Chapter-221
Although that's what she said, Kenjaku had no intention of discussing it at all. Without waiting for Mei Mei's reply, she flashed and appeared in front of her.
Looking at Miss Mei Mei, who was almost powerless to resist, Kenjaku's eyes revealed a thoughtful expression.
What is your relationship with Zenin Kiyoshi?
Hearing the question coming from her ear, Mei Mei was stunned for a moment, and then she immediately judged that this was a test by Kenjaku to see if he could use her to threaten Zenin Kiyoshi.
Without any hesitation, Mei Mei answered directly:
"It's not a particularly good relationship, just a senior-junior relationship."
Upon hearing this, Kenjaku revealed a faint smile, then said softly:
"Is that so? So that's how distant your relationship is? That's a real shame. I was thinking that if you and Zenin Kiyoshi were on decent terms, killing you here might have caused that guy to have a breakdown. But now it seems that killing you or not makes no difference..."
When Kenjaku finished speaking, he paused slightly. The next moment, the gravity around Mei Mei instantly doubled, and his bones and flesh seemed to be groaning.
Mei Mei felt an overwhelming, almost suffocating force press down on her. Her body, which had been kneeling on the ground, was suddenly forced to the ground, her skin and flesh colliding with the hard, cold cement floor, and a sharp pain shot through her instantly.
Even in the face of such pain, Miss Mei Mei did not utter a single word of begging for mercy. Her entire body lay on the ground, and her consciousness was becoming somewhat blurred.
The intense pain and immense pressure on her body made it impossible for Mei Mei to connect her thoughts.
She no longer feels fear of death; perhaps the only thing she feels is a slight sense of resentment and regret...
For some reason, the scene from five years ago resurfaced in my mind once again.
At that time, when she was driven to the brink of death by that extraordinary Grade 1 Cursed Spirit, Zenin Kiyoshi's figure appeared in front of her.
I really thought I was going to die back then. If it weren't for him, I might be a handful of dust by now.
Living these extra five years is truly a huge win.
It's just... a bit of a pity, Kiyoshi... I haven't been to the party with you tonight.
Kenjaku looked at Mei Mei, who was about to die, and a slight look of surprise appeared on her face. She had actually observed the interaction between Mei Mei and Zenin Kiyoshi before, and the relationship between the two was obviously not as simple as that of senior and junior.
However, since the other party would rather do this than beg for mercy, it doesn't matter. Her purpose in existing is nothing more than to help me disrupt Zenin Kiyoshi's mindset. As long as I can hold Zenin Kiyoshi here, it doesn't matter whether the woman in front of me lives or dies.
At this moment, Mei Mei felt as if her internal organs had been squeezed into a lump of mud, and every muscle and nerve was howling in agony. It was a kind of pain that seemed to crush her body and soul together.
Blood gradually stained Mei Mei's entire body, and her consciousness began to sink. Just before she was about to completely fall into darkness, she suddenly felt a lightness throughout her body. The next moment, an indescribable surge of power instantly swept through her entire body.
With the help of this power, the wounds, body, and blood began to heal rapidly at a speed visible to the naked eye.
The touch around her was warm and familiar. She didn't even open her eyes, but she knew perfectly well who was outside.
"Should I say you came too late, or that you came just in time...?"
Miss Mei Mei's voice was still very tired, but there was no trace of the fear she had felt when she almost died here.
As Zenin Monk Kiyoshi listened to the trembling voice from the depths of the darkness, he felt a bitter pang in his heart.
"I'm sorry I hurt you."
"Let's talk about apologies later... at the dinner party tonight. First, take care of that guy. That's what you need to do right now."
"Yes, I know."
The pain from Miss Mei Mei's previous injury returned to her body. Kiyoshi looked at Kenjaku with a murderous intent that was almost tangible in his eyes.
"You've been causing me endless trouble for the past five years. To be honest, I'm getting fed up. You're going to die here today."
Hearing Kiyoshi's words, Kenjaku's face showed no fear. Instead, she looked at Kiyoshi with some curiosity, her voice laced with sarcasm and laughter:
"If you can still spout such boastful words in this sorry state, then it seems I may have overestimated your intelligence. Perhaps I should have..."
Kiyoshi didn't give Kenjaku a chance to finish speaking. He exhaled softly, and a lake-green color, even more dazzling than Hanami, appeared in his eyes.
As countless tentacles, each as thick as a human head, emerged from the ground, they enveloped Mei Mei from head to toe.
"Trying to protect her this way is basically impossible..."
As the head's field of vision soared higher, the sound of the lute stopped completely at that moment.
Zenin-in-shiki stared at the head flying in the sky, his expression icy cold:
"Has no one told you this? You talk too much and it's getting annoying."
However, the head flying in the sky showed no panic. It simply smiled at Zenin-in-Chief and then said:
"Just as I expected, Zenin Kiyoshi, it seems that you and Ryomen Sukuna have indeed reached some kind of agreement that I am unaware of. The strength and speed of this slash are indeed familiar."
How much of the Malevolent Shrine's power have you mastered now? Can you expand your Domain Expansion yet?
"After all, Sukuna has used your body a few times, so it's normal for a technique to be imprinted on your body. But that level of imprinting isn't enough to allow you to unleash such a powerful strike. Since I'm about to die, could you please tell me what secret you've achieved?"
Zenin Seiji stared at the head that had rolled to the ground, but there was no sign of relief on his face. He looked at the severed head before him, his words laced with sarcasm:
"You don't look like you're about to die at all. This isn't your true form, is it?"
Kenjaku's head, which had fallen to the ground, still wore a bright smile.
Chapter-222
The head that had fallen to the ground showed a confused expression after hearing Zenin-in-Chief's voice. She grimaced and then said:
"How did you find out? That's strange, I should have been able to hide it pretty well."
Zenin Monk looked at the rope and said in a calm voice:
"The power of your spells is different. Your usual core of spell power is always in your head, right? The core of spell power in this body is no different from that of an ordinary person."
Upon hearing Kiyoshi's words, Kenjaku's expression immediately darkened. A barely perceptible wariness flashed in her eyes as she looked at Kiyoshi, a few cold glints suddenly appearing in her eyes.
"I don't quite understand what you mean by that."
"There's no need for you to put on airs here. I already knew your true identity from Lord Tengen. A thousand years ago, during the Heian period, you were one of the twin stars alongside Lord Tengen, known as the most knowledgeable sorcerer. It's quite a sight to see you in this state now."
Kiyoshi gazed at the head rolling on the ground, his face expressionless. Meanwhile, Kenjaku narrowed his eyes, his voice lower than usual:
"Tengen actually told you all these things? That's quite unexpected. But what I'm curious about is, what are your thoughts on this?"
Originally, Kenjaku thought that Zenin Kiyoshi wouldn't answer her question, but to her surprise, Zenin Kiyoshi not only answered her question, but also answered it in great detail:
"Lord Tengen once told me about you. Born into the most famous family of Onmyoji, or rather, the most famous family of sorcerers, your real name should be Kenjaku. At that time, you not only possessed the most outstanding talent, but also the beauty that everyone loved."
