What Are You Spacing Out For? Hurry Up and Cook!

The next morning.

Shinsuke Zenin was bare-chested, exercising in the courtyard.

Although the physical body granted by Heavenly Restriction was already powerful enough, he still maintained a sufficient amount of training.

The method of cultivating qi and blood recorded in the scripture was very simple.

First, one needed a body that met the required level of strength and contained no Cursed Energy.

Then, one had to train like mad, exercising until exhaustion. At that point, a faint force of qi and blood would be born within the body. Using the superhuman perception granted by Heavenly Restriction, one could guide it into the acupoints and nurture it there.

Otherwise, the force of qi and blood would quickly dissipate.

The method was simple, but putting it into practice was anything but.

With Heavenly Restriction and his formidable body, training to exhaustion was extremely difficult.

He might not even reach exhaustion before Heavenly Restriction's recovery ability restored his stamina.

That was why, after all these years, he had only filled three acupoints.

"Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh—"

In the courtyard, Shinsuke Zenin was doing the simplest push-ups. His entire body had become a blur, constantly rising and falling like a pile driver. Even a rich woman would have gone weak in the knees at the sight.

This was his method of cultivation: allowing his rate of recovery to fall behind his rate of expenditure until he reached exhaustion.

When he was overseas, he usually trained by carrying extra weight.

Unfortunately, he had only just returned and had not prepared any equipment yet.

"Gurgle..."

While Shinsuke Zenin was training frantically, a small figure hid behind a large tree beside the wall connected to the Zenin Family grounds. A little head poked out, curiously studying the man who was exercising.

The fierce wind stirred up by Shinsuke Zenin's training made it difficult for the little one to keep her eyes open. She could only shield them with her small hands and observe him through the gaps between her fingers.

After about half an hour, Shinsuke Zenin finally felt a trace of fatigue. His entire body was soaked in sweat, his blood churned within him, and wisps of heat were born from his flesh.

As his acupoints were activated, those wisps of heat surged inside and began to nurture them.

"Huff..."

Shinsuke Zenin exhaled a breath of hot air and stood up. In just that short while, his stamina was already recovering rapidly, making him seem almost like a perpetual-motion machine.

What exactly were those people thinking when they said that the physical strength granted by Heavenly Restriction was something any Jujutsu Sorcerer could easily achieve?

Had they ever truly understood Heavenly Restriction?

Forget Jujutsu Sorcerers—even Toji probably had yet to fully develop his Heavenly Restriction.

"Kid, what are you doing hiding behind the tree?"

Shinsuke Zenin walked toward the large tree beside the courtyard wall.

He had noticed her from the moment the little one appeared.

Seeing that she had been discovered, Maki Zenin stepped out from behind the tree. She raised her head, her two limpid eyes fixed on the monster-like man.

"I just happened to be passing by."

Quite a few people in the Zenin Family knew that this courtyard belonged to Shinsuke Zenin. The fact that they had not torn it down was already a show of consideration for the Family Head. How could anyone possibly come to a place like this?

Only Maki, who was similarly unwelcome and was often bullied by the older children of the Zenin Family, would come here.

Who would have thought that she would discover someone in the courtyard when she arrived?

Moreover, it was that same person from yesterday who also had no Cursed Energy. He seemed to be her cousin.

When Shinsuke Zenin saw that it was Maki Zenin, he squatted down and reached out his large hand to squeeze her shoulder.

"Hmm, looks like you're not completely useless."

After feeling the strength of Maki's bones, Shinsuke Zenin formed a rough judgment.

Maki's Cursed Energy was extremely weak. In exchange, her physical strength was far greater than an ordinary person's, though it still fell short of the level granted by Heavenly Restriction.

She could be considered a weakened version of Heavenly Restriction.

"Someone lives here now. Don't come again in the future."

Shinsuke Zenin pinched her cheek, then turned and walked into the house.

