Coolness and Innocence

What a formidable person!

Xia Jie watched from the side, secretly alarmed. With his eyesight, he could naturally tell that her shooting skills were practically divine!

The gun in her hand was definitely no ordinary weapon either!

It was who knew how much stronger than Mai Zenin's revolver!

The bullets' muzzle velocity was probably close to Mach 3. Otherwise, they could not have possessed such immense power, enough to kill a Grade 2 Cursed Spirit in one shot.

That gun's recoil had to be outrageously powerful!

Xia Jie stared from afar at Zhao Ya's fair hands, thinking that the strength in those hands was likely no less than his own.

More importantly... this woman might be something of a counter to him.

Her gun could blow the head off a Grade 2 Cursed Spirit. Judging from how calm and casual she seemed, even taking down a Grade 1 Cursed Spirit would probably only take a couple of shots.

That meant he would likely find it difficult to evade the bullets she fired as well.

Splash—

As the Cursed Spirit was destroyed by Zhao Ya's shot, Yu Xinran's body fell from the air as well.

Fortunately, Tang Qingxue had previously used the Ice Condensation Cursed Technique to form a layer of ice over the river, so Yu Xinran did not fall back into the water.

Zhao Ya reached out and pulled Tang Qingxue to her feet, then said to Ren Tong and Zhou Yushan, who were standing there in a daze, "What are you standing around for?! Hurry up and save that kid!"

"Teacher... thank you!"

Tang Qingxue was not particularly surprised by the outcome. She knew better than anyone how powerful Zhao Ya was.

Zhao Ya looked at her student and said slowly, "I have taught you everything I can teach you. But the one thing I cannot teach you is the 'coolness' a Jujutsu Sorcerer ought to possess!"

"Qingxue, when will you be able to cast aside that bit of 'innocence' in you?"

Tang Qingxue's strength had already completely surpassed that Grade 2 Cursed Spirit. Coupled with her Ice Condensation Cursed Technique, she held an enormous advantage against Cursed Spirits in the water.

Yet because she was worried about Yu Xinran in the water, she would rather enter the river herself to exorcise the Cursed Spirit than use her Ice Condensation Cursed Technique.

It was only after Zhao Ya reminded her that she had no choice but to use the Ice Condensation Cursed Technique and drive the Cursed Spirit out of the water.

This would not do... This child was too kind. She was not suited to becoming a Jujutsu Sorcerer!

Zhao Ya's gaze swept across Tang Qingxue. If that day truly came, what would you do then?

"With Teacher here!" Tang Qingxue lowered her head and said softly. "I knew Teacher would come save me!"

Zhao Ya stared at her with a cold expression and said nothing. Master and student immediately fell into an awkward silence.

"Thank you!" Ren Tong and Zhou Yushan pulled Yu Xinran ashore and hurriedly administered first aid. At last, Yu Xinran's breathing returned to normal.

The first-aid techniques taught at school really were useful! The same thought surfaced in Ren Tong and Zhou Yushan's minds.

Once Yu Xinran was out of danger, Ren Tong and Zhou Yushan solemnly thanked Tang Qingxue and Zhao Ya.

Seeing them shivering, Tang Qingxue's face reddened slightly. "You should put your clothes on first! Don't do something so dangerous again next time!"

Ren Tong and Zhou Yushan exchanged a glance. Only then did they remember that they were wearing nothing but swim trunks. Embarrassment immediately appeared on their faces as they hurriedly put on their clothes.

Tang Qingxue withdrew her Cursed Energy, and the layer of ice on the river instantly melted. The surrounding temperature gradually returned to normal as well.

"That's incredible!" Zhou Yushan exclaimed. "Tang Qingxue... is this your superpower?"

With the crisis over, the youths' curiosity began to rise again.

"You... know me?" Tang Qingxue first glanced at Zhou Yushan, then seemed to think of something. "You're a student at Peach Blossom High School too?"

