Curse Reply: After choosing Nawa, the cursed spirit cursed me for being cruel.

And those two scumbags she mentioned weren't stopping their work at all.

"Hey, Jie," Gojo Satoru shouted at Natsuyu Jie, who was walking over from the ruins of the stairs, his voice loud enough for everyone to hear, "Watch your step~ The place where the songstress stepped could collapse at any moment~"

"No way, get it!" Xia Youjie said with a look of disgust, but pretended to look down and check the "non-existent" crack under his feet before "carefully" continuing to walk forward.

The two sang in perfect harmony, their voices complementing each other flawlessly.

The songstress was practically fuming with rage, and she tightened her grip on Shoko's arms, as if drawing strength to fight against the scumbag.

Just then, a relatively normal voice broke in.

“Miss Songstress, I apologize on their behalf.” Duanmu Yan walked over from the side. “Please keep an eye on them… well, at least since they’re here, don’t take it personally. They’re just… well, their personalities are rather unique.”

The songstress lifted her head from Shoko's arms, looking at Duanmu Yan with teary eyes. Her gaze was as if she were looking at the only remaining male in Tokyo High School who could speak normally!

That's great! Tokyo Vocational High School, besides Glass, actually has normal people there!

"Duan...Duanmu-kun..." The songstress sniffed, released the glass, and nodded vigorously at Duanmu Yan, her voice still choked with emotion, "Thank you...you...you're a good person!"

Duanmu Yan smiled, having been given the "friend zone" treatment.

At this moment, Mingming, who had been standing quietly to the side as if enjoying a free sitcom, walked over with elegant steps.

Her gaze fell on Duanmu Yan, sparkling with undisguised curiosity and interest.

She extended her hand, her fingers long and slender. "Nice to meet you. I am Mingming."

Duanmu Yan also reached out and gently touched her fingertips, then separated them immediately. "Hello, Miss Mingming, I am Duanmu Yan, a second-year student at Tokyo Vocational High School."

“Duanmu Yan…” Mingming repeated the name, a curious smile curving her lips as her gaze swept over him.

"Just like the rumors say. He seems like a very reliable and capable young man."

Her voice was soft and charming, with a unique magnetism; the words of praise that came from her mouth seemed to have a special allure.

Duanmu Yan felt his ears getting hot. He tried to keep his face calm, but the slight blush betrayed him. "...Thank you for the compliment."

He had to admit that Mingming, a mature, beautiful woman full of mystery and danger, was indeed a bit too charming, and had a significant impact on him, a young man with little experience in relationships.

Mingming seemed quite satisfied with his reaction, chuckled softly, and said no more.

She turned and waved to the others with a nonchalant air: "Now that the problem is solved, I'll be going now. I still need to find those 'old fogies' and settle the wages for this job."

A level one cursed spirit can be exchanged for a considerable income.

Having said that, she didn't linger; her figure swayed, and she quickly disappeared, coming and going like the wind.

"Alright, that's a wrap!" Gojo Satoru stretched and looked at Duanmu Yan. "Duanmu, the usual!"

Xia Youjie also looked over with a smile, his meaning quite clear.

Shoko had already walked to Duanmu Yan's side on her own, looking completely calm.

Duanmu Yan looked at the three old men in front of him and his lips twitched.

When exactly did he... become a dedicated mode of transportation?!

In the end, he had no choice but to return to Tokyo College with the three elderly men and a tenant.

……

Tokyo Vocational High School, basketball court.

The trio is playing basketball here.

Gojo Satoru caught the basketball, leaned back slightly, and threw it from beyond the three-point line.

"I'm saying, why do we have to leave this behind? It doesn't matter if ordinary people see it, since they can't see the curse anyway."

Xia Youjie jumped up and blocked the ball. "Of course not. The sense of peace in an ordinary person's heart is the fundamental way to prevent the curse from taking hold. Apart from that..."

"Okay, okay..." Gojo Satoru suddenly rushed over, snatched the ball from his hands, and then made a smooth and swift layup.

“Taking care of the weak is such a hassle… Ah!” Gojo Satoru threw the falling ball heavily to Duanmu Yan.

