Pursuit

A squad from the Kukuru Unit was assembling in one of the Zenin Clan's long corridors.

Hurried footsteps rang out across the wooden corridor as more than a dozen sorcerers in matching uniforms swiftly lined up. Their squad leader stood with his arms folded, a hint of casual contempt curling his lips.

"No matter how strong Young Master Naoya is, he could still lose if someone caught him off guard. Our opponent's just a little brat a few years old. Same rules as always-catch him before I get there, but don't kill him." The squad leader rubbed his thumb across the tip of his nose, his smile carrying a trace of cruel amusement. "Leave the finishing touches to me."

"That's all. Now, dis-"

Before he could finish, the corridor beneath their feet shattered with a thunderous crash.

Two children burst through the dust-Gu Yanzhi held Maki by the collar in his right hand, his body tracing a sharp arc through the air as he drove his right foot into the face of the squad leader, whose mouth was still open mid-command. The man flew backward like a cannonball before he could even scream, bowling over several people behind him before slamming into the wall at the far end. He slid limply to the floor and lay motionless.

Gu Yanzhi landed without so much as glancing at the wide-eyed squad members beside him, who had yet to register what had happened. He turned sideways and raised his elbow, enveloping himself in a deep blue glow of Cursed Energy before hurtling like a cannonball toward the wall ahead.

Another crash rang out as he tore through the poured-concrete wall as though it were wallpaper.

A handful of pursuers trailed behind him. When they reached the breach in the wall and saw what lay ahead, one shouted in alarm, "That bastard's heading for-the Cursed Tool Vault!"

Another squad member looked utterly incredulous. "How? He's never even been allowed into the area around a restricted place like that. How is he smashing straight through the walls toward it, almost as if-"

"He knows exactly where it is."

He smashed through another wall.

Fragments of stone sprayed around Gu Yanzhi, and brick dust turned his hair gray-white. He shook his head, scattering dust from the ends of his hair.

Gu Yanzhi knew his current Cursed Energy control was far too inefficient, and his use of his Cursed Technique was extremely crude. His chances of winning a head-on confrontation with the Zenin Clan were probably poor, so he needed to visit their Cursed Tool Vault-and borrow a few things.

A pale purple barrier appeared before him, enveloping the entire Cursed Tool Vault.

Gu Yanzhi released his grip on Maki and used Psychokinesis to suspend her beside him, then formed hand signs as he ran.

The instant he approached the barrier, he spread both hands. His Cursed Energy fluctuated, and he passed straight through the barrier with Maki.

He kept moving after entering the barrier, running straight toward the armory. He kicked its doors open, and the space beyond opened up before him.

Sure enough, the Zenin Clan still possessed substantial reserves. In his previous life, he had looted their Cursed Tool Vault while preparing to deal with Kenjaku, only to find little left. That was probably because Maki, the Heavenly Restriction Tyrant, had already left the clan in ruins through her revenge. Their Cursed Tools had either been destroyed or divided among Jujutsu High and the other two clans.

A dazzling array of Cursed Tools stood on the racks, each shimmering with a different-colored halo of Cursed Energy.

The pursuing footsteps behind him drew closer and closer. Members of the Kukuru Unit were converging on the Cursed Tool Vault from every direction, and he could faintly hear their shouts and orders to assemble outside the pale purple barrier.

Gu Yanzhi had no time to stop and carefully choose. Shielding his entire body with Cursed Energy, he continued charging straight ahead, knocking over countless racks of Cursed Tools. At the same time, cold glints flashed from the scattered racks and the surrounding walls-several Cursed Tools floated into the air and followed him.

He had no time to be selective and could only grab a few Cursed Tools rich in Cursed Energy that looked expensive at a glance. This life was different from his last. Cursed Energy control in Mai's body was far too unstable, and carrying too many Cursed Tools would only burden him and slow him down.

He smashed through the doors on the other side of the Cursed Tool Vault.

Gu Yanzhi leaped into the air. A sharp sword flew out from behind him and stopped steadily beneath his feet. He rose into the air on the sword, with Maki following close behind, supported by Psychokinesis, and the two flew toward the Zenin Clan's outer wall.

The Zenin Clan reacted just as quickly. Several waves of concentrated Cursed Energy shot toward him from below, multicolored projectiles streaking across the sky with blazing trails.

With a thought, Gu Yanzhi swiftly gathered the dozen or so Cursed Tools beside him into an arcing steel shield in front of him.

