Crashing into Daylight

【Was anyone there at the Qihai City auction? Yu Huai really showed up!】

[I was there. After that day, I deeply understood what they mean when they tell you to keep a distance from your idol in real life. I encourage everyone to stay as far away from him as possible, otherwise you won’t be able to hold on to your worthless lives.] 

[Agreed. To be honest, in that moment when he showed his face, I wished that I had never successfully met my idol. I was so damn certain my two feet had stepped into the Yellow Springs1.] 

[What kind of status do the two people above me have? Why are you attending the underground auction if you don’t have any guts?]

[I’m willing! Dying by the hands of a handsome man is worth it!]

[One look and I can tell you don’t know what happens when you get killed by a Ghost. Do you think it’s as simple as losing your life?]

[Breaking news, my friends! Xu Yinian was also at the auction. He bumped into Yu Huai!]

–

It was yet another incomprehensible theory class. Dean Qin was explaining the six applications of the Binding Incantation. Xu Yinian listened till both his eyes went blurry and dazed. He fished out his phone by habit and logged into the joint forum. 

He’d just entered the joint forum when his attention was caught by a brand new post that had just been made. 

[Yu Huai didn’t kill him?]

[Yu Huai didn’t kill him and burn him to ashes?]

[Not only did he not kill him, but he even helped him out of a predicament.]!

[Holy shit. A son of a bitch snuck in to speak up for that slag man? Where are the moderators? Kick them out!]

[Calm yo self. Would you have been able to take out the leader on your own?] 

[Am I blind? Xu Yinian has supporters?]

[To be honest, Xu Yinian is a pretty good person. There is no right and wrong when it comes to affairs of love. Maybe there was a misunderstanding between him and Yu Huai last time?] 

This was the first time Xu Yinian was seeing someone legitimately standing up for him on the joint forum. He was deeply engrossed in this discovery when his deskmate Xia Ziheng poked him. “Xiao Xu-Ge2, whatcha’ looking at?” 

“Looking at idiots.”

“Then why do you look so happy?”

“…” Xu Yinian cleared his throat and restrained his expression. 

Dean Qin, who had long noticed them, couldn’t stand it any longer. “Xia Ziheng! You’re slacking off right after you come back to school! Are you here to learn or chat? Answer the question! What are the conditions for invoking the fifth binding incantation?”

Xia Ziheng stood up, exposing an undeserved smile of confidence. “I don’t know.” 

Dean Qin stabilized his breathing, targeting Xia Ziheng’s deskmate instead, “Xu Yinian?”

Xu Yinian got to his feet. “As long as you have hands.”

Dean Qin inhaled deeply, then blew up. “Both of you, scram!” 

Xu Yinian and Xia Ziheng made their way out of the classroom, one after the other. 

Among the Four Great Families, the Xu family and the Xia family had the closest relationship. Xu Yinian and Xia Ziheng had met during their childhood, with the latter considered a rarity among the younger generation. If you asked him to choose between being a ‘powerful demon slayer’ and ‘muddling along till death’, Xia Ziheng would pick the second one without hesitation. 

It was precisely due to this that this young master, who was not at all gifted with talents, often requested leave and skipped class. His theory grades and practical grades were an absolute mess. 

“Your foot has recovered?” Xu Yinian still remembered that the reason for Xia Ziheng’s leave of absence last week was because he had broken his foot mid-mission.

“It was never broken to begin with.”

“…”

“Staying at home is boring, so I came to the academy for a whirl.” Xia Ziheng looked towards the temporary stage that had been constructed. “It’s the school anniversary tomorrow. It’ll probably be pretty interesting, huh?”

Maple Bridge Academy celebrated its school anniversary every five years, every iteration extravagant and grand, lively and bustling. Compared to the Demon Slayer Bureau, Maple Bridge Academy was more like a glance into the Demon Slayer Realm from the eyes of regular humans. On that day, the academy not only organized a variety of activities, but also invited regular humans to visit and have a look around the campus. Other than allowing the rest of the world to understand their mission, they could also capitalize on the occasion to attract investments and new students.

Xu Yinian looked in the direction of Xia Ziheng’s gaze. 

He saw the stage that was set up in preparation for tomorrow. A little distance away stood a trail lined with cherry blossom trees. The cherry blossoms that would come into bloom late spring resembled falling pink snow, one that piled heavily onto the branches. 

Pairs and trios of students walked under the cherry blossom trees, where the Outstanding Student’s face was plastered on the notification boards. Five years ago, Yu Huai’s photo had taken pride of place in the most conspicuous spots. Many girls would especially slow down or stop to take a longer look at him. 

For a long time after that massacre had taken place, the academy did not take down his photo. There were still many people who gathered there for a time; they looked at the photo of Yu Huai, discussing the news that they had just gotten in hushed voices.

How long before he dies?

Probably soon. 

So many people are out for his life. He’s close to dying. 

…

…

When he had reunited with Yu Huai at the auction, there was something that Xu Yinian had actually wanted to say to him. 

I’m very happy.

Very happy that you managed to survive, and very happy… you’re doing so well.

Even better than I could have ever hoped for.

