I really want to kill you right now.”
A blue firebird jumped out from his sleeve and sang beautifully.
“To be honest, I just love it when you’re angry and want to kill me.”
“Where did you learn to talk like that?”
“That’s just how I am,” Ye Qingxuan answered. A thick investigation report was thrown at his face in response.
“This is what you wanted—the investigation on the parliament.” Watson clenched his jaw. “People like you cause messes when you’re bored. Please find something to worry about!”
Ye Qingxuan got up and flipped through the report. His expression changed subtly. “The White Crow really exists?”
Watson replied lightly, “The parliament looks like a loose organization that works in the interest of many people. However, there is someone in charge. The participants provide the resources and receive dividends. After aggregating a good portion of Avalon’s resources, all the power obviously goes to the one in charge.”
“Using other people’s hens to lay eggs, right?”
“That’s one way to put it. It seems that everyone in the parliament has autonomy, but that’s just the appearance. Once you look under the disguise, you realize that the Parliament is just a dictatorship. All the true power lies in the hands of one person.”
Ye Qingxuan glanced at him. “Isn’t that you?”
“You think too highly of me.” Watson scoffed. “The Adrian family has fallen for so many years. How would I have the capitol to be the leader? Even my mask was given to me by my father after he failed resonance and was upset. The one who helped me to my position was White Crow.”
Ye Qingxuan furrowed his brows. “The former leader?”
Watson smiled. “Yes. In fact, he found the dark musician to host my fallen ritual. He helped open the gates to power for me. To be honest, I’m a bit grateful to him.”
“Did he order you to do everything?”
“No, he disappeared after he handed me the parliament. Maybe he was happy to see what I wanted to do.” Watson shrugged. “Like you, I once secretly ordered men to track him.”
“And?”
“He’s vanished off the face of the planet,” Watson said lightly. “Both White Crow and the people who searched for him…they all seemed to have evaporated.”
“White Crow put you, someone who does everything for power and authority, into the position to replace him. He must want the results you gave him.” Ye Qingxuan pondered. “But if Anglo is destroyed by a natural catastrophe, everyone will be infected. This will turn into a world of demons. How does he benefit from this?”
“Who knows?” Watson replied. “There are more than enough saints who want to save the world and madmen who want to destroy it.”
Ye Qingxuan flipped through the files wordlessly. After a long while, he looked up. “According to your investigation, the last time the White Crow showed himself was more than a decade ago?”
“Yes.” Watson nodded. “After that, he chose me and went behind the scenes. Five years later, he disappeared. Do you have any clues?”
“No, but this timestamp is meaningful.” Coldness flashed past Ye Qingxuan’s eyes.
Was that not the time his family was massacred and exiled? What role did the White Crow play in this?
Sensing the heaviness in Ye Qingxuan’s heart, Watson sighed. “The parliament is already destroyed. All the smuggling channels are either divided up or closed down. The rest are under our control. Even if the White Crow reappears, he won’t be able to do much. If I were him, I would definitely have not showed up during recent times. Ye Qingxuan, you’re doing unnecessary work.”
“Unnecessary work is better than doing nothing.” Ye Qingxuan tossed the files aside. “Tell them to continue surveillance. I don’t believe someone can just evaporate like that. When I catch him, I’ll show him.”
The coldness in his tone stunned Watson. He closed the book in his lap and took off his glasses, rubbing his nose. “Your most important task right now isn’t to waste time on meaningless stuff. Have you finished reading the music theory your professor gave you?”
“I don’t have much trouble on Mind and Illusion.” Ye Qingxuan shrugged. “Right now, I’m reviewing some stuff for the School of Revelations. I hope I don’t fall short.”
Watson wrinkled his nose. “It’s my first time seeing someone who learns from so many schools.”
“Isn’t the School of Royalty like this?”
“The School of Royalty is just Anglo’s own School of Summoning. The main focus is still Summoning, but we put the characteristics of other schools onto our phantom beasts, like this…” The robin in Watson’s hand flapped its wings and flames jumped.
“I put elements of the School of Modification into my phantom beast. The limit is nine hundred and forty elements. If I utilize this bird well, I can easily burn down a whole house. In other words, I can destroy this entire street with just a wave of my hands.”
“Oh?” Ye Qingxuan was stunned; his eyes were impressed. “That sounds cool.”
“Thanks.” Watson’s expression was cold. He did not seem happy at all. “The most mainstream schools right now are the schools of Modification, Summoning, and Choir. After all, the first is the cradle of battle musicians; the second researches natural catastrophes and demon nature; and the School of Choir studies life. The more medical advancements there are, the more stable their theories, and the more branches they have.
“But the ones you chose to study…perfectly avoided all the realistic schools.”
Hearing this, Ye Qingxuan finally reacted and counted on his fingers, “Abstinence, Revelations, Mind, Illusion…hey, you’re right. I didn’t learn any of the three. Can I still start now?”
“In your dreams,” Watson scoffed. “You think you’re a freak like Naberius and can change schools as easily as changing clothes? Of the seven schools, Modification counters Illusion, Summoning counters Mind, Choir and Revelations don’t counter each other as much but it’s still hard to combine them.
“Plus, the schools you’ve learned already counter Abstinence. If you want to learn new music theory, it’ll be a feat to remain sane. If you want to learn other schools, wait until you reach the ‘completion stage’ before trying for the Scepter level.”
“That’s kind of depressing.” Ye Qingxuan nodded but he did not seem upset at all. “What does that have to do with my task now?”
“Ye Qingxuan, this is the worst thing.” Watson looked at him with troubled eyes. “You’ve already fallen into Hyakume’s eye. When you look into the abyss, it also looks back at you. When you observe each other, you establish some sort of connection.”
“That sounds intimate.”
“Right.” Watson nodded. “So intimate that as soon as you step out of the enchantment he’ll whisper in your ear at any time. He’s hurt now and won’t be able to control the material world. However, once he recovers, do you think he’ll let you go? You don’t want to stay stuck in Avalon forever, right?”
Ye Qingxuan inhaled sharply. “So, my most important task right now is to try for Resonance?”
“Yes, as soon as possible.” Watson nodded.
Ye Qingxuan was silent for a long time. “I get the theory but how come you talk about the Resonance level like it’s as easy as buying cabbage from the market?”
“Is it not?” Watson eyed him and finally said with mock surprise, “Ah, I forgot that you’ve just become an official musician.”
“Is there any point in provoking me here?” Ye Qingxuan pursed his lips and yelled, “Stop!” The carriage stopped beside the road and Ye Qingxuan jumped off.
“Where are you going?”
“Didn’t you say to try for Resonance as soon as possible?” Ye Qingxuan looked back at him. “I’m going to find a former Scepter musician and ask for advice.”
“Oh?” Watson arched an eyebrow. Remembering that resentful woman, his eyes turned sympathetic. “Good luck.”
Ye Qingxuan was in the library of the ancient mansion.
“The Resonance level?” Lola asked lightly. “It’s simple.”
“Oh?” Ye Qingxuan’s eyes brightened. “How simple?”
“Didn’t you become an official musician after dying a few times?” Lola side-eyed him. “Just die a few more times.”
Ye Qingxuan’s expression twisted. This woman really held grudges! Ye Qingxuan had only stayed inside the academy and given himself a break for half a month!
“Miss Lola, please accept my small offering.” He sighed. Taking out the bag of blood he had prepared, he pushed it over cautiously. Lola glanced over and weighed it in her hands. Satisfied, she accepted it. Lola’s best trait was that she accepted when she saw something good and never insisted on too much. Working with a shrewd woman was straightforward. There were no cons other than having to shed a lot of blood.
“The Resonance level is still too far for you right now,” Lola said. “The distance isn’t due to your ability but the way you look at problems.”
“What do you mean?” Ye Qingxuan asked.
After pondering, Lola suddenly asked, “Do you know what the ‘seven questions for musicians are?”
–
The ‘seven questions for musicians were the hardest problem that musicians faced when trying to break into the Resonance level. Compared to the vast world, the endless aether sea, the distant Originator…compared to these huge entities, humanity was too insignificant.
If an insignificant man wanted to resonate with the world, move the aether sea, and receive limitless power, he must first determine the ‘origin’ within himself. Even the highest towers were built on flat ground. If one wanted to go higher, one must have a foundation. One would only be able to reply to the aether sea after determining one’s origin and utilize the limitless strength.
Thus, musicians ran into a huge problem. How could they look past the confusing fog, glimpse into the aether sea and the music theory hidden within, and find the origin that they could use?
The sub-origin technology of the School of Stone Heart stemmed from this. By turning one’s internal organs into alchemy equipment, they completed this process and could temporarily play music scores above their level. However, this was still a foreign object. Their own body still needed to have a breakthrough.
Thus, past musicians had made countless studies. However, not many were successful. If there was no method, one man out of a dozen musicians may be lucky enough to accidentally succeed and become a dabbler. It was a strange problem that countless people could not understand.
To this, the East had the saying “pass down with the heart rather than relying on words.” The West also had concepts such as ‘inspiration’ and ‘awakening.’ All in all, people who understood would understand. People who could not understand would not understand no matter what. The more one thought, the more confused one would become.
It was like a towering wall with no top that stood before all musicians. They must break through this wall to move forward. This wall was known as the Barrier of Knowledge. The Seven Questions for Musicians was a solution that various musicians had concluded.
Basically, if one could understand the propositions from the seven schools, then they would be able to break through the Barrier of Knowledge, see the true nature of music theory, and find the origin.
