Chapter 231 : Jujutsu Sorcerers Have No Deaths Without Regrets
This idea, Jiang Lai didn't hide. After thinking it over in his mind, he spoke directly: "Satoru, I have an idea."
"...What?" Gojo Satoru's mood still wasn't very good at the moment, but he wasn't the type to take his emotions out on those around him.
He tried to keep his tone steady, shoving all that chaotic anger into the trash can, leaving sincerity and honesty for his friend.
Jiang Lai took a deep breath and told him everything he had thought about in the conference room and just now in the car.
After listening, Gojo Satoru affirmed Jiang Lai's speculation: "Makes sense. The Supervisory Committee wouldn't actively destroy the tower. Everything they do has purpose."
"Knowing the function of the [Correct and Reverse] Tower is important. We can adjust our later script based on this." Jiang Lai added at the end, "So I plan to go find Gojo Kyufuin."
"Hah? Better not." Gojo Satoru instinctively objected, reminding him: "That guy is with the Supervisory Committee after all. His stance wavers, so finding him is too dangerous."
"It's not too bad, don't worry." Jiang Lai smiled. "It's not like it's my first time meeting him. I saw him before when wearing the Little Sheep disguise, and later when I went to the cursed spirit banquet in my true form, I had close contact with him too. So we're not strangers anymore."
"That's exactly why you should be wary. Maybe he was deliberately showing goodwill before, waiting for you to walk into his trap later." Gojo Satoru huffed. "People from the Big Three Families are basically all bad news. To establish themselves in cannibalistic families, they naturally have special methods."
"You're also from the Big Three Families and even became the head, but you're not a scheming villain." Jiang Lai said with a smile in response.
"...Are you praising me for being kind, or mocking me for lacking methods?" Gojo Satoru raised his eyebrow slightly, then spoke naturally: "Of course, I'm not exactly a good person either, it's just that you haven't seen my villainous side."
As his words ended, the car happened to pass through a tunnel.
Those beautiful azure eyes appeared distant and deep in the dark shadows, like lakes on polar high mountains that remained frozen almost year-round.
Hearing this, Jiang Lai thought for a few seconds, then said half-seriously, half-jokingly: "If we're talking about the villainous side... does the [Crossroads] Tower count? The great strongest curse user in history?"
"...Hey, why are you playing with this joke again!" Gojo Satoru instinctively felt his teeth ache for a moment.
The car drove out of the dim tunnel and back into sunlight, his Six Eyes more transparent than glass beads.
The white-haired man held the steering wheel with one hand, then continued the previous topic: "Actually, that doesn't count either. Because my subconscious still remembered you then, so I never truly treated you as an enemy. I think I did show hurtful detachment and coldness at that time, but I never had genuine killing intent."
Jiang Lai didn't refute this. He actually knew what Gojo Satoru's attitude was like toward real enemies.
When reading the original Jujutsu Kaisen, Jiang Lai knew a joking meme: guess who the real villain is from the picture. Outsiders find it hard to judge because the good guys in Jujutsu Kaisen often look more villainous than the actual villains.
"All jujutsu sorcerers are crazy" wasn't just a saying.
"But I indeed rarely use the common political tactics within families. What you said about rarely using schemes does fit me."
Gojo Satoru continued, his tone light: "Well, because all conspiracies are useless before absolute force. Therefore, I can violate general rules and openly stand in the position of family head like this. No one has objections."
Gojo Satoru's words seemed arrogant but were actually all facts. He spoke them in an incredibly calm and natural tone, his expression carrying the radiance belonging to the strongest.
"So you've said it yourself." So Jiang Lai also smiled. "Before absolute force, all conspiracies are wasted effort. Then why worry about Gojo Kyufuin's schemes and avoid contact and probing?"
Gojo Satoru's movements paused slightly, then he understood.
The white-haired man held the steering wheel with one hand, turned his face toward him, and raised his eyebrow: "Lai, you've gotten sly, actually starting to trap me with my own words."
"How can this be called trapping? It's just bringing out a viewpoint we both agree with." Jiang Lai's eyes crinkled, his voice gentle: "My decision to actively seek out Gojo Kyufuin isn't a reckless choice."
"First, I have some understanding of that guy. I have various speculations about his personality, thoughts, and plans. As things currently stand, Kyufuin can be counted as a member of our battle line, because everything he does is to stir up the start of the decisive battle, thus advancing our side's progress."
"Second, my strength can support my adventurous behavior. The [Existence] trait makes barriers unable to confine me."
"I know about your [Existence] trait." Gojo Satoru nodded. "But what if he has some special weapon targeting [Existence]?"
Here, because he didn't want to actively open Jiang Lai's wounds, Gojo Satoru didn't directly say [Birth]'s name.
Not long ago in Amanai Riko's mental world, Gojo Satoru had also heard quite a few secrets, one of which was [Birth] being disappointed and bound.
