208 Complex Situation

At dawn, the dew on the branches of the garden froze. The petals fluttered to the ground, soundlessly sinking into the dirt. The fragrance of flowers and red tea floated in the air.

Lola’s eyes were slightly misty, as if she had just woken up, but they were indescribably enchanting. She studied the youth before her and smiled. "Did you come so early in the morning to give me good or bad news?"

"To be honest, I don’t know if it’s good or bad." Ye Qingxuan sighed and scratched his head. "But you should probably know already, right?"

"Then it must be good," Lola realized. She smiled gleefully.

"Why didn’t you tell me?" Ye Qingxuan asked helplessly.

Lola raised her eyes and asked in reply, "Didn’t tell you what?"

Ye Qingxuan could not answer. Lola had already warned him of the various difficulties and hardships. The only thing she did not reveal was the key element of the music score—that its fulcrum was pain. The pain brought about by life. It was also what Ye Qingxuan was worst at facing.

Moreover, even if she told Ye Qingxuan, it would probably only create the opposite effect, right? The key element was not something that could be used just by knowing it. One must experience the resonation with it. Ye Qingxuan was successful on this aspect, but it was also what multiplied his pain.

After a long silence, Ye Qingxuan lowered his head. "Thank you."

Lola chuckled. "If you’re saying thanks now, what are you planning on saying when I give you this? That you’ll pledge your life to me?"

With that, she pushed a thin music score across the table. It was the score that Ye Qingxuan needed to learn. "After grasping its fulcrum, the music score will be as easy as drinking water. You’ve already learned the hardest part, so there’s nothing to worry about," Lola said lightly. "But are you sure you can learn it in two days? Its music theory is easy, but it’s still a part of Winterreise. It’s not as easy as you think."

Ye Qingxuan smiled. His interpretation method was made just for these sorts of problems. As the product of Abraham’s blood and sweat, the interpretation method was seen as a crooked method because it did not care about feelings or anything abstract.

It was just a music theory that was precise to the extreme and had no room for mistakes. It was like a fixed mathematical theory. It either was or was not. There was no room for anything ambiguous or emotional. It was difficult to learn, but once learned, its speed was incredible.

Just like solving a math problem, one only needed to find the correct formula and go through each step. There would be no errors. With it and the fulcrum, deciphering the score according to the music theory in the fulcrum was easy as could be.

"Your confidence is unexpected." Lola’s lips curled as if she was disappointed and that a plan had been ruined.

A chill ran down Ye Qingxuan’s spine. He felt that he had just brushed shoulders with something dangerous. He really did not know what other traps Lola had laid out for him. It would not be worth it if he died.

He shook his head and changed the topic, asking, "What did you implant into my mind? How come it can create a nightmare with my memories?"

"It’s just a guide," Lola stated. "In the east, it’s known as the ‘mind demon guide’ and is what Mind musicians are best at. They can put demonic thoughts into one’s mind. As time passes, it buries itself deep and can control the person like a puppet. Are you scared?"

Ye Qingxuan shuddered, but quickly calmed down and glared at her. Seeing his fright, Lola smiled even happier.

"Don’t worry. That’s a technique that Teacher modified by tying it into a secret technique of the Moon Spirits. You can refer to it as ‘intent inheritance.’ Instead of demonic thoughts, it’s the musician’s comprehension of the score that’s implanted. It guides your memories and dreamscape, allowing you to transform into the composer and directly experience the meaning within…Basically, there are a lot of benefits." Done explaining, Lola glanced at him expectantly. "Winterreise is a suite. There are still twenty-three pieces you haven’t learned. Do you want to keep going?"

"I’ll pass." Ye Qingxuan thought of his painful experiences over the past few days. If he was going to have twenty-three more difference experiences, he would probably go insane. He would rather get past this obstacle and then learn steadily…

"Tsk." Seeing that she did not lure Ye Qingxuan in, Lola’s eyes were a bit regretful. "That’s a pity."

