Silent Crown

by Feng Yue

  Even the afternoon sunlight became eerie after filtering through the dense treetops. The only sounds in the silence was the cold wind and soft writhing of insects and snakes. Some of the students were roaring something, but their voices were unclear. Others were running, finally collapsing after using all their strength. Confused and dazed, they were like bugs thrown into a glass box. They could flap their wings as hard as they could, but would not be able to find help. All twelve of them were trapped in a forest of only a few dozen square meters. They could not perceive that they often brushed shoulders with each other. Manipulated by the youth, they were like puppets stuck in a maze.

  Charles’s eyes brightened. “Rhythm level?”

  “Yeah.” The seemingly tired youth on the couch squinted as he enjoyed the sun and focused on controlling the enchantment at the same time. “I told the Professor that I reached the Rhythm level this morning and asked if there was anything I could practice with. He gave me the control of the nearby Requiem enchantment. It’s kind of hard but good for practice.”

  Charles rubbed his hands together and got closer. “Is it fun?”

  “Yeah.” Ye Qingxuan nodded.

  “Let me play with it!” Charles fluttered his lashes.

  The youth rolled his eyes. “You just want to go to the girls’ shower house.”

  “…I can’t believe you think I’m like that. You break my heart!”

  “You have a heart?”

  “Of course!” Charles puffed up his chest and stated, “Touch it if you don’t believe me. Feel my beating heart! Can you feel my absolute sincerity?”

  Ye Qingxuan felt the urge to hit him again.

  “Ah, whatever.” Charles shook his head, sighing. “Remember to come to the basement tonight.”

  “Huh?”

  “I finished modifying the skeleton. If you have time, come try out your new clothes.”

  155 Concussions and Sighs

  Late at night, the sound of steel scraping came from the underground workshop occasionally. On the ceiling, the only lamp in the dusty workshop shone dimly. A hideous shadow stood under the light, allowing Charles to modify it.

  The youth stood still, his body wrapped with some metal skeleton that clung to the skin. The fine structure of the rafting mechanic matched his body perfectly. They cooperated perfectly without any conflicts, as if he was born that way.

  With Charles’s actions, the parts that were originally taken apart were now joined together on the skeleton, and the cold metallic surface was covered by black leather until it could not be seen.

  Standing in his spot, the youth’s face was hidden in the shadow. One could not see his expression. His height had suddenly shot up half a foot. His muscles were also stronger. Even the power of a slow move could make the air whistle and dust fly. The light shook and flickered.

  “Yezi, this set has always been part of you, right?” Before him, Charles lifted the lantern in his hands, illuminating the young man’s face hidden in the shadow. The youth raised his eyes and looked at him expressionlessly.

  “You look like you’re made of iron,” Charles murmured. He took two steps back and dropped his tools. When he could not see Ye Qingxuan’s face, he always felt that he was assembling some kind of fine machine. It was silent, quiet and precise, like a clock. It could not feel fatigue, would not stop, and would not become weak. But when he saw Ye Qingxuan’s face, he suddenly found himself in front of a youth who was only one year younger than himself.

  “How does it feel?” Charles asked softly.

  “It feels a little heavy. I’m not used to it.” Ye Qingxuan stretched his arms up and was about to jump, but Charles stopped him. “Jumping here is the same as crashing into the wall. You will get hurt or even get a concussion.”

  “It’s that dramatic?”

  “Chainsaw monks were real machines of war. As a borderless organization, they had always been the most invincible army on the battlefield for hundreds of years. They would fight only for money or the Holy Scriptures.

  “That group of men would even ignore the orders from the sacred city. The only thing that could call them up was the ‘East Order’ decreed by the sacred city when it was determined to invade the Dark World again.

  “Do you think they conquered people with the Holy Scriptures? Don’t be silly. They’re the dark side of the church and they concentrate on mechanical technology. Don’t underestimate their madness,” Charles stated.

  He continued, “The original Chainsaw monks were transformed into a machines through surgery. This skeleton would be thoroughly implanted into his flesh and blood, truly becoming one.

