Chapter-161
As the smoke and dust dissipated, the scene before him left even Zenin Kiyoshi somewhat astonished.
Although it didn't unleash the same overwhelming power that Gojo Satoru first displayed in the Canon, it still nearly wiped out the bamboo forest in front of him completely.
The power of the Cursed Energy from Cursed Spirit Ogi could no longer be felt inside; only some residual Cursed Energy remained.
Zenin Kiyoshi took out a spell container from his bosom, a thumb-sized container that resembled a glass bottle, specifically used to store the remnants of Cursed Energy.
If I were to tell people that Zenin Ogi had become a Cursed Spirit, not many would believe it.
But if you have this, it will save you a lot of trouble.
However, looking at the spot where the Cursed Spirit Ogi's curse spirit had dissipated, a faint shadow appeared on Zenin Kiyoshi's face.
The transformation of a sorcerer into a spirit after death should not happen so quickly.
The other party didn't even go through the "Cursed Womb" stage before directly becoming the complete form.
It's obvious that someone is behind this.
Zenin Kiyoshi sighed. He knew without much thought that Kenjaku must be playing tricks.
That old schemer who has lived for over a thousand years has accumulated an incredibly rich foundation over the years.
It's wishful thinking to think that I can prevent the other party from even using any tricks.
Kenjaku is basically the one setting the questions now, constantly throwing himself questions to answer. If he answers them well, that's fine; if he doesn't...
With his mind in turmoil, Zenin Kiyoshi let out a slight sigh of relief. After carefully checking his surroundings, he finally rushed towards the direction of Zenin's house.
However, Zenin Kiyoshi wasn't too worried about the situation at the Zenin Estate. With Gojo Satoru, Zenin Jinichi, and Tsukumo Yuki there, even if Kenjaku himself went there, he wouldn't get anything good out of it.
Not to mention it was just a [Special Grade Cursed Spirit] from the Heian period.
Therefore, halfway there, Zenin Kiyoshi turned back to the vicinity of that bamboo forest once again to check whether Zenin Ogi was completely dead.
After thoroughly monitoring the surrounding area with his Six Eyes, he left with a sense of relief.
When Zenin Kiyoshi arrived at the Zenin Estate, the battle there was basically over.
[Sky Probe Girl] is indeed a top-tier Cursed Spirit from the Heian period, and her ability to sign a flesh-binding contract with Kenjaku is certainly due to her unique characteristics.
With its dual abilities of controlling low-level Cursed Spirits and infecting them, it has managed to fight those three people for quite some time now.
Although it was described as a grueling fight, it was actually mostly a one-man show by Gojo Satoru.
Even though he was only a mortal, he didn't really feel comfortable approaching the Sky Probe Girl, who was like a personification of a plague.
Although the virus was created using magic, its destructive power on the human body is real.
Without the protection of Cursed Energy, Fushiguro Toji was assigned to the rear by Tsukumo Yuki, mainly responsible for protecting the ordinary people of the Zenin Clan, as well as keeping an eye on the safety of the students from the Jujutsu High, and preventing any harm to them.
As for Tsukumo Yuki, after discovering that Gojo Satoru alone was enough to deal with the "Sky Probe Girl," she chose to deal with Zenin Jinichi, who was now somewhat deranged.
After seeing Zenin Ogi being instantly killed, that guy went a bit crazy.
Moreover, before Zenin Jinichi escaped home, the "Sky Probe Girl" in the Zenin Estate had already awakened.
If it weren't for the two Hei members who had just returned from their mission, the Zenin Clan would probably have been expelled before Tsukumo Yuki and the others arrived.
Because Gojo Satoru and Zenin Jinichi were faster, before Zenin Kiyoshi returned to the Zenin Clan, the two had already explained the situation to the rest of the Zenin Clan. Gojo Satoru also pushed all the blame for the Cursed Spirit's outburst onto Zenin Ogi and Zenin Jinichi.
Fueled by the rage of the Cursed Spirits, most of the Zenin Clan staff believed Gojo Satoru's explanation.
Therefore, when Zenin Jinichi returned to his family, he was greeted only by the hostile gazes of everyone.
If everyone weren't currently busy fighting off the remaining Cursed Spirits, the first person to die would probably be Zenin Jinichi.
Unable to accept all of this, Zenin Jinichi began to indiscriminately attack the rest of the Zenin Clan.
Looking at this scene, Tsukumo Yuki revealed a look of disdain.
How could someone of this caliber be able to serve as the captain of the [Hei] combat unit in the Zenin Clan?
It seems that the Zenin Clan really doesn't have many people available.
However, given the other party's identity, Tsukumo Yuki couldn't just kill him directly. She could only subdue him first and wait for the Director of the Jujutsu Headquarters to handle the matter.
As for Toji, whom Zenin Jinichi regarded as his lifelong enemy, he never gave that so-called older brother a second glance.
Defeat that guy head-on? And earn the respect of everyone in the Zenin Clan?
That kind of thing doesn't matter at all.
He never cared about these guys.
Moreover, he already possessed those things after directly shattering several Grade 1 Cursed Spirits that had been infected and evolved by the [Sky Probe Girl] using the Playful Cloud technique.
True honor is never gained by defeating those close to you.
However, looking at the somewhat eccentric Zenin master, Toji was actually a little confused.
Although I've never gotten along with Zenin Jinichi, his mentality doesn't seem that bad, right?
Just because someone misunderstood him, he lost his temper and started attacking others?
Something just doesn't feel right.
Just as Toji was feeling somewhat confused, Zenin Kiyoshi's figure appeared in front of everyone.
Looking at the suddenly appearing Zenin Kiyoshi, Toji smiled. He casually smashed a Grade 2 Cursed Spirit beside him into mincemeat, then looked at Zenin Kiyoshi, his voice tinged with impatience:
"Hey! Kid, you're way too slow! I thought you'd died at the hands of that idiot Cursed Spirit."
Hearing Toji's slightly awkward way of showing concern, Zenin Kiyoshi simply smiled and replied:
"I checked his spirit transformation process, which wasted some time. There's a slight problem here. By the way, what's wrong with Zenin Jinichi? Has he gone mad?"
"Yeah, this guy was already acting a bit crazy on the way here, and he kept talking about things like liver. I don't know exactly what's wrong with him."
Upon hearing this, Zenin Kiyoshi's brows furrowed slightly, and at the same time, the voice of Yamata no Orochi echoed in his mind:
"Kiyoshi, it's Yūichi Tsukigami."
Chapter-162
"Damn it! Why did I have to be... by a brat like you?"
At this moment, the Sky Probe Girl looked at the calm-faced Gojo Satoru, her beautiful face now filled with resentment.
Gojo Satoru was breathing heavily; for him now, facing a Heian-era [Special Grade Cursed Spirit] alone was still quite a challenge.
In particular, the [Sky Probe Girl] is a [hypothetical Special Grade Cursed Spirit] that is still legendary and feared even in modern times. Although she is not her own physical body, her combat power is definitely no less than that of an ordinary Special Grade spirit.
Unfortunately, Gojo Satoru's abilities were too much of a counter to her.
The Sky Probe Girl's technique involves using extremely fine molecules of Cursed Energy to merge with the opponent's Cursed Energy during combat, thus allowing the opponent to come into contact with her technique to some extent while using Cursed Energy.
But Gojo Satoru is different. His Six Eyes can see the flow of Cursed Energy very clearly, thus enabling him to activate his "Limitless" in time.
