Chapter 81 : Jiang Lai - My Brother Is Rebellious, Which Wounds My Heart (Not)
The spatial technique was as powerful as always. Jiang Lai manipulated it with ease, surrounding the cherry-pink haired youth in just a breath and constructing another transparent box.
Ryomen Sukuna: "..."
His expression didn't look particularly friendly. Jiang Lai smiled calmly in response.
Ryomen Sukuna noticed the gradually diminishing falling snow was separated from him and guessed he had been trapped by spatial techniques again.
He actually still had one spatial talisman on him, but Ryomen Sukuna wasn't in a hurry to use it. He also wasn't sure if spatial transfer could break through this transparent barrier. So he temporarily kept that talisman in reserve.
Ryomen Sukuna casually threw out a cursed blade, testing it on the spatial barrier. After receiving similar feedback as usual, he sneered and said thoughtfully:
"Looks like you weren't much affected... What, didn't you resurrect the people from that village this time?"
"Resurrected and rebuilt." Jiang Lai's tone was calm. His brown eyes lifted slightly as he smiled: "I'm very strong. So-called resurrection is just applying a little miracle. Did you think I'd be affected by something?"
In front of Ryomen Sukuna, Jiang Lai didn't show his weariness. His demeanor was natural as he suppressed his drowsiness and displayed his usual carefree attitude.
The four-armed youth's crimson eyes flashed with something unclear as his gaze swept over Jiang Lai, as if observing and thinking.
After a few seconds, Ryomen Sukuna casually asked: "What about that white-haired guy? Did you two go your separate ways?"
"How dare you ask, when you're the one who left such a mess for people to clean up." Jiang Lai lightly complained.
"Who told you to meddle in other people's business?" Ryomen Sukuna chuckled, crossing his main arms together as he spoke in that villain's tone: "Self-righteous Young Master and bleeding heart."
"Then what are you," Jiang Lai raised his eyebrows slightly. He had wanted to retort directly, but then his thoughts took a turn as he said in a half-joking tone: "You even told Ohagi that massacring the village was helping. If that's the case... could it be you want the title of a helpful good youth?"
"Hah?" Ryomen Sukuna's face showed obvious disgust.
Jiang Lai nonchalantly opened his book again, planning to ignore the other for a while and finish reading the manga and forums he hadn't had time to check.
The manga had been updated up to his recent farewell with the long-haired Gojo from a thousand years ago. From the manga's omniscient perspective, Jiang Lai learned about the situation between Ryomen Sukuna and Gojo when he wasn't present.
This spatial talisman is quite interesting. Jiang Lai rubbed the book (phone) with his fingertip. He wondered where that demon had learned this little trick.
This instant, targeted spatial transport inevitably reminded Jiang Lai of the one Geto Suguru had during the Night Parade of a Hundred Demons back then.
In any case, it was a somewhat troublesome thing, he thought. Ryomen Sukuna should still have some left. Maybe when the other broke out of the spatial barrier, he would use it immediately.
Besides the current story, at the end of the chapter where the [Existences] met and conversed, the manga also interspersed time and space to tell a bit about the main timeline.
In that manga scene, it depicted Gojo Satoru in the main story receiving a text from Geto Suguru that simply read: [There seems to be an [Existence] inside the Supervisory Committee.]
The information revealed in the final scene transformed the family-like display of [Existences] in this chapter from heartwarming to bone-chilling!
Jiang Lai raised his eyebrows slightly: Not bad, he hadn't expected the manga to put this scene in Thousand Years. Indeed, JJXX had deeply mastered the method of making scenes turn hellish in one second!
His thoughts wandered freely. He exited the official website and clicked on the latest plot discussion thread in the Jujutsu Kaisen new series Flower Planting forum.
【Ahhh Ohagi's name is actually Gojo Satoru, and he looks almost identical to Gojo Satoru?! (frantically slamming table) This wave is actually a reincarnation story! So the "kai" in Jujutsu Kaisen originally meant thousand-year reincarnation…】
【Long-haired Gojo-sensei is also so handsome, licking screen prpr, perfectly forming black and white impermanence with God Lai (not)】
【I went back to check the earlier manga, it's all foreshadowing! It really feels like reincarnation. This explains why God Lai had natural good feelings toward Gojo Satoru in the Yesterday's Past arc!