In other words, one must be able to solve all seven propositions. They include the ‘eternally unchanging object’ of Modifications, the ‘intangible object with a tangible spirit’ of Summoning, ‘between life and death’ of Choir, the ‘unknown’ of Revelations, ‘who am I’ of Mind, the ‘origin of dreams’ of Illusion.
“The origin of dreams?” Ye Qingxuan gaped at Lola. “Are you sure?”
“I have hundreds of books on the sixth shelf of the bookshelf behind you that explores this topic, but it’s best if you don’t look around. The more you read, the more confused you’ll become.” Then Lola asked lightly, “You already have an idea?”
“No, not at all.” Ye Qingxuan lowered his eyes. “But he told me in a dream that he’s waiting for me at the origin of dreams.”
“It’s been so many years. No one even knows if he’s alive or not.” Lola looked down and sipped her tea. “What really happened to Teacher? I don’t understand.”
“Let’s change the topic.” Ye Qingxuan shook his head. “There’s still one more. What’s the proposition for the School of Abstinence?”
After a moment of silence, Lola’s eyes grew sympathetic. “Abandon oneself,” she said. “The School of Abstinence studies the essence of aether. To them, there’s a barrier between the flesh and oneself. You must abandon yourself. Yezi, I really hope you don’t choose this.
“Do you know how many Abstinence musicians die from the backlash of music theory at this point? Some are burned to ash, some are suffocated, some turn into mist. In the East, musicians created a set of skills to study this proposition. You’ve probably heard of it before: autopsy, military autopsy, and the hydrothermal cadaver refining method.
“In ancient times, they referred to Resonance musicians as ‘fay’. In order to become one, they are willing to give up their flesh body. Sadly, doing this will definitely kill you. This is the biggest obstacle in the School of Abstinence. Maybe one in ten musicians can start learning. However, not even one in a hundred can break through the Barrier of Knowledge.”
Considering this, Ye Qingxuan nodded. “So what you’re saying is that if I want to reach the Resonance level, I must choose one of these four propositions, right? The ‘unknown,’‘who am I,’‘the origin of dreams,’ and ‘abandoning oneself’. None of these are easy.”
Actually, Ye Qingxuan had realized this when Lola first mentioned the four propositions. These were the questions that stemmed from the final goal and music theory of each major school. The direction pointed out by the four propositions caused him to suddenly discover some details and theories he had overlooked. It felt abnormally difficult.
If he could have a breakthrough, it meant that his study of music theory and aether had reached another level and was closer to the final stage. However, everyone’s method was different. Their Knowledge of Barriers were different as well. Using other musicians’ methods would only confuse him further.
“But I’m still curious.” Ye Qingxuan rubbed his face with a gloomy expression. “This doesn’t make any sense. I’m a genius but I’m still stuck here. How can so many people break through?”
“Everyone faces different problems. The more you accumulate, the bigger the reward, but the more difficult it is to break through. In addition,” Lola paused and smiled mysteriously, “do you really think that everyone uses these methods?”
“Are there other methods?” Ye Qingxuan was stunned.
“Why wouldn’t there be?” Lola asked in reply. “In the end, the Barrier of Knowledge requires you to think outside of the box and escape from previous restraints. Free yourself from the shackles of the material world and see the true face of music theory.
“After this stage, the musician would have a complete grasp on the essence of music and start to develop their own style. Usually, a musician who had been stumped for years would experience a drastic change or emotional attack and suddenly be enlightened. Then they would break past their old beliefs and enter a new world.
“Thus, as long as you can reach this result, you can try some loopholes.”
“What loopholes?” Ye Qingxuan’s eyes brightened.
“You can sign a contract with a holy spirit that the Sacred City enshrines. Resonate psychologically and pull yourself out of your own perspective to see the world from a higher angle. Your problems are nothing to saints at the Scepter level. They can easily see through it.
“In addition, you can improve your sound of heart. The most popular is the fire spirit Akane. People who sign a contract with him and freely add fire effects into their music. The twin spirits of wind and thunder are hot picks too. So, how is it? Does this method sound familiar?”
“Why does it sound like the fallen ritual for dark musicians?”
“Is there any difference? In the end, it’s borrowing from others’ strength.” Lola snickered. “People who use this method just bypass the obstacle and use someone else’s perspective. However, their entire life would be influenced by others as well.
“To those failures, becoming a Resonance musician is the highest point of their life. True power comes from one’s internal self and mind. People who try tricks will never reach the Scepter level.
“For true musicians, the Resonance level is only the starting point!”
–
Ye Qingxuan returned to the academy in the afternoon. He had left with much confusion and was still confused when he returned. In fact, he now had propositions that he had to think about. He still had no clue how to start with these four problems. Thankfully, he had time to think.
Compared to the depressive thinking that entire day, good news boosted his spirits. The principal that had disappeared for half a month had finally come back. It seemed that the mess with the parliament had been dealt with. Even if the Fifth Department, they still needed time to remove the parliament completely. There must have been many unhappy moments.
Maxwell’s secretary left a message at the history department for Ye Qingxuan to go to his office as soon as he returned. This was the deal he had made with Maxwell. When the matter with the parliament ended, he would tell Ye Qingxuan what happened to Ye Lanzhou without holding anything back.
Ye Qingxuan quickly reached the office and knocked.
“Oh, finally back?” Maxwell said. “Come in.”
When Ye Qingxuan entered, he realized that Maxwell was not the only on in the office.
The smell of tobacco hung in the air. It seemed to contain the dust of traveling. A man in a gray canvas robe sat on the sofa beside Maxwell. His aether was as still as dead water as if it was swallowed by the darkness in his robe.
He looked as if he had come from thousands of miles away. He held an old pipe; his face was hidden in the darkness and difficult to see. He was talking to Maxwell. “After all, with our relationship, I will definitely agree to help you with this.” He rose and bid farewell.
“You’re leaving now?” Maxwell tried to keep him. “Why don’t you stay a bit longer? It’s not too late to leave tomorrow.”
“The distance is far and it will be a difficult journey. The sooner I leave the better. My goal for coming to the academy has been reached as well and there is no point in staying. Thank you for your hospitality.”
“Then, safe travels.” Maxwell rose to see him off. The traveler-like musician moved silently as if he was floating. When he brushed past Ye Qingxuan, he could feel the pair of eyes under the darkness sweep across his face. Those eyes were meaningful.
“Who was that?” Ye Qingxuan asked when the man was gone.
“Since he doesn’t wish to reveal his identity before you, it’s obviously a secret.” Maxwell smiled mysteriously and motioned for Ye Qingxuan to sit. “Whisky or brandy? I also have the strongest ‘kerosene’ from downtown. Maybe you’ll like it.”
“Don’t you have anything nonalcoholic?” Ye Qingxuan eyed Maxwell.
He rummaged through the cabinets. Finding some black tea, he boiled water to make tea for himself. Maxwell sat with propped legs and watched as Ye Qingxuan scurried about. He did not care at all and just chuckled.
“Sorry to keep you waiting for so long. I thought you would get impatient.”
“No matter where you go, you still have to come back here.” Ye Qingxuan sat across from Maxwell, poured a cup of tea, and pushed it over.
“Oh?”
“This is for you,” Ye Qingxuan said lightly. “I have a lot of questions so get ready to be thirsty, Mr. Principal.”
“If I knew this, I’d choose an easier topic to discuss.” Maxwell sighed and downed the cup of tea. He wiped the water on his beard like an old swordsman getting ready to fight after drinking wine. “Okay, let’s start. Don’t worry, I won’t hold anything back.”
“Then,” Ye Qingxuan asked his first question, “who is White Crow?”
“You know about him?” Maxwell was shocked but he shook his head. “Unfortunately, I want to know the answer too. More than a decade ago, the Sacred City ruled that your father was a heretic and had fallen. It caused uproar but your father ran away. The Lancelot family was the first to be questioned.
“I don’t know the specifics, but the former head of the family closed himself off to the world. Due to all the pressure, he was forced to exile you and your mother. After that, he fell ill and died two years later.
“At the same time, Ye Lanzhou used his Scepter to erase his existence. Other than people with special status, everyone forgot about him. Unfortunately, he couldn’t undo his mistakes. Amongst them, the one who put in the most effort to attack the Lancelot family was the White Crow that you speak of.”
“I see.” Ye Qingxuan lowered his eyes. “Then why did Ye Lanzhou come to the West back then? An Eastern Deva’s blood with a bright future and scepter would be the star of any school and the hope of the entire family. Why did he leave his hometown to come here?”
“Twenty-seven years ago in the East, Bai Heng inherited the noble Bai family. He led his soldiers to rebel without care for his family in the capitol Chang’an. The emperor was furious and killed his entire family. However, Chang’an was breached three days later and the royal family was practically massacred by Bai Heng.
“Bai Heng was the sole survivor of the Bai family. Due to outside pressure, he did not kill the youngest princess. He allowed her to inherit the throne, change her title to ‘Wu.’ She became the first empress. After that, Bai Heng became the high and mighty regent, and the world’s most treacherous minister.
“One year later, the Ye family was secretly ordered by the empress to fight under the name of removing treacherous officials. They partnered with the Eighth Battalion to besiege Chang’an for five years. However, the Ye family was betrayed by his ally. The head of the family was beheaded and given to Bai Heng as an apology.