After the "Limitless" were activated, the battle was basically a one-sided crushing victory for Gojo Satoru.
Sometimes, luck plays a significant role in battles between sorcerers.
Kugisaki Nobara's Cursed Technique is very effective at countering the Mahito's "Idle Transfiguration".
Watching the slowly dissipating Sky Probe Girl before him, Gojo Satoru remained calm. Apart from being slightly over-exhausted by his Cursed Energy, he was otherwise fine.
For some reason, as he watched the Sky Probe Girl slowly dissipate, Gojo Satoru had a strange feeling that he couldn't quite put his finger on.
He always felt that the Sky Probe Girl hadn't shown her true abilities...
Even the words the other person uttered before disappearing seemed somewhat deliberate.
But there's no point in talking about these things now. Watching the Sky Probe Girl disappear into the air, Gojo Satoru turned and walked towards the direction where Zenin Kiyoshi was.
The subsequent handling went smoothly. In less than an afternoon, the convictions of Zenin Ogi and Zenin Jinichi, the internal factional issues within the Zenin Clan, and the personnel management within the [Hei] unit were all resolved...
Most things proceeded smoothly, and Zenin Naobito returned that very night after learning that the matter had been resolved.
Even so, the fine wines in his cellar were replaced with an equivalent amount of health tea, and it was the kind that was non-refundable.
It is said that Zenin Naobito was furious afterward and even clamored to seek revenge on Toji.
Unfortunately, Toji wasn't home at the time; he went out with Ms. Fushiguro Eri from next door.
As for why these two went out together?
Toji gave Zenin Kiyoshi the reason that there were some very cheap goods in the nearby supermarket, but only Miss Fushiguro Eri knew about them, so he had to go with her.
Zenin Kiyoshi, of course, wouldn't be tactless enough to interrupt them. He would simply nod silently each time, and then continue watching TV, tending to the bonsai, and chatting with Hanami about environmental issues...
Aside from the matter of Zenin Naobito, Zenin Kiyoshi also discussed the strange behavior of Zenin Ogi and Zenin Jinichi with Lord Tengen.
Tengen's explanation for this is:
"It must have been done by an old friend of hers, and Tengen also told Zenin Kiyoshi not to worry about these things for now, and that she would handle it properly."
Tengen's words left Zenin Kiyoshi somewhat confused.
What exactly is the relationship between Kenjaku and Tengen?
Is the scene in the Canon really as it appears on the surface?
Having lived for so long, it's impossible for Tengen not to know that both Kenjaku and Sukuna's Domain Expansion are "open-ended." Knowing this premise, how could she possibly give Tsukumo Yuki such a strange hint?
Tsukumo Yuki believed Tengen's words, which led to her being hampered at every turn in her battle with Kenjaku. In the end, she was killed before she could even unleash her Domain Expansion.
What's even more perplexing is that, in Kenjaku's hands, Tengen has actually become a Cursed Spirit that can be controlled by the [Cursed Spirit Manipulation].
And by sheer coincidence, it became the core of the barrier in the Kenjaku Culling Game.
Thinking of this, Zenin Kiyoshi felt increasingly depressed.
Could the ultimate controller of Kenjaku's plan in the Canon, the super-powerful Cursed Spirit composed of the resentment of 100 million people, or the core of this great Cursed Spirit, be Tengen?
The conflict between Tengen and Kenjaku over the past few thousand years—are they truly as irreconcilable as their relationship appears? Or have they actually maintained considerable contact behind the scenes?
There are no fixed rules for these things. There are just too many things that were not shown in the Canon. If you want to complete the game safely and without taking damage, you have to be extremely careful.
Since we've come into this world, we should try our best not to leave any regrets.
However, just as Tengen later said, after she said she would communicate with Kenjaku, Zenin Kiyoshi did not encounter Kenjaku's schemes and plots again for a considerable period of time.
Without Kenjaku's scheming, Zenin Kiyoshi was not idle either. After communicating with Zenin Naobito, Zenin Kiyoshi successfully obtained the condition of being able to freely use various resources of the Zenin Clan in exchange for the subsequent members of the Zenin Clan's combat force.
During this period, Zenin Kiyoshi continuously used the resources of the Zenin Clan to search for clues about Kenjaku from back then, and through various means, he constantly squeezed out Kenjaku's spies within the Zenin Clan.
During this process, Zenin Kiyoshi's leadership and personal charisma successfully won over all the Zenin Clan members who had previously held some prejudice against him.
Especially that brat, Zenin Naoya, who, under Zenin Kiyoshi's various deliberate cultivations, can now be considered Zenin Kiyoshi's crazy fanboy.
Meanwhile, during his time at the Jujutsu High, Zenin Kiyoshi had essentially become one of the students there over the past five years.
Mei Mei, the Iori Utahime, Nanami Kento, Geto Suguru, Gojo Satoru, Ieiri Shoko, and later Haibara Yu, Ijichi Kiyotaka, and others, are basically the people he has the best relationship with.
During the first summer vacation, Zenin Kiyoshi led the students of the Jujutsu High to Okinawa Island for the summer vacation.
Although Amanai Riko was a little timid at first, she quickly integrated into everyone's lives after interacting with them.
More than five years have passed in this way, and today, April 5, 2006, Zenin Kiyoshi and Geto Suguru and others from the Zenin Clan welcomed the official enrollment ceremony for their class of students.
Of course, on December 23, 2002, everything proceeded as planned, and Fushiguro Megumi was born.
As for Hagoromo Gitsune, which Yamata no Orochi mentioned to Zenin Kiyoshi back then, there's still no follow-up news...
Chapter-163
April 5, 2006, sunny, 17°C, wind force 2 to 3, suitable for outdoor sports.
At 7:45 a.m., a slightly crisp sound rang out as Hanami placed the cooked food on the dining table.
"Kiyoshi, today is the first day of school. Have you packed all your things?"
"Yes, Sister Hanami, everything is all sorted out. Thank you for getting up so early to cook for me."
As Zenin Kiyoshi's door was slowly pushed open, the sixteen-year-old Zenin Kiyoshi stepped out of the room.
Compared to five years ago, Zenin Kiyoshi now has a slender and tall figure, and his every move exudes a refined and gentle temperament.
Her hair was a bit longer than it had been five years ago, with slightly upturned ends and bangs falling naturally over her forehead. The hair wasn't particularly fine or soft, and it shimmered softly in the sunlight as it was stirred by the morning breeze.
His face is more defined and delicate than it was five years ago, with a softer jawline and fair skin.
His nose was straight but not overly sharp, and because of the abundance of Qi and blood in his body, Zenin Kiyoshi's lips had a healthy red color.
At this moment, he was wearing a brown-black stand-up collar student uniform. Unlike the sickly design of the school uniforms of Jujutsu Highs, Zenin Kiyoshi's clothes were more like the common style of ordinary public high schools. He wore a long-sleeved white shirt underneath, and the collar was not buttoned up to below his Adam's apple. Instead, it was loosened in two places, making him look slightly carefree.
He was carrying a black shoulder bag and had a faint look of weariness on his face.
At this time, Hanami had undergone a complete transformation compared to when they first met five years ago.
At this point, she was almost completely unrecognizable as a Cursed Spirit.
Her figure was slender like a bamboo shoot after the rain, about 1.7 meters tall, but she did not appear very strong. Her shoulder and neck lines were smooth and delicate.
Hanami was wearing a dark green long-sleeved shirt made of cotton and linen, paired with slightly loose wide-leg athletic pants. Her hair was tied in a high ponytail, and under the sunlight, she exuded vitality.