And I discovered another detail: in the Yesterday's Past chapter, God Lai never asked Gojo Cat's name but knew it accurately.
Gojo Satoru probably thought Six Eyes was so famous that having his name known in advance wasn't worth mentioning, but he didn't know that God Lai had actually known and befriended him long, long ago, so there was no need to ask his name again.】
【And more! Those jokes about immortal gentleman who's seen mountains and moons pass with a snap of fingers, hellish ferryman wandering between life and death, healing spirit who warms life, thousand-year old demon, when God Lai said them jokingly back then, but looking now, they were actually all true... One-Eyed Cat, you buried such deep foreshadowing!】
【Grass, so does this count as being one's own substitute? I have a feeling of being my own substitute (falls into contemplation)
If it really is reincarnation, will Gojo-sensei from a thousand years later awaken memories from a thousand years ago? I'm kind of looking forward to it.
Feels like Gojo Cat will make a fuss. God Lai's friendship and kindness, is it for his past self from a thousand years ago, or his present self? Being jealous of himself, being his own substitute, very reasonable xs】
【But now in the main story, God Lai not only has amnesia but has also become a cursed spirit...
I feel like when Gojo-sensei remembers his memories from a thousand years ago, it'll be another big blade QAQ. Turns out even the omnipotent Six Eyes has moments of helplessness, right?
Whether a thousand years ago or a thousand years later, God Lai always shares his warmth with friends, even if it's the last glimmer of light.
God Lai carried memories and waited for his friend for a thousand years. When his friend finally remembers the past, God Lai loses his memory, achieving the [forever passing by each other] ending...
So why can't both of them have complete memories at the same time!! (writhing, twisting, screaming)】
【But, but God Lai still keeps that feather necklace! And remembers the name "Gojo Lai"! Family, don't be pessimistic. I believe he'll definitely recover his memories later! (frantically gesturing)
God Lai won't really turn hellish too, right? JJXX please kill me don't use the close friend blade (vomiting blood)】
Due to the selective releases from the manga when Yesterday's Past connected to the main story, Detective Conan audiences had always thought he was in an amnesiac state. Jiang Lai rubbed his chin.
Based on current trends, it seemed the official would probably only reveal the truth in the later stages.
Poor forum netizens would keep getting slowly cut by this fake blade. Jiang Lai silently made a hands-together gesture in his heart.
【Y1s1, God Lai from a thousand years ago was really strong, an almost invincible [Time-Space]. But later he became that neither-human-nor-ghost appearance with confused cognition. It must be because he paid too much and bore too much sin...
Clearly could be a high-above [Existence], but bent down to embrace those who suffered. Even if he stepped into the quagmire himself, he wouldn't turn a blind eye to suffering. So gentle, God Lai TAT, my heart hurts even more
(ps: God Lai's domain expansion looks like two [I love you] hand gestures put together. God loves the world confirmed. Wuwu I love you too God Lai!!!)】
【Am I the only one who wants to complain about Sukuna being consistently hellish? Worthy of you, old man, killing people and massacring villages without mercy!
But didn't expect the old man to actually be a little brother hehe, by the way all the [Existence] family members are so beautiful and handsome! (the tree is also beautiful)】
【But don't forget the scene at the end of that chapter, something about there being an [Existence] inside the Supervisory Committee... feels like it's [Birth]. Could it be that God Lai sensed something, which is why he had such a complex attitude toward the Supervisory Committee in the Yesterday's Past arc?】
【There's another terrifying detail: if the [Existence] in the Supervisory Committee is [Birth], meaning the other party still survives, then whose completely shattered divine nature fragments are those... [Origin]?】
【Good grief! [Origin] shattered, [Birth]'s situation unknown, God Lai lost memory and degraded, Sukuna [Death] became a curse. This wave has all four family members with hellish endings, how could this happen!!】
Reading this, Jiang Lai paused slightly, recalling that light green fragment from that time.
...That was [Origin]'s? What exactly happened to cause the divine nature to shatter? Speaking of which, Sukuna took that fragment away, and it's unclear what will happen next.
On this Möbius strip, perhaps events that had already been determined couldn't be changed, but at least he could know the reasons and find ways to remedy the situation in the future.
