There was a fire burning in the fireplace, and the pine knots crackled in the flames.
Don Juan sat on the sofa next to him, warming himself by the fire, silent, while another uninvited visitor stood in the corner of the study, looking at the collection of the Grand Inquisitor.
Wearing an old gray and black robe, he looks like a wanderer. Compared with the scene here, it is completely incongruous. But it has an indescribable momentum.
Even if he didn't say a word, it was as if he was the master here.
The King of Blue.
"Coffee or wine?"
Ye Qingxuan stood in front of the wine cabinet and turned around to ask Don Juan.
"Just water."
Soon, a glass of water was placed in front of him. Ye Qingxuan sat on the sofa opposite him, waiting silently for him to speak.
Don Juan shifted uncomfortably on the sofa. Finally, he glanced at the old man in gray robe and couldn't help but sigh: "I'm sorry..."
"It doesn't matter." Ye Qingxuan shook his head: "If the King of Qing relies on his old age and sells his old age, few people in this world can refuse."
"No, actually... I brought him here."
Don Juan lowered his eyes, sighed, and vomited out his last hesitation. In this way, he skipped the greetings and reminiscing. When he raised his eyes again, his expression became calm.
"Little Ye Zi, I brought him here."
Thus, cutting off all room for avoidance, he said: "I'm here to ask you to kill Ciel."
In the long silence, Ye Qingxuan closed his eyes.
"Mr. Bach, in compliance with our agreement, I brought you here. I'm sorry that I can't do anything about what happens next."
Don Juan stood up, suppressing his deep disgust for himself and not wanting to stay here any longer:
"Well, excuse me."
The footsteps faded away and the door closed.
Bach reached out and placed the palm-sized black iron box on the table in front of Ye Qingxuan, and then sat across from him.
"Anyway, I think I should come and talk to you."
"At least let you see this," he said.
"What is this?" Ye Qingxuan raised his cold eyes: "A souvenir of the Holy City?"
"I guess so."
Bach's tone was calm: "As early as when the Three Kings of the first generation decided to make the Sacred Cauldron, they had already made complete preparations for all possible situations. This was a 'natural disaster' created against the Great Source. The original The weapon compiled by the Three Kings using the last human technology before the Dark Ages is destined to be the last movement in this world. Once it starts playing, it will break the balance within the sacred cauldron and destroy its foundation, from bottom to top. Carry out destruction. In the end, the system of the sacred cauldron established in the etheric world will completely collapse, including all creations formed based on the sacred cauldron. Even the musicians who are not disconnected will be swallowed by the rioting ether... as The power of the collapse of all things will form an unprecedented wave, reaching a height that has never been reached by anyone in the etheric realm, breaking all barriers, rushing into the great source, and cleaning all records again."
"Including Shire," he said.
Once the Sacred Cauldron is lost, the last glow of mankind's Golden Age will be completely extinguished, and the entire world will return to the Dark Ages again.
And in this process, everything related to the sacred cauldron will lose its foundation as the sacred cauldron collapses.
Including the Charr who were born in the Holy Cauldron.
After losing the foundation of the pillar, the gods created by humans will fall together with the temple.
The imprints in the Kingdom of God, Eden, and the Great Source will also be wiped out in the ether storm that lasts for thousands of years.
Kill a god by destroying a world.
The premise is... someone can really seize the opportunity and awaken that thing at the core.
"What a great idea."
Ye Qingxuan couldn't help laughing, and said in admiration: "I didn't expect that there are such wise men today who can come up with such an incredible solution. Ah, it's great, it's great, the world is saved, and mankind is saved! So, And who is going to tie a bell on the cat? Such a great and arduous task must be undertaken by Mr. Bach, right?"
He was laughing so happily, but the ridicule and malice in his words had almost solidified into substance.
With anger and cold murderous intent.
"No, I can't."
Bach replied frankly: "I am no match for him."
He said: "If it is Ciel, I still have the possibility of dying together. But if the opponent is a human god who abandons his identity as a human and ascends the throne of God again, I have no chance of winning."
"So you rely on me?"
Ye Qingxuan sneered: "This is not the attitude of asking for help, is it? Mr. Bach comes to the door empty-handed, is it too insincere?"
"If sincerity could make you change your mind, this place would have been filled with treasures from all countries."
As if he didn't feel any humiliation, Bach's tone remained calm: "But if you want something, you might as well speak up."
Ye Qingxuan smiled: "What if I want the heads of all those who participated in the trial of Charles?"
"It might take a while."
Was Bach's answer, "Five days."
When faced with the survival of the entire world, those in power were mercilessly abandoned by the guardians of the world, without even wasting any time to think.
"Never mind whether I agree or not..."