Her hair color was different from the gray-green that Zenin Kiyoshi had expected; instead, it was more like an earthy brown-gray. And the eye sockets that had previously been occupied by two vines were now filled with a pair of bright, lake-blue eyes.
Those lake-blue eyes were as clear as the sky, and at this moment, Zenin Kiyoshi's figure was reflected in them.
"Did you stay up late again last night? Even if it's because of the barrier, you need to get more rest. If you keep doing this, it will put a lot of strain on your body."
Looking at the slightly noticeable dark circles under Zenin Kiyoshi's eyes, Hanami sighed softly, a hint of helplessness and worry on his face.
At first, Hanami was somewhat at a loss about the changes in her physical appearance, but after discovering that her communication with nature had not weakened and had even reached a deeper level, she dispelled her doubts.
As long as the connection with nature remains strong, then there is nothing wrong with the changes you are experiencing.
It's just becoming more human-like, which isn't a bad thing.
Over these five years, Hanami also had some regrets.
In fact, after her body showed obvious human-like tendencies, Hanami met Jogo once.
She still remembered the stunned look on Jogo's face when he saw her. Almost without hesitation, the flames on his body surged, his single eye bloodshot, staring straight at her, his voice so cold it almost froze her soul:
"Hey! Hanami, what's with that attitude of yours!? If you can't give me a reasonable answer, I might..."
The Jogo didn't continue speaking, but the terrifying flames rising around it allowed Hanami to guess what the Jogo was going to say next.
Hanami was momentarily stunned by Jogo's hostile and angry question.
She knew that the Jogo didn't like humans, but she never imagined that the Jogo's hatred for humans could reach such a deep level.
Would the appearance of even a slight human trait in itself cause the Jogo to become this angry?
Seeing that Hanami remained silent, Jogo's anxiety became even more apparent, and some flames even erupted from his head, causing the surrounding space to become somewhat distorted due to the high temperature.
A hissing sound came from inside, like the harsh sound of water boiling in a kettle.
A faint smell of sulfur emanated from the Jogo, carrying with it an emotion of pain and disbelief that instantly enveloped Hanami.
The scorching heat of the flames on the Jogo, and the bloodshot veins spreading in his single eye, almost completely burned away her budding "human form".
The Jogo was a very special thing for Hanami; it was the first creature she saw when she opened her eyes.
It was it that taught him how to survive, and it was also it that gave him the name "Hanami".
Moreover, the Jogo played the role of accompanying her to see the world when she needed someone to rely on the most.
She has always regarded the Jogo as her "father" and "brother".
But... perhaps it was after she first saw humans that she began to disagree with the practice of using Jogos.
Hanami remembers clearly that among the people who were burned to death by the Jogo, there was a girl who loved flowers and plants. She looked to be only six or seven years old, but she had many beautiful flowers growing in her small backyard.
When the Jogo burned the little girl to death, Hanami heard it; she heard the sorrow and weeping of the flowers.
The Jogo... is wrong.
If humans are really as the Jogo describes, then why would the flowers, plants, and trees weep for them?
Driven by this emotion, Hanami applied for a job monitoring humans from Kenjaku, whom she had only known for a short time.
The Jogo initially disagreed, but after seeing the slightly unfamiliar feelings that Hanami had for it, it finally agreed.
Because it could guess that the reason why Hanami was like that was most likely because he had killed those humans.
But Jogo also believed that once Hanami saw the true nature of those humans, she would immediately understand why she did what she did.
The true nature of humanity is the dirtiest and most evil color in the world!
After discussing with Kenjaku, Jogo decided to place the target that Hanami was to supervise at the Zenin Estate, which Jogo considered the ugliest place.
Unfortunately, at that time, a little devil named Zenin Kiyoshi came to the Zenin Clan.
Time seemed to have passed just yesterday. Looking at the heavily humanized words before him, the Jogo asked again, its voice trembling.
Chapter-164
"Hey! Hanami! Speak up! Tell me! What's going on with your current posture?!"
The sound of the Jogo was now even slightly cracked. He looked at Hanami, his eyes filled with crimson.
"Did those damned humans cast some strange spell on you? Or did you encounter some strange Cursed Tool?!"
"Damn it, it's all those damned humans' fault! Tell me, who made you like this? I'll go burn them to ashes right now!"
The roar of the Jogo echoed wildly in the empty, dilapidated factory room. As his emotions fluctuated, waves of heat followed, and the somewhat rusty metal and wooden beams emitted a faint smell of burning.
The Jogo's previously somewhat comical face was now contorted with extreme emotion, causing all its features to distort.
The single, iconic eye was a deep crimson red with rage, as if it might bleed at any moment.
The Jogo was now fixed on Hanami, who was standing at the boundary between the shadow and the faint light of day. At this moment, the vines wrapped around Hanami's body were noticeably thinner. Her originally nearly two-meter-tall, robust body had unknowingly transformed into a slender, almost girlish, delicate figure.
What surprised Jogo the most was that the two iconic vines in Hanami's eye sockets, which were almost her representatives, had now been replaced by a thin layer of eyes that shone with a faint halo of life!
Even though the eyes weren't fully formed yet, the Jogo could still tell that they would be very beautiful, as bright as the blue sky.
But, but, but!
These changes can't happen to you, Hanami!
That's a shift toward humanity!
You are a Cursed Spirit, a new human being of the future! You are the new human being I have high hopes for, the one who will accompany me, the one who will stand on the wilderness and laugh out loud a hundred years from now!
This change! For the Cursed Spirits, this change is nothing short of the most thorough blasphemy and betrayal!
Hanami, why have you become like this?!
You weren't like this at all when you first opened your eyes, when you were just born!
Jogo's emotions began to erupt uncontrollably, but as he looked at the silent Hanami before him, who hadn't uttered a single word, he was filled with extreme anger yet unable to say a word.
He felt an immense bitterness welling up from the bottom of his heart, then surging straight into his mind, wave after wave, impacting his thoughts.
Jogo took a deep breath, then abruptly turned his head to look at Kenjaku, who seemed to be watching the show with great interest. His voice was icy cold:
"Hey! Tell me! Why is Hanami like this? Why is this completely different from what you said?! Tell me! Otherwise, I will definitely kill you right here!"
Whether human or Cursed Spirit, when someone important to them makes a mistake, people always try to shift the blame onto others.
The same goes for the Jogo now. He has no other choice. Even though he knows that he and Kenjaku came up with the plan together, he just wants to vent his emotions on Kenjaku.
However, Kenjaku naturally had no intention of comforting Jogo for his emotional outburst. On the contrary, he was quite happy to see this drama of relatives and friends turning against each other.
Just like what she saw in the TV series, it's quite interesting.
Looking at the enraged Jogo before him, Kenjaku simply said in a calm voice:
"You already have the answer to this question in your heart, so why are you pushing it onto me? You should know very well about the Jogo, right? That task was something we discussed and agreed upon together."
Now that the mission has gone wrong, you're choosing to push all the blame onto me? That's not something a Newtype would do.
I think at this point, what you should choose and confront is to find out Hanami's true thoughts.
As far as I know, among the spirits of nature over these thousands of years, if a spirit's form has evolved in a human-like direction, there is usually only one possibility: that the spirit of nature resides within its own heart...
Upon hearing this, the Jogo roared in anger:
"Shut up! Hanami isn't that kind of weakling! She absolutely isn't that kind of person! Those damned humans must have deceived her!"
