68

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"Say what? You're heading off to China?"

The flabbergasted expression on Kinji's face indicates that this is something that he had not expected at all. Beside him, Kirara's sputtering is no better.

Which is fair. Shiki hadn't expected this, either.

Overseas assignments… aren't rare, exactly. The formation of cursed spirits in this world isn't a phenomenon that's solely limited to any one single country. Wherever humans live, negative emotions will undoubtedly exist as well, simply as a natural byproduct of people going about their daily lives.

And when negative energies gather and coalesce together, they eventually condense into curses.

There's nothing that regular humans can do to combat the threat posed by powerful cursed spirits. Curses can only be properly exorcised through use of techniques powered by cursed energy, or cursed tools. Without either option, there's no method of reaching a proper resolution–

Which is where sorcerers come in.

So, it's not rare at all for sorcerers to travel in their line of work. Quite common, really. Generally, however, the various logistics and inconveniences involved in traveling abroad means that only high-ranked sorcerers from within the country are sent out to deal with specific instances of dangerous cursed spirits, on a case-by-case basis. A good number of international assignments are actually dealt with by the small number of sorcerers who are stationed abroad on a semi-permanent to fully-permanent basis. Most of them are Grade Two to Three in rank, with a sparse handful of Grade Ones.

In some countries, there are also smaller, established groups of local sorcerers present within the existing cultures. For example, there are several tribes scattered throughout various African countries that traditionally combine shamanism with divining and healing roles. In Poland, there are szeptuchy who play a similar task in their communities.

All of this, on top of Japan's international network, is what allows for the threat of curses in the world to be kept at bay.

It also helps vastly that the tenuous situation with cursed spirits on an international scale is actually far, far less perilous than the precarious balance being maintained in Japan.

"Wait, really?" Kirara tilts his head at this piece of information. "I always thought that other countries had their own schools and, uh. Shadowy organizations working with the government, or something. Are you saying that's not actually the case?"

"Sorcerers are an extremely small percentage of the human population," Shiki reminds her classmate. "Japan is an anomaly in how well-developed sorcery is here."

Which might just be self-preservation, really. After all, Japan has the highest concentration of cursed spirits and sorcerers in the world.

Also, "Hasn't Takagi-sensei talked about this before?"

Kinji scratches his chin and squints, "He has?"

"… It's related to the system of barriers that Tengen maintains across the country." With the sheer number of lessons that Shiki has missed from school, she actually has no idea if Takagi-sensei has specifically covered this topic with her classmates before. But it certainly counts as basic information that would make sense for him to at least have mentioned to them before at some point…

Kirara's face scrunches up slightly as well, then clears. "Wait, wait, I think I remember something about this! Takagi-sensei said that Tengen's barriers help to, uh, make Curtains and stuff easier for Windows and assistant managers?"

"Yes," Shiki says, glad that they at least have some awareness of what she's referring to. "Tengen's purification barriers optimize cursed energy."

"Uhh," Kinji raises a hand. "What do you mean by 'optimize?'"

"Cursed energy as a whole is easier for people to harness in Japan." she clarifies. "Such as the case of Windows with low potential still being able to pull down Curtains, as Kirara just mentioned. These barriers were raised by Tengen towards the end of the Heian Era, after the end of the Golden Age of Jujutsu. At the time, sorcery was beginning to weaken, while powerful cursed spirits still roamed the lands. A long-lasting solution to enhance the power wielded by sorcerers was desperately needed."

"Ohh, I get it," her classmate nods. "So you're saying that it's a country-wide party buff for everyone who can use cursed energy."

Shiki blinks, disconcerted and confused. "A… a country-wide what?"

"He means a country-wide boost in strength," Kirara explains, which… sounds right, although the effects of Tengen's purification barriers are a little more nuanced than that.

It's accurate enough, though, Shiki supposes.

"… Essentially, Tengen is the reason why Japanese sorcery is extremely well-developed in comparison to the shamanic arts of foreign countries," she continues after taking a moment to reorder her thoughts. "The strength that Tengen's purification barriers grants is also the reason why Tengen is widely considered to be the cornerstone of the jujutsu world."

