Meteor Fall Master in the 'Starry Abyss'
Chapter 673 - 286. The star named the Sun

Chapter 673: 286. The star named the Sun

"Pilgrimage?"

Caramel Snail asked blankly,

"You’re saying that rock girl Xia Beiluo went on a pilgrimage to the seaside?"

Ring-a-ling——

The newsboy, laden with a large and small bundle, burst through the streets and alleys, hawking,

"News from September 19th! News of the Wandering Souls Sect for the year 109, September 19th, Half-Spirit Grade, get your copy!"

The passerby standing in front of Caramel Snail fanned himself with a fan bearing the large ’KINO’ lettering, apparently a fan supporting Xia Beiluo.

"Yes. You’re a record fan, haven’t heard her live, have you? At the end of the rock concert in our city, she held her golden hair and announced excitedly to the audience below: next, we are going to the south of this continent, that is—Kalinov Stone Valley, to make a pilgrimage."

"Pilgrimage?"

"Kalinov Stone Valley, one of the eight miracles of Ziluo Star, is a normal place for literary and artistic workers to go on a pilgrimage, although the journey is quite remote, and there are dangers along the way. I really hope she arrives safely."

The passerby saw the many questions from Caramel Snail and became interested as well,

"I have a record master here, would you like to listen?"

"A record?"

Caramel Snail was even more surprised.

"Yes, since the performance from the district of the Primeval Heavenly Sovereign, people have been recording it. She’s truly a nice girl, pretty, eloquent, and an exceptional singer. It’s a pity—rock girl Xia Beiluo is always traveling, hardly ever having the chance to send her earnings home. Not sure if she will safely reach the Holy Land with all the wind and rain on her journey"

The passerby said, casually turning on a nearby player:

"Here, listen to this latest song—’Green Sunlight’."

Caramel Snail was just about to listen to the music, when Li Aozi suddenly said,

"We’re in a hurry to find her, so let’s quickly move on."

"Ah, you won’t listen to the song? Xia Beiluo’s music is terrific, you know?"

"Isn’t it better to hear her sing in person?" Li Aozi breezily changed the subject and took Caramel Snail to leave.

"Ah, what a pity. No chance to share the good stuff."

The passerby shook his head, plugged in headphones, and casually hummed along:

......

Gray snow, leaping in the veins,

The mirror reflects the hidden childhood,

The pencil falls between the sofa cracks,

Like time that disappears and never comes back,

May sunlight accompany you, the traveler moving forward,

Green sunlight, penetrating the blood vessels.

You shouldn’t retreat, the wind will bring back failures,

Don’t retreat anymore, don’t come back again.

Green sunlight will shine upon your future,

From this moment forth, never speak of failure

......

Xia Beiluo was riding her bicycle, pedaling step by step, slowly moving in the direction of the railway.

"Why not use the Soul Casino?"

Igor suddenly appeared on the backseat, questioning,

"Don’t you need money? Using a part of your soul as a gambling chip, you’d still have better luck than now. At least you would receive more performance fees and tips."

"Oh? Cui, you actually realize I’m poor."

Xia Beiluo turned to glance at the male ghost sitting with his back to her on the rear seat and laughed,

"That’s rare."

"I don’t understand, you’d rather feed pigs, rummage through trash bins, collect bottles than gamble once."

Igor wasn’t looking at her:

"How are you going to make it to the Holy Land like that? Talking about changing people’s impression of rock, wanting to be the bridge linking tradition and reform—sounds nice, but what will you use to change them?"

"Because I am, after all, Believer by origin, although I know The Church has become rotten, but at this stage, people still need it—Cui, you don’t oppose this view, do you?"

"Hmm, so?"

"I don’t like gambling, and I don’t agree with the idea that just to oppose the traditionalists, we have to be completely contrary, opposing everything they support—I think that’s not the right way to reform."

Xia Beiluo steadied the handlebars, the cool breeze of late autumn brushing past her ears, the chilliness making her quite comfortable. Her voice also became gentle,

"You’re an extremist, your thoughts are always so extreme, only seeing the dark side of the world, and believing that everything is either black or white is wrong. Most people exist in the plain grays. If we follow Cui’s approach and ideas, we would be left with only one path."

"War."

Igor said,

"War, change requires violence, and the most thorough form of violence is war."

"What kind of talk is that—you think those Aliens engage in war? With their advanced technology, they must lead beautiful and peaceful lives, without any need to obliterate heretical barbarians, right?"

"How should I know? I’ve never been to heaven,"

Igor propped his knee, his sunglasses masking his expression as he lazily shrugged off the conversation:

"But what you said is interesting, if the aliens can fly around everywhere, then they must have resolved war. They probably don’t do things so extremely."

"Right? That’s what I think too."

