Chapter 135 : Reunion with Toji
Little Sheep Jiang Lai, who had precisely stepped on Zenin Naoya's sore spots, finally restrained his original teasing after the official shoot began and started seriously summoning spirits, directing movements, and taking perfect photos.
The three-person group of Fushiguro, Itadori, and Kugisaki had mastered decent photography skills after a day or two of crash training, preventing Zenin Naoya from launching further mockery on this front.
Actually, after Little Sheep Jiang Lai summoned multiple spirit shikigami, Zenin Naoya's temper visibly calmed considerably.
The gaming addict youth was completely captivated by the spirits, having no time to mock others.
For this reason, Fushiguro, Itadori, and Kugisaki had the opportunity to observe their surroundings under the pretense of photography.
Their photo interactions mainly took place at the training ground, but weren't limited to just the training ground.
Under Little Sheep Jiang Lai's perfect verbal techniques and spirit manipulation guidance, Zenin Naoya also stepped out, leading them to walk around other parts of the Zenin family estate.
When the sky darkened, Zenin Naoya reluctantly ended this interaction, regretfully letting the spirit shikigami leave.
However, the Zenin family heir's expression management was decent, showing his gaming addiction only briefly. Then he steadied himself, his narrow eyes looking down at everyone as he nodded:
"That's enough for today. We'll continue with the rest tomorrow. Someone will lead you to your lodging rooms for the night."
Little Sheep Jiang Lai and the three-person group all nodded, not causing further trouble here.
Following the guiding household servant to the guest room area, they each got their own room, with rooms adjacent to each other.
However, they weren't in a hurry to return to their individual rooms to rest. Instead, they first gathered in Itadori Yuji's room in the middle.
Fushiguro Megumi summoned his Divine Dogs, which sniffed around the surroundings to confirm there were no eavesdropping cursed tools before they began talking.
"Serving that Young Master for half the day really wore this young lady out," Kugisaki Nobara propped her cheek with one hand while raising the other in a fist, "So many complaints about taking photos, really. Just state all your requirements at once!"
Itadori Yuji scratched his head and laughed, then said seriously: "But after walking around for a while, I feel like we've roughly understood the Zenin family's guard patterns."
"Then shall we act tonight?" Kugisaki Nobara rubbed her hands together, "Infiltrate the family head's private room and take what rightfully belongs to Fushiguro!"
Fushiguro Megumi, who had remained silent, finally spoke: "No." He coldly rejected his classmate's proposal.
"If not now, when?" Kugisaki Nobara raised an eyebrow, "You're not planning to have a nice chat with that arrogant Young Master, are you?"
"No, it's not that." Fushiguro Megumi shook his head, saying, "Stealing from the Zenin family isn't that easy."
"We discussed this before coming," Itadori Yuji said, "Didn't you say the family head's private room wasn't where the family head lives, but a separate storage room? Since the items inside all have individual seals that are hard to break, they don't need human guards, making it relatively easy to infiltrate."
"That's how it was in my time." Fushiguro Megumi exhaled, "But today, while touring the Zenin family and passing by the main hall where the family head resides, I noticed the current Zenin family doesn't have a separate room."
"...What do you mean?"
"That separate room has been connected and merged with the main room." Fushiguro Megumi crossed his hands together, his expression rarely showing slight tension, "I'm not sure what the interior structure looks like now. Maybe that bookshelf-like storage cabinet is in the family head's room."
Everyone fell silent for a moment.
Itadori Yuji broke the silence first, scratching his cheek with his index finger: "Uh, so... we need to infiltrate the Zenin family head's room?"
"That's impossible! That's the family head," Kugisaki Nobara showed doubt on her face, "And even if this family head isn't in the room, there won't be few guards around."
Both looked toward Fushiguro Megumi, the only one who could offer experienced opinions on this.
Fushiguro Megumi sighed lightly and answered calmly: "Usually, the family head would reside in the main house, especially for the notoriously closed Zenin family. I haven't heard any news of the Zenin family head going out recently."
"So the family head is there?" Kugisaki Nobara's shoulders drooped, "What should we do?"
Little Sheep Jiang Lai thought for a moment, then said to Fushiguro Megumi: "I remember you said before that the unsealing charm is quick, only takes a few seconds to complete? Meaning as long as we confirm the target, we can get it immediately."
"That's right. If we can find the target, the operation is very fast." Fushiguro Megumi nodded, "The problem is how do we get in?"
"Since infiltration won't work, let's try if we can get in openly." Little Sheep Jiang Lai touched his chin with one hand, saying something quite bold.
"Huh?!"
"Naoya made another appointment with us tomorrow, right? Find a way to guide him into having the photo background be at the family head's room."
