Chapter 238 : Jiang Lai and Itadori - Recognition
The innate domain fell very quiet for a moment, with only occasional faint dripping sounds.
The cold blood water surrounded millennium-soaked white bones in an eternally unchanging, endless scene.
Ryomen Sukuna standing atop the cow bone mountain remained silent, those crimson eyes rarely putting away their mockery, contempt, and malice, focusing on genuine thought.
As the King of Curses, Ryomen Sukuna had never been an ignorant and reckless character. He possessed not only strength but also wisdom.
Because of this, he didn't immediately reject Jiang Lai's attitude with a superior stance, nor show any indication in his expression. Instead, he darkened his face and turned his thoughts inwardly.
Jiang Lai wasn't in a hurry either. He understood that Ryomen Sukuna would ultimately choose the path of departure.
After all, the other wasn't the type to sit and wait for death, but had always been a ruthless character who seized his own opportunities, created enemy weaknesses, and strode forward regardless of what lay ahead.
Jiang Lai maintained his calm demeanor, patiently waiting for Ryomen Sukuna's reply.
Gojo Satoru played the role of urging, snapping his fingers to break the silence and speaking: "The strongest's time is super precious~ So have you decided? Let's settle this with a straightforward deal."
The meaning of this urging was to prevent Sukuna from thinking too much. Jiang Lai had already coordinated with Gojo Satoru beforehand, so Gojo Satoru knew Ryomen Sukuna wasn't brainless.
The more time they gave Sukuna, the more likely this guy would find loopholes to exploit for profit, so it was better to shorten deliberation time and finalize quickly.
Ryomen Sukuna's contemplation was interrupted by Gojo Satoru. He raised his eyelids, scanning the two below, his face again wearing that unreadable villain's smile.
His voice was husky and magnetic, speaking slowly: "Cooperation is possible. But this prerequisite needs changing, it cannot be established now, because I cannot hand over the fragment to you."
Jiang Lai raised his eyebrow slightly: "Why?"
Could it be that Ryomen Sukuna wanted to make an issue of this? Planning to use this fragment to gain more benefits?
Jiang Lai wouldn't agree to more additional conditions, because what he'd just stated was already a reasonable trade after careful consideration.
Or perhaps Ryomen Sukuna was keeping that fragment to repair his own divine status?
Because a thousand years ago, at the end of the Heian-kyo incident, Ryomen Sukuna had dug out half the divine status from his chest and forcibly stuffed it into Jiang Lai.
But this didn't seem right either. Because Ryomen Sukuna didn't care about status at all. He very much enjoyed his current chaotic evil cursed spirit state. Ageless and immortal, eternally existing.
Under Jiang Lai's somewhat scrutinizing gaze, Ryomen Sukuna sneered and leisurely revealed the second half: "Exactly as it sounds, the fragment [cannot] be given to you."
Jiang Lai's heart paused slightly. He noticed the emphasized syllable in Ryomen Sukuna's words, as if the other had deliberately stressed [cannot].
The so-called [cannot] could mean subjective [unwillingness] or objective [unable to].
...Could something have happened to the fragment, preventing Ryomen Sukuna from transferring it?
Jiang Lai's heart lifted as he remembered his previous explorations here.
At the time, he'd wanted to search for the fragment Ryomen Sukuna had hidden in the innate domain, so under the guise of "healthy 10,000-step walks" he'd wandered randomly throughout this place, but found nothing.
As an [Existence], he should have been extremely sensitive to fragment detection. Previously, Jiang Lai had thought Ryomen Sukuna used special methods to hide the fragment, making it impossible for him to find, but now it seemed that might not be the reason...
Ryomen Sukuna noticed Jiang Lai's expression. He grinned, baring sharp canines: "Of course, if you really want that fragment, why not ask the person involved whether it can be dug out, that fragment was absorbed by this body."
Absorbed by this body? Jiang Lai was momentarily stunned, then understood the meaning of these words.
In other words, the divine status fragment that Ryomen Sukuna had taken away was unconsciously absorbed by Itadori Yuji!
But this was understandable. Because that fragment belonged to the family head [Origin]. The family head [Origin] had always been generous with them, openly entrusting power to them.
Since the current Ryomen Sukuna and Itadori Yuji were one body with dual souls, objectively this body belonged to Itadori Yuji.
Or perhaps the family head [Origin] also had preferences, favoring the [Benevolent Death] who was friendly to Jiang Lai.
Regardless, it seemed that when the family head [Origin]'s fragment sensed this, it gently merged its power into [Benevolent Death] as usual... This was good for Itadori Yuji. He wondered if Yuji had felt any special power?
Thoughts flowed through Jiang Lai's mind.
Before him, Ryomen Sukuna in white kimono standing upright waved his hand without hesitation, casually pulling something from the vast space.
The next second, a new figure appeared in the innate domain.
"Whoa!" The cherry-pink-haired youth fell from mid-air, tumbling into the blood water at his feet. But his reaction was very quick, bouncing up in an instant, his voice coming before he raised his head: "Hey! Sukuna!! What are you dragging me in here for again..."
Itadori Yuji angrily raised his eyes, but the second half of his sentence suddenly disappeared as if someone had pressed a mute button.
