Crossover: A Different Inuyasha.

Chapter 85 Sesshomaru being pressured to get married, the Dark Forest of the Universe

It's that time of year again for the annual banquet.

The winter night sky was illuminated by virtual screens, the light and shadow flowing like a woven tapestry, reflecting the cool moon on the horizon, forming a warm river of light that flowed slowly along the mountains and cities of the 150,000 square kilometers of the Eastern Kingdom.

In the courtyard of Ruri Shrine, a banquet was laid out, bamboo curtains were half-rolled up, paper lanterns hung high, and the aroma of sake and charcoal intertwined in the air to create a relaxing atmosphere.

But tonight's banquet lacked the usual enthusiastic clamor; beneath the festive atmosphere, a subtle eeriness lingered.

To welcome the elders who are visiting for the first time, the main seating area this year has been divided into two sections.

On the left is Inuyasha.

The difference today is that, beside the two dogs in red robes, sit a group of stunningly beautiful women, each with their own unique charm, like a scroll of enchanting beauty being slowly unfurled.

Kaede sat to Inuyasha's left, dressed in white robes and crimson hakama, her back straight as bamboo.

Her beauty was a gentle grace honed by time, with a dignified and serene air about her, her cheeks glowing with a healthy warmth in the firelight, and a smile playing on her lips.

Like a tree that has been repeatedly watered for many years, its branches are outstretched and its leaves are lush and green, needing no flowering season to prove its vitality.

Kaede tilted her head and was whispering something to Kikyo beside her.

The sound was as soft as snow falling into warm water; it was indistinct, yet reassuring.

Kikyo's posture was more elegant than her sister's, with her hands folded on her knees, dressed in white that was as white as snow and wearing scarlet trousers that were as red as the sunset.

Her hair was tied into a neat long ponytail at the back of her head, with only a few stray strands falling against her cheeks, gleaming softly in the firelight.

Beauty is clear and transparent.

Like an ancient mirror that has been wiped clean and spotless, it reflects light and shadow, yet the mirror itself remains calm and still, exuding a composure that commands respect.

Yura leaned against Inuyasha's right side, wearing a dark purple robe that shimmered faintly in the firelight.

Like a thorny rose, her eyebrows are slightly raised, exuding three parts languor and seven parts allure, and her lips are smiling, yet it's always hard to tell how much seriousness lies hidden beneath that smile.

Yura leaned against Inuyasha's shoulder, occasionally letting the dog open its mouth to offer him some delicious food. This intimacy made the priestess sisters' eyes gleam with a dark light, and they were extremely displeased.

The last one to arrive, Ayam, sat a little further back, a head shorter than the three people in front of her, which made her look somewhat cramped.

Today she wore a light apricot-colored kimono with a white wolf fur shawl over it, and her fluffy tail hung down from the edge of the cushion, the end of which swayed unconsciously in the air.

Her face had the radiance and innocence of a young girl, her cheeks flushed with a thin layer of red from the wine, and her eyes sparkled like gems washed by moonlight.

Ayame sipped her wine slowly, occasionally glancing at Inuyasha and then at the priestess, her eyes blinking.

That delicate charm, somewhere between a young girl and an adult, is like a late-blooming flower in late autumn—pale in color, yet exceptionally eye-catching.

On the other side of the main seat sat the only elder among all those present—Lingyue Xianji.

Today she wore a deep purple gown, with the silver-gray collar of the inner lining showing through the overlapping of the lapels. The remaining fabric of the robe hung down from her waist and spread out on the edge of the couch, like a flower slowly blooming in winter.

Her long, silvery-white hair was styled into an elaborate and elegant bun, secured with several jade hairpins, the tips of which dangled delicate silver tassels.

The crescent moon mark on her forehead gleamed with a cool and soft light under the firelight, complementing the dog demon markings on her cheeks and making her appear both dignified and charming.

Lingyue Fairy once again turned her gaze to the opposite side—to the circle of beauties sitting around Inuyasha.

The figures simultaneously gathered their forms, like several flowers blown from different directions toward the same tree root, their roots already intertwined deep in the soil.

