by Feng Yue
“Yeah? My accent is good, right?” Ye Qingxuan chuckled proudly.
The emotionless man stood up and left without saying anything. Ye Qingxuan blanched. Wait! Why are you leaving? I’m so friendly and nice! I won’t hit you! Is it wrong to have a good accent? But he did not do anything and just watched the man leave.
It was his only customer.
Ye Qingxuan shook his head and sighed. The Sacred City had strict regulations that musicians could not disturb the civilians during trials and missions. They were also forbidden to use music scores on locals. Once discovered, the musicians’ rights to the trial would be revoked. For serious cases, they could even be forcefully brainwashed by the Silent Authority to become someone useful to society.
“But his beastly characteristics are obvious,” Ye Qingxuan muttered to himself as he watched the passersby.
Compared to other races, male Romulusians had slighter frames and rusted copper skin. Because of their environment, their skin usually was not very healthy. However, thick hair grew on their faces and limbs. Many also had sharp fingernails that were thick and hard like a beast. This was due to their blood tainted by the natural catastrophe. Apparently, these signs were especially prominent in recent newborns. Fear of light and water, aggressive… If this continued, Romulusians would probably really become werewolves after five or six generations.
Thinking of this, Ye Qingxuan sighed involuntarily. What other hope existed in this kind of place? Auschwitz was practically the wilderness. There was no sign of life outside the towering gray walls. They suffered droughts. The land was covered in weeds and non-arable. There were no geographical advantages or possibility to be suitable for life. It was just a place to stay.
If he had to name something that could be developed, it would be the sparse copper mines. But with the discovery of the relics, even the mines were gone. There was no way to better the environment. It was understandable that the people here were just whiling their days away.
A bell shocked him from his thoughts.
The dilapidated church across from the market slowly opened its doors, revealing the shabby yard and building within. Seeing this, Ye Qingxuan rose, knocked the dust off, and walked forward without a care for his stall.
If the locals ignored him and the big guy from Anglo was unreliable, he could only try the Church. They would not ignore a candidate for clergymen like him, right? Furthermore, Ye Qingxuan had been sent here by the Church. Rather than the trial, he had come here to help the sick!
-
Just as he had expected, there were no official mission members in this tiny church. There was only an old pastor who could not really see and two mixed local children who cleaned the place. There were no believers in Romulus. The annual budget was barely enough for the pastor to eat. Maintenance was a huge sum as well.
The pastor stared at Ye Qingxuan’s identification card for a long time with his old eyes.
“Oh, the flu? I reported it years ago but there was no news. I thought they gave up on it.” He patted Ye Qingxuan’s shoulder. “I didn’t think someone would actually come. You scared me. But sadly, you’re late.”
“Late?” Ye Qingxuan blanched. “Did they all die?”
“No, it’s just a common fever. They get better after a few days.” The pastor shrugged. “So, Mr. Ye, you’re late. The flu died out half a year ago.”
Ye Qingxuan gaped. He could not accept this. He had come here passionately to help the sick but everyone was cured before he even got here! It was like the villain of an adventure novel died from the plague when the hero just embarked on his journey. The world was saved and everything was peachy but…Ye Qingxuan did not feel happy.
“Then why didn’t you withdraw your request?” Ye Qingxuan just wanted to cry. “Otherwise I wouldn’t have been fooled by that *sshole Maxwell and came here.”
“Let me finish.” The pastor sighed. “The flu was put out but…it’s still here.”
Ye Qingxuan froze.
It was still here? What did that mean?
-
There was a basic surgery room in the church’s basement.
After a long silence, Ye Qingxuan looked away from the small microscope. Rubbing his eyes, he muttered a curse. He was sure that the flu was man-made. Someone had created a flu targeting the Romulusians with room for maneuvering.
The observation sample was a Romulusian who had recently died from old age. He could clearly see the virus in the blood and organs. It was dormant and essentially harmless but it was still integrated with the body.
