Chapter 155 : Ancient Tree and [Origin]
After returning to school, not knowing how Okkotsu Yuta had explained things to Nanami Kento, in any case, the next day Okkotsu Yuta came to the dormitory area to find Little Sheep Jiang Lai.
"Nanami-san agreed?" Jiang Lai asked while opening his door to invite Okkotsu Yuta into his room.
The black-haired youth carrying a sword bag on one shoulder smiled with curved eyebrows and nodded: "Yes. I explained to Nanami-senpai using the reason that Gojo-sensei suggested I give you special training."
"Nanami-senpai agreed, but still gave some detailed instructions." Here, Okkotsu Yuta paused: "Is your health not very good, senpai? Nanami-senpai asked me to pay extra attention."
"Cough... it's not that." Jiang Lai coughed and then explained: "Previously, to make it convenient for the school to approve leave, Satoru and I agreed on a setting that my health wasn't very good."
"However, I've already decided to 'gradually recover,' so actually, there's no need to worry."
"I see." Okkotsu Yuta nodded to show he understood, looking somewhat more relaxed.
Then he handed over a sticky note to Little Sheep Jiang Lai, saying: "This is what Nanami-senpai asked me to give you before departure. He seems to be going out on another mission."
"Thank you." Jiang Lai took the sticky note, which had Nanami Kento's neat, beautiful handwriting on it.
The note read:
[Okkotsu is very capable. When you're doing special training with him, don't get distracted, study seriously. The jujutsu world is very dangerous, I hope you can become an excellent jujutsu sorcerer soon.
Of course, if after this period of study you don't want to be a jujutsu sorcerer, that's also fine.
Please contact me, I will explain to Okkotsu and Gojo-san, and let you return to normal schooling and work, back to ordinary society.
Whatever path you choose is fine.]
Nanami Kento's words, like the man himself, appeared serious and cold but were actually filled with an adult's sense of responsibility and gentle, subtle care.
He hadn't specifically demanded that Little Sheep Jiang Lai become a jujutsu sorcerer, because he knew the cruelty of the jujutsu world.
Nanami Kento hadn't spoken with Little Sheep Jiang Lai about this before, knowing that boys this age were always full of passionate fantasies and would never choose to give up when first gaining abilities.
So Nanami Kento had waited for a period of time.
Only now did he leave such a message to inform Little Sheep Jiang Lai, letting the brown-haired youth who had already had contact with the jujutsu world carefully consider choosing his own life path.
And regardless of which path Little Sheep Jiang Lai chose, he would support the youth under his care in walking it.
Jiang Lai softened his eyebrows and carefully folded the sticky note, putting it in his pocket.
Okkotsu Yuta, who always respected others, hadn't looked at the contents of this sticky note beforehand, nor did he ask many questions now.
He noticed Jiang Lai's expression and guessed that the paper probably contained some caring content, so he smiled gently.
How wonderful, Okkotsu Yuta thought. No matter how things changed outside, Jujutsu High still had this kind of atmosphere, which was why he considered this place his home.
"Well then, since everything has been settled, let's go." After putting away the sticky note, Jiang Lai tilted his head slightly and said: "Is it convenient to go find Tengen now?"
"Alright, I'll follow your lead, senpai." Okkotsu Yuta nodded lightly: "Tengen-sama is always in the main hall of the Tombs of the Star beneath Jujutsu High. We can go take a look first."
Having made their decision, they headed together to the entrance of the Tombs of the Star.
Jiang Lai had never truly visited here before, only having a general understanding of this place's structure from the Star Plasma Vessel incident in the manga.
The structure of the Tombs of the Star was very complex. After entering, they were surrounded by wordless silence.
The palace buried deep underground blocked out outside sounds, and while walking they could only hear faint footsteps and breathing.
Okkotsu Yuta carried his sword bag and walked steadily, looking ahead as he said: "Please stay close to me, senpai. The paths here are very complicated and it's easy to get lost."
"Alright." Jiang Lai's gaze briefly swept the surroundings before focusing on the black-haired youth.
He wasn't particularly interested in the internal architectural structure of the Tombs of the Star, because he clearly understood that what made this palace valuable was Tengen within it.
Inexplicably, Jiang Lai had a vague, familiar sensation guiding him forward step by step.
Even without Okkotsu Yuta, it seemed he wouldn't get lost.
"......" Jiang Lai paused slightly in his heart, but he didn't voice it.
After walking through several narrow corridors, Okkotsu Yuta led Little Sheep Jiang Lai through an archway. At this moment, their view suddenly opened up, revealing an ancient tree entrenched among layered surrounding buildings.
This was the very center of the Tombs of the Star.
Jiang Lai's gaze fell on that massive, entrenched tree, its ancient trunk seemingly bearing a thousand years of time.
Because of the former family head [Origin], he had unique emotions toward these long-lived trees.
Okkotsu Yuta stopped walking. He bowed forward and said in a gentle voice: "We come to visit suddenly, please forgive the intrusion. May we ask if Tengen-sama is available to speak with us now? We have some questions we'd like to ask you."
