127 Despicable and Shameless (1/2)

The two stood frozen in place in the silence. They gazed at the door that should have been closed, and exchanged glances.

Considering the situation for a moment, Ye Qingxuan turned around without hesitating and gestured for Bai Xi to leave. The situation was too weird. It was best to avoid risks.

But Bai Xi would not budge. She grabbed Ye Qingxuan’s sleeve, shaking her head.

Ye Qingxuan stared at Bai Xi and chuckled dryly. When did he become less brave than a little girl? Had he really been scared out of his mind by the chase a few days ago?

Sighing silently, he gestured for Bai Xi to get her weapon ready. He activated Jiu Xiao Huan Pei too. He was ready to grab Bai Xi and run at the slightest sign of trouble. One was in charge of fighting, the other in charge of escaping. They had distinctive roles which slightly overlapped.

In the stillness, they padded soundlessly to the open door. There was a vast space behind the door. Countless torches illuminated the mighty formation of mercury, gold, ancient silver, gems, and other alchemy material on the ground. It was the Resonance Ring that required invaluable material.

Amid the complex music score and notes, each node had a prayer flag. The flags were filled with runes and holy figures. They fluttered in the nonexistent wind, radiating aether like alchemy equipment from a school of music. They formed a structure with the Resonance Ring below. Huge amounts of aether flowed through the material, brewing power and radiating gloriously.

The glow illuminated the script on the flags. Countless runes floated in the air, transforming the world into something holy. But in this holy room there was a corpse with a slit throat.

All Ye Qingxuan felt was delayed fear.

The corpse was the musician who was supposed to guard this place and perform the ritual, but he had been attacked and his throat had been slit before he could fight back. Blood flowed.

In the stillness, Bai Xi tugged the corner of Ye Qingxuan’s shirt and pointed to the back of the Resonance Formation.

When the Resonance Ring broke apart, it would not self-destroy when outside forces entered. The material inside could be taken out too. That included the object all musicians were crazy for—the saint’s relic!

Maybe because of his absolute confidence in his plan, Ye Qingxuan was focused entirely on breaking through the formation and undoing the runes. He did not sense the two newcomers on the other side of the rippling aether. But when he saw them, he felt that they were extremely familiar.

Bai Xi pulled her bow out wordlessly. She mimed slicing one’s throat, as if asking for his opinion. ”Cousin, his posture is so perfect. Should I give him some arrows?”

Before Ye Qingxuan could reply, his expression changed.

In the silence, even the slightest crinkling of clothing could be heard. The figure flinched and raised his head, looking over. His eyes were dark and sharp like an icicle in the darkness. They were filled with hair-raising coldness.

When he saw Ye Qingxuan’s outfit, he remembered something and shock appeared in his eyes. ”…Holmes?” A hoarse voice came from the shadow under the hood, ”The dark musician?”

Seeing those eyes and hearing that voice, Ye Qingxuan realized who the man was and sighed. ”I can’t believe I’d run into you here…” He paused and narrowed his eyes. ”Mr. Professor.”

Behind the formation, the Professor rose slowly. He sighed at fate’s arrangement. ”And I to you, Mr. Vengeful Spirit.”

--

One was downtown’s criminal mastermind; the other was the new infamous dark musician. Neither had expected to meet under this situation, in the Indians’ cellar…

As if old friends had met coincidentally, they made small talk through the formation’s barrier.

”I heard you were injured?” Ye Qingxuan asked casually, leaning on his cane. ”It doesn’t feel good to be chased after, right? Have you become weak without the Butcher’s help?”

”Sorry to disappoint you, but those worthless pieces of trash can’t hurt me. As for you though…” The Professor did not laugh, but his voice was full of mockery. ”You used some low tricks on the Pyramid Scheme. You seemed to get cocky after fooling those idiots.”

”The human heart is a beautifully mysterious thing. No matter how many times you explore it, you still find something new.” Ye Qingxuan laughed with a hoarse voice as if he had not enjoyed enough. Staring at the Professor, his eyes hardened. ”If I have the chance, I’d love to test your limits.”

”Oh? And I’d love to see how it feels to kill a dark musician.”

Both smiled at the same time. As if finding their soulmate, they began laughing loudly. But in the next moment, a silver flute dropped from the Professor’s sleeve and began to play a vague and chilling melody. He had attacked!

Ye Qingxuan moved too. He pressed the cane against the Resonance Formation, ready to attack. ”If you’re not afraid of me activating the formation’s self-destruction, then we can die together or get the people outside to come fight too,” Ye Qingxuan thought.

The flute music stopped instantly. The Professor’s face darkened under the hood. He did not put down the silver flute, but instead repressed one of the melodies.

”Despicable!” he squeezed out between clenched teeth.

”Shameless!” Ye Qingxuan retorted without guilt. ”You’re the one who moved first. Why are you yelling at me?” His hands were still on Jiu Xiao Huan Pei, ready to attack. Faint music hummed from the instrument. There was a hair’s breadth between it and the Resonance Formation.

Seeing him close to touching it, the Professor’s eyes became even colder. ”You better stop…”

Ye Qingxuan scoffed, ”Why don’t you let go?”

The Professor paused and finally gave up on fighting the youth here. He suggested, ”I’ll count to three and we let go together.”

”Okay.” Ye Qingxuan nodded.