Chapter 76 "Are you going to abandon me?"...

Is this the world as you see it?

Ji Guoyan's voice was hoarse, he was breathing heavily, and his five fingers were firmly planted on the floor, trying to calm himself down.

He didn't know why Yoriichi would come to find him in the middle of the night, nor was he interested in knowing, so before he could speak, he asked the question that had been puzzling him for some time.

Why was Yoriichi Tsugikuni able to defeat Nobu Uesugi?

Kokuichi believed he had never slacked off. He was certain he had no problem with diligent practice, and in terms of talent, he had already surpassed others by a great margin. Even if he couldn't compare to Yoriichi, the gap wouldn't be this large.

Therefore, there must be some things he hasn't noticed.

Yoriichi Tsugikuni sat facing him. He didn't really want to talk about this topic, but Iwakatsu Tsugikuni was staring at him so intently that he couldn't escape.

Everyone was "transparent" in his eyes, Tsugikuni Yoriichi said, and his next words would stir up a storm in the hearts of everyone who practiced swordsmanship.

Yoriichi Tsugikuni, how blessed he is! Heaven has already arranged the best conditions for him.

Although he has had a few bad years, his future is bright. He possesses talent that ordinary people cannot match, and he will become the greatest swordsman...

To outsiders, it was Kokushibo who stole Yoriichi's life from the first few years of his life, even though Yoriichi didn't understand anything at the time and everything was just his father's arrangement.

However, none of that matters anymore.

Ji Guoyansheng didn't want to see pity or gloating on his servants' faces, so he locked himself in his room and silently processed his inner turmoil.

When Zhu Nai arrived, Ji Guoyansheng had the door tightly shut, and the food placed at the doorway had completely gone cold.

The servants didn't try very hard to persuade him to eat; they were also wavering, not because of their past service to Tsugikuni Iwakatsu, but simply because the head of the family had not yet announced who the next successor would be.

But Jiguo Yansheng knew that the name of the person who was abandoned had already been revealed, but it had not been announced because of his mother's desperate obstruction. However, it wouldn't be long before it was revealed.

He sat there upright in the room, as if he were about to blend into the dim environment. Zhu Nai hugged him and gently patted his back to comfort him.

Kokushiro Tsugikuni hadn't been hugged like this by his mother in a long time, because as the heir, he couldn't act so weakly, but Yoriichi could.

He didn't know when it started, but he began to feel "envy," a feeling that was very unfamiliar to him.

Perhaps it's not so unfamiliar anymore, because there have been many moments when he felt a very similar feeling of suffocation, a feeling that made his heart itch and want more.

It sounds incredible that Kokushibo would envy his younger brother, who was inferior to him in every way. He himself couldn't understand it, since he had more than Yoriichi in every aspect.

However, this idea seems ridiculous now. Yoriichi Tsugikuni is the one who has everything, while he has nothing from beginning to end.

"…………"

"You're leaving?" It took Jikuni Iwakatsu a long time to realize that Yoriichi had come to say goodbye. Without much thought, he frowned and blurted out, "Why are you leaving?"

In fact, Kokushima Tsugikuni didn't think Yoriichi would leave.

His life as heir is about to begin. The days of oppression he suffered in his childhood are long gone, replaced by happiness that is within his grasp. Giving this up will not be an easy thing.

Besides, this was arranged by Father.

Ji Guoyuan shook his head expressionlessly without answering. His purpose in coming here was only to say goodbye, and he did not intend to explain anything else.

This attitude undoubtedly ignited Ji Guoyansheng's anger. He knew that his emotions were not right, but he couldn't help but vent them.

"What about Azhi? Are you going to let her come with you?" He asked coldly, his eyes full of sarcasm. "Do you want her to suffer with you?"

"There's been constant war outside, it's so dangerous. Can you guarantee her safety all the time? If she goes to a temple to practice Buddhism, they won't allow you to bring maids with you."

Kokushiro Tsugikuni was unaware that his series of questions were all pointed at one thing: no matter what, the girl could not go with Yoriichi Tsugikuni.

It was his subconscious that was acting up; no matter what, he didn't want A-Zhi to leave.

Jiguo Yansheng once thought he possessed a lot, but now he realizes that it was all an illusion.

