Chapter-391
As Dr. Hokujo's words fell, only the faint sound of the wind rustling through the leaves remained.
The surging magical power around Lu Suo was slowly calming down thanks to her efforts.
No matter how she tried to convince herself, the expression on her face was colder and more exhausted than ever before.
After taking a deep breath, she didn't look at Hu Zhangren again.
Lu Suo slowly raised his head and looked at the night sky, which was shrouded in dark clouds. Looking at the somewhat dark sky, he seemed to be able to see the spaceship in the sky through the distance.
Even though Ryosaku herself was unwilling to admit it, what Itadori Jin said was indeed like a seed that planted a seed called "doubt" in her heart.
The conversation she had with Zen-in Kiyoshi a few years ago became clearer now, and she remembered that Zen-in Kiyoshi had mentioned the same thing.
Could it be that everything I've persisted in all these years was actually part of a pre-ordained script?
But what's done is done, and there's no point in dwelling on those things now!
Lu Suo slowly lowered his head, then his gaze returned to Hu Zhangren.
At this moment, however, her eyes no longer held the anger or contempt of before, but only a pure, slightly manic expression.
"I must say, you do have some rather interesting guesses, Ren."
The sound of the rustling returned to calm, but upon closer inspection, it gave off an indescribable chill.
"But what you said cannot change the status quo. Even if what you said is true, it cannot change anything."
Because at this moment, whether we are pieces or variables, fate has already begun to unfold, and we cannot withdraw halfway.
As Lu Suo finished speaking, he tilted his head slightly, revealing a strange smile:
"Since you claim to know so much truth, it also means you are more valuable. I will stay with you until I have squeezed out all your usefulness, including your soul and everything else."
Having said that, she didn't wait for Hu Zhangren's reply, turned and retreated into the shadows. The next moment, her figure slowly disappeared as if blending into the night, leaving only a cold sentence still echoing in Hu Zhangren's ears:
"Hu Zhangren, from the moment you decided to act with me, your future and everything else no longer belonged to you."
As the sound of the clapper fell, Huzhangren remained rooted to the spot, kneeling on the ground, panting heavily. His expression was complex, a mixture of emotional catharsis after revealing everything and a madness attempting to overturn everything.
Unbeknownst to the two, a crow was quietly observing everything not far behind them.
Zenjiro sat in the car with his eyes slightly closed, having already taken in everything that had just happened.
As Mingming drove, sensing the familiar fluctuations of magical energy emanating from beside him, he asked with a smile:
"Did you observe anything?"
"Yes, at least I'm certain now that aliens really do exist in this world."
Hearing Zenjiro's words, Mingming's face showed a look of surprise. She turned to look at Zenjiro and said, both amused and annoyed:
"When did you learn to say such nonsense? Do you take me for a child? Talking about aliens and such."
Upon hearing this, Zen-in-Tsuyoshi slightly opened his eyes. He sighed and then calmly addressed Mingming:
"I knew you would say that, but Mingming, believe me, I really didn't lie, aliens really do exist in this world!"
Mingming remained silent for a while after hearing this, then she raised her hand and gently touched Chanyuan Qing's forehead.
"It's not hot at all? Are you sure you haven't blown your brain out of shape?"
Zenjiro felt the other person's slightly cold yet soft hand, but instead of pushing it away, he smiled and said:
"If there's a chance later, I'll take you to see it."
"Alright, since you've said that, it would be a bit too unromantic of me to keep denying you. Remember to prepare a spacesuit for me, I don't want to die in space from not being able to breathe."
"Wouldn't that be considered another way of turning into a star?"
"Your ability to tell corny jokes has improved a lot compared to before."
Mingming smiled and rolled her eyes at Chanyuan Qing, then started the car.
After Zenji returned to the high school, he first briefly mentioned Itadori Yuujin to Yagami Masamichi. With the latter's consent, Itadori Yuujin officially became an unofficial member of the high school.
Before Zen Monk Qing could even rest for a short while, the office door was pushed open again.
Shen Er walked in from outside, carrying a thermos. He looked at Chan Yuanqing, casually tossed him a document, and took a leisurely sip of hot tea before speaking:
"This is the information you had someone find earlier, the information about the heaven and the curse, I think his name is Yukichi. This kid is quite interesting, he's the opposite of me."
It's ironic, really. I was born in a Zen monastery, yet I lacked magical power; he was born into an ordinary family, yet he didn't have a healthy body.
As she said this, a sarcastic smile appeared on her face.
Zen-in-shiki didn't say anything; he simply looked at Shen'er and then said softly:
"The old man has recently purged those extremists from the family. Have you considered going back?"
To this, Shen Er answered without even thinking:
"No, even if Hui has enough talent, this brat is actually similar to me. Neither of us has the kind of personality that can be restrained. Letting him grow up in that kind of environment will only make him suffer."
"I think so too."
Will you go back?
"I'm not even from there, why would I talk about going back?"
"That's settled then. Let's hurry up and find this brat, Yukichi. I heard that his condition is getting worse and worse; it seems he can't even be exposed to sunlight anymore."
The monk nodded, then put on his coat and said to Shen'er:
"You drive, I had some beer at noon."
"Tsk, you bastard, always with this excuse."
The two walked toward the parking lot while talking.
Under the cover of night, the two chatted occasionally in the car, and everything around them seemed so quiet.
The car drove further and further into remote areas, even reaching desolate sections of road without streetlights.
"This road is really hard to drive on. That kid must be suffering in a place like this."
"Be careful, let's stop the car up ahead and get out to walk, otherwise the car will explode."
"ha?"
Chapter-392
As Zen-in-chan's voice faded, Shen Er noticed two spheres emitting a faint red glow not far ahead.
The sphere remained still, but its direction would change as the car moved.
"That's the thing. It contains a very unstable cursed power. If you drive over there now, it will most likely explode."
"He really is a rather unlikable brat, but that's normal. I was like that back then too. The curses of heaven are meant to turn people into this kind of thing."
While complaining, Shen Er stopped the car, and the two got out. However, the two red balls did not leave but remained in place, moving with the two people as if warning them not to go any further.
Neither Zenjiro nor Shen Er paid any attention to this. As they walked towards the sphere, Zenjiro spoke up:
"Singi, the possessor of the Heavenly Curse, from the moment of your birth, due to the influence of the Heavenly Curse, your body has an incurable defect. But in return, this flawed body has also given you a control over curse power far beyond that of ordinary people, hasn't it?"
As Zen-in-Chih's voice faded, the two suspended spheres of cursed power, radiating an ominous red light, trembled slightly. Then, the spheres themselves emitted dangerous, volatile energy fluctuations.
A loud "boom" rang out, and the sphere exploded violently.
However, after the smoke and dust from the explosion dissipated, the two men stood in the same spot without a single wound, and not even a speck of dust had landed on them.
"If you really wanted to kill us, the power of the sphere's explosion would have been much greater, wouldn't it?"
Zen Temple's clear voice echoed distinctly through the silent wilderness, carrying an undeniable certainty, as if it had already seen through the small, thin figure hidden in the darkness.
