Chapter 146: Day of Silence and Eternal Night Festival
Pei Zhen was quite surprised, but of course, he agreed readily.
People always change. The four years, combined with her time abroad, had altered many of Xu Si’s habits, but the one thing that hadn’t changed was her fondness for admiring buildings of various styles. Evil often accompanies extreme beauty, and the organizations of the Underground City, gathered from all over the world, naturally engendered a diverse array of architectural styles. Though she had been there twice, she never had the time to thoroughly appreciate these architectural districts. The hotel was still awaiting decoration and construction, and minimalism had yet to become fashionable in this flourishing era.
A rare opportunity to visit again, Xu Si mused. I should take a proper look this time.
As night fell, Xu Si had already applied extremely heavy makeup, so vibrant that she hardly recognized herself. It obscured her bright, delicate features, rendering her fashionably garish and hardly distinguishable from the sensuous, modern women on the streets. She pursed her red lips at her reflection, satisfied after adding another layer of gloss. Picking up the handheld camera she had requested from a servant, she headed downstairs to wait for Pei Zhen.
A thin mist shrouded the opulent mansion, lurking in the distance, clinging to the treetops, and weaving through the chilly night wind. As soon as she descended the stairs, she saw the man on the ground floor sofa, adjusting his cufflinks. Pei Zhen wore a heavy, impeccably tailored coat. The dim light blurred his meticulously combed silver hair and softened his features. With the deep autumn cold setting in, he seemed even more ethereal than the fog outside when he was silent.
Hearing footsteps, he looked up at Xu Si.
"You look stunning today."
Xu Si’s makeup was incredibly exaggerated; it was a wonder he could offer such a sincere compliment. She smiled. "Have you been waiting long? Let’s go."
Pei Zhen thought for a moment, then stood up and accompanied her outside.
「In the urban district of the Underground City, beyond the Triad Society’s territory.」
As night deepened, the damp air filled with streams of traffic and throngs of people; every street and venue pulsed with life. Even members of the major organizations ventured out from their dangerous districts. Beyond the dazzling extravagance, there was an added touch of raw vitality.
Xu Si hadn’t frequented the Underground City, but even through the sealed car windows, she sensed something unusual in the air. She turned to Pei Zhen, curious. "Why are there so many people out tonight?"
Pei Zhen glanced out the window before turning his head slightly. "Today is a cursed festival."
"A cursed festival?" Xu Si echoed, her tone filled with astonishment.
"Mhm," the man responded, his voice slow and somewhat muffled. "It’s the Eternal Night Festival. The Underground City’s geographical location is unique. Tonight will be exceptionally long; the sun will be obscured by dark clouds and won’t rise until after high noon. Legend says the Devil appears tonight. Anyone who stays awake all night might see the Devil and bribe him to grant a wish. It’s also called the Day of Silence. People here believe that on this day, any careless word spoken will become an inescapable prophecy, leading to unforeseen consequences."
"Isn’t that just like a dark Nordic fairy tale? How interesting." Xu Si pondered for a moment, a strange smile playing on her lips. "So they’ve come to bribe the Devil? Has anyone’s wish ever actually come true?" Otherwise, why would so many people believe in it?
Pei Zhen idly toyed with the gemstone ring on his finger, nodding slowly. "Yes. Quite a few, in fact. Almost every year, there are some." That’s one of the reasons the Underground City is so alluring.
"So, it’s not just an old wives’ tale," Xu Si murmured, her expression momentarily frozen. A look of mingled absurdity and fascination spread across her features, her voice soft with amusement. "Then I’ll have to see if I can spot this Devil. I wonder what it looks like. Maybe I can bribe it for something."
Pei Zhen cast a subtle glance at her profile, feigning nonchalance as he asked, "I hear the wish-granting Devil is quite ugly, with a face like a corpse. Would you still want to bribe it?"
"Of course," Xu Si said with a smile, propping her chin on her hand. Her bright, upturned eyes reflected the city lights as she casually remarked, "Human desires are far uglier than a corpse’s face. If it doesn’t mind me, I certainly don’t mind it. We should be careful with our words today and stick to pleasantries."
Pei Zhen paused, a hint of pleasure in his tone. "You’re right."
In a lawless place like the Underground City, even the festivals carried an eerie undercurrent. The driver pulled the car over where pedestrians could walk freely. A white-gloved hand opened the black car door.
Xu Si and Pei Zhen stepped onto the bustling street, bathed in the yellow lamplight. They gazed at the towering iron structures and castle-like buildings. Wealthy gentlemen drank at street corners, gamblers were engrossed in their games, and assassins indulged in pleasures and illicit trades. Noblewomen and politicians schemed, villains consorted with servants. Every passerby seemed to hold a story, their eyes gleaming with a thirst for hedonism.
Xu Si had traveled to many countries, but she had never encountered such a photogenic night anywhere else. Her camera shutter clicked incessantly as she tried to capture every detail of this gilded, fantastical world. Indeed, she had always loved taking photographs during her time abroad. The photos she had accumulated, printed as postcards, filled four or five wooden boxes. Yet, before returning to her home country, she had given them all to a classmate who loved scenery but lacked the means to travel, not keeping a single one for herself.
She loaded a fresh roll of film and aimed her lens at the top of the iron tower, taking three or four shots. But, unable to find the right play of light and shadow, she ended up with several ruined exposures. This particular tower was unique; it was scheduled to be officially lit up only at midnight.
Just as she was about to give up, someone whispered beside her, "Wait a moment."
Xu Si raised an eyebrow. Soon, the complete silhouette of the iron tower filled her viewfinder. Lights connected at various points, illuminating all its previously indistinct contours, making it shine as if a cluster of stars had gathered around it.
CLICK! CLICK! She rapidly pressed the shutter button.
Xu Si turned around and saw Pei Zhen holding a cigarette, one hand resting on an iron chain railing. He was quietly watching her, smoke curling above him, as if he had been observing her for a long time.
Surprised, Xu Si asked him how the tower lights had been turned on ahead of schedule.
He squinted slightly, his voice raspy with smoke, and lifted a hand, pointing towards the top of the iron tower. A figure in black stood by the control mechanism at the tower’s apex, evidently having just pressed the switch.
Xu Si was momentarily astounded, then laughed.
"Lord Fei Yi, would this be considered pulling strings?"
On this wild and absurd night, his grey eyes were misty like a fine haze, his lips curved into an unwitting smile.
"As long as I am here, the Underground City can always make exceptions for President Xu," he said. He stood tall and distinguished, exuding an air of inviolable danger, as always. Behind him, a myriad of lights, like silver trees, cast their shimmering reflections on the city’s lake. The light streamed and radiated across the intricate patterns on the walls, faintly luminous in the dimness.
Xu Si stared, her eyes wide. She fixed on the image of him smoking, that faint smile on his lips. Lifting the camera to her face, she seized the moment when no one obstructed her lens and pressed the shutter.