Back then, you were only a teenager, yet you and Lord Tengen were already known as the twin stars of the Heian period. Lord Tengen even told me that for a time, you and Lord Tengen were practically best friends. So why have you become this inhuman, ghostly figure now?
Hearing Kiyoshi's words, Kenjaku didn't show much expression; the smile on her face didn't even fade.
"Oh my god~ That guy Tengen is really something, he tells everyone everything. We clearly agreed that our affairs were only between the two of us. Telling others is such a headache."
At this point, Kenjaku paused slightly, then looked at Kiyoshi, her voice carrying a hint of nostalgia:
"That period was indeed a wonderful time, but unfortunately... it was far too short. I actually really liked Tengen; before she absorbed those star spores, she was a very beautiful woman~"
Ah~ right, right, have you ever seen what Tengen really looks like? It's been hundreds of years since I last saw her. I remember that Tengen was just about to absorb star spores to maintain the stability of her technique at that time.
"Tengen was truly hideous back then. His once stunning beauty had completely vanished, replaced by a deformed appearance, like a Cursed Spirit. Zenin Kiyoshi, don't you think Lord Tengen looked even more wretched and pathetic than I did?"
Zenin Kiyoshi simply looked at Kenjaku calmly and retorted firmly:
"If you've lived this long and your perspective on things is still limited to basic appearance, then you've lived in vain. Lord Tengen is infinitely more beautiful than you, no matter the time."
Kenjaku smiled, his voice as calm as ever:
"Stop spouting those nonsensical orthodox theories. Very few people in this world like orthodox theories, and it's the same for me. Besides, I'm a woman, so it's normal for me to care about my appearance, isn't it?"
Even on Tengen's side, she went through a long and difficult transition period accepting her increasingly strange appearance. Don't you know these things?
Zenin Temple Kiyoshi raised his hand slightly, and countless slashes appeared, cutting Kenjaku's head into pieces.
"I'm sorry, but I'm someone who focuses on results and real actions. As long as people ultimately do good, I don't really care about the process or what they're thinking in between."
The headless body, which should have collapsed, only swayed slightly, staggered a couple of steps as if drunk, and then stood firmly.
Immediately afterwards, at the smooth cut of the neck, countless wriggling fleshy buds grew, intertwined, and shaped wildly, like living things!
In just a few breaths, a head exactly the same as before, even down to the exact same mocking smile, "grew" out perfectly!
The newborn Kenjaku gently twisted its neck, making a soft "crack" sound, its face showing a hint of displeasure at being interrupted and a petulant complaint:
"Oh dear... what a rude and impatient fellow! Doesn't he even have the manners to let people finish speaking?"
Kenjaku remained extremely calm and normal, as if what had just been chopped up was not his own head, but merely an insignificant prop.
She tidied her slightly messy hair, her gaze sweeping with interest over the serene, unperturbed faces of the monks in the temple, then glancing in the direction of the vine fortress. A meaningful, all-knowing smile curved her lips:
"But... never mind. It's about time anyway." Her tone was as casual as if she were discussing the weather.
"That little girl named Rika... she must be safely and happily back with her dear grandmother and father by now, right? What a touching family reunion!"
Upon hearing this, Zenin Sei glanced at Rika, who was still lying on the spot. The next moment, Rika's body completely shattered, turning into pieces of flesh pieced together.
But Zenin Sei's face remained expressionless in the face of all this; he simply looked at Kenjaku with a calm expression in his eyes.
"You don't seem surprised by any of this? Or are you just pretending to be calm?"
Listening to the nonsense asked by Kenjaku, Zenin Temple Kiyoshi simply shook his head and then said:
"If you're a smart guy, then you should be able to see it, or if you have a sense of crisis about your own techniques, you should be able to feel this."
Have you ever considered the possibility that I might have already broken the spell you planted in my body through Rika?
Didn't you ever consider that I could tell you were stalling for time?
Upon hearing Kiyoshi's words, Kenjaku's smile vanished, replaced by a somewhat sinister gaze.
Chapter-223
Seeing the gaze that Kenjaku cast at him, Zenin Kiyoshi suddenly smiled:
"Actually, I often think about one thing, which is that you often take some things for granted."
As Zenin-in-sei's voice faded, Kenjaku paused slightly, then said:
"If you want to mock my arrogance and haughtiness at this time, then I think you should show your current strengths instead of making baseless sarcasm here."
Upon hearing this, Zenin Qing's smile deepened even further:
"Just like now, you still think that there is nothing wrong with your ideas, and that the problems are with everyone else. In the past thousand years, you have used the advantage of your long life to carry out too many dimensional reduction attacks on everyone else."
Therefore, you have formed your own set of logical judgments. You are unwilling to step out of this comfort zone and will subconsciously take many things for granted, as if you are the one who controls everything.
For example, you're taking Rika back to her grandmother and father now, probably intending to feed her the three Sukuna fingers you've collected, right?
Hearing Kiyoshi's words, Kenjaku felt a slight heaviness in his heart, but his expression remained largely unchanged.
"You're a very smart guy, but the fact that you were able to guess these things isn't solely your achievement. Sukuna must have given you hints too, right?"
Besides, even if you already guessed this, so what? I've already sent Orimoto Rika to her grandmother's side. Even if you rush there now, there's absolutely no time to stop it."
"When did I say I was going to stop all of this from happening?"
Zenin Kiyoshi's answer puzzled Kenjaku. She chuckled and looked at Zenin Kiyoshi:
"Since you're unwilling to stop all of this, then what are you standing in front of me for? Tell me the truth, Zenin Kiyoshi. I know what kind of person you are. With your moral standards and bottom line, you wouldn't just stand by and watch a brat like Orimoto Rika die, would you?"
Kiyoshi's smile seemed particularly sharp at this moment. He met Kenjaku's scrutinizing gaze, slowly shook his head, and spoke in a clear and firm voice:
"Stop? No, you're wrong. I'm here not to stop you from feeding Sukuna's fingers to Rika."
Zenin-in-Chiyo took a step forward, and the surging Cursed Energy around him instantly boiled over, as if the surrounding air itself had frozen.
"I'm here to make sure this happens, and that it happens within the script I've set."
Kenjaku narrowed his eyes, and the Cursed Spirit carrying Rika began to slow down its pace. But at this moment, the Cursed Spirit had already entered Rika's grandmother's field of vision. Seeing the Cursed Spirit slow down, Rika's grandmother even rushed over anxiously.
She had to feed all three fingers and the Cursed Object into Rika's body before Kenjaku returned, and then create an accident in front of Okkotsu Yuta, causing Rika to be hit by a car and die.
Although the two kids haven't developed a deep bond yet, based on Rika's grandmother's understanding of Okkotsu Yuta, if Rika were to die in front of him, he would most likely choose to reject the fact.
Once this thought arises, Rika can become a Cursed Spirit; it's just a matter of how strong or weak she is.
But with the addition of those three fingers, Rika's potential as a Cursed Spirit won't be too low. In any case, this is a sure-fire way to make money!
All I need to do is take Rika away from Japan to a country far away from Japan. With Rika's strength, she will still be able to live a very good life.
