by Feng Yue
Ye Qingxuan shook his head. “Too troublesome.”
“You want to sublimate and know the meaning of the Originator?” The projection’s voice grew dark and mysterious as he opened another book. “Endless aether! This is good too!”
Ye Qingxuan was expressionless. “I don’t want to scare myself when I’m bored.”
“Would you like to try the end of the world?”
“No.”
Finally, the projection lost his temper. “You won’t learn this, won’t learn that…what are you doing? You want me to make it impossible for you to become a musician?”
Ye Qingxuan was unmoved. The projection caved in.
With teary eyes, he stared imploringly at Ye Qingxuan. “My friend, can you not make things difficult for me? This is the prototype of all symphonies of predestination of the Ye family lords!
“Even if you take it and don’t use it, or just play with it when you’re bored, it’s still good! Plus, there are also many amazing experiences waiting for you! Can’t you just choose one? It’s free!”
“Sorry, I truly am tired.” Ye Qingxuan sighed. “I don’t want those stories of going through extreme happiness and sadness, ups and downs, before finally reaching the pinnacle of life. Can’t you let me go?”
The projection was depressed but angry. “What’s so bad about these great adventures?”
“The only thing I don’t lack in life is adventure. Really.” Ye Qingxuan sighed heavily. “Every time, I’m tormented until I want to die. Please let me go. I really don’t want any more adventures.”
“You’re a musician! You’re a Dreamweaver!” The projection almost had a mental breakdown. Yanking on Ye Qingxuan’s collar, he roared, “What do you want?!”
Ye Qingxuan did nothing as the projection yanked him up by the collar and spit fell on his face. He just sighed and pleaded, “I just want to rest.”
The moment, the entire world quieted down. Then something shattered in the distance. The world shook, the sun and moon dimmed, everything withered and lost color. The world turned black and white.
The projection let go and said, “You win.” Its stiff body quickly cracked and fell apart like a broken mirror. After breaking through the first dreamscape, the second also fell apart.
Ye Qingxuan felt himself falling.
Falling to the deepest part of his consciousness, to the lowest level of his dream.
Falling to…the end of his dream.
-
This was a silent and empty world, the bottom of his sub-consciousness, and the origin of his consciousness. It connected his so-called sense of self, his true self, and his supra-self.
Other than ‘self,’ there was nothing else.
Nothing else?
Is there really nothing else? Ye Qingxuan thought.
He walked forward in silence. After some time, he finally saw the figure standing before him in the distance.
The moon had risen into the sky without him realizing. The moonlight fell on the man like clothing, reflecting with a serene glow. Ye Qingxuan looked at him and sighed. “You really are here.”
“I’ve been waiting for a long time.” The seemingly familiar figure chuckled. He turned around and smiled pleasantly. “Little Yezi, you finally came to see me.” He reached out to embrace the young man but Ye Qingxuan stepped to the side and brushed past him.
Ye Lanzhou turned in confusion and saw Ye Qingxuan continue walking forward.
“Little Yezi, you’re already at the end of your dream! Where are you going?” Ye Lanzhou stared at his back in shock. “We’ve been separated for so many years. Don’t you want to see me? Don’t you have anything to say to me?”
At the end of the end, Ye Qingxuan heard his voice and turned around. “Enough. Just let me sleep in peace.”
Ye Lanzhou faded and dissipated. The music theory projection gaped as Ye Qingxuan walked into the distance, disappearing somewhere.
Was there an end to the end of the dream?
Ye Qingxuan did not know.
“Finally, it is quiet.” He curled up in the nothingness and closed his eyes. This time, he finally did not have to dream anymore.
-
Under the serene moonlight, the sleeping Ye Qingxuan flipped over. The coldness and indifference in his brows disappeared, becoming peaceful and relaxed. He seemed to have finally escaped from the layers of causes and effects and the complex reality. He had run to somewhere without people or dreams and slept in peace.
As he slept, the world became peaceful as well.
449 Those Young Monsters
In the Anglo Embassy, it was afternoon. The well-dressed ambassador wore his sword, looking a little agitated as the time passed by. Finally, when it was about six o’clock, he sighed and asked the secretary, “How long has he been asleep?”
“About fourteen hours.” The secretary replied, “I told the maid not to disturb him when he came back this morning, and then he never left the room.”
“Maybe he has already gone?” The ambassador looked to his side.
The old musician shook his head. “He is still in the room but he seems to be transforming his musical theory. We’d better not to disturb him at this moment. Otherwise, if there is any problem, I am afraid the consequences will be unpredictable. “
Hearing this, the ambassador sighed helplessly. “It seems that he will be unable to attend.”
Before leaving the city, Maxwell had told the ambassador secretly that although Ye Qingxuan had no establishment and position in the embassy, they should treat him the same as they treated Maxwell. If anyone dared to disrespect him, he would be accused of disrespecting the royal family. As a result, Ye Qingxuan was able to eat for free in the embassy for such a long time.
