Silent Crown

by Feng Yue

  “Moon of Mount Guan,”Dragon Roar in the Sea,”Changmen Complaint,”Huo Lin Cao,”Wind and Cloud’…

  The instrument sounded once again. Sparse notes scattered. The bright moon illuminated Mount Guan and wind raged. Sea tides crashed and the dragon roared without end. The moon hung in the night, illuminating those inside Changmen.

  Ye Qingxuan was lost in his own world. His eyes scanned the music scores and he strummed Jiu Xiao Huan Pei. Aether rose in waves and spread out. Finally, the melody spilled like mercury into all directions.

  The crisscrossed strings covered the entire embassy, extending with the scattering moonlight. Within the light and melody, a faint heartbeat sounded. Under the unclear rhythm, the entire embassy became wispy. Countless apparitions rose under the moonlight. It was as if everything had become removed from reality and entered a hallucination. Moonlight shone down. The line between illusion and reality blurred.

  Everything in his dream was before his eyes now.

  In the end, all the scenes were woven into a vast and beautiful dream by the melody. Reversed dreams appeared, a moon hung in the sky, the sun shone radiantly, rivers flowed, the land stretched to the horizon, dragons roared…

  “So annoying!” Bai Xi was startled awake from her dream. She tossed her pillow in anger. “Who the f*ck is playing music at midnight?!”

  Furious, she climbed out of bed but discovered that her room had somehow changed. The western-styled furniture had become somber eastern decorations. White curtains fell from the large room. Two lines of firelight illuminated the room. The pearls on the walls reflected with the light, creating an elegant and luxurious scene.

  Stunned, her eyes quickly turned cold. She clenched a fist. Faraway bells rang under her fingertips. Zhaodang flashed past and destroyed the realistic dreamscape. Everything blurred and broke.

  She put on a jacket and slippers and walked out. She was annoyed. Her mood was already bad from dreaming of all that. Seeing it when she woke up really pissed her off.

  Cracking her knuckles, she was ready to find that annoying guy and have a good ‘talk.’ But when she pushed open the door and followed the music, she found Maxwell and Abraham sitting in the hallway and smoking.

  “Principal?” She frowned and said without hesitation, “What are you all planning now?”

  “What can I do?” Maxwell smoked and said lightly, “It’s your messed up cousin. The day he got released, he became a marquess, signed an agreement with the Silent Authority, drank all my wine, and leveled up.

  “His heart of sound resonated with the aether sea. Disturbing reality, he saw into the dreamscape.” Maxwell stared at the large moon outside the window and murmured, “He’s at the Disturbance level now.”

  431 I Am Sincere!

  “Wow, look! The moonlight is so pretty!”

  At the top level of the Judgement Tower, under the silent moonlight, someone studied the moon outside the bars and sighed as if intoxicated by it. Behind him, everyone was silent. They buried their faces in their hands.

  However, the young man seemed to not sense anything. Turning around, he said with anticipation, “The night is beautiful. How about I perform for all of you to add to the mood?”

  Someone’s expression changed drastically. “Don’t! Charles, wait—”

  “Oh, oh, oh~ Oh, oh, oh~ Oh, oh, oh~ Oh, oh, oh~” Charles began singing happily, drunk from his own voice. “The beauty of the Sacred City, a day in June~ Spring rain falls like wine, the willows like smoke~ Come thousands of miles if we’re fated~ Can’t even hold your hand if we’re not~ Ten years of going through the obstacles, hundred years to share the same home~”

  The horrible voice passed through the railings and echoed in everyone’s ears. It kept repeating, “Oh, if there are thousands of years, oh, of destiny~ We’ll be together~ Oh, if there are thousands of years, of, of destiny~ We’ll be together~ Lalala, lalala~”

  The prisoners could not help but cover their faces and look everywhere for earplugs. Finally, the closest victim—his cellmate, a man covered in hair—could not take it anymore. He snapped a toothbrush in half and pointed it to his own throat.

  “Charles, shut up!” Gritting his teeth, he was determined. “Otherwise, I’ll hurt myself and make you get locked up by yourself.”