The beauties had a subtle tension in their expressions, as if the eyes of the whole world were on them, just because they were being looked at by Inuyasha's nominal mother.

But beneath that tension lies a palpable sense of possessiveness.

The cushions on everyone's seats were subtly moving closer to the red hem of the garment in the center.

Like several cats huddled together for warmth in winter, none of them willing to move aside first.

Lingyue Xianji then withdrew her gaze and fell on Sesshomaru, who was arguing with Qingjiu beside her, and sighed softly.

"The old dog reigned supreme for centuries, but in the end, he was nothing more than me and Izayoi."

This kid, who hasn't even grown his first hair yet, is already surrounded by a group of people sitting around him.

They're both the sons of that old dog, so why is Sesshomaru so clueless?

A sigh reached Inuyasha's ears, and his gaze followed to Lingyue Xianji's mature face, her brows slightly furrowed as she stroked her cheek.

"Mother Lingyue, why are you sighing on such a special day?"

Lingyue Xianji turned her gaze away from her son and towards Inuyasha, her eyes filled with a melancholy softened by the year-end night.

She tilted her head slightly, the tassels hanging from the edge of her hair bun swaying with the movement, making a soft, rustling sound like snowflakes falling to the ground. Then she spoke, her tone filled with undisguised worry unique to a mother.

"I'm worried about Sesshomaru."

Fairy's voice, whether intentionally or unintentionally, was slightly louder than usual, but only to the extent that those on the main platform could hear it.

"Over the years, he has never brought a girl back with him. He always goes out alone, with a little monster following behind him."

The beautiful woman sighed again, her eyes filled with a mixture of sorrow and mischief. She glanced at Sesshomaru, who had put down his wine cup, and lightly tapped her cheek with her fingertips.

"I really don't know what the future holds. Will I be all alone for the rest of my life? Ugh, this is such a headache. I wonder who I took after."

Kikyo, who was holding a teacup, raised her eyebrows slightly upon hearing this, preparing to change the subject with "When the time is right, it will happen naturally." Her lips parted slightly.

But Robbie Kikyo was one step ahead.

The female demon straightened up slightly from Inuyasha's side, her wide robe flowing in full curves between her chest and hips with the movement.

"Brother Sesshomaru is handsome and a dignified God of Justice. He even slew the great demon Ryukotsusei a few days ago. His strength is known to everyone in the world."

These words made Sesshomaru, who was about to speak, lower his eyes.

Jieluo continued speaking, her voice light and cheerful, somewhere between serious and joking.

"If you were willing to stand at the gate of Rashomon, you could bet a long line of female demons stretching from the gate all the way to the square of Zenkenkyo."

"Oh dear." Lingyue Xianji covered her red lips in feigned surprise, giggling like a young girl, "Does my Sesshomaru really have that much charm?"

As soon as his mother spoke, Sesshomaru felt annoyed. He was about to speak and interrupt the conversation when his sister-in-law spoke again.

"That's not an exaggeration."

Kikyo picked up the conversation and smiled faintly.

"However, given Sesshomaru's personality, he'll probably clear a path through the long line of female demons with his Bakusaiga. Whether there will be any left depends on whether anyone dares to approach after that slash."

These words made Lingyue Fairy laugh out loud.

A smile spread from the corners of his lips to the depths of his eyes, carrying an undisguised mockery. Looking at Sesshomaru, whose expression was slightly cold and who was about to speak, his tone was full of teasing, "This is indeed something you would do, kid."

"You guys shouldn't—" Sesshomaru had barely begun speaking when Kaede, standing to the side, curled the corners of her lips and, in the blink of an eye, took over the conversation.

"What my sister said makes sense. But there's no need to rush things when it comes to fate."

"Even if Sesshomaru travels the world, there will always be an opportunity or a place that makes him want to stop and take a second look at someone. It's just that he probably won't actively go and join that queue."

"I, Sesshomaru, will not."

Sesshomaru spoke for the third time, but this time, he still couldn't finish his sentence.

"If Sesshomaru were one..."

