Chapter-241
"Let's go to Okinawa!"
As Geto Suguru's slightly excited voice rang out, the annual gathering of the college officially began.
However, this year's gathering included a figure who had never appeared in previous years...
When Master Tengen appeared on the Zenin Clan's private jet, everyone except Zenin Kiyoshi gasped in shock.
Principal Yaga was so startled that he jumped up from his seat, his sunglasses flying off with the sudden movement. His voice was filled with undisguised astonishment:
"Heavens! Lord Tengen! What are you doing here?! Hey! You bastard Kiyoshi, did you already know? Why didn't you tell me?!"
No sooner had he finished speaking than a large bump appeared on Zenin Kiyoshi's head, as Principal Yaga's iron fist had made a clean contact with Zenin Kiyoshi's head.
Upon seeing this, Gojo Satoru and Geto Suguru exchanged a glance and then couldn't help but chuckle.
Although Zenin Kiyoshi usually gets along well with everyone, he occasionally offends his elders and gets reprimanded for his overly casual behavior.
"Principal Yaga, Kiyoshi doesn't know about this, so you don't need to blame him. I came here on my own initiative."
Seeing Kiyoshi clutching his head, his face contorted in pain, Tengen smiled faintly. After all, even she rarely saw Kiyoshi treated like this.
From Tengen's perspective, Zenin Kiyoshi always seemed calm, composed, and mature, which surprised everyone.
However, thinking about this, Tengen couldn't help but sigh slightly.
This side of Kiyoshi, which he would never show to himself, was displayed to the fullest extent by Principal Yaga.
Could this also suggest that Zenin Sei never truly let his guard down around him? From Zenin Sei's perspective, perhaps he was never someone who could be completely trusted?
Tengen felt a slight tightness in her chest, but she knew there was nothing she could do about it. Ever since what happened with Kenjaku, the moment she didn't choose to tell Zenin Kiyoshi the whole truth was, in fact, her own choice.
Now, Zenin Sei's attitude towards himself seems to leave her with no right to criticize him.
However... in the past thousand years, there have been very few... or rather, only people who can communicate with him, who treat him in this way. Even Tengen, who has lived for thousands of years, still cannot achieve complete peace of mind.
Upon hearing this, Zenin Sei looked in Tengen's direction, subtly shifting his body away from the direction of the Principal Yaga's path to avoid being suddenly attacked by the old man again. He then greeted Tengen verbally:
"Lord Tengen, are you here this time because of the Star Religious Group and Riko's matter?"
Seeing that Kiyoshi had taken the initiative to speak with her, Tengen smiled, and the gloom in her heart dissipated slightly. She then said to Kiyoshi:
"Yes, the fusion period for the Star Plasma Vessel is almost over. However, this time, I don't plan to fuse with the Star Plasma Vessel. Instead, I plan to completely reconstruct my technique. But this process is quite dangerous, so I need Riko's help. You know, the ones we researched together before."
Kiyoshi nodded upon hearing this. Looking at Tengen's slightly downcast expression, he softly comforted him:
"Lord Tengen, I think the chances of success for this operation are very high. Even if it fails, there are ways to make up for it perfectly. So... you can be a little happier. After we resolve that matter, we can treat it as a vacation to Okinawa."
As for safety, Lord Tengen, you can rest assured. After all, this ship carries me, Geto, Satoru, Toji, and a series of excellent advanced techniques. And Miss Tsukumo Yuki should have come with you as well, right?
Before Zenin Kiyoshi could finish speaking, a voice brimming with vitality came from behind Tengen:
"Hehe, long time no see~ Xiao Kiyoshi! Your senses are still as sharp as ever. By the way, what kind of woman do you like? I've asked you this several times, but has anything changed over the years?"
The voice of Tsukumo Yuki came, carrying a brilliance like a scorching summer day. Just by listening to the other person's voice, one could feel the boundless vitality in it, like ocean waves.
To this, Zenin Kiyoshi's answer remained unchanged:
"Someone gentle, sweet, with feminine qualities, and who can care about me in all sorts of details."
Upon hearing this, Tsukumo Yuki's body visibly hunched over. She looked at Zenin Kiyoshi, feeling a sudden itch in her heart.
"Tsk, you're such a stubborn conservative. This type of girl is practically every man's dream, right?! Don't you have any unusual fetishes?"
Zenin Monk was slightly taken aback by this, and then he actually began to think about it seriously:
"Hmm... if I had to choose, I might prefer women with shorter hair?"
Upon hearing this, Tsukumo Yuki clicked her tongue, then sighed and said:
"I shouldn't have asked you that question."
After Zenin Temple Kiyoshi finished speaking, Miss Mei Mei subconsciously touched her hair, while Hanami glanced at her soft, light green curly hair that had just reached her collarbone, using the reflection from the airplane window.
The Iori Utahime also subconsciously glanced at her hair, looking at the long hair that had reached her waist, and suddenly had the idea of cutting it shorter.
Shoko had her head slightly lowered and her face was a little flushed, since she was the only woman with short hair among those present.
Geto Suguru and Gojo Satoru exchanged a glance, both opening their mouths but saying nothing.
While in his seat, Ijichi was mentally filtering through the short-haired women he knew. For him, being able to help Zenin Kiyoshi with this important life event would be a very fulfilling thing.
Haibara Yu looked at Nanami Kento beside him and then said:
"Nanami, I like girls with big stomachs."
"ha?"
Regarding Haibara Yu's shocking remarks, Nanami Kento said that although he was used to his unconventional thinking, he still couldn't quite understand it in this matter.
Seeing this, Haibara Yu said directly:
"Don't you think girls who can eat a lot are adorable?!"
"Girls with big stomachs are destined to be far from cute."
Chapter-242
After Tengen boarded the plane, the group wasn't too reserved. Under the guidance of Zenin Sei, the atmosphere was relaxed and pleasant.
Of course, there were two people who were a little uncomfortable.
Those are Gojo Satoru, who is sitting to the right of Principal Yaga, and Geto Suguru, who is sitting to the left of Principal Yaga.
"Um... Teacher Yagura, Satoru and I won't fight. You can go do what you want; you don't need to stay here and monitor us..."
Geto Suguru mustered his courage and said a few words of helpless advice to Principal Yaga, who was sandwiched between him and Gojo Satoru.
Before Yaga could answer, Gojo Satoru continued on from where Geto had left off:
"Yes, Ms. Yaga, we're both sixteen years old now, not far from adulthood. Please don't treat us like idiots. How could we possibly do something like fooling around on a plane!"
In response to their rebuttals, Principal Yaga simply said in a calm voice:
"Last year, the two of you got into a fight on the plane while playing Gomoku, arguing over who would go first. As a result, the cabin door was deformed. If it weren't for the good quality of this plane, everyone on board would have had to get off with you."
Two years ago, you two had another fight over where to go first after arriving in Okinawa. Although I don't know why you two couldn't go to your own places separately, your arguments and fights caused the plane to...
As Principal Yaga gave examples and presented evidence, Geto Suguru and Gojo Satoru gradually showed an embarrassed expression.
They dared not look at the Yaga in the middle, and could only cough twice, looking slightly guilty, before saying:
"Ms. Yaga, although things were a little dangerous, at least nothing went wrong in the end, right?"
