Eternal Note

"Nineteen..."

Yi Wen stared at He Wei Ni Ya and began the countdown.

He Wei Ni Ya sat quietly in place, seemingly unaffected by Yi Wen's threat.

Yi Wen initially thought He Wei Ni Ya was just putting on a show of composure, so when he counted down to five, he raised his five fingers and pressed them down one by one.

"May 4th..."

He judged that this would put even more pressure on He Wei Ni Ya.

However, this still didn't make He Wei Ni Ya pick up the biscuit in front of her, and her expression didn't change much either.

"Three, two..."

In the end, he only had one finger left that was raised.

"One..."

The finger slowly bent, and his body moved forward, preparing to get up and inform Finnis outside.

But He Wei Ni Ya still didn't move.

She just stared at Yi Wen's finger, stopping just before he collapsed completely, and then sat back down in the chair.

"Impressive composure," Yi Wen said calmly. "I underestimated you. No wonder you were able to do this. It seems that my daughter's death at your hands was not accidental."

Seeing Yi Wen's reaction, He Wei Ni Ya silently released the staff from her sleeve.

She asked calmly, "Did news about that woman lead you to this conclusion?"

The woman He Wei Ni Ya was referring to was naturally her aunt, who had inadvertently wandered into the Hai Luo Family's manor during the Seven Sound Festival.

"It seems you've realized it too," Yi Wen said. "That was probably the only flaw you showed. To be precise, it wasn't a flaw you showed, but rather your relative. Although you tried to salvage the situation afterward, such as by killing her outright, it wasn't quite perfect. After all, you can't kill everyone in the manor, can you? Hmm... thinking about it carefully, it's not impossible. After all, you silenced the entire Te Lei Er Family, didn't you?"

Upon hearing this, He Wei Ni Ya involuntarily raised an eyebrow.

She hadn't expected Yi Wen to know so much.

But thinking about it, it makes sense. He Wei Ni Ya never felt she had covered her tracks perfectly. From the moment her aunt appeared at the manor, things were already in serious trouble. Her attempts to fix things only created bigger flaws.

This flaw reached its peak when the Te Lei Er Family's butler Xie Er Fu, was killed, since she was the last person Xie Er Fu saw when he died mysteriously.

Therefore, He Wei Ni Ya suspected that Yi Wen did not know about the manor's affairs immediately, but rather that he gradually pieced together the events by working backward from Xie Er Fu's death, and only then did he learn everything.

Of course, there's no need to ask any more questions.

Compared to the process, the result is clearly more important right now.

"Now that you know everything," He Wei Ni Ya said slowly, "Don't you want to avenge your daughter? Or is it..."

She picked up a plain-looking cookie.

"Is this how you take revenge?"

Yi Wen laughed too, "Is that why you didn't want to eat the cookie? You think it's poisoned?"

"Whatever it is," He Wei Ni Ya shrugged. "If I'll die if I eat it, or if you control me and turn me into a puppet, then why should I do as you wish? Do you think that if you inform Finnis outside, I'll suffer an even worse fate?"

"Heh...indeed." Yi Wen nodded. "It seems I should have explained it to you more clearly."

"So this isn't poison?" He Wei Ni Ya looked at the biscuit in her hand. "It seems you really have no intention of avenging your daughter."

Yi Wen said calmly, "If you're trying to provoke me, there's no need for that. If I were truly the kind of person who acted irrationally, neither of us would have an easy time. I didn't tell the Primordial Family or the Lawrence Family about this, which obviously indicates that I had other considerations. Of course, if you really don't want to cooperate, then I don't mind taking my minimum payment."

"... Minimum pay?"

"Yes." Yi Wen nodded slightly. "I'm not only a musician, but also a businessman. So I prefer to think about things from a businessman's perspective. My daughter was the biggest investment I've ever made in my life, but she's gone. Since she's gone, I can only try to make up for this loss, and there are many ways to do that. But handing you over to the Primordial Family and the Finnis family is obviously the least profitable way. What they can give me is very limited, which is why I call this the minimum return."

He Wei Ni Ya understood what Yi Wen meant. "It seems you want to find new investment in me."

"That's true." Yi Wen did not deny it.

"So what do you want?"

"What I want is very simple," Yi Wen said. "Whatever your ultimate goal is, I want half of it."

He Wei Ni Ya raised an eyebrow.

"Finally, I see a look of surprise on your face," Yi Wen said casually. "It's quite an accomplishment."

He Wei Ni Ya ignored Yi Wen's joke and said, "You have no idea what I want."

"What else could a wish be made to the Lord?" Yi Wen said. "Besides, if you really succeed in getting the Lord's wish, you are the one who made the wish in the end. In other words, no matter what your wish is now, you can change it at will at that time. Since that's the case, I don't need to know what you want. I just need to know that whatever you want, I will take half of it."

"If you want rights, then I want half of them."

"If you want wealth, I want half of it."

"If you want power, if you want to become the most powerful person in the Holy Sound History, then I want you to work for me."

