Hayashi wasn't the least bit concerned about Le Zhengwen holding a grudge and didn't continue the conversation with Zhang Yiyi.
Since they were already in Shanghai, Hayashi figured they should enjoy themselves. Especially after acquiring the Time Trace technique today, he was in a great mood.
He and Zhang Yiyi wandered around the Bund, buying snacks and bubble tea. For a short while, they seemed to forget about the unpleasant encounter at the Night Owl headquarters.
The streets were bustling with people, giving the city a peaceful atmosphere. Hayashi felt that the environment here was much more pleasant than Japan.
"It feels like there aren't as many cursed spirits in China compared to Japan. That's just my impression, though," Hayashi commented as they walked.
"You're right," Zhang Yiyi replied. "But that's only in the city. Most of the cursed spirits don't appear in places like this. China is different from Japan. The curses here are peculiar, their methods of killing very unique, and they hide themselves well. They rarely show up unless it's a major incident."
People bustled around them—men, women, couples—and as Hayashi and Zhang Yiyi walked together, they looked like a perfect pair in the eyes of passersby, many assuming they were a couple.
But neither of them seemed to care about the attention, continuing their conversation as they strolled.
"By the way, isn't Night Owl supposed to be a pretty big organization in China? How is it that Le Zhengwen is only a first-grade jujutsu sorcerer? Isn't he on the same level as you?" Hayashi leaned against the railing, his gaze fixed on the sparkling water below.
Zhang Yiyi leaned back on the railing as well, her elbows resting on top as she looked up at the sky. "You think special-grade jujutsu sorcerers are common? No matter which country you're in, special-grade sorcerers are extremely rare. Even becoming a first-grade sorcerer requires immense talent. Special-grade… that's a distant term."
"Distant, huh?" Hayashi didn't feel the same. In his mind, as long as he kept exorcising cursed spirits, reaching the level of a special-grade sorcerer was entirely possible.
Of course, that was just his personal perspective. He was a unique individual—someone the world would describe as a once-in-a-century jujutsu prodigy.
Like Gojo Satoru and his Six Eyes, Hayashi was one of a kind.
In theory, Hayashi's potential surpassed even Gojo's. While Gojo killed curses purely to exorcise them, Hayashi's approach was entirely different. For him, killing cursed spirits was something much more.
That's why Hayashi was always so proactive, eager to exterminate as many curses as possible.
However, reality wasn't so simple. There were cursed spirits with extraordinary talents as well—some even strong enough to give Gojo Satoru trouble.
So, one shouldn't become overconfident, or it could lead to serious problems.
"It's about time to head back," Hayashi said, glancing at the sky. It was time to return to Japan.
There wasn't much reason to stay in China for now. He could always come back if he had the chance, but for now, it was time to leave.
"You don't want to stay a bit longer? It's not often you get to visit," Zhang Yiyi asked, a little surprised. She had expected Hayashi to stay and explore for a few more days.
Hayashi shook his head. "There will be other opportunities."
After their flight back to Tokyo:
Yan Dao sat gloomily in front of his computer, staring at the file and report on the screen, his face grim.
He hadn't expected this outcome. Not only had their division failed to upgrade, but they had also been downgraded.
For them, this was a major blow.
Jie Zhiyong looked like he was about to cry. He had spent a fortune on a Tsunade figurine and now felt it was far too expensive. He could hardly bear the cost.
Still, he was deeply attached to the figurine.
Seeing Yan Dao and Jie Zhiyong so downcast, Hayashi decided to speak up. "You don't need to be so negative. We don't have to rely on Night Owl. Seriously, why keep doing missions when they take 60% of the reward? What's the point?"
"Think about it—curses are born almost every day, or at least every so often. Given how scarce jujutsu sorcerers are, it's impossible to exorcise them all. So, we can just take on private jobs and keep all the rewards for ourselves. Sure, it might be a bit more complicated, but it's totally doable."
Yan Dao shook his head. "I get what you're saying, but if we don't go through Night Owl, they'll eventually notice we're not completing missions. They'll fine us, maybe even send someone to investigate. It's not that easy to break away."
"Exactly," Jie Zhiyong added. "That's why it's called an organization. If you operate outside of it, you're breaking the rules. What you're suggesting isn't practical."
"Then let's get rid of those rules!" Hayashi said dismissively. "What's the point of this parasitic organization? We can just quit Night Owl altogether."
"Are you out of your mind?" Jie Zhiyong couldn't understand. What had happened at the Night Owl headquarters in China that made Hayashi come back so radical?
Yan Dao also thought Hayashi was being too impulsive. Sure, they were in a tough spot, but that didn't mean there wasn't a chance to turn things around. Quitting Night Owl would make life even harder for them.
They'd lose their office space and have nowhere to go.
"Have you all become too comfortable with your current life? What's the harm in taking a risk? We still have enough funds to rent a place. Once we have a location, everything else will fall into place," Hayashi knew he couldn't convince Yan Dao to give up on Night Owl right away, but he was certain they'd understand eventually.
Plus, if Hayashi knew how flawed Japan's system for exorcising curses was, he'd definitely take action. The payout for sorcerers was way too low, but he wasn't aware of that yet.
"I'm heading back to school. If you guys change your mind, let me know."
After saying his piece, Hayashi left. Zhang Yiyi watched him go, wanting to say something but ultimately keeping silent.
She also wanted to leave Night Owl, but she knew Yan Dao and Jie Zhiyong wouldn't be able to accept it so quickly. Kuu Yue, on the other hand, might be more open to the idea.
Hayashi walked back to school, feeling a bit better as he admired the flowers and greenery along the way.
As he neared the school, he noticed a group of people ahead, walking in his direction.
There were usually very few pedestrians on this road, and cars only passed by occasionally.
With his sharp eyesight, Hayashi recognized the group immediately—it was the second and third-year students from Kyoto Jujutsu High!
"Wait," said a tall, muscular student up ahead, suddenly stopping in his tracks.
"What is it, Todo?" asked the short-haired girl next to him, glancing over curiously.
Todo Aoi turned to look at a young man walking toward them from a distance.
The short-haired girl, Zen'in Mai, and the blue-haired girl, Miwa Kasumi, also turned to see the boy approaching.
"Isn't he… a first-year from Tokyo Jujutsu High?" Miwa Kasumi asked, recognizing Hayashi from a photo she'd seen before.
"Yeah, I've heard he doesn't stay in school much. He's always going out," Zen'in Mai remarked, watching Hayashi approach with mild interest.
"Hey! First-year! What are you doing here?" Todo Aoi shouted, his loud voice echoing across the road. Zen'in Mai frowned, annoyed by Todo's habit of yelling unnecessarily.
"No need to shout, I'm not deaf," Hayashi replied casually as he continued walking toward them, surprised to run into upperclassmen from the Kyoto campus here.
But judging by their current attitude, it didn't seem like they were in the mood for friendly conversation. They probably had a strong sense of rivalry with Tokyo Jujutsu High.
"Hmph," Todo snorted, unimpressed. The first-year didn't even greet his senpai—clearly, he lacked manners. "Answer my question. Why are you here?"