Fuheishen stood with his hands in his pockets behind the Zen temple, his face showing a slightly tired and bored expression. However, upon closer inspection, his gaze was fixed on a certain direction in the darkness.
Whether it's a talent or not, as the other extreme existence of Heaven and Curse, I can even more clearly sense the frail body hidden behind the barrier of curse power, a body that is fragile yet contains immense curse power.
"If possible, let's meet up with Singi?"
However, there was no response from the other party; the only response from Zen Temple was the sound of the wind not far away.
Zen-in Kiyoshi continued speaking, his tone calm and gentle, without any coercion, only a hint of respect based on equality:
"We are not your enemies. On the contrary, I think we are the ones who can help you. Perhaps only we can completely heal the effects of the Heavenly Curse on you."
In the darkness, only the sound of the night wind whistling past could be heard.
But after about ten seconds, a somewhat hoarse voice, carrying a clear sense of wariness and distance, came from the shadows in the distance:
"Help me? What's there to help a 'monster' like me? And who are you? What are your identities? How do you know my identity and physical condition?"
As Singi finished speaking, a small, thin figure in a delicate wheelchair was slowly pushed out of the shadows behind a dead tree.
The one pushing the wheelchair forward was a tall, exquisitely crafted doll.
The boy sitting in the wheelchair looked young, but his face was so pale that there wasn't a trace of color in it. His body was so thin that it looked like skin wrapped around his bones, and he looked as if a gust of wind could blow him over.
Perhaps because of the cold weather, Singi was wrapped in a thick blanket. He exuded a deathly aura unique to the dying. His eyes were the only part of him that still resembled a boy, but they were now filled with pain and alienation.
He is Singi, who later became known as Machine Maru.
This is the price of being chosen by heaven, a necessary sacrifice by heaven and the curse. Possessing immense magical power and a talent for precise control, the price is this crippled body that could be fatal even with normal exposure to sunlight and air.
Singi looked at the two people in front of her, then spoke softly again:
"Leave here right now, or I'll kill you all. I crave your bodies so much that I want to kill you right now!"
"Kill us? No, you won't."
Zen-in Kiyoshi listened to what Sin-gi had to say, then shook his head slightly, denying the other person's statement.
Then, completely ignoring Singer's previous warning, he took a few steps forward and stopped about three or four meters away from Singer. This distance expressed goodwill and gave the other party a sense of security, since Singer was not exactly mentally stable at the moment.
Getting closer is a means of closing the distance, not a malicious way of oppressing the other party.
"You won't do it, Singi. I can see that you just want to live a normal life."
His gaze fell on the puppet beside Singi, his brown eyes now turning azure as he analyzed the flow of every strand of magical power on the puppet.
"Your control over your magical power is the most exquisite among all the sorcerers I have ever seen."
The materials used to create this cursed corpse are very poor; it didn't even use any cursed artifacts, just some ordinary wood and iron pieces. To achieve such a level of craftsmanship, you are truly a genius.
Zen Monastery looked at Xinji and said in a gentle tone:
Do you think this is a power bestowed upon you by God?
"A gift?! If I could have a normal human body, I'd rather not have these things!"
Upon hearing these words, Singi became extremely agitated. He looked at Zenji and retorted angrily in a hoarse and dry voice.
Zen-in Kiyoshi responded softly to this:
"What Heaven and the Curse gave you was unparalleled ability to control curses, but the ability to create puppets was something you learned yourself. You yourself are a miracle. This has nothing to do with Heaven and the Curse. You yourself are a person who does not succumb to fate."
Yu Xinji was stunned. He listened to Zenji's words and didn't know what to say for a moment.
He had heard far too many comments of fear, pity, and even disgust, but no one had ever spoken to him with these words.
Using the word "unyielding" to describe him made something seem to flicker slightly in Singi's lifeless eyes.
"...Who exactly are you? And why are you approaching me?"
His voice was still hoarse, but his guard seemed to have lessened slightly.
Chapter-393
"I just want to give you a chance, a chance for you to choose."
Zenjiro looked at the boy in the wheelchair in front of him with a calm and gentle smile on his face.
"Give me a chance? Don't be ridiculous. From the moment I was born, I lost all opportunities to choose! This body is what they call a gift from heaven; it has never given me a chance to choose!"
As he spoke these words, Singi's expression became slightly ferocious. Underneath his bandaged body, a little blood was seeping out. Zenji could see that this was a tear in his body caused by the disorder of Singi's curse power.
"The concept of being bound by fate is indeed very unfair, or rather, that bastard god never asked the person involved if they wanted it. I can understand that."
Rarely, before Zen-in-Chih could speak, Shen-er began to persuade Sin-gi on his own.
Before Shen could finish speaking, Mechanical Maru roared at Shen:
"Shut up! What do you know?! Stop trying to understand me, you don't understand anything! How could you possibly understand this feeling of having no choice! You empty-headed bastard! Get out!"
Perhaps because he had always been comforted like this since childhood, after Shen'er said those words, he seemed to be stimulated, his emotions exploded instantly, his curse power surged, and the puppet pushing him behind him suddenly opened its mouth, spitting out several steel needles that pierced straight towards Shen'er.
Even though he was somewhat emotionally charged, Zenjiro Kiyoshi could still see that the steel needles were not aimed at Shin'er's vital points, but rather at areas that would cause him pain but were not fatal.
Seeing this, Zenjiro nodded slightly. It seemed that even though someone had touched a raw nerve, Mechanical Maru was still kind at heart, so it wasn't wrong for him to choose to save him.
After all, this guy was a traitor in the original story. Although he made amends later, those people in Shibuya did die because of him. Even though it hasn't happened yet, Zenin Kiyoshi still harbors some resentment towards him.
But it seems there's still time.
While Zenjiro was still pondering, Shen'er had already arrived in front of the mechanical ball at an almost instantaneous speed.
It wasn't until that tall figure completely blocked the moonlight in front of him that Mechanical Maru noticed Shen'er's figure.
"What?!"
She instinctively let out a gasp, accompanied by the rustling sound of steel needles falling to the ground in Shen'er's hand. Mechanical Maru looked at the palm that was about to fall on her head and felt a little panicked.
He wanted to escape, but it was too late now, so he closed his eyes and prepared to endure the pain and torment to come.
But to his surprise, the pain he had imagined did not come. Instead, he only felt a thick, warm sensation in his head.
Shen Er squatted on the ground, rubbing the mechanical ball's head with one hand, a slightly helpless and apologetic smile on his face:
"Sorry, you brat, I'm not very good at talking. That bastard is right. Whenever I open my mouth, even if it's just well-intentioned comfort, it will make you angry. But before you get angry, you should also think about whether I can understand you."
Hearing Shen'er's words, Mechanical Maru subconsciously felt the familiar sensation emanating from the other's body.
This, this is... the feeling of being both heavenly and cursed!
It was only at this moment that Mechanical Maru realized that the man in front of her was actually one of her own kind!
But looking at the other person's muscular body, which was almost bursting out of his clothes, he just couldn't believe that the other person would have the same cursed constitution as him.