Xia Beiluo squinted contentedly, facing toward the violet sun:

"My parents were low-level laborers, they toiled their entire lives and died in the crossfire of gang warfare, but if it weren’t for The Church, they might not have even found work, let alone raise me till now."

"There are traitors within The Church, and corrupt flies, but there are also idealists and noble warriors in action, maintaining the order and environment of today. That’s why I need to uphold The Church because people need The Church."

"On the other hand, I met you, Igor Cui. Your rock ’n’ roll woke people’s hearts, making them more than mere numbers in the eyes of The Church, so I need you, the people need you."

Igor looked up, gazing in the direction the train was coming from.

"Seems like I misunderstood you. You aren’t as naive as I thought, but still naive. Revolution has never been without bloodshed. This isn’t a tea party. If you embark on this path, you’re an enemy to The Church and all traditional powers."

"But that’s exactly why I need to do it."

Xia Beiluo struggled to pedal up the incline, pushing forward up the hill:

"If it were so easy that anyone could advance through these challenges so easily, wouldn’t the world have become a better place long ago?"

She went on to say:

"Kalinov Stone Valley, one of the eight wonders of the Ziluo Star, due to unique geological structures and the properties of the rocks, every fifty years, at sunset in autumn, the voice shouted from the valley floor will be heard across the entire world."

"I’m going to the Holy Land to play my guitar there, letting the soul’s song use the structure of the Holy Land to serenade the entire planet."

"I once heard a priest say: There are innumerable races in this world, hundreds of millions of people, three religions, everybody with their own beliefs and creeds, speaking different tongues. Due to linguistic, cultural, and geographical barriers, people are unable to understand each other."

"But the understanding of music requires no language."

"I will do what Cui couldn’t—make rock music popular all over the world."

"Not by fighting for power, but by rebelling with music. I’m not a warrior, nor do I deserve the glory of battle. This is something within my capacity and the only thing I can do."

Creak creak creak—

The second-hand bicycle emitted the sound of metal deformation, and the train sped along the tracks, stirring up a turbulent, noisy wind.

Igor raised his head, looking at the sky, and said:

"Crowds are always afraid of getting hurt, so they always pause and watch, but when someone chooses to stand up, the one swimming against the current is always called a hero."

"Hey hey hey? What was that? Igor, can you repeat that?"

Xia Beiluo turned her head in surprise, laughing loudly:

"The train’s too noisy! Say it again, what did you just say?"

"Glamming up your nose, you just light up when given a bit of sunshine."

"Be sincere, you think I’m remarkable, don’t you! A 17-year-old prodigy dropout girl, with a beaten-up guitar, traveling and saving the world—wow, our stories could make a silent movie, right?"

"Sure—now you give your soul chips to the guitar, then star in movies and nab advertisements, and you’ll achieve financial freedom and a successful life right away. Then you won’t need to save the world; let someone else save this rotten planet."

"Heh, I don’t gamble."

Xia Beiluo puffed out her chest:

"As a Believer, I will follow the principles and maintain my virtue."

"As a singer, I shall revel to the fullest."

"As a Mortal, I want to show everyone just how far one can get by their own efforts."

Xia Beiluo rode off on her pilgrimage, unnoticed by the world.

The sun cast down its warm glow, heating the stones until they were scorching hot.

The sun is fair, bestowing its light equally upon everyone, but the shade, under the guise of protection, blocks out a part, casting shadows.

There is nothing wrong with the shade because too much exposure can scorch lichen to the ground.

It is precisely because the light and shadow alternate that the world is full of vitality.

One must admit, this is also an ironic kind of peace.

Creak—

The second-hand bike came to a stop.

Xia Beiluo raised her head, squinting in the sunlight and looking at the figure standing in front of her: He wore a thick white coat, a heavy black cape, and the Spiritual Power around him swirled like a storm.

"Xia Beiluo, 17, female. Former high school student of the Annalina Church in Sulo City."

"Black hair in a boyish cut, androgynous features, about one point six meters tall, carrying a guitar too luxurious for her status, riding a second-hand bicycle, wearing faded white jeans and a brown men’s jacket, a laborer’s vest."

"Heretic Xia Beiluo, you have been spreading taboo music everywhere, violating the doctrine of the Master of Souls."

The man lifted his head, his golden mask displaying only a weeping visage. He slowly raised his hand and the surrounding Wandering Souls were driven by Spiritual Power, forming a scythe:

"Year 049 of the Wandering Souls Sect, September 19th."

"Special-grade Hunter of the Wandering Souls Church—Farlman Lupin."

"By the order of our lord, I hereby pass judgment on the heretic!"

The golden mask reflected the sunlight, the scythe swallowed the glow, and a cold breath flashed past, its sharp edge sweeping across the land.

Woo woo——————

In the distance, the train sounded its whistle, continuing on its journey.