  “Now, what you have is a little less powerful, but the core technology is still from them. Trust me, it is like a beast. You need a period of time to get used to it.”

  “So you’re saying that it can do more than just run quickly?”

  “Of course.” Charles shook his head. “With your weak and untrained body, you’ll be able to chest press 200 kilograms and squat 500 kilograms when wearing this. That’s the limit for the human body.

  “But the forces are reciprocal. The shock absorption system isn’t that perfect yet. Your maximum output is limited to 200 kilograms. Of course, you can adjust yourself but beyond that, you should be ready for your muscles to be torn apart and even your bones to be broken.

  “Yezi, you have to be careful. Don’t wear out yourself. You don’t want to live your rest of life with a wheelchair like that bald man from the School of Revelations, do you?”

  “Don’t worry. This is good enough for me.” Ye Qingxuan nodded. He was obviously very satisfied with this. He had officially reached the Rhythm level and could control the aether to protect himself. With this set, he was able to let go of his hands and feet. He did not need to worry about being dragged down by his physical strength at a critical time…

  At the thought of this, his heart stirred painfully—physical strength was always his critical defect. Since the beginning of time, the Ye family had never had any burly men. Most of the time, they were the physical manifestation of elegance and grace. Not wanting to dirty themselves in fights was one thing. But also…they really were just lacking in the physical department. He knew how weak he was when he was beaten by a dog.

  “Stop spacing out.” Charles shook his head and tossed over something. “Try this one.”

  Ye Qingxuan caught it and saw under the light that it was a silver arm. It was originally Pinocchio’s arm, but now it looked completely different. Now it looked light and exquisite, like a piece of art. With a snap, it was embedded seamlessly into the reserved slots on Ye Qingxuan’s right arm. The youth moved his arm. With the aid of the skeleton, he could hardly feel the increased weight.

  “What is this?”

  “Something you brought back.” Charles smiled and pointed to the weapon that had been dismantled on the table. “The Sighing Sword.”

  On the workbench, the heavy black sword had been torn apart. The hilt, blade, hand guard…all scattered. The obsidian-like material was actually some kind of coarse alloy which silently exuded a chill even after being torn apart.

  “Why is it like this?” Ye Qingxuan asked.

  Charles shrugged. “The Sighing Sword looks like a sabre, but it’s essentially alchemy equipment that can destroy most shields and enchantments.

  “It relies on the internal solid and precise structure to have the perfect effect. There are strict requirements for the size, weight, and material of each part. I took it apart and found that most of it was damaged, but luckily the core part still works. Try to clench your fist and try to punch with all your strength. Remember, all your strength.”

  Ye Qingxuan hesitated, but then obeyed.

  Boom! A muffled sound came out of nowhere. Instantly, it was as if a giant blister burst in the sealed basement. Wind blew from the front of the fist, causing a flurry of dust. Even the basement door was forced open. The air pressure rose and fell quickly.

  Ye Qingxuan only felt a s
hock going through his body. His vision went black and his ears buzzed. He could barely even breathe.

  An indent the shape of a fist silently appeared on the wall meters away from his punch. It was the mark left by the high air pressure. It gradually disappeared as the dust flew.

  “Feels good, right?” Charles, who had been prepared, was hiding beside him and gloated at the youth’s dazed look. “Don’t worry. It’s like this when you miss the target.”

  “Miss…What?”

  “…” Charles was seemed to be talking about something.

  “A little louder. I can’t hear you!”

  “I said concussion!” Charles raised his voice which dispelled the hum in Ye Qingxuan’s ears. “The key of the Sighing Sword is that it creates a shaking like a concussion, which is the source of its power. With this shaking, the sword can easily defeat all obstacles.

  “The more fragile the object is, the more likely it is to break under the shaking. The harder the structure is, the more likely it is to twist under the pressure. Even if there was only one small flaw, it would be infinitely magnified to the point of self-destruction. The object would then collapse and disintegrate.”

  Charles put on his gloves, removed the burning arm, and showed the youth the steel plates that fit in the inner lining of the arm. “This is the core—a very compact ‘interval.’

