Chapter 181: Wake (1)
This was the calm before the storm. He could already feel the undercurrents stirring beneath the surface, yet it was apparent that every party involved was doing their best to maintain tranquil appearances.
Qin Ye didn’t think that they would still throw themselves into the fray with wanton disregard to their own lives despite knowing that their formation arrays have all been shattered. By his judgment, they would at best toe the line and test the waters, and leave as soon as they realized it was impossible.
Based on intuition.
“This is because you don’t understand these underworld emissaries at all.” The paper crane that Arthis had transformed into silently landed on his shoulder and whispered into his ears, “Someone like you would never be able to understand these things… You would never understand the earnest longing and sense of duty and belonging that an emissary feels after having lived in their underworld for hundreds of years.”
Qin Ye stared at the dark skies, “Why?”
After a long time, Arthis finally responded softly, “If I had to give an answer, then it would have to be ‘dignity’.”
“Perhaps…” The paper crane lowered her head, “It’s foolish, but unfortunately, the same goes for me as well.”
Whoosh… Snow-white paper money was scattered everywhere in the air like confetti for mourning. Qin Ye finally saw it. Three flag bearing vehicles led the convoy, with white flowers tied over its car logo and white ribbons hanging from the car handles.
It was very large, spanning approximately three and a half meters from front to rear. Gu Qing’s portrait was secured to the roof of the vehicle, and its surroundings were decorated with golden and white chrysanthemum flowers. There were also several wreaths sent by various important people hanging off both sides of the vehicle. White streamers bearing the names of their senders fluttered in the wind.
“Should we also tether Gu Qing’s soul to our soul induction platform now?” Qin Ye whispered back, “What will happen if Zhou Xianlong discovers their existence right now?”
Clatter clatter… The chains rattled softly with the morning breeze. Unfortunately, Qin Ye was the only one who could hear the foreboding sounds that set the backdrop for the arrival of the casket amidst a shower of paper money. Qin Ye watched intently as the main vehicle drove straight towards the memorial hall, before taking his leave and returning to his dorm room.
It was quiet as a coffin.
Rumble… The sky was now filled with dark, rolling clouds, and every now and then a lightning bolt would crackle across the sky. The sun was completely blotted out by the ominous, dense clouds that looked no different from the underside of a cauldron.
“... The time now is 3.04 p.m. This is Zhang Xiang, reporting for the City of Salvation’s special television channel right now. We’re currently seeing the entrance of Mr Yedikar, First Secretary of the Senior Magistrate. Mr Yedikar comes from Makomia, Cape Province, Mozambik of Alkebulan, to offer his condolences and tributes on behalf of the Senior Magistrate, Mr Rowell…”
It was the full view of the funerary hall.
The memorial hall wasn’t large, but there was a large courtyard outside of it where an open-air makeshift funerary hall was set up. Next to that, the memorial hall instead bore an almost palatial existence. The first thought that crossed Qin Ye’s mind was when these massive changes were implemented. After all, the courtyard outside the memorial hall had still been empty and bare just some moments ago, when he was still on night watch.
Yet what was even more striking than all of this was the five long chains that all human beings were unable to see. In fact, the five taut chains were now pointing straight out of the entrance to the funerary hall!
Qin Ye drew a deep breath. It was exactly as Arthis had mentioned - the five factions had the gall to show up at the funerary hall at the same time!
And they were clearly waiting.
Qin Ye glanced about, only to realize that Zhou Xianlong wasn’t present anywhere at the funerary hall. Nevertheless, Qin Ye was certain that he had to be around somewhere close by. After all, the academy had been facing a series of problems recently, and it would be a huge disgrace if he still couldn’t produce any results to show for it today.
Outside of the funerary hall, the instructors stood at the front, closest to the entrance to the funerary hall, while the rest of the student body remained at the back. Everyone wore white flowers on their clothes as they silently mourned for Gu Qing’s passing.
11 p.m.!
His breathing grew quicker and quicker, while he repeatedly shifted his hand to the side of his waist, only to capitulate once more. It’s coming… the fuse has been lit, and everything is soon about to explode… Incidentally, he wondered whether he had been brainwashed by Arthis for a moment there.
But why… do I even feel a sense of anticipation right now?
Then, a soft thud echoed from the casket. Perhaps one of the emissaries had in his anxiety inadvertently tugged a little bit too hard on the chain. The entire funerary hall suddenly went silent.
All of the professors immediately turned to look at the coffin. They were all certain that the thud that they had heard came straight from within the coffin!
“Yes!” Yet as soon as the associate professor responded, there was another soft thud.
Clatter clatter… The peculiar sounds of rattling chains intensified, and the gazes of all the professors around instantly turned grim and grave. Tao Ran reached into his clothes with both hands. True energy was already gathering around his wrinkled hands, and a runic symbol quickly appeared in the heart of his palms.
“All instructors are to watch over your own students! Nobody is to take a single step towards the funerary hall!” “Anyone who dares leave his position, whether instructor or student, shall immediately be dismissed or expelled!” “Instructor You, inform the Principal! And fetch the Yin measurement instrument while you’re at it! Now!”
Who dares act so brazenly under the eyes and noses of a Judge and several Hellguards?!
Only he was able to see just how taut the five long chains were right now, as well as how brightly the etched runes on them were glowing!
In that instant, a wave of righteous indignation swelled from his heart and burst straight through his mind - This is my territory; the land of my underworld! How can I stand idly by and watch these emissaries come and go as they please?!
A clay sculpture?!
11.58 p.m.
It was a torrential downpour, and yet not a single one of them had left their stations. All of them were soaked through completely.
Dong…
The sounds of twelve loud chimes reverberated throughout the entire campus grounds.
And it was exactly at this moment that a dozen or so silhouettes suddenly dashed out from the body of students and charged straight towards the funerary hall in full speed. In fact, they were so quick that the instructors didn’t even have time to react to their actions!
“Get lost!!” One of the last few figures to dash out of the student bodies laughed with an eerie voice that didn’t seem to match the appearances of a teenager, and then he suddenly spread his arms wide, “なのか、前らの地府がをかばう力はない!/ If there’s anyone to blame, you can blame it on the fact that your underworld no longer has the strength to protect its own Yin spirits anymore!”
“で人を持って、然として退避する!!”“negatiivinen ero ottaa pois, sir!”“γiν δiaφop φλe, πσw πσw!!”
By Hell’s dictum, all rabble shall disperse!
In an instant, a dozen or so streams of Yin energy shot straight towards the coffin!
At the roof of the funerary hall, Zhou Xianlong suddenly shot to his feet and exploded with fury, “What gall!!!”
1. Africa.
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