463 Lock (1/2)
Everything finished successfully. Ye Qingxuan was preparing to return to Anglo as well. However, no matter how much they rushed, they would probably not make it in time for the Winter Festival. Therefore, everyone decided to stay in the Sacred City for the holiday. With Charles here, they could even get front row seats to watch the pope announce the new year. They could brag about that when they go home. With the Winter Festival arriving, the new year would come as well.
After the temporary desolation, the Sacred City began thriving again. Under the cheery atmosphere, everyone was doing shopping sprees. Wolf Flute had more and more missions though and could rarely be seen.
During the rare break, Charles ran between the various institutions of the Sacred City to register and was extremely busy. Abraham wanted to help but, due to his identity, he was rarely allowed out of the embassy.
Therefore, Bai Xi, bored out of her mind, decided to focus on Ye Qingxuan. Finally, Ye Qingxuan could no longer endure her clinging and was dragged onto the streets to go shopping with her. Of course, the money came from the embassy's budget… Ye Qingxuan felt slightly bad.
-
The flurries of snow did not stop during these days. Under the snow, everyone seemed to be smiling and enjoying the festivity. Even Bai Xi was happy as a regular kid. She seemed to truly be a kid. Even though she had suddenly grown and was close to Ye Qingxuan's height, she still had a kid's…bad humor. This included buying a bunch of candy to tease kids and then double over with laughter when the kids cried to their parents for their own candy.
Ye Qingxuan shook his head and sighed. He could not help feeling slightly guilty. They had not played together ever since he went to Auschwitz.
Before, Bai Xi would follow behind him too. Sometimes, she would get angry for some reason and stop talking to him. But when he looked back, he would see the white-haired girl following him docilely with her hands behind her back and humming a tune. Sometimes, she would turn and her white dress would float up like a flower in the wind. Ye Qingxuan could not help but reach out and ruffle her hair.
”What?” Bai Xi shook his hand off and side-eyed him. ”Cousin, what are you planning now?”
”Oh, I just thought that you suddenly grew up.” Ye Qingxuan held in his laughter. Bai Xi kicked him angrily. After two steps, she decided it was not enough. She came back to kick him again and then marched forward.
Ye Qingxuan quietly followed where she could find him if she turned around.
”Stop being so slow.” Bai Xi turned to glance at him. ”If you can't catch up, I won't wait for you.”
”Alright, alright.” Ye Qingxuan smiled lazily and caught up.
-
Thankfully, one would get tired after shopping. For lunch, Bai Xi weighed Ye Qingxuan's wallet and happily chose the most expensive restaurant. Sitting near a window on the third floor, they could look down at the bustling streets. Ye Qingxuan studied the falling snow. The restaurant's music was the only sound in the quiet and beautiful world.
Bai Xi hugged the things she had bought and lazily drank her juice. Seeing Ye Qingxuan space out, she pouted. ”Cousin, what are you thinking about now?”
He shook his head. ”I wonder how Old Phil is now. No one's in Anglo. Would he be lonely?”
”Old Phil?” Bai Xi sighed. ”Don't worry about him. After you left, he became so successful…”
”Huh?” Ye Qingxuan was confused.
”He's the school dog of the Royal Academy of Music!” Bai Xi pursed her lips. ”I don't know what the principal was thinking but he even gave us an extra budget to buy things for Old Phil. He made it into our school's mascot with a bunch of merchandise to give to people.
”Cousin, while you were having a hard time, Old Phil is living the life of scaring children and biting teachers whenever he wants. He's the most successful dog now.”
”Really?”
Bai Xi took a letter out. ”I was worried when I left and had the principal's secretary send me pictures every few days. Look for yourself…”
In the picture, Old Phil's gold fur was dazzling and radiant. It was almost blinding. Plump and oily, it looked nothing like the dog from before.
”He'd gained at least five kilograms!” Ye Qingxuan exclaimed quietly.
”If you just eat and sleep every day and occasionally get fed by a mysterious woman, like caviar, acorn ham, lobster…eating like it's all free, you'd get fat like this too.” Pausing, Bai Xi's eyebrow raised. ”But speaking of that, the woman always comes and goes with the royal family's carriage. Do you know who she is?”
”No.” Ye Qingxuan shook his head resolutely. ”Not at all.”
”Really?” Bai Xi looked at him as if seeing his guilt. Pursing her lips, she rose and walked away.
”Where are you going?” Shocked, Ye Qingxuan grabbed her hand. He did not expect that his cousin would suddenly have this kind of temper and leave without warning. ”Don't be angry! I didn't finish…sit down and we'll talk!”
Bai Xi turned around and looked at him condescendingly. ”I'm going to the bathroom.”
Ye Qingxuan let go awkwardly and waved. ”Why don't you do things normally… Go, go.” Seeing her walk away, he let out a sigh, not understanding why he was so nervous.
Deep in thought, there was a commotion outside. The bustling street had become quiet without him noticing. The garrison had put the entire avenue under martial law. In the distance, an exquisite and charming carriage drove over. At the very front, cavaliers with ornate golden armor lead the way. In their path, the white snow melted into the mud under the hooves and flowed in the dirt. Then, the ground was covered by flower petals scattered by the ritualists and servants. Heavy fragrance emanated from the burning kettle and hung in the air without scattering. Under the somber ritual music, nine handsome stallions pulled the elegant wagon down the street.
A white-haired middle-aged man sat in the seat. He smiled gracefully and waved at the crowd every now and then.
Ye Qingxuan frowned. Easterners? Without a doubt, this procession came from the East. Civilians would be beheaded if they dared to use it. In addition, this opulent scale already showed signs of offending the empress.
Ye Qingxuan could see clearly that the man sitting in the center wagon was not of the dragon bloodline. There were strands of shocking black within the white hair. He was an Eastern noble and not of Deva's blood but used a procession that even a king would not dare to use.
While he was deep in thought, the man in the slowly moving car seemed to sense him. The man looked up in Ye Qingxuan's direction. He could see Ye Qingxuan's face clearly through the glass. He smiled oddly and nodded.
Ye Qingxuan froze. He finally saw the design on the man's sleeves clearly. It was the unique emblem that represented the dragon bloodline—Yunlou!
”Yunlou Qingshu?” he murmured.
-
The silent hallway seemed to be isolated from all hustle bustle. This restaurant was owned by a big figure. The Central Avenue of the Sacred City was extremely expensive and yet this restaurant had taken up an entire three-story building. The interior design and decorations were apparently on par with Burgundy's royal palace. All guests could have a noble experience. As far as one could see, everything was in the glamorous Rococo style. In simpler terms, everything was painfully fancy.
The hall to the bathroom was so long. It seemed that only Bai Xi's steps sounded in the silence. She walked forward quietly and quickly. Her feet fell on the ground gently but brought heavy echoes. Those footsteps seemed to brand the ground after her, resounding endlessly.
One step, two, three… Every step was like a heavy pound. The sound bounced around the hallway, solidifying the air. Immense pressure converged soundlessly. After ten steps, Bai Xi tried to take an eleventh.
Boom! Something seemed to snap and a blurry figure was revealed behind Bai Xi. He had been squeezed out of his invisible state! Now, he finally sensed the cold animosity coming from Bai Xi.
”As expected…” She turned slowly and studied the figure. ”I've felt annoyed ever since I came out this morning. Some guy is also annoying but flies like you are a different type of annoying. How long have you been following me?”
The figure remained silent.