At the far end of the corridor, the two affectionate young nobles were almost out of sight, but Mulan stopped. He relaxed as much as he could and emptied his mind, bringing his mind and his perceptions into close alignment, something like a meditative state.
Sure enough, that dim sensation returned. A dark mist like fine grains faintly appeared in the corridor. Mulan glanced back and found the same sensation behind him. When he looked out the window beside him, everything a little farther away was a gray blur. Only the spot where he stood retained a faint patch of light amid the gloom.
Too conspicuous!
Alarm rose in Mulan's heart. After a moment's thought, he slipped his hand inside his coat, lightly touched the Ring of Light, and pictured a command in his mind.
Sure enough, his guess had been right. The light around him immediately weakened until it vanished, and he blended completely into the gloom.
Mulan did not know what had caused this situation. All he knew was that he might be in trouble. He hesitated briefly between leaving the Count's Estate immediately and continuing forward, then gritted his teeth and chose the latter. It was a calculation of risks and benefits, but his character also played a part.
The influence of his original body, together with his soul's personality, tipped Mulan toward one choice now that he held the Ring of Light. Compared with those terrifyingly real nightmares that were so difficult to control, he preferred the feel of reality.
The descendants of the Jonester Family might no longer be knights, but convictions etched into their bones, combined with a kind soul, could still give rise to courage.
Mulan walked toward the hall at a normal pace. Although the corridor felt strangely deep, its actual length had not changed, and he soon reached the hall.
The music continued, and people were still dancing. His expression unchanged, Mulan carried his plate to the dining table, set it down naturally, then moved toward the edge of the room, observing every part of the hall and everyone in it.
During this time, Mulan had also asked Evan many questions about the supernatural world. After confirming that Mulan possessed strong mental restraint, Evan had satisfied his curiosity as much as his own knowledge allowed, while keeping Mulan, who was still an ordinary person for now, within safe limits. Though Mulan could not learn too much in depth, he was at least no longer entirely ignorant.
The otherworld was extremely dangerous, but under normal circumstances, it was separate from reality. Because of the nature of its composition, the links that allowed the two to overlap lay not only in the world's supernatural elements, but also in the mind.
When you gaze into the abyss, the abyss also gazes into you!
That was roughly how ordinary people related to the otherworld. The more they knew about it without being able to restrain their minds, the closer their minds drew to it through their imaginings and fears. They would first attract the attention of certain things, until a particular boundary grew increasingly blurred. At that point, both the person involved and even those around them would face mounting danger.
Unlike supernatural beings and mysterious phenomena that appeared directly in reality, many things in the otherworld had no form in this layer of reality, or at least none yet: horrifying monsters, vengeful spirits of the dead, uncanny powers...
They were always yearning, always seething with resentment...
Mulan knew that what he sensed was actually the otherworld drawing close to reality. This feeling was easy to distinguish from powers wielded by people like Walton. Since Mulan was certain he had not attracted the otherworld himself, someone or something within the estate must have caused this change.
Moreover, even though he did not know what normal circumstances should look like, he could tell that the affected area was far from small.
If he simply left, everyone here would be in danger. If he warned the others, he had no way to determine where the "source" was. And once he spoke, this would hardly be an ordinary conversation under the circumstances. Revealing something might amount to actively contacting the otherworld, turning him into an anchor and a target.
"Hhh, hoo, hhh, hoo..."
Deep breaths, deep breaths. Mulan kept oxygen flowing to his brain and did everything he could to remain calm. He should still have a chance to resolve this crisis.
He had sensed nothing when he first arrived at the Count's Estate, and there had been no unusual sensation when he left earlier either. That meant the change had most likely occurred during his brief absence. Someone had probably arrived, though it was also possible that someone had brought something with them.
As long as he found "that person," knocking him unconscious could temporarily resolve the problem. Or killing him might offer a chance of ending it completely!
If there truly was nothing he could do, he would have to flee alone.
"Clink, clink, clink..."
Behind the railing on the second floor, the old count gently tapped his glass with a spoon, drawing everyone's attention once more. The music stopped as well.
"My guests, it is time for tonight's stars to make their entrance. The two most precious jewels in my life, Hathaway and Lily!"
The old count extended a hand to one side. Two girls with lovely figures slowly emerged from the central corridor on the second floor. One wore pink and the other red; one had her slightly curled hair pinned up, while the other wore hers flowing loose. Yet their faces were almost identical.
The two girls approached gracefully together and came to the second-floor railing.
"Happy birthday, my darlings!"
The count applauded lightly, and all the nobles below joined in with applause and cheers.
"Happy birthday, Lily and Hathaway!"
"Happy birthday to both young ladies!" "Have you chosen your dance partners yet?"