The youth's golden-orange eyes went round as he stood dazed in place, looking at the additional white-haired man and black-haired young man before him.
"Gojo-sensei...? And, and...?" He murmured in disbelief.
"Yo, Yuji." Gojo Satoru was the most composed, greeting first: "Good evening in the dream."
Jiang Lai looked at Itadori Yuji, his gaze warm, slightly raising his eyelids: "We meet again."
Facing Jiang Lai directly, confronting the older brother he'd always missed and thought about, Itadori Yuji seemed somewhat at a loss. He clumsily gestured with his hands, appearing not to have fully processed the situation.
"Ah, we meet again... Why are you here? I mean, are you alright?" Itadori Yuji's words were somewhat disorganized, but ultimately expressed his most genuine concern.
"I'm fine." Jiang Lai nodded in reply. "Meeting so suddenly, we're actually the ones disturbing you."
Itadori Yuji still looked somewhat dazed, his understanding still stuck at their previous parting.
He remembered Gojo-sensei's emotionless smile, watching the black-haired young man's departing figure, with a familiar sense of estrangement between them.
However now, Gojo-sensei stood beside the black-haired young man, they looked incredibly familiar, with none of the supposed friend-turned-enemy appearance, but like old friends of many years.
This confused memory made Itadori Yuji momentarily wonder if this was some new method Ryomen Sukuna had developed to torment him. So he spoke with some resentment: "Is this fun? It's really boring."
Hearing this, Ryomen Sukuna on the cow bone mountain seemed in excellent spirits.
He chuckled and spoke, looking down disdainfully at Itadori Yuji on the ground, deliberately drawing out his voice: "What's wrong, brat, stunned? Stupid as you are, even now can't you see those two are deliberately playing you? There was never any amnesia."
Ryomen Sukuna's tone mixed with some malice as he mocked: "The person you care about doesn't care about your feelings at all, so they hid the truth regardless of your struggles. They probably enjoyed watching your anxious appearance."
Psychological manipulation! Jiang Lai understood instantly. This method seemed extremely shallow, an obvious attempt at discord, yet it could indeed plant a small thorn in the shadows.
No one wanted to be excluded from the truth, their given emotions just surplus products.
Jiang Lai opened his mouth, wanting to comfort and explain.
However, before he could speak, Itadori Yuji's youthful voice rang out first: "This isn't Sukuna's illusion, it's real?"
The next second, he continued: "No amnesia? That's great!" The cherry-pink-haired youth's eyes sparkled as he smiled brightly and cheerfully: "It's wonderful that Gojo-sensei and... that person are both alright."
Such sincerity and joy made everyone present fall silent for a moment.
Itadori Yuji truly didn't seem to mind the concealment and deception. He genuinely considered what he'd heard good news.
The youth's passionate heart was laid bare, burning with care for those he cherished, not minding his own gains and losses.
After initial pause, Gojo Satoru quickly smiled, leaning to Jiang Lai's ear to mutter: "How about that? Students taught by the strongest spicy teacher are good, right? Ah, who told me to be the strongest~"
"..." Ryomen Sukuna's plan to watch the drama had obviously failed. His crimson eyes narrowed, his expression visibly displeased.
Faced with the good little brother's honesty and the bad little brother's frustration, Jiang Lai couldn't help smiling.
His eyes curved as he responded to Itadori Yuji: "Must you still call me 'that person'? You can directly call my name [Lai], or call me [older brother]. Whatever you prefer."
Hearing this, the originally bright-faced cherry-pink-haired youth now showed rare youthful shyness again. He scratched the back of his head with one hand, his eyes darting about like a small animal.
Itadori Yuji slightly parted his lips, golden-orange eyes looking over.
"..."
He wanted to say: I remember the events from a thousand years ago, I wrote you many letters full of trivial daily life, I once thought I'd never see you again in this lifetime, I never imagined I really still had family, even if conceptual.
He wanted to say: Grandpa told me to die surrounded by people, and I've always aimed for this. Although I originally just wanted to be a firefighter, since becoming a vessel I've shouldered another responsibility.
I'm willing to sacrifice myself for the public good, I'm not afraid of death, but I'm a little afraid of loneliness. Saying goodbye really makes me reluctant to leave everyone.
He also wanted to say: I'm actually a bit hurt too, but don't worry, I haven't suffered too much, I just can't help wanting to find someone to rely on and confide in.
I wasn't doing well originally, but now knowing you're well, I couldn't be better.
Because too many words suddenly emerged in his heart, he couldn't say anything for a moment. Too many things he wanted to say accumulated in his throat, inexplicably forming a certain nose-tingling choke.
He was still just a teenage high school student.
Jiang Lai didn't rush him, his gaze gentle and open. He quietly waited for Itadori Yuji to organize his emotions.
Noticing the cherry-pink-haired youth's gradually reddening eyes, Jiang Lai paused slightly, then actively stepped forward several paces.
He walked to Itadori Yuji's side, saying nothing more, but with natural and firm movements, gently embraced him.
Just as [Origin] had once embraced him, Jiang Lai also embraced Itadori Yuji this way, giving this youth who stumbled forward on a thorny path the companionship of family.