Chapter 104
After the barrier covered the Kanto region, Geto Suguru brought news about Lord Tengen a few days later.
He was lying on a lounge chair on the balcony, reading a comic book in his hand, and seemed in a good mood: "Master Tianyuan's cursed spiritualization has completely stopped."
Gong Zhili was roasting oranges on a small stove. The orchard had a bumper harvest this year. Although the weather had not cooled down completely, the oranges had already turned red, making them perfect for making various snacks.
She peeled a warm orange and ate a slice. Then she said to Tsu Miki, who was swinging on the swing outside, "Oranges don't taste very good when they're roasted like this. Let's can all of this year's oranges."
Tsu Miki was happily swinging on the swing, and nodded when she heard this: "Then we'll eat canned oranges in the winter."
Megumi Fushiguro, who was standing behind her pushing the swing, protested, "I said I was going to make orange sorbet."
Tsu Miki said, "But you can't eat ice cream in the winter. Next summer you'll want to eat other flavors of ice cream again. It would be a waste to make it."
Megumi Fushiguro puffed up her cheeks. There was no way she could argue with Tsumiki. After all, Tsumiki now had control over half of the kitchen at home. Sometimes Sister Chiri would just let her decide what to eat every day. They rarely argued with her about food.
Of course, they can cook too...but when it comes to topics like household food distribution and storage, Tsu Miki is clearly more authoritative.
"However, since it's not too cold yet, I can make you a few to satisfy your cravings." Tsu Miki changed the subject and jumped off the swing. "Remember to work hard then."
Tiger Stick, who was climbing a ladder under the grape vines to pick grapes, immediately turned to Tsumiki and said, "Sister Tsumiki, I want to eat some grape hockey!"
Otsutsuki held a bowl of grapes in his hand and hesitated, "Will eating so much ice give me diarrhea?"
Nanako, who was sitting on a bench washing grapes, said, "Don't worry about them. They won't get diarrhea even if they eat snowballs in the middle of winter."
His physical fitness is frighteningly good.
Mimiko, while washing and eating grapes, also said, "They just don't appreciate the natural taste of food. Fruit that has not been processed in any way is the best."
Nobara Kugisaki, who was also there, disagreed: "But apples taste better after being processed!"
The children in the garden started arguing. Miyaji handed the remaining oranges to Kagome Takeru and said, "What do you think, Master Tengen?"
Geto Suguru said, "Tengen-sama...he doesn't have any opinion, so it should mean permission."
Gong Zhili also lay back on the recliner, looking at the clear blue sky, and said, "That 'real person' still hasn't been found. Did he hide?"
Geto put the comic book away and frowned slightly. "There's no trace at all. That's the most suspicious thing." According to their current sphere of influence, the farthest place is Okinawa...
Gong Zhili thought: "Okinawa..."
A few days later, Gojo Satoru had a rare chance to relax at Miya Chiri's house, watching her writing and drawing on paper, making a long list.
"Winter preparations?" Gojo Satoru leaned over to read aloud, "Reinforce the house against wind, check the floor heating, store firewood, pickle vegetables... There's so much to do every year, it's really not easy."
"Yeah." Gong Zhili said without looking up, "It snows a lot here in the winter, so we need to prepare in advance. We have more people this year, so it should be easier."
Gojo Satoru looked at her serious profile and suddenly leaned close to her ear: "Shall we run away?"
Gong Zhili paused his pen and looked up at him.
"Let's go to Okinawa," Gojo Satoru said with a grin. "It's warm there, and we can see if the real one has gone into hiding there. Of course, the main purpose is to have a vacation."
Miyajiri was silent for a few seconds, as if weighing the pros and cons. She looked at the long list in her hand, then at Gojo Satoru's face, which was filled with "I want to go out and play," and finally put down her pen: "Okay."
She called Tsumeki over and handed her the list: "Tsumeki, I want to leave the preparations for winter this year to you."
Tsu Miki was a little surprised, but she quickly calmed down and took the list and looked at it carefully: "Okay, sister, what do you need me to do specifically?"
Miya Chiri pointed at the list. "The students from the technical high school, including Haibara, Nanami, and Tenchi, will take turns coming here for training in the near future. You can assign the physical work. Nanako and Mimiko will be responsible for familiarizing them with the warehouse and cellar. Megumi and Hisahito are strong, so let them carry things. Yuta and Rika... let them do the delicate work. Kugisaki can help check the house." She paused. "The specific arrangements are up to you. If you encounter any problems that cannot be solved, contact me or Jie."
Tsu Miki took a deep breath and nodded vigorously: "I understand, leave it to me."
Gojo Satoru added, "Tell the students who come to work to do their job well. It counts as extracurricular practical credits."
That's how it was settled.
