Awakening 05

When you opened your eyes, you were met with a pair of eyes that looked very sleepy.

"Miss, you're finally awake." The owner of the eyes was so moved that she was almost in tears. She was in a panic, smashing several antique vases that looked priceless. Your heart is bleeding, do you want me to compensate you for these?! Wait a minute, this aesthetic...

"Who are you?"

"I'm Ryoko. I've been responsible for taking care of you all this time."

"I'm glad you're awake... No, no, no, I should go and inform the head of the family immediately..." She said this, but her legs didn't move. She lowered her head and waited for your instructions.

"What day is today?"

"March 20th, the Spring Equinox. It's a shame you missed the Oinori ceremony and the Firewood Festival this year."

“This is an activity that only children like.”

Zenin Ryoko pretended not to hear.

"This is the magic card I prepared for you."

"It's great that you woke up..."

This is the third time she has said this.

Such genuine joy...

"Have we met before?"

"I've seen you before. You were always in class, so I rarely had the chance to see you."

You can't believe that this is your little fangirl.

"Tell me what Naoya has been doing these past few months." Zenin Ryoko helped you sit up. It was a wooden scepter, something Ryoko had asked for herself at the temple. It was different from the ones the Zenin family usually gave out.

You stroke the sacred dagger.

After hearing your words, Zenin Ryoko seemed to have found her backbone all of a sudden, and told you everything she knew about the destruction and torture that the great devil Naoya had inflicted on ordinary people like her in the past three months.

As you listen, you keep thinking the same thing: It's hard to change one's nature. No matter how many times you preach to him, he won't change.

Zenin Naoya's bad character was already deeply ingrained in him before he met you.

You take a deep breath and, with Zenin Ryoko's help, slowly get out of bed so you can see the broken vase more clearly. You ask calmly, "I didn't have these in my room before. Were they sent by Naoya?"

"Master Naoya gave it to you."

"well done."

Zenin Ryoko smiled but said nothing. She cleaned up the floor and helped you walk around the room a few times. You'd been bedridden for half a month at the beginning of December last year, and now you've been lying there for nearly three months...

"Ryoko, arm wrestle with me."

"That's impossible, miss." Zenin Ryoko refused you with a smile, "You're not even used to walking right now."

"Ryoko is right." You found a wooden chair and sat down in front of the window, "Tell me what happened during the time I was asleep."

This year, the cherry blossoms at the Zen temple are in full bloom, just as they always are. However, the time will soon come for the flowers to rot.

"What would you like to hear first, miss?"

"Nenchi Riko."

Zenin Ryoko stepped back and stood beside you, "Miss Tenten is currently on spring break. After spring break, she will be promoted to the middle school department of Renzhi Girls' Academy."

You took a sip of your tea. “Does she want to?”

"Of course. There's no problem with Miss Tiantian. You can rest assured."

"Um."

Zenin Ryoko handed you a cup of tea and a plate of snacks. "It's past breakfast time today. Miss, please eat these to fill your stomach first."

"When I was unconscious, I was completely in a vegetative state—"

"Well...Miss, money makes things easier." Zenin Ryoko winked playfully.

It doesn't matter, you're still alive anyway.

"Where's the letter you sent me today?"

"The master of the family burned them all."

You frowned and clicked your tongue, wanting to throw your sleeves and smash something. But you weren't Zenin Naoya, so you just sat there obediently. "What about the accusations against me?"

"The Council of Governors dropped the charges against you on December 28th of last year."

"Kamo?"

"Yes. Although the Gojo family has always been at odds with ours, but—"

【The Gojo family are all idiots.】

"Isn't it Kamo who's the one who's showing the decline of the three major families?" Zenin Ryoko thought she heard her usually elegant eldest daughter curse "old bitch." She must have heard it wrong, because the eldest daughter was sitting so dignified.

"The Gojo family has the Six Eyes, and the Zenin family is numerous and powerful. The Kamo family... has nothing."

"It's not just Kamo, miss. There's also..."

"I know. There are other old men who are afraid of death."

If it had been the head of the family or Master Naoya, the teacup would have died within three seconds. Fortunately, the young lady was still very gentle, and the teacup was still alive.

"Miss……"

Although the teacup survived for three seconds, it eventually died.