Regular people would be able to kill the virus with their immune system and remove them through metabolism. Demons were not affected either; their bodies were completely different from humans and were immune to ptomaine and other diseases. It was a different story for Romulusians who were mixed with human and demon blood.
This disease clearly targeted their lack of immunity, filling the gap between their two sides. This meant that the demonization process of Romulusians could be sped up until the demon blood would completely replace their human side.
“This is horrible.” Ye Qingxuan sighed. “How many people were infected?”
“…Practically everyone.”
330 Have a Friend from Afar
“…Practically all of them.” The old priest shrugged. “A few years ago, the flu spread very widely. Normal humans were all right, but all Romulusians were infected. The infected experienced symptoms like fever, vomiting and skin bleaching, but recovered after a few days. I found that the virus wasn’t extinguished by chance.”
Ye Qingxuan was horrified. “Why didn’t you report such a big event?”
“I did,” the old priest said earnestly. “The nations placed great importance onto this matter.”
“But why didn’t they take action?”
“They did. Didn’t you see it when we entered the city?” The old priest pointed to the direction of the gate and stated, “Many countries paid to build the high walls. It was expensive.”
“…” Ye Qingxuan fell into silence. After a long while, he asked bitterly, “You mean that people here have to fend for themselves? Do they know about this?”
“No one else knows,” the old priest said. “I have only informed their elder. That is—” Before he finished his words, a coarse laughter sounded outside of the door. The raspy voice shouted, “Doctor? Is the doctor here? I’m here to see you! I heard that we have a new doctor from the Sacred City? Let me have a look!”
Hearing this voice, the old priest’s face twisted. “That’s him.”
-
There were no officials among the refugees of Romulus and there was no government in the enclave. They only had a clan system. The noblest of them was undoubtedly the ‘elder’ who was elected by the masses, the wisest, and the most far-sighted.But in reality, this elder who was in his fifties looked…well, he looked very Romulusian. In other words, he looked like a tramp.
This was the first time Ye Qingxuan had seen such a passionate Romulusian.
As soon as he went out, the black and thin old man pounced on him like a monkey. He was stooped, had eccentric paint smeared on his face, and wore a ragged robe with apparently nothing else.
The elder grabbed him and looked up and down. He asked about his day with genuine interest and looked as happy and enthusiastic as if Ye Qingxuan was his son. If he did not smell like strange spices and charcoal, Ye Qingxuan could reluctantly accept such an elder.
“So you’re the new doctor?” The elder grabbed Ye Qingxuan and sighed. “We Romulusians love new friends. Since you were sent by the Church, then you are our friend too. Oh, do you want something good?” Pausing, he took out a little sack from his pocket, picked out a handful of powder. He dropped it into tobacco, and then deftly rolled it into two, one for Ye Qingxuan and one for himself. “Please don’t refuse! This is the custom here.”
Ye Qingxuan held his and looked at the elder who was puffing joyfully. He could faintly smell many familiar scent
s that made him slightly dizzy.
Yes, there was opium, white orange leaves, false shamrock, and white mugwort… the familiar ingredients and the familiar formula.
Ye Qingxuan suddenly wanted to vomit. How could he call this something good? This was obviously a kind of psychedelic incense made by many drugs and stimulants! What was this man doing? Was the custom of Romulus taking drugs? If he were in Anglo, he would be arrested!
Ye Qingxuan was caught between lighting it or not. Both were inappropriate. He could only put away that cigarette, planning to throw it away when he left. But when he was about to leave, he was stopped again!
“Come, come, I heard that you just arrived last night.” The elder took his hand eagerly. “Let me show you around Auschwitz. This is a nice place. You must have not grasped it yet.”
“No, no, no. I have fully grasped it.” Ye Qingxuan was preparing to decline but was forcibly pulled away. The old priest could not help him. Instead, he just wished him good luck, making Ye Qingxuan especially depressed.
