Silent Crown

Chapter 268 Honest and Open

"Is it my mind playing tricks?"

After hesitating, he took a few coins out of his pocket. They were pure silver coins carved with tiny music notes. He had stayed up all night making them to test the paths in this dangerous place but had, not used them yet.

Now he tossed one coin forward. It created a soft arc of light in the air like a lantern. Landing on the ground, it rolled on the crumbled stones and stopped moving. The light on the coin extinguished but nothing happened.

He tossed another one. It landed before the previous coin. Rolling forward, it lit up and then extinguished. All was silent still. He tossed yet another one but still, nothing happened.

Satisfied, Ye Qingxuan nodded. He turned around and walked without any regret.

He should have decided early on that if this place made him feel unsafe, it was either paranoia or he had detected something subconsciously. Either way, it was better to take a safe path than putting in all his effort to test things. However, after three steps, a sigh came from behind him. And then someone soared toward him.

Ye Qingxuan dove forward without looking back, and rolled on the ground. He felt a metallic hand brush past him and slam onto the table, flattening a large mass of stone and wreckage.

He looked back as he rolled and saw a strange figure appear gradually beside the silver coins. It looked like the average stray that he had seen in the Jianlan Underground Palace. It had a bony face and long and thin limbs, like steel wires coiled around a skeleton.

However, this guy was unbelievably long. Just squatting on the ground like a dog, it was already two meters tall. Other than two long and narrow arms, it also had seven other arms of different lengths and shapes.

The youth felt goosebumps all over after seeing it clearly.

This *sshole had been sitting on the ground, waiting for Ye Qingxuan to walk over him unknowingly, then give him a warm hug. And then Ye Qingxuan would be shattered. But who had hidden it?

Ye Qingxuan had tested three times without finding anything weird. This was too scary. Even an expert at the School of Illusions would reveal some flaws under this type of targeted test.

He did not have any time to think. While rolling, he heard a noise under the stone. It was as if there was a pot of bubbling stew under the stone tiles. Strange bubbles kept appearing with a string of popping sounds. He raised a hand cautiously and pressed down.

Boom! The shaking Sigh. The stone tiles shattered instantly as the terrifying shaking lifted all the surrounding tiles. Ye Qingxuan had been propelled to the air too.

In the air, he felt that polluted blood was spewing from under the stone. He had killed the demons that had been called over at their most fragile state.

An ear-splitting scream followed. A hysterical melody rang out of thin air. The violin wailed, faintly freezing the air. An eerie deep-rooted chill spread out. First, it was the School of Illusions, then Revelations, and now it was Modifications?

Ye Qingxuan had no time to think further. He pressed his chest and unleashed the music score sealed onto his jacket. The gentle melody rang out!

Abraham had been worried for his safety when he had decided to jump into the quagmire of downtown a few months ago. He had sealed the score Tranquility into this jacket.

After all this time, Ye Qingxuan would have forgotten about this awesome thing if not for this life-or-death situation.

Tranquility was known as the trademark Resonance level score of the School of Abstinence. It was also proof that Abstinence could counter the other six schools. Once activated, everything in a ten meter radius would become a silent aether zone for half a minute. During this time, the aether would reject calls of any music score. Nothing lower than the Resonance level would work.

Sharp cries sounded as soon as Tranquility was activated.

The color of frost spread in the sky. Icicles appeared out of thin air. Modifications formulas were carved onto the triangular icicles with an unbelievably eerie aura. It was obvious at a glance that they were piercing attacks designed for defense and protection.

Hundreds upon thousands of frozen arrows appeared in an instant, enough to turn Ye Qingxuan into a sieve. However, once they entered the silent zone, they broke apart. The coldness disappeared and they dropped onto him as snow, scattering on the ground.

The fatal shots were now as laughable as a snowball fight. Ye Qingxuan did not dare to relax though. He had already heard the mutated ‘stray’ with nine arms run over. It was as if a giant rock was rushing over. As it ran, it opened its nine hands, wanting to rip Ye Qingxuan to shreds.