The Cursed Energy projectiles struck the shield, bursting into searing balls of fire, but they could not pierce the steel defense reinforced by Psychokinesis.

Gu Yanzhi flew higher, intending to escape their attack range.

Just then, several large Shikigami emerged from the clouds high behind him. The deformed, hawk-like giant birds spread wings that blotted out the sky, carrying several Zenin Clan sorcerers on their backs.

Their uniforms snapped in the wind. The sorcerers at the front had already gathered their Cursed Energy, ready to launch a second wave of attacks.

Gu Yanzhi clicked his tongue. "They just won't let up."

With a thought, he tried to accelerate while sending several Cursed Tools stabbing backward to intercept his pursuers.

Suddenly, his body froze. He could not move at all.

The air around him seemed to have solidified. An invisible force locked his limbs firmly in place, leaving him unable to move even a fingertip. The phantom image of a pair of enormous eyes surrounded him.

Among the Zenin Shikigami squad pursuing Gu Yanzhi, a boy held both hands toward him. His eyes were wide and bloodshot, with blood beginning to seep from their corners-Ranta Zenin.

Is this his Cursed Technique? Damn it.

The Psychokinesis supporting Maki vanished instantly, and she plummeted straight down.

Gu Yanzhi did not hold out much longer either. The sword beneath his feet slipped out of his control, and he plunged helplessly toward the ground.

Wind shrieked past their ears as they fell together from dozens of meters in the air. After falling some distance, they finally escaped the range of Ranta Zenin's Cursed Technique. Gu Yanzhi regained control of his body and immediately began mobilizing his Cursed Energy, but the sudden disruption had thrown its pathways into chaos. His already unstable control was an even greater mess after being interrupted, leaving him unable to take flight again.

He simply abandoned the idea of flying again and gave himself a push toward Maki.

He pulled Maki protectively into his arms in midair and turned his back toward the ground. A deep blue layer of Cursed Energy surged over him as he used Psychokinesis to lessen the force of their descent.

At last, he slammed straight into an open patch of ground.

The dust thrown up by the impact slowly cleared, revealing a figure at the bottom of a shallow crater.

Gu Yanzhi stood with Maki in his arms, blood at the corner of his mouth. He raised an arm and casually wiped it away. Falling straight down from dozens of meters had still injured him, despite the cushioning of Psychokinesis and the protection of Cursed Energy.

He lifted Maki with Psychokinesis again, keeping his unconscious older sister suspended steadily beside him.

Gu Yanzhi turned around.

The Zenin Clan's pursuers had already arrived. More than a dozen sorcerers spread out in a fan, surrounding them.

Their uniforms differed from those of the Kukuru Unit-the clan crests embroidered on their lapels denoted a higher rank, and the Cursed Tools at their waists were of finer quality.

Gu Yanzhi frowned. None of those who had arrived had low reserves of Cursed Energy.

Are they the Hei?

The arriving members of the Hei came to a halt, their gazes piercing the thinning dust to settle on the small figure at the bottom of the crater.

Disbelief lurked beneath their composed expressions-was this girl really human? He had fallen straight down from that height, yet all he had to show for it was a little blood at the corner of his mouth. He was a monster.

Gu Yanzhi sighed and rolled his shoulders, his joints giving faint cracks.

"Oh well. I never thought I'd get away that easily anyway."

Just then, vivid firelight flared in the sky.

Everyone looked up to see the remains of several giant bird Shikigami tumbling from high above. Their bodies had been sliced into pieces by sharp blades, their enormous wings breaking apart in midair as burning feathers scattered like meteors.

Amid the wreckage, a flaming katana cut through the sky, spinning as it plunged straight down and embedded itself directly in front of a member of the Hei squad. Flames raged along its blade, the crimson glow lighting everyone's faces.

Dozens of swords and staves gleaming with dazzling Cursed Energy followed, falling from the sky together. They struck the ground as densely as a torrential downpour, planting themselves between Gu Yanzhi and the Hei squad to form a silver boundary of Cursed Tools.

The Hei squad member stood behind the blazing katana that had landed before him. The intense heat warped the air, yet his expression remained unchanged, as though the flames before him did not exist. He narrowed his eyes slightly, staring through the roaring fire at the little child radiating dense Cursed Energy.

Gu Yanzhi met his gaze.

"Then let's see what you've got."