"Gotcha," Kinji hums. "… Wait a sec. You said that they've been around since the Heian Era?"

"Yes." Kinji could do with reviewing his jujutsu history sometime. "Tengen is effectively immortal."

"Say what?!"

"Tengen's cursed technique is 'Immortality,'" Shiki repeats patiently.

The boy's jaw drops open. "… What the heck. There's a cursed technique that's immortality out there? Seriously? Like, they can't be killed at all?"

"I wouldn't be so sure about that," Shiki shrugs. "It's a cursed technique that extends longevity, not one that grants invulnerability. There are also certain conditions that need to be met as well."

Such as the strict condition that, once every five hundred years, Tengen needs to merge with a compatible human who is a Star Plasma Vessel in order to continue existing and maintain the barriers across Japan.

Shiki still remembers meeting Amanai Riko. Those scant few summer days spent in Okinawa, lapping blue waves by the beach side and a warm breeze beneath the bright sun…

Back then, Geto-san hadn't yet betrayed Satoru-niichan, either.

… But it's all in the past, now. Something that happened a long time ago.

"I'm honestly surprised," Shiki forcibly pushes the stray thoughts out of her mind. "Takagi-sensei really hasn't mentioned any of this?"

"Some of what you're saying sounds a little familiar, yeah," Kirara responds, while Kinji only offers a sheepish smile in his own defense. "I guess it just hasn't really stuck yet."

"I see."

"Tengen aside, though," Kinji abruptly shakes his head, "I think we've gotten pretty sidetracked from our original topic. You said that you're going to be headed to China?"

"Yes. I am." The instructions had been very clear on that. Except…

While it's normal for high-ranked sorcerers to be assigned international missions when local sorcerers prove unable to deal with the threat, and Shiki certainly is a Grade One sorcerer, it's also… a little strange.

In the first place, students usually don't take missions on a regular basis until their fourth year.

Shiki is an exception to this. Then again, usually, students aren't Grade One sorcerers, either. Yet even so, a mission in another country isn't an assignment that Shiki expected to receive as a first year student.

China isn't very far away from Japan, and the flight should only be a few hours. Shiki wonders if this mission has fallen to her merely because of the number of sorcerers who have been injured during Obon, or if this is a prelude to something else. Such as the introduction of more and more international missions to her workload in the future, ones that would gradually see her traveling further and further away from Japan, or…

… was this somehow related to her fight against Araya, possibly?

But no one else had witnessed that fight fully, aside from her fellow Tokyo students. Who could not be relied upon to make a purely objective report of the events that had transpired at the time. It wasn't as if there had been an official assessment of Araya's abilities to begin with, anyways, so what implications did this have for Shiki? A test from the higher ups, of sorts?

Hmm.

"Sounds fun," Kinji grins. "Bring back some extra souvenirs for us, won't ya?"

Kirara huffs and slaps the other boy on the back; Kinji pretends to stagger, which only causes Kirara to roll his eyes.

"Be careful, alright?"

Shiki is a little surprised by the expression of concern. She has taken many missions during her time as a student in the Tokyo school to date, but typically what she receives is a 'See you later' or 'Come back soon,' instead of thinly-veiled worry like this.

… Well, perhaps it's not something to be so surprised by. The condition that she'd emerged in after fighting Araya was… not good, to say the least, and the Tokyo students had a front row view of the battle that had taken place. Although Shiki had emerged victorious at the end, she hadn't done so without injury.

It's understandable why Kirara would be worried. Kinji, too.

The experience in Kyoto had likely shattered any illusions of invincibility they'd had regarding her. Which can only be a good thing, right? Shiki is only all too aware that she is not infallible, and that there are times when she is unable to protect those around her.

Not that it will stop her from trying, to the best of her ability.

"Stay safe," Kirara reaches out, and pats her on the shoulder. "See you in Kyoto afterwards?"

"Probably," Shiki agrees. Depending on the level of investigative groundwork done beforehand, the trip should only take a few days at most. Which means that there should be plenty of time to return for the exchange event.

"Don't forget the souvenirs!"

