New Year Special: The Aftermath of Walking Marriage Bridge

Suppose there exists a worldline without any regrets.

Perhaps after stepping onto this bridge, the path will not lead to death, but rather to a future where we can face everything together hand in hand.

A gentle breeze, between day and night, caressed his face. The young man gazed absently at the ripples spreading slowly across the river. It seemed as if he had something he wanted to say but couldn't, and his lips parted but no words came out.

But soon, the immortal's puzzled gaze brought Su Qing'an back to her senses.

As the girl's face came into view, the boy suddenly felt an unprecedented sense of longing and a deep-seated panic.

That's strange.

It was as if if you hesitated for even a second, you would never see that person again; if you were even a moment too slow, the words hidden in your heart would never be uttered.

The emotions surging in my chest were regret, fear, and confusion.

The usually calm and composed Su Qing'an revealed a complicated expression, and then, seeing the girl's adorable expression of surprise with her eyes slightly wide open, he lost his composure and grabbed her shoulder.

Su Qing'an restrained herself from embracing her directly. Her fingertips touched the softness of her skin through the white Hanfu, and the warmth it conveyed made the usually calm girl feel a little lost.

Her pink lips twitched slightly, but she ultimately chose to remain silent, pursing them closed.

A thin mist seemed to rise in his eyes, making his holy blue pupils appear even more moist and dreamlike.

The girl's snow-white skin was tinged with a faint pink, but she only watched intently as his face drew closer and closer, until their cheeks almost brushed against each other, and she still did not object to this overly intimate action.

And then, Su Qing'an's whispered words landed loudly in her ear:

"I like you, Hua."

"It has been like this for a very, very long time."

Fu Hua found it difficult to describe this wonderful and novel feeling.

In the few remaining memories, even among the countless Heart Seal buried beneath Mount Taixu, there had never been such a fervent and burning emotion.

The immortal already knew about the boy's earnest confession.

She had already noticed it much earlier.

Knowing this, Fu Hua, who still asked the boy for his reasons in Mount Taixu, must have already known the answer in his heart.

Why not say it yourself?

It wasn't due to so-called shyness or arrogance, nor for any other reason.

It was simply because she needed a reason, a reason to ask the immortals about the passage of ten thousand years.

Now that he's said it, everything seems to fall into place naturally.

It was like the last snowflake falling before an avalanche, effortlessly releasing long-accumulated emotions. In that instant, all barriers and lifespans, fate and entanglements, reason and excuses were completely submerged and swept away.

These are all distracting thoughts.

The immortal who once thought this emotion was a distraction has unknowingly abandoned some of his outdated beliefs.

She jokingly dismissed those things as distractions, as if that would allow her to face this emotion with equanimity.

At this moment, Fu Hua thoroughly examined the feelings between the two of them, which were plain and simple yet deeply touching.

Would I feel disgusted if I imagined being held in his arms?

[Won't.]

Would you feel uncomfortable if we held hands?

[Won't.]

Will I feel sad if I can no longer see him?

[Meeting.]

Do you like him?

[...]

Even though she hasn't given a final promise yet, Fu Hua honestly believes that nothing can be dealt with without taking it seriously.

So, in a moment of distraction, she no longer felt panicked.

You see, if we encounter natural forces like avalanches and tsunamis, how could ordinary people think they would be safe and sound?

The ending was predetermined; you have nowhere to escape or avoid it.

Then we can only accept it, right?

As if finding an excuse for herself, the girl simply and decisively embraced the boy's body. Her slender white fingertips rested on the joints of his back, and the slight force she applied seemed incredibly alluring at that moment.

Before Su Qing'an could fully react, he realized that his hands were no longer suitable to be placed on the immortal's shoulders. After hesitating for a second, the young man respectfully placed his ten fingers on the other's slender waist. The touch of the fabric made him lose his senses and his face flushed.

The fairy's warm breath brushed against her neck and ears as she whispered softly:

"I know, you seem to have been plotting something for a long time."

Su Qing'an inhaled the pure, cool scent emanating from her, like plum blossoms pressed between the pages of a book, their fragrance faint and cool, seemingly timeless and enduring.

He responded:

When was it discovered?

The immortal's slender fingers slowly brushed across her back, as if counting the vertebrae, finally resting on the area behind her heart.

