Chapter 85 "Huh?"

Are we going to say goodbye later?

Azhi was placed aside. She watched Yoriichi Tsugikuni pack his things at a leisurely pace, and finally packed a small package. Her tone was a little awkward.

"Yes, I'll go say goodbye to my brother."

Yoriichi put the items back in their original positions, placed the package in front of Ori with one hand, and leaned down slightly to ask, "Wait for me here?"

He could tell that Ah Zhi was a little reluctant, but it was just another trip, nothing serious.

In fact, when Yoriichi Tsugikuni lowers his eyes and looks down at something, his clear eyes always give people a sense of indifference.

Only A-Zhi knew that this was not actually the case.

Thinking of the various hospitality she had received at the Jiguo Mansion these past few days, she began to hesitate again, her fingers resting on her knees as she haphazardly tugged at her clothes.

Aori tried to convince herself by muttering: "Although Tsugikuni and Iwakatsu are a bit... we should still thank them for this period of time, right?"

Suddenly I thought of calling him "Yansheng".

000: 【...Whatever makes you happy.】

It doesn't matter anymore, I'm leaving today anyway.

Rather than believing in Aori, 000 actually believed in Yoriichi Tsugikuni, because he was not someone who would change his mind easily.

So far, the mission objective "Yoichi Tsugikuni" has not deviated too much, and the relationship between Aori and him is the ideal one it desires.

With the only possible dissenting vote gone, Aori stopped worrying and immediately grabbed Yoriichi's hand, using his strength to stand up.

"Then I'll go with you."

No matter what happens, as long as Yoriichi Tsugikuni takes her along, it seems like there's nothing that can't be solved.

******

It's a beautiful day; everything, both in the distance and indoors, is clearly visible.

The sunlight shone on the knife rack, and as the shadows of the clouds shifted, it slowly moved onto the face of the only person in the room, Ji Guoyan Sheng's striking profile, which remained expressionless.

Even though it was already his free time, he was dressed casually, but still looking down at something.

Until Yoriichi Tsugikuni arrived with Aori by his hand.

When walking with Aori, Yoriichi Tsugikuni always slowed down, which resulted in them strolling over leisurely under the watchful eyes of Iwakatsu Tsugikuni.

The figures, varying in height, appeared perfectly harmonious to outsiders, but to Jiguo Yansheng, they were glaringly conspicuous.

He slowly pursed his lips and put down the documents in his hand.

"Brother, I have come to say goodbye."

After sitting down face to face, Yoriichi Tsugikuni bowed slightly with Aori. Perhaps because he was very relaxed, he also became gentle.

Although it was expected, it came a little too quickly.

Ji Guoyansheng's jaw was clenched, and he did not answer immediately. His gaze lingered on Azhi's drooping cheek for two seconds before quickly moving away.

After a moment, he calmly looked at Yoriichi Tsugikuni: "Father should try to persuade you to stay!"

Since his mother passed away, his father has never given up searching for his adopted son, Yoriichi. Now that he has finally found him, how could he bear to let him leave?

Therefore, the father should have tried his best to get Yoriichi to move back home, just like he and his uncle did back then.

This is a conclusion that Ji Guoyansheng can reach without much analysis.

However, there is one thing that Ji Guoyan is very certain of.

That is, things are different now compared to when he was a child. His father probably no longer wants Yoriichi to replace him as the head of the Tsugikuni family.

Because he has done well enough over the years, he has enough retainers to support him.

Today, his father's thoughts no longer have much influence on him.

While thinking this without any emotion, Ji Guoyansheng slowly stated, "Father hopes you will stay here, and then we can participate in the affairs of the city together."

He looked into Yoriichi's eyes and added, "I feel the same way."

From a public standpoint, given the current tense situation, every city naturally wants as many fighters as Yoriichi as possible; from a private standpoint, he also doesn't want...

“…”

000: [No way!]

A-Zhi: [No!]

Yoriichi Tsugikuni also refused without hesitation.

The two men were of one mind on this matter.

“I rejected my father.”

Yoriichi Tsugikuni explained earnestly, a hint of childhood affection in his eyes as he looked at Iwakatsu Tsugikuni: "Knowing that my brother is doing well, I am at ease."

This unexpected reunion with Tsugikuni Iwakatsu was a pleasant surprise, but both he and Aori were a little impatient.

Yoriichi even felt that he might be more eager to return home than Ori, which he found incredible.

He wanted to walk that familiar mountain path with Azhi. Azhi would usually walk the first half by herself, and then he would carry her for the second half...

--really.

Kokushiro Tsugikuni couldn't help but let out a soft sneer. Neither Yoriichi's easy abandonment of his status nor his intention to take Ori away could satisfy him.

With this mindset, even seeing the smiles on his own brothers' faces felt incredibly ironic to him.

But the current situation is that no matter what the conditions are, it seems that nothing can shake Yoriichi Tsugikuni and Ori's determination to leave.

