Chapter 64: A Future Worth Looking Forward To
This novel is translated and hosted on bcatranslation
Foxy drifted off to sleep astonishingly fast, even though just moments before, she’d been sitting up in bed, chatting eagerly with Yu Sheng, brimming with curiosity about her new surroundings. It was almost as if her excitement had worn her out all at once. Now, she lay quite still, breathing evenly, and before long the only sound in the quiet room was the gentle, muffled cadence of her soft snores.
Irene perched beside Foxy’s bed, watching the little fox spirit’s chest rise and fall, amazed that the girl had fallen asleep so quickly. There wasn’t the slightest toss or turn, at least not yet. Irene leaned in and murmured thoughtfully, “She really did drop off in a blink. She’s dreaming already, I think. Looks peaceful enough.”
Yu Sheng hovered near the doorway, lowering his voice as if not to disturb the sleeping fox girl. “I suppose she hasn’t had a proper rest in a long time,” he said. “I worried she’d find it hard to sleep in a new place—especially since the last place she stayed didn’t even have a decent bed. But I guess she feels safe here.”
In response, Irene rose from the edge of the bed and crossed to the foot of it, carefully adjusting Foxy’s blanket. She moved gently, as though she were tucking in a younger sibling. “A fox’s intuition is usually right on target,” she said in a very matter-of-fact tone. “If she feels secure, it’s no wonder she’s fallen asleep so easily.”
But Irene had hardly finished speaking when Foxy stirred. In one swift, drowsy movement, Foxy rolled over, and from beneath the covers burst a large, plush fox’s tail. It sprang out with a sudden whoosh! Irene, who was bending down to neaten the blanket, had no time to dodge. The fluffy tail caught her right in the middle, flinging the tiny doll-girl backward through the air. Irene let out a startled yelp as she flew across the room and smacked into the wall with a rather alarming thump.
Yu Sheng’s eyes went wide. He dashed forward at once, catching Irene as she slid down the wall. He cradled her carefully in his arms, worried he might have to piece her back together. The moment Irene regained her senses, her tiny mouth opened, and she let out a stream of furious, sputtering curses. None of it was particularly understandable, but the tone made her feelings quite clear.
Throughout all this commotion, Foxy snoozed on, not stirring, not opening her eyes. Instead, she let out a sleepy mumble, curled herself more tightly in her cascade of tails, and nuzzled into them as if they were a pile of soft pillows and blankets combined. She turned into a snug little fluff-ball, perfectly comfortable in her dreams, ignorant of the trouble she’d just caused.
Irene was still fuming, sitting perched on Yu Sheng’s forearm now. “That fox! What was I doing? Only trying to make her more comfortable!” She pointed accusingly at the slumbering Foxy, then huffed. “You know what? Tomorrow you don’t have to bother buying her a blanket. She’s obviously got all the fluff she needs!”
Yu Sheng decided it was best to avoid getting dragged further into Irene’s wrath. He quietly carried her out into the hallway, nudging the door closed behind them. Once they were clear of the room, he breathed a soft sigh of relief. “Well, that’s going to take some getting used to,” he said, glancing back at the door. “Irene, are you alright?”
“Oh, I’m perfectly fine,” Irene snapped sarcastically, rolling her eyes. “My pride took a nice hit, but besides that, I’m wonderful!” She climbed nimbly up onto his shoulder, clearly annoyed but not injured. “If I still had my old body, I wouldn’t stand for that nonsense. You have no idea how amazing I used to be—really, truly amazing!”
Yu Sheng tried to soothe her, his tone light. “I’m sure you were. I believe you.”
To his surprise, Irene didn’t immediately fire back. Instead, she grew quiet and thoughtful. Yu Sheng raised an eyebrow and glanced sideways at her. She sat atop his shoulder, head bowed, as though mulling something over very seriously.
“What’s on your mind?” he asked gently.
Irene’s red eyes lifted. “I was thinking about what you said earlier,” she began slowly, “about wanting Foxy to help you fight. It seems to me that you’ve decided to keep getting involved in Otherworld affairs. You’re not just being pulled into trouble anymore—you’re actually going to seek it out, aren’t you?”
Yu Sheng didn’t answer right away, but the silence hanging between them was as good as a nod.
Irene tilted her head, curious. “Why would you do that? You’ve already rescued Foxy. You could wash your hands of it all. Plenty of people have bumped into the Otherworld, but then they learn from the Special Affairs Bureau how to avoid it. They find ways to stay clear of it and live peaceful lives for years. Why not just do that?”
Yu Sheng thought for a moment. Then he tried a half-hearted joke, “What if I said it’s because I’m curious? The strange happenings of the Otherworld intrigue me. Maybe I’m after a bit of excitement.”
This made Irene snort. She reached out to yank on a few strands of his hair in protest. “Excitement? Really?” she demanded.
“Ow! Alright, alright, stop pulling!” Yu Sheng grabbed hold of her tiny hands to make her let go. “I’m only half-serious.”
Irene narrowed her eyes, but released his hair, crossing her arms impatiently. Yu Sheng sighed and decided to explain himself more honestly.
