"Since you knew such an enemy existed, why didn't you defeat him over the past thousand years?"
This was a question Eichi had always wondered about.
Tengen understood Kenjaku and even knew his objective.
But she also didn't fully understand Kenjaku. She wasn't clear about many of his abilities.
For example, Kenjaku could still use the Technique of his previous body even after switching hosts.
Such as the abilities of Kaori Itadori, the body Kenjaku had previously occupied.
And most notably, Kenjaku's Domain was an open-type Domain.
She was hailed as an omniscient and omnipotent Sorcerer, placed on the highest pedestal.
Yet she was neither omniscient nor omnipotent.
She had even held them back more than once.
Such a Tengen made people question whether she was evil or simply foolish.
"Then why did you refuse to assimilate with the star plasma vessels? There's more than one, right? For instance, Yuki Tsukumo, who's been overseas all this time."
"Yuki is very dissatisfied with me. She wouldn't accept assimilation."
Tengen shook her head.
"What about others? There should be others like Amanai Riko, raised from childhood as star plasma vessels, ready to give everything to you."
In fact, to maintain the stability of the Jujutsu World, Jujutsu Headquarters had sent other star plasma vessels to the Tombs of the Star the very next day.
This time, Tokyo Jujutsu High had full combat readiness, and Headquarters even forcibly mobilized a large number of Grade 1 Sorcerers.
They were prepared as if going to war against Curse Users.
Yet this escort mission went unusually smoothly.
No attacks. No anomalies.
If Kenjaku's goal was to stop the star plasma vessel from assimilating with Tengen, then why didn't he act?
Even if he couldn't act now because he'd been exposed.
Why hadn't he acted in the original timeline?
The only answer Eichi could think of was this:
Kenjaku knew that once the thread of fate was severed, Tengen would give up assimilation.
In other words, Kenjaku understood Tengen very well.
"There's no need anymore."
"What do you mean?"
"Evolution will eventually come, just like the changing of the seasons. Whether it comes earlier or later… does it really make a difference?"
Tengen's tone was calm, like an old monk who had seen through the Mortal World.
Over a thousand years, Tengen had assimilated with only two star plasma vessels. Amanai Riko should have been the third.
But when Tengen sensed that fate had been broken, she yielded to it.
Eichi suddenly recalled the scene where Yuki conversed with Tengen.
From Yuki's behavior, the Souls of the star plasma vessels assimilated by Tengen hadn't vanished.
They remained, suffering through long years of solitude within Tengen's body.
That was one reason for Yuki's hostility toward Tengen.
Because Yuki could hear their voices, she understood what they had endured.
To use children called star plasma vessels without consent, making them shoulder sins they never asked for, and then casually call it a necessary sacrifice?
Suddenly, a new thought crossed Eichi's mind.
Had Tengen also chosen to stop assimilating after Toji severed the thread of fate, because of that?
"You really chose a good time."
Eichi sighed helplessly.
Tengen quietly looked at Eichi, waiting for him to continue.
"Are you a Cursed Spirit now?"
"Yes and no. I am evolving toward a higher life form that transcends both humans and Cursed Spirits. But before that evolution is complete, my current state is indeed closer to a Cursed Spirit."
"Are you a valid target of Cursed Spirit Manipulation?"
"Yes."
Tengen answered without hesitation, as if she didn't mind it at all.
"Kenjaku can acquire another's Technique by occupying their body. Now, in this era, a Sorcerer with Cursed Spirit Manipulation has appeared. You understand what that means, right?"
Eichi rested his chin on his hands and looked at Tengen. From this perspective, it felt as if Tengen and Kenjaku shared a kind of tacit understanding.
"You're saying Kenjaku will take Suguru's body and then come after me?"
"If Kenjaku's goal is as you described, then he will definitely do so, right?"
"Indeed… I'll keep an eye on it."
Tengen fell silent for a moment, silently raising Suguru's priority in her mental considerations.
Eichi also stared silently at her.
During their conversation, Eichi noticed that there was always a sense of age and decay in Tengen's words.
Many elderly people become youthful in spirit with age—like playful old men or stubborn grandmas. That kind of liveliness shows through.
But Tengen wasn't like that. To Eichi, she felt more like a rotting piece of wood.
"Can you tell me your story? For example, why you established the Barrier that covers Japan?"
"Oh? Don't young people dislike long-winded elders?"
'I don't like it, but if I want to achieve my future goals, I need to understand your experiences and your views.'
"Consider it my admiration for the legends of the Jujutsu World."
"It's a long story..."
An emotional look appeared on Tengen's thumb-like face. Eichi was genuinely impressed that she could show such expression using just a Barrier Technique.
This Barrier truly had life breathed into it by Tengen.
"My Technique is one many dream of, but in truth, it's not very strong."
Eichi already knew this.
Although Tengen's Immortality Technique sounded powerful, in the early stages, it held little standing in the power-driven Jujutsu World.
When people spoke of Tengen, the first thing they mentioned was her Barrier Techniques—like the Barrier that spanned Japan—not her Immortality.
"However, I am quite gifted in Barrier Techniques."
It seemed elderly people loved reminiscing.
Tengen's storytelling grew more vivid as she spoke.
"The reason I first created the Barrier was simple. People needed my help..."
"Over the long years, my Barriers gradually spread across the entire country."
"Later, to use them more effectively, I linked them together."
"It's just that… people didn't seem to want that."
Tengen's voice noticeably deepened.
Eichi understood what those people were thinking.
Why should the Barrier that originally belonged to our Family be taken and turned into a node connecting other Barriers, serving outsiders?
And once the Barriers were linked, who would protect our interests? What about privacy?
What if someone used the connected Barriers to infiltrate our Family?
Most people are selfish. So, Tengen's idea of self-sacrifice for the greater good naturally drew resistance.
It was like an emperor trying to reform society. Even if his intentions were good, few supported him, and some even stirred up trouble on purpose.
(To be continued.)
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◇ One bonus chapter will be released for every 200 Power Stones.
◇ You can read the ahead chapter on Pat if you're interested: p-atreon.c-om/Blownleaves (Just remove the hyphen to access normally.)