373 The Last Advice

Amidst the collapsing and burning city, under the rumbling and screaming, the gentle song flowed. It was whimsical like a hallucination. "Please give me the courage to fly." The tender voice resounded amongst the flames. It evaporated like a dream and scattered. Only the echo remained. "Test my heart; don't say you regret it…"

There seemed to be a music box spinning slowly under the voice with a clear melody. The song was gentle and out of place in this cruel world.

"The old house is glowing yet sighing. There is only silence for evermore…"

The song was so clean and clear that it felt fragile as if it would break at a mere touch. Ye Qingxuan raised his head and stared blankly into the distance. He crawled out of the ruins and stumbled toward the song. He could still remember. It was Elsa's voice.

She was still alive!

Ecstasy supported Ye Qingxuan. He tossed down the cumbersome weight and raced through the ruins, searching clumsily. He followed the gentle and weak voice.

Along the way, he saw the shattered bodies of demons and the distorted metal of the Knights Templar after they were torn apart. He also saw broken cocoons. The bloody bodies within had been yanked out. They were speared with bayonets and hung in the burning wind.

Finally, he found the source of the song on the burnt street. The long hemp-colored hair was covered in dust. The white nightshift was charred and dusty as well. She curled in the corner of the street, alone, hugging her knees and watching the chaotic world. Beside her, a broken music box spun with difficulty. Finally, after managing a circle, the gears cracked. The voice cut off too.

Elsa looked down at the broken box. She opened her mouth but did not know what to sing. Without the box, she could not remember the melody clearly. Her memory was evaporating rapidly.

"Elsa?" Seeing her, relief filled Ye Qingxuan. "You're still alive!"

She looked up with confused eyes. "Do you know me?"

Ye Qingxuan nodded. He reached over to pull her from the crack but she did not move. She just looked at him as if he was a stranger.

Rumbles sounded in the distance. Some knights were swallowed by demons and blinding light exploded from their helmets. After the light and explosion, both knight and demon were gone. All that remained was the scorched earth.

In the shaking, Ye Qingxuan asked, "Why aren't you hiding?"

Elsa tilted her head. "Why should I hide?"

Ye Qingxuan blanched. He wanted to ask why she wasn't afraid that this world had become so crazy. But then he realized that maybe she did not remember what the world should be like. Maybe she thought it was always like this, with fire burning, the ground pitch black, the sky burning like a red sea.

The best comfort when living in hell was not knowing that one was in hell. That was why she did not run away. She still thought she was at home. This was how to feel happy…

"Where's your…dad?" In silence, Ye Qingxuan looked around for Caligula but he was gone. There was no trace of him. He may be dead or may have gone into the abyss long ago.

"Daddy?" Elsa shook her head. "I don't know. Maybe he disappeared like Mommy… I remember I was looking for someone but my friend book is gone and I can't find anyone." She looked back. The burning road was littered with corpses. Their eyes were closed, seemingly in peace. There were even ragged blankets on them.

"Everyone's asleep. I know it," she murmured. Lowering her head, she curled up. "I'm a good girl and gave everyone blankets but they don't feel cold and don't talk to me. But I'm scared by myself."

Ye Qingxuan reached out and ruffled her hair. He said gently, "Your dad won't leave you behind. Let's go find him, alright?"

As if this was a joke, someone laughed in the rubble behind him.

"You're the first person I see after opening my eyes. Such fate." After a string of sounds, the broken tiles were pushed away. A bloodied man climbed out. He was covered in burns and he breathed with difficulty. But when he looked up and saw the two, a ghastly smile appeared on his face. "My friend, as expected, you and I are both alive. Or have we met in the afterlife?"

"Who knows?" Ye Qingxuan shrugged and looked at him indifferently.

Naberius snickered and climbed up. Unabashed about his naked body, he looked up at the red sky. "It's become like this…It must be Caligula's tricks. He sold Auschwitz to the abyss and now wants to use us as sacrifice for the Sacred City's forgiveness. I really don't know if he's cutely naïve or stupidly brash…" Cackling, he cocked his head and looked to Ye Qingxuan. "If I were you, I'd be more careful."

"Oh? Please tell me more." Ye Qingxuan looked interested. To be honest, he really wanted to act now and truly end this guy for good. However, Naberius' fearlessness scared him. After all, Mordred had not appeared yet. If possible, he wanted to drag things out longer and wait for the Knights Templar. At that time, Naberius would not be able to escape.

He heard the scraping of metal close in from the distance.

"Mr. Holmes, it seems that I must go." As if sensing Ye Qingxuan's plan, Naberius chuckled. He wiped the blood from his face. His eyes were filled with greed and pity. "It's such a pity that I couldn't drag you in this time."

"There shouldn't be regrets in life. You can keep trying," Ye Qingxuan suggested earnestly. "After all, the worst case would be 'dying with regrets.' Plus, your friends are all fighting heroically now. Isn't it bad to just abandon them?"

"The bond between two is precious but sadly, life is more valuable. The perishing praise still has some tricks to turn the tides but I'm worried that more will happen later. Leaving when things go wrong is the best way to achieve longevity."

Clanging metal sounded from all directions. The Knights Templar with their swords of fire were approaching in formation, their murderous intent thick. Naberius bowed, giving him a very polite farewell.

In the night sky, Mordred descended as a half dragon and grabbed Naberius' shoulder. The man laughed as he flew into the air. A black cloud swallowed them.

The two disappeared.

Finally, a voice rang out in Ye Qingxuan's mind. "Mr. Holmes, do not continue to be so naïve. This is my last advice to you as a friend," Naberius said. "Caligula is ambitious. He sold us to the Knights Templar, but the Knights Templar might be one of his products too…

"Things aren't over yet. They're not as simple as I thought and not as simple as you thought."