Chapter 581: Visiting the Grave and the Summons' Competition

Not a word all night; he slept until daybreak, and Broly woke up sandwiched between the young woman and the girl — Tsuchimiya Kagura hugging him from behind, Isayama Huangquan embracing both of them from the front, bodies pressed against bodies, making Broly feel like the jam inside a sandwich cookie.

"Hey, Broly, why did you ask about the location of Kagura's mother's grave?"

After eating, taking advantage of when Tsuchimiya Kagura went to feed the kitten, Broly went straight to Isayama Huangquan and asked about the location of Tsuchimiya Kagura's mother's grave.

"I want to go pay my respects to her."

Broly gave this as his reason.

"Why?"

Isayama Huangquan looked over, somewhat puzzled.

"I want to tell her that from now on I'll take good care of Big Sister Kagura."

"Eh?!"

"Is that not okay?"

"Of course it's fine, just didn't expect you, this kid, to unexpectedly be so polite."

Hearing it was about visiting the Tsuchimiya matriarch's grave to deliver a message, Isayama Huangquan didn't suspect anything else, just felt the boy was a good, obedient, sensible little brother.

"However, if Kagura went over, she'd definitely still be sad."

"It's fine, Sister Huangquan tell me the location, I'll go over there alone and offer incense."

"Alright then, Madam Tsuchimiya's grave is in the Tsuchimiya Family Cemetery, the place is..."

"What are you two talking about?"

Isayama Huangquan had just finished telling Broly the location of the Tsuchimiya Family Cemetery when Tsuchimiya Kagura had already finished feeding the kitten and walked over; seeing the two of them whispering over here, the girl couldn't help but ask.

"Broly plans to go outside for a run, I'm just telling him to watch out for traffic on the road."

"That's exactly how it is, no mistake."

The young woman and the boy's perfectly coordinated story didn't arouse any suspicion in the girl.

"Then I'll go out too, and run with Broly."

Tsuchimiya Kagura proposed.

"Ah, feeding the kitten Soul Crystals requires some preparation work, Big Sister needs a helper here."

Isayama Huangquan said this, then cast a hopeful gaze at Tsuchimiya Kagura.

"Uh, then I'll come help?!"

"Kagura, thank you~"

The young woman satisfiedly embraced the girl, rubbing her face against Tsuchimiya Kagura's delicate cheeks.

"Alright, Broly, you should head out and train your body too."

Immediately after, the young woman straightened up and sent the Saiyan boy off to the front door.

"The Tsuchimiya Family Cemetery has a gravekeeper; take the bus over there, tell them you're a child of the Isayama Family, and they should let you in to pay respects to Madam Tsuchimiya. If there's any problem, you can borrow their phone and call Big Sister."

Isayama Huangquan instructed in a low voice, then suddenly raised her volume when Tsuchimiya Kagura walked over this way: "Right, Broly, what color do you like?"

"Eh?!"

Broly didn't know why the young woman was asking what color he liked.

"Just say a color you like."

Isayama Huangquan urged him.

"Then water blue."

"Water blue, huh, Big Sister knows, now go run."

The door was shut, Broly stood dazed at the doorway.

"Shouldn't be a problem, right?"

Broly muttered to himself, then took off from the spot.

No need to take the bus; while no one was watching, just fly straight over.

Rising to high altitude, pulling out a map to check, confirming the direction and flying, in no more than a few seconds he arrived above the Tsuchimiya Family Cemetery.

Finding a deserted spot to land, Broly walked toward the cemetery entrance.

"Anyone here?"

He called out toward the guardhouse at the entrance, and soon a stern old man opened the door and came out.

"What business does this child have?"

Seeing it was a boy, the old man's expression softened a bit, then he asked.

"I'm a child of the Isayama Family, I want to pay respects to Madam Tsuchimiya."

"Eh, didn't the Isayama Family just help preside over the funeral? Madam's coffin was only just buried, and you're already coming over here to pay respects again?"

"I'm a child the Isayama Family only took in not long ago; I didn't go attend Madam Tsuchimiya's funeral. It was only after Kagura Big Sister moved into the Isayama Family yesterday, and after I established an intimate relationship with her, that I thought to come pay respects to her mother. May I ask, is there some problem with that?"

Broly detected the other party's vigilance, and after explaining, he asked.

"Hmm, kid, wait a moment, I'll make a call to the Isayama Family to confirm first."

The old man didn't directly believe his words, but instead prepared to call the Isayama Family.

"Okay."

Broly nodded, but quickly thought of something — he had flown here, and not even two minutes had passed since arrival; if he made a call back now, wouldn't that expose his unusual nature?

"This is the Isayama Family, what is it?"

Just as he was preparing to knock out the old man in front, Isayama Naraku's voice came from the receiver; Broly hurriedly interjected: "Mr. Isayama, I'm Broly, I've arrived at the Tsuchimiya Cemetery side preparing to pay respects to Big Sister Kagura's mother. The administrator here is about to confirm my identity with you. Also, I came without telling Big Sister Kagura; if she's by your side, please don't reveal it, it might make her sad again."

"Uh..."

Isayama Naraku looked at his adopted daughter feeding the kitten Soul Crystals and Tsuchimiya Kagura, and started going "Mm-hmm."

"Right, exactly, yes, no problem."

"Father, who was calling?"

After Isayama Naraku finished the call, Isayama Huangquan, who was feeding the cat over there, turned her head and asked somewhat curiously.

"It's the relatives discussing when to convene a new Exorcist Alliance council."

Isayama Naraku glanced at Tsuchimiya Kagura beside him and just made up a random excuse; Isayama Huangquan didn't mind.

"Kagura, I'm going out to buy some things later. Do you want to come with me?"

"Okay."

The girl nodded in agreement.

Over at the cemetery, watching the Administrator hang up the phone, Broly's raised heart settled down.

He shouldn't have flown over; he should have proceeded step by step properly.

"Sorry, I doubted your identity just now."

"It's fine."

He nearly attacked the Administrator in front of him, and Broly felt a bit apologetic inside as well.

"By the way, Mr. Administrator, there's something I don't understand. It's just a graveyard, so why is it managed so strictly?"

"That's because of corpse thieves."

"Corpse thieves?"

"The corpses of Exorcists are usually more spiritual and valuable than ordinary people's, which attracts the existence of various monsters and demons.

For example, those Cursed Technique Users who manipulate corpse puppets, those guys from the dark world, would do things like stealing Exorcist corpses."

"So, is stealing corpses actually a fairly common thing?"

Broly, who had also come to scout the location, pursued the question.

"It was more common in the past, but as cremation became prevalent, the guys doing the corpse-stealing trade have become fewer and fewer."

The old Administrator opened the cemetery gate and led Broly into the cold, quiet cemetery, explaining as they walked.

"Was Madam Tsuchimiya buried or cremated?"

Broly hurriedly asked further; this related to the resurrection issue.

"Madam Tsuchimiya was buried, because the Tsuchimiya Family still maintains the tradition of burial, which is why someone like me is needed to guard the cemetery."

Hearing this, