Chapter 232 : Meeting Again, Gojo Kyufuin
Gojo Satoru didn't execute the death sentence as promised. He waved his hand and said lightly: "I respect Yuji's thoughts, but Yuji doesn't need to rush into making a decision. We still have a long time."
"Is there still time?" Itadori Yuji looked slightly stunned, hesitating: "But the higher-up who came to find me before said that [Window] observed that the cursed energy on my side has been unstable, and Sukuna, who has accumulated the power of 18 fingers, might come out and go on a killing spree at any time."
"Cursed energy unstable? I don't see it." Gojo Satoru rested one hand on his chin. "Do you trust them, or trust me?" He leaned closer, his sunglasses sliding down to reveal those brilliant azure eyes behind them: "Hmm? Yuji?"
Recently Gojo Satoru had been choosing to wear sunglasses instead of his blindfold, because during this period he'd been driving, plus sunglasses were more convenient for cool and reliable eye-contact attacks at any time.
Faced with Gojo Satoru's counter-question, Itadori Yuji instinctively answered: "I trust Gojo-sensei."
"Good, good, that's right." Gojo Satoru cheerfully patted Itadori Yuji several times: "What your great, handsome Gojo-sensei says is the truth. Those rotten oranges are all demon talk, no need to pay attention to their alarmist nonsense. The real judge stands right in front of you. When to execute, how to execute, I decide."
"Mm..."
"On this point, I agree with Gojo-san." Choso, who had remained silent, finally spoke: "What you bear isn't your fault. We can think of solutions together. As for Sukuna, he's just one among countless cursed spirits, no need to be so eager to deal with him."
Itadori Yuji in this world hadn't experienced the Shibuya Incident, nor had he directly faced the horror of everything within range being annihilated by Sukuna's domain. His mental state was actually still relatively stable.
So, hearing this, he no longer insisted on asking Gojo Satoru to execute him now. After hesitating, he replied: "Okay. If there's still time, then let's wait a bit longer."
Then he smiled brightly again, his voice carrying the clarity of a high school boy, his golden-orange eyes sparkling like gems:
"I can continue teaching Fushiguro and Kugisaki how to make meatballs! And prepare Christmas gifts for everyone in the second half of the year, organize letters, and so on..."
"So Yuji still has many things to do~ Go get busy." Gojo Satoru lightly pushed him, grinning as he gestured: "Ball up everything the higher-ups told you and throw it in the trash. Letting nutritionless things occupy your brain will make you stupid. If Yuji becomes an idiot, he'll fail his exams this semester."
"Eh?! Gojo-sensei, don't curse me!"
The atmosphere returned to what it once was. Choso's expression visibly relaxed. He exhaled, no longer tensing up when facing Gojo Satoru.
It was break time now, so Itadori Yuji had come out to chat with Gojo Satoru for a few sentences. However, the next training session on the field was about to begin.
The cherry-pink-haired boy hurriedly waved goodbye to Gojo Satoru and rushed to the field to meet up with his classmates.
Choso didn't rush to leave. He stood in place, silent for a moment, then suddenly asked: "Are the two missing fingers with you?"
"..." Gojo Satoru's tone was leisurely, not rushing to reveal the answer: "Why do you ask?"
"I don't know much about you, but Yuji has told me many things about you." Choso spoke slowly: "Yuji said you're the best teacher he's encountered."
"Wow, I'm so moved." Gojo Satoru made an exaggerated wiping-tears expression: "To receive such high praise, as expected of me, the strongest spicy teacher!"
Choso paused, then said: "I think you're not the type to let students walk toward death. Because you once said that depriving young people of their youth is the most unconscionable thing."
"I don't mean to pry into secrets. I just want to say, if the remaining two fingers are really with you, please keep them safe. At least, let Yuji finish all the things he hasn't done and resolve his regrets."
"Jujutsu sorcerers have no deaths without regrets." Gojo Satoru picked up the thread here: "No matter when, death will never be without regrets."
"But..."
"So, the best thing is naturally to try hard to stay alive. Only living people have the chance to eliminate regrets. Once dead, there's nothing left." Gojo Satoru turned his face slightly, smiling with curved lips, his blue eyes settling with a certain confident calm: "Don't worry, we'll win."
"..." Choso noticed that the other person's words used "we" rather than "I," his expression slightly stunned.
He wasn't sure if this "we" referred to him and the other person, or someone else entirely.
But regardless, hearing the attitude in Gojo Satoru's words was enough to put him at ease.
Jiang Lai, wearing his Little Sheep disguise back at the high school, first went to find Nanami Kento, who happened to be at school, to report that he was safe.
The reliable adult still remembered the Mount Shichi livestream incident. He hesitated to speak, stopped speaking but wanted to speak again. Looking at the brown-haired boy's face radiating happy smiles, he ultimately didn't advise against those money-swindling operations.
He just said lightly: "Still need to be careful about safety. Watch out for people seeking private revenge."
"Don't worry, Nanami." Little Sheep Jiang Lai patted his chest confidently: "Who am I? I'm the evil dragon that protects money and wealth. Nobody can rob from me."
"If someone comes, I'll steal money on the spot. Why wouldn't I take money bags delivered to my door? And they'd be the ones attacking first, so taking some mental distress compensation isn't excessive."
Nanami Kento: "..."
It sounds wrong somehow, but also seems reasonable.jpg
The blonde adult rubbed his temples, and what he finally said was still: "Be careful."
After returning to the high school, Jiang Lai put down his backpack and quietly organized his next plans in his room.
First and most important was collecting information about the [Correct and Reverse] Tower's function from Gojo Kyufuin.
Because Gojo Kyufuin sometimes went out to purchase and search for ancient books, he wasn't at the Gojo family every night.
So Jiang Lai and Gojo Satoru didn't rush to the Gojo family, but waited two days until the Gojo family's monthly family meeting before taking action.
Unlike other families, the Gojo family's monthly meeting had no fixed date. The great elder would perform ritual divination in advance to determine an auspicious day.
This family meeting happened to be scheduled two days after Jiang Lai and Gojo Satoru returned to Tokyo. The location was also set at the Tokyo residence.
As the head of the Gojo family, Gojo Satoru was supposed to return to preside over the meeting. Of course, Gojo Satoru wasn't a rule-following person, attending family meetings based on mood and availability.
However, others didn't have Gojo Satoru's willful privileges. Moreover, those elders naturally wouldn't miss such opportunities to fight for power in meetings to control the family.
Although Gojo Kyufuin had no intention of fighting for power, his image in the family had always been low-key, affable, and gentle, so he attended every meeting, standing quietly like serene orchid grass with jade-like refinement.
So Gojo Satoru and Jiang Lai set their plan for the day of the Gojo family's monthly meeting. This day would ensure Gojo Kyufuin was within the family, avoiding a wasted trip.
Getting it done in one go could avoid alerting their target, since the Gojo family also had quite a few Supervisory Committee informants.
Two days later, on the day of the Gojo family meeting, Gojo Satoru went to the Gojo family first to attend the meeting.
Jiang Lai switched to his true form. The Gojo family's barriers were ineffective against him, so he could directly infiltrate the Gojo family without anyone noticing.
Today was good weather. The night sky was cloudless, the stars above incredibly bright, surrounding the moon.
Jiang Lai didn't enter through the main gate. He chose the back mountain location.
Not knowing how long the meeting would last, to be safe, he'd wait until late at night before going to find Gojo Kyufuin.
Thinking this, Jiang Lai mocked himself internally. Now he really had become a night raider, visiting both the Zenin family and Gojo family in the dead of night.
At this moment, he strolled leisurely on the Gojo family's back mountain.
The vegetation here was lush. Early spring buds emerged from soil and branches, their tips budding with new life.
The night breeze was cool. In the distance, Jiang Lai saw the Gojo family shrine.
The patterned canvas hanging outside swayed in the wind, and the faint sound of small copper bells came from the inner hall.
Jiang Lai walked to the front of the shrine. His brown eyes gazed at this dignified and mysterious Gojo family building, his gaze distant.
The last time he stood here was at the beginning of yesterday's opening chapter. At this shrine, he had encountered the young Gojo Satoru.
Back then, Gojo Satoru was still a precocious child who kept a cold face all day, with exquisite features and luxurious clothing. Though short in stature, he had great presence, speaking like drifting ice and snow.
In the blink of an eye, he had already grown up.
But this personality... had wildly developed in another direction. His students probably had no idea what his aloof appearance was like as a child.
Recalling the past and remembering the present, Jiang Lai's eyes curved with incredible ease.
He set down the pressure he had carried for so long, involuntarily relaxing his mind, bathing in the natural surroundings under the starry sky.
Because of this, Jiang Lai was a second slower in sensing someone approaching.
...Someone was actually coming to the shrine this late?!
He was surprised for a second but didn't react slowly. After realizing it, he immediately turned around, preparing for battle or retreat, staring directly at the approaching person!
Walking along the path was a long-haired man wearing family totem clothing. A jade hairpin bound his black hair, and his narrow, light blue-green eyes flowed with luster.
It was Gojo Kyufuin!
Had their meeting ended? Or had Gojo Kyufuin skipped the meeting midway?
Gojo Kyufuin noticed Jiang Lai and showed some surprise, but it quickly transformed into a gentle smile: "Good evening. I truly didn't expect to meet you here."
"..." Jiang Lai didn't answer, just nodded slightly in response.
His gaze fell on the items in Gojo Kyufuin's hands, noticing the other person had brought several inconspicuous incense sticks.
...Was the other person here to worship at the Gojo family shrine? Worship whom?