  “It consists of seven basic notes. The effect is Shake, which makes the body able to resonate with the aether. The scariest thing is that the Chainsaw monk is able to duplicate this interval thousands of times on a sheet of solid metal. This is the reason why so many countries have failed to duplicate the Sighing Sword. The Chainsaw monk’s skill at smelting and printing is unmatchable!” With a snap, the arm was put back into place.

  Charles exclaimed, “Non-lethal weapons meet your needs perfectly. If you control it well, anyone will kneel before you, no matter how much he has on his body. What’s more, you can tear down a wall when escaping more easily. It’s really a good thing to have when committing a crime.

  “However, it is best to note that your body does not have the Chainsaw Monk’s aether ax, which is used for fine control or other components for stability. Don’t use it too frequently and give it some time to buffer. Otherwise it could explode.”

  “Explode?”

  Charles mimed exploding into pieces onto the ground with a cheerful expression.

  Ye Qingxuan could not help but sigh, “Senior …”

  “Yeah?”

  “Why do I feel like you told me all that just so you can have fun when telling me that I’ll explode?”

  “… Aha, you know me pretty well.”

  Ye Qingxuan sighed and turned toward the door.

  “Don’t go, there are still many new inventions here for you to appreciate!”

  “Later. I’m going out for a walk.” Ye Qingxuan took the hunting hat on the wall, and put it on. Looking back at Charles, he smiled. “I want some fresh air. Be back soon.”

  Charles shook his head and waved. “Be careful.”

  -

  Late at night, on the quiet street, an old lame man leaned against the corner of a wall. He had a pipe in his mouth and he smoked leisurely. From time to time, he would look up to the distance, as if waiting for someone to arrive. Heavy dew dampened his trousers, making seem even older.

  During the long wait, a cane stretched out from the darkness behind him and rested on his shoulder. “Did you leave the sign?” the hoarse voice sounded.

  “Mr. Holmes?” Shocked, the old man looked back in a surprise and saw the shadow. “You remember me?” He pointed to the bruises on his face that still had not faded. “It’s me, Hudson, sir.”

  Ye Qingxuan frowned. He remembered the old man whom he had rescued from the cemetery. The man had wanted to quit his dirty life but was captured by the Pyramid King and tortured. Ye Qingxuan paid no attention to him after rescuing him. Unexpectedly, the Shaman had sent Hudson to contact him.

  “Mr. Hudson, long time no see.” Holmes asked softly, “Looks like you’ve gone to the Shaman?”

  Hudson’s look was somewhat apologetic. “Mr. Shaman said that you hated to come into contact with unclean people, so he found me and told me to contact you specifically. But please rest assured that I never took any illegal jobs after that incident. Mr. Shaman also arranged for me to go to guard the cemetery.”

  “No. 221 B, Baker Street?”

  “Yes.” Hudson nodded.

  “Then, if the Shaman wants to contact me, just leave a sign in the cemetery. I’ll go there regularly.” Ye Qingxuan thought of something and chuckled softly. As Sherlock Holmes, his tombstone was there too, was it not?

  Hudson nodded quickly and turned to lead the way.

  “We found some clues about the Professor.”

  156 Tomorrow is a Good Day

  An old man with black gloves stood at the end of a long street. He lit his cigar and inhaled deeply before letting out a puff of cool blue smoke. He waited quietly.

  After a long time, his shoulders twitched and he turned slowly. A figure had appeared behind him. “Mr. Holmes,” he nodded. “I have been waiting for you.”

  “Mr. Ghosthand, long time no see.” Ye Qingxuan smiled and took off his hunting hat. “I remember our first meeting was outside the White Horse hotel. You gave me directions before, but now it’s the opposite.”

  Ghosthand gazed deeply into the youth’s eyes. He could not help but sigh in lamentation. A few months ago, he and the youth had met for the first time, brushing past each other on the street. At that time, he was still the debtor, Ghosthand, an infamous legend of Avalon. Ye Qingxuan was just an Eastern kid who had just arrived.

