Chapter 74 : The Heian-kyo's Miraculous Little Squad
Jiang Lai's reason for holding up his book (phone) at this moment was to take a photo of Sukuna's youthful embarrassing moment for keepsake.
After Sukuna grew up to become the true King of Curses, he'd never be able to witness such genuine retching scenes again.
Jiang Lai had always been someone who seized opportunities. Therefore, he began capturing this dark history without hesitation.
Beside him, the white-haired youth Ohagi's thinking transcended for a second: "...Disgusted to the point of vomiting?"
Jiang Lai smiled slightly on his face. He didn't continue the conversation or say more, but cleverly stopped at just the right point, lest continuing would make the old man unable to resist having a complete meltdown.
When Sukuna was almost done retching, the black-haired youth half-turned and seemed to considerately say: "If you mind the phrase 'punish evil and promote good,' just think of it as going to kill monsters."
"..." Sukuna straightened up, sneering: "Right now I just want to kill you."
"Oh, I know that." The navy blue kimono figure's expression was calm as he nodded. "I've always known."
"However, 'wanting to kill' and 'being able to kill' are two different things. At least currently, you don't need to rack your brains thinking about such impossible things."
Jiang Lai said with a grin: "Let's follow the principle of proximity and deal with the designated characters in this incident first. As for your killing intent toward me, well, it's not like it matters if we wait a bit longer."
The young version of Sukuna locked his crimson eyes on Jiang Lai, stared for two or three seconds, then clicked his tongue and squeezed out a reply from his throat.
"Indeed... it doesn't matter if we wait a bit longer." His voice was low. "And it won't be resolved quickly either. Otherwise, it would be too uninteresting."
"Ah, let me interrupt," the white-haired youth Ohagi stepped forward two paces, his wooden stick steadily planted on the ground. "Are you discussing premeditated murder? And the killer and victim are each other?"
Although his eyes were wrapped with black-gold fabric, concealing the upper half of his face, Jiang Lai could imagine him frowning.
"It's fine." Jiang Lai had a carefree attitude as he closed the fox mask he'd lifted earlier. "He can't kill me."
Sukuna chuckled, saying nothing, just flicking his sharp fingernails slightly, leaving a trace on the air barrier that disappeared in a breath.
"..." The white-haired youth was quiet for half a second, then rested one hand on his chin, drawing out his words: "I really don't understand you two, but it sounds quite interesting!"
Jiang Lai: "?"
Jiang Lai half-moon-eyed: "...No, please don't treat all sorts of ridiculous things as interesting."
"Ha, you admitted it! This kind of conversation is indeed ridiculous!" The white-haired youth traced a beautiful arc with the end of his guide cane, his curved lips like a cat's raised tail.
Then, Ohagi said: "Discussing each other's life and death at a time like this is too weird. How about we change to a more normal topic?"
"A more normal topic, like changing clothes?" Jiang Lai continued the conversation. "We're going to investigate clues later, right? If so, it would be better to keep things low-key."
"Although the current disguise as onmyoji and shikigami is reasonable enough, it would be even better if we could blend into crowds more inconspicuously. It's best to hide our distinctive features." He turned to Sukuna. "So, would you like to buy some suitable clothes?"
"Such burdensome things are troublesome." Sukuna scoffed.
Jiang Lai persuaded step by step: "People still need to wear clothes, otherwise this part wouldn't be broadcastable."
Sukuna: "?"
Jiang Lai: "Cough, I mean, being naked in civilized times is indecent."
Sukuna's expression was contemptuous, the black markings on his face moving accordingly. He didn't care about this at all. Social norms were troublesome shackles in his eyes.
Beside them, the white-haired youth Ohagi said cheerfully: "If you need to buy clothes, again, I'll treat you."
After his words fell, his eyes behind the black-gold fabric looked through that barrier at Sukuna. "Speaking of this, you're also quite miraculous. In the freezing winter, going bare-chested without fearing the cold."
"I don't have any particular feelings about it." Sukuna bared his lips, revealing sharp canine teeth. "It's you who are too weak, unable to maintain constant body temperature through cursed energy circulation."
Could cursed energy circulation maintain body temperature? Jiang Lai had never heard of this.
At this moment, after the white-haired youth brought up this topic again, Jiang Lai refocused his attention on Sukuna.
And Ohagi's next words followed up: "Cursed energy circulation to maintain constant temperature?" His delicate face lifted slightly. "I don't see you circulating cursed energy. That statement is even less effective than my blind act."
Six Eyes' observation was naturally accurate. Thoughts flowed through Jiang Lai's mind. The other party wasn't using cursed energy circulation to maintain body temperature, so why wasn't he afraid of the cold?
This point, like [being able to see through mist], became part of the mystery surrounding Sukuna.
Thoughts flashed through his mind. Jiang Lai temporarily showed no special reaction on the surface, while those two continued their conversation.
"If you can't see it, then you're too useless." Sukuna said coolly with a chuckle. "You can't even see through such a shallow thing. Really wasted all those years of living, you stupid fool."
"Hah?" As the Six Eyes born once in a hundred years, the white-haired youth had never been evaluated like this.
In the midst of youthful vigor, he almost wanted to tear off his black-gold cloth strips and fight this guy to prove who was right and who was wrong.
However, he still maintained some restraint from his noble education and didn't want to be too conspicuous and expose himself.
Therefore, Ohagi continued rubbing the finely crafted wooden guide cane, apparently briefly considering whether to fight first or endure for a moment.
Just then, Jiang Lai interjected from the side, interrupting the crackling confrontational atmosphere between them.