The girl carefully felt the subtle yet extremely high-frequency vibrations, burying her face earnestly in her chest and listening to her heart pounding more and more lively, like a drumbeat.

The other person's blood flow and breathing rate recklessly lowered all her guard, allowing her to gradually become fully aware of everything.

You like it that much?

Her lips curved into a soft smile as she murmured:

"I was probably truly certain at that auction."

"You tried to hide it, but you didn't hide it well enough."

"It seems like I can't hide it anymore even on this vacation."

"After all, no matter how mature you are, you're still quite young."

"Little Sue? Is that what Bronya calls you? Do you mind me calling you that?"

The immortal's murmurs, carried by the setting sun, fell into the veil of night, ethereal and tinged with fragmented laughter.

Su Qing'an said softly:

"Either is fine, if it's you."

Fu Hua released her hand, ending their brief yet long embrace, as if that was enough to dispel all the boredom of the long years.

Her face, without any makeup, looked as if it had been painted with the finest rouge, making the blue sea in her eyes seem to reflect a blazing starry river.

The immortal looked at the boy's face and said:

"Let's be more formal for now, it'll be better if I call you Su Qing'an."

She smiled.

"Su Qing'an, do you want to go to the temple fair?"

So he nodded and agreed, but tacitly avoided mentioning the original question.

Because... the immortal has already given himself the answer.

Theresa's team diligently filmed from a distance using drones and other equipment.

Their motto was that the camera would not miss a single intimate moment between the two.

Thus, this embrace, which occurred between dusk and night, was captured in countless clear and detailed photographs. The team then edited and selected the photos before handing them over to Theresa, the sponsor.

In order to win more prize money and make a fortune, fifty professional photographers have already infiltrated various locations within the temple fair with their equipment.

Having already visited the previous temple fairs, the two should have lost much of their initial interest.

But as night falls, the scene transforms completely. Large, antique-style lights, seen from above, appear to connect like undulating ocean currents, and a vibrant spectrum of colors adorns the dark night with a magnificent veil.

Amidst the bustling crowds, Su Qing'an and Fu Hua strolled through this unusually long temple fair. They carefully observed the small shops and street scenes they had never seen before, and found that their feelings were different from when they visited before.

The ambiguity and mystery were shattered by the boy's words and the immortal's tacit approval, and the core of the relationship naturally underwent a tremendous change.

From an outward perspective, even if the flow of people causes the two people to unconsciously get close to each other, they will not consciously keep their distance immediately.

The boy's movements as he took her slender, pale hand were initially unnaturally stiff, but after a while, he slowly and earnestly gathered it, carefully enveloping and holding it tightly. The force with which he held her fingers was so light, as if he were protecting a fragile treasure.

The warm touch slowly spread through her palm to her whole body, as if trying to make her feel hot and feverish. The immortal looked at the flickering, hazy lights in the distance, but her thoughts were constantly swirling within the small space of the boy's hand.

Even she would feel uncomfortable in such a situation.

Fu Hua glanced at the takoyaki stall by the roadside and muttered to herself:

"Su Qing'an, your hands are so hot."

The boy pursed his lips:

"The state of perfect martial arts used to allow me to control my body temperature, State of Still Water and the Sword Heart Technique were enough to make me extremely calm, but I can't do that now."

"Because your hand is in my hand."

"I like Hua, so there's nothing I can do about it."

The immortal couldn't help but laugh.

There was neither loneliness nor sorrow, only pure joy.

She looked at Su Qing'an's ears, which were already flushed red despite her serious expression, and the curve of her lips turned up even more beautifully.

Even when he feels ashamed, he will speak his mind honestly; perhaps that's one of the things that makes him endearing.

Fu Hua silently tightened her grip on his hand, gazing at the countless stars in the night sky as she whispered:

"I'm not afraid of the heat."

As they wandered aimlessly, the number of people around them dwindled until they finally arrived at a rare spot not covered by lights. This was a riverside street, but even without the illumination of lights, the surrounding scenery remained clearly visible.

As an ancient town crisscrossed by rivers, the festival showcases the breathtaking scenery unique to this area, with countless tributaries branching off from the river.

Countless lanterns floated on the surface of the river, drifting away in their own directions with the wind and the tranquil flow of the water, as if carrying the aspirations of midsummer.

The immortal and the boy gazed at the scene together, and for a moment, it seemed as if their pupils reflected the real lights of countless homes, shining brightly.

