Translator: Nyoi-Bo Studio Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio
What made it even more terrifying was that Hua Sheng’s scepter was abnormally permeable and was just like an elderly clergyman giving a lecture of the Holy Bible. It was compelling and had the power to change a person into placing his faith entirely into it.
Dense electricity appeared around Ye Qingxuan as if an invisible protective net had been activated with a resounding clap. He could sense that Hua Sheng’s music theory was infiltrating him just like how the power of a catastrophe would infiltrate others.
“It looks terrifying, doesn’t it?” Hua Sheng chuckled as he poured the remaining wine in his cup into the sea. “Thanks to the Court of Inquiry, I managed to bring out the full strength of the music theory of Holy Caldron and became a scepter. Although it allowed me to convert freely amongst others, it was still not significant enough. Music theories do not change a person and neither does it allow for someone to achieve true redemption. Therefore, I call it ‘apocrypha’.”
Apocrypha was to deviate from the right path. It was neither the book of abyss nor the Holy Bible, but something in between. It might seem flawless on the outside but was actually rather extreme. One could bend it to his will but could never truly master it.
It was just stuck in the middle of sublimation and degeneration. This was Hua Sheng’s scepter, a maniac that would make use of the names of sages from the past to achieve his own purpose, an apocrypha that concealed evil intentions and poison, and an empty and false redemption. If Hua Sheng wanted to, he was fully capable of converting black and white, where the musicians of the Church would degenerate and Dark Musicians would be blessed.
But just like he said, music theories were not capable of changing people; people fulfilled music theories instead.
“You are really…” Ye Qingxuan was having a slight headache.
Hua Sheng’s scepter was just like him. He might appear to be gentle and holy but his heart was filled with evil intentions. It was just like an evil cult, where one would be convinced to deviate from his original path in order to borrow and rely on Hua Sheng’s power, only to be changed incrementally. One would be under his control and would never dare to face their true selves under the façade of redemption until finally, they have become his puppet. No one would believe that he did not do anything extra when he helped the Island musicians to remove their maladies.
He sighed. “Go back and find Shi Dong for a teaching position. You will go to Westminster Church to take up a temporary position.”
“You want me to become the next Archbishop of Westminster Church?” Hua Sheng understood what he meant and began to laugh in a strange manner. “You are sure you want me to take up the position of a clergyman?”
“No, not at all. But just like you said, music theories can’t change a person, but it’s the person that fulfills the music theory.” Ye Qingxuan shook his head. After pondering for a long time, he suddenly asked, “By the way, are you interested to become the Pontifex Maximas of Protestantism?”
Hua Sheng was stunned. After a long time, he finally burst out laughing.
…
Ten hours before, on the desolated northern region of the sea outside of Anglo, this entire region was now devoid of any presence of humans after the short battle. The seas were dark green in color and were foul-smelling. Fog hung in the air like cotton as the remaining toxins of the Cup of Virtues could not be removed.
Amidst the eerie silence, the elderly musician stood above the waves. He was holding onto a wooden staff that was even taller than him. His body, which was slightly hunched, leaned against the staff. He was clad in a black long robe as he surveyed the desolated sea.
“How long are you going to continue looking?” He stared through the emptiness ahead of him. His expression was calm, as if he had always been able to see Anubis, who had been concealing himself in emptiness.
There was awkward laughter before a musician, who transformed himself into a God with a wolf’s head, stepped out of emptiness and bowed to the old man in front of him. “We meet again, Teacher Bach.”
Bach looked at him from head to toe for a long time. “Looks like you have been well. Gaius has been pretty good to you.”
Wolf Flute nodded. “As he should.”
“Sacred City has not treated you too shabby either.”
Wolf Flute touched his long nose as his mouth cracked open to reveal two rows of white teeth. “There’s no other choice. I was raised by wolves after all. When I am ungrateful, I may just bite the hand that feeds me.”
Bach was indifferent. “Wolf Flute, you have a human name.”
“Didn’t all this happen precisely because Teacher had given me a name?” Wolf Flute countered, “Just like you once said, one was bound to err if one was to work hard. Sometimes I wonder, what if I had continued to live and die as a wolf, I may have been more fortunate compared to my current state.”
Bach listened but remained unmoved. “Why do you deceive yourself with the excuse of a beast when you made the decision as a human?”
“Teacher is right.” Wolf Flute lowered his head.
“Since you dare to appear in front of me with a projection, does that mean you are prepared to fight me?” Bach stared at him as he raised his wooden staff before striking down.
Boom! The wooden staff struck the surface of the sea as if it was whipping metal. There were no traces of ripples, but the massive ocean trembled slightly. Wolf Flute’s projection began to vibrate violently and Anubis’ skin began to crack to reveal the severe internal injuries. But shortly after, the trembling stopped.
