She was still chewing the fruit Ren had given her, the sweet and sour juice bursting in her mouth, but her eyes remained fixed on the two men talking.
Ren pondered for a moment. If these experience-boosting fruits really only grew on a few specific trees, their growing environment had to be unique.
Either the soil contained unique Reishi, or there was a source nearby affecting the composition of spiritual particles.
Regardless, it was worth checking out.
"Sir, when are you heading back?"
"My son is still taking his exam. We'll head back once he finishes this afternoon. But it's deep in the mountains; it takes half a day to get there. You're a student at the Spiritual Arts Academy, young man. It might not be convenient for you to leave, right?"
"That's easy," Ren smiled. "I happen to have a few days off, so I can go out."
The man nodded repeatedly.
"Then it's settled. Should I wait for you here this afternoon?"
"Yes."
Shiba Kukaku overheard everything. Seeing Ren actually willing to travel so far for a few fruit trees, she couldn't help but feel curious.
"Ren, are these fruits really worth traveling all that way?"
"Let's just say I'm satisfying my curiosity."
Ren replied with a smile, offering no further explanation.
He looked at the fruit glowing with fragment light. To him, those fragments were the only things of true value.
He reached into the basket, rummaging through the fruit to absorb the fragments.
[SYSTEM: Obtained Minor Spiritual Power Fragment x44, Reii EXP +44]
[SYSTEM: Reii: Grade 10 (EXP: 2755/3000)]
He was getting closer and closer to a breakthrough.
He divided the remaining fruit into two portions. He handed one to Nanao and kept the other to share with his classmates and teachers.
Nanao took the bag and looked at Ren seriously. "Are you really going?"
"Yeah, it won't hurt to look," Ren nodded. "Maybe I'll find something interesting."
A hint of hesitation flashed in Nanao's eyes. She actually wanted to go with him.
"Unfortunately... I can't go."
There was clear regret in Nanao's voice.
"The elders at home won't let me go too far away."
Shiba Kukaku's eyes darted around before she suddenly spoke up. "Hey, Ren, I'll go with you."
Nanao's eyes widened, looking at the girl in disbelief.
"Big Sis," Shiba Ganju said, pulling at her. "Big Brother said he was taking us to that famous Ichiraku Ramen place tonight!"
"We can eat ramen anytime."
Kukaku shook off her brother's hand. Looking at Ren with bright eyes, she patted her chest.
"I'm interested in those trees too. Besides, I know the Rukongai well. With me around, I might be able to help you."
Ren blinked. He thought he heard the name of his own shop.
After a brief thought, he nodded. "Alright then, I'll count on you."
"Great!" Kukaku patted her chest excitedly. "Then after the exams this afternoon, the bald uncle and I will wait for you here!"
Hearing this, the man silently rubbed his balding head.
Ren turned to leave with a slightly restless Nanao. Before departing, he glanced back over his shoulder.
"By the way, if you go to Ichiraku, mention my name. You'll get twenty percent off."
Shiba Ganju scratched his head in confusion as he watched Ren walk away.
"We get a discount just by mentioning him?"
...
Time flew by. By afternoon, the students who finished their exams were leaving one after another.
When he arrived at the entrance, the stall owner and Shiba Kukaku were already waiting.
The man's son was still young and looked utterly dejected, apparently having underperformed.
He stood in stark contrast to the high-spirited Shiba Kaien nearby.
"Ren, over here!"
Kukaku waved at Ren, looking full of energy.
Seeing Ren, Kaien stepped forward with a smile.
"Ah, you're the senior from the Academy. We've met before. I hope Kukaku hasn't caused you any trouble."
"Not at all. We'll be classmates soon, so we'll be seeing plenty of each other."
Ren smiled and exchanged a few pleasantries with Kaien.
"Everyone's here, so let's head out."
After leaving the Rukongai, the group split up.
As dusk approached, the man led Ren and Kukaku to a village nestled in the woods of West District 2.
The man took his son home and looked out at the darkening sky.