But as he continued to delve deeper into his senses, he discovered an almost empty aura of magical power beneath Shen'er's muscular body.
There wasn't even a trace of curse power in the man's body!
However, it should be known that even the weakest ordinary person has a trace of curse power in their body.
Thinking of this, Mechanical Maru suddenly raised his head, looked at Shen Er, and asked in a trembling voice:
"Are you the type who traded all your magical power for the bindings that strengthened your body?"
Shen Er smiled and nodded. Although he still looked fierce, it was much better than his previous expression.
"Even so, at least you can live like an ordinary person, and this physical body of yours can bring you great wealth and glory in the ordinary world. So what makes you think you can understand my feelings?"
You at least still have choices, you can at least live a normal life, but I…"
This time, Shen Er didn't wait for the mechanical ball to finish speaking, but interrupted it with a helpless expression:
"Kid, although I have left that place, I must tell you that my original surname was Zen Monastery."
As soon as Shen Er finished speaking, Mechanical Maru was instantly stunned.
He knew some basic common sense about the world of magic, as well as the so-called three great families, and he knew what would happen to a useless person without magic power in the Zenin family.
Seeing that he didn't speak, she continued:
"I learned about your family before I came here. Your parents love you very much. They have never given up on you, nor have they ever scolded or blamed you. Apart from this frail body, you have not suffered any other misfortunes."
Your inner world is always enveloped in love. You are unwilling to think about what you have and are constantly immersed in the sorrow of loss. Compared to my parents, who have hated me since I was a child, you live a much easier life.
I'm not telling you this to compete in misery, but to tell you to stop dwelling on those things, try to stand up, try to resist that so-called fate and curse. That's what you, you idiot, should be doing.
After saying this, he patted Mechanical Maru's head, then turned to look at Zenji Kiyoshi, grinning as he said:
"You bastard, you lost. I told you I'm pretty good at coaxing kids, right?"
"Then why do you always entrust Hui to Xia You?"
"Ah~ Ena isn't a brat, she's just a complete bastard."
Is it really appropriate to use such an adjective to describe your own son?
"Stop talking nonsense and come over here quickly to treat this brat. He's bleeding all over, but it seems he won't get cold anytime soon."
"He's in this state, and he's getting cold. He's not far from dying. Let's lend a hand and get him to the car."
Chapter-394
Mechanical Maru curled up in the back seat of the car, glancing timidly at Zenji Kiyoshi, his voice tinged with uncertain expectation:
"You...you really can cure me?"
Sitting in the passenger seat, Zenjiro turned around and looked at the mechanical ball tightly wrapped in bandages. A layer of shimmering green light appeared on his palm.
"I cannot heal you immediately. The rules of Heaven and Curse are not simply injuries or illnesses, but a kind of magical structure that is almost like a binding."
Zenji Kiyoshi did not hide anything, but spoke frankly to Mechanical Maru.
"But I can help stabilize your physical condition and alleviate the pain."
Furthermore, compared to you or your parents, the vocational college has the most advanced medical equipment and a wealth of ancient medical resources. There's always a way to change things. If you're willing to put in the effort, then come."
At this point, Zen-in-Chief paused slightly, then gave the most practical promise:
"As a preliminary expression of our sincerity in cooperating, I can perform some treatments on your body right now. Although I can't make you walk like a normal person immediately, at least I can make you feel the wind and bask in the sun."
Singi took a deep breath, staring intently at the green light in Zenji's hand, then at the other's calm and sincere face, and finally at Shen'er, who was expressionless but had a touch of friendliness.
At this moment, the inner struggle of Mechanical Maru was almost written all over his face.
There is very little hope that he can be completely cured, but the painful memory of being deceived is even more unforgettable. Over the years, he has been deceived by countless people, and his originally well-off family fortune has been almost exhausted because of his parents' worries about him.
The wind in the wilderness continued to blow, and the cold air from outside the car window carried a sense of silence.
After a long while, the mechanical ball seemed to have used up all its strength and nodded very slightly, its voice barely audible.
"...Okay, I'm willing to give it a try."
Zenjiro smiled upon hearing this, and stretched out his hand, the emerald green light shining on the mechanical ball.
Six days later, Mechanical Maru sat in a wheelchair. He was not wrapped in any bandages, and his wounds had almost completely healed. Apart from looking a little thin, he was almost no different from an ordinary person.
"Kid, it's just going to sunbathe, why are you so nervous?"
Hearing Shen'er's words, Mechanical Maru swallowed nervously. He shifted uncomfortably, gripping the sides of the wheelchair tightly with his hands, sweat beading on his palms, his voice hoarse from nervousness.
"I...I'm not nervous."
Mechanical Maru tried to explain something, after all, the unique pride of a teenager made him not want to expose his vulnerability in front of outsiders.
But his dry, hoarse voice and slightly trembling body betrayed him.
Sunshine, wind, the scent of grass... these things that are commonplace to ordinary people are dreams he had never imagined, and were even once considered taboos that he could never experience in his life.
Mechanical Maru took another deep breath, as if she had made up her mind, and very slowly and tentatively raised one hand from the armrest of the wheelchair, stretching it slightly towards the direction where the sunlight was shining.
As dappled sunlight fell on his pale, thin hands, it brought a warm, comforting sensation that brought tears to one's eyes.
There was no burning pain as I had imagined, nor any backlash from the cursed power on my body; only a pure, warm feeling that made me want to melt into it.
The moment Mechanical Maru sensed all of this, her eyes instantly reddened.
"Is this what sunshine feels like? So warm..."
He muttered to himself, his voice choked with barely concealed sobs.
Looking at the boy's fragile expression, as if he had touched a miracle, Fuheishen'er's originally calm eyes were slightly moved. He remembered the scene when he was lying around the cursed spirits, who were preparing to devour him.
But this scene only flashed by, followed by Hui's arrogant brat's dissatisfied face. She even pouted and said nothing, silently pushing the mechanical ball onto a sunny patch of grass.
"Let's get some more sun. Look how pale you've become, kid. If this keeps up, people will mistake you for a vampire and get rid of you."
However, at this moment, Mechanical Maru was not affected at all. Instead, he sat blankly in his wheelchair, tilted his head back, closed his eyes, and let the warm sunlight shine on his whole body without any obstruction. He felt the gentle breeze caressing his cheeks and hair, bringing the scent of grass and soil.
At this moment, he breathed in greedily, as if he wanted to completely inhale this warm feeling and taste into his lungs.
The next moment, a full tear, gleaming with sunlight, finally slid uncontrollably from the corner of his tightly closed eye.
But Shen'er's attention was drawn to the corner of Mechanical Maru's mouth, where a very faint, yet warm, curve was now raised.
Mechanical Maru knew that this was just the beginning, and the road ahead was still long. Whether the influence of the Heavenly Curse could be completely resolved was still uncertain.
But at this moment, for Mechanical Maru, being able to truly feel the warmth and color of this world was already the happiest thing in his life.
Just then, a somewhat surprised female voice came from not far away:
"Mechanical Maru-kun! You're here! The weather's really nice today~ You think so too, right?"