“After that, the Ye family was cut up and punished by the crown. All direct blood lines were imprisoned for life. Your father—the successor of the Ye family—Ye Lanzhou was twenty-two years old at that time.
“There was no place in the East and no reason to stay there, so he came to the West alone to start a new life. To be honest, I don’t know what he did to break free from all those bars and shackles. Maybe no one could stop him if he really wanted to escape. Anyway, the result was that he came here and started a new life, just as he had wished.” Maxwell sighed. “Unfortunately, the new life here wasn’t as easy as he had thought.”
“Then what happened?”
“Then what?” Then I met him for the first time.” Maxwell chuckled. “He applied for a position at the Royal Academy of Music and became a visiting professor. One year later, his talent and ability was acknowledged, and he became the youngest vice principal in the academy’s history.
“You know what happened next. He met your mother, they got to know each other and fell in love. In the end, they endured all the challenges and married. I officiated their wedding. That was the most honorable thing I’ve done. Unfortunately, now I always think that maybe what happened next would not have happened if I’d protested their marriage.”
After a long silence, Ye Qingxuan asked, “So what happened next?”
“The Lancelot family is practically part of the royal family. In order to marry your mother, Ye Lanzhou agreed to many terms. One of them was that he must work for Anglo for ten years. He agreed and received a secret position in the Royal Research Institute. The following year, he represented the Institute and participated in a research project in the Sacred City.”
“The Sacred City?” Ye Qingxuan pondered. “Is it the Church or the Musician Union?”
“Both and even more. The Silence Governance participated as well,” Maxwell said lightly. “This was one of the results of the Third Amendment Act.”
The Third Amendment Act was a secret agreement made two hundred years ago between the various countries and the Church. According to this agreement, each country would respect that the current King of Red—who was also the Pope—was the only representative of God. He would make no fallacy and protect the Church’s legitimacy and God’s undeniable status.
In return, the Church would not have any political power; it would separate from the government. Churchmen were forbidden to join the military, government, or interfere with any country’s laws. They were even forbidden to accept the worship of believers. All funding came from the various countries. The Sacred City Parliament led by the Pope established the Sacred City’s position as the core of the world.
The first thing the Sacred City Parliament did was to establish the Musician Union to unite all musicians. At that time, the Inquisition—an organization that had grown astray—was abolished. The musicians were added into the Silent Authority that was under the Musician Union’s sole authority and became judicial musicians.
The non-musician priests returned to the Church and formed the Ministry of Faith that had the authority of final interpretation of the Bible. From then on, God belonged to God and mankind belonged to mankind.
The Pope was responsible for guiding the lofty spirit while the men of the world were ruled by their kings. Whether it was metaphysical or physical, everything found its place. A new order was born.
The secret research institute that was not part of any organization was established at that time. The research that Ye Lanzhou participated in was started eighteen years earlier. The Sacred City Parliament gathered scholars and alchemists from each country, secretly deployed musicians of dozens of research fields and sixteen different schools, and began an unprecedented research…What is a natural catastrophe?”
Maxwell’s voice was like stones rubbing and creating blazing sparks. “That was the goal of the research—to understand the nature of the natural catastrophe. For this, all of the world’s strength was secretly united and captured a natural catastrophe. All the preparation, process, and actions of this plan had been sealed. No one knows what happened, other than country leaders and the Pope.”
“Natural catastrophe?” Ye Qingxuan was shaken. “Which one?”
“Of the natural catastrophes, the ones with the most characteristics are the Three Saints, the Three Pillar God, the Four Living Objects, and the Eight Phenomena.” Maxwell smoked his cigarette. “It’s impossible to even prove the existence of the Three Saints. The Three Pillar God is too large and far away from humanity, making it hard to understand. The Eight Phenomena…are just phenomena. There’s not much research value. Therefore, the most suitable target is one of the Four Living Objects.”
“Hecatoncheir?” It suddenly dawned on Ye Qingxuan. The Four Living Objects was Hecatoncheir, Leviathan, the Dark Mother, and Cereus.
Of these four, the Dark Mother did not have a specific shape and was difficult to observe. Leviathan of the deep seas had already died. No one would be able to find it before it is reborn. Cereus seemed to be the easiest but its nature was difficult to grasp. It lived in the black zones across the world. It was where the aether was the most disorderly. Cereus existed between real and intangible. Like an unrealistic bubble, it could burst at touch. Merely observing it could cause it to scatter, let alone catching it. Therefore, the most suitable choice was undoubtedly Hecatoncheir.
“But…the Sacred City was actually able to capture him?”
“Yes, with grave losses,” Maxwell said softly. “To my knowledge, since eighty years ago, four of the current eleven saints disappeared and two of the nine Eastern imperial musicians died. The other participants were all gravely wounded as well. The former King of Yellow was lost due to this. But that’s not the worst. The worst is that we succeeded.”
Maxwell spoke of some of the events very vaguely, but Ye Qingxuan could imagine the bloodiness and sacrifices behind the vague words. Even musicians as powerful as the Three Kings could fall in a battle against a natural catastrophe. Scepter musicians were not even able to enter the battlefield.
“Did Ye Lanzhou participate in the research of Hecatoncheir? He’s talented but he’s not even a Summoning musician. What use does a Mind musician have?”
“Did you forget your father’s title?” Maxwell glanced at him. “Moon Chant, the purifier of all abnormalities, the only one who can resonate with the Pure White Moon and the Blue Moon at once. He’s the one who most understands the differences between natural catastrophes and men. I would find it odd if he didn’t participate.”
“…And then what?”
“And then?” Maxwell put out his cigarette. “And then it’s as you know. Your father turned and fell into the territory of natural catastrophes, becoming a dark musician.”
“I know that.” Ye Qingxuan clenched his fist. Looking at Maxwell, he asked gruffly, “Is it true?”
“I don’t know.” Maxwell looked away. “When he left, he caused too big of an upheaval. The entire research institute was practically destroyed. All the files were destroyed and all the people…
“After all these years, I often think if that young man had already turned into my enemy. Will we meet on the battlefield one day? Sometimes, I even think…it’d be better if he’d died.”
“I don’t want to agree but I think that too.” Ye Qingxuan’s words stunned Maxwell. The young man lowered his head and hid his expression. He said coolly, “Those guys that only know to cause trouble are better off dead. But I don’t want him to die without a clear reason.”
After a long silence, Maxwell patted his shoulder. “Humans are unable to interfere with the past but if you want to investigate the truth, you must become stronger. You should at least be a Scepter musician to have insight on the secrets.”
“Isn’t it too early to talk about this? I’m still lost about the Resonance level. The Barrier of Knowledge is enough for me to get headaches over for a few years, let alone finding the origin of the resonance.”
Maxwell froze and fell silent. Thinking of something, his gaze turned odd as if he was looking at an inhuman creature.
“…What’s wrong?” Ye Qingxuan had a bad feeling.
“Ye Qingxuan, you’ve only been in school for half a year!” Maxwell held his chin and praised. “You went from nothing to an official musician within half a year and are learning four schools at once. According to the Academy’s rules, you can graduate already.”
“Uh, ah, huh?” Ye Qingxuan froze too. “Graduate?”
“Yeah!” Maxwell nodded. “The Royal Academy of Musician has a six-year schooling system, but realistically, you can graduate after becoming an official musician. You must know that not many of the graduates this year are official musicians yet! With your record now, you’re more than ready to graduate! What if today I…”
“Wait! I…I…” Ye Qingxuan was dazed. Finally, he slapped his thigh. “I paid for one full year’s worth of tuition! I still half a year left!”
Maxwell looked at him as if looking at an idiot. “I gave all those downtown businesses to you and you still need money?”
“I don’t care! I’m not graduating!” Ye Qingxuan sprawled on the sofa, throwing a tantrum. “Otherwise I’ll go lie down before the palace and starve myself in protest! You better believe that. Maxwell is a ruthless and corrupted principal! A commoner student is expelled! I’ll get you onto the Musician Union’s complaint board, the headline!”
Even someone as thick-skinned as Maxwell was taken aback by this. He had experienced many who could not graduate but he had never seen someone who was not willing to leave the Academy.
“Hey, don’t be like that. Help me out. I haven’t reached the quota for this year’s graduation. With you, I’d at least be able to ask for a bigger budget for next year,” Maxwell said.
“It’s your own fault that you can’t reach the quota, alright?! What kind of school has such weird graduation exams?”
“So you’re set on not graduating?”
“What are you so impatient for?” Ye Qingxuan picked his nose with a rogue expression. “I’m just a first-year student. Wait until I’m in my sixth year before talking about graduating!”
“You’re really not leaving?”
“Nope! What can you do about me?”
“Oh, that’s great.” Maxwell rubbed his hands and smiled mysteriously. “Then you won’t reject the trial task that the Academy assigns you, right?”
Ye Qingxuan was instantly stunned and it finally dawned on him. “You were waiting for me to say that!”
“You’re the one who doesn’t want to graduate. I didn’t force you.” Maxwell shrugged. “You can choose between graduating and working.”
Ye Qingxuan ground his teeth and stared daggers into the old guy. “Just tell me what you want!”
The Royal Academy of Music had the tradition of trial tasks. It was like summer internships of other schools. The Musician Union would assign some simple missions for students so they could accumulate experience. Of course, some bad teachers would take advantage of their students and make them work for free. For example, people like Maxwell, who set up traps for students…
“Don’t be scared. It’s pretty simple.” The prepared Maxwell took a document from the drawer and tossed it at Ye Qingxuan. “It suits you too but it’s just a bit far.”