"Why call me Miss? My last name isn't Chanyuan." There are many mirrors in your house. In this place, women are different from men. Men only need to be strong in one trait. Women, on the other hand, need to be strong, fragile, and beautiful.

Only a perfect woman will not be ridiculed or mocked.

Of course you're not perfect.

The one thing you lack is strength. Without it, no matter how perfect you are in other aspects, it's useless. But if you're too strong, they'll be afraid.

"Ryoko, stand up."

I never wanted to be powerful as a sorcerer.

The power of a sorcerer is curse.

"In any case, you have Zenin blood in your veins. That alone is enough."

"Did Zenin Zhibi-jin tell you to say that?"

The maid knelt respectfully on the ground without saying a word.

"I'm going to find my uncle now."

"Miss, you can't rush around in the yard!"

"Miss, this is so indecent!"

"Miss……"

You don't want to listen.

Uh ah, I almost fell.

My legs are almost powerless.

These are the places that Zen temple dwellers often go to.

You finally found him in the small pavilion by the pool.

This pond—

You were breathless, but he was calm and composed.

"Go and tidy up the young lady's clothes."

"Don't touch me." You slapped the maid's hand away, and wanted to sit on the stone bench as unruly as Zenin Naoya, but when you sat down, you became dignified and elegant again.

You stared at him as fiercely as you could, but he just stroked his chin, chuckled at you, then turned around and said seriously, "All of you step back."

"yes."

They left without a sound. Yes, yes. In the Zenin house, most of the time, the only sounds were the fluttering of beetles and the chirping of birds, not human voices. The insects and birds were more present than the "people" in this mansion.

No, it should be said that most people are not called "people".

Those who are not from a Zen temple are not magicians, and those who are not magicians are not human beings.

The Zen temple attendant spoke first.

"You've learned your manners quite well. Look in the mirror. Do you really look fierce?"

You ran out in such a hurry, how could you possibly bring a mirror with you?

"Then I'll tell you what it is like."

"Naoya would really enjoy it."

Naoya will really like it...

"You said my expression was weak!?"

"That's right. You can't intimidate anyone. You are not a tiger, you are a cat. A pet cat of excellent appearance. No matter how you stretch out your claws, your owner will just think you are acting like a spoiled child." He threw a handful of beans into your mouth.

You nearly choked to death.

"Lucky beans. Eat them and you'll be safe from illness and disaster for a year."

"It's been so long since the Nuo ceremony. Are the beans rotten?"

"Even if it's broken, you'll eat it."

All the anger and grief vanished, and you forced yourself to calm down. "You wouldn't have said this to me before."

"Your cold expression can actually scare some young people who have never seen the world."

"People like me and Naoya are just juniors."

"You have more than one uncle."

"You're my peer. You're so old after all."

"Little bastard!" he muttered.

“Is this really okay?” You didn’t look at him. You didn’t know if he was looking at you.

"Maki and Mayi are only that little."

"I have no say."

"Even the head of the family can't change it?"

"You know this better than I do. Beliefs that have lasted less than ten years aren't easily changed, let alone beliefs that have lasted for thousands of years."

"That can't be called 'belief'."

"Whatever you say, girl, we all understand what you mean."

"Since Riko's beliefs are not so easily changed, why are you asking me to—"

"Some things can't go wrong." Zenin Zhibiren took a sip of wine. "Now that the mission is accomplished, don't dwell on it."

"The mission is so urgent, it doesn't want me to hesitate or think about it any longer."

"Pretty much. You're too soft-hearted. The longer you wait, the less you'll want to do it."

"The mission is not complete. I can change the results of my mission at any time."

Zenin Naobi raised his head slightly. At first, he didn't understand what you meant. When he realized what you meant, he clapped his hands and laughed. He was much more measured than Zenin Naoya, and the newly replaced stone table still stood firmly.

"Indeed, you have that ability. But then what? To betray the whole world for Tenriko? You can't do that."

You didn't directly respond to the Zen temple's ridicule, but instead brought up another topic: "Why didn't you just kill me?"

Zen Temple Zhibiren put away his exaggerated movements and became calm again: "I can't bear to throw away a kitten after raising it for ten years, let alone a human being."

"I mean before you took me back to Zenyuan's home." You were very dissatisfied with his jokes and wanted him to tell the whole story yourself.