After a long silence, the girl opened her lips:

"From ancient times, the people of Shenzhou have expressed their joys and sorrows, and their aspirations for all things, in this way."

"Although this custom did not exist a thousand years ago, so it cannot be considered truly ancient, if it remains unchanged and persists for another thousand years, then it must be close to being a true tradition."

Su Qing'an simply asked:

"Does Hua think this scenery is beautiful?"

Fu Hua responded:

"It's very beautiful."

The boy looked up at her face and said:

"That's enough for now."

"You want to carry too much on your shoulders. Those things are too heavy and burdensome. It may be a good thing for the people you shelter under your wings, but for you, it is quite the opposite."

The immortal's gaze narrowed slightly, and she said softly:

"This is my responsibility; I can't escape it or avoid it."

"Looking back on my life so far, it has been quite long, yet I still often feel empty, as if I haven't grasped the true direction."

"It's like a fledgling bird that has just hatched; the birth of life clearly symbolizes a hopeful beginning, yet somehow, because it's a bird, its entire future is predetermined."

"Su Qing'an, I was also curious about my future 55,000 years ago."

"I thought about it a lot, whether to stubbornly inherit my father's martial arts school or to try to get a guaranteed admission to a better university. These trivial matters that are insignificant now were things that troubled and confused me back then, but it was good to be troubled and confused by them."

"Whether you end up working in a big city or going back to your hometown to start a small business, it seems like a good choice."

"I've thought about it a lot, but later I realized that Honkai never wanted to give people the right to choose for themselves."

"This is an injustice. I clearly understand that there are too many injustices in the world, and often, due to limitations in our abilities, even if we witness them firsthand, we can only accept reality."

"It wasn't that I chose to fight against the Honkai, but that I had no other choice."

"I embarked on this path in a state of confusion. Unlike many of my comrades, who all had clear goals and core will to varying degrees, I was merely going with the flow."

"But now I've gotten used to it."

Fu Hua's words drifted into the boy's ears on the night breeze, leaving him speechless with deep emotion.

The immortal seemed to realize that she had inadvertently made the atmosphere heavy. Looking at the faces of those around her, she gently comforted them:

"Su Qing'an, this is not a difficult task."

"Because besides this, I only have a piece of history buried in the past, and I seem to have lost all meaning in my existence."

The girl understood the weight of the immortal's words. Her tone became blank as she spoke her last sentence, like a traveler without a home asking a coin in his palm about his future path. These were words she uttered knowing she would not get an answer.

Su Qing'an has no ability to guarantee those illusory futures. Perhaps this is like many vows between lovers that are destined to never be fulfilled, yet their meaning when spoken in the present moment is beautiful enough.

The boy did not choose to accept that wonderful thing because he was unwilling to tell the immortal a single lie.

Feeling saddened by my own inadequacy and uneasy about the hopeless darkness of the future.

Despite feeling powerless, Su Qing'an miraculously stopped feeling the need to hide her true feelings.

He said softly:

"I hope your reason for continuing to live in this world, besides fighting against the Honkai, is..."

"And me too."

Fu Hua was stunned for a moment, wondering how she should respond to those words.

This is an answer without an answer.

There's no need to think or hesitate; just follow your heart.

The lanterns on the river reflected a hazy glow, and the fairy-like features softened suddenly amidst the vibrant colors. The pool of spring water, as if ruffled by a breeze, drowned the boy's unease and sorrow with a gentleness that seemed otherworldly.

She wrapped her arms around his neck, closed her eyes, and smiled gently.

As if she herself felt shy, the fairy turned her face away from the boy so he couldn't see her expression, but she still spoke softly and confidently beside his blushing ear:

"Good."

This is a promise that speaks louder than a thousand words, a promise made by convention.

The warmth of her breath and the softness of her lips spread up her skin, and in a moment of euphoria, Su Qing'an unconsciously returned the embrace.

He seemed to be mimicking the girl's previous movements, his slender fingers resting on the joints of her back, finally landing on her supple waist.

The delicate softness beneath the fabric was something to cherish, but the boy restrained himself and didn't apply much force. He gazed at the bright red lanterns on the opposite bank of the river and said, pursing his lips:

"Compared to fighting the Honkai and other ideologies, you are far more important to me than any of these."

"I've always lived in this world in a daze, and I've gotten used to having no expectations of anything, whether it's myself or others."