  At that time, the kid was like fish on the cutting board. Ghosthand could do whatever he wanted to him. But in a few short months, Ye Qingxuan had made a name for himself. He used his actions to incite fear and respect from many people. He was the Vengeful Spirit of Avalon. Even the Shaman wanted to have him as a right hand man and had high expectations for this young man. Fate was not something the average man could predict.

  “Please help us with the Professor’s traces.” With that, Ghosthand turned to lead the way.

  Ye Qingxuan walked into an alley. Stepping over puddles and broken tiles, he walked into a hut. The empty hut was covered in blood. And the corpse in the center was already stiff.

  The cold night had preserved the body well. Instead of decaying, the corpse’s skin was deathly pale. The sight was chilling.

  “Who is this?”

  “A smuggler. His nickname is Lychee. Lychees are a rare Eastern fr…”

  “I know.” Ye Qingxuan nodded. “A Westerner with this name? That’s rare.”

  “It’s because the thing he’s most famous for is smuggling in ten tons of lychees. He got it through customs and sold them throughout the entire Anglo market.”

  “A fruit smuggler?”

  “They look clean and cute, but it’s just a disguise. There were refined opiates inside the lychees,” Ghosthand stated. “It was all high-grade stuff. The Indians called them Krishna. With this boat-load, the Indians were able to buy ninety percent of the market, creating the basis of their illegal drugs market.

  “Lychee had always been Silo’s right hand man and was hated by others. But he was very careful. Sometimes he would even disguise himself as a pregnant so no one could get any dirt on him.”

  “Pregnant?” Ye Qingxuan squatted and looked at the swollen body. Seeing the beard and thick chest hair, he could not help but furrow his brows. “He really put in a lot of effort…When was the corpse discovered?”

  “Three hours ago,” Ghosthand said as he smoked. “According to the Shaman’s rules, illegal drug smugglers should have their feet and hands chopped off, but he was already dead when we arrived. The Professor was a step before us. This is probably revenge on Silo’s betrayal.”

  “Not just that.” Ye Qingxuan shook his head. “If it’s just for revenge, the Professor would hang Silo’s brother P
o Sinai before Silo’s bed. When Silo wakes up from a nightmare, he’ll see his brother’s twisted features and forever live in fear…”

  Ghosthand flinched. “How do you know?”

  Ye Qingxuan gazed at him coolly. “That’s what I’d do if I were the Professor.”

  Ghosthand fell silent.

  Ye Qingxuan felt around the corpse, looking for any marks left behind on the body. It was much easier with Bolero. He pressed a hand on the corpse’s chest and transformed the liquid in the body into perception threads to investigate the organs. Quickly, he let go.

  “His heart stopped suddenly. There was internal bleeding in his organs and his brain seemed to be poisoned…” Ye Qingxuan’s eyes hardened. “Lychee wasn’t killed. He scared himself to death.”

  Ghosthand immediately understood the fury in the youth’s eyes. “This is what you often do…Is the Professor trying to provoke you?”

  Ghosthand knew that Holmes was a dark musician who hated to see blood and kill others. He would always make the enemy torture themselves. No matter how cruel he was, he would never take any lives. He was merciful and valued life—he was not like a dark musician at all.

  But that was the cruelest. His enemies often wanted to die but could not! Such as the ruined Pyramid King and Indian musician Puspotkata who had turned into an idiot, and the many others who had been sent to the Arkham Asylum…If Ye Qingxuan had wanted to punish Lychee, he would undoubtedly use this method; however, the Professor was much crueler. No matter what the process had been, it was horrible enough to create nightmares.

  In the stillness, Ye Qingxuan gazed coolly at the corpse’s dull eyes. After a long while, he stood up slowly. “I think he’s challenging me. Most people would think I did this.”

  If it was just Lychee, Ye Qingxuan would not care, but this was a warning. If he still could not find the Professor before the next kill, the victim would be someone different.

  Ye Qingxuan could think of many that he could be used as a scapegoat for. An important figure in the police department, the son of a noble…At that time, it would be much more difficult to work in Avalon.