An open scheme?

"There's no way I'll let you move!"

She looked at Yue Liusi, drenched in sweat, her movements identical to his. Clearly, this was her Cursed Technique.

By linking through eye contact, she forced others to copy her movements!

She was only a Grade 2 Sorcerer, and it was precisely because she possessed this Cursed Technique that she had been chosen for this mission!

Just as the Curse User's attack was about to strike Yue Liusi, his figure suddenly vanished.

The Jujutsu Sorcerer paled in shock. The gap was too great; she could no longer maintain her Cursed Technique!

But before she could react, the world spun before her eyes.

Was that... my body?

When...

"Three."

After finishing off the Jujutsu Sorcerer, Yue Liusi turned his gaze to the Curse User.

Seeing his companion had been killed, the Curse User's pupils contracted.

Too fast!

The fused monster charged at Yue Liusi again, but this time, instead of attacking, it swelled up!

Self-destruction!

Seizing the opportunity, the Curse User fled frantically.

But when he looked back again, despair flooded his heart.

"Not a scratch? How is that possible!"

The next moment, his vision went completely dark.

"Four."

Yue Liusi spoke flatly, then looked up at the birds circling overhead. Realizing something, he scanned the surrounding high-rises.

Meanwhile, on the rooftop of a distant high-rise.

"Hiss... what kind of monster is he..."

The observer kept his eyes closed, his brows tightly furrowed. This was proving extremely troublesome; almost everyone sent on the mission was dead!

He immediately prepared to retreat with his companion.

Just then, he suddenly sensed something was wrong.

Wait! Where was he?

His Cursed Technique allowed him to use animals to perceive and monitor his surroundings. That was precisely how he had found a chance to strike when those two were the only people within several kilometers.

Yet Yue Liusi had simply vanished under such extensive surveillance?

"This is too dangerous. What the hell are the Higher-Ups doing? How are we supposed to finish off Shoko Ieiri right under his nose?"

Growing increasingly uneasy, he hurriedly withdrew his Cursed Technique. The instant his senses returned, he smelled something.

The wind on the rooftop...

Was that... blood?

Why had the wind suddenly stopped?

No, my fingers can still feel the wind moving, but my body can't. Something is blocking it...

Thud.

The sound of something rolling to his feet finally made him open his eyes.

It was his companion's head.

This was a Grade 1 Jujutsu Sorcerer who specialized in defense!

His body trembled uncontrollably. Gritting his teeth, he looked behind him, only to see the vanished enemy standing quietly at his back.

Beneath the shadows of his hair, those scarlet eyes resembled an evil spirit from the depths of hell.

And a whisper from hell reached his ears.

"Now, I'll ask, and you'll answer."

Watching the lava around her recede, Shoko Ieiri knew Yue Liusi had dealt with the enemy.

The thought had barely crossed her mind before he appeared.

Yue Liusi was looking at his system missions. Aside from mission three, which he still had no leads on, he had already completed most of mission two.

His gaze shifted to Shoko Ieiri, and he said,

"Six people in total. Curse Users and Jujutsu Sorcerers joined forces, and there was even a bounty hunter. Three Grade 1s and three Grade 2s."

"The Jujutsu Higher-Ups were behind it, but I think there's a very good chance certain people were helping things along."

At his words, Shoko Ieiri raised an eyebrow and immediately caught on.

"You mean Kenjaku?"

"Who else could it be?"

He had always known Kenjaku had a mole among the Higher-Ups. Wanting to go after Shoko Ieiri wasn't difficult to understand, but he hadn't expected the Higher-Ups to actually agree to the plan.

Utterly idiotic.

Was it because Shoko Ieiri was helping people from the Gojo Faction, or because she had become involved with me?

Or perhaps Kenjaku had made some deal with the Higher-Ups.

Or all of the above.

"Doesn't he know how strong you are? Why would he send these people?"

Shoko Ieiri was somewhat surprised.

Although a lineup of three Grade 1s and three Grade 2s was already very powerful, and their target was her rather than Yue Liusi, so it really should have been easy.

The problem was that they would have to get past Yue Liusi to target her.

It wasn't as though those people didn't know that.

Against Yue Liusi, they were rather weak. After all, he had ended the fight so quickly and still looked so calm and unruffled.

Yue Liusi thought for a moment, realized something, and said softly,

"It was probably aimed at me."

Hearing this, Shoko Ieiri thought it over and reached the same conclusion.

"So that's how it is..."

Kenjaku had probably recognized the irreconcilable conflict between Yue Liusi and the Jujutsu Higher-Ups, and had brought this about to add fuel to the fire.

But why not try to assassinate Yue Liusi directly?

That would surely have had a more direct effect. Did Kenjaku think targeting me would accomplish more?

Shoko Ieiri shook her head. Just as she was about to say something, she looked up and saw the chill in Yue Liusi's eyes.

She silently swallowed her words.

All right, that did seem to be the case.

"It doesn't feel very good to have someone else dragged into trouble because of you."

Yue Liusi spoke softly, while Shoko Ieiri felt somewhat helpless at his words.

"When it comes down to it, I'm the one who dragged you into this."

"So, what are you planning to do about Kenjaku's scheme?"

This was practically an open scheme.

Because the Higher-Ups really were the ones behind it.

Yue Liusi smiled and looked at Shoko Ieiri.

"It was something I had to do anyway. It's time to settle both old and new scores, with or without Kenjaku. As for what comes afterward, haven't you already given me the answer?"

"Shoko, you're the one who said to trust your companions. How did you forget so quickly?"

"Kenjaku thinks using me to act will help him clear away obstacles, but he's never considered whether he can make use of the people who take power afterward."

"He's far too fanciful."

A thoughtful look flashed through Yue Liusi's eyes.

"The food was all ruined, wasn't it? Shall we make some more?"

Shoko Ieiri asked, and Yue Liusi raised an eyebrow at her words.

He had dealt with the enemies very quickly, but the food had been destroyed by that first attack.

"You still have the leisure to think about eating at a time like this?"

"How could we not eat?"

Shoko Ieiri said with a smile.

The two walked side by side beneath the moonlight. Like gauze, it stretched their shadows long. Tokyo's electricity had long since stopped working, and now only the bright moon in the sky lit the way ahead.

"Oh, right, the damaged parts of the house need repairs, too. We can't just leave them broken. Do you know how to repair a house?"

"I can make the broken parts out of stone."

"You..."

"Yue, has anyone ever told you how annoying you are?"

"No. Why, Shoko? Do you find me annoying?"

"Hiss... why are you kicking me?"

"Stop! Stop! I'll fix it!"