He Wei Ni Ya said, "What if I don't want any of these?"

"That doesn't matter." Yi Wen leaned forward little by little. "If you really are so unconventional, collecting everything but only asking the Lord for one apple, then I want half of that apple too, even the core must be cut in half fairly and carefully... Do you understand what I mean?"

Before He Wei Ni Ya could speak, Yi Wen stepped back and then said leisurely.

"Of course, if in the end you get scared and don't want to continue collecting the Seven Sounds anymore, and want to continue living as He Wei Ni Ya, that's fine too. Anyway, the Lawrence Family has already offered me a very good reward for you, and I would welcome you to become my real daughter, or..." He paused, "Wife."

Yi Wen's words plunged He Wei Ni Ya into a brief silence.

To be honest, she was a little surprised.

I was surprised that Yi Wen had considered everything so thoroughly.

According to him, no matter what He Wei Ni Ya chooses, he will gain something.

If one wants to compete for the Lord's desire, then one will share in the Lord's desire; if one does not want to compete, then one will take the minimum reward that belongs to the Golden Sound.

Moreover, even though it's called minimum compensation, the Lawrence Family has paid a considerable amount, considering they've already lost TuPake and Olenna. They'll inevitably have to pay even more when facing He Wei Ni Ya.

But if He Wei Ni Ya wasn't He Wei Ni Ya, then Yi Wen would get would truly be the "minimum reward" bestowed upon him by the powerful family.

"Your idea is indeed very good." He Wei Ni Ya nodded slightly. "There's only one problem: even if I agree, how can you ensure that I will keep my promise?"

She lowered her head and looked at the bag of cookies in front of her again.

"Is that all you're going to rely on?"

"Hmm...let's give up on that bag of cookies," Yi Wen said with a smile. "That was indeed the method I initially wanted to use to control you, but now that you've figured it out, it's time to come up with a new approach."

Yi Wen took a golden apple out of his pocket and placed it on the table.

He Wei Ni Ya looked at the golden apple with some surprise.

With Bai Wei's help, she could see a faint golden light shimmering on the apple.

The power contained in that golden light seemed to belong to another world.

This is not a product of Holy Sound.

He Wei Ni Ya made her judgment.

"What is this?" He Wei Ni Ya asked.

"The Seed of Covenant." Yi Wen took out his dagger and cut the apple in half. He then showed the split side to He Wei Ni Ya realized that the key part of the apple was the core, which was also split in two. The golden light emanating from the core was so intense it was almost blinding. "Just as its name suggests, the contract made by the two people who eat this core is unbreakable."

"What will happen if we disobey?"

"It's very simple," Yi Wen said calmly. "It will grow rapidly through the infidelity and lies of the Oathbearers, take root and sprout within them, and then... break through the soil, grow into new trees, and bear new fruit."

"... Unstoppable?"

"There is only one being in the entire Holy Sound who can stop it."

"... Lord of Holy Sound?"

"Yes," Yi Wen said with a smile, "If in the end you end it with the Lord's wish, then our contract will naturally end, but then..."

Then the Lord's wish becomes meaningless.

He Wei Ni Ya automatically finished the second half of the sentence for Yi Wen.

She looked at the fruit pit again and asked, "Where did this come from?"

"An ancient organization that believes in loyalty and oaths," Yi Wen said. "Legend has it that they possess power no less than that of the Eight Great Churches, but they have always maintained a semi-secluded state, with very little exposure to the world. Their main business in the world is to act as witnesses and enforcers of oaths, and their main clients are merchants who travel all over the world, since integrity is the most important thing for merchants."

Yi Wen didn't explain further to He Wei Ni Ya, after all, it wasn't time for class.

So he first put half of the pit into his mouth, and then looked at He Wei Ni Ya.

"How about it?" he asked with a smile, "Would you like to make this vow?"

He Wei Ni Ya was silent for a moment, then extended her hand.

"Very good."

Yi Wen watched as He Wei Ni Ya swallowed the fruit pit and couldn't help but chuckle.

"My... good daughter."

"I thought you two would chat a little longer," Finnis said, looking at Yi Wen and He Wei Ni Ya as they came out of the house. "Is this the end?"

"It was just some nagging from her mother," Yi Wen said calmly. "It can't interfere with important matters, Mr. Finnis. I'm entrusting He Wei Ni Ya to you."

"Of course," Finnis said with a smile. "Please rest assured that no matter the outcome of this Grand Ceremony, the Lawrence Family will definitely fulfill its promises."

"I'm not worried about that at all." Yi Wen nodded slightly. "Then I should be leaving."

Then he waved his hand, and a servant from the Hai Luo Family came running over carrying a birdcage and handed it to He Wei Ni Ya.

The birdcage contained a pure white owl.

"If anything comes up, use this owl to contact me," Yi Wen said. "Even if nothing comes up, remember to write home often; your mother misses you very much."

"Yes, Father."

He Wei Ni Ya answered very respectfully, while the owl in the cage tilted its head and looked at her.