Miya Chiri simply packed a small bag and left the village with Gojo Satoru. They could see Tsumiki had already gathered all the children and begun assigning tasks. Itadori Yuji was rubbing his hands in anticipation, while Fushiguro Megumi had a look of resigned resignation, a look of "I see!" Nanako and Mimiko were already discussing where to begin. Norimoto Rika listened intently to Tsumiki's instructions, and Otsutsuki Yuta followed closely beside her, his eyes filled with an eagerness to help.
The sea breeze in Okinawa is salty and warm, completely different from the gradually chilly air in the village.
Gojo Satoru stretched out his body, grinning under his sunglasses: "It's really comfortable here!"
They checked into a secluded hotel by the sea. The room was traditional Japanese style. When they opened the window, they could see the long sandy beach and the blue sea. Miya Chiri put down her luggage and walked to the window to look at the scenery outside. The sea water was crystal clear under the sunlight, which was completely different from the turbid and dead water in her memory of the end of the world.
"Let's go eat something first?" Gojo Satoru hugged her from behind, his chin resting on her shoulder. "I know there's an amazing Okinawan restaurant nearby. They make an excellent bitter melon fried tofu. Even though I don't like bitter melon, I think that dish is worth a try."
Gong Zhili hummed, his gaze still fixed on the sea, a look of scrutiny. Even on vacation, the task of finding the real person was like a string, slightly tense in his heart.
The restaurant was hidden in a small alley. It was not big, but it was full of the atmosphere of life. Gojo Satoru was familiar with the place and ordered bitter melon fried tofu, Okinawa braised pork, sea grapes and seafood sashimi. While waiting for the dishes, he chattered endlessly about the characteristics of each dish, as if he was a local gourmet.
"You seem very familiar?" Gong Zhili asked.
"I've been here a few times before on missions." Gojo Satoru picked up a freshly fried seafood sashimi, blew on it, and passed it to Gong Zhili's mouth, "Try this, it's best to eat it while it's hot."
Gong Zhili took a small bite from his hand. It was crispy on the outside and tender on the inside. It was indeed delicious. Gojo Satoru watched her eat before he started to eat another one with satisfaction.
When the bitter melon and tofu dish arrived, Gong Zhili looked at the emerald green bitter melon and hesitated for a moment. Gojo Satoru picked up a piece with chopsticks and placed it in her bowl: "Try it, it's not bitter at all, very refreshing."
Gong Zhili tasted it and found it had very little bitterness, more of a delicate fragrance that complemented the tenderness of the tofu. She nodded in approval, and Gojo Satoru immediately became proud: "See, trust me, it's right."
They sat at the counter of this restaurant and managed to make the home-cooked dishes look like delicious meals.
Gojo Satoru ordered two cups of oolong tea, which looked like champagne when placed next to them.
Many guests were not in a hurry to leave after finishing their meal. They sat there and whispered with their companions about this attractive couple.
After dinner, Gojo Satoru dragged Miya Chiri to Kokusai-dori. The street was lined with shops selling all sorts of Okinawan specialties, including glass bottles of star sand, bingata-dyed cloth, lion sculptures, and a dazzling array of snacks. Gojo Satoru was curious about everything. One moment, he put on an exaggerated lion headgear and asked Miya Chiri if it looked good. Then, he squeezed into a crowded ice cream shop and bought a giant blue sea salt ice cream to share with Miya Chiri.
Gong Zhili was pulled by him through the crowd, experiencing the bustle of this unique tourist destination. She ate the ice cream in small bites, which was sweet with a slight saltiness of sea salt, and the taste was very unique.
"How is it, not bad, right?" Gojo Satoru leaned closer, his nose almost touching her face, the light from the street lamp reflected in his pale blue eyes.
"Yeah." Gong Zhili responded, turned his face away, and his ears felt a little hot.
Gojo Satoru chuckled softly and continued walking forward in a good mood. When he saw a small shop selling brown sugar, he bought a bunch of brown sugar of different flavors, saying that he would take them back as souvenirs for the children.
In the evening, they went to the shrine, which was built on a cliff by the sea, offering a panoramic view. The setting sun painted the sea and sky a warm orange. Compared to the bustle of Kokusai-dori, it was much quieter here. Gojo Satoru, rarely making a noise, stood side by side with Miya Chiri in front of the shrine, watching the sunset slowly sink into the sea.
"The scenery here is nice," Gojo Satoru said, "You can bring others over to play next time."
Gong Zhili looked at Gojo Satoru's profile, which was outlined in gold by the setting sun, and said softly, "Okay."
At the same time, the village was bustling with activity.
Tsumiki showed excellent organizational skills. She refined the list left by Miya Chiri and made a simple schedule. Haihara Yu and Nanami Kento were the first helpers to report.
"So, we need to help prepare for winter?" Huiyuan Xiong said enthusiastically, his eyes sparkling. "No problem! Leave it to us!"