“I am curious,” he admitted more softly. “That’s part of it. But do you remember that night I took you with me and opened all those doors, one after another? Do you remember what we saw beyond them?”
Irene nodded, her voice quieter now. “…Yes, I remember.”
Yu Sheng’s expression grew thoughtful and distant, as if conjuring up vivid images. “I remember it, too. All those strange scenes—faraway places, the glowing mountain, the floating city, the birds soaring over a vast ravine…” He paused, then added wryly, “And that poor senior fellow who was strung up on a beam.”
Irene’s lips twitched in an attempt not to smile. “Yes, him as well.”
Yu Sheng smiled and shook his head. “Seeing all of that changed something in me. Whether these places belong to the Otherworld or not, I can’t help but be fascinated. I’ve opened so many doors, and I could do it again any time I like. Knowing there are endless worlds beyond Boundary City, how could I just settle down and live a dull, safe life? If I keep opening doors, I’ll keep stumbling into extraordinary sights. That possibility alone makes me want to continue.”
Irene studied him carefully, her crimson eyes thoughtful. Then she clambered up and began smoothing his hair, as if making amends for messing it up. “If I were you,” she said softly, “I’d probably be even more reckless. I’d be crazier than you. I can’t really blame you.”
There was a quiet pause. Then she asked, “So, what’s the other reason?”
Yu Sheng hesitated. Something in his face changed, as though remembering a personal memory. He closed his eyes and saw an image in his mind: sunlight in an old alley, a sky tinted with warm shades of red, clouds that flowed like water over a distant coast—an old seaside town, small yet precious. He could almost smell the salt in the air.
“There’s a place I want to find,” he said quietly, his voice barely above a whisper.
Irene’s small hands paused in his hair. She leaned forward, peering down at him. “Why do I get the feeling,” she asked carefully, “that you want to go there and never return?”
Yu Sheng looked up and met her red gaze. She was so tiny, but the intensity of her stare made him feel as though he owed her a proper explanation.
“…No,” he answered slowly, “I do intend to come back. I just want to see it for myself. That’s all.”
Irene eyed him skeptically. “Really?”
Yu Sheng nodded. “Really.”
She studied him for a moment longer, then shrugged. “You know what? I believe you. At least, for now.” She straightened up and crossed her legs, adopting a practical tone. “Anyway, even if you were lying, I guess I couldn’t stop you. You’re the one with the door-opening powers, after all.”
Yu Sheng smirked softly, relieved that she wasn’t pressing the matter. Irene went on, “So, no more brooding. If you’re going to keep dealing with these strange Otherworld matters, have you decided how you’re going to do it? Are you going to be a Spirit Realm detective and take on official cases? Or maybe become an investigator, roaming around and looking for clues on your own? Or—” She paused, giving him a mischievous look, “—will you just open random doors every day for the thrill of it?”
“Absolutely not the last one,” Yu Sheng said at once, shaking his head firmly. “I may be curious, but I’m not suicidal. If I end up somewhere I can’t handle and can’t run from, that’s the end of me.”
“Good. I’m glad to hear you’re not completely mad.” Irene gave him a pleased nod. “So, detective or investigator? The first path means steady work, but also more rules. The second gives you freedom, but a lot more unpredictable surprises.”
Yu Sheng thought about it. “Which category does Little Red Riding Hood fall into?”
“Definitely a Spirit Realm detective,” Irene said, waving a tiny hand dismissively. “She takes jobs from the Special Affairs Bureau and does this sort of work part-time while she studies. She also mentioned belonging to some group called ‘Fairy Tale’ or something like that.”
This piqued Yu Sheng’s interest. “Fairy Tale? Like an organization? Do groups like that have to register with someone?”
Irene scratched her head, frowning. “I think so? Maybe they do. The Special Affairs Bureau is official, so if you gather a bunch of Otherworld experts without registering, wouldn’t that just make you a suspicious, rogue band of misfits?”
She paused, narrowing her eyes. “Wait, are you thinking of starting your own organization? Just so we’re clear: right now, it’s you, me, and Foxy, and neither of us ladies has a legal identity. That leaves you as the only official person in this group.”
Yu Sheng realized he had no idea how to go about something like that. He rubbed the back of his neck. “Oh… right. I guess Foxy will need some sort of ID. I mean, she can’t just wander around the city without papers, can she?”
Irene shrugged. “Ask the Special Affairs Bureau next time they contact you. They might help with something small like that.”
“Are they allowed to?” Yu Sheng asked, doubtful.
Irene laughed. “What’s the harm in asking? The worst they can do is say no.”
Yu Sheng nodded, making a mental note. Then another thought struck him. He turned to look at Irene with sudden suspicion. “Hold on. You’re not planning to sleep in my room again tonight, are you?”
Irene crossed her arms and lifted her chin defiantly. “Of course I am! My own room is too spooky. I hate it!”
Yu Sheng rolled his eyes, exasperated. “You’re creepy enough on your own. Go back to your own room!”
“No way!” Irene retorted, and her stubborn refusal echoed cheerfully in the quiet hallway.