Naoya, standing to the side, listened to his father's evaluation, but did not rebel as usual.
He stared at Lu Ping's profile, his fingers tightening slightly as he gripped the wine flask, the afternoon's confrontation involuntarily flashing through his mind.
That devastating punch, and the terrifying momentum that shook the entire mansion when he clashed with the old patriarch.
The image of Toji Zenin, whom he once admired so much, has become somewhat blurry in his memory for some reason.
The man had been gone for so long that he could no longer accurately gauge the other's true strength.
But the person in front of him was sitting right next to him.
He is a strongman recognized by the old patriarch, a reliable person who can stand up for him and resolve crises in critical moments.
A complex emotion, a mixture of awe and gratitude, spread through my heart.
Naoya felt his ears starting to burn, and an unnatural blush rising on his cheeks.
On the other side, the Three Corpses lurking within Lu Ping's body pulsated slightly.
A pure, even somewhat fanatical, sense of goodwill was transmitted over the extremely short distance.
Lu Ping paused in his act of picking up food.
He turned his head and gave Naoya a calm look.
This usually arrogant young master was now blushing, lost in thought.
Lu Ping his gaze back, picked up his wine glass, and took a small sip.
The crisp liquor glides down your throat, carrying a subtle aroma of rice, with a lingering sweet aftertaste.
"Excellent wine," he exclaimed sincerely.
"Of course." The Naobito Zenin laughed smugly, his beard twitching.
"This is top-grade Junmai Daiginjo sake; I wouldn't even dare drink it myself."
The old patriarch hiccuped and continued, "These days, the Jujutsu World is short-handed everywhere. I occasionally sneak out some side jobs to earn extra money, otherwise, how could I afford such good stuff... Don't worry, it's definitely not because you sent me the bill. Don't worry about that small amount."
After he finished speaking, he patted the wooden floor beside him.
"Don't be fooled by our large and powerful family; we still need to keep things clear-cut. We'll use public funds to support our family members who need to eat, and I'll earn my own money for alcohol. That way, this shabby ship can at least stay in my hands for a few more years."
At this point, he glanced at Naoya, whose face was flushed, and couldn't help but tease him, "He's clearly my son, yet his alcohol tolerance is so low; he only took one sip and his face is already red."
Lu Ping smiled, but couldn't help thinking that during the Shibuya Incident in the future, you would also be unable to hold your liquor. It's a family trait, so no one should laugh at anyone else.
Naoya Zenin was so embarrassed by his father's public mockery that he wished he could disappear into the ground.
He nodded haphazardly, attributing his blushing to the effects of the alcohol.
After a few drinks, the atmosphere became increasingly harmonious.
Slightly intoxicated, the Naobito Zenin put down his gourd and posed a question that had been troubling him all night.
"Kid, I'm curious."
The old patriarch leaned forward slightly, his gaze sharpening.
"[Ten Shadows Technique] are clearly summoning Cursed Technique that use shadows as a medium. Why are you spending so much time and energy improving your fist fighting skills?"
Upon hearing this question, Lu Ping put down his chopsticks.
He couldn't very well tell the other party that, according to his theory—the core of Jujutsu —was actually close-quarters elbow strikes.
When high-level battles reach a breaking point, the Cursed Technique enters a long period of stagnation, and the efficiency of the Reverse Cursed Technique drops significantly.
At that point, no matter how fancy the mechanisms are, they won't be reliable.
The only thing that can determine life or death is strengthening your physical body with Cursed Energy and then going up to fight the enemy directly!
Of course, these are the kinds of truths that can't be said outright.
Lu Ping sat up straight, his casual expression disappearing.
He looked at the old patriarch and gave a profound and enigmatic answer in a serious tone.
"Because Jujutsu is merely the surface of the body."
The sound wasn't loud, but it reached the ears of the Naobito Zenin clearly.
"The depth of the soul and the strength of the body are the core and essence of Jujutsu."
Upon hearing this,
The Nagato's fingers, which were twirling his beard, Naobito Zenin stopped, and a terrifying glint flashed in his cloudy eyes.
That one sentence was like a thunderbolt, shattering the doubts that had lingered in his heart for many years.
He finally understood why all those exceptionally talented Ten Shadows Sorcerer of the Zenin Clan throughout history had ultimately fallen victim to the ritual of subduing the Mahoraga.
Because that Cursed Technique is so much like a perfect wheelchair.
With a super healer like [Round Deer] who can provide Positive Cursed Energy, they don't need to force themselves to comprehend Reverse Cursed Technique on the brink of life and death.
When faced with an insurmountable predicament, their subconscious thought is always: release the Mahoraga and drag the enemy down with them.
This cowardly mentality of being overly reliant on external aids and lacking the courage to take a desperate gamble is the real shackle that prevents them from reaching the pinnacle of Jujutsu!
The sixteen-year-old boy in front of me had actually seen through this fatal logical trap the moment he had just grasped the basics of the Cursed Technique.
The Naobito Zenin took a deep breath, suppressing the shock in his heart.
He looked at Lu Ping, who was quietly eating fish, and couldn't hide the smile on his face.
This kid's future is frighteningly promising.
After several rounds of drinks, the atmosphere at the banquet became increasingly lively.
The Naobito Zenin put down the gourd he was holding.
The old patriarch casually stroked his beard and declared at the dinner table that tonight's lavish banquet was not a way to thank them for the trivial mess they had left behind that afternoon.
"It's to celebrate the potential this kid has shown."
The old man's gaze towards Lu Ping was filled with undisguised admiration.
"With their potential revealed and the new inheritance of the Ten Shadows, this is the future of the Zenin Clan."
After saying that, he glanced sideways at the blond-haired boy beside him.
"As for how to thank him for your help, use your own brain to figure it out."
Naoya Zenin paused for a moment, then turned to look at the black-haired boy beside him.
The warm yellow light shone on the other person's well-defined profile.
This young master, who was always arrogant, now had undisguised admiration in his eyes.
"Brother Lu Ping, is there anything I can do for you?" he asked respectfully.
Lu Ping shook his head calmly.
"No need to be so polite; it's only natural for people of the same clan to help each other."
He picked up his glass and took another sip.
"If you really want to thank me, prepare a generous gift first thing tomorrow morning and go to the Meifu Clan to apologize to that young lady."
Naoya looked troubled, his brows furrowing.
After a brief moment of hesitation, he gritted his teeth and nodded in agreement.
Lu Ping quietly observed the changes in the other person's expression.
He knew very well that this was a violent clash of the underlying logic of the Zenin Clan.
The feudalistic ideas that discriminate against Non-Sorcerer and marginalize weaker magicians, treating them as mere consumables, are being forcibly overridden by more primitive laws.
The worship of the strong and the absolute respect for the Ten Shadows Sorcerer, coupled with the teachings from the head of the family and elders, all challenged Naoya's previously accepted feudalistic views.
Fortunately, the other party chose the right path.
This shift is undoubtedly an excellent start, indicating that there is still hope.