Everyone here regarded him as the successor of Maxwell, the future cabinet minister. Moreover, Ye Qingxuan did have a crucial position in the Fifth Department and he also served temporarily in the Silent Authority. He might usually ignore trivial affairs but once something really happened, he was definitely a crucial figure. The ambassador would not have wanted to disturb him if it had not been for an invitation to an important party today and Ye Qingxuan was especially invited.
After another ten minutes, the ambassador sighed and got up to command the secretary. “It seems that Mr. Ye is unable to come to dinner today. You choose a gift for him and I will bring it to the banquet. At least it won’t be impolite.”
The secretary nodded and quickly prepared a gift that Ye Qingxuan would give for ‘being ill’ and unable to attend.
Two minutes later, the ambassador and his wife boarded the carriage to the Embassy of Burgundy. Soon the carriage stopped before another mansion in the embassy district. It was already late, but the Burgundy Embassy’s lights were all on.
The traffic rushed before the Embassy of Burgundy. There were constantly well-dressed nobles and ambassadors getting out of the carriages and attending this party with invitations.
The ninth of December was the national day of Burgundy, as well as the 300th anniversary of the celebration. The Embassy prepared a lot to celebrate this day and many people were invited. Within a few short hours, rich businessmen and nobles from all over the world had gathered here. There were officials and saints from the Sacred City as well.
The carriage with Anglo’s emblem parked in front of the embassy. The ambassador got off with his wife. Soon, a well-dressed attendant welcomed them and guided the two into the hall.
In the ballroom, Ambassador Bertrand, clad in a suit, seemed to have waited for a long time. Due to taking care of his body, there wasn’t the slightest sign of aging in his appearance. He did not look like a man in his fifties at all but a middle-aged man in his prime.
Behind him stood a handsome young man, who seemed to be his nephew.
“Mr. Baird, welcome.” After exchanging greetings with Anglo’s ambassador for a moment, Bertrand could not restrain his curiosity and looked to his side. “Has Mr. Ye not come yet?”
Baird sm
iled wryly and sent the gift that had been prepared. “Last night, it snowed. Mr. Ye had a cold and couldn’t come tonight. He asked me to convey his regrets to you.”
“I see.” Bertrand sighed. “It’s our mistake. We should have sent the invitation to Mr. Ye earlier. Please let Mr. Ye know that the Embassy of Burgundy will always welcome his visit.”
After the two exchanged the pleasantries, the young man behind Bertrand left. Baird didn’t care about it but looked to Bertrand. Both were ambassadors of foreign countries and had often met each other in the Sacred City. However, their rivalry did not damage the friendship between the two. They were even members of the same bridge club. Having such great ties, Baird did conceal any more.
“My old friend, don’t you think it’s inappropriate?” Baird looked at Bertrand and whispered, “Although there is no official position for Mr. Ye in our embassy, he is distinguished at least. How could you be so careless to send the invitation the last day?”
“I did not intend to invite such a sensitive figure like Mr. Ye.” Bertrand forced a smile and shook his head. He took a glass of champagne from the waiter’s hand. The two chatted while walking to the corner. “This happened because someone wants to see him. I had to send the invitation on short notice.”
Baird frowned, immediately getting curious. “Who is so powerful?”
“Who else could it be?” With a wry smile, Bertrand looked at the handsome young man in the crowd who was laughing with the other nobles.
The young man seemed to have a wide circle of friends. There were so many nobles, different circles, and different schools here, but he could manage all of them. He must be something.
Baird was stunned. He did not expect that the young man next to Bertrand, who seemed to be his nephew or a secretary of the embassy, actually had a powerful background. Soon it dawned on him when he noticed that the young man’s ring.
“The Bourbon family? Which branch?”
“What else can it be?” Bertrand, sipping the champagne, said softly, “The first in line for natural inheritance.”
The Bourbon clan, as the royal family of Burgundy, had many branches, but there were not many people who really had the lineages and rights. From Bertrand’s reaction, one could tell that the young man must be someone distinguished. Moreover, the emperor of Burgundy was seriously ill. There were not many days left for him. In a few months, it was very possible that the young man’s father would rule the country.
“Which son of Louis is he?” Baird asked.
Bertrand looked at him with a vague smile. “My old friend, he is the only son of Louis now.”
Baird understood his meaning and suddenly fell into silence.
“Don’t underestimate the young, my old friend. There are more and more monsters among the young, such as your country’s new sword-bearer.” Bertrand put down the glass and looked at the figure in the crowd with more fear.
“He was an illegitimate son of the Louis family who was abandoned overseas. But half a year ago, he was welcomed back to the family and received recognition. Originally, they intended to use the young man as a bargaining chip but did not expect that the man they found back then was not an obedient puppet but a serpent.
“In less than six months, he turned from the underdog to a public leading figure. Those who had been in front of him are now dead at his feet, including his brother Louie. In addition to his own family, he also won the support of the Antonevate family. He has an engagement with the grand duke’s daughter and they will get married next year.
“Now, he is my teacher Mr. Richelieu’s favorite student, the future Cabinet confidential secretary… To tell the truth, during the days he stayed in the embassy, even I felt like there are thorns in my back. I can’t sleep well. Thankfully, he is about to leave for home after the celebration. That’s a relief.”