When Zhou Yushan nodded, Tang Qingxue secretly glanced at Zhao Ya. Seeing no reaction from her, she said quietly, "You can understand it that way, but it isn't really a superpower. It's an ability I was born with..."

Zhou Yushan looked at Tang Qingxue strangely. I have no grudge against you, so why are you treating me like an idiot?

"Fine, just think of it as a superpower!" Tang Qingxue noticed Zhou Yushan's expression and said helplessly.

"What about that monster you fought?" Ren Tong could not help asking.

The moment he thought of that horrifying, green-furred monster covered in hair, Ren Tong felt a wave of inexplicable fear.

"What monster?" Zhou Yushan turned to Ren Tong and asked in confusion. "You've been going on about monsters this whole time. What exactly are you talking about?"

"The monster that fought Tang Qingxue!" Ren Tong shouted. Then he suddenly realized something. "You... didn't see it?"

"See what?" Zhou Yushan looked at Ren Tong in shock. "You mean... that kind of thing?"

Ren Tong shuddered. "Probably! Otherwise, why do you think Yu Xinran was floating around? And why else would Tang Qingxue keep fighting?"

"A ghost?!" Zhou Yushan became a little frightened too.

"Something even scarier!" Remembering the Cursed Spirit's appearance, Ren Tong said hoarsely, "That thing... was far more terrifying than a ghost!"

He turned to Tang Qingxue, desperate for an answer. "Tang Qingxue, what was that?"

Tang Qingxue looked at Zhao Ya again. Zhao Ya said with a cold face, "Why do you keep looking at me? Since that kid wants to know, tell them! But—"

She turned to Ren Tong and Zhou Yushan. "This matter is not exactly a secret, but neither of you should spread it around! Otherwise, you could easily attract the attention of curses. Don't blame me for not warning you!"

Though Ren Tong and Zhou Yushan did not quite understand what Zhao Ya meant by "curses," they hurriedly agreed anyway.

"That monster was actually a Cursed Spirit, an embodiment of curses," Tang Qingxue explained to them.

"The curses I mean are somewhat different from the curses you understand. They are a special kind of energy produced by negative human emotions such as anger, fear, and hatred."

"This energy is called Cursed Energy."

"Almost everyone can produce Cursed Energy, but the vast majority cannot use this power, causing their Cursed Energy to leak out."

"As Cursed Energy continues to accumulate, it gives rise to special curses known as Cursed Spirits."

"Ordinary people cannot see or hear them. Even when attacked by a Cursed Spirit, it is difficult for them to sense the Cursed Spirit's presence."

Zhou Yushan froze. "Seriously? That's so unfair?"

Tang Qingxue pointed at the still-unconscious Yu Xinran. "When he fell into the water just now, did you feel anything?"

Zhou Yushan's face stiffened. "...No!"

"Exactly! Ordinary people have almost no means of dealing with Cursed Spirits. To fight them, you need people who can also use Cursed Energy." Tang Qingxue said, "Such people are called Jujutsu Sorcerers—the 'superpowered people' you often talk about!"

Zhou Yushan suddenly turned around and looked at Ren Tong beside him. "Ren Tong, you saw the 'Cursed Spirit' Tang Qingxue mentioned too. Don't tell me you're also one of those 'Jujutsu Sorcerers' she mentioned?"

"Yushan, what the hell is wrong with you?" Ren Tong cursed. "If I were a 'Jujutsu Sorcerer,' wouldn't I have saved Xinran just now?"

As he spoke, Ren Tong looked toward Tang Qingxue again and asked expectantly, "Just now... I saw the Cursed Spirit too..."

"That was merely Clairvoyance under special circumstances." Zhao Ya spoke up, shattering Ren Tong's fantasy. "It is not only Jujutsu Sorcerers who can see Cursed Spirits. Some ordinary people can see them too when they are in special states."

Ren Tong opened his mouth, but the light in his eyes instantly faded.

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