Hearing Gojo Satoru's explanation, Principal Yaga laughed in anger. He took off his sunglasses, revealing his small eyes now wide open, bloodshot veins almost covering his pupils. He looked at Gojo Satoru and said in a chilling voice:
"Normally it's one thing, but this time Lord Tengen is traveling with us on the plane. If she sees this farce, and I've only just become the principal, I wouldn't even be eligible for a nomination until next year..."
"You two, you know what happened in between, right? You two know how much I sacrificed for this position, right? Hey... you know, don't you?!"
Yaga's voice grew softer and softer, but the terrifying threat in his tone sent shivers down one's spine.
Sensing the resentment emanating from the Principal Yaga beside them, which was almost on par with a top-tier Cursed Spirit, Geto Suguru and Gojo Satoru quickly turned their heads away and remained silent.
Near the rear of the plane, Zenin Sei was sitting with Tengen. He looked at Tengen with a slight hint of confusion on his face:
"Lord Tengen, if I remember correctly, your current spell has basically entered an irreversible analytical state. How do you plan to reconstruct the spell?"
Previously, the method involved devouring astral matter and formatting the spell by reading its physical information, preventing it from actively evolving. Now that you've abandoned the plan to absorb astral matter, how do you intend to format the spell in the future?
Upon hearing this, Tengen nodded slightly and then explained:
"You're right, XiaoKiyoshi. Although we've tried many things before, we haven't made any successful progress on a method that doesn't require absorbing star slurry. But just a few days ago, Tsukumo Yuki gave me a pleasant surprise."
At this point, Tengen looked at Tsukumo Yuki beside him, and Tsukumo Yuki smiled and explained to Zenin Kiyoshi in front of him:
"Xiao Kiyoshi, do you remember what I told you before, that all Star Plasma Vessels actually have the ability to hear each other's voices?"
"Yes, I remember."
"It was this ability that allowed me to learn a secret, a true secret about Lord Tengen's techniques."
When Tsukumo Yuki spoke about the astral body incident, her expression clearly lost its usual calm. She looked at Zenin Sei and then said:
"From the perspective of its origin, Lord Tengen's technique is not actually a technique that can be truly controlled by Lord Tengen. In the process of its evolution over thousands of years, it has indeed evolved into something similar to [will].
I know this might sound unbelievable to some people—how could something like magic possibly have its own consciousness? But unfortunately, that's the reality.
The reason for continuously fusing the [Star Plasma Vessel] is actually to use the consciousness of that Star Plasma Vessel to resist the consciousness of Lord Tengen's own technique after fusing the [Star Plasma Vessel].
When the consciousness of that Star Plasma Vessel was no match for the consciousness of Lord Tengen's technique, it was time for Lord Tengen to merge with the Star Plasma Vessel once again.
Based on my and Lord Tengen's observations and speculations, Lord Tengen's [Immortality] will is actually increasing every moment. This means that the personal consciousness of the Star Plasma Vessel will have less and less time to resist the increasingly powerful magical will.
This is why the time it takes for Lord Tengen to fuse with the Star Plasma Vessel has become increasingly urgent each time.
Judging from the initial strength of the spell's intent, it does indeed only need to be changed once every few hundred years...
Upon hearing this, Zenin Kiyoshi also thought of the information his system had released regarding the techniques of the [Star Plasma Vessel].
He nodded secretly; what Tsukumo Yuki said basically matched what his system had given him.
Seeing that Zenin Seiji did not speak, Tsukumo Yuki assumed that the other party had not fully understood, so she continued:
"So our plan this time is actually to temporarily merge Riko and me with Lord Tengen, and with the combined will of Riko and me, erase the will of the spell. If we can do that, there will be no more [Star Plasma Vessel] in the future."
However, upon hearing this, Zenin Seishin sighed inwardly, realizing that Tsukumo Yuki and Tengen's ideas were wrong.
This plan cannot help them completely sever their destiny as stellar bodies.
Because they only understood how the astral body alleviated the evolutionary effects of the Tengen Technique, rather than understanding the fundamental origin of the astral body.
Chapter-243
Seeing that Zenin Qing remained silent for a long time, Tengen's expression became slightly solemn. In fact, due to Zenin Qing's many accurate predictions over the years, Tengen now had a very high dependence on Zenin Qing.
The reason I brought these things up in front of Kiyoshi was actually to get some advice from him, but now it seems that the plan is not going as smoothly as I and Tsukumo Yuki had imagined.
However, the date of the fusion of the astral bodies is fast approaching, and the structure of the body is changing almost every moment. The reason why she can still maintain her current female human appearance is entirely due to the help that Zenin Kiyoshi has provided her over the years.
Thinking of this, Tengen couldn't help but feel a little anxious. She looked at Kiyoshi and asked in a low voice:
Is there a problem?
In response to Tengen's question, Zenin Sei nodded with a slightly solemn expression, and then said:
"Although this may sound pessimistic, in my opinion, it is highly unlikely that the path of simply relying on the will of the astral body to fight against the will of the spell is a dead end."
Although she had a slight suspicion in her heart, a faint bitterness still appeared on Tengen's face when she actually heard it from Zenin Sei's mouth. She looked at Zenin Sei, took a deep breath, and said:
"Why? Can you explain it to me in detail?"
At this moment, Tsukumo Yuki also put away her slightly relaxed appearance and sat down in her chair with a serious and upright posture, listening quietly to Zenin Sei's answer.
For Tsukumo Yuki, the astral body is not just a fixed term, but also her former destiny.
If she didn't possess such a powerful talent as a sorcerer, she would probably be no different from those fused astral bodies now.
Seeing the two of them like this, Zenin Kiyoshi hesitated for a moment before deciding to reveal the hints the system had given him, but in a more tactful and speculative way.
"Lord Tengen, Miss Tsukumo Yuki, have you ever thought about this question: why is it that among so many life-giving techniques in this world, only Lord Tengen's technique has developed self-awareness? Don't you find that strange?"
Hearing this, Tengen frowned, but she sighed and then explained to Zenin Qing:
"I have been exploring and searching for the specific reasons myself over the past thousand years. I have searched through various ancient books and consulted many famous sorcerers over the years, but unfortunately, no one has been able to provide an answer."
Over the past thousand years, the most frequent answer I've received has been that the unique nature of the [Immortality] is so powerful that it has developed its own independent will.
At this point, Tsukumo Yuki continued the conversation, saying:
"Lord Tengen's technique should be considered unique in the past thousand years. It is estimated that there will be no second one before or after. Therefore, the fact that it is unique seems to be the most reasonable explanation."
Zenin Seimei shook his head at their explanations, then said:
"No, if that's the case, then the fate of the simultaneous appearance of the Six Eyes and the Star Plasma Vessel is actually useless. Lord Tengen, you yourself once said that as long as the Six Eyes appears, it is highly likely that the time for the birth of the Star Plasma Vessel will arrive."
Have you ever wondered what the significance is between these two things?
Hearing this, Tengen simply sighed, looked at Kiyoshi, and her fingers clenched slightly:
"I have actually thought about this issue and have never forgotten about it, but no matter how I investigate, I have never come to a conclusion. Putting aside the identity of the user of the [Six Eyes], even if his status is not high, my status is not enough to cover the entire world of Jujutsu."
