Chapter 9: Shangshan Jun, Your Body’s Pretty Sturdy, Huh
“This, I’ve already asked someone to investigate it.”
Tokugawa Ririko interrupted him: “No need to thank me, this is what I should do.”
“I want you to stop investigating.” Shangshan Che saw that there were many people around with sharp ears, so he pulled her to an empty corridor corner and frowned, “Didn’t Nanjō officer say that normal people shouldn’t get involved with these things.”
Pinned against the wall by Shangshan Che, Lili Zi remained unfazed: “You’d rather believe what that cop said yesterday than believe I’m the feminized Guan Yu from Romance of the Three Kingdoms, who could chop demons to death with just a few swings of her sword.”
She pondered for two seconds and said: “Shangshan Jun, after you went home last night, you must have encountered a new supernatural event too, right.”
Too?
Shangshan Che’s gaze sharpened.
What does “too” mean?
Wasn’t Lili Zi staying overnight at the police station last night?
Seeing Shangshan Che’s expression, Lili Zi sighed: “Looks like I was right.”
“Although I don’t know how you avoided the new supernatural event, one thing is certain.”
Lili Zi paused, then said: “We have probably already entered the Friendship Club’s line of sight.”
He hadn’t expected Lili Zi to have thought of so much.
But Nanjo Emi probably wasn’t fooling him either, otherwise she wouldn’t have given him that precious doll.
So the problem is…
That ouija board that was obviously off?
Looking at Shangshan Che deep in thought, Lili Zi had no intention of speaking in riddles:
“As for how I figured this out, it’s simple—just put yourself in the mastermind’s perspective and it’s clear.”
“—A situation where everyone should have been wiped out, yet two people unexpectedly survived. What would I do?”
The girl calmly replied: “Cut the grass at the root. At the very least, send someone to check the situation.”
“Maybe we haven’t been taken seriously yet, but I don’t think we can just sit and wait, praying the onmyoji quickly exterminates that club, praying no supernatural events happen to us in the meantime—the odds of that prayer succeeding…”
Lili Zi paused, then said flatly: “Tell me, Shangshan Jun, in your mobile games, have you ever gotten four limited characters in a single ten-pull?”
Shangshan Che shook his head; he was all about those pity pulls.
“—The odds of the prayer succeeding are far lower than getting four limiteds in a ten-pull.”
Lili Zi: “So, what’s your choice?”
Shangshan Che stared at the kendo pendant on Lili Zi’s chest for a moment, thinking that this thing’s effect was exceptionally good.
Who could have imagined that last night’s whimpering mess could transform into the utterly calm Lili Zi before him.
He nodded: “You’re right.”
Hearing this, Tokugawa Ririko let out a heavy breath: “Thanks.”
Shangshan Che could clearly feel that Lili Zi’s hand stopped trembling after she said that, so he thought for a moment and raised a finger:
“Since you’ve said so much, Lili Zi, let me tell you some news too.”
Lili Zi looked up and heard Shangshan Che say: “If you encounter a supernatural event you can’t handle, call me, and I’ll come as soon as possible.”
Lili Zi: ?
Shangshan Che could clearly read the confusion and doubt in the girl’s eyes, but he didn’t explain further.
“By the way, investigating is fine, but don’t dig too deep, or it could backfire.”
Shangshan Che emphasized this before they parted.
“I’ll know the right measure.” Lili Zi nodded: “The investigator is three layers of outsourcing, an experienced private detective. I didn’t tell him much, and even if he’s caught, it won’t trace back to me right away.”
But what if they use supernatural means?
On this point, Shangshan Che didn’t say anything; he believed Lili Zi must have considered it.
And as she said, even with the risk of discovery, they had to act rather than sit idly by.
—This was already the best response.
Having run into such a godlike teammate, Shangshan Che thought to himself, damn impressive.
He really couldn’t imagine that Lili Zi, same as the original otaku who went crazy over his two-dimensional waifus every day, was also a second-year high school student.
Though… where did Lili Zi get all this money to do these things?
He didn’t dwell on it; everyone has their little secrets.
Lili Zi did, and so did he.
Rather than fuss over that, better to grind ki-gong technique proficiency in class.
During class, Shangshan Che secretly tried and discovered—
Even without gathering qi into a ball and shouting it out, just circulating qi through the body cycle after cycle could gradually strengthen the qi inside and raise proficiency.
In this process, not only did the qi increase, but control over it became more precise.
Shangshan Che called this meditation breathing.
Though slower than normal cultivation methods, the advantage was that it could be done anytime, anywhere.
Maybe it still needed a relatively quiet environment now, but Shangshan Che figured that once proficiency was higher, he could keep raising ki-gong technique proficiency even on a bus or while walking.
【Your skill, Ki-Gong Technique Fragment proficiency +25!】
Having focused on practicing ki-gong technique all morning, Shangshan Che looked at the prompt 【Ki-Gong Technique Fragment（ Beginner 26/100）】 and thought, this efficiency is pretty good.
He figured it would take about a day to grind out the 100 proficiency points for ki-gong technique.
He didn’t know what rewards skill level up would bring… at least it should raise physique by 1 point.
While painting big flatbreads for himself about skill level up, Shangshan Che headed to the kendo club.
Painting flatbreads was unavoidable, because circulating qi for ki-gong technique required full concentration; even a tiny distraction would waste all prior effort.
So even after just a morning of breathing meditation, Shangshan Che felt utterly mentally exhausted.
Maybe because willpower was only a measly 4 points.
Kendo club doorway.
Changed into a white dōgi, Tokugawa Ririko stood like a door god, arms crossed and leaning against the dojo doorway.
Shangshan Che hadn’t even approached when Lili Zi’s voice came: “Come in.”
He scratched his head, puzzled: “You didn’t even look up—how did you know it was me?”
“By the footsteps; everyone’s footsteps are different.”
Lili Zi pointed to her ear: “For a proper swordsman, listening to distinguish position is the most basic skill.”
She closed her eyes and said after a few seconds: “For example, if you turn around now, you’ll see twenty-seven people besides you and me.”
Shangshan Che counted and was surprised to find it was exact.
Then he fell into thought.
—How the hell did that pathetic kitsune-dog corner Lili Zi and make her tremble in fear?
Could it be that women are naturally afraid of ugly animals?
Shangshan Che had forgotten that a fanged hannya with a green face was far more terrifying than a mere kitsune-dog.
“Hurry and go change on the side; lunch break won’t last long.”
Lili Zi walked into the dojo and tossed a prepared set of dōgi to Shangshan Che: “Do you know how to put it on?”
Shangshan Che looked at the pile of items in his hands and honestly shook his head: “No.”
Lili Zi rubbed her forehead: “My mistake; I’ll help you change.”
And just as she grabbed Shangshan Che’s forearm, her originally calm eyes suddenly lit up.
Lili Zi licked her lips, her tone curious:
“Shangshan Jun, how come I never noticed before—your body’s pretty sturdy, huh.”
