Final Easter Egg |
Shiranui Asuka's eyes snapped open, her breathing heavy and ragged.
She glanced at Du Yu, who was sleeping peacefully beside her, and slowly sat up, gently wrapping her arms around herself.
Her white pajamas were drenched in sweat, as if she had just awoken from a terrifying nightmare.
"A'xiang, what's wrong?" Du Yu asked softly, slowly opening his eyes and switching on the bedside lamp.
The dim light illuminated an exceptionally cozy little room.
This room was filled with plants and flowers, its walls covered with numerous goofy selfies of Du Yu and Asuka.
A beautifully crafted envelope rested on the nightstand, bearing traditional characters that read: "To Mr. and Mrs. Du Yu."
"Hubby..." A'xiang looked slightly unsettled. "I'm fine..."
"Are you sick?" Du Yu reached out in concern, feeling A'xiang's forehead. It was beaded with light sweat, but it wasn't hot.
"Oh, a nightmare?" Du Yu sat up and draped his jacket over his shoulders. "Are you worried about what happened today? Don't fret, that villain who tried to grab my steering wheel has already had his soul scattered and spirit dispersed; he's no match for me."
"Hehe... I'm not worried about today. I know that bad guy couldn't possibly beat you. It's just that my dreams have been getting weirder lately. They feel so real, to the point where I'm starting to doubt my own memories..."
"Real dreams?" A flicker of light sparked in Du Yu's eyes, his entire demeanor turning serious.
"I dreamed that we traveled to so many places together. We actually met the legendary Izanagi and Izanami, the legendary Bai Suzhen, and even the Great Goddess Nuwa of Hua Xia." Shiranui Asuka's expression was filled with confusion. "I dreamed that we went through so many life-and-death moments. You protected me with your life, and I protected you with mine."
"What did you say?" Du Yu frowned slightly, as if struck by a realization.
'Could it be that those memories, shattered in the space-time rift and drifting for seven years, are now slowly gathering together?'
'Or is it because I am simply too close to A'xiang, causing her to be tainted by the memories of space-time?'
'After all, A'xiang is the master of those memories.'
'If the memories of countless A'xiangs were to fully converge, would she be able to withstand it?'
Du Yu held A'xiang's shoulders, staring intently into her eyes. "A'xiang, tell me, do you feel uncomfortable at all?"
"Not really..." A'xiang shook her head bashfully. "Some dreams are forgotten as soon as I wake up, but others I can still remember clearly... It's like they were things that actually happened..."
"So that's how it is..." Du Yu finally breathed a sigh of relief. It seemed not all memories were retained; A'xiang could only remember certain crucial fragments.
"Thanks to these dreams, I wake up every single day loving you a little more than I did yesterday," A'xiang said with a mischievous smile.
"You really scared me half to death, A'xiang." Du Yu smiled wryly and slowly laid back down. "In that case, let's go to sleep early. We have to head out first thing tomorrow morning."
"Oh! Right!" A'xiang picked up the envelope from the nightstand and carefully read it over again. "Brother Jinjianglang and Sister Enenra... Hehe!"
Du Yu sighed with a smile. "We're taking a road trip to Fusang to attend a wedding. If your driver here doesn't get enough sleep, you'll have to take full responsibility."
"Oh, don't go to sleep just yet!" A'xiang patted Du Yu's back. "Get up and chat with me! Why do you think Sister Enenra, a Yokai, would marry an Onmyoji? Do you think there's some sort of conspiracy involved?"
Du Yu raised an eyebrow. "A conspiracy? The status of your Shiranui Family among all Onmyoji families is practically negligible. Would some major family really use a minor Yokai to assassinate my Elder Brother-in-Law? Don't be ridiculous. I bet that Yokai didn't even realize my Elder Brother-in-Law was an Onmyoji, haha."
"You!" Shiranui Asuka puffed out her cheeks and pouted. "Our family might be small, but we cultivate diligently! Besides... regardless of family size, an Onmyoji is an Onmyoji! Sister Enenra must have decided to marry him because Brother Jinjianglang is a good person!"
"Alright, alright," Du Yu nodded. "Please go to sleep early, Lady Onmyoji. We have a long journey ahead of us tomorrow."
...
Du Yu's van flew along the road, while he wore a look of utter speechlessness.
A'xiang sat in the passenger seat, but the row behind them was occupied by Zhan Qisheng and Ying Ning, and the row behind that held Dong Qianqiu and Qu Xi.
Trailing behind his van was another vehicle, carrying the former Seven Holy Heroes, excluding A'xiang and Jinjianglang.