"… Okay."

.

.

The mission is in Chaozhou, a city within the Guangdong province.

More precisely, the exact location of her latest assignment is estimated to be in one of the peripheral, out-of-the-way rural villages on the outskirts of Chaozhou. The type of small village that's only labeled on local maps in the area. Which means that there isn't just a single plane ride that conveniently takes her directly to her destination.

Shiki's initial plane ride is one that's scheduled bright and early in the morning at six o'clock. It takes approximately three hours to travel from the Narita International Airport to the Shanghai Pudong International Airport. Then, after a two hour-long wait within the airport itself, there's another two-hour flight from Shanghai to the Jieyang Chaoshan Airport in Guangdong.

Quite lengthy in terms of travel time, especially compared to her usual missions.

It's an interesting experience, to be sure. This is the first time that Shiki has been on a plane ride, and it's novel to walk through a bustling airport with so many people, then enter a plane that carries many, many passengers within its spacious interior. Shiki is most accustomed to quiet car rides with only a few people at most, and this reminds her a bit of traveling via bullet train.

There is plenty of room to stretch her legs, though. Various amenities are arranged atop the collapsible table of the small compartment inside the plane. Soft pillows sit by the seats, too; surprisingly comfortable.

Shiki ends up dozing off a little bit during the morning flight from Tokyo to Shanghai.

Her experience in the airports teaches her that there are a lot of people traveling by air. Some are relaxed, others are scrolling through their phones or making calls, and still others are literally sprinting down the walkways like they're being pursued by cursed spirits. Shiki discreetly checks behind them, just to make sure there aren't really any–

"… Those would be the people who are running late for their flights, ojou-sama."

Oh. That… sort of explains it, perhaps…?

In sharp contrast to its international counterparts, the Jieyang Chaoshan Airport is a lot calmer. And a lot smaller, too, although that does not make navigating the airport any easier in Shiki's eyes.

If she were on her own, then Shiki has no doubt that she would've swiftly gotten lost amid the plethora of signs and endless stream of people. Thankfully, she has Choki with her. Her assistant moves through everything with ease and confidence, and all Shiki has to do is follow his lead.

Eventually exiting the airport, Choki murmurs a brief 'Excuse me, ojou-sama' in her direction, and then proceeds to pull out a cell phone. It doesn't take long before the recipient picks up the call on the other end, and soon there is a young man who approaches them.

Dark hair, dark eyes. Not Zenin-dark, though.

"Hello," he says, and there's a clear accent to his Japanese that marks him as a foreigner. Or rather, it would be Shiki and Choki who are the foreigners in this instance. The young man's eyes visibly widen for a moment upon catching sight of her. "I-I'm Zhang Tong. I'll be serving as your local guide for the duration of your stay in Chaoshan."

The first thing that he does is take them out to lunch in the city.

… A slightly late lunch, considering that it's two in the afternoon. But it's been a long day of traveling thus far, and Shiki is feeling hungry. Choki had brought breakfast that they'd eaten together in the Shanghai airport, and it's been awhile since then.

The foreign meal consists of small baskets of steamed buns and other bite-sized dishes that Shiki is hard-pressed to put a name to. It's very different from what she's used to eating, but delicious nonetheless. Overall, she has no particular complaints about the taste… aside from some of the sweeter foods that have far too much sugar in them. It's a little hard for her to identify which foods are sweet or not at a glance, though, due to her unfamiliarity with it all.

Zhang-san is initially quiet, before the silence seems to make him a little uncomfortable. He ends up talking to Choki, reviewing the details of Shiki's current assignment over the course of their meal.

"… so after the deaths of two Grade Two sorcerers and one of the only Grade Ones stationed in China, we reported the situation higher up the chain and requested reinforcements," Zhang-san grimaces. "Honestly, it doesn't really make sense for there to be a powerful cursed spirit born in such rural areas. So far, it's already wiped out no less than four different villages. We're hoping to be able to cut it off before it can make its way into one of the more populated cities. It's… we can't afford for something like that to happen."

The young man draws in a shaky breath, clearly rattled by the very thought of a powerful cursed spirit running loose in a city where there are many more potential victims than a rural village.