Once I leave this place, even the powerful Curse User who gave me the finger won't be able to find me across such a long distance!
Just thinking about her future life brought an almost irrepressible smile to Rika's grandmother's face.
Inside her suitcase were numerous magical artifacts, besides the three fingers of Sukuna, which represented all the possessions she had accumulated over the years.
In total, there are approximately 21 Grade 3 Cursed Objects, 5 Grade 2 Cursed Objects, and 2 Grade 1 Cursed Objects. Originally, these items were intended to be consumed by Rika over five years, but now there is not enough time.
She had to stuff those three top-grade fingers and all these Cursed Objects into Rika's body today.
Although this would greatly increase the probability of Rika's death, she was going to die anyway, so let's take the gamble! In any case, even if they are discovered in the end, or Rika dies and the plan fails, it's just a matter of starting over.
Through the eyes of the Cursed Spirit, Kenjaku clearly observed all of this, but she did not choose to let the Cursed Spirit stop Rika's grandmother's actions. In Kenjaku's opinion, Zenin Kiyoshi was likely engaging in a psychological game with her.
She didn't believe that Zenin Qing had the ability to break through her spell in such a short time. Even with the help of Tengen and Sukuna, it would be impossible. Kenjaku had known those two for a thousand years, and she knew Sukuna and Tengen's spell level better than anyone else.
Even so, Kenjaku dared not say that his judgment was necessarily correct.
Even if she ultimately fails, it will only mean the loss of a top-tier Cursed Spirit fighter for her. Although it will hurt a little, it won't be too unacceptable.
Therefore, taking all the above considerations into account, Kenjaku decided to take the gamble.
She bet that Zenin Master Kiyoshi was just scaring himself; he had no means or methods to deal with her subsequent spell activation.
Even if Zenin Seimei breaks his spell, it only prevents him from being destroyed along with Sukuna's fingers, but Orimoto Rika will indeed die with three of Sukuna's fingers.
Then she would be able to deal with Sukuna, who was giving her a headache, and in that case, she would have achieved half of her goal.
So, Kenjaku looked at the serene Zenin temple before him and whispered:
"You designed the script? Actually, I've always felt that you don't have much talent as a screenwriter. At least what you're saying now doesn't really pique my interest."
"If this show is entirely designed to criticize a particular person, then that person naturally won't have any expectations for it, right?"
With a smile on his face, Zenin Qing gently stretched out his hand. To Kenjaku's astonishment, Zenin Qing's arm was now covered with various complex and obscure magical structures.
"Many times, people forget about incantations, but I think that incantations are actually the core concept of spells."
Chapter-224
"Incantation?"
Kenjaku didn't quite understand what Zenin Kiyoshi meant at first. You should know that even a child who has just started learning magic knows that incantations are often just used to assist in casting spells.
It's like some chocolate chips on a strawberry ice cream; it's nice to have them, but it doesn't really matter if they're not there.
But if someone told you that the core and soul of the whole strawberry ice cream is actually those chocolate chips, you would definitely think that person is out of their mind.
At least for Kenjaku at present, that's what Zenin Kiyoshi meant.
Seeing the reaction of the creature before him, Zenin Kiyoshi naturally knew what was going on in his mind.
However, Zenin Qing was not angry about these things. He simply looked at Kenjaku and, without uttering a single word, began to chant:
"The lone wolf of bones and the rotting newborn antelope meet on the graves of the dead, embrace after the twenty-second midnight bell, and awaken the blue flowers growing under the twilight with a sharp and sticky voice in the blessing of the black rooster."
Despite the chanting of Zenin Monastery Master, Kenjaku maintained a slightly suspicious expression on his face.
He had never heard of these incantations before, nor had he ever seen anyone cast similar incantations in the past thousand years.
Self-created incantations?
The possibility surfaced in Kenjaku's mind, and she narrowed her eyes slightly. She didn't foolishly wait for Zenin Kiyoshi to finish reciting the incantations. As the gravity spell appeared around Zenin Kiyoshi, it was instantly torn to pieces by the surging vines around him.
Seeing this, Kenjaku's pupils dilated slightly, while Zenin Kiyoshi looked at Kenjaku with a calm, almost cold, rational expression:
"Are you surprised? It's something invisible, like gravity magic, but it was shattered by these messy attacks from vines. Does that seem to contradict your own understanding?"
But actually, after all these years, you should have noticed some things by now. The battles between sorcerers, in essence, are battles of total sorcery power. When the difference in total sorcery power between two sides reaches a certain level, no matter how excellent the innate spell, it cannot bridge that gap.
To this, Kenjaku merely narrowed his eyes, his gaze filled with pity for the frog at the bottom of the well:
"That's just because you've never seen the battle on the mountaintop. You can't possibly understand the so-called total amount of Cursed Energy; it's just a ticket to the top."
Zenin-in-shiki listened to Kenjaku's words, shook his head slightly, and then said softly:
"About five years ago, I was just like you, with a morbid fascination for things like innate techniques. But as my understanding of this world became clearer, I realized that the so-called innate techniques were nothing more than the body resonating with the power of incantations."
The frequency of resonance represents the effect of the spell, while the amplitude of resonance represents the effect of the spell. However, when the total amount of spell power of one side far exceeds that of the other side by a huge margin, one side's spell will be unable to even cause resonance.
"Like those vine attacks I just used, they didn't actually strike your spell, but they still interrupted it, didn't they?"
Hearing this, Kenjaku's expression turned slightly unpleasant. She looked at Zenin Kiyoshi and spoke in a somewhat shrill voice:
"You mean your Cursed Energy has completely overwhelmed me from beginning to end?"
"If it were your true form, I wouldn't be able to exert such great pressure on you. But unfortunately, you are cowardly and timid. What you have brought here is just an avatar. In that case, your avatar cannot stop me from finishing the incantation."
As Zenin-in Kiyoshi's voice fell, a strange aura burst forth from Zenin-in Kiyoshi's hands, accompanied by an indescribable connection. Kenjaku could clearly feel that Zenin-in Kiyoshi's body was undergoing some kind of change.
Kenjaku herself couldn't explain what this change was, but what followed was that the Cursed Energy of her clone began to surge uncontrollably towards the Zenin Temple!
"What did you just do?!"
"What did you do?"
Zenin-in-kyō's voice sounded unusually calm in the night breeze, even carrying a strange rhythm, as if the obscure incantation from before was still echoing in the air.
He opened his palm, palm facing upwards. There was no tangible light of Cursed Energy there, but it seemed as if an invisible vortex was slowly rotating, greedily drawing in the invisible threads of Cursed Energy emanating from the Kenjaku clone.
"You can set up specific techniques within Rika's body that target me, so why can't I use your techniques as a medium to demand something in return?"
Unfortunately, the one who cast the spell on Rika was an avatar; otherwise, you would have been the one to die this time. But even so, I can be sure that you must be feeling terrible right now. After all, the soul is something that every sorcerer needs to take good care of.
The form of the soul determines the form of the body. Of course, this is just a hypothesis. For someone like you, the body probably isn't that important anymore, is it?