On the chaotic streets of the enclave, Ye Qingxuan followed the elder awkwardly, wanting to say something. “Elder…”
“Just call me Caligula.” The elder looked back and smiled at him. “This is the name of my ancestors and also mine.”
“Well, Mr. Caligula, where are you taking me?” Ye Qingxuan was very nervous. He was afraid that the elder would take him into an alley and then eight-hundred Romulusian youths would rush out to tear him into pieces on the spot.
“The answer is quite obvious.” The elder whistled. “I’m taking you to my home.”
“But I still have a stall to pack up.”
“I’ve got someone to help watch it for you. There’s no business early in the morning and you’re an outsider selling swords. Do you know how many people have talked to me saying that they want to teach you a lesson?”
“Uh…” Ye Qingxuan was speechless.
Rather than being upset, the elder praised him. “You have a good accent. Where did you learn it?”
“I am a scholar of ancient studies. My teacher is a master of ancient languages and historical studies.” Ye Qingxuan scratched his head. “I learned a little on my way to here but I didn’t learn it well. The locals don’t seem to like my accent.”
“No, they just don’t like you.” The elder’s bluntness startled Ye Qingxuan. “The people of Romulus have been unable to speak their own language for a long time. Only the accent is left. You can only make them feel ashamed if you use this accent to speak the lingua franca. “The elder patted him on the shoulder. “Don’t do that again. The people of Romulus do not need this kind of fake sincerity or compassion.”
“…Ok.”
As they talked, they made a few turns and found that they had entered the core of Auschwitz without realizing. Several narrow streets leaded to a huge market. All kinds of goods were displayed in the busy fair. Traders hawked fervidly and the people pushed and shoved. It was not desolate as the outside.
“This is the real market. Only outsiders go the place where you were.” The elder patted Ye Qingxuan’s shoulder. “If you really want to sell something, come here, say my name, and the locals won’t bother you.”
“Uh, thank you.” Ye Qingxuan managed a smile but involuntarily looked to the center of the fair. It was empty spot in the middle of the circular plaza.
In the clearing, several long black iron poles rose into the sky. Several withered corpses hung from them. As the breeze blew, the withered corpses swung like leaves, looking extremely hideous and grim. But who would hang such things in the center of their own enclave?
Ye Qingxuan was confused.
“What are you looking at?” It dawned on the elder when he followed Ye Qingxuan’s gaze. “Oh, those are past elders, my colleagues. Unfortunately, they were hanged for making mistakes.”
“Mistakes?” Ye Qingxuan asked curiously, “What did they do?”
The elder raised his eyes. He looked extremely sympathetic as if he was looking at a retard. “If they knew what would be mistakes, they wouldn’t die, right?”
Ye Qingxuan was speechless. He asked, “This… Who did this?”
“I did, of course. Who else is qualified to judge them here?” Caligula said lightly. “Let me think. It was five or six years ago. They’ve been hung for so long. Now, if they’re not hanging here, I’ll feel that something’s wrong.”
“Why? Why hang them? They’re already dead, right? Is it necessary?”
Hearing Ye Qingxuan’s question, the elder was puzzled too.
“This…” He scratched his messy hair and gesticulated. “I don’t know if there are such people outside or not. They’re young and ignorant but they think they know everything. They want to change fate but they also don’t know what the real world is like…What is this kind of person called? Young… young…”
“Angry youths,” Ye Qingxuan supplied.
“Yes, that’s right!”
The elder hammered the palms with satisfaction, lamenting, “The mistakes of youths are unavoidable and there has to be something to warn them. At least, this will make them calm down when they try to make a fool of themselves.” The elder paused and said lightly, “After all, there’s no chance for Romulusians to make more mistakes, is there?”
Ye Qingxuan was speechless. He did not know what reply was appropriate.
They did not talk the rest of the way. When passing a stall, the elder conveniently took a dove for free. Ye Qingxuan had no idea what he was planning to do. Soon they got to the place.