"No, I don't get it..." Du Yu glanced at the passengers through the rearview mirror. "What right do all of you have to intrude on my private time with Little Xiang? And what's the deal with the car behind us?"
"I've been dreaming a lot lately," Zhan Qisheng said, curling his lips. "I feel like I know this 'Shiranui Jinjiro'. I need to go and confirm whether we were friends in a past life."
"And what about Ying Ning?"
"Wherever Little Zhan goes, I go."
Du Yu sighed helplessly and looked at Dong Qianqiu and Qu Xi. "Bureau Chief Dong, didn't you reject my leave request? I was planning on skipping work, so how come even you tagged along?"
"That's right," Dong Qianqiu nodded. "Your leave was rejected. While the Underworld Soul Management Bureau has marriage leave, there's no leave for 'attending someone else's wedding'. I couldn't let you just skip work either, otherwise you'd be fired. So, I had to come along to supervise your work."
"You're a terrifying Bureau Chief, stalking an employee playing hooky..." Du Yu shook his head, then looked at Qu Xi. "Then why did you come along, little sister?"
"I was afraid you would bully A'xiang."
"You...!"
Du Yu let out a deep sigh. "I originally thought I could take this time to have some fun with A'xiang, but I ended up with over a dozen third wheels..."
"Honk-honk-honk!"
A loud honking filled the air as the driver, Liu Ling, poked his head out, completely drunk. "Du Yu, hurry up and drive! I can't wait to taste some sake!"
"I know, I know!" Du Yu replied impatiently. "Driving drunk and being so arrogant about it... Good thing there are no laws against it in the Immortal Realm..."
"Hehehe!" A'xiang covered her mouth and giggled. "My brother is going to be terrified this time! Even though the invitation only listed the two of us, over a dozen people are showing up!"
"That won't even be the most surprising part for him," Du Yu said, a sudden smile spreading across his face. "Since the Shiranui Family has absolutely no prospects in Fusang, we might as well bring them all over to work with us! It looks like Jinjianglang and Enenra are pretty good people; they can just roll with me from now on."
Dong Qianqiu muttered in exasperation, "You speak as if you're the Bureau Chief..."
The two vans flew slowly through the air, heading toward the morning sun. Shiranui Asuka's eyes snapped open, her breathing heavy and ragged.
She glanced at Du Yu, who was sleeping peacefully beside her, and slowly sat up, gently wrapping her arms around herself.
Her white pajamas were drenched in sweat, as if she had just awoken from a terrifying nightmare.
"A'xiang, what's wrong?" Du Yu asked softly, slowly opening his eyes and switching on the bedside lamp.
The dim light illuminated an exceptionally cozy little room.
This room was filled with plants and flowers, its walls covered with numerous goofy selfies of Du Yu and Asuka.
A beautifully crafted envelope rested on the nightstand, bearing traditional characters that read: "To Mr. and Mrs. Du Yu."
"Hubby..." A'xiang looked slightly unsettled. "I'm fine..."
"Are you sick?" Du Yu reached out in concern, feeling A'xiang's forehead. It was beaded with light sweat, but it wasn't hot.
"I'm not sick, I just had a dream," A'xiang murmured. "A really strange dream..."
"Oh, a nightmare?" Du Yu sat up and draped his jacket over his shoulders. "Are you worried about what happened today? Don't fret, that villain who tried to grab my steering wheel has already had his soul scattered and spirit dispersed; he's no match for me."
"Hehe... I'm not worried about today. I know that bad guy couldn't possibly beat you. It's just that my dreams have been getting weirder lately. They feel so real, to the point where I'm starting to doubt my own memories..."
"Real dreams?" A flicker of light sparked in Du Yu's eyes, his entire demeanor turning serious.
"I dreamed that we traveled to so many places together. We actually met the legendary Izanagi and Izanami, the legendary Bai Suzhen, and even the Great Goddess Nuwa of Hua Xia." Shiranui Asuka's expression was filled with confusion. "I dreamed that we went through so many life-and-death moments. You protected me with your life, and I protected you with mine."
"What did you say?" Du Yu frowned slightly, as if struck by a realization.
'Could it be that those memories, shattered in the space-time rift and drifting for seven years, are now slowly gathering together?'
'Or is it because I am simply too close to A'xiang, causing her to be tainted by the memories of space-time?'
'After all, A'xiang is the master of those memories.'
'If the memories of countless A'xiangs were to fully converge, would she be able to withstand it?'