Baird listened to this wordlessly and felt a headache coming. “Why would he be interested in our sword-bearer?”
“Who knows?” Bertrand smiled. “Maybe he wants to be a good friend with your Mr. Ye.”
“That’s not funny, Bertrand.” Baird shook his head, drank the champagne in the cup, and finally glanced at the young man’s back. “What’s the name of the monster in your country?”
“Don Juan,” Bertrand said, “Don Juan Dieudonne Bourbon.”
-
Don Juan sat silently in the resting room of the embassy.
“What a pity, master,” the attendant at his side said. “It seems that you are not seeing your good friend this time.”
“A pity?” Don Juan glanced at his attendant and laughed. “Do you feel sad or are you glad? You know he is now a famous demon hunter in the countries. None of those dark musicians who met him had good endings. You must be overjoyed that he can’t come, right?”
“Master, you overthink.” The attendant managed a smile. “I have changed. It has been quite a long time since I’ve had contact with my past friends. Everyone probably thinks that the Rain Artist is dead.”
“That’s the best, old man.” Don Juan glanced at him. Perceiving the sorrow in his eyes, Don Juan laughed with derision. “Only you will take that title as a treasure. You only killed a few people and were chased by the Sacred City like a rabbit. Think about your bullsh*t friends’ endings. Poor old Colbert, why can’t you look further…”
He put his hands on the ‘Rain Artist’s’ shoulder and whispered his original name. “When my dad comes into power, the time for us will come! As long as that old man’s life and death is in our hands, what can’t we get?
“You want to kill someone? Just wave your fingers and there will be countless people to help you kill and take the blame! Do you want power? What about financial officer? The royal secretary of state? Navy commander or the prime minister of Burgundy?
“Compared to these things in sight, what the f*ck is the Originator? Is it worth risking your life to pursue? Is it worth your while to go through the hell for that d*mn spirit? Don’t be ridiculous, Colbert. Your future is under your feet. As long as you follow me, everything is at your fingertips!”
After a while of silence, Colbert softly sighed. “Young master, how can someone like you not degenerate into a demon? It doesn’t make sense.”
“Degenerate?” said Don Juan, chuckling. “I’m so much dirtier than you all. Go back and send a present to Yezi.” Don Juan fixed his bow tie and smiled pleasantly. “I really look forward to seeing him again. Will Yezi be startled to see me like this?” He pushed the door open and walked into the ballroom.
-
The banquet was at the climax.
Ms. Patty, a singer from the Trinity Choir, was invited to give a performance for this pageant. The singer, who gave up the music theory and the path of musicians to focus on the melody, was already a master in the music field. Every year at the Winter Festival, she would lead the choir to chant hymns while the pope sermonized. Her voice was likened to the heavenly light which illuminated the Earth and gave salvation.
Under the soft light, the elegant Ms. Patty lifted her skirt and appeared on the stage. She bowed slightly and was greeted with cheers and gasps. The old singer had some white hair but it did not reduce her grace. On the contrary, she looked full of the noble aura. When standing on the stage, she was not like a performer but the master and the emperor of the stage.
The audience bowed their heads piously, longing for her voice as if longing for nectar.
“You even invited Ms. Patty?” Baird looked to Bertrand. “Starting the year before last, she would rarely appear expect for the Winter Festival performance. I personally invited her to our celebration last year but she refused.”
“That is because you are qualified enough.” Bertrand smiled proudly, full of pleasure. Today, he invited Baird to come over just in order to see his current expression.
Worth it! It was worth it!
Baird looked at his proud appearance and swore in his mind. But soon, he cleared his thoughts because the singing on the stage had already
begun.
Under the soft violin melody, Ms. Patty opened her mouth and sang. Her voice was like gorgeous silk melting into spring. It spread with the soft melody. The song seemed to land on the soul and rejuvenated the people. Even the skin trembled and the viscera swayed with the rhythm. They were intoxicated in the song. No one ever thought that music without power or aether could also be beautiful to such a degree, almost making them shed tears. The song began to rise like a stream converging into a river.
The gorgeous aria quivered with the consciousness of all and came into the solemn song together with the choir behind her. The Habanera music from the far north rang in everyone’s ears. Everyone was fascinated, but even more frightening were the waves spread in the melody.
It was the power of the aether!
All the musicians present could feel that it was not a music theory but a mere song. However, there existed a mysterious magic so that even the aether was summoned. It emitted the illusion of divine light toward all directions with the melody.
In the divine light, everyone felt as if the whole person was baptized. All the depression and irritability were dispelled. There was no darkness but refreshing and vitality as if everyone went back to being juvenile.
Among the musicians, an old musician shook his head with a wry smile and exclaimed, “Have Patty’s attainments become so powerful in these years?” Without realizing, he had been left behind and could only see her silhouette. She could mobilize the aether only by virtue of singing. There was no music theory in her song. She purely used the spirit in the melody. Even among the monks of the Scared City, few could achieve this degree!
After becoming a formal musician at the age of sixteen, Patty gave up the music theory and became obsessed with melody. But no one had expected that Patty’s understanding of the music theory had come to such a level over these years.