During the brief pause that settles across them, Shiki takes another careful bite of the steamed bun in her hands, and feels betrayed by the sickeningly sweet custard paste that fills her mouth.

Choki reaches out to rearrange the dishes so that a bamboo steamer of shrimp dumplings is swapped out for the steamed custard buns in front of her. "I see. Has it already been tracked down where the cursed spirit is?"

"We've managed to narrow it down to a general area, more or less. But identifying the specific location is rather more… difficult," the other man winces.

Investigative work can oftentimes be quite difficult for non-sorcerer staffing. It's not necessarily about the intellectual challenge of the analytical or detective work involved, but instead the unavoidable fact that there is very real danger in tracking down a cursed spirit. Every year, there are Windows and assistant managers who are killed while carrying out preliminary investigative duties.

There is a slightly shame-faced expression on Zhang-san's face as he admits to not knowing the cursed spirit's precise whereabouts. Personally, Shiki doesn't quite understand the reaction.

If one were to ask for her opinion, Zhang-san has nothing to be ashamed of. It is only his responsibility to perform what investigation he is able to, preferably without dying in the process so he can successfully relay what information he did discover, and then pass the remainder of the work onto those who are able to complete the task in full. Rather than taking on unnecessary risks, it's far more important that he continues his job as one of the assisting staff who help sorcerers carry out their work smoothly. Sighted individuals are already rare enough as is.

Shiki blows softly on the surface of her tea and takes a small sip, birdlike. Much to her relief, there's no unexpected sugary infusion that lies in ambush for her this time. Emboldened, she takes a slightly larger sip.

"It's fine, don't worry about it," Choki says in response to Zhang-san's words. He stands up to take hold of the teapot and refill Shiki's cup once she sets down an empty cup. Shiki picks up her assistant's own mostly-empty teacup and brings it closer so that it's easier for him to refill as well. Choki briefly bows his head towards her in silent gratitude. "The first incident was in Fengshan, if I recall correctly?"

"Fengshan was the first," Zhang-san affirms grimly. "… It took nearly a week for someone to notice that something was off. A few locals realized that no one had seen hide nor hair of anyone from within the deep mountains for a while, and decided to take a look. What they ended up discovering there… well… I'm told it wasn't unlike a scene straight out of a horror movie."

The aftermath of a powerful cursed spirit's rampage tended to be like that, in most cases. Shiki bites down on another shrimp dumpling. Tender, and flavorful. Satoru-niichan wouldn't like it, but Ken-jichan might.

"After that… you've already read the reports," Zhang-san sighs. "There was another massacre in Tuolian, and this time we were able to catch wind of it much sooner. We found the cursed spirit's lingering residual energy on the scene, which helped us eventually track it down to the other side of Niutian's shores. Except then we also lost Egusa Rai and Ma Zhen, two of our best Grade Two sorcerers, in one fell swoop. That's when the decision to call in Mizuno Shuto from Beijing was made. Our strongest and most experienced Grade One, instead of Sun Yongtai who's closer to us in Chongqing. But…"

"But unfortunately, it was not enough," Choki finishes for the other man. It had all been neatly written out in black and white in the briefings. Egusa Rai, Grade Two, deceased. Ma Zhen, Grade Two, deceased. Mizuno Shuto, Grade One, deceased.

"It was not enough." A dark look flits over Zhang-san's face. An expression that contains a healthy dose of fear, mixed with apprehension. "The fight between Mizuno-san and the cursed spirit… it's the only time where there were a few civilian survivors."

If Mizuno Shuto was the most powerful sorcerer stationed in China, and he'd died fighting this cursed spirit, then it was no wonder that they hastily requested reinforcements from Japan after losing him. Shiki spares a brief thought to wonder who would replace Mizuno-san's position in the country. Considering the perpetual shortage of sorcerers' numbers, there most likely wouldn't be someone else dispatched to a permanent posting in China to replace the man. In turn, that would mean… Mizuno-san's workload would be divided among the scant few Grade Ones already stationed in the country, and promising Grade Twos.