“How far?” Ye Qingxuan felt like he had been scammed.
After thinking, Maxwell said casually, “Around five days by sea, six days by train, and then half a month by foot?”
Ye Qingxuan almost spat out blood. “Why don’t you just say going across the entire world?!”
“Yeah, something like that.” Maxwell shrugged and stated, “You know about the Romulus people, right? A few centuries ago, after Romulus was destroyed by a natural catastrophe, these people scattered throughout the world. Decades ago, their leader established a new tribe in the north.”
“Do you want me to represent Anglo and ally with them? And then we’ll have—”
“Do you think the nations would allow a group of refugees to take a land that is rich in resources?” Maxwell side-eyed him. “You’re going to save people. Recently, there’s a large-scale infectious disease is going around. The local Church suspects that this is related to the digging of archaeological sites and is recruiting scholars who can interpret and understand history. You’re just going over to help out.”
“An infectious disease?” Ye Qingxuan’s eyes brightened. “Does it turn people into—”
“Sorry, it’s just a regular disease.”
“Psh, that’s boring.” Ye Qingxuan shook his head.
“You think all musicians make the headlines every other day?!” Maxwell suddenly grew furious. “Hurry back, pack up, and get the f*ck out! If you’re still here the day after tomorrow, I’ll have the Fifth Department exile you!”
“There’s no need to be in a hurry, right?”
“Hey!” Maxwell was pissed at the mention of this. “Thanks to that Mr. Demon and those guys who messed around, Avalon’s enchantment is still damaged and riddled with holes. Its protection is basically nonexistent. The royal musicians have been tearing their hair out these two days. Do you know why?”
Ye Qingxuan’s heart skipped a beat. “Why?”
“Because someone in this room is the biggest interference!” Maxwell was practically jabbing Ye Qingxuan’s face. “After you messed with the enchantment, your aether waves are connected to the core! The enchantment won’t be able to be repaired as long as you’re in Avalon!
“If not for me covering you, you’d be hanging from the Traitor’s Gate for destroying national defenses by now! And you’re asking me what’s the hurry?!”
“Uh…” Ye Qingxuan felt guilty about this too. It had been an emergency, but it truly was a bit too much to make national defenses into his own body. No one had investigated for so many days that he thought the crisis was over but it was actually waiting for him here.
“Okay, okay, I’ll go!”
He dejectedly prepared to go back and pack but Maxwell called, “This is for you.” He tossed over a ring. Ye Qingxuan caught it and realized it was high-grade alchemy equipment. He could see that it was a product by Avalon’s famous alchemist workshop Cavendish Laboratory. It was much better than the defense rings he had stolen before.
When he touched the inside, he felt some vague letters carved on it.
“…007·SH? What’s that?”
“I help you record a file with the Fifth Department under the name of Sherlock Holmes. From now on, your code is number seven and is directly under me. You basically have amnesty now,” Maxwell said casually. “There’s no reason to make you do everything by yourself out there either. Someone will give you messages later. Remember to burn them after memorizing the content. They can help you muster a considerable amount of people and power. Use them carefully and see it as a gift.”
“That simple?” Ye Qingxuan cautiously put on his ring. He did not know why going to help cure a disease in a refugee camp would have something to do with the mysterious Fifth Department, but seeing Maxwell’s actions, there must be hidden dangers. It was better to be safe than sorry.
“Oh, right, what’s that refugee area called?” Ye Qingxuan asked before he left.
“Auschwitz,” Maxwell said with a smile. “A place filled with peace, friendship, and kindness that accepts the poor refugees with no home.”
Ye Qingxuan was prepared, but he was still shocked when the man from the Fifth Department knocked on his door. “Richard?” He gaped at the senior who had graduated and apparently went back to his hometown. “You?”
“Oh, you still remember my name?”‘Richard’ still wore a black uniform and a strange smile. “Then you can call me Richard. Mr. M told me to give this to you. See, I told you we’re fated.”
Ye Qingxuan was speechless. So the school’s executive office was the reserve for the Fifth Department? Maxwell truly was creative. Ye Qingxuan could not think of how a student organization in a musician academy was related to the Fifth Department.
Not even ten minutes after Richard had left, someone else came. Ye Qingxuan, frantically packing and with a sweater on his head, opened the door and froze.
“Seton?”
The burly man who practically blocked the door turned and pointed at the carriage behind him. His gesture meant, the Boss wants to see you.
–
“Heard you’re going to Auschwitz?” The fat middle-aged man across from Ye Qingxuan smiled warmly. But seriously, who was he? Hermes? Where did the handsome young man go? Ye Qingxuan felt lied to.
“Ah, you can’t recognize me? Seems I’ve changed a lot.” Hermes rubbed the bristly hair on his chin and cackled. “Don’t mind me. I’ve been growing quickly these days but it should settle down soon.”
Trying not to insult him, Ye Qingxuan just sighed. “Boss, how may I help you?”
“Didn’t I already say it? I heard you’re going to Auschwitz?”
Ye Qingxuan blanched. “I just found out an hour ago. News travels fast.”
“No need to bother with the details.” Hermes pulled out a check from the Church and wrote a long number. “Since you’re going there, help me bring some money over. I fund a child there…”
“Boss, can you just get to the point?” Ye Qingxuan’s expression was troubled.
“That is the point.” Hermes’s was serious. “Go and check for me. You’re just going there to study some stupid books, right? You’ll have a lot of free time so just help me take care of the girl. If she doesn’t need anything then you don’t have to care. Spend the extra money for yourself. I’ve also helped you buy a first-class ticket for tomorrow’s luxury cruise so you can travel comfortably!”
Ye Qingxuan was stunned. After a while, he said awkwardly, “I misunderstood you. I’ve never seen you care so much about other people.”
“She’s not ‘other people’!” Hermes grew troubled. “She’s like…my daughter?”
Ye Qingxuan spat his tea out. “Your what?”
“I’m kidding. Don’t take it seriously.” Hermes whistled and raised his hand. “Seton, come and send him off! Look at you, you don’t have any manners. He still has a sweater on his head and you dragged him over. What if you keep him from packing?”
Ye Qingxuan sighed. He finally had the time to pull the sweater over his head. He had not worn it in a long time and, as expected, it was a bit small.
In the end, Hermes saw him to the door and asked casually, “Oh right, are you still wearing that pocket watch?”
Confused, Ye Qingxuan looked down at his chest. The tick-tocks from the Double Snake Time Meter answered him.
–
For dinner, they held a celebration at a restaurant outside the Academy for Charles’s discharge from the hospital. Charles was like a starved beast. When Ye Qingxuan arrived late, he discovered that his portion was practically gone already.
Hearing Ye Qingxuan’s mission, Abraham nodded. “Since it was assigned by the Musician Union, it shows that they think highly of you. I’ll prepare some resources and books related to interpretation tonight. You can read them on the way there.”
“You’re leaving?” Bai Xi squeezed in. “Where?”
“Auschwitz. It’s a small place but it’s a pressing matter. I’m leaving tomorrow.”
Hearing this, Bai Xi went blank. “Why didn’t you tell me earlier? I haven’t packed yet.”
“I’m going by myself.” Ye Qingxuan tapped her forehead. “You still want to go out after failing all those classes? Focus on your credits first.”
“Oh.” Bai Xi lowered her head and did not say more. Soon, she lowered her utensils. “I’m done.” Without waiting for the others, she rose and left. They heard the door slam in the distance. Old Phil, chewing on a bone beside the table, looked in the direction she went, then back at Ye Qingxuan. He shook his head judgmentally, picked up the bone, and ran off as well.
Charles snorted. His mouth was stuffed with meat and he could hardly breathe from laughing. Ye Qingxuan looked to his teacher for help but Abraham just shrugged helplessly.
Ye Qingxuan sighed and chased after Bai Xi. They ran all the way to the music history building. Bai Xi ran into her room and slammed the door. After organizing his words, Ye Qingxuan got ready to knock on the door but then he heard a click. She locked the door.
“Bai Xi?” Ye Qingxuan knocked. “Bai Xi?”
“There’s no one here!” a voice traveled from behind the door.
After thinking, Ye Qingxuan grabbed a chair and two books. I don’t believe you’ll never open the door! If you want, try staying there the entire night! But Bai Xi really did not open the door the entire night.
Good girls were not supposed to open the door for men at night. Bai Xi was a good girl and kept the door closed. If she said there was no one there, then there was no one. She said nothing the entire night.
The next day, Ye Qingxuan waited by the Academy’s gate for a long time but Bai Xi did not come to see him off.
“She’s probably angry you’re not taking her with.” Charles patted his shoulder. “Don’t worry, she’ll get over it. She’ll probably forget by the time you’re back.”
“I hope.” Ye Qingxuan scratched his face awkwardly and climbed into the carriage with his luggage.
–
When he arrived at the pier, he realized that another unexpected person was waiting for him. It was a black carriage without any marks. The driver raised the brim of his hat and smiled at the youth. It was Maxwell. Ye Qingxuan did not know why Maxwell suddenly wanted to dress up as a driver, but he was used to his principal’s oddities.
“Oh, you’re here to see me off?”
“Not me.” Maxwell shook his head and tossed something over. “This is for you.”
The small box felt heavy. Ye Qingxuan opened it and discovered a black velvet pouch. It was filled with dried tobacco that smelled expensive. What attracted his attention was the thing beside the bag. It was the familiar stone pipe. Under the Eye of Silence, the pipe was covered with beautiful flowing light. Stunned, Ye Qingxuan looked up.
