Faced with Hayashi En's cursed energy pressure, which felt almost physical, and his blatant extortion for mental distress fees, Zenin Nobuaki's sanity finally snapped.
In his decades of experience, it was always the Zenin family who took from others. When had there ever been a case where someone stepped on their heads and extorted them?
Furthermore, the opponent was using a sacred technique stolen from the Zenin family!
"You insolent, lowly brat!"
Zenin Nobuaki roared, his cursed energy exploding as the Grade 1 cursed tool tachi in his hand emitted a chilling blue light.
"Since you're looking for death, I'll grant it to you! I'll tear you limb from limb, then dig your brain out to see how exactly you stole our technique!"
"Everyone, formation! Kill him!"
Following his command, the three remaining Zenin warriors instantly dispersed, charging at Hayashi En from three different blind spots. Their cooperation was seamless and their blade work sharp, clearly a killing technique honed through countless battles.
Faced with this lethal siege, Junpei instinctively wanted to summon Moon Dregs to help.
But Hayashi En raised his hand and stopped him.
"Just watch, Junpei."
Standing his ground against four blades capable of slicing through steel, Hayashi En didn't draw a sword or even move his feet.
He simply pushed up his glasses, his eyes revealing a hint of disappointment, as if looking at a rowdy student.
"Your movements are too stiff."
"Is this all the so-called elite of the Three Great Families can do?"
In the next second, Hayashi En's hands rapidly formed a seal.
It wasn't a seal for a single shikigami, but a far more complex and advanced gesture.
It was a technique that could only be mastered by someone with an ultimate understanding of the Ten Shadows Technique and extraordinary talent—an Extension Technique.
"Extension Technique: Well Unknown Abyss."
Croak—! Screech—!
Accompanied by a strange, mixed cry, the shadow beneath Hayashi En's feet suddenly burst.
Flying out from the shadows was a swarm of bizarre creatures possessing the wings of Nue but the bodies of Toads.
They weren't large, but they were incredibly fast and numerous!
This was a composite shikigami born from fusing the technique circuits of Toad and Nue.
"What?!"
The pupils of Zenin Nobuaki, who was charging at the front, shrank violently.
As a Grade 1 sorcerer of the Zenin family, he naturally knew what this was. This was an extension only mastered by family heads throughout history who possessed immense talent!
That outsider... not only could he use it, but he had even fused them?!
Before he could recover from the shock—
Whiz! Whiz! Whiz!
A dozen winged toads traced bizarre arcs through the air, not only avoiding their slashes but also opening their mouths.
Snap! Snap! Snap!
Countless pink tongues shot out like homing missiles, instantly binding the wrists and ankles of the four warriors, and even the hilts of their blades.
"Dammit! I can't cut through them?!"
One of the subordinates discovered in horror that the cursed energy attached to these tongues was as tough as steel cables.
The momentum of the four-man charge was instantly halted. They were left hanging in mid-air, looking as ridiculous as marionettes.
"Full of openings."
Hayashi En shook his head.
Holding his black cane, he walked toward Zenin Nobuaki, who was suspended in the air, as if taking a leisurely stroll.
"Is this all the skill that bloodline you're so proud of has given you?"
"Bastard! Let me go!"
Zenin Nobuaki struggled desperately, his eyes bloodshot. To be toyed with and hung up by an outsider using his own family's technique was a humiliation worse than death.
"Let you go? Of course."
Hayashi En stopped in front of him and smilingly raised the Golden Order.
Cursed energy swirled around the black cane, as the kinetic energy accumulated over time began to roar.
Bang!
The cane struck Zenin Nobuaki's abdomen with savage force.
Despite having cursed energy protection, the monstrous strength of a Special Grade body instantly pierced his defenses. Nobuaki's eyes bulged, and before he could even scream, his body doubled over like a cooked shrimp.
But it wasn't over.
Bang! Bang! Bang!
Hayashi En's figure flickered between the four men.
One strike for each.
No flashy techniques, only absolute, crushing power.
"This strike is to teach you how to respect your benefactor."
"This strike is to teach you not to point a blade at your creditor."
"And this strike is to discipline you on behalf of your elders for your arrogance."
In just ten seconds, the fight was over.
Or rather, the one-sided beating was over.
The four previously arrogant Zenin elites were now kneeling on the ground, their faces beaten black and blue.
Those few Well Unknown Abyss toads still tightly bound their joints, leaving them without even the strength to stand up.
A deathly silence filled the auction hall.
The surviving millionaires and curse users trembled as they watched the scene.
So brutal, yet so elegant.
The man in the suit was practically a Tyrannosaurus Rex in human skin.
"Phew..."
