Chapter 155 Ancient Trees and [Source]

After returning to school, I don't know how Otsukoi Yuta explained it to Nanami Kento, but the next day, Otsukoi Yuta came to the dormitory area to look for the little sheep Jiang Lai.

"Did Nanami agree?" Jiang Lai asked as he opened his door and invited Okkotsu Yuta in.

The black-haired boy with a sword bag on one shoulder slightly curved his eyebrows and nodded, "Yes. I explained it to Nanami-senpai because Gojo-sensei suggested that I take you for special training."

"Nanami-senpai agreed to this, but still reminded me of some details." At this point, Otsukio paused, "Senior, are you not feeling well? Nanami-senpai asked me to pay more attention to you."

"Ahem... not really." Jiang Lai coughed and then explained, "Before, in order to make it easier for the school to take leave, Wu and I discussed a setting that my health was not very good."

"However, I have decided to 'gradually recover', so there is really no need to worry."

"Is that so?" Okkotsu Yuta nodded to show that he understood, and he seemed to relax a little.

Then, he handed a note to the little sheep Jiang Lai and said, "This is what Senior Nanami asked me to give you before he left - it looks like he's going out on a mission again."

"Thank you." Jiang Lai took the note paper, on which was written the neat and beautiful handwriting of Nanami Kenjin.

The paper reads:

[Otsutsuki is very capable. When you are training with him, don't be distracted and study hard. The world of sorcery is very dangerous. I hope you can become an excellent sorcerer as soon as possible.

Of course, if you don’t want to be a sorcerer after studying for this period of time, that’s fine too.

Please contact me and I will talk to Otsutsuki and Mr. Gojo so that you can go to school and work normally and return to ordinary society.

It doesn’t matter which path you choose. 】

Kento Nanami's writing is just like him, seemingly serious and cold, but actually full of an adult's sense of responsibility and silent care.

He did not force the little sheep Jiang Lai to become a sorcerer because he knew the cruelty of the sorcery world.

Nanami Kento had never talked to the little sheep Jiang Lai in this way before. He knew that boys of this age were always full of passionate fantasies and would never choose to give up when they first gained abilities.

So, Nanami Kento waited for a while.

It was not until now that he left such a message to the little sheep Jiang Lai, allowing the brown-haired boy who had already had contact with the world of sorcery to consider and choose his own life.

No matter which path the little sheep Jiang Lai chooses, he will support the boy under his care to move forward.

Jiang Lai softened his brows, folded the note carefully and put it in his pocket.

Okkotsu Yuta, who always respects others, had not read the contents of the note in advance and did not ask any further questions at this moment.

He noticed Jiang Lai's expression and guessed that the paper probably contained some caring content, so he smiled softly.

That's great. Otsutsuki thought too much. No matter how the outside world changes, the atmosphere of Jujutsu High School is still the same - that's why he regards this place as his home.

"Well, now that everything is settled, let's go." After putting away the note paper, Jiang Lai tilted his head slightly and said, "Is it convenient for us to go find Tian Yuan now?"

"Okay, I'll listen to you, senior." Otsukotsuki nodded slightly, "Lord Tengen has been in the main hall of the Hongxing Palace below the high school. We can go there first to take a look."

After making up their minds, they headed to the entrance of Hongxing Palace together.

Jiang Lai had never actually visited this place before, and only had a general understanding of its structure from the astral plasma incident in the comics.

The structure of Hongxing Palace is very complicated. Once you enter, you will be surrounded by silence.

The palace buried deep underground blocks out any sounds from the outside, and one can only hear the faint sounds of footsteps and breathing while walking.

Otsukotsu Yuta walked steadily, carrying his sword bag on his back. He looked ahead and said, "Please follow me closely, senior. The roads here are very complicated and it's easy to get lost."

"Okay." Jiang Lai glanced around and focused his eyes on the black-haired boy.

He was not particularly interested in the internal architectural structure of the Hongxing Palace, because he knew that what really made this palace valuable was the Tianyuan located within it.

Inexplicably, Jiang Lai had a vague sense of familiarity, guiding him forward step by step.

Even without Yuta Okkotsu, it seems that he will not get lost.

"..." Jiang Lai's heart paused slightly, but he didn't say it out loud.

After walking through several narrow corridors, Yuta Okkotsu and the little sheep Jiang Lai passed through an archway. At this moment, the view suddenly became open, and an ancient tree surrounded by numerous buildings appeared in front of them.

This is the exact center of Hongxing Palace.

Jiang Lai's gaze fell on the huge tree, whose ancient trunk seemed to be a thousand years old.

Because he was once the head of a large family [Yuan], he has a special feeling for this long-lived tree.

Okkotsu Yuta stopped walking, bowed, and said in a gentle voice, "Excuse me for coming to visit you so suddenly. Lord Tianyuan, is it convenient for you to talk to us now? I have some questions to ask you."

The hall was very quiet, and Okkotsu's voice could be clearly heard.

