Chapter 58: Accident

January 16th, the finals of the Beijiang City Intercollegiate Piano Competition.

At the backstage, Chen Yuwei said to Lin Lu, “Get ready, you’re up first today.”

Lin Lu took a deep breath, glanced at Qin Shiyu who was also waiting backstage, and nodded silently.

“Okay.”

She turned and walked towards the stage. 

Her high heels clicked crisply on the floor.

Su Tang was in the middle of the third row, holding up her phone for a live stream. 

Chen Xingye and Lin Shuiyue sat beside her, holding cameras, ready to take some commemorative photos of Lin Lu.

Xiao Qing and the other members of the Piano Club sat in the fourth and fifth rows, all wearing new white T-shirts and holding up supportive banners.

Lin Lu withdrew her gaze, took another deep breath, and stepped onto the stage.

The host announced, “The first contestant is Lin Lu from Beijiang University. Her piece is an original composition titled ‘Reminiscence.'”

Applause rose from the audience.

After bowing, Lin Lu sat down and gently pressed the first key. 

The sound of the piano began.

The highlight of this original piece wasn’t its technical difficulty or flashy skill, but the emotion the performer poured into it. 

After witnessing Qin Shiyu’s level of playing yesterday, Lin Lu knew that if she tried to compete purely on technical skill, she would definitely lose. 

After all, she truly couldn’t match Qin Shiyu, who had been practicing since childhood. 

So, Lin Lu decided to confront Qin Shiyu with a different approach and style.

Her fingers glided over the keys, like wind through tree branches, like snow falling on a windowsill, full of feeling. 

The judges nodded one after another.

When the final note faded, the hall fell silent for a second before applause surged like a tidal wave.

Lin Lu stood up, bowed, and walked off the stage.

“You played well,” Qin Shiyu said coolly to Lin Lu backstage after she returned.

“I didn’t expect you to suddenly change your performance style for the finals. I have to admit, you played quite well, but… the winner will definitely be me.”

“The final contestant is Qin Shiyu from Xinghai Music College. Her piece is the second movement of Chopin’s ‘Piano Concerto No. 1.'”

Although all the finalists were elites, with the participation of two monsters like Lin Lu and Qin Shiyu, the others seemed rather like filler. 

Everyone present was well aware that the top two spots this year would undoubtedly go to these two.

The applause was even more enthusiastic than before.

Qin Shiyu stood up and walked out from behind the curtain. 

She wore a black evening gown with a floor-length skirt, a dark red silk ribbon tied around her waist. 

She lifted her head confidently, revealing her slender neck, a pair of small ruby studs adorning her earlobes.

She walked to the piano, bowed, and sat down. 

The stage lights illuminated her, lighting up her profile.

When the first note fell, the entire theater fell silent.

Lin Lu listened to the melody. 

It was soft, beautiful, like moonlight falling on water.

Qin Shiyu’s fingers moved across the keys, every note perfect, every touch precise. 

She had been playing for twelve years; her understanding of music and her technique were undoubtedly far deeper than Lin Lu’s.

Lin Lu stood listening to that melody and had to admit—this was truly championship-level skill. 

If Qin Shiyu finished her performance normally, Lin Lu had no chance of winning.

“I think you should start preparing to compete with Qin Shiyu,” Lin Lu said with a wry smile, turning to Chen Yuwei.

“It’s fine, we can talk after she finishes. The judges haven’t scored yet, no rush.”

“Tap… tap… tap…”

“Huh? Who’s that?”

Lin Lu noticed a person in a gray robe standing up from the very last row of the audience and walking step by step towards the stage. 

Staff members seemed to notice this suspiciously dressed and behaving individual and moved to stop him, but the robed figure merely waved a hand, and the staff fell into a deep sleep.

‘Something’s wrong.’

Lin Lu sensed something was off now. 

Although this person wasn’t a Shadow Beast, what normal person had the ability to put others to sleep with a wave of their hand? 

And they weren’t dressed like a good person either.

“Yuwei, I’m going to the restroom.”

Lin Lu called out to Chen Yuwei before quickly leaving.

The audience noticed this scene too, turning their heads to look.

“Great Lord of Guixu… the end and beginning of all things… beyond death lies eternal life…”

“Who is that guy?”

“Don’t know, what’s he shouting? A lunatic?”

“Why does it sound like someone from a cult?”

The robed man had already climbed onto the stage. 

His hood covered most of his face, revealing only a pale chin and a pair of blood-red eyes. 

He raised both arms high as if embracing something invisible.

His voice grew louder, echoing throughout the theater. 

He stretched out a hand, fingers splayed.

“Blood, life… sacrifice!”

A gash split open on his palm, blood gushing from it. 

The blood droplets hung suspended in the air, coalescing into a sharp blood blade.

“The great Lord has no need for the noise of mortals! What he needs is—blood!”

Thick black mist surged from the crack, carrying a bone-chilling cold and a rotting stench. 

The edges of the crack glowed with an ominous purple light, continuously expanding outward. 

A black rift tore open right in the center of the theater.

Qin Shiyu was stunned by this sudden turn of events. 

She looked up at the rift, her face pale.

The crowd began to surge frantically towards the exits.

“Run!”

“Bro, are you for real?!”

As for you… heh, you’ll make a fine offering.

Several tentacles had already extended from the black mist, reaching towards a little girl. 

A seven or eight-year-old girl had been knocked to the ground in the crush, crying and calling for her mother.

“A lunatic… why… why is this happening to me…”

Qin Shiyu rushed over without hesitation. 

Wearing high heels, she stumbled as she ran. 

Her skirt hem tripped her, nearly making her fall, but she didn’t stop. 

She dashed to the little girl, scooped her into her arms, and shielded her with her own body.

“Frost Flower: Scatter—!”

Frost Feather Streaming Light coalesced in Lin Lu’s hand, a silver glow lighting up the darkness. 

A blue sword aura carrying frost slashed towards the tentacle, severing it at the root. 

Black liquid gushed out, and a sharp shriek came from within the black mist.

Lin Lu stood in front of Qin Shiyu, her sword pointed at the rift.

Fortunately, perhaps due to this cultist’s insufficient power, the spatial rift he opened was relatively narrow. 

This prevented the massive Shadow Beast inside from emerging and also blocked the ones behind it.

“Take her and go!” Lin Lu shouted at Qin Shiyu.

Qin Shiyu stood up holding the little girl and glanced at Lin Lu.

“Go!”

Gritting her teeth, Qin Shiyu ran towards the exit with the girl.

She hadn’t gone more than a few steps when another figure in a black cloak emerged from the black mist, blocking the way. 

His hood obscured his face, but those blood-red eyes were identical to a Shadow Beast’s.

A red light streaked from the last row of the audience, directly slashing the arm the figure had extended.

Blood sprayed, and the figure screamed, staggering back a few steps.

Hong Huang landed in front of him, the flames on her crimson longsword dancing in the darkness.

“Guixu Zhiying?” Hong Huang’s voice was icy, “Heh… you’ve got some nerve.”