  “No, don’t! If you don’t like it, I can sing another song,” Charles said dejectedly. “I used to be a prodigy musician. Do you know what the triangle is? It’s really cool! Don’t believe me? Let me show you—”

  “Just shut up! Let me sleep and stop bothering me!” the man roared.

  The prisoners in the neighboring cell made noises of agreement. They all yelled at the voice that was pushing them to the brink of insanity.

  Hearing those hateful words, Charles’s eyes clouded. He suddenly looked depressed and pitiful. Fluttering his lashes, he looked at his cellmate in anticipation.

  “Don’t you feel touched and see me in a new light after hearing it? That’s what’s supposed to happen! Is it because I sang badly? Give me another chance. I’ll—”

  “Listen, Charles.” The cellmate pressed down on his shoulders and used all his patience to say, “I know you feel that the future is dark and hopeless after you were arrested and that’s why you’re doing everything to join the Revolutionaries. But no offense, we…don’t take people like you, even if we’re outside…”

  Charles froze. In disbelief, he moved in close and pointed at his face. “Look at me! I have potential! Won’t you consider it?”

  The man’s features twisted and looked away determinedly. His decision was resolute.

  “Naw, you can’t be like this!” Charles was shaken. “I got in because of you guys. What will I do if you won’t protect me? And that bald guy next door keeps looking at my butt when we go out. I’m so scared.”

  “Bullsh*t!” the man roared. “That bald guy is my cousin. He’s had a lazy eye for five years!”

  “Uh…” Charles started feeling awkward. “Don’t get angry. We can discuss this. Why don’t you consider it again?”

  The man’s expression was livid. He cracked his knuckles, unable to bear it anymore. As soon as he raised his fist, Charles collapsed onto the ground like a limp noodle. He grabbed the man’s leg, tears, and snot streaming down his face.

  “Brother, please just accept me! I really want to be a Revolutionary… I’m loyal and sincere!”

  The prisoners had never seen someone so shameless as to admitting defeat even before fighting. They suddenly felt disgusted as if they had stepped onto gum. Their expressions twisted as they swore and cursed.

  Finally, an old voice sounded in the cell across from them. “Go to sleep.” In the darkness untouched by the moonlight, the old man leaning against the wall sighed. “It’s late.”

  With that, everyone fell into silence. Even the furious muscular man shut his mouth obediently and went back to bed, no longer speaking.

  In the awkward silence, only the weak Charles did not understand what had happened. He looked around in confusion but everyone ignored him. After a long while, he climbed up helplessly and sighed in frustration. Being a spy was harder than he thought!

  But just as he decided to sleep, the old man’s hoarse voice sounded behind him. “Your name.”

  “Huh?” Surprised, Charles turned around. In the cell across from him, the old man had risen at some point. He walked into the moonlight and stood before the bars, looking at the confused young man.

  He was very old. With a head of white hair, he looked like an old scholar rather than a commanding figure. His emerald eyes looked like a carving by an artist when they looked at someone. After being weathered by time, merely the rough edges were able to instill awe.

  It was Constantine.

  “Your name,” Constantine repeated patiently.

  “Uh…Ch-Charles.”

  “Charles?” Constantine pondered and slowly nodded. “A good name. I heard you are an Angloian musician?”

  “That’s right. I’m fr
om the history department of the Royal Academy of Music. I’m really impressive, let me tell you. I graduated with the highest grade in the past ten years!” Charles instantly started bragging. After all, he was the only one to graduate from the history department in the past ten years. It counted as breaking a record.

  “I see.” Constantine nodded, seeming to ponder something. “Go to sleep. Talk with me tomorrow.”

  “Huh?” Charles froze but quickly cheered. “Ah! Okay, okay! What would you like to talk about? Should I prepare for it?”

  Constantine smiled and turned around to return to his bed. Charles gaped for a long while. Not receiving a reply, he went back to his bed in confusion.

  No matter what…his spy plan was about to succeed?

  -

  The next morning, it was colder than before as the winter progressed. Water vapor froze, creating beautiful ice flowers on the steel walls of the Sacred City. The people wore thick wool clothing, looking fat and swollen. Mr. Hu was the same. He added a thick cloak and stood rubbing his hands in the cold wind.