Therefore, over the past thousand years, I haven't actually studied the Six Eyes Formation much. As for the Star Plasma Vessel, under those circumstances, as you know, I could only say that it could be fused immediately..."
Hearing these words, Zenin Kiyoshi nodded helplessly, agreeing with what Tengen said.
Although Tengen is recognized by most people in the world of Jujutsu on the surface, he does not have particularly strong power or authority in essence. Apart from some conservatives who still respect Tengen, some radicals or sorcerers simply ignore him.
Moreover, the Six Eyes Species can sometimes even appear on ordinary people. It is an extremely random phenomenon. In an era when even transportation was inconvenient, it was possible that one might not even come into contact with a Six Eyes Specie.
Seeing the slightly discouraged looks on Tengen and Tsukumo Yuki's faces, Zenin Kiyoshi decided not to keep them in suspense any longer and said directly:
"Actually... I have a guess about the relationship between your technique and the [Star Plasma Vessel], and this guess is related to the curse."
Upon hearing this, both Tengen and Tsukumo Yuki were taken aback. They simultaneously looked up at Zenin Sei, their eyes filled with astonishment.
"A curse?!" x2
The two voices came through, filled with undisguised surprise and confusion.
Seeing this, Zenin-in-shiki nodded and explained directly:
"Well, actually, based on my speculation, the reason why Lord Tengen's [Immortality] generates a special will is essentially a forced act of retaliation, because if this will hadn't appeared, Lord Tengen would probably be dead by now."
"Why?!"
Tengen's face was no longer calm at this moment. She looked at Zenin Sei with an almost eager desire in her eyes.
"The reason is simple: Lord Tengen, your technique, when combined with the [Barrier Technique], has already affected the balance of this world to a certain extent."
And this impact was something the world probably didn't even consider before you were born.
Hearing Kiyoshi's words, Tengen was completely confused, while Tsukumo Yuki anxiously urged Kiyoshi:
"XiaoKiyoshi, what exactly is the problem here? Tell me now, I'm about to explode with anxiety!"
Faced with their urging, Zenin Sei simply nodded, then continued:
"Regarding this point, there has always been a saying in the world of Jujutsu that the two sides of 'justice' and 'darkness' in this world are actually in a state of near balance at all times."
Once one side produces something capable of disrupting this balance, the other side will immediately give rise to an equal entity. Lord Tengen and Miss Tsukumo Yuki, you should both know this, right?
Chapter-244
Zenin Sei's words plunged both of them into silence. After a moment of silence, Tsukumo Yuki spoke first:
"Although this saying has always existed, does such a thing really exist? If it does exist... then doesn't that mean there are indeed some unseen things in our world?"
For example... [God]?
At this point, Tsukumo Yuki couldn't help but turn to look at Tengen, who sighed slightly upon seeing this, and then slowly said:
"Yuki… I know what you want to ask me, but I can only say that XiaoKiyoshi's statement is most likely correct. I don't know if there are any gods in this world, but there are indeed some laws that we cannot see."
For example, the laws governing the "Binding Vow" of magic, the coercive laws governing the "Heavenly Restriction," and the laws governing the birth of twins being regarded as having the same spell and being endowed with power—the reasons behind the emergence of these various laws have never been explored.
However, one thing is certain: there must exist something in this world, or something we cannot see, like a basic computer program, that controls and maintains the entire world.
Regarding the issue of "balance" that you just mentioned, XiaoKiyoshi, I can give you a very clear and affirmative answer: this thing exists, and I have personally witnessed it countless times over the past thousand years.
Let me give you a few very simple examples. As you all know, the golden age of sorcerers was actually during the Heian period, a thousand years ago, right?
Both Tsukumo Yuki and Zenin Seito nodded in agreement with Tengen's statement.
Even judging from ancient books, the Heian period a thousand years ago was indeed the golden age of sorcery.
Compared to the modern era, which only has one elite-level fighter, the Heian period had a number of elite-level fighters in the double digits.
Moreover, there were nearly thirty top-tier Cursed Spirits in that era, and even a top-tier Cursed Spirit like Yamata no Orochi was born.
It can be said that the fighting power of the Heian period was extremely exaggerated and abnormal, no matter when it was placed.
Seeing the two nod, Tengen continued to explain:
"The strength of the Heian period is actually inseparable from the person [Sukuna]. To be precise, he is neither on the side of humanity nor on the side of curses, but it is precisely because of his unpredictable nature that the balance of that era was extremely unstable."
When Sukuna favors humans, the side of the Cursed Spirits will inexplicably produce more top-tier Cursed Spirits. Conversely, when Sukuna favors the side of the Cursed Spirits, the human side will also produce several peerless genius cursed sorcerers.
This coincidence continued until Sukuna's death. After that group of powerful sorcerers from the Heian period died, the top-tier beings on the side of the sorcerer spirits suddenly began to kill each other for some reason, causing the strength of both sides to decline.
This decline is a mutual decline, and there were times when one side was stronger than the other, but the side that was overwhelmed quickly regained its strength.
In short, I have personally experienced this balance more than once or twice, therefore there is definitely something unseen in this world balancing all of this.
Hearing this, Tsukumo Yuki nodded, let out a slight breath, then looked at Zenin Sei and continued to ask:
"Then... what exactly is the connection between this and Lord Tengen's technique?"
Regarding the question about the ninety-nine yogis, Zenin Seiji patiently explained:
"The answer is simple: Lord Tengen's technique disrupted this balance, or rather, Lord Tengen's technique caused the balance to be disordered for many periods of time."
Upon hearing this, Tengen seemed to realize what Zenin was about to say. Her face suddenly turned pale, and she didn't even notice that her nails were digging deep into her flesh and drawing blood.
Zenin Monk Kiyoshi nodded slightly, his fingertips unconsciously stroking the bottom edge of the disposable paper cup in his hand:
"Lord Tengen, your technique has actually disrupted this balance, and you should have realized that yourself, right?"
His voice wasn't loud, but it was like a pebble thrown into a deep pool, creating ripples in their hearts. Before Tengen could say anything, Zenin Kiyoshi began to speak directly to himself:
"The total amount of Cursed Energy, the intensity of the curse, and even the 'rules' of the world itself seem to follow some kind of inexplicable 'conservation'."
But… Lord Tengen, your Immortality technique, combined with your unparalleled barrier technique that covers all of Japan, has the effect of stabilizing the Cursed Energy environment and greatly suppressing the growth and spread of curses, right?"
Tengen frowned deeply. This was indeed a universally acknowledged fact, the very foundation of her existence over the past millennium. But now, after hearing Zenin Qing's words, she suddenly understood something, and thus her voice trembled slightly as she answered Zenin Qing's question:
"Hmm... So, in essence, my barrier spell shouldn't exist? Is that right?"
My spell, combined with my personal barrier spell, has maintained the suppression of Cursed Spirits in the world of Jujutsu for far too long, purified the environment of Cursed Energy for far too long, and reduced many cursed disasters.
But while these things are good for ordinary people, they do indeed weaken the growth of the Cursed Spirits. Does that apply to Ami?
"The problem lies precisely here, and it is also the very reason for this, Lord Tengen."