At this point, Jogo turned his head and stared intently at Hanami. Although his voice was calmer, anyone could sense the terrifying energy gathering beneath that calm surface.
"Speak up, Hanami! Tell me what's going on?! Did those damned sorcerers cast some strange spell on you? Or is it the effect of the Cursed Tools?! Speak now!"
Jogo took a heavy step forward to where Hanami was. The moment he landed, the reinforced concrete ground was instantly melted by the high temperature into rolling red magma. The ground sizzled and rose up in bursts of pungent sulfurous smoke.
Looking at the Jogo, Hanami felt as if something had pierced her heart. She subconsciously took a half step back, not out of fear of the Jogo, but as an instinctive reaction.
She could feel that the power emanating from the Jogo was creating an irreconcilable contradiction with the peaceful incantation within her!
However, Hanami's half-step back was so obvious in Jogo's single eye.
He looked at Hanami without saying a word, but the pain in his heart was almost overwhelming him.
But we haven't received a definite answer yet, have we?
There is still a chance to salvage the situation. Hanami did not explain the reason, but there is still a chance to salvage the situation.
Thinking this through, Jogo tried his best to calm himself down. He looked at Hanami in front of him, giving the other party a chance while also giving himself a chance.
However, as Hanami gazed at the Jogo before her, a sudden pang of pain shot through her heart. She tentatively offered an explanation:
"No, it's not a human-made Cursed Tool, nor a human-made spell; it's me, it's myself..."
But Jogo seemed unable to accept this explanation, and angrily interrupted Hanami before he could finish speaking:
"Not spells or magic?! Then what is it that turned you into this grotesque, monstrous form?!"
Upon hearing the word "monster," Hanami felt as if her heart was being pierced by needles.
She looked at the Jogo, and the image of Zenin Kiyoshi appeared in her mind. This was what he had said about her current appearance...
Chapter-165
"Sister Hanami, you're getting more and more beautiful. If you stay this way, we should be able to wear even more beautiful clothes, right?"
When she said those words, Hanami still remembered Zenin Kiyoshi's expression and tone of voice.
He looked at her with eyes full of smiles and tenderness. There was a slight breeze that day, and when it blew in through the window, Hanami could even hear the potted plants they were pruning together chuckling.
In that instant, Hanami felt that he had gained an emotion from Zenin Kiyoshi that he had never felt from Jogo.
How can I describe that feeling?
Shyness? Secret joy? Touched by being cared for? Longing for beautiful clothes? Or perhaps a desire to stay by their side?
Hanami herself couldn't distinguish this feeling, but she knew that as the figure of the Jogo was gradually replaced by Zenin Kiyoshi, and as the figure of the Jogo gradually blurred, she had inevitably moved towards the direction of humanity, towards the direction of Zenin Kiyoshi.
But Hanami still wanted to explain her feelings about the Jogo as much as possible.
She looked at the Jogo and explained softly to it:
"No... monster... Jogo. After I became like this, I didn't feel any discomfort. On the contrary, I can hear the sounds of the trees around me even more clearly."
I know I'm acting like a human now, but what I want to say is, Jogo, perhaps you should also try to understand humans. They aren't as repulsive as you imagine. Among humans, there are also a lot of good people...
Hanami struggled to organize her thoughts, trying to persuade Jogo, trying to get Jogo to join her side, trying to get Jogo to change.
Even though she knew that the Jogo could not be explained by her few words, she still wanted to try.
But there are always things that can cause people who were once as close as father and daughter to drift apart.
This time, the Jogo didn't erupt in hysteria. He simply looked at the remaining Hanami, his eyes filled with a deathly gray hue born of utter despair.
"You call this transformation into a human freak 'change'?"
Hanami... You have been corrupted. Your essence is being distorted by those ants, and unfortunately, this change is irreversible.
From this moment on, it is no longer possible for us to go back to the past and address each other as companions.
You are no longer a Cursed Spirit, nor are you a new human of the future; you are a fallen Cursed Spirit who willingly became part of the old humanity. The next time we meet, we will be enemies.
Hearing Jogo's words, Hanami's expression turned slightly bitter. She didn't choose to try to persuade him to stay, nor did she try to change her mind. She simply asked softly, with a hint of bitterness:
"Is this the only path forward? Must the relationship between humans and Cursed Spirits always end this way? The Jogo..."
The Jogo did not answer Hanami's question; instead, she slowly raised her hand, pointing at Hanami, her voice filled with weariness:
"I've remembered your current attitude and your betrayal. Next time we meet, I will personally purify you!"
Having said that, Jogo turned around and remained motionless in place like a statue.
Looking at the somewhat lonely figure of the Jogo, Hanami felt a pang of sadness and bitterness in her heart.
I was once in that same state, and it was the Jogo that came and pulled me out of that loneliness.
But now, with the Jogo in this state before her, she couldn't move her feet.
Hanami...you really are a heartless bastard.
She cursed herself inwardly, but her feet just wouldn't move.
Hanami knew that if she chose to go to the Jogo at this moment, it would mean that she would have to completely distance herself from the figure who was more important to her.
Staying by Zenin Kiyoshi's side made Hanami truly feel very happy.
Every day I can buy lots of vegetables, cook for Zenin Kiyoshi, prune potted plants with her, and help out at her self-service flower shop...
So many things: watching TV together, having sleepless nights together, working together...
She has become somewhat dependent on those things. The natural world is truly beautiful, but embracing nature does not mean pushing away all of humanity.
Hanami watched the Jogo's silhouette without taking a step.
As Kenjaku watched this scene, he cursed the Zenin Clan for its evil practices while also feeling a bit curious.
The spirits of nature are mostly formed from human fears.
Most of the spirits of nature have a great deal of aversion to humans. Although Hanami was somewhat neutral towards humans from the beginning, the way he managed to make Hanami give up the Jogo and follow him to the Zenin Estate was truly ingenious!
That bastard Zenin Kiyoshi is a real womanizer!
However, despite saying that, Kenjaku's expression as he looked at Hanami gradually turned cold.
Kenjaku, who knew Hanami's strength well, knew that although the other party did not like to fight, once he got serious, he was a terrifying Special Grade Cursed Spirit with combat power only weaker than Jogo.
It's clear that Kenjaku doesn't think it's a good thing to bring such a helpful person back to Zenin Kiyoshi's side.
He looked at Hanami, then slowly stood up, his Cursed Energy surging slightly, and his voice now contained a hint of amusement:
"Oh dear~ It seems quite a pity, Hanami. Since we can't be companions, then we can't let you leave here."
After all, your strength is just too great. If we let you leave like this, that brat Zenin Kiyoshi will probably be even more difficult to deal with later.
So even if you don't want to work hard for the world of Cursed Spirits, please don't become an obstacle, okay?
"Is it okay to commit suicide here?"
Upon hearing Kenjaku's words, Hanami's expression instantly tightened, and streams of vibrant Cursed Energy burst forth from his body. Surprisingly, many lush green plants sprouted within the abandoned steel factory.
She guessed that the other party might not let her leave so easily, but the thought of dealing with the Jogo now still made her somewhat...
Just then, a tired and hoarse voice came over, making Hanami's nose tingle with emotion.
"Enough! Let Hanami leave here. I said, she will only be our enemy next time. Right now, she is still a spirit of nature, and a partner we can laugh with a hundred years from now!"
Hearing those words, Hanami didn't know how to respond for a moment; she only felt regret...
But Kenjaku did not stop. She looked at Hanami, her body surging with Cursed Energy.