What if the Supervisory Committee used the same trick again and treated Lai this way? Gojo Satoru's thoughts darkened.
"I don't think Kyufuin has anything that can directly confine [Existence]. Otherwise, a thousand years ago, he wouldn't have started with trust." Jiang Lai exhaled lightly, speaking slowly: "I'll be on guard and won't turn my back to him."
Here, Jiang Lai paused slightly, then smiled: "Finally, don't I still have you? I never planned to go there secretly in a solo confrontation."
"With the strongest right in front of me, why wouldn't I use you? I'm not pursuing personal heroism." Jiang Lai said half-jokingly, the smile under his youthful shell showing cunning cuteness: "Team fights are the correct way to defeat enemies."
Hearing this, Gojo Satoru's blue eyes shifted slightly, his expression visibly relaxing. The corners of his mouth curved upward, his tone rising: "Oh, seems like you're not stupid after all, Lai. You know to ask this strongest for help."
"It's cooperation, cooperation." Jiang Lai said. "I'll switch to my true form and go to the Gojo family to chat with Kyufuin. After all, that's your territory, so you can appear at any time."
"No problem~~ I'm best at observing cursed energy fluctuations." Gojo Satoru made an OK gesture, speaking spiritedly: "Even better at 'accidentally injuring' the elder council and rotten oranges."
Jiang Lai was silent for a moment, then smiled with a half-moon expression. He naturally understood that Gojo Satoru's so-called 'accidental injury' was also known as 'precision strikes.'
"No need to rush into action." Jiang Lai added a sentence. "We'll act according to the situation then. Listen to me this time."
"When don't I listen to you..." Gojo Satoru muttered quietly, then lazily nodded: "Fine, no problem. Who told me to be the understanding and handsome Gojo guy?"
"...Don't your teeth ache saying that?"
"Hah hah hah, how could praising yourself make your teeth ache? Wait wait, it's not praise, it's just facts."
The originally gloomy atmosphere in the car returned to lightness, the vehicle traveling steadily on the road toward Tokyo Jujutsu High.
……
Although the two had agreed on who to seek next, they still had to handle the matters at hand first.
Gojo Satoru first returned to Tokyo Jujutsu High.
Special-grade cursed spirit Choso stayed close to Itadori Yuji, looking especially tense when facing Gojo Satoru, his lips pressed into a straight line. He knew the executioner was Gojo Satoru.
Gojo Satoru didn't mind Choso's attitude. He waved his hand and moved close to the cherry-pink-haired boy: "Yuji, sensei heard those rotten oranges sent people to find you?"
"Ah, the higher-ups? Yes." Itadori Yuji was a polite good child. He nodded. "Not long ago they came to talk with me."
"The last two fingers' whereabouts are unknown, and I can't guarantee I can control Sukuna, especially since I lost control before, so they decided to execute me. Eliminating 18 fingers would also be enough to weaken Sukuna."
Gojo Satoru raised his eyebrow: "...Don't tell me you just nodded and grinned foolishly saying 'okay' or something like that."
"How did Gojo-sensei know!" Itadori Yuji widened his golden-orange eyes, smiling somewhat embarrassedly: "Um... I more or less responded like that."
"Actually, I've long been prepared to die. After all, Sukuna really is a big trouble. Being able to perish together with him, I wouldn't be at a loss."
Itadori Yuji smiled brightly, not looking like he was discussing death.
He walked two or three steps to the side, bowed, then straightened up with his hands pressed together, saying loudly: "I'm really grateful to Gojo-sensei! All these years, I've caused you quite a bit of trouble. Sorry, sensei, and in the end I still have to trouble you to execute me."
The cherry-pink-haired boy's eyes were clear, his words sincere.
"..." Gojo Satoru didn't speak immediately. After a long while, he said: "If you really died like this, wouldn't you have any regrets at all?"
"Well, I'd definitely have some. Sensei, you said that jujutsu sorcerers have no deaths without regrets." Itadori Yuji counted on his fingers: "A few days ago when I went out on a mission, I ate at a shop with really delicious desserts, but didn't have time to bring back a souvenir for Gojo-sensei."
"Kugisaki and Fushiguro said they wanted to learn how to make meatballs from me. But there's no time now."
"The Christmas gifts for the upperclassmen, other teachers for the second half of this year, I can't deliver them personally."
"I also feel a bit sorry for Choso who's been guarding beside me, and everyone else..."
"And also..." Itadori Yuji's expression fell: "I still haven't acknowledged him."
The 'him' in his words referred to Jiang Lai. He still hadn't acknowledged his older brother.
Itadori Yuji took a deep breath and raised his eyes again, speaking sincerely: "So, could I ask Gojo-sensei to help keep some letters? In the future, if there's a chance, maybe you could give them to him... I've written many, many letters to him."
Gojo Satoru turned slightly to the side, then shook his head: "No good, Yuji. Sensei can't promise you that."
He spoke slowly: "Letters, words, feelings, these things only have meaning when delivered personally."