"…"

-

It was noon at the Royal Academy of Music. The youth’s white hair shone with a metallic light under the blazing sun. He sat on the steps before the main building in the empty campus and flipped through the thin booklet. Hearing footsteps, he raised his head.

"Bench Guy, you’ve refreshed?" Ye Qingxuan asked.

Bench Guy, with a concrete brick on his head, was stunned. He had not expected Ye Qingxuan to be waiting for him here and panicked slightly. "Uh…"

"I have something I want to talk about."

"Very important?"

"Of course." Ye Qingxuan nodded seriously. "We’ve drawn empty for three days in a row. Tomorrow are the semifinals. I feel like the school won’t let us keep drawing empty anymore, so I need to discuss tactics with you."

Hearing this, Bench Guy let out a breath of relief. For some reason, he felt both touched and wronged. For the past two days, Ye Qingxuan had always been sleeping. He went to find Charles, but Charles was unreliable. He went to find Bai Xi, but Bai Xi did not care. He went to find Old Phil but…what use would finding Old Phil have? It was as if the nation was in a crisis, but the emperor and officials were still playing and did not care, and only the servant was worried.

He was especially skilled at bragging, but faced with a group as weird as the history department, he had no clue what to do. But he never expected that Ye Qingxuan would wake up just as he was giving up and come find him to talk about the game plan! This made him want to cry. Finally, someone was reliable!

Deeply touched, Bench Guy nodded. "I’m happy you’re thinking about this. Do you have any ideas?"

"Yeah, I need your help for something." For some reason, the youth smiled brightly, which gave Bench Guy a bad feeling. "You’ll help me, right?"

-

The game on the field was still intense and the audience still roared.

Amidst the cheers, Ye Qingxuan held a teacup and sipped slowly. He let out a breath. "It’s so lively."

"Yup." Beside him, Charles ate baked seeds and snacks. He also held a big glass of cold beer. "You don’t say. Drinking and watching the game, every day is like paradise!"

"Yeah, as long as we don’t have to play."

"…Ah, Junior, it’s so nice out today. Don’t say these sad things."

"Okay." Ye Qingxuan nodded lightly. "I’ll go draw tonight. You don’t have to worry about these things. Just go onto the field when it’s time."

"Wait! Are you sure you’re going to draw? You’re so unlucky…"

"You want to draw empty again and go directly to the finals?" Ye Qingxuan eyed him. "It’s already past my expectation that we’ve lasted until now. Senior, let’s just quit while we’re ahead. We just need to make sure we don’t lose. If we want to win, we need to win the third round. Are you ready?"

"Everything is under control!" Charles whistled. "This time, I’ll produce something so amazing and incredible and beat every graduation product! At that time, graduation will be a small matter. I might accidentally get famous, become known in Anglo, and enter the peak of my life!"

This let Ye Qingxuan know that it was entirely unreliable. If this were not his own business, he would really want to find some café, slam a fist down on the table and say, "The history department is done for!"

-

The eight-to-four round finally ended. Every player was exhausted and had used up the last of their energy. The history department just sat on the side the entire time, drinking tea and eating snacks as if they were just having fun… Seeing that Charles was cheering in the stands, the taunting multiplied instantly.

Every eye that looked over was bloodshot and shone with the cold message, "I’m going to end you!" They gave Ye Qingxuan goosebumps. It was as if someone had killed their fathers!

"You won’t be proud for too long…" someone muttered to him when they passed by after the game. Ye Qingxuan looked over, but could only see a mass of people and Banner’s cold eyes in the distance. Those emerald eyes had the vertical pupils of a beast.

-

"Is everyone ready?" Sydney asked weakly as he stood on the podium. After being messed with for three continuous days, he really did not want to do anything.

The team leaders facing him exchanged glances with troubled eyes. The semi-finals were tomorrow, but no one knew why there were five teams after the eight-to-four round. But since there were five teams, there would be one that was…the odd one out? At this thought, they exchanged glances with helpless eyes. It would probably be the history department again, right?

"If everyone’s ready, then let’s start drawing…" Sydney dragged out the last word weakly and cursed under his breath. But suddenly, he froze.

