16. Song Yu Turns Out to Be a Handsome Man (With Blue Eyes and Mixed Blood)

Xiao Hei stared in shock as Yu Dongxi stood at the riverbank, shouting “Song Yu” with all her strength. At that time, the Bridge of the Other Shore was bathed in dusk. Yu Dongxi had her back to it, and the girl’s voice traveled across the riverbank, straight to the river’s depths.

“Song Yu! Song Yu!”

Song Yu was holding his sword. When he heard those two words, he paused in surprise. Equally stunned was Hua Qi, who stood beside him.

Hua Qi chuckled and said, “Ah Yu, sometimes you really should learn to let go. Even if everyone’s memories have been erased, there are still people who will stop at nothing to find you.”

“There will always be someone who finds a way to pull you back.”

Song Yu lowered his head with a smile, dropped the sword in his hand, and unwrapped the gauze wound around his wrist. Slowly, he used it to blindfold his eyes. He stood tall and upright, backlit by the only beam of light. The sword that had fallen to the ground returned to his hand. This time, without a moment’s hesitation, he reversed his grip and stabbed the sword into the mural of the caged bird.

In the next instant, a beast’s anguished roar echoed out. The mural emitted a blinding light and then shattered across the floor.

“I’m leaving,” Song Yu said, curling his lips into a smile.

A wave of intense pain surged through Xiao Hei’s dog brain. He let out a low hiss of “tsk,” as memories began to clear in his mind—Song Yu, Song Yu, it’s really Song Yu!

“It’s…” that name!

Before he could finish his sentence, a figure slowly emerged from the center of the river. The figure was tall, holding a long sword, walking step by step through the water toward the riverbank. His gaze remained fixed on the girl standing there.

Song Yu curved the corner of his lips and softly said, “I’m back.”

His voice was very, very soft.

Yu Dongxi looked at the person in front of her and tried to take a step forward—only to be stopped by a golden thread drawn by Qiu Sui. Xiao Hei didn’t have time to think. He immediately stretched out his dog paw and wiped the golden line away.

Yu Dongxi stepped across the powdered remnants of the golden line and ran toward Song Yu. But Xiao Hei shouted loudly, “Don’t go over there! Get back!”

Just a few steps from the river’s edge, Yu Dongxi stopped in her tracks.

“Hey, help me out here,” Xiao Hei jumped onto her shoulder with effort. “If Song Yu comes back just like that with no explanation, it won’t be okay. It won’t just be Song Yu—they won’t be able to explain things clearly even for you and Qiu Sui.”

“Then what should we do?”

“Just prove that Song Yu has no intention of threatening the Underworld.”

“Then how do I prove that?”

“Let’s think about that later.”

Yu Dongxi: What?

“Actually, I’m not entirely sure whether Song Yu poses a threat to the Underworld right now, so…” Xiao Hei stretched out his dog paw, and suddenly, his eyes gleamed with a golden-red light. Song Yu jerked his head up. A strong gust of wind erupted, making his white shirt whip wildly in the wind. “I need to know what Song Yu’s obsession is.”

“Qiu Sui!”

The strong wind swept Yu Dongxi up. Just as she was about to lose consciousness, she suddenly felt a bit of regret—she should have fastened Qiu Sui’s clothes properly earlier.

—

“Welcome to the Fantasy Realm. This Fantasy Realm is codenamed G202407211115.”

“Speaking of which, Old Master Song really was a formidable man… Such a shame… But living to seventy or eighty—well, that’s a good run.”

“Old Master Song was impressive enough on his own, but his eldest son wasn’t far behind. The Song family really has been full of talent, generation after generation.”

“And his grandson—now that’s someone extraordinary. Song Yu, worthy of the name ‘^[1]玉 (Yù) literally means “jade” in Chinese. In Chinese culture, jade is highly valued and symbolizes nobility, purity, strength, and virtue.Yu’!”

Yu Dongxi’s head was still spinning. Even in her hazy state of consciousness, she clearly heard these voices.

“Welcome to the Fantasy Realm. I’ll be your partner for this round.” The deep, reassuring voice of Brother Du sounded. To Yu Dongxi, hearing his voice felt no different from seeing a family member.

“Brother Du,” Yu Dongxi’s voice trembled, almost crying, “I’m so wronged… damn Song Yu!”

Brother Du: “…You’re not wronged.”

Brother Du, you robot.

Yu Dongxi opened her eyes and found herself wearing a long black dress, sitting on the couch in the lobby on the first floor. Everyone around her was dressed in black, their faces bare of makeup. Wreaths filled the entrance, and the sound of sobbing echoed from all directions.

Even the dullest person could tell—this was a funeral.

“How did you even know Song Yu’s name?” A sudden voice startled Yu Dongxi. She looked to the side and saw Xiao Hei lying next to her, licking his paw.

“I guessed. First, I ruled out the possibility that Song Yu might already be dead. Then, when I was checking the Song family’s Book of Life and Death at Xia Lingyin, I paid attention to the names and life histories of those people. Actually, before going to the Bridge of the Other Shore, I didn’t know his name was Song Yu. But once I learned that the bridge imprisoned only extremely dangerous and evil individuals, I thought—unless someone died tragically or was exceptionally ‘special,’ they wouldn’t be sent there. So I looked back at the life records of those from the Song family. Only a few died violently, and among them, Song Yu’s past was the most remarkable—he had the most brag-worthy life story. So I bet his name was Song Yu.”

“Amazing.” This time, Xiao Hei was genuinely impressed. “But with so many names, how did you remember them all so accurately? And you even matched their life histories that fast—do you have some kind of trick?”

“Well… just think of me as having a photographic memory.”