Kiyoshi's gaze turned somewhat sorrowful. He looked directly into Tengen's eyes, which had carried a thousand years of history, but at this moment, those eyes were filled with an indescribable weariness and trembling.
Zenin Kiyoshi's voice carried a hint of comfort:
"Your 'maintenance' and 'purification' are, in essence, a powerful intervention in the world's original 'dark' cycle, a long-term and continuous 'suppression'."
And this suppression is actually... well, let me give you an easy-to-understand example.
In short, when the gods created you, Lord Tengen, they only considered the impact of your birth technique on balance, without taking into account the chemical effects produced when your birth technique is combined with barrier techniques.
This is partly due to the rapid advancement of barrier techniques during the Heian period. In short, through a series of coincidences, Lord Tengen's techniques and barrier techniques have caused irreparable damage to the balance. It is this oppression of the Cursed Spirits that has caused them to curse your techniques.
And the embodiment of that curse, in my eyes, is actually... a stellar body!
Chapter-245
After the plane landed in Okinawa, the intense sunlight made it difficult to open one's eyes.
One by one, everyone got off the plane. Ms. Kuroi and Amanai Riko were already waiting for them.
Because of the large number of people each year, Kuroi and her group even rented a minibus to transport everyone.
Gojo Satoru and Geto Suguru were the first to get off the plane. They kept looking back as they walked, afraid that Principal Yaga would continue to stick between them.
Mei Mei and Hanami went down with Zenin Qing. Although the three of them did not walk together, they were quite close to each other.
The Iori Utahime was now clinging to Shoko, the two of them hand in hand, as they disembarked from the plane together.
Principal Yaga walked behind Nanami and Haibara Yu, with Ijichi standing beside him, who had been somewhat timid.
The Toji family walked together, but Toji was scolded again because he accidentally bumped Megumi's head against the luggage rack when he picked her up.
Rika and her mother also came this time. They hadn't gotten to know the other students at the Jujutsu High yet, but at Zenin Kiyoshi's strong suggestion, they still came along.
After all, given Rika's unique physical condition, Zenin Kiyoshi was worried that leaving only the mother and daughter at the Jujutsu High would be slightly dangerous. If they encountered that guy Kenjaku again and wanted to do something, the consequences would be much more troublesome.
Tsukumo Yuki and Tengen were at the back, both with slightly worried expressions on their faces. After all, what Zenin Sei had said still made them feel very uneasy.
Although Zenin Qing later proposed his solution, he was not 100% certain, and if problems arose, the situation would still be very bad.
Zenin Seiji could see the worries in their hearts, but he had no good solution and could only say that he would do his best when the time came.
With the system's help, Zenin Temple Kiyoshi was certain that the success rate this time would be over 90%. However, even a 10% failure rate was enough to cause concern.
He shook his head, pondering how to improve the success rate, while greeting Kuroi and Amanai Riko in front of him.
Looking at Zenin Kiyoshi, whom she hadn't seen for a long time, Riko, now entering adolescence, found her feelings for Zenin Kiyoshi becoming increasingly clear.
She knew that the feeling of youthful innocence was called love... and it wasn't the kind of love she felt for Ms. Kuroi, but a kind of love that was more dizzying and longing, a love that made her so happy that she would wake up from a dream if she saw the other person.
Looking at the increasingly handsome Zenin Kiyoshi before her, Riko's face flushed even more, whether from the sun or from shyness.
"Xiao, Xiao Kiyoshi! It's been so long... How have you been lately?"
Riko stammered a little when she spoke, her face was a bit red, and she unconsciously became a little shy, turning her face slightly to the back, leaving only her slightly red earlobe exposed to Zenin Sei's eyes.
The girl's skin was fair with a hint of pink, and under the sunlight, it seemed to exude a faint fragrance.
Zenin Sei listened to Riko's words and replied with a slight smile:
"I'm doing alright, though of course it's not as good as it is here in Okinawa."
Hearing these words, Riko's face flushed even more. She slightly raised her chin, looked at Zenin Sei, and then her voice unconsciously rose:
"Well then, let's hurry up and go! I'll take you to the beach today! I've already made bento boxes, let's all eat together!"
After saying that, Riko didn't wait for Zenin Sei's reply, but turned around and walked towards the car.
Seeing this, Mei Mei simply smiled and walked to Kiyoshi Zenin's side, then patted his shoulder with a slightly meaningful expression:
"You really are popular with girls..."
The voice came so suddenly that Kiyoshi was slightly taken aback. He then replied to Mei Mei behind him:
"only..."
Before she could finish speaking, Mei Mei had already pulled Hanami away ahead of her.
Geto Suguru then approached Zenin Kiyoshi from behind. Just as he was about to say something, Gojo Satoru sidled up to Zenin Kiyoshi with a grin and said in a cheeky tone:
"Oh dear, I'm being disliked~"
Behind the sunglasses, those bright eyes were now filled with an indescribable, irritating smile.
Zenin patted Gojo Satoru's head and then said:
"You idiot with silver hair, hurry up and leave. I'm going to leave you here and make you walk over by yourself."
Gojo Satoru, who had been slapped on the head by Zenin Kiyoshi, did not show the slightest bit of anger. On the contrary, he became even more excited, since Zenin Kiyoshi rarely showed this kind of behavior in front of them.
This guy always acts like a mature adult, which makes people feel a little envious.
To put it in Geto Suguru's words, Gojo Satoru's personality is a bit cheeky. He always likes to tease people who are easily angered, such as the Iori Utahime. Besides that, he also likes to test those who don't seem to get angry easily, such as Zenin Kiyoshi.
And no matter how many times he is reprimanded, Gojo Satoru will not change his mind. Regarding this, Geto Suguru said that sometimes he also wants to do that, but he has some idol baggage that prevents him from being so uninhibited.
Therefore, he, who originally wanted to stop Gojo Satoru, now stood quietly in place, waiting for Zenin Kiyoshi's reaction.
Zenin had long since figured out the personalities of these two. Once he got to know them, they would follow him relentlessly.
Seeing that Kiyoshi ignored the two of them and walked directly to the car.
Geto Suguru and Satoru Gojo smiled at each other, and then continued:
"Xiao Kiyoshi, wait a moment, don't walk so fast!" x2
Hearing the harassing voices of the two people behind him, Zenin Qing quickened his pace.
Nanami Kento sighed helplessly as he looked at the two people in front of him who were constantly harassing Zenin Sei, then said to Haibara Yu and Ijichi beside him:
"You two must never become like that, it will be extremely annoying."
Haibara Yu tilted his head, a look of confusion on his face, clearly not understanding what Nanami Kento meant.
Ijichi nodded thoughtfully, then said to Nanami Kento beside him:
"Then I'll stay away from you, Nanami-kun..."
Hearing the answers from the two people in front of him, Nanami covered his forehead and sighed:
"I did not mean that..."
Chapter-246
After putting their luggage at Riko's house and quickly assigning rooms, everyone hurried towards the beach.
Zenin Sei didn't actually like places like beaches.
First, he has never liked the atmosphere of the beach, nor does he like people wearing so little clothing wandering around sunbathing.