Wait, there was something wrong! Why didn’t he feel those familiar scornful eyes? Did that dog not come?

Sydney looked around and instantly smiled. It did not come! He also felt a little bit at a loss, but he still could not help but feel his fighting spirit reignite.

"Did the music history department not come?" He rubbed his hands together in excitement. "Then it counts as them giving up! Half their points will be deducted and they voluntarily…"

"Isn’t deducing half of our points a bit dramatic?" Someone behind him sighed and patted his shoulder. "Teacher, don’t overlook me. I’m standing right here. Can you not see?"

Sydney spun around. When he saw the white-haired youth, his eyes almost fell out of their sockets. "You?"

Glenn was stunned but then he scoffed. "You’re not going to hide in the back anymore? You might be able to get to the finals just by using that dog."

"I thought it through," Ye Qingxuan stated. "I don’t need any secret weapons to deal with you all. I can do it myself."

The podium fell silent. Then everyone burst into laughter as if they heard an incredible joke. No one said anything, but someone patted his shoulder in ‘admiration,’ praising his amazing confidence.

"Then, good luck." Glenn’s facial muscles twitched as he tried not to laugh. "I really anticipate meeting you all on the field."

"Me too, me too!" Someone came over and shook his hand warmly. "And please give us advice so we can improve together."

‘Welcomed’ so enthusiastically by them, Ye Qingxuan smiled sweetly. "Don’t worry," he said. "No matter what the results are, I’m sure everyone will return in disappointment." 

Hearing his words, the coldness in their smiles grew.

Sydney was quiet for a moment. Then he shuddered and looked to the podium. He quickly looked away and his gaze toward Ye Qingxuan became extremely strange, with a tinge of mockery. "I just received a message that the school board had created a new rule. This time, you can’t draw empty."

"That’s okay! Participation is the most important!" Ye Qingxuan laughed mysteriously, as if he was planning something, making everyone worried.

Huh, maybe he was just trying to mislead everyone.

Sydney sneered and raised his hands, announcing, "Let’s begin the draw."

Below the podium, Charles paced back and forth. His expression was troubled and helpless. When he looked up at the podium, he felt a wave of nerves. He had no clue what the results would be.

"Is he actually reliable?" Charles scratched his head and glanced at Bai Xi. "Yezi went up so confidently. What if something happens?"

"How would I know?" Bai Xi was a bit annoyed. "This is the third time you asked since he went up…Didn’t the results come out? Look for yourself…"

She pointed at the list that had just been announced on the podium. Charles looked up in confusion and immediately felt his world go dark.

It was the worst draw, as expected.

No, it was worse than their expectations.

Amidst a wave of boos, the arrangement for the first game of the next day was announced.

The music history department against the School of Royalty!

-

Everyone let out a sigh of relief in the faculty section. Finally, no one had drawn empty and everything was back to normal. Everyone looked much happier. This included the sneering Ingmar.

Faced with a group of elites, and Banner who was already a musician, this guy was definitely dead…

As for Ludwig, he was completely focused on playing with the miniature version of the black leopard cat. It was curled into a ball and gently gnawed on his finger. The human and cat were immersed in the fun and did not even care about had happened. Nothing was more fun than playing with a cat, so he shouldn’t he play with cats?

Only Egor’s face was grave, with his brows knitted. In the wave of cheers, he was the only one with a dark expression and stood out from the crowd.

"What now?" Ludwig glanced at him.

Egor replied emotionlessly, "There’s something I don’t understand."

"No one drew empty this time."

"I know." Egor eyed him. "But I think we neglected something."

"What are you talking about?"

"They drew empty for three days. They might have gotten lucky the first day. If the principal wanted to help them for the third day, then…" Egor murmured, "What happened the second day?"

Ludwig immediately understood his question. After pondering, shock flashed past his eyes. "Are you saying…"

Egor nodded. "Yes."

The two met eyes and their expressions changed in unison. "If that’s the case, then things are much more complicated."