The Limits of Mortals

"Miss He Wei Ni Ya... may I ask you a question?"

"Hmm? Sure."

Why are you willing to treat me as a friend?

Why wouldn't you want to?

"You are Golden Sound player, but I am just a bronze voice player."

"So what? Being a performer is just a title."

"What else could it be?"

"Idiot, he's a 'person'."

Auger opened his eyes.

Everything was pitch black.

If it weren't for the pain in his forehead, he probably would have thought he was dead.

He touched his forehead and felt gauze on it. The gauze was sticky, probably from seeping blood.

The wound was bandaged very carelessly, as if it were just a sloppy job, or perhaps... it was done on purpose.

This brought back memories of everything, of the Breeding Male who lunged at him with a grief-stricken and desperate expression, and of the stones that kept falling on his head.

Auger fell silent.

He still remembered that Breeding Male, because the breeding room was relatively close to his, and because the man's health was rather poor, Auger had taken special care of him.

He even helped take care of the other party's child when the Grand Ceremony started.

However, the child was lost, and he almost killed Auger.

The reason for killing Auger was simply that Auger accidentally disturbed his listening to the Holy Sound while trying to save his child.

Why is this happening?

Alone in the darkness, Auger felt a deep weariness and powerlessness.

Just like the words the leader has been cursing him about these past few days.

What is the point of what he is doing now?

He tried to save the children, but he was unsuccessful.

He tried to help the dying Breeding Male Breeding Female, but only received their hatred in return.

The managers said he was doing something foolish on his own and wished they could get rid of him immediately.

He stood on the opposite side of everyone.

Why has the world become like this?

He thought that, but soon realized something was wrong.

The world seems to have always been like this, and so does the Seed Zone he's in.

So... it really was his problem.

But why did he become like this?

Auger's hand slowly reached for the pendant on his chest.

Even though it was placed right next to my heart, the pendant was extremely cold, without any warmth at all.

This reminded Auger that he hadn't seen He Wei Ni Ya in a very long time. It was as if the last time he saw He Wei Ni Ya wasn't two months ago, but... in a past life, making all his memories of He Wei Ni Ya seem so unreal.

He even felt like he was about to forget He Wei Ni Ya's voice.

Since arriving here, Auger had never longed to hear He Wei Ni Ya's voice as much as he did now, like a person falling off a cliff desperately waving their hands, trying to grab the only rope.

But is there really still a chance?

Auger gripped the pendant tightly, his eyes filled with gloom.

There's no chance anymore. Miss He Wei Ni Ya is still... huh?

He suddenly thought of something, and his dim eyes began to gleam again.

Grand Ceremony!

Yes! Grand Ceremony!

He hasn't heard Miss He Wei Ni Ya's music yet!

Auger struggled to get out of bed.

He didn't know how long he had been unconscious, or whether he had missed any movements of the music; he could only pray that he hadn't.

However, his body was so weak that he fell to the ground as soon as he got out of bed, almost fainting again.

The room was pitch black, and the floor was uneven. Only the faint light coming in from outside could barely illuminate the path ahead.

Auger rose from the darkness and crept slowly toward the door.

It was as if, once you reached that place, you could hear He Wei Ni Ya's voice.

Everything will be alright as long as I hear He Wei Ni Ya's voice.

Just like the beam of light in front of you.

That beam of light pierced the darkness.

What should have been a short distance felt like an eternity for Auger.

When he finally crawled out of the room, the scene before him was one he would never forget.

He finally saw the light.

It did not originate from the moon, nor from the campfire.

Instead, it was a beam of light that pierced the sky and shone down on the earth from the dim sky.

It was clearly far away, but in Auger's eyes it was so clear and so magnificent, as if it were right in front of him.

Beneath that beam of light were countless people kneeling in worship.

Everyone wanted to bury their heads in the dust to pay their sincerest respect to this pillar of light.

Because everyone knows where this light comes from.

... Lord of Holy Sound.

As the player, Auger naturally understood what this meant.

The Lord turned His "gaze" to the earth, appreciating the Final Chapter that was about to be played for Him.

Faced with this immense power, Auger almost forgot why he had climbed out in the first place, and involuntarily bent down, wanting to bury his head in the dust like the others.

Just then, a gust of wind swept by, causing the pendant on Auger's chest to flutter.

The pendant made a clanging metallic sound, which, though not loud, was exceptionally clear to Auger's ears.

Auger snapped out of his daze and stared blankly at the small pendant struggling in the gale.

"Miss He Wei Ni Ya..."

"The Lord's light is still so dazzling."