"We know you're not afraid of cold, Sukuna, but you surely don't want to be stared at like some animal, right?" He said gently. "Buy some wide-sleeved clothes to cover two arms and only show one pair, and you can reduce a lot of unnecessary attention."
This statement hit home for Sukuna.
Sukuna indeed detested the gazes of those around him.
He had always followed the hard rule of "no looking up without permission," using sharp cursed blades to cut off the heads of every stupid human who dared to stare directly at him.
It's just that now, hindered by the meddlesome navy blue figure beside him, he couldn't directly kill those with staring gazes.
Transparent air was everywhere, surrounding him to form an invisible restrictive cage, dissolving those blades of killing intent.
Sukuna's tongue traced the tip of his canine teeth. After thinking for half a second, he nodded slightly: "Fine, I reluctantly agree."
"Reluctantly agree? Hey, you should be grateful and thank me properly. I'm the one paying for all this." The white-haired youth's tone rose slightly. After becoming somewhat familiar, he showed more of his inner arrogant big cat attitude, setting aside his surface noble demeanor.
Before Sukuna could make sarcastic remarks, Jiang Lai spoke first: "Thank you, Ohagi."
His face behind the mask showed a gentle smile, his voice calm: "Where are the clothing shops? We don't know anything, so we'll just follow you. If it's you, you'll definitely find suitable stores."
Jiang Lai knew Sukuna would never say anything thankful, but harsh words at this moment would be meaningless.
So Jiang Lai simply skipped that step and began stroking the cat to smooth its fur from afar.
Years of getting along with high school Satoru had made Jiang Lai skillfully master cat-stroking techniques, especially regarding this teenage adolescent age.
The white-haired youth's slightly raised hackles were successfully smoothed down. He looked much better, holding his guide cane as he leaned slightly: "Mm, of course I'm familiar with this area. Follow me then."
Sukuna clicked his tongue behind them but ultimately didn't say anything inflammatory.
He slowly followed at a not-too-close, not-too-far distance.
Several people walked for some distance.
The white-haired youth had excellent memory. Navigating through these scattered shops and crowded paths, after seven turns and eight bends, he actually successfully reached a shop that sold and customized clothing.
This shop's location wasn't particularly good, but according to the white-haired youth Ohagi, this was the place he'd observed to have the best clothing materials. Clothes from this shop would definitely be comfortable and well-fitting.
Speaking of this, the white-haired youth snorted lightly at Sukuna: "Although I find you somewhat annoying, you're still here to help with punishing evil and promoting good. I won't shortchange you on supplies."
Hearing that phrase again, Sukuna couldn't help showing his retching expression again: "...Shut up, disgusting."
"Mm?" The white-haired youth's eyebrows behind the cloth strips raised slightly. Finally detecting something, he repeated with some malicious amusement: "Disgusting? Then I'll have to say it more. Heroic and righteous Ryomen Sukuna?"
Sukuna's response was retching while throwing several vicious intersecting cursed blades (though they were still blocked).
Jiang Lai silently held up his book and took a few more blackmail photos.
The few people made a brief commotion at the entrance. The shop assistant from inside walked out, bowing and saying: "Are you here to buy clothes? Please come inside."
"Mm, buying clothes in a larger size." The white-haired youth Ohagi turned his face. He properly held his guide cane and put on his reserved demeanor, smiling: "Sorry, I can't see, so you'll need to communicate with my friend about the specifics."
Jiang Lai naturally stepped forward: "You can talk to me. Do you have daily wear with wide sleeves?"
"Wide sleeves?" The shop assistant hesitated for a moment. "May I ask what your standards are?"
"Wide enough for my shikigami behind me to wear." Jiang Lai didn't directly say it was for Sukuna to buy, since they were currently pretending he was a shikigami, and in others' eyes, shikigami didn't need extra clothing. "Wide enough to fit or reveal four arms."
Shop assistant: "Ah... if we could have accurate measurements, we might be able to custom-make one."
"Do you have anything available now?" Jiang Lai stepped forward and walked inside with the shop assistant, his gaze sweeping over the hanging clothes while conversing.
The shop assistant scratched his head and answered: "I'm not sure if you want men's or women's kimono... as you described, with such wide sleeves, we currently only have women's kimono."
Women's kimono... Jiang Lai recalled the original work, where Sukuna in his innate domain seemed to wear wide-sleeved women's kimono.
Looking at it this way, the old man pursued practicality rather than superficial vanity. He apparently didn't care about such details at all.
"Oh, then let's have two or three women's kimono." Jiang Lai immediately made the decision. Practicality first!
Following Jiang Lai's instructions, the shop assistant quickly selected several women's kimono with simple patterns and relatively basic styles, helped pack them up, and handed them over.
Jiang Lai thought for a few seconds, then added two more kimono with large butterfly knots and complex patterns. Not bad, he was really considerate, even providing multiple options.
The white-haired youth didn't mind how many pieces Jiang Lai bought. He paid on the spot, and after the few people took their clothes, they left the shop.
After they left, the shop owner tremblingly emerged from behind the scenes, his voice still shaking:
"That just now... that was the Four-Armed Killing God, wasn't it! How did he come to our area?!"
The shop owner had once traveled far and was a survivor who had witnessed the aftermath of Sukuna's village massacre.
The shop assistant was still somewhat dazed upon hearing this: "What?"
The shop owner grabbed his clothes, lowering his voice: "Quickly report to the onmyoji master on the mountain. That guy is a monster who kills without blinking. His companions must be the same! We've been making annual offerings, and he promised to protect us!"