Legend Management Bureau Chapter 37

[ … words ]

“Sister Qianqiu!” Du Yu called out to Dong Qianqiu right after waking up. “Not bad this time. Did you arrange for some powerful soul to possess me?”

“Sister Qianqiu?”

Du Yu called out a few times, only to realize that Dong Qianqiu was nowhere to be found. This was the first time he had opened his eyes to find her missing from her usual spot in front of the screen.

“Where did she go?”

Du Yu stood up and searched around.

To his confusion, the staff members were avoiding his gaze, as if they were hiding something from him.

“Xiao Qi!” Du Yu called out to stop the girl who had attended the roundtable prep meeting with him. “Stop right there!”

“Ah?!” Xiao Qi jumped in fright, dropping all the documents in her hands to the floor.

“Where is Sister Qianqiu?”

“Xiao Qi, are you lying to me?”

“N-no,” Xiao Qi replied timidly, her eyes refusing to meet his.

“What exactly happened?” Du Yu looked at Xiao Qi with utmost seriousness. “If there really is a problem, I will go solve it. We are colleagues now, so do not keep things from me.”

Xiao Qi looked at Du Yu, sighed, and said, “Sister Qianqiu is in her office… Just go find her…”

“In her office?” Du Yu nodded. “Perfect, I need to go see little Zhongli again anyway.”

Xiao Qi did not say a word in response and quickly ran away.

Du Yu found it a bit strange but had no idea what had actually transpired. He crossed the lobby of the Legend Management Bureau, entered the corridor, and soon located Dong Qianqiu’s office.

The office door was open. Dong Qianqiu sat quietly inside, but Zhongli Chun was nowhere to be seen.

“Sister Qianqiu…?” Du Yu froze for a moment upon seeing her. “Where is little Zhongli?”

He walked into the room and took a look around, finding it completely empty save for Dong Qianqiu. In her hands, she held a black scroll. Du Yu peered closer and recognized it as the Eight Directions Ghost Registry, though it looked somewhat different from when he had first received it.

It looked as if someone’s name had been written on it.

“Du Yu… come sit down… I have something to tell you,” Dong Qianqiu said slowly.

Du Yu’s heart skipped a beat. An incredibly ominous premonition washed over him.

“No… I cannot…” Du Yu’s voice trembled. He forced a bitter smile and told her, “Sister Qianqiu… do not say anything to me… I still have not found little Zhongli yet… I… I will go find her first…”

“No, I have to tell you.” Dong Qianqiu bit her lower lip.

“No! You are not allowed to say it!” Du Yu paced aimlessly around the room. “Little Zhongli… hurry and come out… do not scare me…”

Knowing that Du Yu had already realized what was happening, Dong Qianqiu slowly stood up and gently set the Eight Directions Ghost Registry down.

“Now, in this world, you are the only one who can see her. If you want to talk to her, she is deep within your soul.”

Dong Qianqiu slowly walked out the door.

A long time passed before Du Yu finally collapsed into a chair.

‘Is that so?’

‘Do you… no longer exist in this world?’

Du Yu looked at his jacket on the floor. It still carried Zhongli Chun’s residual body heat and her faint, fragrant scent. He slowly picked up the jacket and held it tightly against his chest, just as she had done before.

“Where do you usually live?”

“When I am tired, I sleep on the streets. When I am hungry, I rob wandering ghosts for food and money. When I am dirty, I bathe in the River of Forgetfulness.”

“Does living like that not make you sad?”

“When I feel sad, I just eat something sweet.”

Those memories continually surfaced in Du Yu’s mind. It felt as if a knife had been plunged directly into his heart, twisting and turning without end.

Du Yu looked down and noticed a few items that had been hidden underneath the jacket.

A faded wrapper, entirely drained of color, wrapping a piece of candy that had melted and reformed countless times.

A white flower, completely air-dried and yellowed with age.

An unpeeled orange that still looked quite fresh.

Seeing these items, Du Yu could no longer hold it in and burst into agonizing sobs.