There was a pair of bare feet. Bach turned back and looked behind him to see a young man. Realization finally seemed to dawn on him. “You must be Charles from Caucasian.”
“It is good to see you for the first time, Your Excellency.” The young man nodded and bowed politely.
Back looked at him. “Are you confident in defeating me?”
“Although I cannot defeat you, can you not go to Anglo for my sake and stay behind for a chat?” Charles smiled widely. “This is our first meeting with each other. How unpleasant it would be if we were to end up fighting and killing each other.”
Bach shook his head indifferently. Suddenly, there was an ear-piercing sound, which was a result of a melody that had been produced by countless movements piling on top of one another. In an instant, it was as if the entire sky and sea were roaring in resonance. The entire northern sea region was sealed up in an instant. The entire place was trembling under Bach’s will and in a rhythm that he was controlling. The will of the King of Blue controlled the elements from the realm of aether and everything else. It was as if the vault in heaven had suddenly collapsed and the ocean had risen. The sky and the sea seemed to merge into one.
Boom! The shrieking sound stopped suddenly. Charles stretched out his hand and pressed his palm against emptiness, as if he was pressing onto the trembling sky and sea, and by doing so, forced a stop to the trembling and roaring. It was as if he had completely stopped a wheel that was rolling at full speed. The skin on his palm broke and the wound, which had yet to heal, was torn again, and blood began to ooze out of the cut on his little finger. The blood dripped into the seawater and began to infect it. A single drop of blood was enough to dissipate the ominous aura that surrounded the entire region of the sea.
In an instant, the sky was cleared and a clear breeze blew over. Bach remained motionless. He only looked at Charles’ little finger silently and frowned, as if he was troubled over something.
Charles’ face was completely flushed. He managed to force out a smile. “Mr. Bach, back then when my junior enrolled in school, we even had to use your referral letter. There is some affinity between us. Why resort to this?”
Bach kept quiet and only continued to stare at him. He looked at Charles walking on the surface of the sea. He did not seem to be using any movement but was able to control the seawater easily. It was like a miracle. After a moment of silence, Bach seemed to have finally understood something and suddenly asked, “Charles, do you really think that you are a God?”
Charles was taken aback and began to smile awkwardly. “I don’t think I look like one either. I am so shy and awkward after all. If God was really a child like me, how blasphemous that would be.”
“Is your finger hurt?” Bach asked.
Charles looked at his palm and quickly hid his little finger and smiled. “No worries, it’s just a minor injury.”
“Is that so?” Bach asked coldly. “You are wasting yourself. I don’t know what you have exchanged it for, but you should know that such a sacrifice is not normal for you nor Caucasian.”
Charles was quiet for a moment before replying, “In critical situations, someone has to step up and solve the issue.”
“Let men solve their own problems. Let them bear their own consequences, not you.” Bach’s voice was direct and straight to the point. “Charles, no matter how much you sacrifice, all they will realize is just how vastly different they are from you. You should know your own body and nature the most. Don’t do any unnecessary things. The more you do, the more mistakes you are going to make. Now, leave this place and stop blocking my way. If I am to show you any compassion, then this is it.”
“Mr. Bach, have you heard the sound of people crying?” Charles asked suddenly.
Back kept quiet.
“Have you seen what ‘suffering’ looks like?” Charles asked quietly. “Those homeless people would wander around in the wilderness and feed themselves on wild grass. They are living like dogs. They lie sprawled on the ground and will look up whenever someone passes them by, hoping that they can be saved. Can you bear to turn and walk away? Have you ever begged others for help before? I did. I begged for someone to come and save me, to be my friend, to tell me that I have not been left behind by this world, that there is a purpose to my existence in this world…
“I was like this in the past, but now I’m not. This is why I will not give up. If I can do it, I will. If someone seeks help from me, I will help him. I don’t want anyone else to make sacrifices for me anymore. I want to help them open up a path on can lead them to continue living.”
Charles stared at the silent Bach. He was no longer smiling and his expression was stern. “Mr. Bach, I don’t want us to become enemies and neither do I wish to leave this place. But if you continue forward, then that will make you my enemy.”
Massive wings of light spread open behind his back and covered the horizon, raining down glorious beams of light. Behind him, Eden appeared gradually and cast light on the young man, who was reputed to be the most powerful musician.
Bach closed his eyes. After a long time, he sighed quietly. “Do you know why all the Kings of Blue of the previous generations left the human world, Charles? It’s not just because of developing the lands of men or to defend against the catastrophes from the World of Dark.
“It’s because humans do not need Gods.” Bach raised the wooden staff in his hands against the young man. There was no longer any compassion in his eyes. Instead, they had been replaced by electricity.
“Now, let’s cut the crap and let ‘your enemy’ have a taste of your abilities.”