Aori was specially chosen by Yoriichi's mother.

When his father was summoned last time, he confirmed with him that what Uesugi Shin had said was true. Then, Tsugikuni Iwakatsu saw the undisguised smile on his face, which was also directed at Yoriichi.

His father would always scold him, criticizing him for not working hard enough and for not being able to shoulder the burden.

Jiguo Yansheng did not necessarily want to be the heir.

Losing the status of heir simply means moving to a cramped room, losing the large number of servants, and the fine clothes and delicious food, but these are all fleeting.

Ji Guoyan had never been complacent about possessing these things before. He followed the rules and naturally would not be distressed by losing them.

He believed he would adapt quickly, but Ah Zhi was someone he absolutely had to stay.

Since the girl was chosen by the mother for Yoriichi, who was in pain, and now Yoriichi has taken his place, he has been banished to Yoriichi's situation.

Does this mean that Azhi was chosen for him?

Kokushiro knew that by following Yoriichi, who would become the heir, Ori would undoubtedly have a better life. But... but everything would be enjoyed by Yoriichi, while he had worked so hard for so long and had nothing.

Fate has been far too kind to Yoriichi Tsugikuni; it's just too unfair.

He promised that he would do his best to provide Ah Zhi with the best quality of life in the future, that he would cherish her, and that he would play and laugh with her...

As long as she doesn't leave with Yoriichi.

Ji Guoyan gritted his teeth, but the next second, the ferocious expression on his face froze. The reason for this was the boy's next words.

With a solemn tone, Jikuni said, "I would like to ask my brother to take care of A-Zhi for me."

********

Azhi was woken from her sleep. Looking out the window at the dark night, she wondered if something was wrong with 000.

"Didn't you notice Yoriichi Tsugikuni is missing?" 000 let out a heavy sigh, forced to reveal a terrifying truth for Ori: "He's about to sneak away behind your back."

It figured that given Aori's slowness of perception, if it didn't remind her, she might not realize that Yoriichi Tsugikuni had left until the target had run quite a distance.

It will probably be very bad then. Azhi might really cry her heart out. 000 can't stand this.

Azhi looked around, her gaze finally settling on the empty bed. She stared blankly, as if struck by lightning, and let out a stunned "Ah!" [???]

Azhi bit her lip, a little suspicious, but also feeling that 000 had no reason to lie to her about something like this. Torn between these thoughts, her eyes immediately welled up with tears.

She came for Yoriichi Tsugikuni. If he left, Ori didn't know what her life would become. Everything in the future became unknown, which frightened her.

Yoriichi Tsugikuni didn't want to leave without saying goodbye; rather, he didn't know how to explain the situation to the girl.

Tsugikuni Iwakatsu's words were quite correct. If they were to bring Aori along, they would inevitably have to live a nomadic life first. Tsugikuni Yoriichi himself didn't mind, but he didn't want the girl to experience that kind of hardship.

So he thought he should first find a place to stay. If all went well, it wouldn't take too long. Once he found a place, he could come back and pick up Azhi.

He couldn't explain it clearly to Azhi, firstly because he wasn't very good at this and couldn't guarantee that he could express his true thoughts, which could easily cause a bigger misunderstanding.

Secondly, he felt that A-Zhi wouldn't agree, and he was likely to succumb to the girl's tearful charm, so he simply entrusted the explanation to his mother as well.

Yoriichi Tsugikuni certainly wanted to be with the girl, and he also felt that Ori would want to be with her, but the outside world is full of changes, and this is not something that can be gambled on.

He had prepared his luggage in advance. The contents were simple: just a change of clothes and... things that A-Zhi had once given him.

However, unlike what Yoriichi Tsugikuni imagined, the girl who should have been sleeping soundly had already woken up, and from a distance, candles were lit in the pitifully small house.

The door creaked open.

Azhi lifted her head from her arms, and upon seeing the familiar face, she could no longer hold back, her voice thick with nasal tones: "Where have you been?"

She looked like she had been crying secretly; her eyelids had turned a pitiful pink. She tilted her head back, trying to hold back the stinging in her nose and eyes: "Are you going to leave me?"

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Author's Note: Caught red-handed

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