344 Nature of Danger (2/2)

”Don't worry.” Ye Qingxuan patted his shoulder and smiled proudly. ”I don't know about other stuff but no one's better than me at running away. No one.”

-

Torre, clad in gray, soon walked through the crowd and gave Ye Qingxuan a sheepskin scroll. ”This is the official agreement. Sign it if there aren't any problems.”

The agreement ensured that everyone could work together without concern. They would not attack each other during the union. The terms were concise and detailed; the intervals and music theory within the music score were compact as well. Ye Qingxuan could not find any problems.

”As expected of discipline musicians.” Ye Qingxuan nodded and signed his name, allowing the music theory within the agreement to flow into his body. Soon, he felt something cool against the back of his neck. It was like a blade.

This was an agreement from the School of Abstinence. If he went against the agreement, he would suffer from the backlash of the aether within his body. According to the terms, the aether would transform into iron and pierce through his neck.

In other words, he would be beheaded. This way, everyone could let down their guards and truly work together.

Ye Qingxuan was also an official Abstinence musician. However, the School of Stone Heart that he had inherited specialized in the construction of the sub-originator and territorial enchantments. That was in the 'field' category. He only had basic knowledge of the 'discipline' category of countering and agreements.

Torre just chuckled at Ye Qingxuan's compliment.

”You flatter me. It's nothing compared to your 'aether furnace.' We can discuss techniques in the future.” He casually glanced at Ye Qingxuan's chest while speaking as if he could sense the immense aether and Abstinence music theory there. However, he had mistaken the sub-originator as the 'aether furnace' that could strengthen music scores.

Ye Qingxuan did not correct him.

After leaving the limitless supply of the Avalonian enchantment, the sub-originator could only provide him fifteen minutes of resonance. After that, he would need twenty-four hours to recharge. This was both his strongest and weakest point. Of course he would let others guess incorrectly.

-

Torre left soon after he signed the agreement. The man was still wearing the faded gray clothing and he did not have any alchemy equipment on him. He looked inflexible and strict.

Each step was thirty-five millimeters, not a millimeter less or a millimeter more. His steps seemed to be measured with a ruler and his speed was shockingly balanced. He breathed once every five seconds and blinked once every seven seconds—never a millisecond late.

An invisible rule board seemed to box him in, covering every detail. Every move, from how he walked to how he breathed to how his heart beat, was made with extremely fine precision.

This was the cost of becoming a discipline musician. It quantified everything, extending rules and music theory into every crevice of his life.

Casper, who followed behind him, emanated a wild aura. His bloodshot eyes seemed to be searching for someone to eat. One brother was like a wooden puppet. The other was a beast. Both were abnormal.

Ye Qingxuan quickly looked away and returned to staring at the stone door.

”Have you started interpreting?” Colt asked beside him. ”How are you going to start?”

Ye Qingxuan was trying to find an 'entrance point' amongst all the strands of music theory within Hades' Door so he could start interpreting. This was the most important preparation step. All he did was take out a marker and draw two straight lines on the door. They intersected at the bottom right and was marked with a small dot.

”How about here?” He drew a circle around the dot casually as if doodling. ”It's a seam that the alchemists had made while working together. It should be enough buffer.”

Colt gaped at him. ”You've already calculated before?”

”It's just preparation.” Ye Qingxuan chuckled. ”When do you prepare to start?”

”We shouldn't wait any longer.” After a moment of thinking, Colt checked over all the preparation work. He pulled the 'anti-tune' sword. Slowly but surely, he stabbed it toward the door.

Three inches away, the door started shuddering and dust flew.

Boom!