"I've always warned myself not to do things beyond my capabilities and limits, although currently, for many reasons, I have to cross some thresholds to fight."

"But if you ask me what's in my heart, I hate fighting, I hate wielding a sword, I don't like practicing [Thousand Stars], I don't like experiencing pain, I don't like making an effort, and I don't want to face reality."

Su Qing'an's monologue was the most honest confession, words that could only be spoken when facing Fu Hua.

This is a thought that only a far more mature immortal, someone who can make him open his heart, is qualified to understand and comfort.

Even though these distracting thoughts are eventually restrained and suppressed by reason, I am essentially this kind of person. I don't have any glorious ideals, nor do I have any motto to support my life. All my actions are products of helplessness.

"When I examine myself, I always think to myself, 'This person is just so-so in those things.'"

"But it's different when it comes to you."

"Su Qing'an wants to be someone who can bring happiness to Fu Hua. This is the only pure desire he has, a desire that he can naturally strive for without needing to use his will to correct it."

Therefore, even in the darkest timelines and the most hopeless futures, he could tolerate purgatory far more terrifying than before.

I said it.

This was the boy's first reaction upon seeing the immortal's reddened earlobes.

What should have been a brief, fleeting embrace was prolonged by Su Qing'an's direct approach.

There's no way around it; even someone as composed as Fu Hua can't help but feel shy when faced with such words.

From the perspective of an elder in the immortal realm, the very emergence of this emotion would make her feel ashamed.

After all, even though the seniority and position between him and himself had always seemed ambiguous, it was still an undeniable fact.

Therefore, Fu Hua could only hold onto this person for the time being to avoid being seen showing her uncontrollable expression at this moment.

She whispered a complaint in the other person's ear:

"That's... a really hard thing to respond to."

"That's too cheesy, Su Qing'an."

Then, as if not wanting the boy to be sad, the immortal added with a gentle laugh:

"But I don't hate it."

The embrace eventually came to an end.

For the two, who had always been somewhat aloof, prolonged physical contact always seemed excessively passionate and rare.

Even though the relationship may have undergone a subtle shift, it has taken a real step towards a welcome development.

However, their taciturn nature still made others feel that the atmosphere between Su Qing'an and Fu Hua hadn't changed much.

Unhurried and unhurried, as calm and serene as water.

Perhaps maintaining this distance and warmth, occasionally moving a little closer to each other, is enough to create enough sweetness.

The lanterns are just being lit.

The cool night was illuminated by the lights of thousands of homes, creating a dazzling spectacle, while the fireworks that rose and intertwined in the sky dispelled some of the darkness.

In that single minute, the fireworks, which went through countless cycles of blooming and fading, arranged themselves in different sequences to form complete words.

The boy looked up at the sky, his gaze drifting to the snow-white face of the person beside him, and softly recited the linked words:

"Su Qing'an likes Fu Hua."

Upon hearing Theresa's deadly threat, she calmly parted her lips and said:

"I know."

"Me too."

The fireworks display continued unabated.

Amidst the cacophony of trivial sounds, Su Qing'an found the answer.

The photographer's team successfully obtained excellent material beyond their expectations. With professionalism and enthusiasm for making money, they worked through the night to process and integrate the photos, and then sent them to the two bosses.

Theresa Apocalypse.

Otto Apocalypse.

Well, it's clear that Otto, who has always found this very interesting, wouldn't miss the opportunity to obtain interesting information.

Rather than starting from scratch and hiring someone to film it yourself, it's a smarter approach to use money to replicate the excellent work of your lovely granddaughter.

Meanwhile, Theresa, who was completely unaware of all this, carefully placed all the detailed documents, videos, and photos into the safe in the principal's office after reviewing them.

Then, the white-haired girl sat down on the large chair.

She held a quill pen, but showed no interest in the mostly unapproved documents still on the table.

Theresa had a suspicious blush and a smile on her face, and seemed lost in thought.

After a long while, she came to her senses, patted her cheeks, and revealed a solemn expression.

Next time, I'll use these things to trade with Himeko for a vacation. But I can't let her find out before then.

One day...

Su Qing'an will overcome sorrow and despair and reach an ending where she can fulfill her wishes.

Therefore, even in the darkest timelines and the most hopeless futures, he could tolerate purgatory far more terrifying than before.