"I said! Let her leave this place!"
The flames rose again, and Kenjaku chuckled softly, choosing to stop.
That's just her perverse sense of humor.
Chapter-166
After that incident, Hanami never saw the Jogo again.
Whenever the sound of the Jogo echoed, revealing its somewhat lonely figure, Hanami felt a pang of bitterness and guilt.
But if Hanami were to choose again, she would probably still choose to stay by Zenin Kiyoshi's side.
You only know which shoes are best for you after you've worn them.
She disliked the life values that the Jogo instilled in her, disliked fighting, and disliked killing any human she encountered indiscriminately.
Even though she is a Cursed Spirit, Hanami still believes that she has a beating heart.
Use your own heart to think, use what you see to judge, instead of simply listening to what others say.
This is what Hanami learned from TV dramas!
She gently placed the bowl of seaweed and egg soup in front of Zenin Kiyoshi. It was one of Zenin Kiyoshi's favorite soups, although he didn't particularly like miso soup.
Looking at the tranquil Zenin Clan, Hanami's lake-blue eyes flickered with worry, and she said softly, her voice tinged with a hint of reproach:
"While the research on the barrier is important, your body is the foundation of everything."
If researching barriers leads to the loss of a healthy body, then no matter how ingenious the barrier, it cannot protect anyone.
Hanami's voice was gentle, yet it carried an almost unquestionable concern, a concern as gentle as a spring breeze caressing new leaves.
While being extremely gentle, it also carries a one-sided forcefulness.
It's like being woken up by an elder on a holiday, who forcibly drags you out of bed to eat breakfast...
Upon hearing this, Zenin Kiyoshi picked up his bowl, and the warm soup steamed up.
He gently blew on it, then slowly took a sip of the soup. The warmth slid down his throat, dispelling some of the slight chill from staying up all night. He looked up at Hanami and said with a smile:
"I know, Hanami."
Zenin Kiyoshi put down his bowl, his voice tinged with a reassuring smile:
"I just felt like I was getting close to the key to that barrier recently. How should I put it? It's like a thin layer of window paper. It's just a little bit of light that's about to get through, so I couldn't help but think about it for a while longer. After that, I stopped doing it."
He raised his hand to rub his temples, trying to relieve the fatigue in his eyes and also to dispel the drowsiness.
"You'll be starting school soon too. Once school starts, your schedule will be more regular, so please keep that in mind."
Hanami's voice rang out again, carrying a similar tone of instruction as before, but Zenin Kiyoshi felt no annoyance whatsoever. In this Jujutsu world where he had no relatives, every instruction from Hanami warmed Zenin Kiyoshi's heart.
"Don't worry, Sister Hanami, I'll take good care of myself. But you, Sister Hanami, you should try to avoid staying up late watching TV dramas lately. I heard you watching 'Love, Betrayal and Loyalty' at 3 a.m. last night, didn't I?"
Hearing this, Hanami's face flushed slightly, and then she whispered a defense:
"No, no, it's just that the TV series happened to be airing at that time..."
Seeing the smile on Zenin Kiyoshi's face, Hanami blushed. She coughed slightly, then pushed the perfectly cooked tamagoyaki towards Zenin Kiyoshi, her voice tinged with an awkward attempt to change the subject:
"Eat quickly, it won't taste good if it gets cold. Today is the first day of school. Even though your classmates are all people you know, it's always good to be energetic."
Hearing Hanami's words, Zenin Kiyoshi nodded and began to devour the food on the table.
Tamagoyaki, to put it simply, is just layers of fried egg wrapped around something, but among Japanese wives, there's a saying:
"If you can't even make tamagoyaki properly, you don't deserve to be a good wife~"
Therefore, in many cooking classes, the first dish taught by the teachers is usually tamagoyaki (Japanese rolled omelet).
The two enjoyed their breakfast at a leisurely pace. Sunlight streamed through the clean windows, casting dappled patterns on the table, and the air was filled with the faint, fresh scent unique to the morning.
Zenin Kiyoshi occasionally glanced up at the television set that was turned on not far away, where a rather boring drama was playing.
When his gaze unconsciously fell on Hanami, a faint sense of emotion still lingered in Zenin Kiyoshi's eyes.
Although almost six years have passed, I still think of that Special Grade Cursed Spirit I met in the dark corner of the Zenin Estate, whose body was wrapped in vines and exuded an ominous aura.
And then there's this "older sister" who prepares heartwarming breakfasts for him and worries and nags him about staying up late... This change is truly a miracle.
Perhaps only the Succubus system can do this?
Or perhaps it's simply because I'm more likable?
Zenin Kiyoshi couldn't figure out the reason either.
In short, over the years, Hanami's favorability towards her has reached 87 points, and she has now obtained all of Hanami's power. When the favorability reaches 100, she will obtain 120% of Hanami's template.
However, this is the highest score; the rest are currently below 80 points.
But Zenin Kiyoshi was not proud of this. He knew that, as it stands, his strength was still far inferior to Sukuna's.
Let alone Sukuna wielding "Divine Flame" and "Flying Heaven," even an ordinary Sukuna with only twenty fingers is still beyond his reach.
The road to becoming stronger is still long and requires one's own journey.
Just as Zenin Kiyoshi was finishing his meal and preparing to leave, Hanami suddenly called out to him and quickly walked up to him.
The next moment, Hanami slightly reached out and used her slender fingers to straighten Zenin Kiyoshi's collar.
Hanami's fingertips carried a slight, plant-like coolness as she adjusted Zenin Kiyoshi's collar with effortless ease.
During this process, Zenin Kiyoshi could smell a faint, fresh, and clean fragrance emanating from Hanami, like a forest after the rain.
It smelled like clothes that had been washed with laundry detergent and left to dry on the balcony all day.
Every time Kiyoshi smells this fragrance, he always feels an involuntary sense of peace.
"Alright, that's about time. Next time, be careful with your collar, don't make me fix it for you every time."
Hanami withdrew her hand, a slightly encouraging smile appearing on her face:
"Hurry up, don't be late on the first day of school!"
"Um."
Zenin chuckled in response, then slung his satchel over his shoulder and headed towards the entrance. Just as he bent down to change his shoes, Hanami's voice came again:
Have a safe trip!
Chapter-167
Pushing open the door, the gentle gaze still lingered on her as Zenin Kiyoshi walked forward.
The weather in Tokyo is lovely today, and many cherry blossoms are in bloom, especially along the way to the Jujutsu High, where there are many special varieties whose blossoms are even more beautiful.
However, Zenin Kiyoshi didn't rush towards the Jujutsu High. After leaving his home, he went straight to a house.
That was the Fushiguro family home after Toji married Miss Eri.
Pushing open the courtyard gate, before even knocking on the door, Zenin Kiyoshi could already hear sounds coming from inside. A whiff of food, a mixture of instant noodle aroma and a faint milky scent, wafted out, instantly dispelling the morning chill.
Before I could even ring the doorbell, I heard a slightly noisy clatter of pots and pans coming from inside.
"Hey! You jerk, Megumi! How many times have I told you, stop messing around here and go drink your milk! Otherwise, I'm going to tie you to the basketball hoop all day!"
It was a deep male voice, filled with drowsiness and impatience, yet also with helplessness.
After that voice rang out, a somewhat immature but already rebellious voice followed:
"My mom said that if you make me eat instant noodles while she's away on a business trip, she'll make you get out and sleep in the bathroom when she gets back!"
