Chapter 123: Shisui—Come On, Let's Go Have Tea
Sasuko gazed at him: "Do you still remember that promise? Or can promises you made to me be so easily forgotten?"
"I remember every promise to you, Sasuko. But some things..." Yu trailed off.
Sasuko said nothing more, only lowering her eyes sadly.
Yu watched her appearance and finally relented: "You know I've been researching forbidden soul techniques all these years."
Sasuko's pupils trembled slightly: "For Father and Mother?"
"Yes." Yu rarely revealed his inner heart before her. "I used Impure World Reincarnation—a forbidden technique requiring living sacrifices to summon departed souls. I chose the most wicked criminals as sacrifices, but the summoned souls were always incomplete—no warmth, no emotion, like puppets."
He raised his eyes, pupils holding deep guilt: "I clearly possess power, yet back then couldn't save them in time..."
"It's not your fault!" Sasuko urgently grasped his hand. "You were still outside then, couldn't possibly arrive in time..."
"But I have capability now!" For the first time, Yu revealed suppressed emotion before her. "Sasuko, perhaps you've heard about my deeds from others, but I can't even save back the most important people..."
Sasuko pressed his hand gently against her cheek: "Look, I'm real, warm. I was saved because of you. If Father and Mother could see, they'd never want you bound by the past. They definitely never blamed you."
Her heart felt shocked that Yu would use such life-death-manipulating forbidden techniques, yet ached for his years of obsession.
So he'd always imprisoned himself in that night's memories, repeatedly chewing that helplessness and regret.
"Just as you hope I'm no longer bound, can possess my own pursuits, friends, and freedom," she said softly, "I similarly hope you can release the past."
Yu stroked Sasuko's warm cheek, suddenly showing a relieved smile: "Seems Sasuko has truly grown up." He paused, tone peaceful yet firm. "But souls genuinely exist in this world. If not for retaining a thread of hope, I wouldn't persist so many years."
"Moreover," he continued, "recent research has made progress."
Sasuko gazed at the rekindled light in Yu's eyes, both comforted he'd found direction yet inevitably worried about this path's dangers.
She knew Yu's personality too well—once determining a goal, he'd persist regardless of everything.
"Can you tell me what you discovered?" She inquired softly, fingers unconsciously tightening her hem.
Yu's gaze turned toward swaying tree shadows in the courtyard: "I discovered summoned souls are incomplete possibly because they come from different sources." He carefully chose words. "Like the same book torn in half, stored separately in different places."
Sasuko contemplated: "You mean... souls are divided between Pure Land and present world?"
"More accurately, separation of consciousness and energy." Yu's fingertips lightly traced above the teacup, faint light flowing at the rim. "What we usually call souls may include consciousness bearing memories and emotions, plus energy supporting its existence. Impure World Reincarnation can only summon energy but cannot call back complete consciousness."
This discovery made Sasuko hold her breath. If truly so—
"So what you'll search for next is that 'place' preserving consciousness?"
Yu nodded appreciatively, then frowned slightly: "But such exploration is filled with unknowns. Even the Six Paths Sage's texts never mentioned consciousness's destination."
Dusk deepened, sunset draping the courtyard in warm golden light.
Sasuko gazed at Yu's profile outlined by rays, suddenly understanding his years of loneliness—facing life-death boundaries alone, struggling forward on paths no one comprehended.
"Would such a place... be very dangerous?" She asked softly, deep unease welling in her heart.
Regardless, she didn't want her only Yu doing dangerous things again.
Yu showed her a reassuring smile: "Don't worry. I have proper measure."
---
Evening, cool breezes blowing.
Though Sasuko had already moved belongings back to her room, she still habitually spent time in Yu's room before sleeping each night.
Yu indulged her—after all, compared to before, Sasuko had already made tremendous changes.
He sat alone in the living room, mentally deducing methods to improve Impure World Reincarnation.
Suddenly, a familiar chakra fluctuation caught his attention.
Shisui.
Shisui stopped before Yu's door, raising his hand to knock: "Yu, it's me."
The door automatically opened. He entered the living room familiar with the route.
Yu rose to greet him. Sasuko, hearing sounds, also emerged from the room. However, her face inexplicably carried faint redness.
"Shisui." Yu greeted.
Shisui first showed somewhat apologetic expression, then glanced at the just-emerged Sasuko: "Coming so late disturbs you. There's something I want to discuss with you. Convenient to talk outside?"
Yu briefly considered then nodded: "Alright." He turned toward Sasuko standing in the doorway. "Shisui and I are going out. Sasuko, rest early."
Sasuko immediately recalled last time Shisui took Yu to a nightclub, inevitably feeling worried.
But having already agreed to interact as adoptive siblings, she knew she shouldn't interfere.
She could only look at Shisui with warning: "Brother Shisui, don't take Yu to strange places, or I'll tell Sister Naoka."
Shisui naturally understood her meaning—this girl still minded last time's incident.
He somewhat awkwardly rubbed the back of his head: "Don't worry, just having tea."
Sasuko turned her face aside, tone carrying complaint: "Better be."
Yu timely reminded her to mind etiquette: "Sasuko."
Only then did she lower her head, apologizing softly: "I'm sorry, Brother Shisui. I was rude just now."
Shisui quickly waved his hands: "No problem, no problem. Sasuko is just concerned about us."
Yu and Shisui walked out the door one after another, figures gradually melting into night.
Sasuko watched them depart, a trace of loneliness flashing through her eyes.
She turned back into Yu's room, closing the door, gently loosening her sash...
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