The Resolve to Let Go, Part One

"What did you just say?" Zhao Wuji asked, his eyes widening.

"Deliberately damage his Martial Soul, then repair it a second time. Since my Spirit Skill lets me guide the repair to some extent, it could theoretically make it better."

Before Jodio could finish, Zhao Wuji grabbed him by his black tank top—the same style DIO wore, the same style worn by masters of magnetic fields—and hauled him up. Disbelief and alarm crossed Zhao Wuji's face, followed by shock, anger, worry, and doubt. Jodio's decision had shaken him to the core.

"Little Jo! Do you know what you're saying? That's like forcing an honest woman into prostitution, making a water buffalo eat beef skewers, or making a student play a prank in the teachers' office! Do you understand what you just said?" Zhao Wuji shouted.

"Of course I do." Jodio calmly pressed a hand against Zhao Wuji's grip and made him let go.

"It's dangerous. He could even die, or become a Fallen One. Teacher Zhao, you traveled far and wide back in the day. You must have seen Soul Masters like that, haven't you?" Jodio asked, looking up at him.

Beads of sweat covered Zhao Wuji's face. He slowly backed away with difficulty, then dropped heavily into a chair. With everyone watching, he began to recount something from his past.

Ay-ya-ya~~ (soft background music)

"It was many years ago. After I offended a stupid ape, I had no choice but to go on the run," Zhao Wuji said slowly, staring at the floor.

"For a short while, I traveled with a team of Soul Masters. We made camp together and soon became friends. Looking back, everyone else's face has blurred. Only that woman's face remains clear. It's like a nightmare."

"One night, I was restless and couldn't sleep. The dogs at the campsite were barking loudly, and the moon was bright, so I went for a walk. I thought I might cultivate my Soul Power under a tree."

"But the moment I stepped out of my tent, I smelled blood! There was no mistaking it. Human blood. I went to the other tents, nervous, and lifted a flap. There she was!"

"The blood shot up like a faucet bursting open! Like a furious woman spewing curses after someone stepped on her shoe! It sprayed everywhere, and that woman was eating our companion's body! Do you understand?" Zhao Wuji said in horror.

"That was how I learned Fallen Ones existed. Damn it! Damn that bitch! I even had a crush on her! I must have been blind!" Zhao Wuji roared.

"Hey, calm down. You'll scare the students." Flender hurried over and put a hand on Zhao Wuji's shoulder.

"When I asked her how many people she'd killed, do you know what she said, Owl?" Zhao Wuji asked, breathing hard.

"She said, 'Do you remember how many meat-stuffed flatbreads you've eaten?'"

"No. I'm against it! We absolutely can't do that! Little Jo, didn't you say there were plans B and C? Let's use one of those! I'm begging you!" Zhao Wuji came over and gripped Jodio's shoulders, utterly sincere.

"Teacher, you're forgetting something," Jodio said evenly.

"Only Ma Hongjun can choose. The decision is his."

Everyone looked at Ma Hongjun again. This time, he fell silent too. Should he choose the riskier path that could succeed now, or another path that might take ten or twenty years—or never succeed at all?

"Boss Jo, what are the other options?" Ma Hongjun asked.

"Plan B is to find a Legendary Herb that can purify your Martial Soul. It's highly compatible with you. And if an herb can purify your Martial Soul, that proves it can be changed. It isn't fixed forever," Jodio explained.

"How rare is the herb?" Flender asked.

"If it suited them, even Titled Douluo would fight over it."

Flender's first instinct was to rule out the possibility. They had no hope of securing a herb that precious. Even Titled Douluo coveted it, and possessing such a treasure could bring disaster down on an innocent man.

"Plan C is Martial Soul Ascension, a secret technique passed down only within my clan. It's the art my people refined over generations. But the minimum requirement is level fifty-nine, and the ascension can only begin after obtaining a sixth Spirit Ring. As for Hongjun's Martial Soul problem..." Jodio left the rest unsaid, but everyone understood.

"But Little Ma, I gave you my word of honor. I said I would cure you, and I will. I don't care how hard it is, or whether it's worth it. That's the line I won't cross. It's my pride as a strong man," Jodio said earnestly.

"Still... you can cling to a quiet life, or stand like a warrior—a Roman Gladiator—and face the unknown. Well..." Jodio casually rested his cheek on one hand.

"That's enough, Little Jo." Flender raised a hand to stop him. He walked up to Ma Hongjun, met the seated boy's eyes, then put a hand on his shoulder. He pulled Ma Hongjun to his feet and into an embrace.

"!" Ma Hongjun was startled. Was Owl after his—

"Little Ma, you're one of the students I'm proudest of," Flender said softly as he held him.

"I don't need you to have a brilliant future like Oscar, Jodio, or Dai Mubai. All I want is for you to live happily and freely," Flender continued.

"I could never allow you to take a risk like this! Little Ma, follow your heart. There's nothing wrong with an ordinary life. How about teaching students with me for the rest of your days?" Flender asked with a smile.

"Teacher..." Ma Hongjun went still. Then two streams of hot tears ran down his cheeks. Shame, pain, pride, Dominion Drive, and fierce ambition surged through him at once. How could I... how could I... how could I dither like some miserable fool?

"Ah~~~ Marisa~~~!!" Ma Hongjun burst into tears. He wept freely and miserably, hiding none of his grief. Every bit of pain and gratitude inside him came pouring out!

He cried for a full three minutes, until he had no tears left. Ma Hongjun slowly got up from the ground; he had cried so hard that he had sunk to the floor. But now his heart was full of courage, and he no longer feared the unknown.

"Hey, old man," Ma Hongjun said to Flender, his face marked with Araki-style lines.

"You'd better live to be a hundred. I'm still planning to take care of you when you're old." Ma Hongjun patted Flender's shoulder.

"Heh." Jodio smiled with narrowed eyes. Resolve seemed to be bursting out of Ma Hongjun.

"Hehe, Boss, I'm full of determination and Dominion Drive now. Let's get started~" Ma Hongjun said, straightening up and smiling at Jodio.

← To Be Continued

Gao Weis—JoJo! (Coin drops.) (JoJo Part Five transition music.)

Information currently available:

Level 76 Martial Soul: Vigorous Vajra Bear (Vigorous Vajra Bear/Mighty Diamond Bear)

Holder: Zhao Wuji

Spirit Ring ranks: yellow, yellow, purple, purple, black, black, black. (The fifth Spirit Skill was described as purple when it first appeared in the novel, but this follows the final revised setting, taking later corrections and the animated adaptation into account.)

Destructive power: A; speed: C-; range: C+; stamina: B; precision: B; growth potential: C (current).

Martial Soul abilities: Extremely strong offense and defense make him a formidable combat Soul Master. Like most bear-type Martial Souls, the Vigorous Vajra Bear favors defense and direct attacks, with immense power to overwhelm opponents head-on.

Its Spirit Skills are gravity-based, however, and must not be underestimated. They give it an unusual attack style. By increasing gravity with his third Spirit Skill and using gravitational repulsion or attraction with his fifth, Zhao Wuji can create a small gravitational field centered on himself. He often catches opponents off guard with it. After all, who would expect a bear-type Martial Soul to wield gravity with such precision? (Laughs.)

In theory, Zhao Wuji's potential extends much further through the study and use of gravity. But with age and no clan support, his growth potential has now fallen sharply to C.