Dong Qianqiu’s desk was piled high with candies and snacks. The staff had specially brought them over the past few days after hearing that Zhongli Chun loved sweet things. But for some reason, she had not eaten a single one.

‘Perhaps she felt that she would never need to eat anything sweet again?’

‘She would never be sad again, right?’

Weeping bitterly, Du Yu grabbed a handful of candies from the desk and frantically stuffed them into his mouth. But he could not taste any sweetness—only an endless, overwhelming bitterness.

“So… eating something sweet when you are sad does not help at all…”

…

“Director, I have something I need to say to you,” Dong Qianqiu said with a stern tone after tracking down He Suoyi.

“What is it, Xiao Dong?”

“I do not think Du Yu is suited for the position of Operator.”

“Oh?” He Suoyi raised an eyebrow. “Why is that?”

“His heart is too kind. The events within the legends leave a profound impact on him… It was like this last time with Yi Shooting the Nine Suns, and it is the same this time with the Faceless Woman.” Dong Qianqiu shuddered at the thought. “If he experiences too much, I am afraid he will break down.”

“And so… you cannot bear to watch him break down,” He Suoyi pointed out directly.

“I…” Dong Qianqiu was at a loss for words.

“Xiao Dong, everything in this world operates on cause and effect,” He Suoyi said calmly. “When I presented all the legends for Du Yu to see, he chose the Faceless Woman. Do you think that if he had not chosen the Faceless Woman, Zhongli Chun would still remember him?”

“Director… I do not quite understand.”

“Zhongli Chun was destined to foolishly wait for Du Yu for two thousand years, which meant Du Yu would inevitably want to return to the legend to find out why. And once Du Yu returned to the legend, Zhongli Chun would inevitably wait for him for two thousand years. Given Du Yu’s personality, he could never just abandon her. Therefore, the ending between Zhongli Chun and Du Yu was predetermined long ago.”

“So it was like that…”

“Let me ask you this. Under the exact same circumstances, would Zhongli Chun have fallen in love with Zhan Qisheng?”

“Zhan Qisheng?” Dong Qianqiu thought about it seriously before replying. “No. If the Operator had been Zhan Qisheng this time, he might have completed the mission in just two days. After all, he has immortal arts to protect himself and would never put himself in danger. But he could never have developed any emotional connection with Zhongli Chun… In fact, he might not have even entered this legend in the first place.”

“Exactly,” He Suoyi said. “It is precisely because Du Yu holds onto the emotions unique to mortals that he managed to achieve an unprecedented completion rate in these two legends. Everything that happened to him was predestined. Because he is who he is, it was bound to happen.”

“Are you saying… it is exactly because Du Yu values relationships more than anyone else that he is the most suited for this position?”

“Haha!” He Suoyi chuckled. “I did not say anything of the sort. I merely explained the nature of cause and effect in this world to you.”

…

Du Yu stood in a pitch-black clearing. In the center of the space was a massive character for “Ghost,” with eight blood-red lines extending outward in all directions. He had no idea where he was.

Ever since Zhongli Chun disappeared, he would see this scene the moment he closed his eyes. Such a thing had never happened before.

“Where is this?” Du Yu walked forward aimlessly, completely lacking any sense of direction.

Before long, he spotted a figure in the distance. The figure seemed just as confused as he was, her head raised as she looked all around.

It was not until he drew closer that tears came pouring from his eyes.

“Little Zhongli!”

With a loud shout, Du Yu rushed forward and pulled her into a tight embrace before she could even react.

“Huh?” Zhongli Chun slowly turned her head, a brilliant smile instantly blooming on her face.

“Du Yu!”

Zhongli Chun also slowly reached out and hugged him back. It was the first time she had called him by his name, and the first time she had ever embraced him.

“Little Zhongli, I… I am so sorry… I thought I was helping you, but in the end, it was you who saved me…”

“Sorry to me?” Zhongli Chun blinked and looked at him. “How could you be? I am inside your heart now. We will be together forever. Out of the last two thousand years, this is the closest I have ever been to you.”