Secondly, he disliked the smell of sweat, the noise of the crowd, and the heat mixed with the smell of cooking oil from street vendors on the beach. That feeling only made Zenjoy feel a little irritable, not comfortable.
Third, he dislikes those messy beach activities, such as cutting watermelons with his head covered, playing beach volleyball, or applying sunscreen to people; none of these are things he really enjoys.
If he wasn't worried about offending everyone by not going, he wouldn't have gone there to sunbathe.
But that was the only time; he wouldn't come again. It was all because of a slip of the tongue he made a few years ago. He was thinking about something when Riko asked him where he liked to go, and he casually said the beach, which has caused him this torment every year...
Looking at the beach so close at hand, Zenin Kiyoshi sighed helplessly once again.
He didn't prepare any swimsuit or anything like that; instead, he wore knee-length shorts and a normal short-sleeved shirt, showing absolutely no signs of being on the beach.
Geto Suguru noticed this and, somewhat curious, leaned over to ask:
"XiaoKiyoshi, did you forget your swimsuit? I think you wore the same one last year, right? We've finally made it to the beach, aren't you going to go swimming? I remember there's a reasonably priced swimsuit shop over there, we can go check it out together."
Hearing Geto Suguru's words, Kiyoshi Zenin gently shook his head, then said:
"It's alright, no need to go to so much trouble. I think I've caught a bit of a cold recently, so I won't be going swimming with you guys. By the way, Geto, didn't you used to like bringing books to read? Did you bring any this time?"
Hearing Kiyoshi's words, Geto Suguru showed a helpless expression. He then took out two books from his backpack. Kiyoshi didn't even look at the titles and took them directly. In this era where mobile phones are basically equivalent to boredom tools, he would rather read a book for a while.
"You caught a cold around this time last year, what a coincidence this year?"
Gojo Satoru turned his head from the seat in front of him. Zenin Seishin was also a little surprised to see him like that. Because he was usually very busy, he sometimes didn't remember things very clearly.
Did I not realize I used the same excuse last year? This seems really bad...
"Last year it was the common cold, this year it's the flu. Didn't the TV station say the other day that a lot of people have caught a cold recently?"
Upon hearing Kiyoshi Zenin's reply, Gojo Satoru took off his sunglasses, his mouth wide open, his eyes looking down and up at the same time, making an extremely irritating expression.
Then, without waiting for Kiyoshi Zenin to say anything, he directly said to Geto Suguru, who was standing next to Kiyoshi Zenin:
"Hey Geto, do you really believe that a top-tier sorcerer's body could catch a cold two years in a row?! Only an idiot would believe that!"
Gojo Satoru deliberately dragged out his words, making them sound extremely sarcastic. Hearing Gojo Satoru's words, the previously noisy environment in the car instantly became quiet.
Mei Mei silently put the cold medicine she had taken out of her backpack back in, and Hanami put the vibrant hand back into her pocket.
Shoko, who had just slightly lifted herself from the seat, sat back down, and the healing doll that the Iori Utahime had taken out was quietly put back into her bag.
Toji took back the gift he had originally intended to hand to Zenin Kiyoshi, and said to Eri beside him:
"Don't go near that guy lately. I heard this cold is quite severe and highly contagious. It's okay that Megumi got infected, but you're weaker, so don't let that guy infect you."
Upon hearing this, Eri gave Toji a light tap on the waist, then muttered angrily in a low voice:
"What are you talking about, you idiot? Once we get there, hurry up and buy medicine for XiaoKiyoshi."
"Ha, didn't you hear what that idiot Gojo said? Only a moron would believe that he has a cold..."
"...Are you planning to sleep out tonight?"
Aside from the arguing couple, Megumi was still in a daze. He looked at the body that his father had lifted up and felt a little dizzy.
What is that bastard dad doing now...?
Because Rika and her daughter were sitting in the back of the car with the window open, they didn't hear what Gojo Satoru was saying; she was just chatting happily with Rika.
Nanami Kento adjusted his sunglasses, pulled Haibara Yu, who had already gotten up to go and deliver the medicine, and then sighed before saying:
"Senior Kiyoshi simply doesn't like beach activities. Being sick is just an excuse. Don't go over there and embarrass Senior Kiyoshi. You're a hopeless idiot."
"Huh? Is that so? But if you don't like beach activities, you can just not go. Why lie?"
Although Haibara Yu's comprehension is a bit slow, he at least has some emotional intelligence and knows to speak in a low voice.
"Because Kiyoshi is often the center of attention at events, if Kiyoshi doesn't go, then at least a third of the people here won't go either, which would make Riko sad."
Hearing this, Haibara Yu nodded silently, while Ijichi looked at Zenin Kiyoshi and suddenly felt that he and Zenin Kiyoshi had some similarities.
It seems that whether you're popular or not, everyone has their own troubles when it comes to these kinds of gatherings.
However, even so, we still need to consider the recent cold problem. If someone really catches a cold, then he should prepare in advance. He should go to the pharmacy after getting off the bus. It wouldn't hurt to buy some things for Zenin-senpai.
Riko and Kuroi were sitting at the front, and because they were tutoring each other, they didn't hear the conversation between Zenin Sei and the others behind them.
Geto Suguru coughed once, then said:
"That's true, XiaoKiyoshi. Don't you like going to the beach?"
Upon hearing this, Zenin Seijin suddenly raised his head and looked at Riko, who was not far away. Seeing that she was still engrossed in her studies, he breathed a slight sigh of relief.
Geto suddenly realized that he had almost caused trouble by accident.
He quickly put away the cold medicine in his pocket, cursing Gojo Satoru in his heart. It was all that idiot Gojo's fault for making him so confused and almost upset Riko.
Chapter-247
"Hey XiaoKiyoshi, the reason you don't like going to the beach isn't because you can't swim, is it?!"
Gojo Satoru realized at that moment that he couldn't let Riko be unhappy. He turned his head slightly, looked at Zenin Kiyoshi, and teased him with a low voice.
Seeing this, Zenin Kiyoshi rolled his eyes at Gojo Satoru, but did not deny it.
He has been busy researching barrier techniques, working hard to improve his various abilities, and constantly winning everyone's favor. Where would he find the time to learn swimming, a sport for the rich?
As for before I time-traveled? I worked 996 every day, and on my only day off, I just wanted to sleep until 2 or 3 pm. After waking up, I would lie down for a bit, scroll through my phone, and then it was time to get ready for work again. Where would I find the time to go swimming?
Seeing that Zenin Kiyoshi did not refute his idea, Gojo Satoru was somewhat taken aback. He looked at Zenin Kiyoshi, his voice almost trembling:
"Seriously? You really can't swim? I'll teach you when we get to the beach!"
"I'll teach you too. I used to catch fish and shrimp in the streams in the mountains."
Geto Suguru also came over at this moment, looking at Kiyoshi Zenin with bright eyes, as if he had discovered some treasure.
Seeing the two of them act this way, Zenin Kiyoshi sighed and rubbed his forehead in exasperation:
"You two idiots, I know exactly what's going on in your heads. I don't need to learn to swim, and I don't want to go to the beach simply because I'm not used to the entertainment there."
"Which one is better, a watermelon? Blindfolded watermelon cutting? Or beach volleyball? Or building a sandcastle?"