Kenjaku could sense that her body was being continuously absorbed by Kiyoshi, and she also knew very well that she had absolutely no ability to stop Kiyoshi right now, but she still didn't quite understand:
"What exactly is the effect of your spell? Even if you absorb all my clones here, you still can't stop what happened to Orimoto Rika. Is everything you're doing just to vent your anger on the woman beside you?"
The Zenin monk nodded in agreement, then shook his head.
"Avenging Miss Mei Mei is a must, and the rest is just what you consider futile. Your clone died here, and I can contact your main body through the medium of the spell. Your actions will be impaired for at least five years."
While I cannot be certain of the exact extent of the damage, based on the total amount of Cursed Energy you bestowed upon this clone, I can conclude that it was at least a rather severe price to pay.
As for Rika, since I have chosen not to stop your actions, it means that I am willing to absorb the Cursed Energy coming from Rika, and I am confident that I can completely absorb the Cursed Energy from Rika.
From the moment I absorbed that mark into your body, every action of yours was exactly as I had predicted. Unfortunately, Kenjaku, you have lost this battle completely!
Chapter-225
"It's just one victory, Zenin-in Kiyoshi. The struggle between us will last a long time. I've seen too many brilliant people over the past thousand years, but in the end, the one who survives and wins will be me."
You won't be much different from them. After the waves have washed away the waves, the only one who might remain is me.
But I must admit, your scheme this time has truly given me a taste of defeat I haven't experienced in a long time. The last time I had this experience was three hundred years ago. Ah... I really want to kill you right now!
The moment the words fell, Kenjaku's clone could no longer maintain itself, letting out a silent shriek. The Cursed Energy that constituted the body and the last trace of soul connection were completely swallowed up by the invisible vortex of rules, leaving only a few wisps of black mist that quickly dissipated, and the quiet figure of the Zenin temple standing there.
He slowly closed his palms, as if holding in his hands the slightly unwilling voice of Kenjaku and her defeat.
The vines were untied, revealing Miss Mei Mei, who was unconscious inside. Zenin Qing's face showed a look of guilt and worry. He picked up Mei Mei, checked her condition briefly, and after confirming that she was alright, he continued walking towards Geto Suguru and the others.
Originally, according to Zenin Qing's plan, this operation should have been able to kill Kenjaku here directly. However, unfortunately, that guy was too cautious. Even with this three- or four-layered plan, she only sent a clone to carry out the operation.
However, Zenin Kiyoshi could understand that Kenjaku was probably not worried about her posing any threat at first; his main concern was Sukuna.
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However, what Kenjaku did not expect was that he was able to break her spell so quickly and even track it based on the characteristics of the spell.
The combination of these two factors is what caused Kenjaku to suffer a great loss.
However, this can't be considered a coincidence or good luck. In the past five years, apart from daily maintenance and gaining favor, I have basically spent all my remaining time studying and researching things like barriers.
After all, Kiyoshi's dream was to use Tengen's nationwide barrier to create something similar to the "Skynet" system.
Being able to detect the Cursed Spirit in time, and using the power of the barrier to quickly lock and fix the Cursed Spirit, while immediately lowering the "Curtain," is the only way to minimize casualties.
After learning about Zenin Kiyoshi's plan, Tengen initially expressed strong opposition. Her reason was simple: what Zenin Kiyoshi was talking about was simply impossible to achieve.
She maintained this barrier for nearly nine hundred years, and during that time she did try to change its properties, but unfortunately, the world of sorcerers is different from the human world.
If the human world is focused on future development and progress, then for sorcerers, modern sorcerers are actually much weaker than those of the Heian period at their peak.
Even in the Edo period 400 years ago, they were far more powerful than modern sorcerers.
Of course, Tengen also deliberately excluded Zenin Kiyoshi and Gojo Satoru from the list. She believed that some outsiders should not be counted as the combat power of a certain era. Zenin Kiyoshi understood this point, since it is normal to calculate the average value after removing the beginning and end.
After all, the level of powerhouses like Gojo Satoru and Sukuna is practically an exceptional fighting force that wouldn't appear for several eras.
However, under Kiyoshi's insistence, Tengen had no choice but to agree to Kiyoshi's research request.
During this process, Zenin Kiyoshi and Tengen finally devised a near-impossible plan to perfect the barrier.
The barrier's operation, which required nearly several times the total power of the Sukuna Incantation, was barely maintained, causing the progress of the barrier to come to a standstill for a time. However, thanks to Zenin-in Kiyoshi's insistence, the plan was still carried out.
The progress of this barrier is just a little slow right now, but Kiyoshi believes that one day he will be able to reach that level.
As Kiyoshi's figure, carrying Mei Mei, disappeared into the tunnel, in a cave in the Osaka area, Kenjaku suddenly coughed up a mouthful of blood, and his flesh even began to show signs of rotting.
She stared in the direction of Kiyoshi, her eyes filled with hatred and resentment. How could such a perfect plan end up becoming an ally of the other side?
However... based on his understanding of Sukuna, Kenjaku was able to determine that Zenin Kiyō was also destined to suffer a backlash from Sukuna.
This time, Sukuna's use of three fingers was definitely not just to help Zenin Kiyoshi; that guy definitely had his own plan.
I need to be more patient from now on. It's best not to make any rash moves until a rift appears between Zenin-in Seiwa and Sukuna.
She subconsciously took out her phone, and looking at the photo of the cute boy with a smile on his face, Kenjaku couldn't help but smile as well.
"Yuji, when you grow up a bit more, when you become a suitable vessel for Sukuna, Mom will definitely make you someone who can replace Zenin Kiyoshi. Right now, you are my final test subject for dealing with that Sukuna guy. You have to do your best..."
Although her eyes were filled with love, the words that came out of her mouth at this moment were somewhat chilling.
"It's just... I actually got the true host of the Sukuna brothers' soul wrong. Ah... what a pity. But it's close enough that direct descendants have almost the same physical structure. If I make a slight change, it won't have much of an impact."
Furthermore, Itadori Jin is a decent man, even though his father was the true reincarnation of the Sukuna brother's soul.
As darkness gradually fell inside the cave, Kenjaku slowly closed her eyes. She needed to rest for a while. The fact that her clone had been directly erased by Zenin Qing had indeed caused her a great loss.
On the other side, Jogo stared at Hanami, who had suddenly appeared before him. The boiling Cursed Energy emanating from his body froze instantly. Looking at the familiar face of Hanami, his voice trembled with anticipation:
"Hanami! Is it because you've finally broken free from the control those humans have placed over you? Are you finally willing to return to our side, the new humans?"
Jogo looked at Hanami with an indescribable surprise and joy in his eyes.
Toji stared at Hanami with disbelief in his eyes, but unconsciously tightened his grip on the Soul Split Katana.
Chapter-226
As the Jogo rang out, he was not greeted by Hanami's reply that she had returned, but by a series of wooden spikes aimed at him.
"Hanami! What are you doing?!"
Jogo stared at the splinters rushing towards him, his eyes filled with astonishment and disbelief. He did not choose to fight back, nor did he even make the most basic defensive move.
He didn't believe that Hanami would really harm him!
