Chapter 99 Continued Reasons to Move Forward
“Already eager to start drinking right after leaving someone’s body?”
Yukinoshita Yukino frowned and said discontentedly.
“I just wanted to experience living once again,” Lin Qi smiled at her, raising his can of beer. “Wanna one?”
“Leading a minor astray with alcohol? Are you planning to go to prison, Mr. Lin Qi?” she retorted.
“If I don’t get caught, it’s not a crime.”
After finishing the remaining beer in two gulps, Lin Qi threw the can into the trash, then extended his hand toward Yukinoshita Yukino.
“?”
Yukinoshita Yukino stared at his extended hand in confusion, with a thick and strong palm, long and fair fingers fit for a model. “What do you mean?”
“Give me money.” He said matter-of-factly. “The task payment Ikadate gave you, where is it?”
“How could I carry such things around? Naturally, I put it away at home,” Yukinoshita Yukino shot him an suspicious glance. “That money should include your share. Whether all goes to you or not, what will you be using it for?”
“To buy a house.”
“How surprising…”
Yukinoshita Yukino appeared unexpectedly impressed by this answer and blinked cutely, looking adorable despite her initial surprise.
“Think so?” Lin Qi rolled his eyes indifferently. “Can’t stay at your place forever, right?”
“You’d normally consider renting out first, right?”
“But we have to think about buying when we have the means.”
“So even Ikadate’s payment wouldn’t be enough to purchase a house?” Yukinoshita Yukino asked.
“No worries. It’s enough for the down payment. Otherwise, I’ll borrow some more from you or your sister,” Lin Qi said lightly. “I’ll earn back what I need as soon as I lend my skills to the specialists.”
“Heh, is that so…” her gaze shifted uncertainly. “Let’s set those matters aside for now and let me prepare…dinner?”
When she looked up, there was no sign of Lin Qi. Wind blew in through the sliding glass door on the balcony, curtains waved silently, speaking volumes in their quietness.
The sunset’s glow spilled into the room, softly caressing the girl’s body, like a gentle golden shroud. The apartment became completely silent, overwhelming loneliness spreading unnoticed.
The sound of a key in the lock echoed, followed by a puzzled murmur outside. Yukinoshita Yukino came back to reality, unconsciously glancing at the vestibule, but no one entered for several seconds.
“Sister?” she called tentatively.
The apartment door opened instantly, and Yukinoshita Yono, looking relaxed, stepped in. “Oh, it’s only you, Snow. I thought we had a burglar.”
“But how did you…” She stopped, figuring, “It must have been Mr. Lin Qi who brought you in.”
After changing her shoes, Yono waved to her sibling. “Hello, Lin Qi.”
“Well, he did bring me in, but he left just now,” Yukinoshita Yukino explained.
“Eh? He left just now?”
“In other words, Lin Qi has already left my body, so he won’t be sharing with me anymore,” Yukinoshita Yukino sighed and clarified.
“It seems like your adventure was very fruitful!” Yono pulled her sister onto the couch, eyes shining curiously. “Share with me.”
“There’s not much to tell…the enemy was strong. Lin Qi controlled my body in battle…”
Relenting under her elder sister’s enthusiasm, Yukinoshita Yukino recounted the battle story in detail.
When Yukinoshita Yono heard that her younger sister had been captured by Ryōmen Sukuna and was about to be killed, she couldn’t help but worry, even though she knew the current Yukino was safe and storytelling.
Hearing that Lin Qi used a slash technique to sever Ryōmen Sukuna’s arm and save Yukinoshita Yukino, she sighed in admiration. “Even hearing this makes it seem so cool. If it were me, I might have fallen in love with Lin Qi on the spot.”
She grinned, carefully observing her sister’s expression.
“Stop teasing, Sister,” Yukinoshita Yukino said unhappily, her voice trailing off regretfully because she felt her own power was too weak to intervene in the battle at Yukinoshita Yukino’s level.
“At least if I were stronger…”
If she were stronger, she would not be causing trouble for Lin Qi but would assist him instead.
Seeing her bite her lip, looking dejected, Yukinoshita Yono immediately felt sorry and tried to comfort her, saying:
“Don’t think too much. Remember how long it’s been since you touched extraordinary powers, you can already face Grade 2 Cursed Spirits alone.”
“You’re already very capable. Sister can’t achieve this.”
“But that’s also because of your guidance, Sister. If you were there, you could definitely surpass me easily.”
Seeing snow falling deeper into depression, Yukinoshita Yono changed the subject. “Forget it. There’s a question I want to ask you.”
“What is it?” Yukinoshita Yukino asked, puzzled.
Her tone turned serious, and the smile on her face disappeared. “Since Lin Qi no longer needs to share your body…”
“Do you still plan to continue like this?”
“Eh?” The girl didn’t understand for a moment.
“I mean, will you continue being a Jujutsu Sorcerer, exorcising Cursed Spirits?” Yukinoshita Yono asked, “You could easily retreat to a normal life now. After all, the factor affecting you, Lin Qi, is gone.”
“I…”
Yukinoshita Yukino struggled to find the words, her beautiful eyes reflecting confusion, as if obscured by dust. Should she continue as a Jujutsu Sorcerer?
With Lin Qi no longer bound to her body, and lacking a certainty in combat, the threat of losing her life if she faced an unbeatable opponent seemed greater.
Abandoning her role as a Jujutsu Sorcerer, returning to a normal life, studying as a student, moving smoothly into work in society. Burying her month-long experience as an unforgettable memory, leading a calm and stable life.
At this moment of reverie, memories flashed in front of her mind.
In the tenement, the young man killed by a Cursed Spirit, being devoured; the boy with the hair bun fleeing desperately under a curse controller’s dominance before consciousness was fully seized; the dispirited Yama, swollen-eyed women at the funeral, and the silent man standing at the grave in the rain. Lastly, it was the peaceful afternoon clinic when Lin Qi depicted a world of ideal beauty for her.
As these memories became clearer, the confusion left her eyes. After taking a deep breath, Yukinoshita Yukino slowly spoke, “Many people lose their lives and their family due to the harm caused by Cursed Spirits…”
“If I could prevent these tragedies and chose not to act, even eating and sleeping would feel pointless.”
Comprehension gleamed in her eyes, fixing a determined gaze on her dazed sister. “I will continue!”
“I’ll keep being a Jujutsu Sorcerer. As long as I can save at least one person from a Cursed Spirit, even if they cannot be eradicated entirely, I’ll persist.”
“Though I’m not yet strong enough, with dedicated practice and Lin Qi’s continued mentoring, I am certain I will become stronger.”
If she became strong as Lin Qi, then the dangers would be no more.
A seed called “get stronger” sowed quietly in her heart.
…
School ends, then become a Jujutsu Sorcerer