"That's why I didn't make you eat instant noodles! That was my own breakfast!"
Hearing Toji's somewhat helpless voice, Megumi seemed even more confused:
"If this instant noodles is your breakfast, then where did my breakfast go?"
Hearing his son's question, Toji's face showed a slightly guilty smile:
"It's milk."
"It's milk?!"
Hearing her father's answer, Megumi's young face showed a look of astonishment.
He looked at the milk bag soaking in warm water and felt that his young heart had been hurt.
"Hey! What father would give a three-year-old milk for breakfast?!"
"Ugh, you little brat, you're developing earlier than most kids. Since you're developing so early, it means that God doesn't want you to cause me any more trouble, so just go find your own food!"
"You damn old man, I'm calling Mom!"
After that slightly threatening voice rang out, there was a moment of silence inside the house.
Zenin Kiyoshi listened to this farce and sighed with a hint of helplessness. This was not the first time such a situation had occurred.
Even though that bastard is a good husband, he's definitely not a good father.
Back in 2002, this guy had already married Ms. Eri and borrowed money from Zenin Naobito to buy a typical two-story Japanese house.
The price is a bit high, and since Toji is different from the Canon and didn't choose to become a "Sorcerer Killer," he has earned relatively little money so far and still has some mortgage payments to make.
However, Kiyoshi knew that this was all Toji's doing. He wanted to put some debt on him to put pressure on him and stop him from betting on horses.
If this guy really wants to make money, he can just find some missions to remove Cursed Spirits from the Jujutsu High. With his strength, earning tens of millions of yen in a month is an extremely simple matter.
But aside from all that, he was genuinely good to Ms. Eri.
After the Zenin temple examination revealed that Ms. Eri's health was not particularly good two years ago, almost all of her money each month was spent on hospital check-ups and buying supplements.
Moreover, he specifically asked Ieiri Shoko and Zenin Kiyoshi to work together to treat Eri's health. With the combined help of Zenin Kiyoshi and the others, Miss Eri's health improved significantly compared to before.
But aside from being relatively kind to Eri, this bastard's treatment of Megumi was the kind of case where he considered it a success if he didn't die.
According to Zenin Kiyoshi's memory, Megumi suffered various negative experiences, such as falls, nightmares, etc., all because of his bastard father.
Perhaps it is for this reason that Megumi is so precocious.
What was most memorable was that Megumi's first words were neither "Dad" nor "Mom." Instead, when Toji was changing Megumi's diaper and momentarily lost focus, accidentally putting the diaper back on, Megumi, his face flushed red, finally let out a furious roar:
"You bastard!"
Both Eri and Toji were stunned upon hearing Megumi's voice.
Ms. Eri was initially puzzled as to why Megumi's first words were "You little brat," but after seeing Megumi's bulging, smelly diaper, her face darkened.
"You bastard! Toji! What have you done?! Our Megumi, the first time she spoke, and you made her swear like that!"
For this reason, Toji was kicked out by Eri that night. With nowhere to go, he could only find Zenin Kiyoshi and spend another night with her.
Originally, this bastard Toji wanted to gain the sympathy of Kiyoshi and the others, but after learning the whole story, Hanami almost kicked Toji out.
And this is just an ordinary daily routine for Toji and Megumi, this father and son.
Sometimes, whenever Zenin Sei saw Ena jumping around so energetically, a sense of bewilderment would rise in his heart.
"Is Megumi really that hard to kill?"
In response, Toji would only roll his eyes at the Zenin Kiyoshi.
Seeing the noise from inside the house rise again, Zenin Kiyoshi simply took out his key, opened the door, and looked at the father and son silently fighting once more. Zenin Kiyoshi, unsurprised, said to Megumi:
"Megumi, this is your breakfast for today: tamagoyaki and bread, and a bottle of Pocari Sweat. Would you like some?"
Upon seeing Kiyoshi approaching, Megumi immediately rushed over from Toji's side, hugging him tightly and saying with a mournful expression:
"Big brother! If you had come any later, that bastard would have killed me!"
"How many times have I told you not to call me 'big brother'? Who gave you the Crows Zero manga?"
With a hint of helplessness, Zenin Kiyoshi glanced at Megumi. Compared to the somewhat gloomy and aloof Megumi in the Canon, Zenin Kiyoshi actually had a fairly good impression of her.
Of course, this excludes the part where Ena goes a little crazy because of Tsumiki.
Toji slowly sat up from the sofa, her dark circles under her eyes were very heavy.
He ran his fingers through his messy black hair, yawned, looked at Zenin Kiyoshi who was holding his son, and said with a relieved expression:
"How about I give Megumi to you? I don't want this bastard anymore anyway."
"You should say that to Miss Eri. It's the first day of school, don't be late, hurry up and go."
Chapter-168
After getting into Toji's car, Zenin Kiyoshi fastened Megumi's seatbelt, then asked Toji:
"Today is the first day of school, you'll probably be quite busy. If you bring Megumi along, will you really have time to take good care of him?"
Toji opened the driver's side door and said nonchalantly:
"Whether I have time or not is irrelevant."
"Why?"
Kiyoshi looked slightly puzzled by Toji's answer.
"Because even if I had time, I wouldn't bother with that brat. I could just leave him to Geto Suguru, since he's so popular with kids anyway."
Upon hearing this, Zenin Kiyoshi sighed slightly; this was the answer he had expected.
Since Megumi was born, whenever Megumi was entrusted by Miss Eri to Toji to help with her homework at school, the task would automatically fall to Geto Suguru.
The reason is simple: it's not that Toji is taking advantage of Geto Suguru, but rather that Geto Suguru is genuinely very popular with children.
Especially when Megumi was a child, no one in the Jujutsu High could hold him, especially Gojo Satoru. As soon as they got close to Megumi, he would immediately burst into tears.
The boy could only fall asleep peacefully when Geto Suguru held Megumi in his arms.
As a result, Gojo Satoru even developed some psychological trauma. He secretly asked Zenin Kiyoshi if he was sometimes too fierce.
Of course, Zenin Kiyoshi simply smiled and replied to Gojo Satoru's question:
It's just that Geto Suguru is more popular with children; he told Gojo Satoru not to keep thinking about these things.
Even so, Gojo Satoru's competitive nature led him to harass Fushiguro Megumi on several occasions in the future.
After making Fushiguro Megumi cry time and time again, Gojo would sometimes secretly take out a mirror and look at his own face.
Zenin Kiyoshi knew that Gojo did that because he was starting to doubt his own appearance.
Because Shoko once proposed a theory that even young children who do not yet have a complete sense of aesthetics will feel more close to and dependent on adults who are good-looking.
It was precisely because of this statement that Gojo Satoru began to doubt himself.
However, after seeing Geto Suguru's body soaked in Megumi's excrement, Gojo Satoru no longer had that thought.
Recalling those events, a smile involuntarily appeared on Kiyoshi's face. The next moment, he slightly opened the window and complained to Toji:
"Did you eat garlic for breakfast again?"
"I'm not used to eating noodles without adding a couple of cloves of garlic. Besides, wasn't this the way you recommended it to me?"
"After eating those things in an enclosed space, you'd better keep your car windows open!"
Listening to Zenin Kiyoshi's complaints, Toji exhaled slightly onto his palm, then subconsciously sniffed it, without saying anything, but simply rolled the car window down further.
The car quickly entered a secluded mountain road leading to the college. Because of the barrier spells set up along the way, there were basically no vehicles passing by.