Sangpu mustered her courage, her voice soft with nervousness, and the tips of her ears flushed slightly. "If you don't mind—I, I can recommend a few beautiful ladies from the wolf demon clan—"

The second half of the sentence was spoken softer and softer until it was as faint as a mosquito flapping its wings.

But when these words reached the ears of everyone present, they made the women at the table suppress their laughter.

Lingyue Fairy's shoulders trembled slightly. She covered her mouth with her hand and smiled at Changpu, who seemed oblivious to what everyone was laughing at. "Then it's settled, little white wolf."

After being "bullied" by everyone for three rounds, Sesshomaru finally stood up and left with a resolute air of "If this place is not for me, there will be another place for me to stay."

Before even joining in the fun, Inuyasha, worried about pushing Sesshomaru too far with a few words, glanced at the departing figure, then turned his head, only to meet Lingyue Xianji's gaze as she turned as well.

The latter rose calmly and gracefully.

Inuyasha whispered something to Kikyo and Yura, then patted the restless Ayame.

The departures of Sesshomaru and Lingyue Xianji left the wolf demon girl bewildered.

"Don't worry, something's come up on Grandma's side. Everyone can continue playing."

Changpu slowly exhaled, lowered her eyes, and nodded gently.

The pavilion in the backyard is surrounded by bamboo on three sides and open on one side, facing the bright winter moon on the horizon, which is frequently lit up by fireworks.

Fireworks rose one after another into the night sky, their flickering light reflecting on the faces of the three people, sometimes bright and sometimes dim.

Sesshomaru, who was in a bad mood from being pressured to get married, didn't show any extra expression on his face and just sat quietly.

Inuyasha sat down beside him and asked, "Great Mother, what's the matter that you specifically called us out?"

Even though it was just in front of family, the fact that the jokes led to Big Dog leaving suggests that there must be something they wanted to say in private.

Er Gouzi isn't stupid.

Lingyue Fairy sat opposite the two, her expression aloof and dignified, her lips parting slightly.

"Let me tell you about two things."

Her gaze swept between the two brothers, her eyes reflecting the fireworks blooming in the night sky. The clusters of flames flickered in her eyes, adding a soft glow to her beautiful face, which had remained radiant despite the passage of time.

The fairy princess did not harbor any resentment towards Inuyasha because of Izayoi's existence—she was looking at the two children, both of whom had Toga's bloodline flowing through their veins.

In chaotic times, having close brothers to rely on is a fortunate and happy thing.

If Toga had had such a brother back then, he wouldn't have ended up fighting alone and being dragged down to mutual destruction by a human.

"You are all his children. Inuyasha also calls me Great Mother, so you are all my children too."

Lingyue Fairy spoke earnestly, without a trace of politeness or joking.

Inuyasha sat up slightly, while Sesshomaru looked at his mother.

"The first thing is simple," Lingyue Fairy said casually. "Since the Eastern Kingdom aspires to unify the world, then the Western Kingdom has no reason to continue existing. You two brothers, take it over next year."

The night breeze swept through the bamboo grove outside the pavilion, scattering the embers of the exploding fireworks into tiny specks that drifted into the distance.

Inuyasha and Sesshomaru exchanged a glance, and the firelight at that moment fell on their faces, illuminating their outlines at the same time before simultaneously plunging them into shadow.

Inuyasha said, "Understood, Great Mother. Next year, we will unify the world."

Lingyue Xianji's lips curved slightly, then disappeared again.

She looked at the two brothers, paused for a moment as if considering her words, and thought for a long time before speaking again.

"The second thing."

"Your father—he left the Netherworld. It seems—he fell into some other dimension."

To determine whether Touya-oh existed, Senhime conducted a special investigation one night and consulted several friends from the underworld. The combined results surprised her.

Why is there another dimension? Is this still my world?

Inuyasha frowned.

He pondered for a moment and asked a few more questions about the details—time, location, etc. Lingyue Fairy answered them one by one. Her answers were not very detailed, but they were enough to outline a general picture.

Inuyasha was astonished to discover that this coincided precisely with the point in time when he activated the Mirror of Time and sent the five-person group to another world.