After that, Yi Wen left. He didn't qualify for the First Academy, so he could only stay here.

Looking at the owl in He Wei Ni Ya's hand, Finnis smiled and said, "If Mr. Yi Wen hadn't prepared one for you in advance, we would have prepared one for you too. Communication between the First Academy and the outside world is not convenient, so most of the time we rely on owls to communicate."

"It's a really interesting way to do things," He Wei Ni Ya said with a smile. "And it's cute too."

Finnis smiled again and then extended his hand, "Alright, Miss He Wei Ni Ya, we've been delayed long enough. It's time for us to be admitted to the hospital."

He Wei Ni Ya nodded slightly.

She still made a deal with Yi Wen.

Of course, before eating the fruit pit, He Wei Ni Ya had asked Bai Wei in her mind, and Bai Wei only gave a brief answer.

"Can".

Only then was He Wei Ni Ya able to do as she was told.

On the surface, the cooperation with Yi Wen seemed like being manipulated and threatened, but in reality, the benefits outweighed the drawbacks.

Because if she agrees to cooperate, the entire Hai Luo Family will become He Wei Ni Ya's supporter, providing He Wei Ni Ya with all sorts of assistance.

The strong support of a mid-level nobleman is a force that cannot be ignored.

Keep in mind that even the real He Wei Ni Ya couldn't do that.

The current He Wei Ni Ya is more convincing as the young master of the He Wei Ni Ya Hai Luo Family than the real He Wei Ni Ya is.

Of course, for Yi Wen, this was definitely a worthwhile deal.

Because the contract also included a clause that He Wei Ni Ya was not allowed to reveal the Hai Luo Family's knowledge to outsiders, even if she failed. She had to ensure that the Hai Luo Family appeared to be unsuspecting victims in the eyes of outsiders, so as not to implicate the Hai Luo Family if something happened to He Wei Ni Ya.

They can't even leave behind written evidence.

Yi Wen's request to He Wei Ni Ya was that when communicating with them using this owl, they should not write anything down on paper.

She could only write down what she needed, and then the Hai Luo Family would do something for her.

After all, this is the future head of the family's request, and even if someone discovers it, no one will think it's wrong.

Of course, even if they manage to do this, the Hai Luo Family will face significant risks, but compared to the potential gains, they are truly insignificant.

Half of the Lord of Holy Sound's wish.

That means everything.

The premise is...

He Wei Ni Ya looked at the owl in the cage, but still didn't continue the thought.

At this moment, the inner door slowly opened.

An ancient and majestic castle slowly appeared before them.

Accompanied by a melodious and profound tune slowly drifting from the depths of the ancient castle, they finally officially entered the First Academy under the divine authority.

The First Academy is different from the Second and Three Academies.

This place is less like an academy and more like a church, a church called Holy Sound.

Despite being mentally prepared, He Wei Ni Ya was still shocked when she actually entered the front hall of the One Academy and saw the scene inside.

Because she saw rows of human-shaped sculptures.

These humanoid sculptures vary in gender, physique, and facial features, but they all share the same feature of being painted with golden musical notes.

"This is... the Eternal Note?" He Wei Ni Ya made no attempt to hide her astonishment. "It's truly magnificent."

"Oh? Miss He Wei Ni Ya actually knows about the Eternal Note?"

"Mr. Finnis, aren't you underestimating me?" He Wei Ni Ya pouted. "Although I've never been to the One Academy, it would be quite ignorant of me to not even know about the Eternal Note."

Finnis smiled. "I apologize for being presumptuous. It's still early. If you're curious, would you like to get closer and take a look?"

"Uh." He Wei Ni Ya immediately cowered and shrank back. "Forget about that. I'm afraid they might suddenly come back to life."

"Is that what you're worried about?" Finnis smiled and shook his head. "Don't worry, they're long gone and have become eternal."

Yes, the Eternal Note is not a real sculpture.

Rather, it refers to people from the past.

He Wei Ni Ya also remembered the description of the Eternal Note in "The Holy Sound History": "The player who once possessed the noblest and most magnificent notes was unwilling to let his value return to dust before his death, and chose to dedicate everything so that the notes could be eternal."

Generally speaking, musical notes will completely fade within one to two weeks of the performer's death. However, Eternal Note are those that, after the performer has offered up their body and soul, delay the fading process for a hundred years. During this process, they are connected by Magic Power, allowing them to continue to sound and play melodies before they completely fade.

"It is because of their existence that the melody of the Holy Mountain remains as enduring as the snow all year round," Finnis said to He Wei Ni Ya with a smile. "So you shouldn't be afraid of them, Miss He Wei Ni Ya. This is the lifelong pursuit of every Golden Sound Player."

He Wei Ni Ya nodded slightly.

She knew Finnis was right.

Only the Golden Sound can become the player of Eternal Note.

The melody she is hearing now may very well have been played by a musician who passed away a century ago.

"They gave everything, offering eternal praise to the Great Lord."

This is also the most direct description of these Eternal Note in "The Holy Sound History".