Hanami was someone he had witnessed being born. He and Hanami were basically the closest family members in the world. If anyone in this world would hurt him, then no matter who that person was, it could not be Hanami.
The Jogo has an almost instinctive faith in this!
But at this moment, the faith in the Jogo was met with a series of wooden spikes.
Puff! Puff puff puff!
The sharp wooden spike pierced his body, which was made of lava and Cursed Energy, without any resistance! Streams of scalding purple blood gushed from the wound, sizzling as they landed on the hot ground.
The excruciating pain of being pierced through the body was nothing compared to the agony of the collapse of the fortress of trust deep within the soul!
"Ugh—!"
The Jogo let out a painful roar that sounded like a mournful cry, unlike the Cursed Spirit. Its small body staggered backward from the impact of the wooden splinter, but its single eye was now fixed on Hanami, filled with the ecstasy that had just shattered, the bewilderment of betrayal, and above all, a despair that went deep into its bones.
Hanami stood quietly in place, her emerald eyes calmly gazing at the Jogo, which was now covered in blood.
In her emerald green eyes, there was no joy of a long-awaited reunion, no acceptance of the "new human" concept, and not even the slightest wavering.
There was only one kind of... deep, almost compassionate calm.
She slowly raised her hand, made of vines and branches, not in an aggressive gesture, but with a firm rejection and aloofness.
"A Jogo..."
Hanami's voice was deep and clear, and one could even faintly detect a hint of anger within it.
"My path… has changed. From the moment you tried to work with Kenjaku to make me kill Kiyoshi, our paths not only could not be aligned, but they have become two opposing paths!"
I absolutely, absolutely cannot forgive you for making me kill Kiyoshi!
You have given me nothing. From the moment I was born, what have you given me besides your extreme hatred for humanity?
Jogo, I know you've never had a single bad intention towards me, but what you've done has never made me happy or joyful. What you wanted was never what I expected from the beginning.
You treated me as a sharp blade in your hand, as a partner to achieve your ideals, as family, but you never treated me as Hanami, you never treated me as a complete individual with independent thoughts.
In your eyes, I should obey you and follow you. I should accompany you to kill ordinary people, to kill humans that I don't know and have never understood.
The reason for such killing is so ridiculous, simply because humans are not the same species as us, Jogo. In your mind, what is the difference between us and animals?
Is it emotion and wisdom, or simply the inescapable nature of flesh and blood and species?
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Hearing these words, Jogo felt completely disoriented. He felt the pain in his body and heard Hanami's almost accusatory reply. He felt as if his heart was being torn apart.
"No...impossible...why?! Hanami! Answer me! Why?! Yes, you are not Hanami, Hanami would never do something like this to attack me!"
Human, you despicable dolls you created have done things that Hanami would never do to me!
This clumsy tactic disgusts me! I will burn you all here, along with your vile puppets!
The Jogo roared, its voice distorted by pain and rage. The stagnant magma magic around it surged violently once more, the intense heat warping the air and causing the ground beneath its feet to melt.
The despair of collapsing faith instantly transformed into a furious rage that consumed everything! The pain of being "betrayed" by his closest relatives made Jogo directly deny the reality he saw before him; to him, these things could not possibly exist.
Hanami will not betray me, much less attack me!
The Jogo kept telling itself this, but how could it not recognize the familiar Cursed Energy, the Cursed Energy that was embedded in its flesh and blood?
He was just trying to deceive himself in this way. He couldn't accept that his ideals would be rejected by Hanami, he couldn't accept this reality.
boom--!
The stagnant magma magic, like a volcano suppressed to its limit, erupted suddenly within the small body of the Jogo!
The intense red light instantly engulfed him, and the rocks beneath his feet emitted a mournful wail as they melted into churning lava.
The raging heat distorted the air, and everything in sight began to blur and melt.
The last shred of reason in the Jogo's single eye was burned away, leaving only pure madness that wanted to burn everything in front of it, along with this heart-wrenching pain!
"I don't acknowledge it! I don't acknowledge that you are Hanami! You're nothing but a puppet created by that damned brat, Zenin Kiyoshi! Die here! I absolutely will not allow you to stand here with Hanami's face and say those things!"
The Jogo roared, its body surrounded by destructive heat. It was no longer testing the waters, but was heading straight for the goal of annihilating the people in front of it.
Hanami gazed at the Jogo, which was now almost in a state of madness, a hint of pity flashed in her eyes, but more so a faint anger.
She was merely expressing her desire as an "independent individual," which prompted Jogo to utter those words. So, it seems that, in Jogo's eyes, he doesn't actually allow himself to have an independent personality and thoughts.
Compared to the Zenin temple's clear Jogo, this kind of Jogo is simply too inadequate!
Unlike the Jogo, Kiyoshi had told himself from the day he came to know himself:
"You just need to be yourself, Sister Hanami. No one in this world is born for anyone else. I will unconditionally support you in whatever you hope for and insist on."
Taking a deep breath, Hanami looked at Geto Suguru beside her and Toji not far away, and said softly:
"Geto-kun, Toji, let's work together to resolve this disaster as soon as possible."
Chapter-227
After Hanami finished speaking, Geto Suguru sighed softly. He looked at Hanami beside him and said gently:
"Hanami... classmate, leave this to me and Mr. Toji, don't force yourself."
Looking at Hanami, whose expression was clearly somewhat forlorn, Geto Suguru had already noticed that her emotions were a little off.
Even though Hanami was his enemy not long ago, Geto Suguru's inherent gentleness made him accept her very quickly.
Or rather, it wasn't just acceptance; he had subconsciousy begun to think from Hanami's perspective.
He has always been this kind of person; his excessive empathy always makes him appear overly sad.
Zenin-in-Chih had told Geto Suguru a long time ago that when one is not good at managing one's emotions, it is best not to let one's empathy be too strong.
Geto Suguru asked for the reason, and Zenin Temple Kiyoshi only answered him with one sentence:
"Those who help others relieve their suffering often find themselves facing more and more difficulties."
Although he could roughly understand some of the meaning in the Zenin monastery's sermons, Geto Suguru still couldn't bear to watch the people around him suffer.
He felt stronger than others, both mentally and physically, so he felt he should naturally bear the pain for them; otherwise, strength and weakness would be meaningless to him.
After Geto Suguru finished speaking, he didn't wait for Hanami to answer or agree, and directly stood in front of Hanami and launched an attack on the Jogo.
This wasn't because Geto Suguru disrespected Hanami, but because, at that moment, whatever Hanami answered would be wrong.
Geto Suguru didn't want to put Hanami in a difficult position, so he was willing to be the villain who disrespected Hanami, just to stop that pain from reaching Hanami.
Hanami clearly sensed Geto Suguru's thoughts. She looked at Geto Suguru, gently shook her head, and then said:
"It's okay, Geto-kun. Sometimes you have to make a decision."
With that, she manipulated the surrounding vines, forcefully pressing them down onto the gushing lava from the Jogo, providing ample footholds and platforms for Rainbow Dragon and Toji's movements.