Even though the car was driving very fast, it didn't take long before the gate of the college, hidden among the lush trees, came into view.
He found an open space to park the car, and as soon as he turned off the engine, Megumi in the back seat couldn't wait any longer. She wiggled her little body, pointed to the gate of the vocational college outside the window, and said with a hint of excitement:
"I made an appointment with Brother Geto today. He said he would take me to play electric games. Hurry up and park the car so you don't waste my time!"
Hearing Megumi's slightly disrespectful tone, Toji was already used to it. He didn't even turn his head, but simply instructed Megumi:
"Don't die, the rest is up to you."
"Don't worry, I'm still waiting for you to leave me an inheritance! No, forget it, you'll probably only leave me debts..."
Hearing Megumi's words, which were clearly not something a child should say, even Toji was so angry that she almost laughed:
"You little brat, who taught you those things?!"
However, Megumi did not give a proper response to this question.
Because at this moment, Zenin Kiyoshi had already unbuckled Megumi's child safety belt. The instant the safety belt was unbuckled, Megumi pushed open the car door and, with her short legs, rushed towards the tall figure at the school gate who was wearing a black Jujutsu High uniform and had an odd hairstyle.
In Megumi's hands, she was still tightly clutching the "Inventory Curse" that looked like a caterpillar.
Inventory Curse was originally intended to be used as Toji's armory, but after Megumi was born, the armory gradually became a children's supplies warehouse, and Inventory Curse was simply pulled off Toji's shoulder and tossed to Megumi to play with.
"Brother Geto!"
Megumi's somewhat strange nickname echoed throughout the quiet campus in the early morning.
Geto Suguru turned around upon hearing Megumi's call, and the signature gentle yet slightly helpless smile that appeared on his face after seeing Megumi appeared on his face.
The next moment, Geto Suguru skillfully crouched down, opened his arms, and steadily caught the figure rushing towards him, then said softly:
"Megumi, good morning! Did you eat breakfast well today? Did you make Teacher Toji angry?"
Hearing this, Megumi's face showed a hint of displeasure. He glanced at Toji and said in a low voice:
"That damn old man, all he wanted this morning was some milk. If it weren't for Brother Kiyoshi bringing me some food, I probably would have starved to death by now."
Listening to Megumi's usual filial piety, Geto Suguru felt somewhat helpless. Because of Toji's physical qualities, which far exceeded those of ordinary people, he absolutely could not continue along with Megumi's words.
He had taken over twice before, and both times his physical education training volume was inexplicably many times higher than others.
Even if you ask Toji, Toji will only change the training volume to the same number of sessions of "teacher-student combat skills training".
After being beaten several times, Geto Suguru realized something was wrong. From then on, whenever Megumi uttered any disrespectful words, he would give the same fixed response:
"Megumi, Teacher Toji must have his reasons. He has his own unique parenting methods. You should be more understanding of him instead of constantly complaining about him."
"Alright, Brother Geto, let's not talk about that bastard dad anymore. I borrowed Brother Kiyoshi's phone on the way and sent it to Mom about what happened this morning. When Mom comes back, that bastard dad will definitely be kicked out of the house!"
Meanwhile, Toji, who was not far away, heard the sound coming from his ear and subconsciously looked in the direction of Zenin Qing. He saw that Zenin Qing, who was originally not far in front of him, had long since disappeared.
Chapter-169
Just as Toji was searching for Zenin's figure, Megumi's loud crying suddenly came from not far away.
Hearing that voice, Toji not only showed no concern, but instead looked over with a gloating expression.
Sure enough, Fushiguro Megumi, who had previously had a smile on her face, was now squatting on the ground, crying loudly.
Standing in front of Fushiguro Megumi was Gojo Satoru, who looked completely innocent but wore a terrifying Cursed Spirit mask...
As for why the masked man could be identified as Gojo Satoru at a glance, the reason is simple: his unique height and extremely conspicuous white hair reveal his identity.
"Hey! Gojo! Haven't I told you so many times? Don't scare kids like that, it'll traumatize them! Did you even listen to me?!"
Geto Suguru looked at Megumi, who was squatting on the ground crying because she was frightened by Gojo Satoru, and a helpless and heartbroken expression flashed across his face.
Although Megumi is a bit mischievous, to be honest, he has watched Megumi grow up since she was born, or rather, Megumi grew up in his arms.
To put it bluntly, Megumi and Geto Suguru sometimes seem more like a father and son.
As for that bastard Toji, he's a complete bastard...
After all, he was his mentor, so Geto Suguru couldn't scold him too harshly.
He picked Megumi up from the ground, humming an unknown nursery rhyme and gently patting her back, trying to soothe her.
But under Geto Suguru's comforting words, Megumi couldn't hold back his tears any longer. He cried harder and harder, while Gojo Satoru felt increasingly guilty. He took off his mask and squatted down in the corner, looking extremely gloomy.
"I'm sorry, my problem is that I'm too cynical..."
Seeing that Gojo Satoru's self-esteem was hurt by Megumi every now and then, Geto Suguru sighed helplessly.
Just then, several beautiful figures slowly walked over from not far away.
"Hey, Gojo, you scumbag, did you make Megumi cry again?"
Shoko's voice was as pleasant as ever, and her words were as sharp and decisive as ever.
Listening to Shoko's words, Gojo Satoru became even more depressed. Being disliked by children was almost a curse etched into Gojo Satoru's bones.
He doesn't actually like children, and whether or not he's liked by children doesn't really matter to him.
However... given Gojo Satoru's proud personality, he may not like children, but it's unacceptable for children to dislike him!
Especially after all these years of trying so hard to please Megumi, yet still making no progress, Gojo Satoru became even more dejected.
"Ah... Shoko, you're right. Someone like me who's disliked by children should just die already. I'll go find a running tram, or maybe a top-tier Cursed Spirit..."
Before Gojo Satoru could finish speaking, the Utahime interrupted him.
"Alright, you've said these things countless times since Megumi was born. The tram can't even hit you, and a top-tier Cursed Spirit is the one who's unlucky to run into you. If you're going to swear, at least come up with a better reason. You don't have any sincerity at all."
Hearing the Iori Utahime's words, Gojo Satoru recovered from his slump. He looked at the two who had spoken earlier and said in surprise:
"Are you two really human? I don't think such cold words could come from human mouths!"
Gojo Satoru's personality has changed a lot in the past few years. Compared to his slightly aloof and cool demeanor when we first met, he seems to have completely unleashed his true nature in the past year and no longer has any intention of being cool.
However, Zenin Kiyoshi knew that Gojo Satoru's current state was not actually a particularly good direction for development.
The reason this guy is behaving this way actually represents another kind of "arrogance" deep within him.
In other words, everyone else in this world is basically an NPC, or a fragile existence like paper. To him, the whole world is like a large-scale open-world game.
He now interacts with everyone with a carefree, playful attitude.
Zenin Kiyoshi had already figured out how to correct this, but now was not the time.
"What do you mean, 'you two'?! I'm your senior, use polite language! You idiot!"
Hearing the Iori Utahime's words, Gojo Satoru just grinned, then made a face at her and said with a smile:
"No way, Utahime! Utahime!~"
Upon hearing the Iori Utahime's request, Gojo Satoru not only failed to use honorifics, but also deliberately referred to her as "Utahime" several times to annoy her.
The singer felt annoyed and frustrated by Gojo Satoru's attitude, and the two started arguing again.