The hall was very quiet, and Okkotsu Yuta's clear voice echoed within it.
The great hall didn't respond immediately. Okkotsu Yuta remained steadily in place, maintaining a respectful attitude.
Meanwhile, Jiang Lai's gaze continued to focus on that ancient tree. He paused for a moment, then unconsciously stepped forward, wanting to touch that rough, weathered bark.
Here, he felt a certain peace.
It was also at this moment that a warm voice echoed through the great hall: "I am here."
Tengen's voice carried from afar.
"I remember you. You look much more mature than when you came last time."
Okkotsu Yuta's eyebrows showed some smile and determination as he nodded: "Yes, I've experienced much training outside."
Then Tengen's gaze seemed to fall on Little Sheep Jiang Lai from some unknown location.
"...This time you brought a young new friend." That voice spoke calmly: "However, he seems to have a more ancient soul."
Tengen saw through the appearance to the soul.
Okkotsu Yuta paused slightly, turning to look at the brown-haired youth beside him, not actively answering anything. He knew this was the other's question to handle.
Jiang Lai raised his face. He didn't directly respond to Tengen's previous comment, nor did he ask what he had originally come here to ask. Instead, as if suddenly changing the subject, he said:
"...This tree, how many years has it grown?"
This somewhat abrupt statement didn't bring any surprise to Tengen's voice. Tengen still spoke in his usual tone, answering gently:
"If we're talking purely about its growth, it's older than my age. But if we're talking about how long it has grown here, it's shorter than my age."
"Is that so..." Jiang Lai stepped forward two or three steps, approaching the ancient tree entrenched there. His eyelids half-lowered, he placed his hand on the rough bark and gently rubbed it: "I think, no matter how short, it must have been a thousand years."
Okkotsu Yuta didn't understand their conversation, but he considerately remained silent, standing quietly to the side, waiting.
After a brief silence, Tengen's voice carried some elder's laughter, saying gently: "Why not ask the person directly? Perhaps you have many things you want to say, but not to me."
Jiang Lai raised his eyes, his gaze falling distantly ahead, as if confirming the words he heard.
Tengen's voice became gentle, speaking toward another direction, as if awakening some sleeping soul: "Old friend, wake up."
Accompanying Tengen's words, the ancient tree entrenched in the center of the main hall gently shook its branches and leaves, tiny tendrils trembling, like an ancient giant slowly rising.
Jiang Lai felt the familiar power fluctuation in the air, deeply remembering it. In the long, distant past of a thousand years ago, this power had guided him through snow-covered mountains to find the lotus-pink beauty and ancient tree by the pond.
This power came from his conceptual family member, the family head [Origin].
When [Origin] had originally scattered his divine fragments, due to the dispersion and consumption of power, the main body had quietly fallen into slumber somewhere.
Previously, Jiang Lai hadn't known where [Origin]'s main body slumbered, but now he knew.
The ancient tree entrenched inside the Tombs of the Star beneath Jujutsu High was where [Origin]'s main body resided.
Or rather, it was precisely because [Origin]'s main body was here that Tengen had established the Tombs of the Star in this place.
Two immortal, dwelling old ones kept each other company here.
The soul of the entrenched ancient tree, quiet for so long, was awakening, like stretching after a nap. The withered vines on the ancient tree rustled and fell away.
Tengen seemed to say something else, but Jiang Lai didn't hear clearly, his attention completely focused on what was before him.
His dark eyes reflected the ancient tree's form, the circular patterns and scars of its bark imprinted in his pupils.
Jiang Lai felt the ancient tree before him awakening. He opened his mouth wanting to say something, but in an instant didn't know how to organize his words, as if struck speechless and only able to make soundless gasps.
After a brief moment of stunned silence, he realized he was still in the appearance of a brown-haired youth.
He didn't know if [Origin] could recognize him. Perhaps he should switch back to his main body.
The moment before Jiang Lai was about to make the change, the ancient tree extended gentle vines, embracing the little youth before him like a hug. Words in an indistinguishable language yet somehow understandable entered his mind:
"It's been so long, child."
The familiar, intimate words cleared away Jiang Lai's doubts. No matter how his appearance changed, family head [Origin] would always recognize him.
"How have you been lately? I somehow feel you seem a bit tired."
[Origin]'s voice was full of care, carrying the same ocean-like vast tolerance as always.
Those gentle branches and vines lightly held the brown-haired youth, patting his back soothingly.
"......" The tenderness from family head [Origin] made Jiang Lai's eyes somewhat sting. He could sense [Origin]'s weakness after the dispersion of fragments and excessive consumption, yet [Origin] still poured love and concern onto Jiang Lai the moment he awakened.
Perhaps He didn't know about outside events, didn't know what had happened, but this didn't affect His attention to Jiang Lai's emotions.
Jiang Lai indeed had many things he wanted to say, but he lowered his eyelids, swallowing those difficult experiences, ultimately just curving his lips, hugging back those entwining vines, his voice cheerful:
"Don't worry, I've been doing very well these years."
Just like the lie told to mother over the phone after growing up: Mom, I'm fine.