Maxwell smiled and jutted his chin toward the carriage. “She thinks this suits you.”
He could see a vague but delicate silhouette in the carriage. “The princess?” Ye Qingxuan gaped at Maxwell. “Hey, old guy, did you…”
Maxwell looked away. “Her Highness used the Queen’s authority to read your files. This isn’t my fault.”
Ye Qingxuan raised his hand expressionlessly, showing the Jiu Xiao Huan Pei on his finger. “Principal, can you at least shield your heart when you lie?”
Maxwell hit his forehead awkwardly. “Sorry, I forgot.”
“Maxwell, I’d be dead long ago if I believed you.”
“Well, it’s nothing bad for you.” Not only was Maxwell unapologetic, he even extended a hand as if nothing was wrong. “She hurried over to see you off so early in the morning and even brought a gift. Are you going to let her return empty-handed? Where’s your gift for her?”
After a short pause, Ye Qingxuan felt around his body and took off a defense bracelet, putting it in Maxwell’s hand. “It’s not really auspicious but this is the only thing I can give now. It saved me many times and it’s meaningful to me.”
“You really ruin the mood.” Maxwell shook his head. Casually glancing at Ye Qingxuan’s chest, he said meaningfully, “Whatever, it’s the thought that counts.”
“Also, say sorry for me,” Ye Qingxuan said lightly. “I lost that thing a while ago.” Maxwell froze. He looked down at Ye Qingxuan; Ye Qingxuan looked up at him. After a short staring contest, Maxwell looked away. He sighed; regret flashed past his eyes.
“Safe travels, kid,” he said, and whipped his horse. The black carriage faded away into the distance. The vague gaze from the carriage disappeared as well.
–
Not too far away from the pier, a big yellow dog squatted on the rooftop of a shop and gazed in Ye Qingxuan’s direction. Beside it, Bai Xi scribbled on the ground with a tree branch. Hearing the whistle in the distance, she pursed her lips. “Old Phil, did that guy leave yet?”
The dog barked. Not yet.
Bai Xi looked back and saw the youth’s lonely figure on the empty square before the ship. The stressed out worker beside him was trying to convince him of something. He did not move. The whistle sounded again but he still did not move. He looked in Old Phil’s direction, saw Bai Xi, and waved. However, he still did not move as if he was waiting for something. If it did not come, he would not go.
Bai Xi pursed her lips and huffed. She jumped down and walked over unwillingly.
“Why aren’t you leaving?” Bai Xi muttered in annoyance with her head down. “Stop making things hard for others.” This was totally uncharacteristic for her. She always did what she wanted and never cared about others. Hearing this, Ye Qingxuan smiled. “I’m waiting for you.”
“Oh.” Bai Xi looked up and then looked away. She asked quietly, “Are you going to spend Feast of Winter Veil there too?”
“It won’t take long.” Ye Qingxuan fluffed her hair. “It’s just two months. I’ll be back before winter ends.”
Bai Xi broke free and smoothed her hair. “You don’t have to tell me that.”
“Sorry, I haven’t had time to play with you. I’ll bring a gift for you.”
“Oh.” Bai Xi lowered her head.
Ye Qingxuan asked, “Then I’m going now?”
“Oh.” Nibbling on her lower lip, Bai Xi looked away.
Ye Qingxuan chuckled. With one last glance, he picked up his luggage and walked toward the ship. When he started climbing the steps, he heard someone call out, “Cousin!” Looking back, he saw a small figure duck under the workers’ blocking and run over. Without waiting for his reaction, she opened her arms and hugged him lightly.
“Safe travels,” she said.
Ye Qingxuan was stunned but he quickly laughed. “Okay!”
–
Under the blaring whistle, the ship slowly left the port. The white-haired girl and yellow dog at the port gradually faded into the distance. Ye Qingxuan stood at the bow and stared at Avalon as it grew further away.
When he came here, he only had a suitcase, a few thousand dollars, some clothes, and a dog. He left all of that in Avalon. Thinking like this made him sad but he still had himself, at least. And a hug. It was great. No matter what, he would not be lonely anymore.
Three days later, all was calm in the blueness of the sea and the sky. The ship cut through the still sea, leaving behind ripples that spread in all directions. The sea wind was moist with a slightly fishy smell; it was relaxing.
Under the afternoon sun, Ye Qingxuan leaned against the mast. He squinted up at the end of the sky and sea. He was both spacing out and focused.
“Mr. Ye, it’s dangerous there!” The second mate looked up at him from the deck with concern. Putting a smile on, he asked, “Can you come down?”
Ye Qingxuan leaned against the mast at the top of the sail and looked down. “You don’t have to worry,” he said. “Let me stay here alone.”
“O-okay.” The second mate’s expression stiffened but he sighed. Official musicians were all weird. If Ye Qingxuan wanted to be somewhere, then let him be. The sailor just hoped nothing would go wrong. He did not know how to answer to the captain; he just hoped he would not get screamed at again. He prepared himself to return to the cabin with a bitter expression when he heard a voice from above him.
“Also,” the young man said calmly while looking into the distance, “the boiler in the kitchen is going to explode. If you send a repairman within five minutes, it can still be fixed.”
“Huh?” The second mate froze. When he processed the message, he scrambled into the cabin, screaming. The sailors fell into a flurry. After a round of broken sounds, some ashen repairmen walked out. It was clear that the hot-tempered captain had screamed their ears off. However, their gazes grew reverent when they looked up to the mast.
The youth in the air seemed to be napping. However, a majestic melody hung over his fingertips. The powerful melody resounded with the sea wind and blew to all directions. It even traveled higher into the sky. It was hard to hear.
However, countless water vapor lines spread from Ye Qingxuan’s hands. Hundreds upon thousands of water droplets were woven into a beautiful radiance, sensing all changes within a radius of countless nautical miles. At this moment, all changes within that range were under Ye Qingxuan’s control. It was the tenth measure of Bolero!
The water vapor lines thrummed with his breathing. They wrapped around the large ship and spread into the sea, leaving behind fine ripples as the ship moved forward. The ripples were interwoven like a heartbeat.
The beat was rhythmic and strict—sixty beats per second, never more or less. It was precise to the nanosecond. Though the ripples were small, they spread at an incredible speed to impossibly great distances. However, they quickly rippled back to Ye Qingxuan with feedback. The come and go created a simple and fast loop.
On the mast, Ye Qingxuan suddenly opened his eyes. His raspy voice echoed throughout the bridge along the perception threads. “Sailors, get ready. There’s a rogue wave at nine o’clock direction coming in two minutes.”
Commotion erupted. The first mate in charge of steering frantically adjusted the direction. Soon, just as Ye Qingxuan had said, wild waves suddenly appeared on the calm waters in the nine o’clock direction and swept toward the ship.
Usually, the sailors could only raise the sails and speed up to dodge the full hit or move passively. However, they had a warning this time. The ship had already adjusted direction and charged past the rogue wave. The wave collapsed and they dodged the worst hit. Shocked cries sounded across the cabin.
“Thank you, sir!” The second mate happily climbed up the mast just to say thank you. He even brought a bottle of red wine. The captain had just taken it out of the cold storage and it still had cold smoke. “This is a gift of gratitude from the captain.”
“No need for the wine,” Ye Qingxuan said. “I still have to thank him for opening the ship’s large-scale observational aether ball for me. These opportunities are rare and I’m glad to help.”
The middle-aged second mate was a Rhythm level musician from the School of Revelations. He was responsible for observing and whiled his days away on the ship. After learning that Ye Qingxuan was the student of Abraham who had recently been awarded by the Queen, he was extremely attentive. He took care of all the details, from pouring tea to massaging Ye Qingxuan’s leg.
When Ye Qingxuan mentioned that he wanted to see the ship’s aether ball, he had hesitated for a long time but still asked the captain. The captain had screamed at him but gave Ye Qingxuan authority after the second mate vouched for him.
Even without the second mate, a request from an official musician was already enough for the captain to consider seriously. At first, he feared that Ye Qingxuan would mess around. Soon he felt he was fortunate for making the right decision. It was clear that Ye Qingxuan’s observation skills and interpretation speed were much better than the second mate. With his help, the ship’s speed was sixty percent faster than usual. They had not run into any trouble either.
The originally tense and long twenty-four hour ride had now become a relaxing vacation trip. The captain was so happy that he practically smiled in his sleep. If not for Ye Qingxuan’s status as a musician, he would probably have had him sleep on the bridge and work without rest.
“Tell the captain to drink less.” Ye Qingxuan steadied his monocle and gazed at the ocean. “In a few hours, we’ll leave the yellow zone and enter a red zone. My perception range will shrink.”
Different from land, aether zones in the sea changed like tides. The majority were slightly chaotic yellow zones. Sometimes, they would turn into red zones for silent sailing. Other places were the unapproachable black zones. If a ship accidentally ventured into it, the ship would have to power off and pray they could float out of the area. Otherwise, they would remain there for eternity and become a ghostly ship. Therefore, ships were required to land occasionally or use lighthouses to receive the newest star map from the Sacred City. This way, they could avoid the most chaotic aether currents and find the most stable path within the tides and aether.
Hearing Ye Qingxuan’s words, the second mate pulled out his small aether ball. Connecting it to the bridge, he scanned it and sighed in relief. “With our speed, we should pass through it within half a day. Mr. Ye, there’s no need to worry.”