Snapped.

Duanmu Yan caught the ball steadily in front of his chest. "Wu, don't say that. The existence of the tent is still very necessary. Although ordinary people can't see the cursed spirits, the damage they cause is still there. Setting up the tent is to make them live more peacefully."

As he spoke, he tossed the ball to Xia Youjie. After catching it, Xia Youjie said as he walked away, "The survival of the weak is the essence of how society functions. Listen carefully, Wu, spells exist to protect non-spellcasters..."

He threw the basketball with force, and the ball made a loud thud as it hit the rim.

"Are you spouting platitudes? I hate platitudes." Gojo Satoru said dismissively.

Duanmu Yan: "This is not some grand principle. Since you have chosen to be a sorcerer, you must be prepared for this."

The basketball landed and rolled to Gojo Satoru's feet. Gojo Satoru casually picked up the ball and threw it straight at the basket. The strong wind lifted Xia Youjie's bangs.

"Giving meaning to power is something only the weak do."

"Stop spouting those high-sounding platitudes and self-satisfaction! Ugh..." He made an exaggerated face.

Sensing the tense atmosphere, Shoko quickly ran out.

slip away.

"Wu, let's go outside and talk." A one-eyed, malevolent cursed spirit suddenly appeared behind Xia Youjie, its body enveloped in ink-black cursed power.

"Are you afraid of being lonely?" Gojo Satoru sarcastically took off his sunglasses.

A surge of azure magical power also overflowed, and at the same time, he looked at Duanmu Yan.

"Duanmu, do you want to come?"

Duanmu Yan remained silent for a moment, then slowly raised his right hand, and a crimson energy key appeared out of thin air.

He didn't speak, but his attitude was clear.

Should he stand with Gojo Satoru, who advocates that "power is meaning and there is no need to bear burdens," or with Natsume Yuuki, who insists that "spells exist to protect non-spellcasters"? Or perhaps, he has his own third path?

In any case, his silence at this moment and the summoning of the key both indicate that he cannot remain uninvolved.

The air inside the basketball court seemed to freeze, filled with the deathly silence before the clash of magical forces and the imminent danger.

Three distinct yet equally powerful auras subtly formed a standoff.

Just as the three were about to clash, the door to the basketball court was suddenly pulled open.

Looking at the scene before him, Moth Masamichi angrily said, "When are you going to stop playing?"

Chapter 65 Stellar Body

"How long are you going to keep playing?"

As soon as Moth Zhengdao finished speaking, the three troublemakers in front of him, who had just been at each other's throats, switched gears with astonishing speed.

The three of them did their own thing, and the atmosphere was harmonious.

Seeing their tacit understanding, the veins on his forehead throbbed twice more. He took a deep breath, forcibly swallowed back the reprimand that followed, and waved wearily.

"Sigh, never mind." He sighed, abandoning his plan to continue lecturing in the basketball court. "Come with me to the classroom. I have something important to discuss."

"Huh?" Gojo Satoru lowered his hand from his stretch, his face showing a mixture of boredom and annoyance. "Another mission? No way, Yoga-sensei, I just finished playing basketball, I'm so tired!"

Duanmu Yan's heart sank slightly.

At this point in time, Teacher Moth solemnly summoned the three of them... what was bound to happen, finally happened.

"Why are you making that face?" Masamichi Yagami glanced at Satoru Gojo, somewhat puzzled. "Don't you always complain that missions are boring and lack challenge?"

"No way." Gojo Satoru pursed his lips, denying it without any sincerity.

Nocturnal Elephant was too lazy to argue with him, so he turned around and led the way toward the teaching building: "Let's go, let's talk in the classroom."

Wu Tiao Wu, Xia Youjie, and Duanmu Yan exchanged glances and followed.

Inside the classroom, the curtains were drawn, making it somewhat dimly lit. Ye Mo Zhengdao stood behind the podium, looking at the three students below, some sitting and some standing, with an unprecedentedly solemn expression.

"To be honest," I didn't want you to participate in this mission.