Ye Qingxuan's laughter turned cold: "Why do you think I can do it?"
"Because you still have the humanity that Ciel can't let go of. Ye Qingxuan, you are the only one who can possibly kill the gods."
"What if I say no?"
"Then it will be up to me to fulfill my duty and challenge the gods. But at best, it can probably only delay the countdown to total destruction for about a week."
When talking about his own death, Bach lowered his head and looked at the gray clothes on his body that were once noble blue. His eyes showed no regrets, but were full of relief:
"Compared to the real gods, today's Ciel is just a baby, too immature, and does not even know how to use that inhuman power. After he devours me, he will have the authority of the Blue King. I will inherit the experience of the Blue Kings over the past thousands of years, and no one can stop me, including you."
"It's so sad, Bach. The majestic young king can only become a poisonous wine to survive - but this 'death' response is really your style. But, is this really good? "
When saying this, Ye Qingxuan raised his eyes, revealing the darkness within them. After the surging gloomy anger, there was no concealment of ridicule and contempt:
"Have you not been unilaterally evading your responsibilities all this time? Going to the dark world to open up land? It sounds nice, but in essence it is just self-exile, and then blocking your ears and pretending not to see anything. You I could have stopped all of this, but I chose to watch the mess from a distance get worse and worse. In the end, I decided to die lightly - so that I could have an explanation? What kind of joke are you talking about!!!"
Ye Qingxuan stood up from his chair, looked down at Bach, and stared at those seemingly calm eyes: "Bach, if you had even the slightest sense of responsibility, things would never be like this! You are not even as good as the Red King. At least he still has the courage to make a decision. But you sit back and watch countless opportunities slip away from your eyes... Where did you get the face to come to me?! Where did you get the high-sounding tone to talk to me?! Now Isn't this situation caused by you?"
"Do you want me to apologize?"
Bach looked at him, his old face still as calm as iron: "You can also kneel down."
"Apologies and kneeling are of no use? Can they redeem your mistakes?" Ye Qingxuan suppressed the nausea surging in his chest: "Bach, if you really have the slightest bit of sincerity, at least stop talking about sacrificing yourself for the world. Such beautiful words! I kind of... want to vomit."
Bach closed his eyes tiredly.
This was the first time a human-like expression of weakness appeared on his face.
In the long silence, he sighed softly.
Bitter and tired.
"Before he died, my teacher once told me that I was not suitable to be the King of Blue. But I didn't understand. It wasn't until after his death that I stood in front of the whole world for the first time and listened to its operation. When I heard that cruel voice that seemed to swallow up the stars, I realized that this was not a burden that talent and ability could bear. As you said, Ye Qingxuan - I am a weak person and do not have the courage to make choices for the whole world. , dare not face everyone's expectations, and can only humbly self-exile and hide in the dark world. I envy the Red King, at least he has the courage to make a choice, and I also envy the Yellow King, at least... him And the courage to escape. Over the past hundreds of years, countless people have changed in the position of the Three Kings, including men and women, old and young, and they even became weak and lost for a time, but only one thing has not changed. That is the inheritance tortured and cursed by others. -Either overwhelmed by the huge responsibility, or defeated by the huge pain."
He said, "There are no exceptions, Ye Qingxuan. No."
When he said this, he slowly stood up and gave up the idea of staying to continue persuading. He propped up the old wooden stick again and prepared to leave.
"Before I go, there is one more thing I want to tell you."
He pointed to the box he left on the table: "That thing, the cult originally planned to use it to deal with your Ethernet. But if you want to modify it, you must have the authority of the Three Kings. King Huang refused. , chose to give you his share of the power to maintain the world. Maybe he didn't tell you, but this was the choice he made. And now, it's your turn to choose."
Bach left his last words:
"If you really want to prove us wrong, if you really want to bring some redemption to something... don't lose this opportunity."
The door closed and the footsteps left.
From beginning to end, Ye Qingxuan remained silent and did not speak again.
…
…
When Ye Qingxuan saw Don Juan again, he was sitting on a chair by the sea, smoking quietly alone.
The followers stood far away, not daring to approach him, as if there was an angry lion hiding in the skin of the thin man.
"Is there any cigarette?"
As he spoke, Ye Qingxuan stretched out his hand, as if he knew which pocket he would put the cigarette in, skillfully took it out, lit it, and sat next to him.
Watch the evening tide in the distance with him.
"Don't have anything to say?"
Ye Qingxuan asked.
"I've prepared a lot, which one do you want to hear?"
Don Juan leaned on his chair and suddenly laughed softly.
"You always have to face choices in life, little Yezi. Once a good opportunity is missed, it will never come back."