She was a girl with sky-blue hair, enveloped in a layer of mottled, fragmented light. A gentle breeze blew, lifting the strands of her hair and carrying a faint fragrance that, along with the breeze, was deeply imprinted in the boy's heart.
A slight blush appeared on his pale face, and when the enthusiastic girl greeted him, Mechanical Maru felt as if his heart had skipped a beat.
This was the first girl he saw that night after he was taken to the college by Zen-Yuan Qing and the other man.
Her name is Sanlun, and she is a girl who gives him a feeling of warmth like the sun.
Not far away, Shen Er watched this scene with a thoughtful smile on his face.
Before long, his attention was drawn to the commotion coming from the Zen temple.
"Miss Mingming, come with me to Kano Village, which is a 4-hour train ride from Morioka. We'll drive there, in your most luxurious car."
"Hmm? It's not that I don't want to go with you, but why are you suddenly driving such a nice car? Don't you usually not like such a high-profile lifestyle?"
"This time we're going to pick up a little girl named Kugizaki Nobara, she likes these kinds of things."
Chapter-395
The words "countryside" and "city" always evoke intense conflict in various places and in the minds of various people.
In many cases, these conflicts are unavoidable and difficult to eliminate.
At least that's how Kugizaki Nobara sees it.
Saori, an ordinary woman who came to this small village from Tokyo, is seven years older than Nobara Kugizaki. In Kugizaki's eyes, she is a woman who is "as cute as a doll and as gentle as the Virgin Mary."
But this woman was unconditionally ostracized by the villagers in this town.
The villagers wrote obscene words all over Saori's car and threw stones and eggs at Saori's car windows and house.
The reason they did this was simple: they had never left this small village deep in the mountains in their entire lives, and the villagers had an indelible sense of inferiority towards these people who came from big cities.
This inferiority complex stems from the denial and unacceptance of their own identity, but they have no way to release this pressure, so this inferiority complex, under long-term repression, turns into distorted hatred.
At this moment, Kugisaki Nobara was wearing a thick, somewhat ill-fitting old coat. She stood at the door of Saori's house, looking at the graffiti on Saori's car, her face flushed with anger.
She took a deep breath and looked at the tightly drawn curtains at the window, as if she could see Saori's pained expression through them.
She's such a gentle older sister, why are these bastard villagers treating her like this?!
Kugizaki Nobara couldn't understand, and she didn't want to understand those bastards.
She doesn't care what the reasons are for the person who committed the crime; as long as they hurt someone she cares about, she will not forgive them, no matter what their reasons are!
Taking a deep breath, Kugizaki Nobara stepped forward and walked to Saori's car. Then, standing on tiptoe, she used her sleeve to wipe away the foul language bit by bit in the cold wind.
Winter in the countryside is cold by itself, and the cold winds blowing at this moment feel like knives scraping across the tender cheeks of Kugisaki Nobara.
The white breath she exhaled froze on the ground in the cold air. There was a lot of snow on the car, and as she wiped it, her sleeves quickly became covered in cold water. When the cold wind blew, her sleeves even froze and became stiff.
The old coat rubbed against the cold car body, making a soft rustling sound that was particularly clear in the quiet winter morning.
Kugizaki Nobara wiped the lipstick with great effort and seriousness, her little face tense, her lips, which were a little purple from the cold, stubbornly closed together.
However, those obscene words written with paint are like maggots clinging to bones; they cannot be completely removed by sleeves or water from melting snow alone.
But Nobara Kugisaki did not give up. She just used her little hands, which were red from the cold, to wipe it again and again, as if she wanted to wipe away the malice along with the paint.
"Bastards! A bunch of bastards! Damn it!"
As she wiped, she muttered curses under her breath, her voice trembling slightly, partly from the cold and partly from anger. The pent-up anger and resentment in her heart reached their peak at that moment.
Kugizaki simply couldn't understand why kind people had to suffer like this.
Why are those guys able to hurt others so recklessly?
Just because Saori is from a big city like Tokyo?!
That's utterly absurd! You damn bastards! When I grow up, I'll catch all of you smearers and stuff you all with paint!
Just as Kugizaki Nobara was wiping the car and cursing in the back, she suddenly heard a soft creak behind her.
Kugizaki Nobara paused, then suddenly turned around.
The door to Saori's house, which had always been tightly closed, had opened a crack at some point.
Saori was standing behind the door, wearing only a thin sweater. Her face was even paler and more haggard than Kugizaki remembered. Under her beautiful and gentle eyes, there were heavy dark circles. Clearly, these things had greatly affected Saori.
But those eyes, which always held a gentle smile, instantly filled with shock and an indescribable emotion when they saw Kugizaki Nobara's small figure.
"Rose...you!"
Saori's voice trembled slightly as she looked at the small figure in front of the car, struggling to wipe it clean. She looked at the ill-fitting coat covered in blackened paint stains and ice crystals, and her throat felt like it was blocked by something, making it difficult to utter a sound.
Upon hearing Saori's voice, Kugizaki Nobara immediately straightened up in a fluster, instinctively using her body to shield herself from the foul language uttered from the car. Her face now showed the embarrassment of being caught red-handed.
"Saori-neechan! When I came to find you, I saw snow on the car and wanted to draw on it, but I haven't finished yet. Don't come out yet! Wait until I'm finished!"
Her lie was clumsy yet endearing. Looking at the little face in front of her, which was turning slightly purple from the cold, Saori felt her bitterness lessen considerably.
However, Saori had already seen the words written in paint.
But how could she possibly refuse Kugizaki Nobara's kindness?
However, in such cold weather, she absolutely cannot stay outside any longer.
Thinking of this, Saori hurried out of the house, so anxious that she didn't even bother to put on a coat.
Saori, who was running over, grabbed Kugisaki Nobara's cold little hand tightly under Kugisaki's somewhat bewildered gaze. Feeling the icy chill of Kugisaki's hand, Saori's eyes instantly reddened.
"Silly girl, you'll get sick in this cold weather..."
Saori's voice was choked with sobs as she vigorously rubbed Kugizaki's hands, trying her best to warm him up. As she pulled Kugizaki towards the house, she softly comforted him:
"I actually know all these things. This isn't your problem, and you didn't need to do this..."
"But they went too far!"
Hearing Saori's words, Nobara Kugisaki suddenly raised her head, her small face now filled with unwavering stubbornness as she looked at Saori, her eyes flashing with anger and resentment:
"Saori-neechan, you did nothing wrong! Why are they treating you like this! Those damn bastards, I'm going to smash their heads in with a hammer!"
"What are you saying, child! Come in quickly, I've prepared lots of handmade pastries for you."
"Hehe, Saori-neechan, you're the best."
However, at that moment, a somewhat sarcastic voice rang out, carrying a hint of irony.
"Mom is such a materialistic person, and even her children are the same. Sure enough, tsk tsk tsk."
Chapter-396
As that harsh, sharp voice rang out, it was like a cold needle that instantly pierced the peace and warmth that had just been barely maintained in this small corner in front of the house.