Du Yu cried for a long time before he finally regained his composure. He and Zhongli Chun slowly sat down.

“Little Zhongli, let us have a proper chat, alright? Over all these years, you must have so much you want to tell me.”

Zhongli Chun nodded vigorously, revealing a breathtakingly beautiful smile.

…

“Assistant Dong, Du Yu has been sitting there completely motionless for three days now. Should we really just leave him be…?” Xiao Qi asked worriedly inside Dong Qianqiu’s office.

“Look at the smile on his face. Does he look like something is wrong?” Dong Qianqiu knew that Du Yu had entered his own inner world. He was likely meeting with Zhongli Chun right now, and she could not bear to disturb them.

“Let us not bother him. There are still many legends waiting for us to broadcast. Let us go.” Dong Qianqiu patted Xiao Qi on the shoulder and led her away.

————————–

Extra Story Chapter 1: The Twelve Guardian Animals

The Primordial Era.

“Reporting to Her Majesty, the Queen Mother of the West,” a divine official said, bowing respectfully. “This humble minister has selected the guardian animals for the twelve Earthly Branches of the zodiac. Please review them, Your Majesty.”

The Queen Mother of the West gazed toward the mortal realm’s sun, seemingly lost in thought. However, she quickly gathered her focus and replied, “I shall not look at it. Just read it aloud for me to hear.”

“As you command.”

The divine official retrieved a scroll, slowly unfurled it, and began to read:

“The guardian animals for the twelve Earthly Branches are as follows: the Rat for Zi, the Ox for Chou, the Tiger for Yin, the Cat for Mao, the Dragon for Chen, the Snake for Si, the Horse for Wu, the Sheep for Wei, the Monkey for Shen, the Rooster for You, the Dog for Xu, and the Pig for Hai.”

“I do not quite understand. How did you, my beloved minister, decide on these twelve guardians?”

“If Your Majesty wishes to know the details, this humble minister will gladly explain. The Rat is chosen for Zi because a full granary breeds rats, symbolizing a region’s abundance of food and clothing. The Ox is chosen for Chou because oxen are born to diligently plow the fields, representing honesty and hard work. The Tiger is chosen for Yin because tigers are born kings, representing absolute invincibility. The Cat is chosen for Mao because cats are born as exceptional hunters, representing a bountiful harvest. The Dragon is chosen for Chen because dragons are born divine…”

“Hold on,” the Queen Mother interrupted, speaking slowly. “Allow me a moment to think.”

The divine official lowered his head, not daring to speak another word.

“I find no issue with the other guardians, but the Cat must be removed,” the Queen Mother said with a frown. “For some reason, the moment I hear the word ‘Cat’, my heart cannot find peace.”

A figure continuously lingered in her mind. Whenever he appeared, two words would always echo in the Queen Mother’s ears:

“Big cat!”

“Big cat!”

“Big cat!”

Not daring to disobey, the divine official bowed with clasped hands and said, “Your Majesty is wise… However… abruptly dismissing the Cat from its guardian position means we may not find a suitable replacement on such short notice…”

“Just use the Rabbit,” the Queen Mother said plainly.

“The Rabbit?” The divine official was somewhat puzzled. “Since Your Majesty has decided, this humble minister should not object. But compared to the Cat, the Rabbit is not as close to humans, and its nature seems rather cold and detached…”

“Do not speak nonsense,” the Queen Mother rebuked. “Who dares say that a rabbit is incapable of emotion? I once saw a devoted white rabbit whose feelings were stronger than most humans in this world.”

“This… As Your Majesty commands…” The anxious divine official knelt in obedience before taking his leave, leaving the Queen Mother sitting entirely alone in the vast, empty palace hall.

Thoughtfully, the Queen Mother looked toward the moon of the heavenly court, and then cast her gaze toward the sun of the mortal realm.

She wondered if the white rabbit on the moon was doing well, and she wondered the same for the mortal beneath the sun.

