"Die!"
The curse user couldn't stand it anymore. Despite how strange Hayashi's techniques appeared, this was no time to dwell on them. He needed to finish this battle quickly and leave.
The powerful cursed spirit, which had undergone a frenzied surge in strength, charged directly at Hayashi under the curse user's command. Its speed had greatly increased compared to before.
Although this was a Grade 1 cursed spirit, its mind was simple. It couldn't speak and relied purely on instinct to fight, swinging its massive fist at Hayashi.
Hayashi didn't dodge or flinch. He raised his own fist and met the cursed spirit's punch head-on.
"He's really going to take it head-on? This kid is insane!" The curse user stared at Hayashi in disbelief. Even with that strange armor protecting him, how could he possibly hope to withstand a direct hit from a cursed spirit with superhuman strength?
Azure Black Flash!
In an instant, a flash of light erupted as their fists collided. A shockwave of cursed energy spread outward, even affecting the cursed spirit's arm.
Crack!
A sharp sound echoed. The cursed spirit's strong arm bent unnaturally, followed by a pained howl.
Hayashi swiftly drew the black blade from his back, leaping into the air despite the cursed spirit towering over him. Infusing the sword with cursed energy, he slashed across the creature's neck just as it cried out.
Slash!
Blood sprayed into the air as the cursed spirit's entire head flew off, landing with a thud on the ground.
In mere seconds, a cursed spirit nearly reaching semi-special grade was decapitated by Hayashi.
"How is this possible?" The curse user stood frozen in place, utterly stunned. He had just amplified the cursed spirit's power to such an extent—not only had its strength grown exponentially, but its body had become tougher as well.
And yet, in this state, the cursed spirit was cut down in one strike.
Behind Hayashi, the jujutsu sorcerer who had been struggling earlier was dumbfounded. Was Hayashi a monster? Even their clan leader wasn't this powerful, right?
Even Zhang Yiyi, who had been preparing to fight, stood still, shocked. The strength Hayashi had just displayed was on a completely different level from when they sparred earlier.
"Was he holding back his true strength?" Zhang Yiyi grew more intrigued by Hayashi. Not only did he possess a unique bloodline, but his power was also overwhelming. Whoever had trained him must be someone remarkable.
"A monster, he's a complete monster!" The curse user, who had lost his will to fight, panicked. His cursed spirit was killed in seconds. If he fought Hayashi now, he was certain he would die.
And with Zhang Yiyi, whose strength remained unknown, glaring at him, there was no chance of escape. Staying any longer would be suicidal.
"Thinking of running now? It's too late."
Zhang Yiyi's voice had barely finished when the curse user's legs were quickly bound by layers of cursed chains. The next moment, Zhang Yiyi's twin blades were pressed against his neck.
"Don't kill me! Please spare my life!" The curse user immediately begged. He wasn't adept at close combat and hadn't expected this woman to be so fast, giving him no time to react.
"You're not a cursed spirit, so I had no plans to kill you myself. But I can hand you over to the Three Great Families."
"The Three Great Families!" At the mention of those words, the curse user's legs buckled, and he nearly collapsed to the ground. "Please, no! Don't send me to the Three Great Families! Anywhere but there! I'll do anything, just don't send me to them!"
The cursed spirit that Hayashi had exorcised had already dissolved into nothingness, confirming that it was indeed a true cursed spirit and not a hybrid.
[Exorcised a Grade 1 Cursed Spirit: Earned 88 Points]
"Hmm, 5 points more than the last Grade 1 cursed spirit I exorcised. Not bad." Hayashi thought to himself. While it wasn't a huge increase, it was certainly better than exorcising lower-grade spirits. At least this one had come to him.
"Why is he so terrified of the Three Great Families?" Hayashi mused. He knew about the Three Great Families, as they were among the most powerful in Japan and even worldwide. It would be odd not to have heard of them.
However, Hayashi wasn't too familiar with the specifics of the Three Great Families, as he had never interacted with them directly.
In Jujutsu High, Zenin Maki was from the Zenin clan, one of the Three Great Families. Technically, Fushiguro Megumi was also a member of the Zenin clan, but he refused to acknowledge that connection.
"The Three Great Families have a deep hatred for curse users. I don't need to explain why handing him over to them would be a terrible fate," Zhang Yiyi said as she moved her cursed technique to bind the curse user's hands. His hands were now immobilized, preventing him from casting any more curses.
"I'm begging you, please! Take me anywhere, just not to the Three Great Families! I surrender! I admit defeat! Can't you, as powerful sorcerers, overlook someone like me?"
"No."
"No."
Hayashi and Zhang Yiyi responded in unison. The two of them began escorting the curse user out of the area. The semi-Grade 2 jujutsu sorcerer quickly followed, still reeling from the intense battle. Although the fight had been brief, it had been incredibly thrilling.
As the battle ended, Hayashi dispelled his cursed armor, revealing his true form. The semi-Grade 2 sorcerer marveled at how young he was.
"If it weren't for you two today, I, Machida Ichiro, would be dead. I cannot thank you enough. If you ever need my help, I will be there without hesitation!" With that, Machida pulled out a business card with the address of the Tokyo Binding Society.
Zhang Yiyi didn't take the card, but Hayashi accepted it. "Everything's fine now. You can go back and inform the local authorities or relevant agencies to handle the aftermath."
"I understand. Thank you again. Please don't hesitate to call me anytime." With that, Machida quickly departed. It wasn't that he didn't want to chat more, but he needed to report back as soon as possible.
After he left, Zhang Yiyi looked at the curse user they had captured and said, "Hurry up and dispel the 'Curtain.'"
"The 'Curtain' wasn't meant to stop you in the first place, so there's no need to remove it," the curse user replied weakly, his spirit utterly crushed.
"Fair enough," Zhang Yiyi nodded.
...
"You're back so soon? Who's this…" Jie Zhiyong, who had been anxiously waiting, finally breathed a sigh of relief upon seeing Hayashi and Zhang Yiyi return unscathed. He had been worried that something might have happened, even though Zhang Yiyi was a Grade 1 sorcerer. After all, if their opponent was too powerful, things could have gone wrong.
But now, seeing them safe, he felt a weight lift off his shoulders.
However, he couldn't help but notice the additional person they had brought back.
"This is the culprit. Jie Zhiyong, don't start the car just yet. I need to use it," Zhang Yiyi said, pushing the curse user into the vehicle before taking the driver's seat herself.
"What about us?" Jie Zhiyong asked as he ran over. "What are we supposed to do if you take the car?"
"Walk back," Zhang Yiyi replied calmly, starting the engine.
"Walk back? It's so far!" Jie Zhiyong groaned. He admired Zhang Yiyi for her complete disregard of others' feelings. Sure, he was weak, but that didn't mean she had to treat him like this.
"Unless you want to accompany me to the Three Great Families?" Zhang Yiyi threw out casually.
"Ah, you're going to the Three Great Families now? Okay, take the car. Have a safe trip!" Jie Zhiyong instantly lost his nerve. There was no way he wanted to go anywhere near the Three Great Families.
"Hayashi, would you kindly open the 'Curtain?'" Zhang Yiyi asked as she glanced at Hayashi.
Without hesitation, Hayashi drew his black blade and slashed at the 'Curtain' in front of them. As expected, the 'Curtain' shattered instantly under his strike and dissolved into nothingness.
Zhang Yiyi then drove off. Hayashi wasn't worried about her. If a Grade 1 sorcerer couldn't handle a bound and defeated curse user, then her title would be meaningless.