Save for certain exceptions that were beyond their abilities to handle, of course. Such as the current assignment that had resulted in the man's death to begin with, and was now given to Shiki to complete at her discretion.

She'd originally been meant to arrive in China for this mission two days earlier. But another urgent mission had, unfortunately, ended up setting back her schedule, which resulted in her arrival being delayed until now. If Shiki still wants to be back in time for the exchange event in Kyoto, then it would be best to complete this mission within… three days, at most?

Not knowing the exact location of the cursed spirit that she has been assigned to exorcise is a little inconvenient. But if it's a restless cursed spirit with a taste for murder, then it should reveal itself again soon enough. In general, cursed spirits are usually not the best at hiding their tracks, not unless their abilities happened to be specifically suited for such things.

Shiki sets down her chopsticks. "Dirong Village was the last location listed in the reports. Has the cursed spirit's whereabouts been narrowed down any further since then?"

… It's only a simple inquiry. She doesn't think that there's anything judging or accusatory about her tone, but for some reason, Zhang-san flinches slightly when she speaks.

"No," he answers. "I… My senior found signs of it traveling further north, but he was unable to pin down where, exactly. But we know that it definitely hasn't reached Fuyang, or Chaozhou. If the cursed spirit reached one of the larger cities, then we definitely would've received reports of mass-scale, mysterious murder cases."

Dirong Village to Chaozhou…

Shiki glances down at the map on the table, the one that Zhang-san had brought out earlier in his discussions with Choki.

In a straight line, the distance between Dirong Village and Chaozhou is somewhere around thirty kilometers. There's quite a lot of searching to be done, in such an area. And that's operating under the assumption that the cursed spirit is intentionally, continually traveling northwards instead of in another direction. Certainly, it's a reasonable assumption to make. High concentrations of negative energies not only create cursed spirits, but also attract them. Yet, at the same time–

Cursed spirits are not known to wander far from their birthplaces. Those who do, and quite a considerable distance at that…

Special Grade?

… It's not impossible. Shiki considers the prospect. For all that the jujutsu administration's record of cursed spirits currently only recognizes a grand total of fourteen of them as 'Special Grade,' that isn't to say that they are the only curses in existence to approach the rank in terms of strength. Shiki knows that from personal experience. So, rather than saying that there were 'only fourteen Special Grade cursed spirits that existed,' perhaps it would be more accurate to say that there were 'only fourteen Special Grade cursed spirits officially ranked as such.'

And, most crucially, all fourteen of them were either sealed away or subdued through other methods. Geto-san's Tamamo-no-mae falls under that number, too. There have been no new Special Grade cursed spirits added to the list in recent years, probably because Satoru-niichan exorcised them all before they even had a chance to in the first place.

"Ojou-sama?"

Shiki hums noncommittally. "Choki, how long has it been since a Special Grade cursed spirit last appeared in China?"

"Roughly five years ago," Choki responds promptly. "The honored clan head was assigned to an exorcism in Hubei province. Its appearance was likely linked to the severe flooding in the previous year that impacted multiple regions, especially the central and southern provinces."

Zhang-san isn't nearly as composed as her assistant. "Special Grade?!"

"Please do not be alarmed, Mr. Zhang."

Zhang-san stares at Choki with a disbelieving look. Choki smiles calmly back at the other man, placating and reassuring.

Five years…

Shiki supposes that's probably enough time for another cursed spirit with Special Grade potential to be born? Not that she'd know very much about this. She'd have to ask Satoru-niichan for his experience on the topic, when she sees him again next time. Maybe Ken-jichan would have some insights to share on this as well?

At any rate…

Right now, they were most likely looking at a fairly powerful cursed spirit, possibly verging on Special Grade territory. One whose whereabouts were still unknown, although there was a general area for her to search through.

Shiki sighs. Tracking is not her strong suit. But it's a necessary skill for a sorcerer, and she's proficient in it. She has no doubt that she'll be able to find the cursed spirit, of course, but as for how long it'll take…

Best to get started as soon as possible. Her classmates will never let her hear the end of it if she ends up missing the exchange event with them.