Gojo Satoru was like a child, full of boundless energy, constantly asking Zenin Seiji all sorts of questions.
Because Geto Suguru was sitting right next to Zenin Temple Kiyoshi, he would occasionally come over and chime in.
Zenin-in-Chiyo hadn't had a moment's peace along the way, being bombarded by the two of them almost in turn.
Seeing Zenin Qing's state, Mei Mei and the others wanted to do something, but in this situation, none of the girls would have the heart to go over and disturb the two of them.
So, as soon as Zenin arrived at the station, before anyone could react, Gojo Satoru lifted Zenin's ankle, and Geto Suguru grabbed Zenin's head, and the three of them rushed out of the train in a very strange way.
Moreover, after learning that Zenin Kiyoshi didn't like crowded places, Gojo Satoru had already used his "money power" to have the staff there temporarily clear out a "dangerous fish area." On that beach, there would be no one else but them.
Actually, when Gojo Satoru grabbed his ankle, Zenin Kiyoshi could have easily broken free, but that would have been too much of a spoilsport.
Although Kiyoshi was somewhat helpless, he could only let the two of them act as they pleased, since it was a rare holiday and they should enjoy themselves as much as possible.
"Hey! Kiyoshi! You bastard, once you're in the water, you're not allowed to use any spells! Just sink to the bottom obediently. Geto and I will be watching you. Don't worry, we won't let you drown!"
Even if you were drowning, I would have Geto summon that [Kissing Spirit] to give you countless mouth-to-mouth resuscitations!
Hearing Gojo Satoru's words, Geto Suguru's lips twitched slightly, and then he added:
"Gojo... that kind of thing isn't called a 'Kissing Spirit,' it's a 'Spirit that Yearns to Be Loved.' Don't get these basic things wrong!"
Moreover, those Cursed Spirits have a very strong suction force. If they were to perform artificial respiration on XiaoKiyoshi, her internal organs would be sucked out!
Regarding Geto Suguru's remarks, Gojo Satoru said with an indifferent expression:
"For ordinary people, the suction force of those things might cause that kind of result, but this guy is Xiao Kiyoshi, are you sure he will be killed by those things?"
"How about we make a bet? Not only will XiaoKiyoshi not have her internal organs sucked out by those [Kissing Cursed Spirits], she might even be able to suck out their internal organs instead! Do you believe me?!"
Listening to Gojo Satoru's words, Geto Suguru felt nauseous just thinking about the scene:
"I already said that it's called the 'Longing for Love Cursed Spirit,' not some 'Kissing Cursed Spirit'! Those guys don't know how to do CPR, so we'll have to find Nitrogen... never mind, let's find a doctor."
Gojo Satoru pushed up his sunglasses, glanced at the crowd getting out of the car not far away, and a strange look and expression that did not belong to him suddenly flashed across his face.
Looking at all this, Gojo Satoru said with a grin:
"We might not be able to find a doctor, but there are plenty of people willing to give XiaoKiyoshi CPR!"
Geto Suguru did not refute Gojo Satoru's statement. He simply smiled and nodded. Then, the two of them exerted force together, completely disregarding Zenin Kiyoshi's resistance, and threw him directly into the sea.
Of course, these two weren't completely without sense of propriety. They threw Kiyoshi into a place where the water was only waist-deep. If Kiyoshi had remained calm, he could have stood up on his own.
As for Kiyoshi, although he still didn't like beach sports, seeing everyone's energy and enthusiasm, he decided to take this opportunity to learn to swim.
As his vision slowly sank into the seabed, a burning sensation surged from his eyes.
I didn't close my eyes, and the seawater stung them!
"Watch me!"
Before Zenin-in-shiki could even stand up from the sea, a bastard with a silver head suddenly rushed towards him from the calm sea.
As Gojo Satoru's body suddenly sank, he crashed directly into Zenin Kiyoshi, burying him beneath the surface of the sea.
"Idiot! Gojo, you bastard! You've completely overpowered Xiao Kiyoshi! What are you doing?!"
Hearing Geto Suguru's words, Gojo Satoru revealed an extremely impatient, sinister smile. Then, he opened his arms and whispered to Geto Suguru:
"Cursed Technique Reversal: Red - Blue! Minimal Power Release!"
As Gojo Satoru's voice faded, Geto Suguru was involuntarily pulled towards the seabed by a gravitational force.
"You idiot Geto, go drink my bathwater properly!"
"You bastard! Cursed Spirit Manipulation - Grade 1 Imaginary Spellcaster - Kappa!"
As a short and strangely shaped kappa appeared, a whirlpool instantly appeared on the sea beneath Gojo Satoru's feet. With an extremely strong suction force, Gojo Satoru was also pulled down.
Under the cover of the swirling vortex of the Azure Dragon on the left and the Kappa on the right, Zenin Sei had only one thought in his mind.
"Is swimming really that difficult? Is the suction of seawater really that strong?!"
Chapter-248
Seeing the scene turned into something like the end of the world, Principal Yaga felt as if his veins were about to explode.
"You little brats! What are you doing?!"
The yakuza uncle's roar came, but the three of them were struggling in the seawater and couldn't hear anything at all.
Seeing this, Yaga Masamichi was so angry he was about to explode. Just as he was about to dive into the sea to capture the person, Tengen's voice came over:
"It's alright, Principal Yaga. It's a rare opportunity for them to come here for a visit, and I think they must be in a good mood. Let them have their fun for a while."
Hearing Tengen's words, Nocturne breathed a sigh of relief and felt relaxed.
Originally, he was only worried that these kids' actions would displease Lord Tengen. Now that Lord Tengen has no objections, he naturally has no other thoughts.
Let those brats play around. In his knowledge of those bastards, even if the sea were turned upside down, they wouldn't be in any trouble.
Thinking of this, Principal Yaga slowly opened the parasol in his hand, found a slightly comfortable shady spot, and lay down on the ground to sleep.
Meanwhile, Tengen, accompanied by Tsukumo Yuki, walked toward Amanai Riko, who was watching her intently or unintentionally.
When Kuroi saw Tengen and Tsukumo Yuki approaching, she didn't actually know that the woman in front of her was Tengen because of her relatively low status. She assumed she was a friend of Zenin Sei, so she greeted them with a smile:
"Miss Yuki, is this Mr. Zenin Temple's friend? Why haven't you introduced him to us yet?"
Hearing Kuroi's words, Tsukumo Yuki's face showed a faint smile. Just as she was about to say something, she suddenly froze, because Riko had already grabbed Kuroi's arm, her voice trembling slightly:
"Kuroi, she, she must be Lady Tengen..."
Riko trembled as she spoke these words, as if she had seen something that terrified her.
No, to be precise, it wasn't that feeling. After meeting Tengen, Riko emanated a complex emotion that was a mixture of countless feelings, including "expectation," "fear," "reluctance," "escape," and "relief."
Upon hearing Riko's words, Kuroi Misato's smile froze instantly, replaced by shock and bewilderment.
She abruptly turned her head to look at Riko, then followed Riko's terrified gaze to look at Tengen. Her body tensed instinctively, and she took a step forward, subtly shielding Riko behind her.
Although Kuroi knew what Riko's fate was and what Tengen-sama represented, Riko's reaction and the trembling "Tengen-sama" she uttered said it all...