Ye Qingxuan quickly raised his cane. He narrowed his eyes, waiting for this guy to reach the most suitable distance. Then he would remove Tranquility and unleash the power of Indrah’s Eye.

However, the stray seemed to receive some order. It halted abruptly and stopped in place. Then it hurriedly crawled back to its original spot. A demon created by Satan…was just like a dog.

Ye Qingxuan squinted. He could finally see the figure walking out behind it. He was hunchbacked and walked slowly. He reached out and stopped the frantic stray. Then he looked up toward Ye Qingxuan.

Ye Qingxuan could not see the face clearly due to the fog but he could sense the taunting smile.

"As expected of Avalon’s legendary character." The man raised his hand and clapped lightly. "That was a beautiful counterattack. Decisive, unhesitating, careful, and yet with above-average decision making skills. It was not a waste in coming here."

Ye Qingxuan looked at him coldly as he tried to guess the man’s identity. This dark musician could control demons and was well-versed in music from various schools. Ye Qingxuan did not know if the man was hiding here for him or just anyone, but the parliament had hired a troublesome—no, headache-inducing—enemy. He seemed to be at least at the Resonance level. It was rare for a Resonance level to be skilled in so many schools.

Ye Qingxuan could not defeat him. One did not even have to think to know that Ye Qingxuan could not defeat him. So what were his odds? He began calculating quickly.

"Mr. Holmes, do you not like talking?" The figure cocked his head as if waiting for a reply. "Did I disgust you with my impoliteness or do you like being called the Vengeful Spirit more?"

"You flatter me. Why don’t you just choose whatever you like?" Ye Qingxuan shrugged, pretending to be relaxed. "I don’t mind."

"Oh? Then what if I use your abbreviation S.H? S.H., S.H., S.H…" As he sounded out this name, his eyes filled with anticipation. "This name is cute and lovely. Don’t you think we’re closer now?"

"Ha." Ye Qingxuan’s smile was devoid of warmth. He did not understand this man. Did he want to talk? Or just kill? This confusing attitude was freaky!

"Close?" Ye Qingxuan asked. "Your way of getting close with others is unique."

The man laughed. He said warmly, "I was just greeting you. After all, we’ve interacted for a long time. Please don’t find it strange that I had to greet you warmly. I believe you won’t mind, no?"

Ye Qingxuan sneered. "Would you apologize if I said I do mind?"

Pop! There was the sound of a water bag popping. Ye Qingxuan stared at the figure before him in blank confusion.

The moment he spoke, the dark musician had raised his hand. His fingers slashed to the side like daggers. Foul blood spewed out and the strange stray’s head flew to the sky. As the head landed with a thud, the giant body continued to spew blood like a fountain. It died the fog read. The menacing figure looked clearer in contrast.

"This stray was a gift from Hyakume from before," the dark musician suddenly began explaining for some reason. "It’s a new breed from the Dark Mother, called ‘hymner.’ The nine hands can use holy power. They’re indestructible. Let’s skip the other features for now. It’s a rare but fine specimen, and of precious material. For a dark musician, the technology within is the true gem. They’re great to use on your mutations or to transform yourself."

He glanced at Ye Qingxuan with a genuine expression. "Think of it was a meeting gift from me to you. Can you feel my sincerity?"

Ye Qingxuan’s eye twitched. This was too weird. What did this guy want? He asked, "Are you from the parliament?"

"Yes." The man put a hand to his chest.

After a pause, Ye Qingxuan chuckled. "Do you all have the habit to give gifts before killing someone?"

"Normally, no. I don’t, at least." The dark musician laughed and shrugged. "Would you believe me if I said I think highly of you?"

Ye Qingxuan nodded seriously. "Of course. For people like me, we’re as eye-catching as the sun in the darkness wherever we go. It’s not strange for you to think highly of me."

The dark musician blanched and coughed awkwardly. He could not reply to this. In all these years, he had seen many geniuses but this was his first time meeting someone so shameless.

"To be honest," Ye Qingxuan said, "there are too many people like you who talk in circles. Everyone has the disease of not knowing how to speak correctly. So can you stop making me think so hard? Why don’t we be honest and open?"