The spell of Jogo had ended, but the Cursed Energy consumed in opening the Domain Expansion earlier prevented him from opening it again for the time being. In addition, the almost torrential and dense attack frequency of Toji and the other two made Jogo feel a little breathless at this moment.
Or to be more precise, after Geto Suguru and Hanami arrived, Jogo already knew that he had no chance of leaving alive while surrounded by these three. He knew his own strength, but Jogo himself didn't really have much of a desire to leave.
Hanami betrayed herself, or rather, Hanami embarked on a path completely different from her own.
Jogo's body instinctively attacked, but his mind was constantly thinking about what Hanami had said earlier.
Am I being too obsessive?
Did I really not treat Hanami as an independent individual before?
The Jogo doesn't know how to describe itself, let alone how to describe this idea.
He just felt so tired... even thinking seemed a bit weak at this moment.
If even Hanami cannot understand or accept him, then what is the point of his efforts and persistence over the years?
When Hanami said goodbye to him earlier, he was just silent, silent, and silent again.
Faced with the silent Hanami, Lou Hu felt that the other party had nothing to say to him and that Hanami simply did not want to follow him.
But Jogo never imagined he would have such a day. He found it hard to accept, or rather, he began to doubt himself.
The pain felt like being stabbed repeatedly with a knife. The Jogo felt like crying, and its muscles were twitching from the intense pain. Before the tears could even well up, they were evaporated by the intense heat.
"Damn it! Damn it! Damn it all! Why did I send Hanami to spy on Zenin Kiyoshi in the first place! Why was I so stupid back then!"
The Jogo began to deeply regret his decision. Staring at the now calm face of the speaker, he grinned and roared:
"Hanami! I don't believe this is your choice! It was all just that human's sweet talk that deceived you! I... I never thought you would leave us, the Cursed Spirits! Never!"
The sound of the Jogo carried an extreme, hoarse pain, and Hanami could even sense a hint of resentment and pleading beneath that pain... It wasn't a plea born of fear of death, but a pleas for her to return to his side.
Seeing the pitiful state of the Jogo, a hint of pity flashed in Hanami's emerald eyes.
She remembered the light that flashed in the eyes of the Jogo at the moment of her birth; she clearly remembered it as a light of genuine joy and happiness at her birth.
That look in her eyes... how could she possibly forget it?
But the Jogo... why let hatred fill your eyes? Why let yourself be corrupted by that kind of thing?
Although Hanami was reluctant, her attacks did not stop for a moment.
Countless wooden spikes flew about, piercing through the lava while also providing Toji with various advantageous footholds.
With its enormous body and armor harder than steel, the Rainbow Dragon fearlessly used its body to block the lava.
Under such an offensive, Toji quickly arrived in front of the Jogo.
That ghostly speed caused the Jogo's single eye to magnify again, and the man in front of it was twice as fast as before!
How is that possible?! How did he do that?!
While the Jogo was astonished by Toji's speed, he unexpectedly saw pity in the eyes of the man in front of him.
He's pitying me...?!
Are you kidding me?!
Humans! I don't need your pity!
Looking at Toji before him, Jogo felt his anger reaching its peak.
I don't need your hypocritical pity, you damned humans!
Take that look away from me!
The Jogo looked at Toji, and with an almost withered voice, roared with all its might:
"Don't look at me like that! You wretched humans!"
Blood spurted from his ruptured throat, yet he merely stared calmly at the Jogo, his voice carrying a complex emotion unlike his usual demeanor:
"Volcano Head, if you don't want Hanami to continue to suffer, just stay here and die peacefully. Stop torturing her..."
Chapter-228
Sorrow? Pity? Persuasion? Consolation? Disgust... No, none of these, or rather, all of them.
The man's eyes held not only a chilling killing intent, but also a multitude of emotions that the Jogo could not comprehend.
Damn humans... Why do they always reveal this incomprehensible side of themselves at times like these?
What exactly is the relationship between humans and Cursed Spirits?
What exactly is this new human being that I've been insisting on emphasizing?
Hanami...
Dagon...
By dragging them into this deadly struggle before they are even fully born, is it really the right thing to do?
Jogo stared at the Soul Split Katana that was about to pierce his neck, and at the bulging muscles on Toji's arm. For some reason, at this moment, Jogo suddenly chose to stop. He abandoned all means of stopping it and just stood there blankly, letting the opponent's attacks fall on his body.
The cold, Cursed Tool "Inverted Spear of Heaven" drew a deadly arc in Toji's hand, severing the Jogo's neck. The eye that seemed to burn with anger and hatred towards humanity at all times was instantly shrouded in the shadow of death.
The blade touched the skin, bringing a cold, sticky, and stinging sensation.
Amidst the chaotic, angry, regretful, calm, and confused thoughts, a scene suddenly appeared in the Jogo's mind.
That was the scene when Hanami was born. Not only did Hanami see his gaze, but Jogo himself also saw his own pure and joyful gaze in Hanami's eyes, as well as the other's equally gentle emerald green eyes.
And now, those eyes overlapped perfectly with her resolute yet reluctant eyes at this moment.
Hanami...
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That look in his eyes never changed; what changed was... himself.
Deep within the single eye, enveloped in magma, the wildly burning flames of Cursed Energy flickered almost imperceptibly.
It wasn't a fluctuation of magic, but rather something indestructible that shattered completely from the depths of the soul, a sound no one could hear.
"Heh..." A very soft sigh, filled with endless weariness and relief, seemed to emanate not from the broken throat of the Jogo, but from the burning source of his Cursed Energy.
At the same time, the magma gushing violently around him visibly stagnated. It wasn't the feeling of his spell power being exhausted; rather, it was more like... the collapse of his will.
The scorching waves of magma, powerful enough to melt gold and iron, lost their direction in an instant, as if all their power had been drained, becoming scattered and powerless in a flash.
Several streams of lava that were originally heading towards Geto Suguru's lava wave collided and canceled each other out at this moment, splashing up large clumps of dark red, rapidly cooling lava.
Hanami, who had been closely controlling the vines to sense the battlefield, couldn't help but tremble slightly after seeing those scenes.
She clearly "heard"—that silent lament and collapse belonging to the same origin, to the core of the Jogo's Cursed Energy.
Hanami did nothing, nor did she stop. She continued to cover the remaining lava with vines, but her emerald eyes were now silently clouded with an indescribable expression.
The Jogo is a member of Hanami's family, and this will never change, even though the paths have taken different directions.
That unbreakable blood bond made the death of either party feel like a knife piercing the heart.
But no matter what, Hanami will not show mercy again. When Jogo and Kenjaku colluded to try to use him to kill Kiyoshi, did they consider his own feelings? Did they ever consider Kiyoshi's life or death?
Fushiguro Toji, wielding the Inverted Spear of Heaven, effortlessly severed Jogo's head with his blindingly sharp blade.
There was no earth-shattering lava explosion, nor any final, frantic counterattack from the Jogo.
All that remained was an ending so calm it seemed almost natural.
The Jogo, with its rather short stature, seemed to have been instantly drained of all its strength and faith.
He stopped roaring and struggling; he simply stood there quietly.