  People passed before him in front of the Sacred City train station. He stood on the steps outside the crowd and gazed into the distance. Beside him, the worried Eunuch Zhao pressed quietly, “Mr. Hu, let’s go. The one in charge has urged me many times. If you don’t leave now, you’ll miss the afternoon ship.”

  “Wait a bit more.” Mr. Hu chuckled softly. “Just a bit more.”

  Soon, quick footsteps sounded. A young man in black walked through the frost. His white hair tumbled down his shoulders with a metallic shine.

  “Sorry, I’m late.” Ye Qingxuan looked apologetic. “Something happened last night and I slept too late.”

  Mr. Hu nodded. Seeing Ye Qingxuan’s empty hands, he realized, “You don’t plan on returning?”

  “Yes.” Ye Qingxuan nodded. “I won’t go back for now. There are still many people I care about here. I have to make sure they’re safe.”

  Mr. Hu fell silent. He studied the young man before him. After a long pause, he patted Ye Qingxuan’s shoulder. “It’s alright. It’s good that you’ve made your decision. I won’t force you. These things can’t be forced.”

  A bell rang again. It was nine o’clock.

  “Time to go. If I still don’t go, they’ll come hurry me again.” Mr. Hu glanced at the station behind him and looked away. “It’s great that you can come see me off.”

  “Safe travels,” Ye Qingxuan said.

  Mr. Hu smiled. He took a few steps back and bowed in farewell. His cloak fluttered in the wind like a stork’s wings.

  “I do not know when we will meet again.” He gazed at the young man with affection. “Please take care.”

  Ye Qingxuan nodded. He stood and watched as Mr. Hu turned and disappeared in the crowd. After a long while, he sighed sadly.

  “Take care, sir.”

  -

  The train station was packed. Mr. Hu looked back, unwilling to leave. He could still see the young man standing in place and could not help but feel sad. Perhaps he was getting old. When he had traveled hundreds of thousands of miles with his teacher as a young man, he was not as weak as now, fearing farewells. But then his steps halted. His senses told him that something was coming.

  It was as if the entire world had silenced and everyone’s movements slowed. Under his blazing golden eyes, he could see even the smallest speck of dust. He looked up and studied every face that passed him. Finally, he looked to the front. There was a traveler snaking through the crowd. He seemed to have come from far away but did not have any belongings. He only had a ragged robe. His hair was messy and unruly.

  Sensing Mr. Hu’s eyes, he looked over. After a second of thought, he smiled. His features were plain but Mr. Hu’s eyes changed. They burned hotter and seemed to condense into tangible murderous intent. Every pore on his body was trembling with the thirst to fight and kill. For some reason, he wanted to put in his all and throw away all caution to fight with this man he had never seen before.

  Under his black robes, his fists clenched. His muscles pulled taut as he tried to push down his urge. For the first time in his life, he wanted to…kill someone without any reason.

  The traveler did not seem to realize. He just smiled and brushed past. Mr. Hu instantly sank into a daze. But in his daze, his gold eyes finally broke through the disguise. He saw a figure with one hundred hands and one thousand eyes extend from the body, covering the sky. Instantly, the earth shook and the atrium broke. Fire covered the world.

  Mr. Hu froze in place. Sweat rolled down his body and his face paled. After a long, long time, he started walking again. He finally saw the confused Eunuch Zhao.

  “M-mr. Hu, what happened?” he asked. “Are you sick? Please don’t scare me.”

  “No need to worry.” Mr. Hu smiled wryly. “Perhaps…this is fate?” He looked back at the large city. Perhaps fate truly existed, weaving all their lives, cruelly placing the young man in the center of all storms and vortexes.

  Ye Qingxuan, take care. There are no longer safe places.

  -

  At the same time, a bedraggled traveler grabbed the quiet young man standing before the station.

  “S-sorry.” In broken language, he asked, “Excuse me, this…place, go, how?”

  432 Create Legend

  “Asking for directions?” Ye Qingxuan took the piece of paper in his hand. It seemed to be the name card of an antique shop. It was rumpled as if it was once immersed in water and dried again. It still had a faint dark red color.