Riko doesn't want to be Assimilation; she fears Assimilation. She wants to continue living, to continue living as Amanai Riko.
The moment Kuroi shielded Riko behind him, the atmosphere became stagnant and heavy. The hustle and bustle of the seaside seemed to be shut out by an invisible barrier, with only the gentle lapping of waves against the shore and... Riko's almost uncontrollable, subtle chattering of her teeth.
Tengen looked at the two people in front of her. She didn't say anything, but silently walked towards Riko and stopped a few steps away.
She did not immediately respond to Kuroi's wariness, nor was she angry at Kuroi's disrespect. Her eyes, which had carried the weight of a thousand years, were now calm, even with a hint of barely perceptible pity, as she gazed at the girl before her who was about to be "Assimilation" by her.
Perhaps because of the presence of astral matter within his body, Tengen was able to sense the complex emotions emanating from Riko's body.
Countless emotions, like threads filled with memories and curses, not only entangled Riko's soul but also locked the cause and effect that had been intertwined for thousands of years onto Tengen.
With Kiyoshi's previous explanation, Tengen had gradually come to understand what a Star Plasma Vessel was. However, when she saw such a young Star Plasma Vessel appear before her eyes once again, Tengen still couldn't help but feel a wave of sorrow.
She could feel it, she could feel the special curse fluctuations within Riko's body that belonged to the "Star Plasma Vessel," and those fluctuations were now fluctuating violently due to the extreme emotional impact.
Tengen looked at the two people in front of her, and for a moment she had a lot to say, but after opening her mouth, she didn't know where to start. So she fell silent, silently looking at the two people in front of her, her hands, hidden in her wide sleeves, clenched tightly together.
Looking at Tengen's somewhat complicated expression and feeling Riko trembling like a frightened deer behind her, Kuroi Misato felt an inexplicable surge of courage and protective impulse welling up inside her.
She took a deep breath, trying to keep her voice calm:
"You...you are Lord Tengen? Then why have you come here..."
She didn't finish her sentence, but her meaning was quite clear.
Tengen knew that Kuroi was asking her if she wanted to take Riko away and use Riko's body to "Assimilation" her.
Tsukumo Yuki frowned. She understood Kuroi's feelings. If it were the old her, she would have been more inclined to side with Kuroi. However, after learning about Zenin Sei's explanation on the plane, she now felt a sense of regret and understanding towards Tengen.
Just as she was about to speak to ease the tension, Tengen slightly raised his hand, stopping Tsukumo Yuki from speaking.
After nodding slightly to Tsukumo Yuki, Tengen's gaze fell on Amanai Riko once again. She looked at the girl's extremely pale face and her beautiful eyes, which were filled with fear and expectation, as if they were about to shatter at any moment.
For some reason, every time she saw those eyes, she felt as if her heart was about to shatter.
After a moment of silence, Tengen did something that surprised everyone.
She slowly and gently stretched out her hand.
Faced with Tengen's outstretched arm, Kuroi did not run away, and Riko did not choose to leave at this moment either.
Because both of them sensed a feeling of loving pity in those outstretched arms.
When Tengen's fingertips touched Riko's hand, which was tightly gripping Kuroi's clothes and whose knuckles were white, an extremely gentle voice came:
"Riko..."
Tengen's voice was very soft, like a faint sigh, yet it carried a peculiar penetrating power, clearly reaching Riko's ears and breaking the somewhat quiet space.
Chapter-249
"I'm sorry... because of me, you've suffered so much pain that you shouldn't have had to bear..."
Amidst everyone's near-astonished expressions, Tengen gently embraced Riko, like a mother hugging her child, almost completely enveloping Riko in his arms.
She gently stroked Riko's head with her palm, her voice filled with deep guilt and regret.
Large tears dripped from his eyes, splashing onto the ground and stirring up emotions in everyone present.
Everyone here, whether it's Tengen himself, Riko, or Tsukumo Yuki and Kuroi, has been tormented by the so-called "Star Plasma Vessel" incident until now.
Whether one is the one being integrated or the one being integrated, it is a rather painful process for both parties.
As Riko felt Tengen's warm and soft embrace, she felt as if she had returned to her mother's arms. An indescribable sense of grievance welled up inside her. For so many years, the feelings she had hidden deep in her heart were now completely unrecognizable.
Is it an honor to be cultivated as a star-like organism?
Or is it the tragedy of being treated as a composite entity?
Is it the hope of living a life that belongs to the name "Amanai Riko"?
Or is it the fear of being bound by the title of "Lord Tengen"?
Was it the joy of Zenin Sei first telling him that he wanted to live by his own name?
Or was it a secret thrill at the sight of Ms. Kuroi feeling sad and pained by his departure?
So many things, so many emotions.
At this moment, all of these things turned into tear tracks that were hard to describe, sliding down Riko's face.
But Riko didn't cry out loud. She was just held in Tengen's arms, sobbing softly, like a wronged child crying to her mother.
All the emotions, all the grievances, all the unspeakable pain, turned into these silent tears and suppressed sobs. Riko's fingers gripped the fabric behind Tengen's back tightly, her knuckles turning white from the force, as if she wanted to hold onto this belated understanding and comfort, never to let go again.
Kuroi Misato stood to the side, her face already streaked with tears.
At this moment, Kuroi's heart was filled with mixed feelings.
Kuroi didn't know what this feeling was. Perhaps there was heartache? There was also relief... but more than that, there was the emotion of feeling guilty towards Tengen, and even more so, the joy of seeing Riko completely free at this moment.
Looking at Riko crying in Tengen's arms, Kuroi reached out slightly, as if to comfort her, but his outstretched hand stopped in mid-air. In the end, he just silently and forcefully wiped away his tears, his shoulders trembling slightly.
Tsukumo Yuki stood quietly beside them, the sea breeze ruffling her golden hair and slightly obscuring her vision.
Looking at the two people embracing and weeping in front of her, her heart was filled with extremely complicated emotions.
As a former "alternate asteroid body," she understands Riko's emotions better than anyone else.
She watched as Tengen's unchanging, serene face was stained with tears, and she saw the almost atoning pain and tenderness revealed in his tight embrace of Riko.
To be honest, Tsukumo Yuki felt that the scene before her had almost completely overturned her long-held, cold and disgusting understanding of "Assimilation".
Especially after learning about Zenin's speculations about the "Star Plasma Vessel," Tsukumo Yuki's view of Tengen changed even more.
Tengen was not the vicious person he initially imagined, who deliberately created so many [Star Plasma Vessels] to devour in order to maintain the Immortality of his own physical body.
After Zenin told the two that the so-called "Star Plasma Vessel" actually originated from the curse of the Cursed Spirit, Tsukumo Yuki already knew that the so-called high and mighty Lord Tengen was nothing more than a pitiful person bound within the underground barrier of the High Realm.
The so-called pursuit of Immortality is nothing more than a tragic and twisted fate under a curse.
Looking at Tengen and Riko embracing each other, Tsukumo Yuki knew that these were two souls cruelly bound by fate, who had found a kind of resonance that was almost like mutual cuddling after clearing up all the misunderstandings.