"I would be honored!"
Amid the compliments and applause, the count took one girl by each hand and slowly led them down the spiral staircase. The hall was filled with enthusiasm.
Mulan clapped along with everyone else, but he was clearly distracted. His gaze kept roaming around the room. Then he spotted someone who might be his target!
While everyone else had stopped what they were doing to congratulate the count's daughters, the man who was almost the only person still occupied stood out as highly suspicious. Mulan had seen him before, and at that moment, he was eating at the dining table.
Plenty of nobles had noticed the man, of course. Although they were somewhat displeased, none pointed him out or openly criticized him.
"Let the ball continue! Now, who will have the honor of becoming my daughters' dance partners? Young gentlemen, do not let this opportunity pass you by. Summon your courage and show your worth! Hahahahaha!"
The old count released his daughters' hands and laughed heartily. He hoped both girls would enjoy an unforgettable evening.
The music and dancing resumed. The young nobles in the hall who had no partners, or had just abandoned theirs, were all eager to try their luck. Even many of the older men felt the same way. Soon, some stepped forward to ask, but both of the count's daughters merely declined with smiles.
The two girls stood close together, each holding a small fan, and chatted quietly while maintaining their poise.
"Lily, haven't you been looking forward to this? Why won't you accept an invitation?"
"I haven't decided yet. Why won't you accept one?" "I don't really feel like dancing."
Lily was excited, but none of the men who approached appealed to her. Hathaway's smile, on the other hand, was merely polite. It was not that she disliked dancing; she disliked feeling like a caged songbird.
Mulan had no interest whatsoever in asking the count's daughters to dance. Repeatedly steadying his breathing, he slowly approached a table laden with food and drew close to the nobleman who was eating.
"Sir, when the count brought those two lovely young ladies downstairs just now, you did not seem to applaud at all. That hardly seems like gentlemanly behavior."
The man's mouth twitched. He quickly chewed the food in his mouth and looked up at Mulan.
"Oh, I suppose you're right. I'm hungry. Don't interrupt my meal."
Several nearby nobles who were watching gave the man disdainful looks. Mulan shook his head as well, gave a quiet laugh, and turned away.
"What are you laughing at?"
Something stirred in Mulan's mind. Just as he had suspected, the man was mentally unstable and extremely sensitive. His laugh had carried strong contempt, but an ordinary person might not have perceived it clearly. This man, however, had felt the sting.
"Nothing. Since you're hungry, please continue eating. The count's food is certainly delicious, after all."
As he spoke, Mulan pointed to the corner of his mouth, then tapped his collar, indicating the grease and food crumbs on those spots. The nearby nobles laughed, while anger appeared on the man's face.
"What family are you from, boy? Did no one at home teach you noble etiquette?"
"Compared with yours, sir, I would say my upbringing was quite adequate."
Mulan delivered his reply with a smile, then introduced himself.
"I am Mulan. Mulan Jonester."
"Hahahaha, you? That fellow the newspapers were boasting about? Have you really begun to think of yourself as some hero of Valentine? The Jonester Household is a baronet's family that hardly even counts as nobility. Oh, and your elder brother inherited the title."
"Hmph."
Mulan snorted coldly and prepared to turn away, but inwardly, his emotions were already resonating with a state he had imagined. He knew the other man would not let it end there.
"I heard you were discharged because you faced a military tribunal. The empire lost the war because of useless soldiers like you. Especially cowards like you, so afraid of dying. You are a disgrace to the empire!"
The man mocked Mulan, his voice growing considerably louder as his emotions rose. Bits of food and crumbs sprayed from his mouth.
A considerable number of people nearby were drawn over by his voice. Many frowned. Even those who agreed that a baronet was hardly worthy of respect felt that the man had gone too far.
"Sir Bess, you've gone too far." "Indeed..."
Someone nearby spoke up. Mulan, who had already taken a step or two away, stopped, then slowly turned around. A grim, lethal air settled over his face as he walked toward the man who had just insulted him.
There was something oppressive about his presence. Even the somewhat deranged man instinctively took a step back.
Mulan approached the man and spoke in a calm, ringing voice. Yet it carried absolute anger and unyielding resolve, rising above the music and the voices around them.
"Even though today is the birthday of the count's daughters, you have insulted my family and trampled upon the honor of my service to the empire, Sir Bess!"
The hall had already fallen silent. Mulan loudly spoke the name he had heard from those around him, then removed his glove and threw it to the floor at the man's feet.
"Pick up the glove, if you still consider yourself a noble of the empire!"
The confrontation had eclipsed the birthday ball. Everyone's attention turned toward them.
A duel in the ancient tradition!