“Come in.” The elder pushed open the door and invited Ye Qingxuan to take a seat. However, instead of chairs, there were only several cushions on the worn carpet. Ye Qingxuan casually picked one.
After putting down the dove, the elder went to the back room, grabbed some spices and sawdust, and sprinkled it onto the stove. Flames rose soon.
Caligula whispered a few words of prayer to the family flame that had lasted from the ancestral age to today. Romulus valued ancestors greatly. Each family of Romulus had their own set of etiquette to worship the family flame and ancestors with strict observance. Caligula was certainly no exception.
Soon, he ended his prayers and returned to the hall. Several servants brought over a few cups of water and placed the prepared dove before the elder. Now the poor dove was plucked and had its feet strapped. It cooed innocently.
Ye Qingxuan looked down at the dove. “This is…”
The elder smiled mysteriously and pulled out a short knife. “You’re a guest from afar. Let me divine for you. I used to be the best wizard in Romulus.” Before Ye Qingxuan could react, the elder brandished the knife and split the dove’s belly. In the psychedelic incense flavor mixed with drugs, the elder held the dove and the knife. He sucked in a mouthful of white smoke. His eyes rolled into the back of his head and he began dancing crazily.
Under the husky strange humming, his body twitched, his eyes rolled, he gasped violently, screamed, shivered, and suddenly sat down on the ground. Clenching his right hand, he flattened the poor dove.
The elder cleverly used the knife to pick out the dove’s thin intestines. He split it carefully and stared at it intently. He murmured something that no one could understand. It sounded like an ancient language.
After a long silence, Caligula put down the knife and bloody dove. Someone offered a basin of water. He calmly washed hands and then sat back to the opposite of Ye Qingxuan, hesitating.
Seeing his serious expression, Ye Qingxuan snapped out of his daze. “How’s the result of the divination?” Seeing the dramatic build up, Ye Qingxuan was actually excited to hear the result!
331 Better to Return Earlier
“How’s the result of the divination?”
“Sir, your fate is very strange,” the elder said with a sigh. “The revelation says that you will meet what you are destined to meet.”
Ye Qingxuan’s features twisted. He would meet what he was destined to meet? Well, no sh*t! What was th
e point of getting his fortune told?!
The elder laughed. “Don’t be angry. This is one of the best results.”
Ye Qingxuan had no words. He did not see how this was a good result!
“When the Romulus Empire still existed, wizards were fortune tellers who stayed beside the emperor to decipher the messages from the heavens. Sometimes there would be messages of catastrophes or good news. However, no fortune is better than this.
“The future will always go toward the future. Your fate is your own choice and uncontrolled by others. If you’re the emperor, you would be overjoyed with this fortune. You can continue forward with your destiny. I can see that your future stretches into the darkness. There are twists and turns but you might see the light.”
After a long silence, Ye Qingxuan nodded. “I hope that is so.”
“Then let’s talk about the important matters.” The elder sat across from Ye Qingxuan and loosened his collar. He said lightly, “If I’ve guessed correctly, you also work for the Underground Palace? Let’s talk about that.”
Ye Qingxuan straightened and prepared himself.
-
Hundreds of years ago, after the Romulus Empire officially dissolved, the remaining city-states survived for decades and centuries. Until fifty years ago.
Just like the original empire, the City of Wolves, the Romulusians’ last home, was destroyed by the natural catastrophe. The mindless phenomenon Tide of Silver had swept past. Everything in its path was flattened. The thousands of miles were still flat has a mirror’s surface. If one looked from above, one would see a smooth silvery expanse like a wound on the earth. The Romulusians had no homeland thereafter.
The wandering Romulusians took up the lowliest jobs—physical labor, porters, thieves, bandits, prostitutes… The beastly nature in them meant they would forever be ostracized from society.
But twenty-six years ago, Gaius from the City of Wolves made great accomplishments in the exploration of the Dark World. He received high status in the Sacred City Parliament as refugee with demon blood. He received recognition by various kings and the Pope’s blessing.
