Apocalypse Forecast

Chapter 901 - 720: Playing My Beloved Rustic Pipa

"Hey, young man!"

Just after starting to sing a verse, Huai Shi felt that something wasn’t quite right. His fingers paused as he looked up at the inexpressible expressions of the audience, "Sorry, lost track—let’s start again."

His fingers slipped on the strings, turning the original dense and strange melody into a scattered nursery rhyme, gentle yet poignant: "Two tigers, two tigers, running fast, running fast, one missing a finger, one missing an eye, so strange, so strange..."

In plain sight, the one-eyed brawny man beside him, missing a pinky finger, began to look visibly displeased.

Seems like another mistake.

But it’s no big deal—

Huai Shi shook his head indifferently, his fingers leaping over the strings of the shamisen. The melody instantly became sorrowful and solemn, making people want to cry upon hearing it.

After playing a few bars of the Great Compassion Mantra, he seamlessly switched to the Wedding March, followed by a segment of Carmen, and finally an adapted version of "One Step Away."

He played with flair and enjoyed himself thoroughly.

If it wasn’t for the fear of exposing his identity, Huai Shi would’ve loved to perform Paganini’s exploit of playing an entire piece on a single string right there.

Except the instrument in his hand wasn’t quite right, with a narrow range that made it seem too light and difficult to control when it exceeded its limits.

Otherwise, he could’ve performed a Northwest folk song.

After five minutes of study, Huai Shi paused, feeling like he had fully mastered this type of instrument.

When his fingers pressed down again, a sharp sound erupted from the strings beneath the pick.

High-pitched and piercing, like the clash of steel.

Unlike a typical shamisen performance, it was almost noise, but noise didn’t have this kind of melody and rhythm, oscillating between pleasant and painful, brutally shredding all irrelevant noises, overshadowing the clamor, covering all eardrums, mocking and tormenting.

Soon, the intense cacophony turned into a deep, lonely sound.

The low resonance, unlike a shamisen, resembled more of a pipa’s steel strings, scattered and desolate.

"The bell at Gion Monastery rings, telling of life’s inherent uncertainty. The flowers of Sal trees fade, the prosperous decline like old age..."

Huai Shi squinted, softly chanting. Under the pick, a melancholic echo burst forth: "Pride cannot last, like a spring night’s dream; strength meets annihilation, like dust in the wind."

This excerpt is taken from "Gion Monastery" in "The Tale of the Heike," a traditional performance skill in Yingzhou.

It narrates the story of how the once flourishing Taira clan fell into demise under the fierce attack of the Minamoto clan, ultimately disintegrating and facing annihilation.

To say the least, it’s quite unlucky.

Before finishing the song, people on both sides were already glaring at him.

Soon after, their eyes seemed to touch electricity, quickly avoiding them and bowing respectfully.

Only when Huai Shi finished the whole piece and intended to play another ’To the Death on Atsumori’ did he notice the strange looks.

And the gentle breathing behind him.

Forehead suddenly went cold.

Even though his source substance was sealed, someone could still approach within three steps to trigger his senses?

If harboring ill intentions...

His fingers on the pick moved, slowly turning his head, seeing the pure white skirts on the tatami, with finely crafted Yuzen dye outlining the silhouette of pear blossoms.

Pure white petals spread in a blue background, inexplicably harmonious.

Under the Japanese Hairstyles’ shoulder-length short hair, the approaching individual lowered her exquisite face, looking down at him, and suddenly smiled slightly, patting his shoulder:

"Huaizhi Gang, this is an Arakawa Family banquet, don’t go too far...or else the host here will show you their power."

Tobio Lihua smiled slightly, turning her gaze to some originally unfriendly looking individuals intending to argue.

Under her gaze, those originally disgruntled individuals lowered their heads and bowed respectfully.

Trouble dissipated invisibly.

Lihua, satisfied, retracted her gaze, looking down at Huai Shi, "Bored? How about sitting over here? Coincidentally, I’m sitting alone and pretty bored myself."

Her smile was filled with mirth, unreservedly showing her friendliness and goodwill.

But for some reason, Huai Shi felt a strong sense of repulsion and unease in his heart, like sensing an indescribable danger from her.

Being looked at by her fox-like slender eyes, all secrets seemed exposed.

Instinctively on guard.

But Tobio Lihua didn’t care about Huai Shi’s intentions, and went ahead, taking her seat in the front of the hall, then beckoned to Huai Shi, pointing to the seat beside her.

Huai Shi was completely dumbfounded.

What’s the meaning of this?

With all eyes on him, he hesitated for a while, then resignedly picked up the ’earth pipa’ he had taken and walked over to sit down obediently, feeling the envious and resentful gazes from below, as if sitting on pins and needles.