There was no immediate response from the hall. Okkotsu Yuta still stood firmly in the same place, maintaining a respectful attitude.

Jiang Lai's eyes continued to focus on the ancient tree. He paused for a moment, then subconsciously stepped forward, wanting to touch the rough bark of the mulberry tree.

——Here, he felt a sense of security.

It was at this moment that a warm voice echoed in the hall: "I'm here."

Tianyuan's voice came from far away.

"I remember you. You look much more mature than the last time I came."

Okkotsu Yuta's eyes were filled with a hint of smile and determination. He nodded, "Yes, I have gained a lot of experience outside."

Then, Tianyuan's gaze seemed to fall on the little sheep Jiang Lai from an unknown place.

"…You brought a new young friend with you this time." The voice said calmly, "——But it seems that he has an even older soul."

Tianyuan sees the soul through the appearance.

Okkotsu Yuta paused for a moment, then turned his head to look at the brown-haired boy beside him, without actively answering. He knew that this was the other person's question.

Jiang Lai raised his head. He did not directly respond to Tian Yuan's previous words, nor did he ask the question he originally came here to ask. Instead, he suddenly changed the subject and said:

"...This tree, how many years has it been growing?"

Such a slightly abrupt remark did not add a hint of surprise to Tian Yuan's voice. Tian Yuan still replied in his usual tone and slowly:

"If we talk about its growth alone, it's older than I am. But if we talk about the time it has been here, it's younger than I am."

"Really..." Jiang Lai took two or three steps forward, approaching the ancient tree that was perched there, half-closed his eyelids, and gently stroked the rough bark with his hands. "I think, no matter how short it is, it must have been a thousand years."

Okkotsu Yuta didn't understand the conversation between the two, but he considerately didn't say anything. Instead, he stood quietly by the side, waiting silently.

After a brief silence, Tian Yuan's voice was filled with a smile of an elder, and he said softly: "Why don't you ask me directly? Maybe you have a lot to say, but not to me."

Jiang Lai raised his eyes, his gaze fell far ahead, as if to confirm the words he heard.

Tian Yuan's voice slowed down and was directed in another direction, as if to awaken some sleeping soul: "Old friend, wake up."

As Tianyuan spoke, the branches and leaves of the ancient tree coiled in the center of the main hall trembled gently, and the tiny tentacles and roots trembled, as if an ancient giant was slowly rising.

Jiang Lai felt the familiar power fluctuations in the air, and he remembered it deeply - thousands of years ago, this power guided him to find the lotus-pink beauty and ancient trees by the pond in the snow-covered mountains.

This power comes from his relatives in a conceptual sense - the parents [source].

After [Source] dispersed the fragments of his godhood, his original body fell into a peaceful sleep somewhere due to the dispersion and consumption of his power.

Jiang Lai didn’t know where the true body of [Source] was sleeping before, but now he knows.

The ancient tree inside the Hongxing Palace under the academy is the main body of the [Source].

In other words, it is precisely because the entity of [Source] is here that Tianyuan established the Hongxing Palace here.

Two immortal, resident old men keep each other company here.

The soul of the ancient tree, which had been silent for a long time, was reviving, and the withered vines on the tree were rustling and shaking off, just like stretching after a nap.

Tianyuan seemed to say something else, but Jiang Lai didn't hear it clearly because his attention was completely focused on what was in front of him.

His dark eyes reflected the figure of the ancient tree, and the circles and scars of the bark were engraved in his eyes.

Jiang Lai felt the ancient tree in front of him waking up. He opened his mouth to say something, but for a moment he didn't know how to organize his words. He could only utter silent sounds as if he had lost his voice.

After a brief moment of daze, he realized that he still looked like a brown-haired boy.

I don't know if [Source] can recognize me, maybe I should change back to my original form -

Just before Jiang Lai made his move, the old tree stretched out its soft vines, wrapping around the young boy like a hug. A language he couldn't identify but could understand came into his mind:

"Long time no see, kid."

The familiar and intimate words cleared Jiang Lai's doubts. No matter how his appearance changed, the head of the family [Yuan] would always be able to recognize him.

"How are you doing lately? I feel like you seem a little tired."

[Yuan]’s voice is full of care, carrying the same broadness and tolerance as the sea as always.

Those gentle branches and vines gently embraced the brown-haired boy and patted his back soothingly.

"..." Jiang Lai's eyes were a little sore from the tenderness from the patriarch [Yuan]. He could feel [Yuan]'s weakness after the fragments were scattered and consumed too much, but [Yuan] still showed his love and concern for Jiang Lai the first moment he woke up.

Maybe He is not clear about what is happening outside, but this does not affect His concern for Jiang Lai's emotions.

Jiang Lai did have a lot to say, but he lowered his eyes, swallowed down the bitter experiences, and finally just raised the corners of his lips, hugged back the entangled vines, and said in a brisk voice:

"Don't worry, I've been doing fine these years."

It's like the lie you tell your mother on the phone when you grow up: Mom, I'm fine.