Little Sheep Jiang Lai said, "That guy Naoya is determined to get the family head position, and as the heir, he definitely knows when the family head is in and when he's not. He should be able to find a time when the family head isn't there to go in and take photos."
"Would that guy Zenin Naoya...?" Kugisaki Nobara looked conflicted, "Taking outsiders to the family head's room is somewhat against rules and impolite, right?"
"Honestly, I'm not sure if it'll work either." Little Sheep Jiang Lai spread his hands, "But based on my understanding of Naoya, he's not someone who follows rules and respects elders, but rather a self-centered person who cares more about his own preferences. So if he wants to take commemorative photos there, we might have a chance."
Everyone looked at each other, but couldn't think of better methods for now. It seemed they could only seize this last opportunity to try.
"Then let's tentatively decide on this." Fushiguro Megumi nodded slightly, "If there are better methods, we'll discuss them."
They left Itadori Yuji's room and returned to their own quarters.
Night fell, the moon rose above the treetops, but Jiang Lai, who had returned to his room, wasn't in a hurry to sleep and rest.
He planned to go out and investigate during the night. Although he had spoken that way to Fushiguro, Itadori, and Kugisaki earlier, Jiang Lai knew in his heart that to seize the opportunity, thorough preparation was necessary.
He planned to infiltrate the family head's room area tonight to take a look, preferably confirming the location of the cursed tool storage compartment in advance.
When they actually entered tomorrow, he could claim he was lucky and spotted the cursed tool storage compartment location at first glance, saving search time.
With this plan in mind, Jiang Lai first silently checked his room and surroundings, and after confirming safety, he opened his phone and switched back to his true form.
Compared to a human youth, naturally his true form as some kind of [Existence] fallen cursed spirit was more convenient for investigation.
His true form was more flexible, and spatial techniques would be more helpful at this moment.
Jiang Lai adjusted his clothing's cursed energy composition, changing from the original black windbreaker and white shirt to a raven-feather colored yukata with a wide dark red sash tied at the waist.
The yukata was looser and more convenient, and the adjusted colors helped blend into darkness.
After all, this was the cursed energy-filled Zenin family. Even in cursed spirit form, most people could see him, so it was best to suppress cursed energy while also dressing more concealed.
Jiang Lai pushed open the window. Just as he was about to leap out of the room, he seemed to sense something and suddenly stopped.
Jiang Lai steadied himself, his gaze falling on the locust wood pendant hanging at his waist. The rectangular wooden plaque that had been dormant for so long began to tremble lightly, as if something was about to awaken.
He paused for two seconds, then reached out to remove the locust wood pendant.
The late winter, early spring night air was slightly cold. At midnight, the sparse white mist in the small courtyard seemed to drift into the room through the open window.
In the faint mist, a semi-transparent human figure appeared, floating and swaying.
It was the soul form of Fushiguro Toji, who had been dormant in the locust wood pendant.
Jiang Lai was imperceptibly stunned for a moment, then narrowed his eyes and chuckled softly: "...What should I say, long time no see?"
Fushiguro Toji had fallen into slumber just when Jiang Lai first encountered Geto Suguru and the liquid fox in the alley.
At that time, Jiang Lai had just crossed over to the jujutsu world and could be said to have no friends in the jujutsu world. The soul form of Fushiguro Toji was his first cooperative partner who could be called a friend, even though they hadn't completely trusted each other.
Toji's slumber had left Jiang Lai alone again at that time.
All this continued until Gojo Satoru came to find him, time rewound to the past, drawing a Möbius strip, and he truly integrated into this world.
The current Jiang Lai had many trustworthy friends in the jujutsu world, but he still held the emotions of that initial friendship toward Toji.
Facing the awakened Toji, Jiang Lai felt joy rising in his heart, though he didn't express his emotions too much, maintaining that faint curved-lip smile on his face.
The semi-transparent soul form man had a scar at the corner of his mouth. Floating in the air, he slightly raised his eyes at these words, his gaze first falling on the black-haired young man before him, then circling around the surroundings before returning to Jiang Lai.
Fushiguro Toji's facial expression didn't show any particular change, just a slight curl of his lips as his low, hoarse voice slowly replied: "Indeed, I can see it's been a long time... What's wrong with you now?"
Jiang Lai blinked slowly: "What?"
Fushiguro Toji frowned and relaxed, drawing out his tone as he pointed out in a nod: "You have no shadow."
He lifted his eyelids, staring at Jiang Lai, the scar at his mouth corner moving as he spoke: "You're not human anymore. Though you haven't become like me either."
To this, Jiang Lai nodded, frankly admitting: "Indeed, I'm currently a cursed spirit."
"I did warn you not to die." Fushiguro Toji clicked his tongue lightly, crossing his arms.
He floated closer, his expression lazy yet carrying some sharpness: "You're my cooperative partner after all... So how did you end up like this? Did someone set you up?"