Choki understands her thoughts; the man rises from his seat the same time as Shiki does as she prepares to leave. Zhang-san startles and fumbles a bit, shooting to his feet a beat afterwards in a hasty movement that sends his chair skittering to the side.

"W-what–?"

"To Dirong Village, first," Shiki says for the other man's benefit. Considering it's been over a week between the mission being assigned to her and her actually arriving in China, it's unlikely that she'll find any residual hints of cursed energy still lingering there. But, it's still a starting point to work off from. And perhaps there will be other clues to be found there, in the traces of destruction left behind in wake of the battle between the recently-deceased Grade One sorcerer and the cursed spirit that Shiki was now hunting.

Zhang-san blinks rapidly a few times, "… Now?"

Shiki blinks back at him, "Of course. There's no point in wasting any more time."

The man stares at her, as if he can't understand what he's hearing. "You're not… It's nearly a two-hour drive to Dirong Village from here, and then it's a forty-minute hike into the mountains on foot from there. Young miss, it's three in the afternoon right now."

"And?"

Zhang-san splutters. "A-and that means it'll probably be past six by the time we reach Dirong Village. Coming down from the mountains will be another forty minutes, and then the drive to Chaozhou will be an hour and a half."

"… So?" Shiki still fails to see what he's getting at with these words.

The man hesitates. Then, in a faintly uncertain, tentative tone of voice, "You're… not going to head directly to Chaozhou first? Check into your hotel and review the reports, then begin the exorcism after a full night's rest?"

"I already know what's written in the reports." Choki had even checked for new updates while they'd been waiting at the airport in Shanghai. "And I've rested plenty during the flights here."

"I… I-I mean, that's…"

"If it's the check-in window of the hotel that you're worried about, then I'd recommend either sending someone else to complete the desk work if possible. Or simply making alternative arrangements altogether," Choki adds from the side quite sensibly. "Your worries are noted and appreciated, Mr. Zhang."

"I… I was the one who received Mizuno-san, when he arrived in Jieyang," Zhang-san whispers. The young man's gaze suddenly averts to the ground, as he refuses to continue looking in Shiki's direction. "He's not the first Grade One sorcerer that I've received before. Mizuno-san disembarked in the late afternoon, and headed straight for Niutian. Even though he'd already been running difficult missions back to back, he didn't say a word of his own fatigue. These days, I find myself wondering what if I… if only I'd convinced him to at least rest first, then… maybe…"

Mizuno-san's death is unfortunate. But it's ultimately on the sorcerer themselves to ascertain their own state and wellbeing. To accurately determine whether or not they're actually combat-ready for a mission. Granted, perhaps Mizuno-san had not expected the cursed spirit in this situation to be as powerful as it apparently turned out to be, but–

That's on Mizuno-san. Not Zhang-san.

Also, "What does that have to do with me?"

Zhang-san twitches, stiffening. Shiki gets the feeling that she might've said something wrong again, although she doesn't see how–

"If I may, ojou-sama," Choki coughs lightly. "Mr. Zhang is expressing concern for you."

Expressing concern? By… talking about his encounter with Mizuno-san? Was Zhang-san comparing her to the deceased Grade One sorcerer? Shiki wonders if she should feel insulted by the gesture.

"There is no need for such worry," Choki is already saying to the other man. "Do you doubt the strength of the Gojo Clan?"

"Of course not," Zhang-san denies. "But… I…"

Shiki sighs. They're wasting time here, due to Zhang-san's sudden bout of concern for her.

"I'm not going to die like Mizuno-san." And even if she did, the responsibility would not lie with Zhang-san.

The young man's hands clench briefly into fists. Then, hoarsely, "How can you even say something like that? Mizuno Shuto, he… he was the most powerful Grade One sorcerer that we had in China!"

That might be true. Even so, Shiki highly doubts that the late Mizuno-san's power compares to certain enemies that she's encountered across the years. After all, if Mizuno-san was, say, more powerful than Araya Souren, thenforget about receiving an overseas definitely would've been kept in Japan to deal with the stronger cursed spirits that appeared with higher frequency. The higher ups would also wish to keep a powerful sorcerer like that close at hand, in order to have another sharp weapon at their beck and call.