"You and I join forces and the world is in our hands."
"As long as the last stumbling block is removed, we will control the new order together..."
As if talking to himself, he talked to himself for a long time, persuading invisible friends, so affectionately.
At the end, it stopped abruptly.
Amid the sound of the waves, there was only hoarse laughter, so playful and mocking himself.
"Before coming, I had imagined countless ways for us to meet, countless words. How should I show you my achievements, how should I surprise you... How should I let you see that I have stood out and become a great person? Big shot."
"It shouldn't be like this. The scene we met shouldn't be like this."
He murmured softly and lowered his head tiredly: "I failed you. I obviously... should be the only one standing by your side."
"Come to think of it, I haven't been to Burgundy yet."
Ye Qingxuan was smoking a cigarette and suddenly asked: "Are you married?"
Don Juan was stunned. He thought for a moment and replied: "Probably, soon."
"How is the bride? Is she beautiful?"
"Well, he is well-behaved and clever." Don Juan said softly, "Not very smart, sometimes he can be a bit silly."
Ye Qingxuan asked, "Do you like it?"
"I guess so."
Don Juan sighed softly: "After all, I don't know if I would still love her if she were not the young lady of the Antoine Watt family."
"What nonsense are you talking about? You think so because you care about her."
Ye Qingxuan looked back at him and laughed softly: "If that's the case, isn't it justifiable for you to do this?"
"You're still so innocent, little Ye Zi."
Don Juan shook his head bitterly: "Can you forgive me because of this?"
"Well, this is enough."
Ye Qingxuan nodded, stood up from the ground, and threw the cigarette towards the receding tide in the distance.
He murmured softly amid the soft sound of the tide.
"Your Majesty Don Juan, I once had a friend who was very similar to you."
"His name is Vito, and he is not a kind person. Even if I tried my best, I could not let him give up those ridiculous ideas in the end."
“But a lot of times, I miss him.”
"He has taken care of me for so many years, indulged my ridiculous wishes, and supported me through the most difficult road in my life. To me, he is an inseparable person, just like Charles."
Ye Qingxuan turned around, looked at the dull man, and smiled:
"This is true both in the past and now."
Don Juan looked at him blankly, as if frozen.
"… is that so?"
"That's right."
Ye Qingxuan nodded.
This is a decisive answer.
In the long silence, Don Juan lowered his head, as if he wanted to hide something.
"If Vito knew that he could be so valued by you, he would be very happy, right? It's... it's getting late." He got up from the ground with some staggering: "Thank you for your hospitality, I should go."
Turning his back to Ye Qingxuan, he said goodbye softly:
"And, thank you."
"If there is a future, please come here as a guest again and bring your wife with you."
Ye Qingxuan smiled: "Goodbye, Your Majesty Don Juan."
Goodbye, Vito.
goodbye.
…
…
Late at night, Stone woke up with a cough. Amidst the monotonous ticking of the life-support equipment, he smelled the smell of ashes.
Someone is sitting at the window.
"Don't smoke in the ward. Your Excellency, the Grand Judge, could you please cherish the life of an old man like me?"
Stone coughed, stood up from his bed, turned on the light, and illuminated the pink bear nightcap on his head.
"So—" he asked, "is there any trouble coming again?"
"Although I don't want to disturb your long time of waiting to die, you have to get up, old ghost."
Ye Qingxuan stretched out his hand and opened the window: "Bring out your loan-making skills. You may be about to have the most glorious moment in your life."
There was a roar outside the window.
The whistle of Nomadic Mountain burst out with a high-pitched sound, the Purification Musicians and Witch Hammers gathered on the beach, and the steel chariots moved out from under the opened earth, kicking up billowing dust.
The ashes brought by the war became thicker and thicker, burning those old eyes red.
Shi Dong sniffed the pungent smell deeply, and his face seemed to be radiant, with a sickly flush on his face:
"So, who is the enemy this time?"
"worldwide."
Ye Qingxuan put out his cigarette, stood up, turned back from the window, and looked at him, his eyes seemed to be filled with cold light from the sky:
"I grant you authority, and you will patrol the kingdoms on my behalf. Whether it is the king, nobles, or surviving cardinals, you will take revenge on those who have persecuted us. Those who are alive on the list I gave you, You will burn two-thirds of the dead, and you will dig graves for the dead and expose their bodies in the wilderness. Then you will lend money to the remaining survivors. Tell them that this is the price of salvation!"
Shi Dong nodded, but did not stand up. He just looked at him: "What about you? Your Excellency."
"Probably going to face the gods..."
Ye Qingxuan played with the small black iron box in his hand and whispered softly: "Then, make my choice."
I kept you waiting, Ciel.
-I am coming.