341 Hadess Door (1/2)
Miller wanted to speak but hesitated.
Baro grabbed Ye Qingxuan's shoulder. ”Don't go. Who knows what they're planning?”
”Don't worry.” Ye Qingxuan glanced at Colt and smiled. ”Mr. Colt isn't like that, right?”
Colt smiled without replying. Coldness was hidden inside his emerald eyes.
”Stay here. I'll be back soon,” Ye Qingxuan said to Sam. ”If there are any problems, don't worry about me. Kill Colt first.”
Sam nodded.
Putting down his bags, Ye Qingxuan walked toward the five musicians. Colt watched as he moved forward step-by-step with an unchanging expression. In the silence, Ye Qingxuan's footsteps suddenly stopped. He stared at Colt; Colt stared back at him. They exchanged meaningful gazes.
In the short pause, faint animosity appeared in everyone's eyes and the atmosphere tensed. However, Ye Qingxuan's smile did not change in that suffocating moment. In the end, Colt sighed regretfully and took a step back. There was a faint sound in the air as if something had disappeared.
Ye Qingxuan continued forward as if nothing had happened. He walked past the two musicians with challenging gazes without a care in the world.
”What a pity,” he whispered as he walked past Colt. ”If I were you and was fifty percent sure, I'd act.”
”Revelations musicians never gamble.” Colt's expression was still cold. ”Ye Qingxuan, you still lack too much.”
”No, what I meant was that a fifty percent chance becomes success in my hands.” Ye Qingxuan smiled and looked away. ”But not for you.”
Colt seemed to not have heard anything. He did not look back at the youth either. However, his lips pursed and veins bulged on the hand that gripped the cane. His emerald eyes were still cold.
Fearless against those cold eyes, Ye Qingxuan gazed the door behind him. The Eye of Silence scanned every inch. He trailed a finger down the veins of the door. As if studying a precious treasure, he did not overlook any detail. After a long while, he rose and went back.
The three did not relax until Ye Qingxuan returned to the range of Sam's sound of heart.
”What's the situation?” Sam asked.
Ye Qingxuan pulled out a handkerchief to wipe the dust on his hands. He looked up and said, ”There's trouble.”
-
Ten minutes later, Ye Qingxuan said, ”So basically, there's only one road ahead of us now. According to the trend of this underground palace, all the tunnels will reach here. In a while, after everyone else is here, it'll be even more fun before the door.
”The problem we'll all face is that, compared to the poor civilians and soldiers, the ones behind the door are probably rich and powerful nobles. They won't be buried so simply, you know?”
Miller reacted first. ”Is it an enchantment or a seal?”
”The problem is that it's both.” Ye Qingxuan jutted his chin at the large stone door. ”In Romulusian legends, there's something called the Hades' Door. It's over-reaching like an enchantment and independent like a seal. It should be the specialty of some school. There are signs of at least five Abstinence musicians working together.”
”Can you do it?”
”No.” Ye Qingxuan shook his head resolutely. ”I might have some chance if I reach the Scepter level. Colt probably can't either. Otherwise, he wouldn't be here.”
”Should we try digging a hole?”
”Do you really want to dig a hole on an active volcano?” Ye Qingxuan used a metaphor. ”If you dig a hole without undoing the alchemy array, you won't be better off than that guy. Remember the Romulusian formation? That was just an appetizer. Once Hades' Door is activated, it'll activate all the protective measures in the first floor too. Then the main course will come…” Ye Qingxuan gazed at the vast palace. It was enough for hundreds of people to come out and fight. He said with a mocking smile, ”Let's not look too far but how many clay puppets do you think can fit here?”
Baro's face twitched and he cursed. ”I knew it was bad news for Romulusians to make such a big place!”