"It's dark now; it's probably not safe to enter the mountains. Why don't you rest at my place for the night? We'll head out tomorrow morning."
Ren gazed at the hazy silhouette of the distant mountains.
"True enough. Thank you for the hospitality."
They had a simple meal at the man's home. The food was humble, but it provided a rare sense of groundedness.
When the moonlight descended, Ren sat by the door, watching the clear night sky with a rare peace of mind.
Kukaku sat down beside him at some point, resting her arms on her knees as she tilted her head to look at him.
The boy's white hair shimmered in the night. Suddenly, Kukaku couldn't quite remember why she had wanted to come along.
"You seem really focused on those trees. Are they useful to you?"
The girl's large eyes sparkled in the night as she watched Ren quietly.
The moonlight reflected in his eyes, revealing a calm depth.
"It's just pure curiosity. I suppose that's where the fun in life lies."
"What about you? Why did you want to come?"
Kukaku looked into the distance, then buried her chin in her arms, revealing only half her face.
"Yeah, curiosity I guess..."
The air grew quiet.
A moonlit night, the forest, the sound of insects.
After sitting for a while, Ren yawned and stood up to head inside.
"It's late. Let's get some rest. We have a long walk tomorrow."
Kukaku watched Ren's back, tucking a stray lock of hair behind her ear.
Truth be told, she didn't have an answer to that question.
The night passed without incident. Early the next morning, the group set off.
As they veered further off the beaten path, the surrounding buildings grew sparse, eventually giving way to a dense woodland.
"The mountain trail starts here," the stall owner said, pointing to the stretching range ahead. "Those trees are deep in the valley. The path isn't easy."
"It's fine, sir. Lead the way," Ren motioned.
The three entered the forest, trekking along a rugged trail.
After walking for over an hour, the trees grew denser, with light filtering through the layers of leaves to cast dappled shadows.
"Almost there," the man wiped the sweat from his forehead. "It's right in that valley ahead."
Rounding a mountain spur, the view suddenly opened up.
A secluded valley appeared before them, shrouded in mist. A few peculiar trees stood silently within.
These trees were about the height of a person. They looked no different from any other tree, except they seemed quite young.
"These are the ones."
The stall owner pointed to the small trees.
"I only found them recently. It's strange, really; I often come here to chop wood, but I've never noticed this place before."
The trunks emitted a faint shimmer belonging to the fragments, a glow that sparkled in Ren's eyes.
Kukaku looked at the small trees, a hint of confusion in her eyes.
"These trees don't seem special at all. Are you sure, sir?"
"The environment is nice, but there's nothing unique nearby. It doesn't seem like the kind of place that could produce such fruit."
The man scratched his head.
"It's definitely these. See, I've picked all the fruit already. I can't be wrong."
"Oh, really?"
While Kukaku looked around, Ren walked up and reached out to touch the faint light on the trunks.
[SYSTEM: Obtained Large Spiritual Power Fragment x5, Reii EXP +500]
[SYSTEM: Reii Level Up↑]
[SYSTEM: Reii: Grade 9 (EXP: 255/5000)]
Ren's heart jolted.
Rich spiritual power instantly flooded his body, making his entire being feel clear and invigorated.
His Reii level had broken through.
These few trees had provided him with Reii experience equivalent to nearly two months at the Spiritual Arts Academy.
This alone made the trip worthwhile.
But strangely, the system messages didn't disappear.
Under Ren's watchful gaze, a new message slowly surfaced.
[SYSTEM: Obtained Tiny Hogyoku Fragment, Hogyoku Awakening +0.05%]
[SYSTEM: Unlocked Special Ability: Hogyoku (Awakening: 0.05%)]
A strange sensation appeared in Ren's chest.
Within a Soul Reaper's spiritual body, the Saketsu and Hakusui located in the chest and abdomen are the critical points for gathering spiritual power.
In Ren's perception, an incredibly tiny fragment hovered within his Saketsu, merging with his soul.
Even with Ren's level-headedness, he couldn't help but freeze for a moment.
'The... Hogyoku?'