Nanami Kento pushed his glasses and said, "So the adults in the family left the task to you kids and ran out to play?" He always thought that Chiri was a very reliable adult, but now she seems to have been led astray by Gojo-senpai!
Tsumeki immediately said, "Leave it to us. We'll be fine, right?"
Huiyuan Xiong: "Of course no problem!"
Nanami Kento sighed softly and said, "Of course we can't give all these things to children."
Tsumeki was a little embarrassed, but still clearly assigned the tasks: "Brother Haibara, could you, along with Yuji and Kei, help carry the firewood we've cut down from the back mountain to the woodshed and stack it? Mr. Nanami, the floor heating system needs to be checked, and the pipes in some rooms may need to be cleaned, which is quite troublesome..."
"I understand." Nanami Kento nodded, "Take me to see it."
Tennantoriko and Kuroi Misato also came. Tennantoriko has now become a lively and confident girl. She pulled Nanako and Mimiko and curiously asked about the methods of making various pickles. Kuroi Misato smiled and helped prepare a large number of clay pots and salt.
Nobara Kugisaki, Rika Inori, and Yuta Otsutsukota were assigned to check the sealing of doors and windows of all houses. Kugisaki complained while working: "This is even more tiring than exorcising cursed spirits!" Rika was very decisive and moved quickly.
Just then, Geto Xiayou entered the courtyard with two unfamiliar girls. The girls, looking about ten years old, were dressed in clean, though slightly worn, clothes. Holding hands, they surveyed the bustling crowd with a look of obvious wariness and unease. The older girl, her hair tied back, had a sharp gaze and leaned forward slightly, ready to defend or attack at any moment. The younger girl clung to her older sister, half-hidden behind her, a timid look in her eyes, clutching an old doll.
"Senior Geto?" Nanami Kento was the first to notice them.
Geto Xia Yu gently said to the two girls beside him: "Maki, Mayi, this is the place I told you about." Then he looked at the people in the yard and introduced: "This is Zenin Maki and Zenin Mayi, they will live here from now on."
The yard suddenly became quiet, and everyone looked at the strange sisters.
Tsumeki was the first to react. She put down her work, walked forward, and smiled gently: "Hello, I'm Fushiguro Tsumeki, welcome."
Nanako and Mimiko looked at each other and came over. Nanako looked at them curiously: "Are you twins too?"
Zenin Maki pursed her lips and didn't answer. Instead, she looked at Geto Suguru. Geto Suguru nodded to her. Maki relaxed her tense shoulders a little and said stiffly, "I'm Zenin Maki, and she's my sister, Mayi."
Hiding behind her sister, Mayi added quietly, "...Hello."
Yuji Itadori waved enthusiastically: "Hey! I'm Yuji Itadori! Do you want to help? Moving wood is fun!"
Megumi Fushiguro looked at the two sisters who were obviously related to the Zenin family with a complicated look in his eyes, but he didn't say anything, just nodded as a greeting.
Kugisaki Nobara looked at Maki and noticed some small scars and calluses on her hands, which looked like they were from long-term weapon training. She asked directly, "Can you use cursed tools?"
Maki looked at Kugisaki, a look of recognition in her eyes: "A little bit."
"Great!" Kugisaki clapped his hands. "Let's spar when we're done. I'll use a hammer as my cursed tool."
Maki was stunned for a moment, as if she didn't expect to receive such an invitation. She glanced at Geto Suguru, and when she saw the teacher smiling and nodding, she hesitantly said "hmm".
Yuta Otsutsuki and Rika Norimoto were standing a little further away. Rika nervously grabbed Yuta's sleeve, and Yuta whispered to her, "It's okay, Rika. They were brought here by Teacher Getsu."
Tsumeki spoke at the right time to ease the slightly tense atmosphere: "Maki, Mayi, you just arrived, so you can get familiar with the environment first. If you are willing, can you help Rika and I process these vegetables? Or follow Nanako and Mimiko to see the warehouse?" She gave them the opportunity to choose.
Mayi looked at her sister, then at the radishes Tsu Miki was sorting, and whispered, "...I can help wash the vegetables."
Maki looked at her sister and finally nodded, "I'll help too."
Xia Yujie watched the two sisters slowly integrate into the atmosphere, cast an admiring look at Tsumeki, and then said to Nanami Kento: "Nana Ming, I'll leave this to you. I still have some things to take care of."
Nanami Kento pushed up his glasses and said, "Okay, Geto-senpai."
The work continued. With the addition of the Zenin sisters, although they were a little unfamiliar and silent at the beginning, the atmosphere gradually eased with the coordination of Tsumiki and the occasional conversations of Kugisaki, Nanako and others. Maki worked very efficiently, didn't talk much, but was very serious. Mayi was more careful and followed Tsumiki and Rika to learn how to pickle vegetables. Although her movements were slow, they were meticulous.