Ye Qingxuan nodded. “You can go now.”
The man hesitated. He asked quietly, “About lunch…”
The gaze behind the monocle seemed to reflect some absolute truth with a cold and distant shine. The second mate froze. He looked away respectfully and did not dare to say more. Climbing down timidly, he ordered the kitchen to work overtime and prepare the best food for the man.
–
Actually, Ye Qingxuan did not hear his question. He was thinking.
He needed to travel by ship for five days from Avalon to Auschwitz. He would go from west to north and, after passing by Burgundy, go from north to south. Then he would ride the train for one week and finally, travel by foot for half a month. He had never traveled as far as practically half the human world.
The further he was from Avalon, the livelier the aether’s power. In the first few hours, Ye Qingxuan had the auditory hallucination that his body kept popping quietly. As if chains were breaking apart, his power kept rising. As the aether’s density rose and he left the restrictions of the enchantment, his suppressed power was quickly recovering. After increasing more than thirty percent, there was still room for growth.
Having his strength increase rapidly felt good, but Ye Qingxuan wished it would stabilize. He forced it to the point of one-third more than usual and let it out slowly and gradually. Once past this threshold, his precision of the manipulation would decrease. Perhaps some musicians would be overjoyed by the increase in strength. However, this was nothing good for Ye Qingxuan who needed precise control.
Thankfully, the sub-originator in his heart gave him the best aid. It had weakened a bit after leaving Avalon but it quickly recovered with the immense amount of aether. It even helped Ye Qingxuan control his explosive strength.
Without the enchantment’s restrictions and with the increased strength, he was also unprecedentedly sensitive to aether. This was the best opportunity. After destabilizing, he would be able to reconstruct his music theory and explore the Seven Questions for Musicians. He had been thinking for all these days.
The Seven Questions for Musicians were actually just one’s summary of music theory. One could only answer the question if one truly grasped the changes in music theory and essence of one’s school, understood deeply, and explored it.
Compared to the blind searching from before, he discovered many places he had neglected and unclear parts of his understanding after being given the question. These were holes in his foundation.
The music theories of the seven schools were like a giant web. They came from different places but reached toward the same goal and tangled with each other. In this process, the Seven Questions for Musicians represented the focal points of each school. The ‘unknown,’‘between life and death,’‘origin of dreams,’‘abandonment of oneself’…
While deciphering the music theories repeatedly, he discovered that the distance between the different questions had lessened. They gradually merged into one direction and were linked together by some power. This power told Ye Qingxuan that the propositions were all on one important axis! This power came from his blood.
Ye Qingxuan looked down at his palm. Through his Eye of Silence, he could see the silvery aetheric blood flowing silently. It crashed against the walls and shone vaguely.
“Deva’s blood.”
“Deva’s blood…” Ye Qingxuan could feel that the power sealed in his blood was getting closer after he became an official musician and went through Deva sensing. Ye Lanzhou had sealed it, and although he could not truly utilize it, it somehow affected him. He could often feel an instinctive urge when he was half-asleep. It was urging him to hurry and enter Resonance so he could have his talent again. And also, the most important…
“Dreamweaver?” Ye Qingxuan murmured the name that had appeared in Jiu Xiao Huan Pei. This was the guide that had grown clearer after Deva sensing and was an advancement he had never heard of before.
As the musician paths became more refined throughout history, musicians of the same school began to specialize in different aspects. It created specializations for musicians like the ones for alchemists. Different musicians had their own strengths, which required different advancements.
For example, musicians of the Anglo School of Royalty would combine the theories of Summoning and Modifications when they become an official musician. This allowed them to grasp the technique of changing between elements and beasts. Compared to other advancements, the Dreamweaver had much higher requirements. Simply put, someone under the Resonance level should not even think about it.
When going through resonance, one must target one’s ‘origin’ in a special place according to the theory. However, Ye Qingxuan thought that reaching its requirement was more than difficult. The position of the origin could move!
Located between the realms of existence and nonexistence, the origin floated in the nine levels of the aetheric sea. It could move up and down and jump between the levels.
The first time Ye Qingxuan saw this, he almost cried. It was weirder the more he thought about it. Why did this origin not follow conventions? The more he thought about it the more confused he was. In the end, he decided to ignore the problem.
Deciding to relax, he started to read the books Abraham had given him. It was research about Romulus. He should at least know some basic facts before arriving there.
–
The Romulusian culture originated in a riverbank area and developed into the desert and oasis area—Thebes. This was one of birthplaces of civilization. The ancient Theban School was also born there.
After the three legendary cities of gold were destroyed, the culture spread in all directions. The people established various city-states. Finally, the hero Aeneas guided by the Originator left his hometown and established the City of Wolves in a new land. He united the city-states and created a large empire. This was Romulus.
The empire flourished within the century and created many legends. However, it was destroyed and flattened by the natural catastrophe Wave of Silver. The survivors were tainted by the natural catastrophe’s breath. From then on, they were seen as lower-class citizens and the descendants of demons. They had no home. They finally found a barren piece of land and began to live there. People referred it to as Auschwitz, which meant ‘heaven’ in ancient Romulusian. It was the biggest irony.
Reading ancient history and music scores was very difficult and time passed quickly. Ye Qingxuan soon stopped reading. He closed the book and looked down. The sailors were busy again.
The whistle was muted and the bells were taken down. The hammer was taken out and wrapped in cotton. All passengers were politely sent into the cabin. The wheel cabin was extinguished and the tied up sail was taken down. The entire ship began to float solely with the wind. The entire process was complicated and fast. Soon, the deck was silent.
Ye Qingxuan tugged on the rope and dropped down. He glanced at the man beside him. “Should I go in?”
“No need.” The middle-aged captain had typical Asgardian features. His edges were sharp and his brow bone was high. He looked cold, handsome, and unfeeling. “There’s still one more hour before we enter the red zone. The passengers paid money so we have to worry for their safety. However, musicians like Mr. Ye don’t need our concern. Instead, we’ll need your concern if anything happens.” With that, he took out his silver cigarette case and opened it for Ye Qingxuan. The youth shook his head and took out the pipe he had not used yet.
“That’s a good thing. You’ve maintained it well.” The captain’s eyes were envious. “Can you share some tobacco?”
Ye Qingxuan chuckled and did so. “The atmosphere is so tense even I feel pressure. Mr. Captain, are you nervous?”
“Relax. We’re using the safe path for civilians and it’s just passing through the red zone. Nothing will happen if we’re quiet. You just need to get used to it.” He lit the tobacco with ease and inhaled deeply. Letting the smoke out, he tilted his head back in satisfaction.
“Are you familiar with black zones?” Ye Qingxuan asked.
“Yeah, accidentally brushed past one once.” The captain nodded. “The sight was so scary I still remember it. We just bumped into a reef and it was like the entire ship was alive and singing. Everyone was…”
A sailor approached and he stopped talking. He did not want unrelated people to hear his words. Rather than being secretive, it was for the good of the sailor. After all, not everyone could stand those unbelievable stories and terrifying rumors.
The sailor glanced at Ye Qingxuan and lowered his voice. “Captain, look behind you. There’s something…”
Ye Qingxuan furrowed his brows. When they approached the red zone, he had pulled in his sensory proximity and precision so he would not be disturbed. Before the sailor came over, he had felt something floating over with the current but he thought it was just trash. Hearing the sailor’s words, he narrowed his eyes to focus and quickly nodded. “Captain, you should go take a look.”
Hearing that, the captain’s eyes instantly grew serious. After taking two steps, he looked back. “Together?” Ye Qingxuan nodded and caught up with them. When they arrived, the onlookers were forced away. Only he and the captain remained.
The captain looked down past the railing at the tossing blue waves. Something floated over and softly bumped into the side of the ship. It sounded like a polite guest knocking on the front door.
It was a broken shard—a broken piece of a lifeboat. All that remained was the bow and was toyed by the waves like a dead fish. On the bottom of the boat, poking out from the surface, one could see a bloated corpse. He had been nailed to the bottom.
Someone had taken out a nail from the boat and stabbed it through the man’s hand, nailing him to the bottom of the broken boat. Half of his body was soaked in the water, allowing him to float with the waves but it was not enough for him to drown.
“He nailed it himself,” a sailor said quietly.
When the disaster happened, the man did not have the strength to grasp the boat anymore so he nailed himself onto it. He prayed for savior but sadly, nothing answered his prayers.
A seagull had pecked his eyeballs away. All that remained were two empty eye sockets that stared deep into the distance.
Ye Qingxuan looked away.
They had not entered the red zone yet and already saw something so pathetic. This was beyond his imagination.
The first mate asked, “Captain, this…what do we do?”
In the stern, the captain smoked and thought for a long while. Finally, he muttered, “What are you waiting for? He’s already dead. Do you want to pull him up and pray to him? Let’s continue.” He turned and left.
Thus, the ship continued to sail.
–
Half an hour later, the ship that floated with the wind finally approached the red zone. Ye Qingxuan could feel that the aether in the sea and wind was close to saturation. In a musician’s senses, it was like steering into a world of star clusters. Passing through the dazzling clouds, every breath seemed to shine.
“There’s fog.” Ye Qingxuan stood on the deck and stared at the fog rising in the distance.
Soon, it was thick enough he could not see his own hands. It was damp and cold and swallowed the ship. Amidst the pale whiteness, the sailors on the deck put on respirators. Even Ye Qingxuan put on a mask that looked like a pig’s snout. It was difficult to breathe with it but at least he did not feel like he was suffocating anymore.