Du Yu held A'xiang's shoulders, staring intently into her eyes. "A'xiang, tell me, do you feel uncomfortable at all?"
"Not really..." A'xiang shook her head bashfully. "Some dreams are forgotten as soon as I wake up, but others I can still remember clearly... It's like they were things that actually happened..."
"So that's how it is..." Du Yu finally breathed a sigh of relief. It seemed not all memories were retained; A'xiang could only remember certain crucial fragments.
"Thanks to these dreams, I wake up every single day loving you a little more than I did yesterday," A'xiang said with a mischievous smile.
"You really scared me half to death, A'xiang." Du Yu smiled wryly and slowly laid back down. "In that case, let's go to sleep early. We have to head out first thing tomorrow morning."
"Oh! Right!" A'xiang picked up the envelope from the nightstand and carefully read it over again. "Brother Jinjianglang and Sister Enenra... Hehe!"
Du Yu sighed with a smile. "We're taking a road trip to Fusang to attend a wedding. If your driver here doesn't get enough sleep, you'll have to take full responsibility."
"Oh, don't go to sleep just yet!" A'xiang patted Du Yu's back. "Get up and chat with me! Why do you think Sister Enenra, a Yokai, would marry an Onmyoji? Do you think there's some sort of conspiracy involved?"
Du Yu raised an eyebrow. "A conspiracy? The status of your Shiranui Family among all Onmyoji families is practically negligible. Would some major family really use a minor Yokai to assassinate my Elder Brother-in-Law? Don't be ridiculous. I bet that Yokai didn't even realize my Elder Brother-in-Law was an Onmyoji, haha."
"You!" Shiranui Asuka puffed out her cheeks and pouted. "Our family might be small, but we cultivate diligently! Besides... regardless of family size, an Onmyoji is an Onmyoji! Sister Enenra must have decided to marry him because Brother Jinjianglang is a good person!"
"Alright, alright," Du Yu nodded. "Please go to sleep early, Lady Onmyoji. We have a long journey ahead of us tomorrow."
...
Du Yu's van flew along the road, while he wore a look of utter speechlessness.
A'xiang sat in the passenger seat, but the row behind them was occupied by Zhan Qisheng and Ying Ning, and the row behind that held Dong Qianqiu and Qu Xi.
Trailing behind his van was another vehicle, carrying the former Seven Holy Heroes, excluding A'xiang and Jinjianglang.
"No, I don't get it..." Du Yu glanced at the passengers through the rearview mirror. "What right do all of you have to intrude on my private time with Little Xiang? And what's the deal with the car behind us?"
"I've been dreaming a lot lately," Zhan Qisheng said, curling his lips. "I feel like I know this 'Shiranui Jinjiro'. I need to go and confirm whether we were friends in a past life."
"And what about Ying Ning?"
"Wherever Little Zhan goes, I go."
Du Yu sighed helplessly and looked at Dong Qianqiu and Qu Xi. "Bureau Chief Dong, didn't you reject my leave request? I was planning on skipping work, so how come even you tagged along?"
"That's right," Dong Qianqiu nodded. "Your leave was rejected. While the Underworld Soul Management Bureau has marriage leave, there's no leave for 'attending someone else's wedding'. I couldn't let you just skip work either, otherwise you'd be fired. So, I had to come along to supervise your work."
"You're a terrifying Bureau Chief, stalking an employee playing hooky..." Du Yu shook his head, then looked at Qu Xi. "Then why did you come along, little sister?"
"I was afraid you would bully A'xiang."
"You...!"
Du Yu let out a deep sigh. "I originally thought I could take this time to have some fun with A'xiang, but I ended up with over a dozen third wheels..."
"Honk-honk-honk!"
A loud honking filled the air as the driver, Liu Ling, poked his head out, completely drunk. "Du Yu, hurry up and drive! I can't wait to taste some sake!"
"I know, I know!" Du Yu replied impatiently. "Driving drunk and being so arrogant about it... Good thing there are no laws against it in the Immortal Realm..."
"Hehehe!" A'xiang covered her mouth and giggled. "My brother is going to be terrified this time! Even though the invitation only listed the two of us, over a dozen people are showing up!"
"That won't even be the most surprising part for him," Du Yu said, a sudden smile spreading across his face. "Since the Shiranui Family has absolutely no prospects in Fusang, we might as well bring them all over to work with us! It looks like Jinjianglang and Enenra are pretty good people; they can just roll with me from now on."
Dong Qianqiu muttered in exasperation, "You speak as if you're the Bureau Chief..."
The two vans flew slowly through the air, heading toward the morning sun.