He'd try to look for Kenjaku (Brain) from a thousand years ago later. He thought carefully in his mind. Understanding the other party from a thousand years ago would be more convenient for finding answers to these mysteries.
After reading this much, Jiang Lai replied to his family and friends' concerns in the family group, sending several cute emojis to liven the atmosphere and saying everyone could rest assured, he was doing very well in the other world.
After the group atmosphere lightened up, Matsuda Jinpei half-jokingly, half-seriously said that the merchandise sales that Jiang Lai had guided and Kurosawa Akira had invested in last time had actually become popular.
They had set aside Jiang Lai's portion of the funds. When Jiang Lai returned, he could be moderately wealthy.
Last time's merchandise? Jiang Lai recalled for a moment, remembering his recent suggestion in the group about making some hellish joke merchandise.
Like Yuikawa Doggy green tea cakes, transparent cat box Ryomen Sukuna merchandise, and even merchandise of himself from the Yesterday's Past arc with a detachable heart, etc.
Recalling the screen full of question marks in the group after he proposed these merchandise designs, Jiang Lai couldn't help but curve his eyes, spreading playful ripples around him.
"...You bastard, are you entertaining yourself over there?"
Ryomen Sukuna across in the transparent cat box had been ignored for so long that his mood had gone from bad to extremely bad. He raised his voice, his crimson eyes dangerously narrowing.
Jiang Lai snapped his book shut, his expression leisurely: "What's wrong, Sukuna? Do you want entertainment too? I can tell you stories. But considering you left me such a big mess before, you can't enjoy the privilege of listening to stories for now."
Ryomen Sukuna: "..."
Ryomen Sukuna squeezed out low laughter from his throat: "I'm not interested either." He flexed his wrists, the black markings on his arm muscles twisting: "Want to fight? Or just want to kill me? Whatever, feel free to try."
"I'm a civilized person. Gentlemen use words, not fists." Jiang Lai covered his lips with his book, smiling lightly: "For now, you can practice your staring-into-space skills."
You know, the future sealed old man could stare into space for a thousand years, a true master of killing time.
However, the current young Sukuna probably couldn't do this. Extreme libertarians would feel uncomfortable all over when restrained for even a moment.
Ryomen Sukuna stared over with both his main eyes and secondary eyes. After half a second, he grinned, showing his canine teeth as he laughed:
"Are you planning to keep me trapped forever? But this won't really reduce the world's evil. It's just self-deception, truly laughable."
"You saw it just now, didn't you?" Ryomen Sukuna shrugged, speaking lazily: "There are so many evil people and things in this world. Why focus specifically on me to display your nauseating justice and kindness?"
"Mmm..." Jiang Lai swayed his book, briefly considering whether to reveal that conceptual sibling relationship. Finally, some mischievous impulse faintly gained the upper hand.
Jiang Lai showed a gradually deepening smile.
Ryomen Sukuna paused for a second: "What's that expression?"
Jiang Lai collected his expression, stepped forward a few paces, sighed, and said slowly: "Looks like I can't hide it anymore." He blinked: "I need to tell you something. Whatever you do, don't be scared."
Ryomen Sukuna's face was coldly mocking: "Scared?" The cherry-pink haired youth's face showed some contempt. Regarding Jiang Lai's inexplicable threat, he stated: "I wouldn't be afraid of anything."
Jiang Lai: "Alright. Though it sounds a bit absurd, this isn't a joke." He continued seriously.
"..." Ryomen Sukuna raised his eyebrows slightly: "Speak."
Jiang Lai coughed and raised his eyes: "Actually, you are a little brother who's been stupid for many years."
Sukuna: "?"
Jiang Lai: "And I am your parentless older brother."
Sukuna: "?"
Jiang Lai: "We also have a genderless elder sister."
Sukuna: "?"
Jiang Lai: "Oh right, our common parent is a tree."
After Ryomen Sukuna's face went through colorful changes like a palette, he finally sneered with an indescribable expression: "Indeed, resurrecting the village had a price. You've finally gone insane."
Jiang Lai put on the most perfunctory dramatic performance, covering his face with his book and sighing: "My brother is rebellious, which wounds my heart!"