Return to Jujutsu High

"Even so, you could have handed over the technology to save your life. Your life is worth more than a hundred times as much as those unfinished techniques!"

Huge tears dripped from the Cursed Corpse's eyes. Panda, whom Yaga had created, could cry too.

"Panda... it's not that simple."

Yaga watched Panda's tears fall without end. To him, Panda was like his own child, and Yaga was just as reluctant to part with the lives he had created with his own hands.

Rather than interrupt the tender moment between father and son, Lu Yun glanced at the bald, white-bearded old man beside them.

"What do we do with this old gentleman?"

Ever since Okkotsu had appeared, Principal Gakuganji of Kyoto Jujutsu High had lost all desire to fight. He knew his strength alone was no match for a Special Grade Sorcerer like Okkotsu, never mind all the allies at Okkotsu's side.

Okkotsu turned his gaze toward Yaga. A decision like this was best left to the man directly involved.

Noticing everyone's eyes on him, Masamichi Yaga hurriedly wiped his damp eyes and said:

"Principal Gakuganji had little to do with this. He was forced into it too. Let him leave."

Since Yaga himself had said so, the others had even less reason to press the matter. Itadori and the others, who had loosely surrounded Gakuganji, relaxed and opened a path for the principal of Kyoto Jujutsu High.

"Yaga, why?"

Gakuganji did not understand why Yaga would spare him, the Executioner sent to kill him.

"You're not like them. That's enough."

After so many years of friendship, Yaga knew exactly what kind of man his old friend was. Fastidious and rigid, he had gradually declined with age, but there were still parts of him that could be trusted. Yaga believed Gakuganji would never sink to the level of those revolting people in the higher ranks. He had only carried out their orders because he had no choice.

"I see."

Before leaving, Principal Gakuganji gave his old friend a long, searching look, then disappeared into the vast darkness of the night.

"Where do we go next?"

"Back to Jujutsu High first. Miss Tsukumo and the others are still waiting, and we need to see Master Tengen too."

"Right."

With their decision made, Lu Yun and the others headed toward Jujutsu High.

"Living in the mountains sure is nice~"

Early the next morning, Lu Yun stood on the balcony in nothing but his underwear and shouted toward the mountains behind the Jujutsu High dormitories.

Perhaps it was because he had grown stronger, but Lu Yun now needed only a short sleep to stay full of energy all day.

"You're up early, Mr. Lu Yun."

Hearing the noise, Yuta Okkotsu opened the balcony door next door with a yawn. Heavy dark circles still hung beneath his eyes.

Lu Yun was puzzled. Okkotsu was a Special Grade Sorcerer, after all, and he could even use Reverse Cursed Technique. Why did he look sleep-deprived every single day?

"Okkotsu, those bags under your eyes are awfully dark. Are you feeling unwell?"

Okkotsu hurriedly waved his hands and explained:

"No, no, I've always looked like this."

"That's good. I thought you were sneaking off every night to do unspeakable things with Rika, leaving you looking so drained."

"Of course not!!"

Okkotsu's voice rose before he realized it.

Still, the reason for Okkotsu's severe dark circles might really have had something to do with Rika.

As Yuta Okkotsu's external Cursed Technique, Rika could store his excess cursed energy. That was also where his unlimited cursed energy came from while connected to her. Perhaps Okkotsu was sleep-deprived because he stayed up every night pouring cursed energy into Rika. He certainly was diligent.

"You can't outstockpile me in cursed energy. Believe it or not?"

Lu Yun pondered that. When it came purely to stockpiling cursed energy, he might genuinely be no match for Yuta Okkotsu, even though his own total reserves were greater. After all, Lu Yun did not have an external Cursed Technique that could store unlimited cursed energy for him.

"That damned little deer. All he does is eat my food and drink my drinks. He's completely useless."

Lu Yun berated Hajime Kashimo for being useless. He spent every day sleeping inside Lu Yun's body without paying a cent in rent. If only the little deer could store cursed energy for him like Rika did.

Hajime Kashimo: ???

He had finally realized it. Ever since the binding vow was lifted, Lu Yun had shown him less and less respect. He no longer called him Deer God, only "little deer" day after day, and even threw in an insult now and then. It was utterly outrageous!

When had Hajime Kashimo ever suffered such indignity? If he had not graciously spared Lu Yun, the man would have been nearly ten days into his next life by now.

Just you wait, Lu Yun. Once I regain control of the body and defeat Sukuna, I'll make you pay!!

Hajime Kashimo silently gritted his teeth and swore to teach Lu Yun a lesson he would never forget.

As the sun gradually rose, the others at Jujutsu High got up one after another. After getting ready, they prepared to head to Yuki Tsukumo's hideout.

"By the way, why does she need to hide? Can't she just stay out in the open at Jujutsu High like us?"

As they walked, Lu Yun asked Okkotsu, who was leading the way beside him.

"I think she doesn't want to deal with the higher-ups."

"Why not just kill those guys whenever they show up? She's a Special Grade Sorcerer, isn't she? Shouldn't the higher-ups be avoiding her?"

Yuta Okkotsu felt a bead of sweat form. How was Mr. Lu Yun even more extreme than he was?

"Uh... maybe she thinks it's too much trouble."

They went down a flight of stairs and entered a room that resembled a basement.

"Finally here? You certainly kept us waiting."

Yuki Tsukumo, her blonde hair falling in large waves, lounged on a sofa with only the back of her head visible to Lu Yun and the others.

Behind her sat Maki Zenin, covered in burn scars, wearing glasses as she read a book.

"Maki, you're already able to get up?"

Since Megumi Fushiguro had been responsible for contacting Tsukumo, Yuta Okkotsu did not know how Maki Zenin was doing. Seeing her sitting there as though nothing were wrong, he hurried over.

"Yeah, I'm fine."

Closing her book, Maki looked at the people filing into the room before her.

"There sure are a lot of you."

Besides Itadori's group of four from the original storyline, the party now also included Lu Yun, Panda, and Principal Yaga.

Yaga had originally planned to stay at the school, but Panda worried that assassins from the Council of Elders might attack him again if he was alone, so he had insisted on dragging him along.

Yuki Tsukumo turned around and studied the two new faces in the crowd with interest.

"Aren't you going to introduce our two new friends?"

Yuji Itadori patted Choso's shoulder and introduced him:

"This is my big brother."

"Itadori, aren't you an only child?"

Maki was puzzled.

"Well, it's complicated."

Itadori's expression immediately grew conflicted.

Was Itadori from a blended family? Had one of his parents already had a child before they got together?

Still, it was his family's business, so Maki did not ask any more questions.

"And who is this?"

Yuki Tsukumo raised an eyebrow at Lu Yun curiously.

Itadori was about to continue when Yuta Okkotsu squeezed his shoulder.

"Let me introduce him."

Given Lu Yun's identity, an introduction from a Special Grade Sorcerer like Okkotsu would carry more weight.

"This is Mr. Lu Yun, someone I invited to help Jujutsu High. His combat strength is enough to rival Gojo-sensei's."

At those words, everyone was stunned.