Kugisaki Nobara suddenly turned her head, her eyes blazing with anger that was almost tangible.
Not far away, several villagers, their faces red from the cold wind, were wrapped in thick, old cotton-padded coats. Their faces were full of sarcasm and mockery, and their eyes were filled with undisguised disgust and disdain as they looked at Saori and Kugisaki Nobara.
The one who spoke just now was a middle-aged woman standing at the front. She was a notoriously mean-spirited woman in the village, and she often spread gossip about Saori.
The rumors about Saori being a mistress kept by someone in a big city and what kind of shady profession she used to have all came from her mouth.
The moment Saori saw the woman, she instinctively tightened her grip on Kugisaki's hand. Almost without hesitation, she pulled Nobara behind her and used her slightly thin body to shield Nobara.
Perhaps because of the cold wind, Saori's face looked even more haggard and pale than before, and her body was trembling slightly, whether from anger or from the cold.
Although her body trembled slightly, Saori's eyes were filled with determination. She calmly met the woman's gaze, her voice carrying an unprecedented strength. However, if one listened carefully, one could also hear the weariness and faint sorrow hidden in Saori's voice.
"Three households! Please watch your words."
Saori's voice wasn't loud, but it carried an overwhelming force:
"I really don't think it's something an adult should do to say such things to a child, especially since everything you've said is just your own fabrication!"
"Child? Spreading rumors? Humph!"
The woman called Sanhu Shui scoffed, her voice rising even higher, chattering like a duck whose throat had been pinched:
"I have to say this because that brat was there with you! At such a young age, you're not learning good things, but picking up bad habits from city people from shady backgrounds! If you ask me, it's you, this city woman, who has corrupted the atmosphere of our village!"
No, that's not right. It should be that the brat was attracted by your aura, because her mother, just like you, was a woman who yearned for a life of extravagance and had an extremely chaotic private life...
"Enough! You bastards, don't come near my house! Get out!"
Saori abruptly interrupted Mizuki Sango's speech. Her eyes were red, and her body trembled with overwhelming emotion. Pointing at the crowd before her, she roared:
"You're not welcome in my home! I'll call the police if you come any closer!"
The woman wasn't frightened by Saori's outburst; instead, she felt ashamed. Her already harsh face became even more gloomy, and her high cheekbones were now filled with a sharp edge.
She took two steps toward Saori and raised her voice once more:
"Police?! That's quite a novelty. Does that mean you have some kind of shady relationship with those police officers? Indeed, a woman like you should have gotten out of our lives long ago..."
However, this time, the woman's words were interrupted again.
"I'm giving you three seconds to get out of here, or I'll just run you over. Believe me, even if I crush you to death here, the compensation I'll give you will only be enough to replace one of my tires."
Miss Mingming stuck her head out of the car window, her exquisite and noble face now bearing an indescribable indifference and disdain.
Those cold words, brimming with absolute superiority, exploded like thunderclaps in the malicious air.
Everyone's attention instantly shifted from Saori and Kugizaki to the black luxury car that had silently stopped by the roadside.
Mingming's exquisitely beautiful face, resembling a doll yet radiating an undeniable sense of oppression, instilled a great sense of awe in the villagers.
Mingming didn't even look directly at the villagers, only glancing at them out of the corner of her eye, as if she were examining some unsightly garbage.
Just moments ago, Miho Mizuki was so arrogant, but now, looking at that extremely luxurious car, she seemed to be gripped by some force. Her mouth trembled slightly, the words she was about to say were stuck in her throat, and her face turned red.
She and the villagers behind her were all stunned by this sudden and powerful aura, which was completely different from their usual understanding.
The gleaming luxury car and the obviously expensive clothes on Mingming silently proclaimed the class distinctions that were the most insurmountable obstacles in their minds.
"Who...who are you?!"
Mizuki looked at Mingming, her gaze darting away, and her voice involuntarily lowered, clearly showing some fear of Mingming:
"This is a matter for our village, what does it have to do with you?!"
As Mingming listened to the woman's words, a faint, mocking smile appeared on his lips.
"relation?"
Her voice remained flat, devoid of even a trace of emotion.
"You don't need to worry about what my relationship with her is, but your son should be working at Sanwa Hydraulic Engineering Co., Ltd. in Tokyo, right? Hmm, he works very hard, but his salary is a problem. But that's normal. In a place like Tokyo, it's already good enough to be able to survive and have a job."
Do you think that if he suddenly loses the job he worked so hard for, it might be related to you?
Hearing Mingming's words, Sanhu Shui felt fear for the first time. Her son was the only thing she could boast about in the village, while this woman in front of her clearly had more power and status than her son. What if her son lost his job because of a few words...?
Thinking of this, the woman felt a chill run down her spine. She looked at Mingming, and her expression instantly became fawning.
"Um, um, who are you?"
"I don't need you to put on a fawning act here, apologize to those two, and then disappear from my sight. Otherwise, believe me, your son will lose his job tomorrow!"
After saying that, Mingming turned to look at the other villagers and said in a calm voice:
"And you guys, go tell those bastards who smeared the paint to come over right now. I don't have much time to wait for them."
"Yes, I'm sorry! I'm so sorry!"
Miho no longer dared to hesitate for a moment. He practically scrambled towards Saori and Kugizaki Nobara, his obese body trembling slightly with fear, his previous arrogance completely gone.
Chapter-397
As the villagers fled in a somewhat disheveled state, Mingming had already parked the car. Leaning against the side, she smiled gently at the Zen temple inside:
"Why aren't you coming out? What are you doing staying inside?"
Zen-in-no-Kei looked at Mingming, rubbed his head, and then replied:
"I was really impressed by how cool you looked just now, Miss Mingming. You truly live up to your name, even your ideas are so... unique."
Hearing Zen-in-Chief's words, Mingming raised an eyebrow slightly, a slightly threatening smile on her face, and said:
"You seem quite dissatisfied with what I did? Or do you think those words were what I truly felt? Or do you see me as that kind of person?"
Upon hearing the mysterious three questions about death, Zen-in-Chiyo was stunned for a moment, then quickly denied them and got out of the car.
He knew, of course, that Mingming was joking with him, but when a woman jokes with you, she's not necessarily joking. If you don't respond well, the joke might not be a joke at all.
To avoid being subjected to further sarcastic remarks along the way, Zenji Kiyoshi decided to keep quiet.
Fortunately, Saori had already taken Wild Rose's hand and arrived at the car where the two had parked, bowing to them and saying:
"Um, thank you so much! If it weren't for you, we probably would have been subjected to another round of fabricated rumors today."
As she spoke, Saori's face showed exhaustion and helplessness. She was bent over deeply, and the back of her neck was red from the cold.
Mingming immediately lifted Saori's arm, a gentle smile on her face, completely different from her aggressive demeanor just now.
"It's very cold outside. Could we stay at your place for a while?"
Hearing Mingming's words, Saori raised her head. She looked at Mingming, then at Zenji Kiyoshi standing behind Mingming, her face showing hesitation and doubt.