The entire Hai Luo Family knelt under the Holy Light, except for Ivan Hai Luo, who had not yet fully knelt. Instead, he looked at the distant Holy Light with a hint of awe and appreciation, and said softly.

"Just like twenty years ago, one glance is enough to make you want to submit."

Man Di, standing nearby, asked in a low voice, "Are you sure it will be our He Wei Ni Ya plays the Final Chapter?"

"Of course," Yi Wen said with a light laugh.

But there was one more thing he didn't say.

After the Final Chapter, the Hai Luo Family will also gain everything.

He smiled and bent down, banging his head on the ground.

Come, my dear daughter, let me enjoy the final Final Chapter.

"Is it finally about to begin?" Ulysses sat in front of the hut, looking at the Holy Light focused on the Seven Sound Holy Temple, and said softly, "It's been twenty years."

Maggie, standing to the side, looked at Ulysses with longing eyes and said, "I believe you will win everything."

"Hehe, I hope so too... After all, I've been preparing for twenty years." Ulysses chuckled and patted Maggie's head before asking, "What about He Wei Ni Ya?"

"She's been in her dorm the whole time," Maggie said. "She hasn't left for two days."

"I see." Ulysses nodded slightly. "I hope... she's ready too."

Having said that, Ulysses, leaning on his jeweled staff, slowly stood up and looked toward the Seven Sound Holy Temple.

"I should get going."

"Let me help you across."

"No need," Ulysses said slowly but firmly, leaning on his cane. "I will go to the Lord myself."

Hearing Ulysses say this, Maggie naturally wouldn't stop him, and bowed slightly. "Then let's set off to awaken the 'Scream' as well."

"Yes, thank you for your hard work."

"I hope to be your student again in my next life."

"Hehe, okay." Ulysses nodded and said with a smile, "In the next life, I will become your musical note."

Maggie did not reply. Ulysses, leaning on his cane, slowly walked towards the Seven Sound Holy Temple, which had been completely illuminated.

"Lord," he said softly, "Your most faithful player...has come."

He Wei Ni Ya sat quietly by the window, looking at the Seven Sound Holy Temple not far away.

When the Holy Light appears, it means that the Grand Ceremony is nearing its end, or... its climax.

The Lord of Holy Sound's "gaze" has already taken shape, and although the final movement has not yet been played, He is clearly impatient.

Just like Ulysses's students.

For the past two days, they have not disturbed He Wei Ni Ya, but instead laid a golden carpet in front of the steps leading to the Seven Sound Holy Temple. The performers who had finished playing knelt on both sides of the steps, as if waiting for someone to arrive.

Of course, this person is He Wei Ni Ya.

He Wei Ni Ya gazed at the Seven Sound Holy Temple bathed in Holy Light.

Even without using the power of [Gaze], she could sense that Ulysses was there waiting for her, waiting for her to take the stage.

Or rather, everyone in the entire Holy Sound community is waiting for her.

When the night ends and dawn breaks, when the first rays of sunlight illuminate the path, the last Inner Melody will come to an end.

That is when the Final Chapter begins.

This should have been the time for He Wei Ni Ya to act.

The Lord of Holy Sound has focused most of his attention on the Seven Sound Holy Temple.

But He Wei Ni Ya didn't move; she just sat quietly, as if waiting for something.

Finally, she heard that voice she hadn't heard for three days, a voice that seemed somewhat unfamiliar.

Bai Wei said calmly, "Were you waiting for me?"

"Yes," He Wei Ni Ya said. "You're finally awake, Mr. Visas."

"I never fell asleep," Bai Wei said. "I've been watching you the whole time."

"I know."

As soon as He Wei Ni Ya finished speaking, she saw her left hand rise uncontrollably, and her upright middle finger was silently watching her.

Just like countless times over these three months.

But both He Wei Ni Ya and Bai Wei could sense the difference.

A slight distance had already formed between the two.

"It seems you have something to say to me," Bai Wei said calmly.

"Yes, Mr. Visas." He Wei Ni Ya nodded slightly. "Before we begin our formal conversation, may I ask you two questions?"

"Can."

"Thank you. Now, He Wei Ni Ya me ask you, if I fail, will you still have a chance to retrieve your body parts?"

Bai Wei had already guessed that He Wei Ni Ya would ask this question, and replied calmly, "Yes, but it might be the next twenty years, or even later."

"The next twenty years...that's a long time," He Wei Ni Ya said softly. "So, my second question is, after you leave here, when will you return?"

"You can just ask more directly," Bai Wei said. "When will I be able to kill the Lord of Holy Sound, right?"