Hayashi En pulled out a handkerchief and wiped non-existent dust from his cane before turning to Junpei.
"Junpei, take notes."
Junpei quickly pulled out a small notebook, his hands shaking slightly. "B-Boss, how much should I record?"
Hayashi En walked up to the kneeling Zenin Nobuaki, who was coughing up blood, and looked down at him.
"Let me calculate."
Hayashi En began counting on his fingers, speaking quite seriously.
"First, I saved four lives from that swarm of curses. Charging two hundred million per life isn't excessive, right? That's eight hundred million."
"Second, just now you pointed a blade at me, causing immense trauma to my fragile heart. Mental distress fees: one hundred million."
"Third, and most importantly..."
Hayashi En pointed at the winged toads still clinging to the man and said with a smile, "I personally demonstrated the Extension Technique: Well Unknown Abyss for you. This is an advanced course that even your family head might not teach. Charging a hundred million for tuition is practically charity."
"In summary..."
Hayashi En extended a hand toward Zenin Nobuaki.
"That will be one billion yen. Cash or card?"
"You... you're dreaming..."
Nobuaki's mouth was full of blood as he glared at Hayashi En through gritted teeth.
One billion? They couldn't scrape together that much cash even if they sold all four of them!
"No money?"
The smile on Hayashi En's face vanished instantly, his gaze turning cold.
"How dare you be so arrogant without any money?"
He bent down and unceremoniously snatched the tachi that Zenin Nobuaki hadn't had time to sheath.
The blade was pitch black and emitted an ominous aura; it was clearly a high-quality Grade 1 cursed tool.
"Since you have no money, we'll use property to settle the debt."
Hayashi En casually tossed the blade to Junpei behind him. "This sword looks decent enough. I'll credit you fifty million for it."
"You bastard! That was a gift from the head of the family..."
Slap!
Hayashi En's backhand slap sent Nobuaki's words right back into his throat.
"It's mine now."
Next, Hayashi En acted like a ruthless robber, directing Junpei to begin 'searching' them.
"This short sword isn't bad. Take it."
"This charm is a cursed tool too? Take it."
"This haori seems to be made of special defensive fabric? Strip it."
Under the dumbfounded gazes of everyone present, the once-formidable Zenin quartet was stripped down to their skivvies, looking like four plucked quails shivering in the cold wind.
"Alright."
Hayashi En looked at the spoils piled in Junpei's arms and nodded with satisfaction.
"You can get lost now."
Hayashi En released his shikigami.
Zenin Nobuaki crawled up from the ground in humiliation, his entire body trembling.
His blade was gone, his clothes were gone, and his dignity was gone.
He glared at Hayashi En with a venomous resentment that seemed ready to overflow.
"You... you will regret this."
"You've not only offended the Hei unit, but you've also offended Lord Naoya and the entire Zenin family!"
"We will never let you go! That technique... we will definitely take it back!"
Hearing that name, Hayashi En's eyes lit up.
This was the sentence he had been waiting for.
"Naoya? Zenin Naoya?"
Hayashi En stepped forward and thoughtfully straightened Nobuaki's remaining tattered collar, whispering with a smile, "That's perfect."
"Go back and tell that fellow Naoya, or your old family head who spends all day drinking..."
"Want your pride back? Want this sword back? Or do you want this technique?"
Hayashi En pointed at his own shadow.
"You're welcome to come to Tokyo and find me at Jujutsu High anytime."
"Remember my name."
Hayashi En stood tall and spread his arms toward the defeated curs, the ruins and corpses behind him forming the perfect backdrop.
"I am Hayashi En."
"The owner of Exchange Number 8."
"As long as you bring enough money, I'll be waiting."
With that, Hayashi En didn't spare them another glance. He turned and walked into the dark corridor with the heavily burdened Junpei.
Leaving Zenin Nobuaki standing there, clenching his fists so hard his nails pierced his palms, drawing blood.
"Hayashi En..."
"I swear... I will tear you limb from limb!"
...
Tokyo, a street late at night.
Inside the car, Junpei held the pile of cursed tools and looked at his boss, who was resting his eyes in the passenger seat. He couldn't help but ask, "Boss, by doing this... have we completely burned our bridges with the Zenin family?"
"Burned our bridges?"
Hayashi En opened his eyes and watched the city scenery fly by, a meaningful curve touching the corner of his mouth.
"Hahaha, Junpei."
"Hardly anyone in the Zenin family is a good person."
"I'm simply accelerating their established fate."
Hayashi En touched the box in his pocket containing the Special Grade Cursed Object: Soul-Reversing Mask.
"They'll come. They'll bring stronger cursed tools, more money, and more powerful sorcerers. They'll be lining up to hand me points."
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