Zen Temple Qing naturally understood this, after all, in such a small village, it was somewhat dangerous for a woman living alone to invite a strange man into her home.
Mingming was naturally aware of this as well. She glanced at Chanyuan Qing behind her, then chuckled softly:
"Qingjun, please bear with it for a moment and wait for me in the car. I'll turn on the air conditioning for you, it won't be cold."
Hearing Mingming's words, Zenji Kiyoshi did not refuse. He nodded to Saori in front of him, indicating that he would not mind, and then silently hid in the car.
Seeing this, Saori looked at Mingming with an embarrassed expression and kept apologizing in a low voice.
Mingming shook her head and said softly:
"It's good to have some safety awareness. There's nothing to apologize for. Go inside. That guy is in the car with the air conditioning on. You're dressed so lightly; you'll catch a cold if you're out in the cold wind."
Upon hearing this, Saori realized what was happening and quickly pulled Mingming and Wild Rose towards the house.
With a "click," Saori opened the door. The air conditioner was on, so she wasn't cold even though she was only wearing a single sweater.
Mingming took off her black trench coat and hung it on a clothes rack nearby. Before she could say anything, Wild Rose poked her head out from beside Mingming and asked her with a grin:
"White-haired sister! You looked so cool just now! I want to be able to protect Saori-nee like that, and I want to slap those people in the face like that!"
Upon hearing this, Mingming gently stroked Wild Rose's head, then smiled and said:
"If you want to achieve that, you'll need to leave here and go to Tokyo. Staying here will prevent you from having the opportunity to say such things."
Before Mingming could finish speaking, Kugizaki Nobara had already spoken:
"Big sister, you're right, but I've wanted to leave here for a long time! Saori-neechan, you probably want to leave too, right? I noticed that when you were on the phone with your friend before, you mentioned wanting to move!"
I don't want you to leave, Saori-neechan, and I don't want to be separated from you, so... I'm leaving too!
Saori, who was preparing a cake for the two of them, was touched by Nobara's words. She put down the cake and said gently to Nobara:
"Rose, wait until you're older before saying these things. Big cities aren't as great as you think. You'll only understand some things when you're older. Otherwise, I wouldn't have said that I came here from Tokyo."
But... it seems like people here don't really like me, so... maybe a different place would suit me better. But that doesn't mean we won't keep in touch. If you miss me, just give me a call, and I'll definitely answer.
However, to everyone's surprise, Saori's comfort did not improve Nobara's mood. She just looked at Saori, her voice trembling with a sob:
"But I want to eat the cake made by Saori-neechan herself, I want to see Saori-neechan every day after school, and I want to be able to throw myself into Saori-neechan's arms when I cry!"
And I also know that if Saori-neechan really leaves here, then it will be almost impossible for me to see you again in the future!
No matter how many times we talk on the phone, it can't compare to how things are now. Our relationship will definitely fade in the future! I don't want that to happen!
Although Wild Rose is still very young, she understands a lot because her mother left her at a young age.
At this moment, Mingming also looked at Saori, and then said softly:
"If you're currently unemployed, I can actually arrange one for you, but I have one condition: you need to bring Wild Rose with you, otherwise I'm a little worried about her living alone."
Upon hearing Mingming's words, Saori's face showed a look of astonishment. The amount of information contained in Mingming's words was too much for her to process for a moment.
What did you say?
"I can offer you a job, but the price is that you take good care of Wild Rose in Tokyo, it's that simple."
"But...but this isn't something I can decide. Only Rose's maternal grandmother can make these decisions. Besides, it's not even certain whether I can handle the job you're introducing..."
Saori's voice grew softer as she spoke, because as someone who had been eliminated from the cruel workplace in Tokyo, she couldn't muster much confidence.
To this, Mingming smiled and nodded, saying:
"Don't worry, let's rest for a bit and then we'll go find Wild Rose's grandmother right away."
Chapter-398
"Did you make this cake yourself? It tastes really good! It's comparable to some high-end restaurants!"
Mingming took a bite of the cake Saori made and commented with a look of delighted surprise.
Wild Rose chimed in with a grin at this moment:
"Yes! Saori-neechan's cakes are the best! And I like blueberry flavor, so Saori-neechan always makes a lot of blueberry cakes for me! Look!"
Watching the two people in front of her praising the cake, Saori blushed slightly. She lowered her head a little and said shyly:
"These are just some hobbies I do in my spare time. Please don't praise me like that, or I'll get a little arrogant..."
Mingming smiled slightly, then looked Saori up and down again, hesitated for a moment, and then continued speaking to Saori:
"Saori, actually, I only wanted to give you a job at first. I didn't want you to live with Wild Rose. After all, it's a bit dangerous for you to live with Wild Rose, and I didn't want you to get involved in that danger."
But... your constitution seems a bit unusual to me. Let me ask you something first: since you moved to this village, have you been having more and more nightmares and seeing strange things over time?
Hearing Mingming's words, Saori's face paled visibly. She looked at Mingming in slight surprise and subconsciously replied:
"Miss Mingming, how did you know about this? And why is it dangerous for me to live with Rose? What's going on?"
Hearing Saori's answer, Mingming sighed softly, then said with a hint of helplessness:
"It seems my observation was correct. Even if you don't live with Rose, you are destined to be entangled by those things. Don't be afraid. What I'm about to say may impact your current worldview, but it's all true."
Saori, there are things in this world that are beyond the comprehension of ordinary people; these things are called cursed power...
Mingming briefly explained the basics of sorcerers, spell power, and spell spirits in one breath, and Saori's face showed an indescribable expression as she listened to Mingming's words.
"I know it must be hard for you to accept all of this right now, but Saori, your constitution makes you more susceptible to cursed spirits. You have a lot more cursed power than ordinary people, but you haven't reached the level of a cursed sorcerer."
The reason you see those cursed spirits more often here is actually because your emotions have been constantly shifting lately, and cursed spirits are products born by absorbing negative human emotions.
Your special constitution makes you more likely to attract those things. You're lucky now, and you've only encountered cursed spirits that can't directly harm you. But what if, what if one day you encounter those dangerous cursed spirits?
I know you might not believe these things, but the reason I came to see you—no, to see Kugizaki Nobara—is because of this.
Hearing this, Saori subconsciously glanced at Kugizaki Nobara, who in turn looked at Mingming with some surprise, saying with a puzzled expression:
"Then why can't I see those cursed spirits on Saori-neechan?! I clearly learned the spells from my grandmother for so long."
Mingming raised his hand, and a jet-black raven, incredibly intelligent, scurried in through the not-yet-completely-closed window. The next moment, to Saori's somewhat terrified gaze, the raven flew into Saori's bedroom.
Accompanied by a piercing scream, a crow soon burst out of the room with an extremely deformed head.
The crow threw its head to the ground, its claws covered in dark purple blood.
Saori looked at the head lying on the ground and was shocked to realize that this was the monster she had been seeing in her dreams these past few days.
At this moment, Mingming seemed to be able to see through Saori's thoughts and spoke directly:
"This must be the monster you've been dreaming about or seeing lately, right? It's a very cunning cursed spirit. It sensed the cursed power on you, Kugizaki, and given its special ability to hide, it's normal that you didn't notice it."