The scorching lava eruptions all around stopped completely, and the intense heat that seemed to distort space gradually dissipated. Even the pungent smell of sulfur in the air gradually weakened under the gentle breeze.
The few charred stones on the ground that had solidified and were gradually cooling were like the life of the Jogo, gradually extinguishing itself.
His only remaining eye seemed to turn with great difficulty before Toji cut off his head. At that moment, Jogo's gaze passed over Toji's shoulder and looked towards Hanami for the last time.
In that empty, single eye, the rage, anger, and resentment that had been pervasive and difficult to dispel had faded away, leaving only a kind of almost empty weariness.
All his efforts seemed to have lost their meaning at this moment. His neck was not a fatal wound, and he could continue to live even if he lost his head, but the Jogo no longer wanted to continue.
From the perspective of the Jogo now, everything seems somewhat meaningless, and he shouldn't continue like this.
Hanami should follow the path she wants. As for Dagon... he hasn't been born yet, so what path will he take in the future? He doesn't know. Perhaps without his almost obsessive guidance, Dagon might do better.
In the very end, Jogo saw his own reflection in Hanami's eyes.
Looking into those emerald green eyes, the Jogo murmured:
"Ah... I really regret showing that face when you were born..."
The thought flashed through his fading consciousness like a last spark, but before he could utter it, his body had already crumbled.
The next second, the Cursed Energy that made up his body began to emit a faint cracking sound. Cracks spread rapidly all over his body like a spider web, starting from the head that had been cut off by the Inverted Spear of Heaven. There was no blood, only small, dull black pebbles and ashes falling down.
It's like the gradual eruption of a volcano.
Geto Suguru looked at Hanami beside him and said with some concern:
"Hanami, are you alright?"
Hearing Geto Suguru's words, Hanami shook her head slightly. She saw the last look in Jogo's eyes, and her heart was also stirred. To her, Jogo was always like a father figure.
Although the path was wrong, at the moment of death, the resentment she felt towards the Jogo, the resentment that belonged to her, had dissipated.
Of course, the part of the hatred belonging to Zenin Monk Kiyoshi was not eliminated.
She was not Zenin Monk Kiyoshi, nor could she forgive Jogo on Zenin Monk Kiyoshi's behalf, and moreover, she herself could not forgive Jogo in this matter.
However, seeing her family member, her father, die before her eyes, Hanami was still somewhat saddened.
Chapter-229
He glanced at the Jogo body on the ground, which had now turned into scorched earth and was slowly disappearing into silence.
A complex ripple flashed across his eyes. He had naturally noticed the Jogo's final, almost nonexistent resistance; it had truly chosen to die.
She sighed, but didn't dwell on the emotion too much. There were too many sad things in the world, and the different paths they took meant that she wouldn't have much empathy for the Jogo.
As the slight sigh subsided, that emotion was quickly replaced by the usual indifference.
To ensure that the Jogo was completely dead, Toji swung the Soul Split Katana in his hand, crushing the last trace of it into the dust.
"It's over. My clothes are all burned. I guess I'm going to get a lecture from Eri when I get back."
Toji's voice broke the silence, carrying a hint of laughter, which dispelled the somewhat heavy atmosphere.
Geto Suguru slowly retracted the Rainbow Dragon, his tense nerves relaxing, followed by a deep sense of exhaustion. He subconsciously looked at Hanami, even though he had asked Hanami before, he was still somewhat worried about her condition.
Hanami stood quietly in place, her emerald eyes lowered, gazing at the spot where the Jogo had disappeared, and at the charred, crushed marks at Toji's feet.
She seemed to notice Geto Suguru's gaze, turned her head slightly, smiled gently, and a different kind of light flashed in her emerald green eyes.
"I'm fine, Geto-kun. You and Kiyoshi have similar personalities; you're both very gentle people."
Geto Suguru looked at Hanami and a smile appeared on his lips. He looked at Hanami and slowly said:
"That would be perfect, but the most important thing right now is to buy some clothes for Teacher Toji. If he goes out like this, we'll be arrested for 'intentionally disturbing public order'."
Upon hearing this, Hanami's gaze also fell on Toji's pitiful clothes. A hint of understanding flashed in her emerald eyes, and then her faint smile deepened slightly as she nodded gently.
"Yes, it does need to be dealt with. This is a place I often come to because there are many discount stores. I buy Kiyoshi's clothes a lot of the time, so I also know a good store nearby."
"Then what are we waiting for?"
He casually brushed the ash off his clothes and strode off toward the main road.
Seeing that Geto Suguru and Hanami hadn't followed, he even turned back with some dissatisfaction and urged them on:
"What are you two dawdling about? Hurry up! I may not care about these things myself, but if Eri finds out, I'm going to get nagged for ages!"
Hearing Toji's urging, Geto Suguru shook his head helplessly, then advised Toji:
"Teacher Toji, if you go out like this, there's no point in we buying these clothes. It's just... too indecent!"
Before Geto Suguru could finish speaking, Toji sighed slightly, then said with a hint of helplessness:
"Then what do you suggest we do? Without the special medicine that brat Zenin-in-chan Kiyoshi gave her, ordinary people can't see Hanami, and I can't leave the area right now, so only you can go and buy it. But... do you even have any money on you?"
Toji's question instantly crushed Geto Suguru's confidence. He really didn't have much money on him. After all, he had left in a bit of a hurry, and even if he wasn't in a hurry, he usually didn't carry money with him, since there really wasn't much to do with money at the college.
But the problem right now is, among the three people present...
Even if someone goes out to buy clothes in their current state, they will be arrested the moment they enter the store.
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After Miss Hanami went inside, no one could see her at all, let alone buy clothes or anything like that.
And the only person I could go out to buy clothes... was still penniless.
In other words, the three of them are currently in a dead end.
But just as the three of them were stunned, Geto Suguru suddenly slapped his head and then said:
"Wait! We're not cavemen! We have this!"
As Geto Suguru spoke, he took out his phone from his pocket and immediately dialed the top-pinned number.
"Hello? Is this Kiyoshi? Ah, it's nothing. We've already dealt with the volcano Cursed Spirit here. Now we need you to bring some money. Teacher Toji's clothes were burned, and none of the three of us have any money to buy new clothes..."
"Huh? You're going to let Teacher Toji ride the Rainbow Dragon directly? That's not a good idea, is it? Ordinary people can't see the Rainbow Dragon. Teacher Toji, in your current state, if you just sit on it, wouldn't that seem a bit... well, at least consider the perspective of an ordinary person!"
Geto Suguru's voice came through the phone, and Toji frowned deeply. Although he didn't hear the specific content of the call, he could tell from these few words that that brat Zenin Kiyoshi definitely didn't say anything good about him.
That damn brat! He's worked so hard here, and he won't even pay for a piece of clothing! Damn it, I'll definitely make that stingy brat pay me a good beating when I get back.
About ten minutes after Geto Suguru finished his call, Zenin Kiyoshi appeared before the three of them, supporting the somewhat weak Miss Mei Mei beside him.
Of course, Toji's clothes weren't so badly damaged as to be unsightly; they were just a little unsightly.