"Oh?" Gojo Satoru raised an eyebrow, intrigued. "Does Mr. Yagura think that even if the three of us work together, we still can't complete this mission?"

“No, that’s not what I meant.” Moth Masakazu shook his head, his brows furrowed. “Your strength is beyond question, but this mission… is of special significance, involves too many people, and carries too much responsibility. Entrusting it to you children, I…”

"Then why were the three of us specifically chosen to go?" Xia Youjie pressed.

Night Moth Masamichi paused for a moment before slowly saying, "Because this is a mission personally assigned by Lord Tianyuan, which he requested the three of you to carry out."

"Lord Tengen?" Gojo Satoru and Natsuyuki both showed expressions of surprise.

Duanmu Yan lowered his eyelids and clenched his hands slightly on his knees. Just as expected.

"There are two tasks." Moth Path didn't keep you in suspense and went straight to the point. "Find the Starmash Body, which is the one who is suitable for Lord Tianyuan. Then, you must personally protect her safety and escort her to complete the assimilation at the designated time, or... kill her if necessary."

"Protect and... kill that brat?" Gojo Satoru was a little confused. He quietly nudged Xia Youjie next to him with his elbow and whispered, "Hey, Jie, is Lord Tengen too old and has dementia? Why does he want to protect and kill at the same time?"

With his hands in his pockets, Xia Youjie followed Ye'e Zhengdao into the specially arranged empty classroom. Hearing this, he replied in a low voice, "After all, it's springtime, and he was just internally selected as the next principal. He's probably in a good mood, so maybe he's lost his mind..."

"Alright, you two, stop fooling around." Duanmu Yan interrupted their wild guesses. He looked up at Ye'e Zhengdao and stated calmly, "The Star Essence Body is that special physique that appears once every five hundred years, capable of assimilating with Tianyuan, helping it reset its physical information, and avoiding evolution, right?"

Night Moth looked at Duanmu Yan, somewhat surprised that he knew so much, but still nodded: "You should address him as Lord Tianyuan. Never mind..."

It seems my beloved disciple Duanmu has already been infected by the other two disciples.

He composed himself and began to explain: "The barriers at the various branches of the college and the sorcery community throughout the country have all been specially reinforced by the power of Lord Tianyuan. Once Lord Tianyuan himself has a problem, these barriers will become extremely fragile and may even collapse."

"It will be an immeasurable disaster for the entire Japanese magic defense system, and even for the stability of ordinary society."

"Lord Tianyuan possesses the technique of immortality, but immortality does not mean immortality. When his physical body ages to a certain limit, it will trigger the reforging of the technique."

"There is a very small chance that this process will cause Lord Tianyuan to transcend the human realm and evolve. The outcome of this evolution is unpredictable. Lord Tianyuan may lose his own personality, or even... he may stand against all sorcerers, or even all of humanity."

The voice of the Night Moth Path was particularly heavy: "Therefore, every five hundred years, Lord Tianyuan will assimilate with the Star Magma Body. Assimilation can reset Lord Tianyuan's physical information, initialize the effect of the spell, and allow him to safely pass through the next five hundred years."

After hearing the explanation, Gojo Satoru stroked his chin, pretending to be deep in thought, then suddenly clapped his hands, revealing an expression of sudden realization.

"I see! I get it! Just like Digimon! It's cool and great to evolve into MetalGreymon, but if you accidentally evolve into the wrong one and become Zombiemon, that would be terrible—so it's better to start training from the very beginning with Agumon... Is that what you mean?"

Xia Youjie sighed, “…Fine, just take it that way.”

Night Moth Masamichi's lips twitched, but he still took over the conversation: "And now, the exact location of the Star Essence Girl has unfortunately been leaked."

"She must complete her assimilation with Lord Tianyuan on the night of the full moon two days from now. Your task is to find her before then, protect her, and safely deliver her to Lord Tianyuan. This is a matter of utmost importance, and there can be no mistakes. Duanmu..."

He specifically looked at Duanmu Yan, "You have a more composed personality. During this mission, keep a close eye on Wu and Jie, and don't let them act recklessly or get into fights..."