"I'm sorry... I'm sorry..." Tengen's voice was choked with sobs. She repeated it over and over, gently stroking Riko's soft hair with her palm, as if she wanted to convey all the guilt and pain she had felt over the past thousand years through this simple action.
Her tears fell silently, dripping into Riko's hair, mingling with the girl's tears, indistinguishable from each other.
Tengen and the others' actions naturally did not escape everyone's notice, but everyone stood still in perfect unison, choosing not to disturb them.
For those who have never experienced the fate of the [Star Plasma Vessel], trying to understand those things is simply too difficult.
Kiyoshi floated on the sea, looking at Tengen and Riko embracing each other, a faint smile on his face.
Often, even if neither party harbors any ill will, various distorted emotions can surface during the long process of communication because they never share their true feelings with each other.
He sighed softly. Isn't that true for most people in this world?
Zenin didn't speak, but continued to learn to swim with Gojo Satoru and Geto Suguru behind him.
After the beach became less crowded, Zenin Kiyoshi felt much better. Although the weather was still quite hot, at least the oppressive feeling was gone.
However... when his body was completely submerged in the seawater, Zenin Kiyoshi suddenly noticed something was amiss.
Would I have ever felt so upset about such trivial things before?
Something's not right...something's not right!
A strange, indescribable feeling came over him, and Zenin Kiyoshi felt a headache coming on.
However, this feeling only lasted for a moment, so fast that even Kiyoshi himself felt it was just an illusion.
But Kiyoshi was never a careless person, and he would never pretend that nothing had happened when he felt this strange sensation in his body.
Just as Zenin was about to carefully examine his body, an unknown force came and gently suppressed the thought that had just arisen in his mind.
Gojo Satoru's urging voice came from beside him. Zenin Kiyoshi looked up and felt as if he had forgotten something.
Chapter-250
This is my sixth night in Okinawa, and it happens to coincide with a full moon.
According to past practice, today should actually be the time for Riko to be merged with Tengen.
However, this time was different. Not only Riko was present, but also Zenin Kiyoshi and Tsukumo Yuki.
Tengen was kneeling opposite them, wearing a blue women's kimono, and her expression was somewhat solemn.
"This is the Star Religious Group's top secret location, a secret chamber that even past leaders cannot enter. Only I know how to break this spell. If outsiders forcibly break in, we will be instantly teleported out by the spell and everything here will be automatically destroyed."
Listening to Tengen's words, Zenin nodded. Then he carefully observed the surrounding environment. Indeed, there were layers upon layers of barrier spells around him. Even with his strength, it would probably take him a long time to force his way into such a place.
Seeing that Kiyoshi didn't say anything, Tengen breathed a slight sigh of relief. She had developed this habit a long time ago: whenever something was important, she would intentionally or unintentionally mention it to Kiyoshi to avoid any problems later.
She raised her head, looked at the indifferent Zenin monk before her, and then slowly said:
"If there are no problems, we can begin the ritual now... XiaoKiyoshi, are you really confident that you can eliminate all of this at this moment?"
Tengen's words carried an undisguised anxiety and unease, and her gaze toward Riko was shrouded in a faint mist.
During these few days together, Tengen's affection for Riko reached a new level.
It can be said that, in Tengen's eyes, Riko is now practically no different from her own daughter.
Zenin Sei could naturally understand Tengen's concerns. He looked at Tengen and Riko and softly comforted them:
"Don't worry, Lord Tengen. Although I'm not 100% confident that I can completely sever this curse, protecting Riko and you is still within my capabilities."
At this point, Zenin Kiyoshi turned his gaze to Riko, his eyes filled with tenderness and an inspiring power:
"Riko, believe me, from tonight onwards you will no longer be a star-like being, from now on you will simply be Riko of the Heavens."
"Unlike Star Plasma Vessel, Riko has the right to choose, the right to cry and laugh, the right for Ms. Kuroi and I to worry about you... Of course, Riko also has the right to not pay attention in class and be punished by the teacher to copy things after class."
At this point, Zenin Sei's smile deepened. He looked at Riko, whose tense mood had eased under Zenin Sei's teasing. Riko even muttered a quiet criticism of Zenin Sei's earlier joke.
"It's not that I wasn't paying attention in class! I was just thinking about something else at the time! If I could do it again, I'm sure I could figure that out."
Listening to Riko's rambling, Zenin Kiyoshi's face showed a faint smile. Then, meeting Riko's gaze, he nodded vigorously.
Upon seeing Kiyoshi's gaze, Riko's eyes reddened once again. She turned her face away, forcing herself not to let the tears fall.
Damn it, I'm already in the second year of junior high school, how come I still cry so easily!
It's all XiaoKiyoshi's fault, why did she treat me so gently...?
Just as Riko was pondering, Tengen also looked at Zenin Kiyoshi.
After listening to Kiyoshi's words, the unease and anxiety in Tengen's eyes faded considerably.
Zenin Qingna's incredibly infectious words seemed to erase most of his troubles.
Tengen took a deep breath, her gaze fixed on Kiyoshi's eyes, and then said in a gentle but firm voice:
"Let's begin. When it comes to specifics, XiaoKiyoshi, just tell me directly. I won't have the slightest doubt or hesitation about you."
Hearing Tengen's words, which sounded like he was risking everything, Riko clenched her fists, her nails digging deep into her palms, turning white from the force.
As for the future tonight, Riko knows that there is still too much uncertainty in it. She doesn't know if she can escape from the fate of the [Star Plasma Vessel], but Riko is neither afraid nor regretful.
Even if she died here, it wouldn't matter, because in her short life, so many people were willing to go to such lengths for her!
At this moment, Yuki looked at Sei Zenin, her eyes still showing some worry.
The reason is simple: Zenin Sei's plan was far too audacious, even bordering on insane.
Even after confirming repeatedly that there would be no problem, Tsukumo Yuki still felt somewhat uncertain.
However, seeing Kiyoshi's expression and hearing his words full of determination and confidence, she forcibly suppressed the last trace of doubt in her heart.
Now that things have come to this point, any hesitation or distrust could lead to the deaths of Tengen and Riko.
Looking at the three people who had already entered a meditative state, Zenin Qing said softly:
"You don't need to be nervous. Riko, close your eyes and think about whatever you want, even if you fall asleep. Lord Tengen, please sketch out a rough model of the entire national domain barrier technique in your mind, the more detailed the better."
"Miss Yuki, hold my hand. Don't resist the magical power flowing through your body; just follow it."
Hearing Zenin Qing's arrangements for them, everyone nodded in agreement.
"Let's begin, XiaoKiyoshi."
Tengen's voice regained its usual calmness, but beneath that calmness lay an almost desperate trust in Zenin Sei.
She slowly raised her hands and began to activate the ancient barrier power that covered the entire secret room. The dark blue magical light rippled around her like water.
Watching this scene, Riko closed her eyes slightly. Her mind was in turmoil, but she tried her best to do as Zenin Kiyoshi had instructed.
At the same time, Zenin Kiyoya pulled Tsukumo Yuki's hand over. The other's hand was a little cold and stiff at the moment, and even a little slippery due to sweat.
"Ahem, it was so hot on the way here, it's normal to sweat a little..."
Tsukumo Yuki blushed slightly, turned her face away, and awkwardly offered a few words of explanation.