"Shamisen, you play it quite well, have you learned it before?" Lihua suddenly asked.

"Ah, it’s okay... just picked up a bit randomly."

Tobio Lihua nodded and curiously suggested, "Then play ’Paradise Pure Land’, let’s see, I noticed you didn’t quite like it."

"..."

In the silence, Huai Shi looked down at the shamisen in his arms, looked up, and solemnly refused, "Miss, I sell myself, not my art."

"Hahaha, you’re quite an interesting fellow."

Tobio Lihua laughed, her eyes twinkling with meaning as she glanced at Huai Shi, "Playing a cello piece wouldn’t be bad either."

"Haha, cello? What’s that?" Huai Shi asked calmly, "Can you eat it?"

"I have a feeling you’d be really good at it. Could it be just an illusion?"

Lihua smiled innocently.

"Haha, Lihua, don’t pressure the newcomer too much."

The sound of steady footsteps sounded as Tobio Souhei emerged through the paper door with a spring in his step, followed by several yakuza leaders with complex expressions.

"You guys seem to be getting along well." He glanced at Huai Shi satisfactorily and asked Lihua, "How is it, Lihua? Does this young hero from the Huaizhi Gang catch your eye?"

Lihua respectfully lowered her head, her tone gentle, "Reporting to father, Mr. Huaizhi is quite elegant, just the type Lihua likes."

"Ahahaha, in that case, you have to cultivate your feelings well."

Tobio laughed heartily.

"Hey, old bastard, today is my son’s engagement ceremony, what are you so amused about!" Arakawa snapped angrily, casting a cold glance at Huai Shi, "Moreover, the final result is not certain yet, don’t get happy too early."

"Oh dear, look at you, why does young love bother you? Spreading this is like a great story."

Tobio shook his head helplessly, "Besides, since this old man dared to agree with you, I’m definitely confident of winning, how could I casually accept unfavorable terms."

"Damn you..."

Arakawa’s face flushed red, his neck tattoo darkened, and if it weren’t for concerns about decorum and others holding him back, he might have beaten this old man on the spot.

Fortunately, after a while, he calmed down and sat down in the main seat, loudly ordering the servants to bring wine and food quickly.

The banquet proceeded even more smoothly than expected.

After all, everyone’s thoughts were probably not on the food; the fine wine and cuisine tasted bland, like chewing wax. The atmosphere was especially serious and oppressive, with no one daring to talk or laugh loudly.

Regularly glancing towards the top seat of the five big leaders.

Waiting for the most important part of this banquet, which was about to decide the future and fate of the entire alliance, almost controlling everyone’s destiny and future declaration.

"It seems everyone is already impatient."

Tobio sipped his miso soup, slowly put down the bowl, and looked at the others. Arakawa’s expression was grim, Chiba Ryouni’s smile was light, Ochiai’s female general’s eyes were downcast, while Hisashiga’s expression was as calm as always.

He paused for a moment and said, "Then, for a long time, we’ve been receiving the favor of the alliance, and we five have jointly served..."

"Alright, alright, let me do it; you’ll drag on until tomorrow with your talk."

Chiba Ryouni sighed, interrupting his forthcoming nonsense, and loudly said to the others below, "Rumors, people who came here should have heard them.

To put it directly, to cope with the upcoming situation and better unite the power of the alliance. From today onwards, the alliance will abandon the past rule of five leaders collectively governing and will elect a new president.

Everyone here is yakuza, there’s no need to play with false processes and tricks, if someone believes their ability and reputation are enough, unwilling to remain under others, now you can stand out and compete for the president’s position."

He paused for a moment, looked down at those faces, and suddenly raised his voice, "Is there anyone like that here!"

In an instant, amidst the dead silence, all those kneeling bowed their heads uniformly, reverently to the five leaders above.

Only Huai Shi, still holding his rice bowl, was stunned.

Hesitating whether to raise his hand and stir the scene.

Since he’s here... trying doesn’t cost anything!

But the eerie stare from Tobio Lihua beside him made him feel prickly, like being seen through. He didn’t know if he had been exposed.

If he stood up just now, Lihua pointing at him, reporting to everyone that this dog named Huaizhi is an Astronomical Society lackey, everyone shouldn’t talk about the rules, take turns chopping him up without being polite... wouldn’t he be doomed?

In the silence, the five leaders’ gaze swept across the bowed ones, pausing on Huai Shi, who was still eating, only to quickly and indifferently move on.

Only Arakawa’s gaze grew darker.

Finally, after confirming there was no one who wanted to claim the president’s seat, Chiba Ryouni retracted his gaze and nodded slowly, "If so, then as per usual, voting begins between the five leaders."

Before he finished speaking, Tobio cheerfully raised his hand and said:

"Old man casts a vote for himself, please all kindly support."