"I..." You lowered your head and whispered, "After my parents died, I cursed them. The spell went out of control, and everyone in the neighborhood became my puppets. And then, after doing this, I forgot all about it and lived until now."

"You remember?" Zen Temple Zhibiren continued to play dumb.

"Why didn't you tell me the truth when those people said they were going to sentence me to death? Do you know how confused and helpless I felt at the time?"

"You can't bear the truth and have forgotten it yourself, why should I add fuel to the fire by telling you? What if you kill your nephew?"

The Zen temple's Zhibi people blew their beards and glared. You admit that what he said makes sense.

"Can you face this matter calmly now?"

"I..." You still bit your lip, your hands tightly grasping the clothes at your knees. "It's no big deal. Mom and Dad were already dead. As for the others... I didn't cause any real harm to them."

"You took care of the mess for me." You looked towards the Zen temple's Zhibiren. Sometimes you really want to sleep forever and never think about the so-called "love" again.

Dad, Mom, Riko, Kiyoko, Shinji, Uncle...

It’s so exhausting to be connected to people.

"Why didn't you just kill me?" you asked again.

"If I don't bring you back, how can I experience the days when I can't even drink this wine?" Zenin Zhibi complained, then pulled out a bottle of wine from under the table and handed it to you. "Open it."

You looked at the wine bottle that you had tampered with, pouted, and reluctantly lifted the curse.

"I was waiting at that time." Zen Temple Zhibiren suddenly said.

"What are you waiting for?" Instead of handing him the wine directly, you filled his glass.

"You can handle it yourself." He asked you to pour him a drink but he didn't drink it. This old man.

"You're being lazy."

"Humph. Anyway, you woke up from your bed on your own in the end. Just like today. But this time you slept extra long."

"What are you not asking?"

Zenin Zhibiren shook his wine glass and said, "You haven't shown the ability of mind control since you came back." Then he drank it all in one gulp.

"Now I can."

In the past, you hated this power. You didn't know how to use it properly.

Don't blame your past self.

Everyone has moments of weakness.

Zenin Zhibiren vomited up the wine he hadn't yet swallowed. You watched silently, commenting, "How disgusting."

The Zen temple's Zhibi people were about to hit you, but you said stubbornly, "You really want to use me after all!"

"A gentleman judges deeds, not intentions! I've never raised a girl."

"Go and bring Maki-mai here to raise."

"They are not as promising as you."

"You expect a kid under three years old to have any future?!"

"Jing, I'm not saying you could play the pipa at the age of three. You learn everything quickly. You're a child prodigy."

"You believe that? Go get some mental treatment!"

"Isn't this true?" the old man said awkwardly.

You were listless, and the old man said with a playful smile, "You still owe me dinner."

Oh no, Grandma—

You little bastard, you want to fight me? You're too young.

"Will Kiyoko come to see me?"

"Panasonic is very busy at the moment."

You didn't feel relieved. When Qingzi finished her work, what was waiting for you was a storm.

Now that the light-hearted topic is over, let’s get back to the main topic.

"When your emotions become too extreme, you lose consciousness and lose control of the technique. I consider this a self-protection mechanism. From what Naoya said, it seems you didn't faint right away this time."

"Yeah. Maybe it's because... I've grown up. I can't just close my eyes and pretend nothing happened like I did when I was a kid."

"You've definitely grown up... So, what are you going to do about the astral plasma?"

"I want to... meet Master Tianyuan."

"No one has seen Lord Tianyuan in the past few hundred years."

"I know. If the mountain doesn't lead me, I'll lead it. But before that, I want to ask you something: Japan has the most cursed spirits and cursers in the world. The only difference between Japan and other countries and regions is the Tianyuan barrier. Do you know what it is?"

The Zen temple's direct residents kept silent about it.

"I see."

"I have one more thing to tell you. I will no longer attend the courses arranged by the Zenyuan family."

"So what do you want to do?"

"You actually asked me what I wanted to do."

"Am I so unkind?" Zenyuan Zhibiren raised his eyebrows.

You covered your mouth and chuckled, "I was wrong."

"As for what I want to do... I'll start with the barrier technique."

"Do you still visit Tenriko?"

"No. Let them think I'm a broken man and won't change the results of my mission."

“That’s pretty cruel.”

"Didn't you say before that I was too soft-hearted?"