  “I’m sorry. I’m not familiar with this place.” He thought for a moment and returned the business card.

  “Thank…sor-ry.” The traveler smiled, thanked him politely, and turned away.

  Ye Qingxuan froze for a long time. Looking at the man’s back, he felt that something was wrong but he couldn’t tell.

  “Oh, you’re here.” Behind him, Wolf Flute patted him on the shoulder. Ye Qingxuan turned around. Arching an eyebrow, Wolf Flute looked impressed. “The uniform of the Silent Authority looks better on you than me.”

  Ye Qingxuan glanced at him, not at all politely. “If you’re willing to lose the fat on your stomach, you’ll look nice too.”

  “Ahaha, life is so wonderful. Why should we lose the hard-earned weight?” Wolf Flute held a hot breakfast in his hands and gave him some as well. “Get on the bus. We’ll talk on the way.”

  The door closed and the carriage started. Wolf Flute dropped the curtains and started gorging. Ye Qingxuan looked at the breakfast next to him but had no appetite. He sighed and pushed the breakfast next to Wolf Flute.

  “Where to next?”

  “The Ministry of Sacrament,” he mumbled. He swallowed his mouthful of sandwich and drank all of his coffee. He wiped his mouth. “There’s no need to worry about Charles. I’ll take you to see something good.”

  “What thing?” Wolf Flute smiled and pat the invisible wolf beside him. “To witness a Scepter.”

  -

  Six days ago, Samuel, the veteran of the School of Choir, returned from the aether world. While pioneering in a secret place, he realized that he had broken through the difficulties that had troubled him. Thus, he was determined to prepare to advance toward the Scepter level.

  After accumulating for so many years, he was prepared to go off from his strong points and build up the legendary elements of the upper ranks. He hoped that he would be awarded a saint’s name after created his scepter. If he could succeed, he would immediately become a saint of the world.

  “This is a major event that the Ministry of the Sacrament has been preparing for. Two schools have done everything for the sublimation ceremony. Many grandmasters have come in the past two days. It seems that Master Samuel is prepared to either succeed or die.”

  Wolf Flute explained in the carriage, “To put an end to the influence of the abyss, the Silent Authority also needs to guarantee the purity of the sanctuary. Most people have been busy these past two days. I decided to let you open your ey
es.”

  “Create a scepter?” Ye Qingxuan fell into contemplation. The scepter had always been a dream that every musician dreamed of—to inscribe one’s consciousness into the aether world for eternity, project into the Originator, and gain its power.

  There were only a dozen or so people in the world who could reach this level. There were even fewer who could become a saint.

  It could almost be said that reaching this realm was rising above human limits, reaching the level of immortality. Even if the human body was corrupted, the will could be released from the aether and become the Holy Spirit.

  Unfortunately, it was too difficult to break through this barrier.

  With so many musicians in Anglo, only two or three could be called Scepters. Of them, only one was a saint—Mr. Haydn—who had entered Avalon’s Shadow.

  The master of the School of Royalty, André, began to work behind closed doors a few years ago. Even with massive support, he had yet to find any chance.

  Thinking of this, he could not help but squint and glance at someone gorging around… They were all Scepters but how come he did not have the demeanor a grandmaster should have?

  Regardless, it was a rare opportunity to witness a master’s achievement.

  Soon, the carriage arrived.

  -

  Through the heavily guarded turnpikes, the carriage stopped outside the gate.

  “Get off here. The carriage can’t pass through the rest.”

  After wiping his mouth, Wolf Flute returned to his gentlemanly appearance—if one overlooked his coffee stains—and handed the two documents to the guard. “The central Church, two people, the Silent Authority.”

  “The Silent Authority?”

  The guards looked again and again, mainly at Ye Qingxuan. He had probably never seen such eye-catching white hair from the members of the Silent Authority. Soon, he waved them off.

  “These two days, most of the masters who have come to visit have arrived. They all want to seek inspiration from Samuel’s breakthrough. This is a rare musician congregation. Therefore, to prevent people with ulterior motives from mixing in, the alert has also been raised.”