I truly opened the Mirror of Time—and at the same time, he left the Netherworld. Was it because the spatial rift happened to appear near the Underworld, or was it that—as I gazed into the abyss, the abyss also gazed into me?

Does the "dark forest theory" of the universe apply here?

Moreover, why specifically the underworld? Is it because the space there is inherently unstable and easily affected by fissures?

Or perhaps it's because Old Man Touya has been in the Underworld for too long, and his very existence is an anchor. The moment the rift was activated by my Mirror of Time, it naturally gravitated towards the closest and most unstable boundary—

The questions are like a chain of links with their buttons undone, popping up one after another, but it's difficult to find the corresponding answers immediately.

Compared to Inuyasha, who pondered much more, Sesshomaru's thoughts were simpler. He directly asked, "Can the space-time rift still be opened? Should I bring my father back?"

"What if we go and can't come back?"

Lingyue Xianji glared at Sesshomaru, wanting to tap his muscular head with her finger, then looked at Inuyasha, who was frowning and deep in thought, clearly knowing something, and asked directly.

"What do you know?"

Inuyasha revealed the Mirror of Time.

"Then let's wait until the middle of this year. When the Mirror of Time opens again, let's see if he's on the other side."

Fairy Lingyue nodded and said, "If it is really as you say, then the future of this world—is getting interesting."

Inuyasha didn't find it interesting at all.

It would be unacceptable for anyone to be suddenly told that their own safe and secure base might be secretly being spied on by the blond-haired guy.

He didn't want to wake up one day to find several Saiyans wearing battle glasses and with tails standing in the sky, ready to sell the planet.

We've been living too comfortably; we mustn't forget to be prepared for unforeseen circumstances!

While reflecting on his absurd life over the past few years, Inuyasha looked at Lingyue Xianji.

"Great Mother, the formation of spacetime rifts seems to be irregular. No one knows where it will appear next, what it will involve, or what kind of people will appear inside."

"For safety reasons, should our mother stay at the shrine for now?"

"I will implement some measures to ensure that the surrounding space is impregnable."

Sesshomaru also cast an approving glance, "Mother, don't be stubborn."

Lingyue Fairy raised an eyebrow slightly. "I've lived this long, what storms haven't I weathered? How could a few possible spacetime rifts frighten me?"

"Moreover, if something does manage to escape through the crack, it doesn't matter if I can stop it; if I can't, what does it matter where I am?"

Lingyue Xianji, a great demon at the level of [Transformation God Celestial Venerable], spoke in a normal tone.

"I appreciate your kindness. However, there's no need for me to stay."

The beautiful woman smiled gently at Inuyasha, who seemed about to say something.

"If anything comes up, I'll come to you. Just make sure you reserve a nice room for me then, and don't make me stay in that north-facing side room."

"How could that be?"

Seeing that Lingyue Xianji insisted, Inuyasha did not continue to persuade her, and naturally changed the subject, introducing her to the three core locations of the Eastern Kingdom.

"The most elegant place to stay is here at Ruri Shrine. There is a secluded courtyard behind the mountain with flowers in all four seasons and a wide view. You can see the canopy of the sacred tree through the window."

"In the Rashomon area, there are countless castle towers, all bright and airy. You can see the entire city from the window, and in the evening, you can even see the performances by the lake."

"Shanjianjing also has several houses, where you can see water when you open the window and mountains in the distance. The courtyards are not large, but they are quiet and elegant, suitable for the First Madam to stay when she does not want to be disturbed."

"You really know how to live."

After finishing their business, Lingyue Fairy naturally revealed her true, cunning nature, her tone filled with undisguised admiration.

Then, changing the subject, he glanced sideways at Sesshomaru beside him, his bright and dignified eyes sweeping across the room.

"Unlike someone who lives in the wilderness all day long, eating and sleeping in the open, without a fixed place to live, and has to rely on his younger brother to invite him to have a place that can be called a house during festivals."

The fairy sighed.

"He wasn't like this when he was little. I don't know which stage he went astray."

Sesshomaru's forehead twitched. "If you say another word, I'm really leaving."

"Look, he's getting anxious."

"6

"Mother!"