This undoubtedly frustrated Ji Guoyansheng, and beneath his seemingly calm face, deep remorse was churning within him.

Kurekawa was still upset about his unpleasant parting with Aori. For some reason, his patience and rationality, honed since childhood, became precarious when he was around young girls.

He knew perfectly well that he should have expressed his feelings to Azhi in a more dignified and gentle way, in a more appropriate setting, rather than abruptly disturbing her.

Just like now, he wanted to hold Azhi tightly in his arms, so that she couldn't leave this place he had carefully prepared without any regrets.

But he couldn't.

The melodious sound of bells drifted from afar, resonating and penetrating powerfully into the ears, seemingly able to captivate one's mind.

Instead of continuing the conversation with Yoriichi Tsugikuni, Kokushibo suddenly turned to Aori, who was sitting there blankly, and asked her a question.

His tone was gentle, as if nothing had happened between them: "Have you recovered yet?"

Azhi: "?"

After entering the room, Azhi sat obediently on the cushion and watched the two talk, her small face full of focus.

Although I don't understand the intricacies involved, I still pretend to know them very well.

She was still taken aback by Jiguo Yansheng's sudden action. She swallowed hard and stammered as she spoke, "Okay, okay."

000: [...]

You should rein in your silliness.

Azhi stiffly straightened up, subconsciously trying to avoid Tsugikuni Iwakatsu's gaze, but the man's gaze was so direct that she couldn't find an opportunity.

Ji Guoyan Sheng's eyes drooped, and he continued, "I'm very sorry about what happened last time. I just wanted to make a joke, but I didn't expect to scare you."

It was really inappropriate and hypocritical for him to say such things, but the other two parties involved didn't realize it.

As Ji Guoyansheng spoke, he carefully discerned the emotions in Azhi's eyes. After confirming that there was no disgust in them, he finally breathed a sigh of relief.

Fortunately, it hasn't reached the worst situation yet.

If he could see disgust in Aori's eyes, Tsugikuni Iwakatsu really didn't know what expression he should make.

Azhi: "Huh?"

A look of shock flashed across her clear eyes, and she slowly frowned.

On the one hand, she always felt that although Ji Guoyansheng said he was apologizing, his attitude did not seem very sincere. On the other hand, she felt that it would be good if the matter could be resolved.

She said curtly, "Don't do that again next time."

Although she couldn't help but puff out her cheeks, she muttered to herself, "This person is really something, how could they joke like that?"

[...] 000 sighed, ultimately choosing to go along with her, "You're right."

It ended abruptly and very hastily.

Ji Guoyan suddenly leaned forward, closing the distance between himself and Azhi, and then reached out his hand.

The rough fingertips brushed against the skin, lingered for a moment before being removed, and then seemed to linger for a barely perceptible caress.

At least A-Zhi didn't notice; she felt a little itchy and blinked.

His actions weren't intimate at all; on the contrary, they were quite natural. Therefore, Azhi didn't feel uncomfortable. Instead, she put her hand in confusion at the spot where he had just touched her: "Is there something on my face?"

"Hmm." Jiguo Yansheng nodded seriously. He wasn't lying; he just lingered a little longer than he was supposed to help. "There's hair."

A gentle breeze rustled the gauze curtain beside her, causing Azhi's simply tied-up, silky black hair to almost come together in the sunlight, highlighting the girl's silhouette and making the surroundings even more dreamlike.

Actually, everything in front of me was no different from before, except that the person sitting there had become A-Zhi, which made her particularly attractive.

The clothes originally chosen by Tsugikuni Iwakatsu had been taken off and replaced with the plain-colored kimono that Aori wore when she first arrived, which made her look clean and gentle.

Vibrant colors look good on Azhi, but lighter colors also seem to suit her well. Perhaps next time she can prepare more and more comprehensively.

Ji Guoyan was also surprised that he was still thinking about these things, perhaps realizing that there was still a long way to go.

The document he had just looked at was a summary of detailed information gathered by people he had sent to investigate over the past few days. This information hadn't come too late—Yoriichi and Aori lived not too far from here.

Although the mountain wasn't within the territory of the city he managed, it wasn't a big problem.

What Ji Guoyan Sheng is after is never just the present moment, but a longer future.

………

Sensing something was amiss, Yoriichi Tsugikuni, who had been patiently waiting for his brothers to ask questions one by one, reached out and placed his hand on Iwakatsu Tsugikuni's chest.

He used this gesture to separate Tsugikuni Iwakatsu and Aori, breaking the increasingly delicate atmosphere.

"Brother?"

A very obvious question arises: Yoriichi Tsugikuni was unaware that his voice had become more assertive.

Ji Guoyan straightened up and walked to the sword rack, taking down the two famous swords that had been there for a long time and were placed crosswise.

"Yoriichi, let's have another match!"