Hearing this, Kugizaki nodded, then asked Mingming without hesitation:
"If Saori-neechan goes to Tokyo with me, will you protect her?"
"Yes, that's for sure. We'll let you live with Saori, but the price is that you have to become our student."
"A house in Tokyo that belongs to me and my sister Saori? And then we can eat at fancy restaurants every day?!"
"It depends on whether you have the ability to make that much money, but a house can be provided for you."
"Okay! I agree!"
Kugizaki, like a little adult, made the decision for Saori. She turned to Saori and said seriously:
"Saori-neechan, this thing is really dangerous! Please promise me you'll live with me. I'll grow up well and protect you!"
Without waiting for Saori's reply, she pulled Mingming and Saori together and walked outside.
"We're going to find Grandma right now! I want her to agree to our plan! I want to go to Tokyo! I don't want to stay in this lousy place anymore! There isn't even a coffee shop here!"
Looking at the vibrant wild rose, Mingming suddenly saw a bit of her former self in it. She smiled and said nothing.
Saori was still in a daze, but she wasn't someone who had a strong sense of self-determination, and given the very generous offer from Mingming, she couldn't think of a reason to refuse.
As the car door opened, Zenjiro Kiyoshi felt the blast of cold air, smiled, turned to look at the back seat, and greeted the two people there once again.
Wild Rose had no recollection of Zen-in-Chief Seiji. Looking at him, she smiled and said with a grin:
"Big brother, you must be protected by Sister Mingming, right? I can't sense any strong magical power from you. So you have to acknowledge me as your boss from now on, because I can protect you too!"
Upon hearing this, Saori tugged at Wild Rose's hand. This child said such things on their first meeting; it was really too impolite!
As for the wild rose, Mingming smiled and said softly:
"Rose, the reason you can't sense his magical power isn't because he has little, but because even with his full suppression, a trace of magical power still emanates from him. If you want to protect him, you'll have to become the strongest in the world of magic!"
Because in the current world of sorcery, he is undoubtedly the strongest in modern times, and perhaps even the strongest since the beginning of sorcerers.
Chapter-399
"But he doesn't seem like someone that strong. Are you lying to me?"
Wild Rose listened to Mingming's words, a look of disbelief flashing in her eyes, and she unconsciously looked Zen Temple Qing up and down.
Zenji Sei wasn't angry about Wild Rose's behavior. He patted Wild Rose's head and said with a smile:
"She's talking nonsense. Once we get to Tokyo, is there anything you'd like to do? I'll take you there."
"real?!"
Listening to Zenjiro's words, Wild Rose's interest instantly shifted from whether he was the strongest to the novelties of Tokyo. For her, the strongest in the world of magic was far less attractive than a coffee shop in Tokyo.
"Of course it's true, you can play whatever you want then."
"Coffee shops! Amusement parks! Häagen-Dazs! Ginza! I want to go to them all!"
Wild Rose rattled off a series of place names like she was reciting a menu, and Zenji Kiyoshi carefully wrote them all down. Children are different from adults; what they say should be done.
Although the promises made to children may seem small to adults, they can seem very big to children.
Zen Monk chuckled and patted Wild Rose's head, while Mingming watched him coaxing a child and said with a soft laugh:
"You spoil the kids too much. But whatever, if you have your own kids in the future, I probably won't have to worry about them much."
As she said this, Mingming suddenly realized that she seemed to have subconsciously said something she shouldn't have said at this time, and she immediately shut her mouth, her face turning slightly red.
After coughing slightly twice, she quickly asked the wild rose:
"Rose, which way to go next?"
"Go straight ahead, then turn right and you'll get there!"
The car drove through the wind and snow. Mingming's face was still a little red. She subconsciously glanced at Chanyuan Qing out of the corner of her eye. In a casual glance back, she also saw Chanyuan Qing's slightly red ears.
What...didn't you hear what I just said?
Mingming felt her heart beat faster for a moment. She lowered the car window slightly, and a cold wind blew in, the slight coolness calming her restless and agitated heart a little.
Ten minutes later, when the old woman heard the name Zenjiro, she froze on the spot.
Her wrinkled face showed only astonishment at that moment:
"You, you're Zenjutsu Qing? That Zenjutsu Qing from the prestigious Zenjutsu? That legendary pinnacle of sorcery?!"
Zenjiro listened to the old woman's words with some helplessness. In fact, he was unwilling to acknowledge this title, since most of the people who had this title did not have a good ending.
Being cut in half at the waist is a better fate for Gojo Satoru...
He silently complained to himself, but Zenji Kiyoshi now knew that by accepting the title of the strongest, he could more easily persuade the other side to let Kugizaki go to Tokyo with him.
Otherwise, given Kugizaki's current age, it would be too much of a stretch to let her go to a vocational high school on her own.
"If there is no one with the same name as me among the top-level sorcerers, then the person you are talking about must be me."
Upon seeing Zenin Kiyoshi acknowledge his identity, Grandma Kugisaki swallowed hard. She looked at Zenin Kiyoshi, her voice trembling slightly.
"Why would someone like you suddenly want to take Kugizaki away? Her technique isn't that special. Please give me a reasonable reason, otherwise I really don't feel comfortable letting you take her away."
In response to the old woman's words, Zenji Seiya smiled and explained:
"Because Kugizaki is a very talented child. Although her techniques are similar to yours, they are still somewhat different. I heard about your clan's techniques a long time ago. Now that we have such a promising talent, it would be a waste not to nurture her."
Hearing Zenji Sei's words, Grandma Kugisaki fell silent. After a moment's hesitation, she put down her teacup and asked softly:
Are you informing me, or giving me a choice?
"I am not a curse master, so I will not force you. But I do want to take Kugizaki away. She cannot grow well here. With her talent, I am confident that I can teach her to become a first-level curse master before she comes of age."
If the concern is about future employment, then the educational resources and standards available in Tokyo must be superior to those here, not to mention I can arrange a job and degree for her individually after she comes of age.
Hearing Zenji Sei's words, Grandma Kugisaki sighed softly, then continued:
"Our clan's techniques are indeed somewhat special, but they are not enough to warrant such a great figure as you to come in person, let alone for you to personally instruct Kugizaki."
Her voice carried a sense of wariness and worry born of experience:
"Master Zen Temple, please forgive my bluntness, but we are just a country folk who have never had any dealings with the three great families, let alone someone like you who stands at the pinnacle of the three great families. Your sudden appearance here is really hard to trust."
But I can't think of anything about Kugizaki that could possibly appeal to you, so... I can only consider this a favor to Kugizaki.
Zen Master Qingwei nodded slightly, expressing his understanding of the old man's caution.
He crouched down to look at Wild Rose, who was standing to the side, at eye level, before looking up at Grandma Kugizaki again.
"You're right, I do have other considerations."
Zen-in Kiyoshi's voice was gentle but honest:
"Nowadays, the activities of cursed spirits are becoming more and more frequent, but talented young sorcerers are becoming increasingly rare. Sorcerer is not a good path; those who walk this path are very likely to die, and often they do not receive understanding from others..."