-　　

Other than the variety of activities planned, the students were also required to participate in a theory exam and practical test on the day of the school anniversary. The practical test would be carried out in a fashion not unlike a public single-elimination tournament where the winner would stay on until they were defeated. It served as another channel for the academy to showcase itself to the public.

In order to better motivate the students to participate and show off the academy’s teachings, a genius principal had thought of this idea: those students who scored the lowest after combining their theory and practical marks would have to face a punishment. What exactly this punishment would entail was up to the discretion of the teachers.   

During the previous school anniversary, even though Xu Yinian’s practical marks were among the best, his theory marks could not even begin to compare. He ended up being sent to clean up the repository, eating dust alongside a dozen of his other schoolmates.  

On the day of the school anniversary, Xu Yinian was woken up from his dream by his roommate. 

His roommate Ye Qiao knocked at his headboard, sending a “get up” his way. Xu Yinian was too sleepy to even open his eyes. He resigned to his despair. “I’m not going anymore. My practical marks will only be a single-digit regardless.” 

“The teacher in charge of meting out the punishment this year is the vice-principal.” Ye Qiao dished out the finishing blow calmly, and the effect was instantaneous and startling. 

In the throes of death, Xu Yinian sat up in alarm, resolving to continue his final hurrah. 

The destructive power that Yuan Mu’s name possessed was extraordinary. When Xu Yinian walked into class, all of the students were gathered and concentrating their attention on salvaging their theory marks. Even Xia Ziheng was clutching at his textbook and embracing Buddha’s feet in this hour of need3. “I only just found out it was the vice-principal, holy shit!”   

Xu Yinian whipped out his textbook, but pushed it aside after a mere three minutes. He made the decision to face the storm and gale, “isn’t it just a punishment? What’s the big deal?”

Xia Ziheng, “… You resigned to your fate far too quickly.” 

When Yuan Mu’s voice resonated from the intercom, everyone raised their heads. 

The old demon who had lived for over a hundred years announced in a gentle voice, “students, in this time where all creatures blossom and spring is in the air, the academy commemorates its ninety-eighth anniversary. I’m aware that this is not a day anyone enjoys; after all, even though it claims itself to be the school anniversary, it’s really an exam…”

Xia Ziheng was aghast. “He actually admitted it directly?!”

“… In order to encourage everyone to face this with great enthusiasm, students above the fifth grade with marks falling within the bottom seven percent have to serve as waiters and waitresses for tonight’s picnic, crossdressed.”

What claimed to be encouragement was in reality coercion. 

The entire room fell into absolute and dreadful silence. 

While the girls were still pondering over the troublesome and tedious tasks they would be made to do, the boys’ spirits had already been crushed entirely.

“Help! Did I hear him right? Is that what I think it means?!”

“It’s just crossdressing with a pinch of playing as a dog… haha, is there still time to withdraw from school?”

Xia Ziheng was in excruciating pain. “Why did I have to come to the school anniversary to join in on the fun? I should’ve continued staying home and pretending to be sick.”

Xu Yinian appeared to be in a trance-like state, still harboring the idea of leaving things to fate. “Maybe I can do it…”  

As he mumbled to himself, he made his best attempt at comforting himself, “there’s no way I won’t be able to answer a single question.”

The confidence he had mustered with great difficulty lasted until the start of the theory examination when the invigilating instructors entered and distributed the exam script to everyone. 

Incomprehensible.

Every question was genuinely beyond him.

Xu Yinian didn’t give up hope, flipping the script from cover to cover. He then calmed his breathing.

It’s alright. There’s still hope.

Try harder for the practical assessment and secure first place. There would still be hope once both scores were added up…

As he pondered over this, he observed the people in his vicinity. His line of sight unknowingly drifted towards the window, coming to a halt when he got a good and proper look at the figure that stood outside patrolling. It was as though he had seen a ghost4. 

Why was Yu Huai invigilating with Yuan Mu?!

Even if Yuan Mu let Yu Huai investigate the affairs of the auction on behalf of the academy, why was he getting Yu Huai involved in frivolities like invigilating an exam?! You didn’t even have to bring up the academy. For the past five years, Yu Huai hardly ever stepped foot in the human world. If news about him returning to his alma mater to invigilate an examination got out, those demons on the joint forum were certainly going to blow up. 

As his thoughts meandered till this point, Xu Yinian suddenly realized the existence of a life-threatening problem. 

Since he had been invited to attend, Yu Huai would naturally also be in attendance during the picnic at night. 

“Xia Ziheng!” Xu Yinian was panicking now. “Let me copy your answers.”

“You want to copy from me?” Xia Ziheng skeptically pointed at himself, “Xiao Xu-ge, you think I’m a better student than you?” 

Xu Yinian turned his head resolutely, looking towards another male student sitting in the adjacent column. When that student sensed Xu Yinian’s gaze land on his exam script, he hurried to explain. “Big boss, don’t copy my answers! I guessed them all!”

Xu Yinian asked, “why didn’t you study harder?”

The other party apologized immediately. “I’m sorry! It’s all my fault!”