Meanwhile, Mei Mei emerged from the direction where Zenin Kiyoshi had been. Compared to five years ago, Mei Mei had become even taller and more beautiful. She didn't focus her gaze on Gojo Satoru and Geto Suguru, but instead smiled and looked towards a shady spot not far away, then said with a smile:
"Kiyoshi, today is the first day of school, why are you hiding over there so cautiously?"
Upon hearing this, Zenin Sei smiled and then said:
"Let's see if we can avoid Professor Yaga's long-winded speech here. Last year he talked for more than half an hour. If it weren't for that kid Gojo Satoru suddenly going crazy and running away, I don't know how long Professor Yaga would have continued to speak."
Hearing Zenin Kiyoshi's words, Mei Mei chuckled softly, then said:
"Things should change this year, right? Let's not talk about that now. I've got some information you asked me to find for you. Want to take a look?"
Hearing Mei Mei's words, Zenin Monk Kiyoshi's smile faded slightly. He looked at the documents in Mei Mei's hand, and a serious expression appeared on his face.
"Thank you for your hard work, Miss Mei Mei. How much is the reward for this mission?"
Hearing Zenin Kiyoshi's words, Mei Mei smiled and shook her head, saying softly:
"I wouldn't ask you for payment for something like this. Just come and help me whenever I have any problems in the future."
However, these two children seem to have something special about them. I always feel that there's something wrong with the Cursed Energy they possess; it's a strange kind of Cursed Energy, somewhat like the fusion between the two of them...
Well, the Cursed Energy within them was very strong, but it didn't seem to belong to just one of them alone; rather, it seemed to be shared by both of them.
Chapter-170
Kiyoshi Zenin listened to Mei Mei's words, a slightly solemn expression appearing on his face. He took the documents, flipped through a couple of pages, frowned slightly, and then said softly:
"Thank you for your hard work, Miss Mei Mei. However, there's something I don't quite understand about the [Fusion of Cursed Energy]. Could you explain the specifics to me?"
Upon hearing this, Mei Mei leaned slightly towards Zenin Temple Kiyoshi. She tucked her hair back, and a faint fragrance wafted from her body, mingling with the early spring breeze, making one's nose tingle slightly.
"Let me see, you mean the strange Cursed Energy on these two children, right?"
Actually, the concept of "fusion spell power" here is a term I came up with myself after observing the special circumstances of those two children.
When you asked me to pay attention to those two children, I actually sensed something in them that was similar to the aura emanating from the Maki and Mai sisters.
At this point, Mei Mei frowned slightly, shook her head, and denied her previous answer:
"No, that's not right. It's not quite the same as the feeling I get from Maki and Mai. Maki and Mai give me the feeling that their unified Cursed Energy has been dispersed, but the feeling I get from those two children is like different Cursed Energy being perfectly fused together."
Hearing Mei Mei's words, Zenin Kiyoshi nodded and said:
"I read in ancient books that twins are considered as a whole at the moment of their birth, and therefore the spells and magic that should have been bestowed on the same person are distributed among the two of them."
As a result, even the best spells and spells will become "bottom-of-the-class" because there is an extra person to distribute them.
The only way to solve this problem is for one of the twins to die.
When one of the twins dies, all their power and magic will return to the surviving twin.
Mei Mei nodded and sighed slightly.
"Yes, that's how it is. So, for the sisters Maki and Mai, you should be considered their benefactor."
"If you hadn't dealt with those bastards back then, those sisters would probably be living a life akin to hell right now."
Hearing this, Zenin Kiyoshi did not refute it, as he knew how the sisters Maki and Mai lived in the Canon.
Fortunately, after he eradicated those malignant tumors, the Zenin Clan, under the joint governance of the old man and himself, has undergone a complete transformation.
Moreover, Zenin Kiyoshi felt that Zenin Naobito seemed to be grooming him to be the next head of the Zenin Clan.
Especially in the last two years, he has often entrusted him with most of the tasks, and even gave him the key to the Zenin Clan's Cursed Tool storehouse.
It can be said that, apart from the old man's own wine cellar key, there is no place in the entire Zenin Clan that Zenin Qing cannot go.
The Maki and Mai sisters also benefited from this, and under the care of Zenin Kiyoshi, they enjoyed a life several times happier than in the Canon.
Without the influence of that beast Zenin Ogi, their mother fully unleashed her maternal love, showering the Maki sisters with almost doting affection.
Although it is a single-parent family, the two sisters receive just as much love as anyone else.
Of course, when the two girls were young, Maki would still ask them questions about their "father".
Originally, the Zenin Naobito intended to keep it a secret, but their mother told them the whole truth, including the murder in the fire when they were still babies.
After learning all this, Maki and Mai were much stronger than expected. They were only sad for a day before they returned to normal.
Later, Zenin Naobito, somewhat puzzled, asked the two sisters why they recovered so quickly. The sisters replied as follows:
"Since Mom said that he was a beastly father, why should we still reminisce about that kind of thing? I also heard Mom say that if it weren't for Grandpa and Brother Kiyoshi, Maki and I would be living a miserable life right now."
So, losing a beastly father and gaining two decent elders in return—isn't that a very good deal?
Hearing these words, Zenin Naobito and Zenin Naobito were completely relieved.
Of course, during this time, Zenin Kiyoshi never gave up looking for a way to resolve the situation of these two people, but unfortunately, he still doesn't have much of a clue about this thing that is almost like the rules of the world.
Kiyoshi shook his head, refocusing his thoughts on the documents Mei Mei had handed him. Looking at the two young children in the photograph, he asked softly:
"Besides the difference in their auras, Miss Mei Mei, what other things do you find strange?"
"As for other places, it was mainly that girl who gave me a somewhat inexplicable feeling of unease."
Hearing this, Zenin Kiyoshi raised his head curiously and subconsciously repeated:
"Strange?"
"Yeah, it's a weird feeling. This girl always gives me an aura that's slightly different from humans. How should I put it? It's as if she's transformed from some kind of Cursed Spirit."
Upon hearing this, Zenin Monk Kiyoshi became restless.
Zenin Kiyoshi had long been puzzled by the character of Orimoto Rika. Why was it that in the Canon, so many people died painfully, yet only Orimoto Rika became a "Special Grade Cursed Spirit"?
To say that this is entirely due to the curse of Okkotsu Yuta is a bit of a stretch.
Although Okkotsu Yuta is considered a genius, there is still a significant gap between him and beings of the same caliber as Sukuna and Gojo Satoru.
In fact, it's hard to say whether Okkotsu Yuta could even rank in the top five in terms of combat power within the entire world of Jujutsu.
At least in the top three, Okkotsu Yuta is definitely not among them.
Needless to say, Gojo Satoru and Sukuna are two people who were beheaded in the Canon. If it weren't for Takaba's heaven-defying technique and Todo Aoi's assistance, Yuta would most likely not have been able to defeat Kenjaku (Note: Changed Yuta to Kenjaku as context implies Yuta defeating Kenjaku with help).
The reason why Geto Suguru lost to Yuta was entirely because most of his Cursed Spirits were in Tokyo participating in the Night Parade of a Hundred Demons at the time, and his strength was not at its peak. Otherwise, Zenin Kiyoshi would not have thought that Geto Suguru would have lost to Okkotsu Yuta.
As for Tsukumo Yuki, the extent of her Domain Expansion is still unclear, but based on her exaggerated physical skills alone, Zenin Kiyoshi thinks she's enough to give Yuta a run for his money.
It can be said that among these top-tier fighters, apart from those two, almost no one can guarantee a 100% chance of defeating the others.