Of course, there was nothing to see with the fog. He sensed that the water surface was empty and still. There was the sound of tides in the faraway distance. Everything was normal.
Ye Qingxuan returned to the cabin. He was ready to continue reading but he froze after two steps. Taking out his book, he realized it was wet.
“Illusion,” he murmured. His finger trembled. “Did someone cast an illusion here?”
Abraham had not said anything but after the ‘fire,’ all resources were given moisture and fire protection. The books and files were not flammable and would be dry even if they were soaked in water for a few hours. He had used the School of Abstinence to refuse changes in the object’s nature. If this was the case, then did this odd fog truly exist?
After thinking for a long while, he snapped his fingers. The Bolero net was awoken. He had been adding bits of music theory from the School of Revelations. Now, Bolero, which did not have any characteristics before, had started showing signs of the Revelation’s style.
He had given up on other aspects and turned it into pure investigation and reading. Accompanied by the light melody, the perception threads were awoken again. Faint moonlight shone from it. In Ye Qingxuan’s eyes, the fog instantly became dreamy, beautiful, and ethereal.
Though it was beautiful, he did not dare to look around. The more he saw, the more he would be eroded by the illusion. Right now, he had noticed it but could not get rid of it.
Once a musician became an official musician, the structure of all music scores would change. It would become more complete and the effect’s stability would be incomparable to the past.
This was especially true for illusions. If he could not find the core and origin, he would sink further into it. In the end, he would not be able to tell reality from illusion and would be vulnerable.
Musicians had two ways to decipher illusions. No matter what illusions the enemies made, the School of Modifications could form music theories into formulas and destroy the illusion by force. With a big fireball, the entire terrain would be gone. The illusions attached to the reality would certainly be defeated.
But for Ye Qingxuan, this was nonsense. He knew nothing about the movements of the School of Modifications at all. He was never good at interfering and influencing matters. Plus, there were so many innocent people onboard that he could not do this at all. Since he could not do it forcefully, the only way he could go about was through his technique.
The core of the School of Modifications was formulas, the core of Summoning was the beastly nature, and Choir was the equilibrium of the four liquids. The core of the School of Mind was ‘intention’. As for the School of Illusions, its core was the ‘fulcrum.’ All illusions needed fulcrums; otherwise, it was impossible to build one. As long as the fulcrum was found, then the illusion would fall apart.
Under the mask, Ye Qingxuan’s Eye of Silence lit up faintly. It connected to the water vapor threads and spontaneously began to analyze the data in it. This rare auxiliary equipment was the treasure of the School of Revelations. It was the equivalent of a formal Revelations musician. It could easily interpret and explore illusions. However, in the realm of illusions, a faint song sounded like a Siren’s voice.
Compared to the illusionary voice that could move the white mist, Hariti from the sewer was nothing. The whole ship was in chaos in an instant! The passengers’ screams came faintly from the cabin.
“Beware of the sea!” the first officer yelled. “There’s something in the sea.”
The sea tossed as if it was boiling.
The sailors, too, were out of control. They waved frantically, chopping down the indistinct mist before them. Hideous figures appeared in the mist. They were burly green mermen more than two meters high. They stepped out of the illusion, climbed up the ship’s side, and began to attack with sharp cries.
They clutched rusty iron bars and swords. Their scales were like armor that swords could only leave white marks on. Some fat mermen with barbs on their backs stepped on the vulnerable deck, rushing towards Ye Qingxuan.
Startled, Ye Qingxuan quickly retreated. He knew this was an illusion but letting the illusion attack him would cause him to sink deeper. The more one interacted with the illusion, the less likely one could break free from it.
There was a plop in the distance. The second mate fell down to the ground when trying to retreat. The next moment, a few mermen rushed to him excitedly. They pinned him down and started to munch his body. He screamed painfully, reaching out to the youth. “Help me! Mr. Ye! It hurts…”
Ye Qingxuan gritted his teeth but did not move. He did not dare make any actions. He was not even sure whether that second mate was made by the illusion to shake his will or not. He could only speed up and cooperate with the interpretation of the Eye of Silence at full force. If he removed the illusion before the second mate became brain dead, the second mate still had the possibility to live. Otherwise, Ye Qingxuan would also be trapped!
His steps did not stop while he was interpreting. He managed to dodge the attacks of several mermen, retreating into the sailors’ defensive circle. But then, a sword was thrust from behind…
The sailors’ eyes were blood-red. They were looking at him but their eyes reflected a hideous monster. They did not know who they were anymore. Ye Qingxuan smashed down, forcibly took down the sword from a sailor, and chopped his side. The rope of the sails was cut off and the wheel began to spin. Ye Qingxuan took the chance to seize the rapidly rising cable by his side and rose to the apex of the mast.
Soon, a thick shadow emerged from the fog in the sky. An eagle’s hiss came from the distance. Several shadowy figures loomed in the thick mist… It was a harpy!
Ye Qingxuan could not catch a break!
Gritting his teeth, his eyes darkened. There was absolutely a musician manipulating this illusion! He did not know why the ship was attacked but he definitely would not allow this to happen no matter what their purpose was! He cast the Bolero net without even looking up.
In a few seconds, the harpy pounced toward him. Coldness flashed in his eyes. The fulcrum of the illusion was found!
“That’s it…” He jerked off the damp-proof mask on his face and clenched it. Lightning that burst at his fingertips burnt down the mask. In a twinkling, with a crisp sound in the void, the harpy and hideous mermen disappeared silently. This was the fulcrum of the illusion! The mist that was almost tangible squirmed. Suddenly, it dissipated with a hiss.
Now, he finally realized that the ship had deviated into a strange bay while it was enveloped in the heavy fog. Some indistinct figures were singing softly on the distant reef. Around the ship, water splashed as something swam excitedly around the ship. A childlike laughter was heard, which was particularly bizarre.
Ye Qingxuan hummed coldly and his Eye of Silence locked onto the dark figures so he could see them clearly. They were sirens that had been completely demonized. Ye Qingxuan immediately drew back his sight and looked over the ship that was in chaos.
The point was there. The fulcrum was hidden in his damp-proof mask so it was obvious that the musician was one of the passengers on board lurking on this ship. It seemed that someone had seized the opportunity to trigger the illusion. First, he made the people out of control; then, he drove the ship to the lair of these sea monsters.
What was more, judging from the broken lifeboat before entering the red zone, this must have happened more than once…
“—It’s you!” Following the guide of the fulcrum, Ye Qingxuan’s eyes glittered and his sight fixed on a man. Jiu Xiao Huan Pei popped up from his hand; thunder boomed and fell down from the sky!
Under the roars, the prepared captain twisted his body and rolled on the ground. He unexpectedly dodged Ye Qingxuan’s attack.
“I was…exposed?” Staring at Ye Qingxuan, who was descending from the sky, the captain suddenly smiled strangely.
Ye Qingxuan frowned. “You’re still human?”
“Yes,” the captain replied earnestly and nodded. “Of course I am. How else could I be their captain?”
“It seems that I’ve misjudged you. I didn’t expect that you’re a musician from the School of Illusions.” Ye Qingxuan tread forward with no expression. “You did all this to lead the people to this demon lair, but…for what?
“I couldn’t help it. It isn’t easy to raise children.” The captain sighed and turned back. He looked down at the side of the ship. Hearing the childlike laughter, he showed a helpless face. “Especially because there are so many children and they’re hungry, so hungry… Every day, they say to me, ‘dad I’m hungry, I’m so hungry, I want meat’… I can only do my best to find meat for my children.”
He paused and sneered. “Oh, by the way, do you remember what I told you about the black zone? It’s a long story but some things just happen, right? You need to try to accept it, just like me.
“To tell you the truth, the plan should be perfect. Unfortunately, you appeared before we sailed. This is the flaw but you just can’t reject it. This is your misfortune, Mr. Ye.” As he spoke, a strange figure emerged behind him. It was like some sort of weird shellfish without shells. It squirmed in the air, releasing faint fluctuations that rippled the fog.
It was the strange demon in the aether world that was born from those who had died in the sea—the Mirage. It often appeared in the material world through its contractor. It would project its power through fog and illusions. The ignorant would be attracted and immersed in the environment, allowing themselves to be sapped dry. Finally, they would become a withered corpse.
“Sorry, Mr. Ye.” The captain laughed. “My illusion has been launched. I hope you won’t make any unnecessary action. When the children are full, I’ll let you go.”
Boom! Before the captain finished his words, lightning projected from Ye Qingxuan’s cae. It twisted sharply in the air and suddenly drilled under the side of the ship, pouncing toward the childlike laughter.
The laughter cut off; it was followed by a dying scream.
The captain’s figure wavered; his face slacked.
“My…my fulcrum…”
“You’ve worked very hard to attract my attention with those words, however…” The youth suddenly smashed his cane on the deck. Steel collided, producing a sharp sound. “You speak too much nonsense!”
There was a snap as if glass was shattered. As the fulcrum was destroyed, the crumbling illusion finally disintegrated. It was double Illusion. This meant adding an illusion to the basis of another illusion by using something nonexistent in reality as the fulcrum of the next illusion. Only musicians who specialized in illusions could make such an ingenious trap full of murderous intentions. After the enemy had broken a layer of illusion, who would expect that he was still trapped?