“Xu Yinian,” Yuan Mu’s voice resounded from the back door. “Whispering to one another and attempting to cheat in an examination. If you repeat this, you will receive an immediate zero for your theory marks. “

In that instant, every student in the class turned to lock their eyes onto Xu Yinian.  

The culprit in question froze for a moment, instinctively glancing towards the person next to Yuan Mu. Yu Huai’s gaze swept over his blank exam script, the corners of his lips lifting slightly. It was as though he was saying “is there a difference whether you give him a zero or not?”

“…” Fuck. Too embarrassing. 

The tips of Xu Yinian’s ears burned and he wanted nothing more than to bury his head into his exam script. It was only now that Xia Ziheng recognized who was standing next to the vice-principal. Once he had confirmed that his eyes weren’t deceiving him, he nearly couldn’t recover his breath.  

It was a long and painful wait before Yuan Mu and Yu Huai finally left. Xia Ziheng blurted out in a low voice, “Xiao Xu-ge!” 

“Shut up.” Xu Yinian did not even raise his head as he snapped in anger. “Take your damn exam.”

“…”

After the theory exam had ended, a tortured Xu Yinian departed from the exam hall. His mind replayed the scene of him getting caught red-handed by Yuan Mu, and the moment he thought about how Yu Huai had been right there, the heat that had already dissipated from his face would make a valiant attempt to rush back. 

Unlike his half-assed self that had a severe inclination towards one subject, Yu Huai‘s results had been outstanding during his time in the academy. Even the teachers who had absurd expectations would be all smiles when they saw him, unable to pick out a single flaw. 

Back then, the Ghost clan was unrivaled in glory, and Yu Huai’s mother had held significant authority across the two realms. Yu Huai was her only child, the young master of the Ghost clan. With his innate talent and pedigree, he was like an unattainable and distant star. Xu Yinian had never imagined that his life would ever intersect with this senior, until a joint decision of arranged marriage was proposed to solidify and further harmonious relations between the two realms.

For a very long time, Xu Yinian had thought that their first meeting had been in the library.

After so many years, Xu Yinian had already forgotten why he was made to copy out the school rules as punishment by a teacher, but he still remembered that it had been a late autumn day. In the evening, as the glow of the sunset rippled through the windows, Xu Yinian grew bored from copying the long and complicated school rules over and over. Opposite him sat an upperclassman, one that had sat there all afternoon reading in silence.    

Seeing that he put down his pen and stretched his neck, the senior abruptly spoke up. “I’ve never seen you this hard-working before.”

Xu Yinian asked in puzzlement, “you know me?”

“There isn’t a soul in the academy that doesn’t know who you are.”

Although taken aback, Xu Yinian could not help feeling a little smug. “I’m that famous?” 

“Yup.” The rays of light from the setting sun seemed to gather and melt into his eyes, softening his features. “Famous for not studying.”

“…” Xu Yinian choked, for a moment unable to figure out if this person was making fun of him or not. He was about to lower his head and continue copying the school rules when the senior fixed his eyes on him. He smiled before asking, “need help?”

Xu Yinian raised his head, making eye contact with a pair of purple eyes – an eye color unique to demons. 

The number of demons attending Maple Bridge Academy were few and far between. It was a pity that Xu Yinian typically never paid attention to outside matters, so he didn’t recognize this senior as being the young master of the Ghost clan. He nodded unceremoniously. Unexpectedly, this seemingly academically excellent senior then summoned a large number of spirits. 

As the translucent forms of scores of spirits crowded into this nook of the library, an eerie and uncanny scene inevitably emerged. And yet once they all picked up the pens in a tidy unison, the sight became downright comical.  

“How many more copies do you need? Let them help you.” 

Xu Yinian’s eyes were sparkling, and the way he looked at Yu Huai shifted immediately. “Thank you, senior! Oh, what’s your name?”

—Yu Huai.

This was what Xu Yinian’s mother had said to him.

“Your matchmaking partner.” She found the astonishment on her son’s face very amusing. “In order to further promote peaceful coexistence, the two realms have decided to strengthen their alliance through marriage. The Demon Realm has selected its candidate and a meeting with him will be arranged soon.”

Xu Yinian was very perplexed. “Why is it me?”

“It’s probably because you’re still young, so they want to let you try things out first. If it doesn’t work out, they’ll switch to someone else.”

“…” As he thought about that senior he had met once, a tinge of sympathy rose in Xu Yinian’s heart. He had a good impression of Yu Huai, and it was exactly this good impression that had pushed him to his decision. When Yu Huai had lamented over having to go on blind date after blind date, he asked if Xu Yinian would pretend to date him to deal with those pressing him to get married. In the heat of the moment, he agreed.  

This was how they got to know each other. It was only sometime later that Yu Huai revealed the truth to him. 

When the two realms had decided on an alliance by marriage, Yu Huai’s mother did not consider involving her own son at all. It was Yu Huai who had offered himself up. And the reason why Xu Yinian had been arranged to be matchmade with him was not because he was young, but because a certain someone had asked for him specifically. 

At a time when one was entirely clueless and in the dark, the other had already possessed selfish motives. 

Long before that warm autumn day in the library, Yu Huai had already fallen for him.