So really, the reason for her response is–

"Simple," she tells Zhang-san, shrugging carelessly. "Because I'm stronger."

.

.

Extra.

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Zhang Tong had never been prepared for a life of supernatural monsters and a secret society that hid itself from the larger world. Hadn't even suspected that was a thing, not until a certain day when he'd gone to pick up his little sister from elementary school.

… He'd been late. Purposefully so, by nearly an hour. There was a seven-year age gap between the two of them, and at the time Zhang Tong had been fourteen years old and a moody teenager. One who did not like the fact that his father had remarried another woman as soon as he'd divorced his mother. A woman who'd come with a seven year old child of her own at the time, a girl who turned out to be his actual half-sister.

It also had not helped that Lu Meixiang and her daughter, Jia'er, were genuinely nice.

Without getting into the details –Zhang Tong had been a mess of an angry, angsty teen at the time. So when his parents asked him to pick up Jia'er from school, he flat-out refused. But the undesired task was foisted upon him nonetheless.

There had been an argument between the siblings, just the other day. Zhang Tong had left his math homework out on the dinner table. Jia'er, mistaking it for scratch paper, had doodled loopy shapes all over it with a new set of crayons that she'd received from their father. Then decided to cut out little colorful snowflakes from it, and presented it excitedly to the first person that she found –which happened to be Zhang Tong.

It was with that self-righteous, indignant, foolish anger burning in his veins that Zhang Tong decided to hang out with his friends, instead of heading over to pick up his little sister after school.

He hadn't known, back then, that this would turn out to be a decision that he'd regret for the rest of his life.

…

A gas leak, they'd called it. A terrible accident. But it was lucky that it happened after school, when most of the student body had already dispersed and gone home.

Zhang Tong still remembers staring at the still-burning, smoking remains of his sister's school building, horror crystallizing in his veins as his mind went completely numb.

She's not dead. Jia'er is lively and vivacious and she can't be dead, that doesn't make any sense–

For the first time, his father had struck him. A heavy slap, one that sent him tumbling to the ground, and Zhang Tong hadn't bothered defending himself as his father roared incomprehensible words at him. His stepmother, on the other hand, hadn't said a single word. Choked sobbing was all that had come from her, and somehow that was even worse than his father's anger.

That night, Zhang Tong had snuck out of his house and returned to his sister's school. She's not dead she's not dead she's not dead. He'd wanted so badly to look for her, to tell her that he was sorry and that he'd never be late for her again–

And instead, he'd stumbled upona cursed spirit. A cursed spirit, and a sorcerer who'd been sent to exorcise it.

"You can see these things, kid?"

Yes. Zhang Tong could.

The events that unfolded after that were… predictable, in a way. Between the guilt over his sister's death and the strained relations with his parents and the burning desire to do something, anything, Zhang Tong accepted the offer to go abroad and study 'jujutsu.'

He spent a single year in the Tokyo Prefectural Jujutsu High School.

Living in Japan, Zhang Tong had been horrified to discover the sheer number of cursed spirits that existed in the country. Walking down the streets in his home city of Lijiang had never been like this before, and it was absolutely terrifying. Even though he knew that smaller cursed spirits like flyheads were mostly harmless on their own, it was disturbing in a way that made all the hairs on the back of his neck stand on end.

It also didn't help that, despite being remarkably clear-sighted, Zhang Tong possessed zero potential for sorcery.

He'd returned to China, after that stint in Japan. Finished high school, took the national exams, gotten himself admitted into a well-ranked university…

And upon graduating, became one of the few overseas staffing of the jujutsu school.

It wasn't always easy. Downright dangerous, oftentimes, but Zhang Tong doesn't regret his decision. He wants… he wants a world where children don't have to die to invisible, supernatural monsters. Or anyone, really, and–

You'd think that it would be a goal that's achievable in the twenty-first century, but alas.

… Even so, the hardships won't stop him from working for a world that he hopes might be just a little bit better, through his efforts. Zhang Tong can't use jujutsu and can't exorcise cursed spirits, but he can still do paperwork, and he's an industrious worker. And as it turns out, even secret societies fighting invisible monsters need regular people like that.