“Yeah right, keep bragging.” Xiao Hei let out a disdainful snort.

Suddenly, there was a commotion at the entrance. The noisy crowd surged in unison toward one direction. Yu Dongxi tidied her hair, picked up Xiao Hei, and walked toward the crowd.

“Hey! You really love sticking your nose into things, huh?”

“You don’t get it, Xiao Hei. If there’s a crowd and I don’t join, I’d feel like a loser. When I was little, whenever someone argued downstairs, I’d drag a chair out to the balcony to watch.”

Xiao Hei: “…Been meaning to ask—who told you I’m called Xiao Hei? Was it that bastard Song Yu?”

“Hey, look at that kid—he looks mixed-race, with blue eyes!”

Xiao Hei craned his neck to get a better look, only to meet a pair of extremely cold, piercing blue eyes filled with murderous intent.

The boy’s eyes were as clear as the sky. He had a tall nose bridge, sharp features, pale skin, and wore a black suit. He looked like a little adult.

“T-that’s…!” Xiao Hei pulled his gaze back and whispered sharply into Yu Dongxi’s ear, “That’s Song Yu!”

“Wow, he’s so good-looking,” Yu Dongxi sighed.

“…Not that it’s the point, but honestly, in all my years in the Underworld, I haven’t seen many better-looking than him.” Xiao Hei shook his dog head. “Enough with the distractions—back to work!”

“Oh, right, right!”

The man standing beside Song Yu was tall and imposing, with sharp features, sword-like brows, and starry eyes. He looked very much like Song Yu, though he carried a more authoritative presence.

Perhaps because Yu Dongxi had always seen Song Yu as lazy and carefree, seeing this serious, miniature version of him now made her feel like she was looking at a stranger.

The man next to Song Yu held his hand, frowning. After exchanging a few polite greetings with those around them, he led Song Yu upstairs.

Actually, it seemed the people around were only there to show their faces. As soon as they saw the man meant business, they quickly dispersed and went about their own matters.

Yu Dongxi held Xiao Hei tightly and followed behind Song Yu. As if sensing something, Song Yu turned around. His gaze locked directly onto Yu Dongxi.

Even though she wasn’t that close to him and the first floor was bustling with people, making her just one face in the crowd, Song Yu still managed to spot her with pinpoint accuracy.

Was this guy born in the Year of the Dog or what?!

The man beside Song Yu noticed that he had stopped walking, so he stopped as well, bent down, and asked, “What’s wrong, Ah Yu?”

Song Yu shifted his gaze away from Yu Dongxi, shook his head, and said, “It’s nothing. I thought I saw someone I knew.”

“Someone you knew?” The man turned around and glanced over the area. Seeing no suspicious figures, he finally relaxed.

Only after the pair—one tall, one small—resumed walking did Yu Dongxi dare to follow them.

She quietly trailed behind them all the way to the fourth floor. Song Yu and the man walked to the doorway of a bedroom. The bedroom door was wide open. Through it, Yu Dongxi saw an elderly man lying on the bed inside. His face was dark and sallow, his breathing labored. Both sides of the bed were crowded with people.

The man beside Song Yu let out a long sigh, released Song Yu’s hand, crouched down, and spoke gently: “Ah Yu, wait at the door. I’ll go check on Grandpa.”

The person isn’t even dead yet, and the funeral’s already been set up.

That was Yu Dongxi’s first thought. Seems like rich families really are full of drama—before the old man even breathes his last, all the funeral arrangements have already been made.

Isn’t that… a bit too hasty?

Standing beside Song Yu, Yu Dongxi sighed and said, “Hey, are you Song Yu?”

Song Yu turned his head warily and looked at her. “I remember you—you’re the woman who was following me and my father earlier, right? How do you know my name?”

“Because you’re a very famous little kid.” Yu Dongxi lightly poked Song Yu’s cheek with her index finger. Song Yu frowned and tried to pull away from her hand, but was still touched.

“You… you’re not allowed to touch my face!” Song Yu said with a cold expression, his voice low but still somewhat fierce.

Yu Dongxi found it amusing. She didn’t expect Song Yu to have this kind of personality as a child.

She glanced toward the bedroom. Inside, the old man lying on the bed coughed a few times, then called out hoarsely, “Yinhong, come here.”

The man called “Yinhong” was the same one who had been walking beside Song Yu earlier. Song Yinhong bent down and pressed his ear close to the old man’s breathing. The old man spoke a long, muffled sentence to him—so unclear that even Song Yinhong could barely make it out, let alone anyone else.

After listening to his father’s words, Song Yinhong nodded solemnly and promised, “Don’t worry, Father, I will definitely do it, rest assured…”

“Ah Yu…” The old man sighed deeply, “Ah Yu…”

Hearing his grandfather’s call, Song Yu immediately ran inside and leaned beside the bed, tears streaming from his eyes. Children’s emotions are sensitive and naturally transparent. Among all the adults in the room, not a single child was sad—except Song Yu.

“Ah Yu, Ah Yu, you must… listen carefully to your father’s words. From now on, the Song family depends on you. My good grandson, Ah Yu…” The old man’s voice grew weaker and weaker until it was little more than a breath.

In his final moments, the old man still tightly held Song Yu’s small hand.

Anyone who wasn’t a fool could understand what the old man meant by that.

Song Yu was the future heir of the Song family empire.

The cries inside the room were deafening—those who heard them would weep, those who saw would grieve. It seemed everyone was mourning the passing of the old man.

Yu Dongxi looked around at the people in the room, scanning over them again and again. Behind Song Yinhong stood a man whose eyes were full of tears but whose gaze was unusually cold. His look was like that of a beast filled with hatred, fixed relentlessly on Song Yinhong, never leaving him.