——————–

Extra Story Chapter 2: Heng’e Guards the Moon

“Fairy Chang’e, given that you ascended to immortality with a mortal body, I know you still have lingering attachments to the mortal realm.” A tall man dressed in jade robes sat at the very center of the heavenly court, his voice echoing with resonance as he spoke to Heng’e. “Therefore, I shall make an exception. I will have someone deliver news of the mortal realm to you on a regular basis. What is it that you wish to know?”

Heng’e slowly bowed in reverence and replied, “Reporting to the Haotian God, if at all possible, this humble woman wishes to receive regular updates about a certain person.”

“Who might that be?”

“His name is Da Yi. He resides in the Dongyi State of the Eastern Divine Continent. He is the hero who shot down the nine suns.”

“Very well.” The Haotian God nodded and turned to Taibai Jinxing beside him. “Go and retrieve information on this Da Yi at once, and have it regularly delivered to Fairy Chang’e in the Moon Palace.”

“This…” Taibai Jinxing, standing next to the Haotian God, pinched his fingers to divine the matter and looked troubled. “There is absolutely no one named Da Yi in the mortal realm. Could it be that Fairy Chang’e has remembered incorrectly?”

Hearing this, Heng’e’s heart violently clenched. Could it be that Da Yi was already dead?

The Haotian God seemed to see through her thoughts and ordered, “Taibai, send a message to Houtu. Ask if a man named Da Yi has reported to the underworld.”

“As you command.”

Taibai Jinxing gently closed his eyes. Heng’e stood silently to the side, not daring to interrupt. She was terrified of hearing any dreadful news.

“How bizarre…” Taibai Jinxing shook his head and turned back. “Reporting to the Haotian God, Lady Houtu says that this Da Yi has not reported to the netherworld either.”

“Ridiculous. He is not in the netherworld, nor is he in the mortal realm. What, did the man become an immortal?” The Haotian God waved his hand dismissively. “Enough. Fairy Heng’e, I gave you an opportunity, but you missed it yourself. You may leave.”

“No…” Panic began to set in for Heng’e. “Something must be wrong. How could Da Yi be in neither the mortal realm nor the underworld?!”

“Hold a moment.” A figure approached from a distance. It was none other than the Daode Tianzun, Taishang Laojun.

Seeing the Daode Tianzun, the Haotian God gave a slight nod in greeting.

Taishang Laojun returned the bow and slowly said, “I have heard that Emperor Yao, the ruler of the human realm, took a man named Yi from the sun-shooting hero’s village. However, that man is not named Da Yi, but Hou Yi. I wonder if this is the person Fairy Chang’e is looking for?”

“Hou… Yi?” Heng’e was slightly confused. The name sounded familiar, but she knew perfectly well that there was no one else named Yi in their village.

“Fairy Chang’e, have you made your decision? Do you wish to regularly receive news about this man named Hou Yi?” the Haotian God asked, his tone carrying an unquestionable authority.

…

Inside the empty, desolate Moon Palace, Heng’e quietly held a white rabbit in her arms, gazing far into the distance as if waiting for something.

Soon, a small black dot flew rapidly from the direction of the mortal realm.

“Ah! It is here! It is here!” Heng’e practically danced with joy.

The black dot slowly grew larger, revealing itself to be a pitch-black bird. Clenched in the bird’s beak was a silk scroll, which it gently placed in front of Heng’e.

Heng’e carefully unrolled the silk scroll. On it was written a single sentence: “Hou Yi followed Emperor Yao on his western conquest and achieved a total victory.”

It was merely a single sentence, yet Heng’e read it seven or eight times.

Then, she carefully folded the silk scroll and tucked it away with the others.

Those simple words were the only solace in her heart.

“Jade Rabbit.” Heng’e gently stroked the white rabbit in her arms. “How strange. Usually, you share my joy and my sorrow, but whenever I receive news of my husband, you act so aloof.”

The white rabbit glanced at the silk scroll, completely expressionless.