On an Okinawa night, Miya Chiri and Gojo Satoru enjoyed a late-night snack at a seaside izakaya. They enjoyed sizzling mackerel, sweet, luminescent shellfish sashimi, and the local specialty seaweed tempura, all washed down with ice-cold beer.
Gojo Satoru picked up some food for Miya Chiri while mumbling something rambling: "Chiri, look at the stars over there, aren't they much brighter than in Tokyo?"
Gong Zhili looked up at the starry sky. Indeed, without the city light pollution, the starry sky was particularly clear and bright. "Yeah, it's very beautiful."
"Next time, let's go see the starry sky of Mount Aso. I heard it's even better there." Gojo Satoru planned.
"Okay, I hope it's sunny then too."
"If you are in a good mood, it will definitely be a sunny day." Gojo Satoru put some ice cubes into Gong Zhili's wine glass.
Gong Zhili smiled and said, "When I'm with you, it's hard not to be sunny."
"By the way, I just saw a Shisa keychain for sale, so I bought one for you." Gojo Satoru took out a small and cute ceramic Shisa from his pocket and placed it next to Gong Zhili. "It's for warding off evil spirits."
Gong Zhili picked up the cute little lion, looked at it, and put it in his pocket: "Thank you."
Gojo Satoru watched her accept it and smiled even more brightly. He knew that Gong Zhili didn't really feel anything about these little things, but she would accept anything he gave her. This tacit indulgence made him happy.
After dinner, they walked along the beach. The waves gently lapped against the shore, and the moonlight paved a silver-like path on the sea. Gojo Satoru held Miya Chiri's hand and hummed an unknown tune.
"Let's go diving tomorrow," Gojo Satoru suggested. "The underwater world is really interesting."
"Sure." Gong Zhili replied. Her perception extended to the land beneath her feet, but she still didn't find any trace of the real person. She frowned slightly.
Gojo Satoru noticed her expression, stopped, and turned to face her: "Are you still thinking about the real person?"
"Um."
"Relax." Gojo Satoru raised his hand and gently smoothed her slightly furrowed brow. "If that guy is really in Okinawa, he'll reveal his true colors sooner or later. If he's not here, there's no point in us getting anxious here. Just think of it as a break, okay?"
His fingers felt warm. Gong Zhili looked at his face so close to her. His pale blue eyes looked particularly focused in the moonlight. She exhaled slowly and nodded, "I understand."
Gojo Satoru smiled with satisfaction and took her hand again: "Let's go, go back to sleep, I'll take you to a nice place tomorrow."
In the village, after a busy day, everyone finally rested. That evening, they gathered in a room heated by the floor to eat. On the table was a simple but hearty dinner prepared by Tsu Miki and Kuroi Misato using available ingredients, along with a few pickled vegetables they had experimented with that day. The Zenin sisters sat next to Geto Suguru. Though still a little reserved, they were able to quietly answer the others' questions.
Haibara Yu and Itadori Yuji huddled together, chatting away the day's fun. Nanami Kento and Tenriko discussed their school curriculum. Nanako, Mimiko, Kugisaki, and Maki shared their favorite snacks. Otsutsukotsu ate quietly, occasionally serving food to Rika. Mayi ate slowly, furtively observing everything around her. Maki sat upright, her eyes less sharp than when she first arrived and more relaxed.
Looking at this scene, Tsu Miki felt warm in her heart and a sense of accomplishment. She secretly took a photo of everyone eating and sent it to Gong Zhili.
In the hotel in Okinawa, Miya Chiri's phone vibrated. She took it out and saw a photo of children and young sorcerers sitting around eating. The Zen sisters were also sitting among them. Although their expressions were still a little unfamiliar, they had already integrated into that circle. She handed the phone to Gojo Satoru to look at.
Gojo Satoru took a look and laughed, "Oh, you did a great job. Tsumiki is very reliable."
Gong Zhili looked at the photo, and the corners of his mouth curved slightly: "Hmm."
She turned off her phone and looked out the window at the sea in the night again. The relaxation of vacation was intertwined with the responsibility that had not been truly put down on her shoulders. There was still no trace of the real person, but life went on. Preparations had to be made for winter, the children were growing up, and new members had joined.
Gojo Satoru came over and put his arm around her shoulders: "Don't think about it. At least for these few days, just treat it as a holiday."
Gong Zhili leaned on him, the sea breeze blowing her hair. She closed her eyes, temporarily suppressing the idea of searching for the real person, feeling the peace of the moment. The vacation continued, and everything at home was moving towards winter in an orderly manner.
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The author has something to say: The weather's clearing up, my overtime is over, and I have four days of vacation left! ~I'm going to take advantage of the sunny days to clean up the house~ I've been so busy lately that it feels like I've lived another lifetime, like a lifetime ago (An Lingrong looks up at the sun.jpg)
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