Chapter 239 : Death Sentence and Rebirth
Though the recognition came late, it ultimately arrived as promised, not disappointing the long wait and expectations.
However, this embrace didn't last long, because Ryomen Sukuna quickly kicked Itadori Yuji out of the innate domain.
Itadori Yuji didn't even have time to make a sound before being mercilessly kicked out by the mysterious air.
In reality, the cherry-pink-haired boy bounced up from his bed, suddenly awakening. His heart pounded rapidly, and after calming down for a few seconds, he came to his senses and gritted his teeth, muttering: "Hah? Damn Sukuna...!"
Itadori Yuji was a good child who respected others. Although he knew some curse words, he just couldn't bring himself to say them. After holding it in for a long time, he finally angrily knocked the bed frame to vent his frustration.
After collecting his thoughts, Itadori Yuji recalled the scene in the innate domain just now. He paused, spreading his hands and widening his golden-orange eyes slightly, his thoughts drifting.
He still remembered the warmth of being in that embrace, remembered the real feeling in his palms when he hugged back. Those... those should all have been real, right?
There seemed to still be hot tears in his eyes, and some choking remained in his throat. The emotions from his mental consciousness had fed back into reality.
I saw him. Itadori Yuji thought. He still remembers me too.
Without realizing it, a bright smile appeared on the boy's face, his youthful radiance seeming capable of lighting up the entire room.
Although he didn't know how much time they'd have together in the future... he would surely still be executed. For the sake of the broader population, he would actively walk toward his end.
But at least now, he wanted to leave more memories worth cherishing. That way, when parting came, there would be less regret, less remorse.
Itadori Yuji got out of bed and walked two steps to his desk, pulling out the bottom and middle drawers.
The middle drawer contained neatly arranged letters of all colors, all written by him to Jiang Lai.
The bottom drawer held various small trinkets, all very delicate and cute. These were souvenirs Itadori Yuji had collected during his daily missions.
He took out all the letters and souvenirs, finding a large gift box that had been piled in a corner.
With the solemnity of organizing belongings and the love of gifts for family, Itadori Yuji lowered his golden-orange eyes and began carefully packing everything.
……
In the innate domain.
Ryomen Sukuna looked like he also wanted to kick Jiang Lai and Gojo Satoru out together, but since Jiang Lai and Gojo Satoru's dream connection essentially connected to the body, Sukuna, who wasn't the body's owner, couldn't kick them out.
"...Get out of my domain." Ryomen Sukuna's expression was displeased as he raised his chin slightly. "After a thousand years, you're still as good as ever at disgusting me."
"Is that so." Jiang Lai's demeanor was calm as he smiled. "I should thank you instead, thank you for the opportunity you specially provided just now."
These words made Ryomen Sukuna's face even more sour, because he also understood that the nauseating family drama just now had been premised on him dragging Itadori Yuji into the innate domain.
Jiang Lai didn't tease him further, knowing what the important focus should be next.
Currently, negotiation was still the top priority. Since this was cooperation-aimed negotiation, there was no need to deliberately anger Ryomen Sukuna for momentary verbal satisfaction.
So Jiang Lai shifted topics, returning to their previous discussion: "As you said, if the fragment has already been absorbed by Itadori Yuji, then this item can be excluded from our cooperation treaty. But just in case, you must establish a binding vow confirming the fragment wasn't subjectively hidden by you."
"I have no interest in such things, wouldn't stoop to tricks in this area." Ryomen Sukuna's voice carried slight disdain as his crimson eyes glanced over. "Rather, you," he paused here, showing a thoughtful expression, "compared to before, I feel you have something more..."
The second half trailed off, never fully spoken. Ryomen Sukuna curved his lips, changing direction: "You met with others of your so-called kind?"
Jiang Lai reacted for half a second, realizing the other was referring to [Existence] beings.
He had indeed recently just seen [Birth]'s derivative, which counted as contact with [Birth] in some sense, but how could this be detected?
Combined with Ryomen Sukuna's earlier incomplete words, Jiang Lai guessed the other could vaguely sense more detailed [Existence]-related aura from him.
So could the other's sensitivity to him be because his half divine status fragment from a thousand years ago had been absorbed by Jiang Lai, making their connection closer invisibly?
Jiang Lai speculated in his mind, feeling this guess had some possibility.
"If so, it seems quite a bit has been prepared." From this detail, Ryomen Sukuna glimpsed more, understanding that Jiang Lai had already planned and arranged extensively, not temporarily deciding to use him as a weapon.
The cooperation party's comprehensive preparation would make the cooperation smoother. Ryomen Sukuna quickly analyzed the situation, crossing his arms over his chest as he stood on the high cow bone mountain, saying slowly: "Then, acceptable. I permit your cooperation request."
'Permit'? 'Request'? Such word choice carried wordless arrogance.
Jiang Lai raised his eyebrow slightly, but he didn't mind these verbal skirmishes that wouldn't affect the outcome, so he didn't deliberately argue.
However, Gojo Satoru beside him wasn't good-tempered enough to not mind. He clicked his tongue, his azure eyes brilliant and bright, responding with similar arrogance: "Fine, since that's the case, we also permit your cooperation request as an outsider."