Maki Zenin rubbed the cheek he had pinched red. She watched his back in silence for a moment before running home.

She had to figure out exactly why the clan members who mocked her were afraid of him!

After taking a shower, Shinsuke Zenin found Toji.

He forcibly made Toji lead the way.

"Hurry up. Don't make me beat you up."

"Don't pull me. I know how to get there myself."

Toji looked impatient, but he felt inexplicably nervous inside. Originally, he had not planned to concern himself with the two children. He could simply leave them to the Zenin Family. But now, it seemed he could no longer ignore them.

Shinsuke Zenin paid no attention to Toji's impatience. Instead, he took the last bit of his travel money and bought some fruit and milk.

Children were at the age when they were growing rapidly.

Following Toji through a winding route, they entered an alley where light filtered through. They climbed the stairs and stopped in front of a door.

"This is the place?"

Toji nodded without saying anything.

"Knock, knock, knock."

Shinsuke Zenin stepped forward and knocked on the door.

With a click, the door opened. A disheveled-haired child glared at the two of them, his eyes wide and his face wary.

"Who are you?"

"Uh..."

Hearing this, the corner of Shinsuke Zenin's mouth twitched as he glanced at Toji.

How long had this boy gone without seeing his own son? The son did not even recognize his father? Interesting.

"It's me." Toji looked down expressionlessly at Megumi Fushiguro.

Megumi Fushiguro furrowed his brows and carefully examined Toji, as though thinking hard.

"Megumi, who is it?"

A clear voice came from inside the house. A girl considerably taller than Megumi Fushiguro came to the door and poked her head outside. She was still wearing a cooking apron.

When she saw Toji, the girl immediately became confused. "Dad? You're back?"

Tsumiki was bewildered. Hadn't this stepfather eloped with her mother? Why had he come back? Could it be that he had run out of money and wanted to take back the money her mother had left for the siblings?

"Hello. I'm your father's older brother. You can call me Uncle."

Shinsuke Zenin smiled as he handed the things in his hands to Tsumiki and introduced himself.

"Uncle?"

"Hello. May I ask why you came here?"

Tsumiki did not refuse. She accepted the fruit and opened the door to let the two of them inside.

"Megumi, get Dad and Uncle some water."

"Oh."

Megumi obeyed Tsumiki's words without question and quickly poured water for the two of them, though his gaze was somewhat hostile.

He was worried that this unfamiliar father might do something bad, such as separating him from his sister.

"Don't be nervous. Starting today, Toji will live with you. If you need anything, just ask him. If you're out of money, ask him for some. If there's no food, have him cook.

"If he dares refuse, come find me. I'll teach him a lesson for you."

Shinsuke Zenin explained why he had come. Whether it was Tsumiki or Megumi, they were both still too young and might not be able to take care of themselves properly.

Besides, Kenjaku would target Tsumiki in the future. Shinsuke had forgotten the exact timing, but with Toji watching over her, there was a high chance it could be avoided.

"Huh?"

Tsumiki and Megumi were both left dumbfounded.

"Hey, hey, hey! What gives you the right to make decisions about my affairs?"

Toji's face was filled with displeasure.

"I'm your brother. That's why."

"This matter isn't up for discussion. It's settled. If I find out that anything happens to either of my niece or nephew, you'd better be ready to get beaten."

"What are you spacing out for? Hurry up and cook!"

Shinsuke Zenin lightly kicked Toji. With such an irresponsible younger brother, he had to properly change Toji's temperament.

"Tch."

Toji walked into the kitchen with a thoroughly dissatisfied look. He was very unhappy, yet he seemed unwilling to refuse.

This scene reminded him of the times he had been dominated by Shinsuke when they were children.

Shinsuke Zenin: "When your big brother tells you to do something, you must never refuse."

Toji Zenin: "Why not?"

Shinsuke Zenin: "Because I'm your big brother. If you dare refuse, you'll get beaten."