He walked up to Toji and shoved a paper bag with the logo of a budget clothing chain into her hand. Inside was a sturdy-looking dark-colored athletic short-sleeved shirt and a pair of equally durable cargo pants, which suited Toji's style and provided enough cover.
Zenin Kiyoshi also saw the residual power of the Jogo incantation around him at that moment.
Looking at the remaining charred magma on the ground, he gently shook his head and said nothing.
Upon reaching Hanami, Zenin Sei didn't say anything, but simply embraced Hanami gently and whispered:
"Sister Hanami, I'm sorry for making you go through all this."
This apology is not only for this battle, but also for the inescapable, cruel choice brought about by stance and path.
On the other side, Mei Mei leaned against the broken wall, watching this scene. Her beautiful eyes flickered slightly, and it was unclear what she was thinking.
Geto Suguru stood silently to the side, watching Zenin Kiyoshi embrace Hanami, watching Toji grumble as he put on his new coat, and looking at the messy battlefield, he smiled slightly.
After the group left, all that remained was the charred remains, completely crushed into the dust, and a silence, mixed with gunpowder smoke and sulfur, gradually dissipated by the wind.
Chapter-230
Zenin Kiyoshi did not choose to go to the Jujutsu High with the others, but instead went to Orimoto Rika's house alone.
Hanami and Toji and the others returned to the Jujutsu High together to get acquainted.
Since Mei Mei's body is still a bit weak, she will go back to the Jujutsu High to have Shoko's body checked.
Geto Suguru had originally planned to go with Zenin Kiyoshi, but Zenin Kiyoshi stopped him. The reason was simple: Zenin Kiyoshi only said one sentence to Geto Suguru:
"Of all the people in the college, you are the one I feel most at ease with. If it weren't for you taking care of the others, I would feel extremely uneasy."
Hearing Zeninro's words, Geto Suguru was slightly taken aback, then his cheeks flushed slightly. The next moment, he coughed twice, turned his face to the side, leaving an odd hairstyle facing Zeninro, and his voice became somewhat dry and unnatural:
"Since you've said so, Kiyoshi, I'll reluctantly agree. But please be careful. Dinner will be served around 8 p.m. My mom has made some of your favorite dishes, like Mapo Tofu. Will you be able to come on time?"
Zenin Master Kiyoshi nodded gently, patted Geto Suguru on the shoulder, and was bathed in the dark golden light of the setting sun.
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"Don't worry, I'll be able to get here around eight o'clock, and I can also bring you some drinks. Do you want some alcohol? I can get some from the old man from Naobito."
Geto Suguru trembled slightly upon hearing this, recalling his childhood experience of stealing sake from Zenin Naobito. Not only was he chased half a street by the old man, but he and Gojo also got drunk, which led to Zenin Kiyoshi taking several unflattering photos of them.
Those unflattering photos are still in Zenin-in-Chief's possession, used as a trump card to threaten the two of them from time to time.
Recalling the tragic events of that year, Geto Suguru sighed, shook his head, and shook his strange bangs, making them somewhat disheveled.
"Let's forget about stealing drinks. Gojo and I were given a good talking-to by Teacher Yaga for what happened before. You should also tone it down. The old man is getting old, and if we keep tormenting him like this, he might end up in the hospital one day."
Zenin Master Kiyoshi waved his hand dismissively, saying:
"Geto, that's why you don't understand it very well. When Gojo and I went to steal wine later, we would secretly give the old man the equivalent amount of money, or replace his wine with medicine, and we would also give him his hospital medical report as a bonus."
So even though a lot of things were stolen, the old man wasn't too angry. And I heard that when he had his medical check-up, his health was much better than before. The only regret was that the old man's son was Zenin Naoya.
That kid seems to be going through a rebellious phase. He's been a bit disobedient lately, which is causing the old man a lot of worry every day. But I've already spoken to the old man, and we'll send him to a Jujutsu High when he gets a little older.
"We'll have Teacher Toji and us help the old man discipline that brat. We can't let her continue running rampant like this."
Geto Suguru sighed, looked at the Zenin temple in front of him, then subconsciously glanced at Toji not far away, and said in a low voice:
"Are you taking care of a child again? Megumi alone is already exhausting enough for me. Kids have endless energy. Last time I played with Megumi..."
While Geto Suguru was still complaining about the "trouble of raising children," Zenin Kiyoshi's figure had already disappeared from the spot. Looking at the empty scene in front of him, Geto Suguru's lips twitched involuntarily.
Both Gojo and Kiyoshi are the kind of jerks who don't like taking care of kids...
After Zenin Temple Kiyoshi disappeared, Toji seemed to notice Geto Suguru's gaze. He tugged at his clothes, which were a little uncomfortable. The tag on the back of the neck of the clothes kept scratching Toji.
Dissatisfied with being bothered by the price tag, Toji looked at Geto Suguru, causing Geto Suguru to immediately look away. Everyone in the college had a lot of psychological trauma regarding Teacher Toji.
After all, the only teacher capable of turning a physical education class into a life-or-death situation is Toji...
Mei Mei and Hanami sat together, talking quietly about something, but Miss Mei Mei had specially set up a soundproof barrier, so no one could hear what they were saying.
But neither Geto Suguru nor Toji said anything about this.
Even though she didn't care at all, Geto Suguru felt that girls would all have some secrets of their own, and if it was something harmful to the college, then Miss Mei Mei would definitely not hide it. So, although he was curious about this kind of thing, it was best not to care.
Looking at the people sitting on his Rainbow Dragon, Geto Suguru's face showed a genuine smile.
These are the people Kiyoshi entrusted to me, people I was asked to take care of...
Why does this still feel like taking care of a child?
After leaving Geto Suguru and the others, Zenin Kiyoshi followed the traces of the spell in his hand and found Orimoto Rika.
When Rika was found, her grandmother and father had tied her to a bed. Rika was crying and screaming, and in front of her were Cursed Objects that exuded an extremely eerie aura.
Her grandmother was threatening Rika, forcing her to quickly eat those fingers.
Neither of them noticed the arrival of Zenin Monk Kiyoshi, who was still lost in his own daydream.
Meanwhile, Rika's father brought over a pot of stewed eggplant and stuffed the Cursed Objects into the eggplant, hoping to make Rika swallow the Cursed Objects in this way.
When Zenin-in-Chiei kicked over the pot of stewed eggplant, the two people in front of him finally noticed his presence. They looked at him with astonishment and fear in their eyes.
"You, how did you get here?! This is my home, please... please leave!"
After being kicked, Kenji Orimoto immediately suppressed his rising anger upon recognizing the newcomer as Zenin Sei. This man was hailed as one of the strongest individuals of his time, and even though Rika had become a Cursed Spirit, he dared not provoke him.
Not to mention that Rika hasn't even become a Cursed Spirit yet...
But now that the die was cast, and seeing that Zenin Kiyoshi was ignoring him and instead walking straight toward Rika, Kenji Orimoto stood up, trying to stop Zenin Kiyoshi, while constantly giving his mother meaningful glances, urging her to quickly feed Rika those Cursed Objects.
Zenin Kiyoshi watched the two people in front of him doing something disgusting, shook his head, and then whipped them with vines.