Hearing this, Ryomen Sukuna's eyes narrowed as he raised one hand and fiercely swung out a sharp cursed blade!
Gojo Satoru reacted equally quickly, easily dodging with a few backward steps, then shooting cursed energy at the cow bone mountain ahead.
The two engaged in brief combat within this innate domain, blood water rippling and bone fragments flying as cursed energy fluctuations swept through in devastating waves.
Jiang Lai didn't join in, considering the specific binding contract content on the side.
After thinking it through, he waved his hand, using a spatial barrier to briefly interrupt their duel, then smiled: "Let's pause for now. If you really want to fight, there'll be opportunities later."
Both landed on the blood water ground, their gazes turning toward Jiang Lai.
Jiang Lai said: "According to our cooperation content and script, Sukuna will be released at the execution ground then. You can have a simple exchange of blows at that time. As for how far this simple exchange goes, you know in your hearts."
Speaking the latter half, Jiang Lai looked toward Gojo Satoru diagonally ahead, lightly blinking and making an upward gesture with meaningful intent.
Gojo Satoru, already very familiar and thus quite in sync, immediately understood: the other meant he could hold back this anger for now and fight when Ryomen Sukuna truly emerged. Even if it was brief combat, the power could directly destroy the area around the execution chamber, which was the higher-ups' headquarters!
So Gojo Satoru immediately withdrew, cheerfully indicating "fighting in the innate domain is boring, what's interesting is fighting outside (against rotten oranges)."
Ryomen Sukuna saw the two had implications in their words but was too lazy to care.
Actually, he had similar thoughts, planning to cause a great disturbance when he got out, taking revenge on those who dared scheme against him.
Especially Brain-kun who deceived him a thousand years ago and was still alive... if he found him, he swore to make that guy pay.
The battle in the innate domain subsided. Ryomen Sukuna retracted his needle-like cold cursed energy, leaping down from the cow bone pile, splashing water as he landed.
Gojo Satoru also withdrew his hand, his eyelids lazily drooping slightly, his glass-bead-like Six Eyes looking exquisite and beautiful.
Jiang Lai walked forward several steps, standing in front and between the two, forming a triangular position.
Cursed spirit, human, quasi-god, all gathered together. This was a rare and remarkable peaceful moment, the first such scene in a thousand years.
Jiang Lai had already conceived the entire contract content in his mind. He used spatial techniques to float a screen in mid-air, controlling cursed energy to trace out text, displaying a perfect contract document.
"Please review it once more." Jiang Lai's voice was calm, his eyes slightly curved. "If there are no problems, we'll sign the binding vow, and cooperation is established."
Thus forming a temporary united front.
……
These behind-the-scenes discussions proceeded covertly and steadily. Except for the few who Jiang Lai and Gojo Satoru had agreed upon in advance, what others could know was merely the surface appearance.
That was what was written in the jujutsu world major events report record:
[■Year ■Month ■Day, confirmed execution of Ryomen Sukuna's vessel Itadori Yuji at Tokyo higher-ups headquarters jujutsu sealing chamber.
Executor: Gojo Satoru
Assistant: Okkotsu Yuta
Supervisor: Special dispatch from jujutsu higher-ups - current Kamo family head Kamo Yoshiyama]
[Same day, confirmed death of Ryomen Sukuna's vessel Itadori Yuji.]
[Same day, unexpected anomalous situation contrary to predictions occurred. Special-grade cursed spirit Ryomen Sukuna did not perish with the vessel, appearing in the jujutsu sealing chamber.
Special-grade jujutsu sorcerer Gojo Satoru, special-grade jujutsu sorcerer Okkotsu Yuta, and first-grade jujutsu sorcerer Kamo Yoshiyama engaged in battle. The jujutsu sealing chamber and Tokyo higher-ups headquarters suffered extensive cursed energy damage.]
[Special-grade cursed spirit Ryomen Sukuna killed Kamo Yoshiyama then retreated and disappeared. Current jujutsu world danger alert raised to highest level.]
[...]
While the jujutsu world higher-ups were in complete chaos, in the basement of a certain private residence in Tokyo, a television was broadcasting classic films from a nostalgic series.
Itadori Yuji in the middle of the sofa had just recovered from the shock of "actually not dying" and listened to Choso explain what had happened.
He stuffed a potato chip in his mouth to calm his nerves, then glanced at the brown-haired boy beside him who was happily swinging his legs.
"I think I understand... uh, so Watanabe-kun appearing here is?"
"Special training, of course." Little Sheep Jiang Lai blinked cheerfully. "I'm asking Big Brother Choso to train my spirits, and incidentally, teaching you some things too."
"Huh? You're teaching me?" Itadori Yuji looked dazed.
What surprised him even more was that Choso nodded: "I had simple contact with Watanabe-kun a few days ago. His strength is close to mine. As a human jujutsu sorcerer, Watanabe-kun is more suitable to teach you than I am."
Itadori Yuji looked at the brown-haired young boy whose cheeks still had a bit of baby fat, his brain going blank.
...If he remembered correctly, shouldn't Watanabe-kun have just been introduced to the jujutsu world? How did he become special-grade so quickly?!!