Chapter 263: A Smile

Kanae Kocho, Makomo Makomo.

Rengoku Shinjuro, Sakonji Urokodaki.

Four people.

Two juniors, two seniors.

What connected them was Li Mo himself. This was both a good thing and a sad thing.

Li Mo looked up at the sky, where the bright moon hung high. Deep within his consciousness, in the palace of memories, he began searching for a solution.

"It seems Urokodaki-sensei and I share the same thoughts."

"Of course."

Rengoku Shinjuro and Sakonji Urokodaki now understood that despite their friendly conversation, there was a fundamental conflict.

Li Mo's master, Sakonji Urokodaki, supported Makomo, didn't he? That girl... she must also have feelings for this junior, right?

The Water Pillar, Makomo. Rengoku Shinjuro remembered her. Like Kanae Kocho, she had developed her own Breathing Style based on Water Breathing. Compared to Kanae's gentle and outgoing personality, Makomo was more reserved and, perhaps, a bit jealous.

Oh, right. He recalled that Makomo and Li Mo had participated in the same Final Selection...

Rengoku Shinjuro's expression turned slightly awkward. At the same time, Sakonji Urokodaki wore a similar look.

Li Mo still hadn't answered.

The atmosphere became increasingly awkward.

"Li Mo, so this is where you are. Perfect, I need to talk to you."

A woman appeared, breaking the tension.

Kanae Kocho's arrival was undoubtedly the biggest surprise. Li Mo nodded calmly. "Alright."

"Senpai, sensei, I have something to attend to, so I'll take my leave."

Without giving his two seniors a chance to respond, Li Mo took Kanae's hand and disappeared around the corner.

"Shall we walk and talk?" Rengoku Shinjuro asked.

"Talk about what? If it's about Li Mo... that's something for the younger generation to figure out. What can we do?"

Rengoku Shinjuro shook his head. He was much older than Li Mo and could better understand the junior's dilemma. Both sides were dear to him—how could he choose? Kanae should be able to handle it...

"By the way, that girl earlier was Kanae Kocho's sister. Urokodaki-sensei, did you notice anything unusual?"

Rengoku Shinjuro asked.

Soon, the middle-aged man and the elderly man reached the same conclusion in silence.

The sisters were exactly alike.

...

...

"Kanae, I'm really grateful."

Once they were away, Li Mo happily patted Kanae's head.

"I'd be much happier if you didn't pat my head."

"You've been working hard, handling the wounded in the back must be exhausting, right?" Li Mo smoothly changed the subject.

Kanae didn't expect him to change his ways easily. She said, "I still need to go back and continue working."

"Huh? Are we so in sync now? You come to my rescue when I'm in trouble. I'm truly grateful, my dear Kanae." Li Mo reached out to pat her head again.

But Kanae caught his hand. She adjusted the butterfly hairpin he had messed up and said, "I came to find my sister for work. I just happened to see your predicament and decided to help."

"Just happened to, huh~~~" Li Mo looked at Kanae. Although she had always kept her long hair, since his return, her smiles had become fewer, and she often wore a cold expression.

"Don't use that tone." Kanae kicked him lightly.

The exaggerated tone made her shudder—it was disgusting, especially coming from someone with such a rough voice.

Li Mo smiled. "If Kanae gives me a smile, I'll agree to anything."

Kanae stopped walking, giving him a cold look. Finally, she sighed, relaxed, and gave a faint smile.

—It looked a bit forced.

Most people wouldn't notice, but Li Mo could tell that Kanae wasn't really in the mood to smile.

She seemed... unhappy.

"Are you going to find Kanae?"

"She's already gone ahead."

"Then, Kanae, are you going back too?"

"Yes, and you're coming with me."

"Huh?" Li Mo tilted his head, confused.

Despite Kanae's ability to move freely outside, she was technically skipping work. When Li Mo followed her to the medical area, he was overwhelmed by the bustling scene.

There were too many people. The cleared area was filled with temporary tents, and countless wounded were being treated.

"Don't be fooled by the crowd. Most of the lightly injured have already gone to rest. These are the ones who need close observation."

"I remember you have some healing techniques in your arsenal. You'll be helping in the emergency room later."

Kanae assigned Li Mo his tasks without expression.

Originally, she hadn't planned to involve him, but since they ran into each other, and he had once boasted about his medical skills...

Well, sorry not sorry—this was payback for dragging her into this mess earlier.

Li Mo got busy. He first wandered around the emergency room, essentially transferring his life force to keep patients stable. After devouring Kibutsuji Muzan, his life force had become terrifyingly strong.

But soon, he was kicked out of the emergency room. Whether it was Kanae, Kanae's sister, or Tamayo, they all found him a bit in the way.

"I never thought I'd end up working with you, Yushiro."

"Hmph, if it weren't for you, I'd be in the emergency room assisting Tamayo-sama."

Yushiro said coldly.

Li Mo smirked, not believing a word Yushiro said. In this observation area, they needed someone experienced, and Yushiro happened to be the perfect candidate.

—Better than nothing.

"Are you looking for a fight?"

"Yushiro, why are you so sensitive, like a little girl?"

"With a monkey like you around, I have to stay alert. I remember you saying a lot of bad things about Tamayo-sama."

"Someone who's infatuated with an older woman isn't qualified to talk to me like that."

Yushiro retorted, "Hmph, that's because you don't understand Tamayo-sama's charm."

Li Mo said, "Who says I don't? A doctor by profession, embodying the strong woman archetype. The older sister type doesn't need explaining, gentle and considerate. The main point is... never mind."

Seeing the murderous look in Yushiro's eyes, Li Mo decided to drop the argument.

Facing the world's number one Tamayo fanatic, if he said any more, Yushiro might just charge at him.

Even teasing has its limits.

For the rest of the time, the two bickered over other topics while treating patients. Unlike Yushiro, who used medical techniques, Li Mo's methods were straightforward. He simply cast healing spells and occasionally transferred life force.

One thing was certain—Li Mo wasn't lacking in life force anymore.

This busy period lasted until dawn. When the area finally emptied, they both let out a sigh of relief. The eastern sky was already showing the first light of morning.

Li Mo had originally thought that after the busy work, Kanae or her sister would come find him. But in the end, it was Tamayo who approached him first.

"Li-kun, do you remember the promise you made?"

"Huh?"

A promise? What promise?

Li Mo was confused. But under Tamayo's gentle gaze, he suddenly remembered.

With a serious expression, the young man asked, "Have you decided?"

"Please."

"I'm not ready yet... Can we reschedule?"

"Of course."

The two spoke like they were sharing riddles, leaving Yushiro hopping around in frustration—he had no idea what they were talking about...