The exquisiteness and meticulousness in it was really breathtaking. At least, with Ye Qingxuan’s ability, he definitely could not escape from the original illusion movement’s range to build such an enormous illusion.
But the most fatal flaw of the opponent was that he had created demons with the illusion. How could an Illusion musician who could resonate with the Mirage have no response to Deva’s blood? That was impossible!
With pops and cracks, the surrounding eerie bay, sirens, strange-looking captain, and the Mirage behind him all disappeared. Time seemed to turn back quickly. All that had just happened was just a short dazed moment.
There was no fog on the sea. It was cloudless and sunny.
The ship remained outside of the red zone; it was still half an hour before it entered the red zone. Ye Qingxuan and the captain stood at the stern. The sailors beside them were whispering while the captain was still frowning.
Only five seconds had passed. The atmosphere was peaceful and there were no problems at all.
“Except you.” Ye Qingxuan picked up a harpoon from the sailor beside him and aimed it at the broken lifeboat beneath the ship. The swollen corpse was still staring at him.
Its eyes were empty and dark.
“Nameless Mr. Illusionist, can you give me your name?” Ye Qingxuan focused coldly on the what was left of the lifeboat. However, his gaze passed through the bottom of the overturned boat. There was a small air pocket between the boat and the water surface. Who would notice what was hidden in the narrow space?
“No need to keep hiding,” Ye Qingxuan said lightly. “Your first fulcrum was the eye sockets of that corpse, right? You used the sound of the piece knocking against the ship to attract attention. Then you created a shock with the pathetic state of the body. Finally, one’s gaze would fall on the eye socket.
“You hid the fulcrum there. Seamlessly and unnoticeably, the people who saw it would fall into your illusion. The field of illusions that you specialize in is ‘into absurdity,’ right?”
No one spoke in the silence. The captain and sailors stared at Ye Qingxuan as if he was crazy. Expressionless, Ye Qingxuan pulled the trigger.
Ping! The harpoon in his hand shook and shot through the air with a steel rope. The already rotten corpse burst from the piercing. Foul fluid flew in the air. The harpoon dug into the bottom of the ship, piercing the darkness.
There was still no sound.
However, through the analysis of the Eye of Silence, there were small changes in the aether within the perception threads. The boat instantly became transparent in Ye Qingxuan’s eyes, revealing a black shadow that was quickly sinking.
“You want to leave?” Ye Qingxuan sneered. “Friend, do you know what an electric fish is?”
At his fingertip, Indrah’s Eye shone. Electricity surged down the harpoon into the sea, instantly illuminating the black waves. Burning electric light scattered in all directions of the deep sea.
Ye Qingxuan did not hold back this time. He had directly used his sub-originator and gave the guy an electric ‘treatment!’ This was his first time using Indrah’s Eye since becoming an official musician. Even he was shocked at the strength he had when he did not hold back. After leaving Avalon’s restrictions, the high density of lively aether created wild friction. Blinding white sparks scattered in the deep sea.
The lifeboat that took the brunt of the force was burnt to crisp; the body evaporated into dust. The electric light shot into the deep sea like a spear of lightning and pierced the black shadow.
Under the bubbling of water, a streak of lightning rippled in all directions. In its path, countless dead fish floated to the surface. The ship crackled and popped. Even protected, everyone’s hair shot up.
There was the weird smell of seawater decomposed from the high heat in the air. A scream sounded from the bottom of the sea. With a sharp crack, the burnt boat was broken through. The musician who had been attacked by Indrah’s Eye without warning screamed weirdly. He shot up to the sky; his boots were clearly not average objects. A gentle melody reacted with the wild wind and he flew up more than one hundred meters in an instant.
“Get back here!” Ye Qingxuan clenched his hand and a horn blared—Night on Bald Mountain!
This guy was not a demon, and did not sign a contract with a natural catastrophe, but Night on Bald Mountain’s basic effect still showed. Under the targeting of the perception threads, countless silver ropes emerged from thin air. They curled toward the figure like snakes and wrapped around his ankles. He yelled and his figure became transparent. However, moonlight flowed down the ropes and broke his illusion.
Boom! The ropes curled back and dragged him onto the ship. He slammed onto the floor. He tried to roll over and get up, but a foot met him halfway and stepped down onto his neck. Then, a smiling youth expertly reloaded his harpoon and aimed the coldly glinting thing at the man’s face.
“What’s your name?” Ye Qingxuan asked.
“Simon,” the young burnt musician replied obediently. “Simon, a Siren musician of the Indefinite Earth.”
“Oh?” Ye Qingxuan was interested. “I didn’t expect you to be from such a place…” The Indefinite Earth, Voodoo Crypt, and Fantasy Swamp were all prestigious houses of the School of Illusion. They were incomparable to the School of Royalty that was supported by the entire country, but they still had very unique and powerful techniques.
The Indefinite Earth was the best at large-scale illusions. The Siren musician was a profession of the School of Illusion that utilized the talent and research of the Siren demons. They specialized in using fog and water vapor to create large-scale battlefield illusions. When they fought on the sea, their fatality would skyrocket to the level of an entire battalion. They were comparable to the Wave Warlocks of the schools of Summoning and Modifications. However, Sirens were strongest in ultra-wide ranges and ultra-precise illusions. Otherwise, Ye Qingxuan would have had a much harder time.
“You’ve just reached the Resonance level?” Ye Qingxuan furrowed his brows after sensing Simon’s aether waves. “I’m just an average musician who hasn’t graduated yet. What did I do to attract the attention of the Indefinite Earth? The double illusion was very finely constructed. I’m impressed.”
“Hmph, I don’t like the sound of your tone.” Simon gritted his teeth; his eyes were filled with hatred and regret. “You’re not a pure Revelations musician? I’m going to argue with anyone who says you’re just a soft persimmon scholar. F*ck, none of you Angloians speak the truth!”
“Hey, I’m confused as to why I just randomly walked into an illusion trap!” Ye Qingxuan wrinkled his brows. “And ‘soft persimmon’? What does that mean?”
Simon blanched and gaped at him. After a long while, his expression grew incredulous and he cackled. “You don’t know yet? Oh my God, you don’t know anything. The moment you left Anglo, you entered the hit list of so many genius musicians! Hahaha hahaha…”
“I f*cking knew it!” Clenching his jaw, he turned toward Anglo. As if he could see a certain old man, he repeated the vilest curse he could think of inside his head. He had calculated carefully and was cautious, but he had still fallen in that old b*stard’s hands!
“You think you won?” Under his feet, Simon glared at him and sneered. “It’s not over yet.”
Ye Qingxuan instantly felt a fleeting shadow flash over the distant sea. A cackle sounded—it was Simon, who was under his feet.
“Ye Qingxuan, it’s only our first meeting and you’ve already seen through the double environment.” Simon glared at him. “If you can see through the last one, I admit defeat!” Then the shadow dissipated like a dream.
Ye Qingxuan looked down dumbly. Under his feet, Simon had somehow stiffened into a corpse. It was clearly a replacement.
“I can’t believe it’s a triple illusion!”
The hair on Ye Qingxuan’s arms instantly rose and he shivered. This guy had actually created a triple illusion, which was incredible. But when did he drag Ye Qingxuan into the last layer? Where was the fulcrum hidden? On the boat? In the sound of the waves? In his meal? A hint in the guests’ conversations? Or was it before he boarded the ship…
Ye Qingxuan instantly remembered the server who had urged him to hurry onto the ship. An odd light had flashed through his eyes—it had started then. No, it might have been even earlier. Or…
The youth trembled and he looked down furiously, suddenly stomping his feet. Simon, who had been playing dead, squeaked. He could not pretend anymore; his escape music score that he was preparing was interrupted too.
This time, Ye Qingxuan was decisive. He yanked the wind flute off from Simon’s neck, taking away all chances of fighting back.
“So scheming!” Ye Qingxuan spat. “You used the trick you prepared beforehand to fool me into thinking I’m still in the illusion. After I stop focusing on you, you’d be able to escape…Your plan is pretty good. You tossed alchemy equipment for making illusions into the sea beforehand, right? You can activate it when needed. It can trick your enemy and buy you time.”
With his last trick gone, Simon had a defeated expression on his face. He had already been gravely wounded by Ye Qingxuan’s sudden Indrah’s Eye attack and had been forcing the pain down. With no hope in sight, he lowered his head and coughed violently. Blood seeped from his openings.
“I lost.” His voice was hoarse and unwilling. “How did you discover it?”
“Any trick will lose its effectiveness after a few times,” Ye Qingxuan said coldly. “It’s true that there is tangibility in the intangible and intangibility in the tangible. However, if you go past three, even the most incredible setup becomes a joke.”
“I see…” Simon hung his head; he stopped fighting and spoke no more.
Ye Qingxuan pulled a small pouch from his waist and tossed it down. “Swallow this if you don’t want to die.”
Simon followed the orders. He opened the pouch and swallowed the refined silver sand without caring if it was poison or what. Soon, Ye Qingxuan sensed that the sand had reached the stomach. He used Night on Bald Mountain to group the silver sand into clusters and block his stomach.
“Don’t move if you don’t want to be burnt to dust from the inside,” Ye Qingxuan said coldly.
Simon felt the weirdness in his stomach. He could not help but shiver and nod like a bobble head.
The captain decided it was safe now and came over cautiously. He glanced at Simon, who was on the ground. “Mr. Ye, what do we do with him?”
“Lock him up.” Ye Qingxuan looked down and smiled mysteriously. “I have use for him.”