Zhang Tong had eventually returned to Japan again for two grueling years to gain more experience from the assistant managers working there, before coming back to his homeland.

As one of the only staff in China who not only spoke Japanese fluently, but was also well-versed in no less than five different Chinese dialects, Zhang Tong often found himself as the one assigned to receive sorcerers who were sent over from Japan. He's never met the legendary Gojo Satoru before, though.

He has, however, had the… dubious pleasure of receiving an honored Zenin sorcerer before. The man had spent an entire two days casually touring around, before finally deigning to turn his attention towards the assignment that he'd been sent here for.

There was no denying that the Zenin sorcerer was strong, but… privately, Zhang Tong believed Mizuno Shuto to be the stronger of the two. But Mizuno had been badly injured at the time, and additional assistance from Japan was needed to contain the situation, hence the arrogant Zenin sorcerer.

Mizuno-san is dead, now.

… Dead. Zhang Tong had known that Mizuno-san had been on a busy string of missions, but when both Egusa Rai and Ma Zhen were killed so easily–

"It's alright, Xiao-Zhang. You've done well reporting the situation; I'll take things from here."

…

The Japanese sorcerer who was sent to exorcise the cursed spirit that had killed two powerful Grade Two sorcerers and China's strongest Grade One sorcerer was 'Gojo Shiki.'

Zhang Tong recognizes the name. Gojo, one of the Three Great Families, long sorcery lineages that were known for their power and influence within the jujutsu world. The very same 'Gojo' as in 'Gojo Satoru,' in fact. There were rumors about 'Gojo Shiki' being a promising young sorcerer who possessed cursed eyes much as her Special Grade clan head did –and also something about violent, murderous tendencies to cut everything into pieces?

He'd known that she was young. She was the youngest Grade One sorcerer in the jujutsu school's registry. But Zhang Tong hadn't been prepared for just how young she was. Yes, he was aware that the school started training children as sorcerers when they were of high school age, but–

His first reaction to seeing Gojo Shiki had been the thought that she was young.

Young, and… strange.

There was something that was effortlessly eye-catching about her, from the long white hair to the dark Jujutsu High-colored kimono that she was wearing. An ensemble that made her stand out quite prominently, even within the airport, but there were no curious passersby who dared to stare at her for long. It was almost as if they, too, could sense something off about the girl. A shared unconscious instinct to avoid her attention, for fear of–

Of–

… Of what, exactly?

Behind a dark pair of incongruous sunglasses, it was difficult to tell the direction of her gaze. And yet, when Gojo had turned her head towards him, goosebumps had immediately broken out across Zhang Tong's skin for seemingly no reason at all.

Was it the cursed eyes? Greeting Mizuno at the airport had not felt anything close to this… this, unsettling sort of–

…

… Maybe she was right. Maybe Gojo Shiki really was far stronger than Mizuno Shuto, just as she'd claimed to be. Even despite being a Grade One first year student. She was a Gojo, after all, and surely the old clans had their own ways of training their sorcerers.

It's probably stupid and irrational for someone like Zhang Tong to be worrying about the Gojo princess, especially when her own clan was perfectly fine with sending her abroad on dangerous missions like this. They'd know the extent of her abilities far better than a foreign assistant manager and local guide.

But somehow, Zhang Tong finds himself worrying anyways. He can't tell if it's genuine concern for a young sorcerer, or if it's unresolved trauma from a dead sister that pains him. Jia'er would be around Gojo's age, if she still lived.

…It's probably both, isn't it.

Zhang Tong sighs.

"Something wrong, Mr. Zhang?"

"No, it's nothing, Suzurigi-san," the young man promptly shakes his head, hoping that he doesn't visibly appear too nervous as they wait for the young sorcerer to return from her investigations by the car. The sky is already halfway-darkened. He hopes that the girl returns soon.

As for Zhang Tong himself…

There's nothing that's wrong with him, he just… needs a vacation.

… And probably a therapist, too.

.

.

…

.