"Yes."

"I don't know," Bai Wei said, "But it won't be a very short time."

"I see. Will I live to see that day?"

Bai Wei was silent for a moment, then said, "No."

He Wei Ni Ya laughed, "As expected, I knew you wouldn't stoop to lying on this matter. In that case..."

She paused.

"Mr. Visas, I think our cooperation should come to an end."

Upon hearing He Wei Ni Ya's words, Bai Wei laughed instead.

"I already guessed you would say that. Don't forget I've been watching you all along," Bai Wei said. "I know you've been planning this all along, and you've been preparing for it all along, using my power to prepare."

"Did you notice everything?"

"Yes," Bai Wei said with a smile. "Three days ago, the reason you chose to eliminate everyone in one night was not only because it was more efficient, as you said, but also because by pushing yourself to the limit, you forced me to pay a higher price for you, thereby achieving your goal of weakening me at the same time, right?"

He Wei Ni Ya didn't speak, but listened quietly.

"Furthermore, your actions against those unnecessary musical notes weren't just to distract the guards of the Primordial Two Great Families, but for something...more important," Bai Wei said. "The same applies to dealing with La Wu Er. Everything you do serves your ultimate purpose."

Bai Wei paused, and after taking a careful look at He Wei Ni Ya, he continued.

"Your ultimate goal is..."

"Kill all the players of the Holy Sound."

"Am I right, He Wei Ni Ya?"

A truly shocking conclusion.

But He Wei Ni Ya showed no surprise whatsoever.

She and Bai Wei were like two people who knew each other inside and out, as if nothing the other said could surprise them.

"It seems you've guessed the method I'm planning to use," He Wei Ni Ya said.

"Hmm, I guessed it." Bai Wei said calmly. "I can only say that it does seem like a method you could come up with, and it's consistent with your usual behavior."

He Wei Ni Ya nodded slightly. "Thank you for your compliment."

"No need for that," Bai Wei chuckled. "Because you have no chance of succeeding."

As soon as she finished speaking, He Wei Ni Ya's movements changed. She lowered her left hand, which had been raised, turned around, looked at herself in the mirror, crossed her arms, and wore a faint smile on her face.

"Miss He Wei Ni Ya, your audacious idea has a major obstacle: me." Bai Wei looked at He Wei Ni Ya in the mirror and said with a smile, "As you said, if this fails, I can indeed wait another twenty years, forty years, or even longer. But why would I do that? I'm only one step away from what I want, and your body... no longer belongs to you. I'm sorry, Miss He Wei Ni Ya, you don't have the right to terminate the cooperation. Or are you going to try to persuade me?"

"You're not someone who's easily persuaded," He Wei Ni Ya said. "I never intended to persuade you from the beginning."

"Then what else can you do?" Bai Wei said. "Everything about you is under my watchful eye, and I can see through your thoughts. Now that your body is in my hands, and you're not even going to try to persuade me, what else do you plan to do?"

He Wei Ni Ya did not answer the question immediately, but instead gazed at Bai Wei's vast, star-like left eye with her own right eye.

"Mr. Visas, during the time I've spent with you, I've come to a profound understanding of one thing," she said softly. "The gap between humans and gods is simply too vast. Even if we dedicate our entire lives and give our all, we may not even make a ripple in the eyes of a god. Just as you said, if the Lord of Holy Sound wants to hear, then we must become the music, the notes, the playthings, unable to resist, unable to change, unable to contend."

"But even so, I still want to try. I want to see just how far a person can go in front of 'God'."

"This is the only chance I'll ever have in my life."

After listening calmly, Bai Wei asked, "So you still want to use this to convince me?"

"Of course not. If I need to persuade you to get out of this situation, then my ideas would be meaningless," He Wei Ni Ya said with a light laugh. "Mr. Visas, my only advantage over you is that you can't read my mind, right? If that's the case, then I still have one chance."

"What?"

"Do you remember the letter I wrote to Auger?" He Wei Ni Ya said.

"Of course," Bai Wei said. "I've been watching you write it."

"Yes, didn't you find it strange that the books I copied in my letters to Auger were all over the place and had no structure?"

Bai Wei frowned slightly, a sense of unease rising in his heart. "You mean..."

"The key is not the content of the letters themselves, but the first word of each of the books we found," He Wei Ni Ya said. "Those words, when put together, form a complete sentence."

"The gist of that message was: If anything happens to me, please leave Holy Sound immediately and send the following message to the Eight Great Churches— "

He Wei Ni Ya paused, then calmly uttered a few words.

"Visas is back."