But some paths must be walked. Without sorcerers, the last barrier between humanity and those cursed spirits will disappear. What will the human world become then?
He paused, his gaze sweeping over the simple furnishings in the room:
"More importantly, Kugizaki is not suited to this place. You should have noticed that she actually longs for life in a big city."
Moreover, in Tokyo, she could not only receive systematic training but also make friends with peers, benefits she couldn't obtain here.
Wild Rose clung tightly to her grandmother's clothes, her big eyes darting back and forth between Zen Temple and her grandmother.
She could sense her grandmother's anxiety, but she didn't quite understand what the adults were discussing. At that moment, all she could think about was the wonderful idea of going to Tokyo with Saori.
"Grandma! I want to go to Tokyo! I don't like this place. Those bastards bully me and Saori-neechan. I want to go to Tokyo to find Mom! Then I'll beat her unconscious and bring her back to apologize to you!"
Chapter-400
Listening to Wild Rose's words, Grandma Kugizaki remained silent for a long time before finally letting out a soft sigh.
She looked down at Wild Rose's expectant eyes, and the wrinkles on her face seemed to deepen.
"rose..."
Grandma Kugizaki's voice was very soft, so soft that it seemed to be drowned out by the sound of the wind outside:
Do you really want to go to Tokyo?
Wild Rose nodded vigorously. She looked at her grandmother, knowing that her grandmother was not in a good mood, but thinking of how Saori had been bullied earlier, she couldn't help but say:
"I want to! If I go to Tokyo, I can eat Häagen-Dazs, have coffee, and go to Ginza..."
She counted on her fingers, her innocent demeanor lightening the atmosphere in the room.
Seeing her child's expression, Grandma Kugizaki could only manage a helpless smile. She looked up at Zenin Kiyoshi, took a deep breath, and said:
"Since Kugizaki's personal wishes are so strong, then I will entrust this child to you, but please promise me one thing..."
Grandma Kugizaki's voice became somewhat firm at this moment, without the previous fear and trembling towards Zenin Kiyoshi's strength:
"Please take good care of Kugizaki. If Rose suffers any injustice or harm in Tokyo, I will risk my life to seek justice from you!"
Zenji Sei nodded seriously at this entrustment from an elder, and said firmly:
"If I can't even take care of my own students, how can I talk about changing the world?"
Upon hearing Zenji Qing's words, the old man looked at him with some surprise, then said:
"I never imagined you would have such thoughts. Is it really possible to change the world?"
"If I don't try, who will know? And even if I don't succeed, there's still Kugizaki and the next generation, right? As long as I can cultivate the seeds, that's enough. As for the future, I believe in the sparks I've cultivated."
Zenji Sei's smile reminded Kugisaki's grandmother of something. She lowered her head, and a slight smile appeared on her aged face.
"I hope you succeed. But since you're going to Tokyo, Kugizaki, you should hurry up and pack your things. I still have some things I want to talk to them about."
Wild Rose nodded excitedly when she heard that her grandmother had agreed to the matter, and then skipped and hopped into the inner room to pack her luggage. Saori, who could not understand the conversation, also went in with Kugizaki to pack her things, leaving only Mingming and the other two outside.
After seeing the two enter the inner room, Grandma Kugizaki stood up again and poured a cup of hot tea for Zenji Sei and Meimei. She took a sip of the tea, her voice becoming gentler than before:
"Mr. Zenin, I can roughly guess why you came here alone to find Kugizaki."
"You know?"
Grandma Kugizaki nodded, then glanced at Sei Zenin, hesitated for a moment, and said:
"Our clan's inherited technique, 'Hush Spirit Incantation,' seems to have undergone some special changes in Rose's case, but how to describe these changes is something that even I don't know."
Grandma Kugizaki's voice was filled with worry and anxiety:
"In fact, in theory, our techniques can only physically share curses on specific targets, but for some reason, this kid Kugizaki is able to curse and damage the target's soul through a medium."
This is unprecedented in our entire family history, and you've come to see her most likely because of this particular aspect of her soul, right?
Zen Monk Qing's eyes flickered slightly. To be honest, he really didn't know about this "secret".
"More or less."
Hearing Zenjiro's words, Grandma Kugizaki sighed and said:
"Yes, Kugizaki showed this ability when he was very young. At the time, I always thought it was some kind of accidental development method of the technique, but the more I realized, the more I realized that it was completely different from what I thought."
She glanced instinctively at Kugizaki, who was packing his things, her voice filled with worry:
"This ability is beyond the scope of our family's records. The only similar case is actually that of an ancestor more than four hundred years ago."
That ancestor possessed an ability similar to Kugizaki's, but this ability did not bring good luck; on the contrary, it only caused pain!
In our family records, that ancestor died a very painful death. It is said that she used a distorted technique for a long time, which ultimately led to her soul being devoured. I'm worried that Kugizaki might be in the same situation...
Upon hearing this, Zenji Qing frowned slightly, as this was a plot point not explained in the original work.
However, upon closer examination, it makes perfect sense. After all, given Lu Suo's meticulous nature, how could he not have considered the special value of the Chu Ling Incantation to Su Nuo's fingers and soul?
If he didn't consider this from the beginning, then there's only one possibility: before Kugisaki Nobara appeared, the rest of the Chuling spells in the world couldn't do this.
Just as she was meditating in the Zen temple, Wild Rose ran out of the inner room carrying a small backpack. She smiled at her grandmother and said:
"I'm all packed!"
Zenjiro nodded to Grandma Kugisaki, reassuring her, then smiled gently at Wild Rose and said:
"Okay, then go wait for me in the car for a moment, I'll be right there."
Kugizaki nodded, and then Saori pulled him toward the car not far away.
Zen-in Kiyoshi turned to Kugizaki's grandmother and said:
"I don't understand the underlying principles of this situation either, but the college has a lot of information, so there's a high probability that we can find the cause. You can rest assured about that."
"I hope you can find a solution. If you succeed, I am willing to bear any cost."
When it was time to part, Wild Rose leaned halfway out of the car window, hugged her grandmother tightly, and made a promise in a choked voice, filled with reluctance:
"I'm a little reluctant to part with you..."
"Silly Rose, just come visit Grandma more often, and be a good girl there..."
In the wind and snow, the old woman stood at the door, watching the car slowly drive away.
She stood there until the car disappeared from sight, then murmured softly:
"I hope my decision is right..."
Inside the car, Wild Rose curiously pressed against the window, watching the scenery of her hometown gradually recede into the distance amidst the wind and snow.
Mingming glanced at the rose, then lowered her voice and softly asked Zen Temple Qing:
"How exactly did you interpret the changes in the child's technique?"
Zen-in Kiyoshi's gaze fell on the excited wild rose, his voice soft yet carrying a hint of certainty:
"The balance mechanism will give rise to different spellcasters as times change, just like Wu's Six Eyes. From the moment he was born, he changed the world's landscape. Perhaps Wild Rose is the same."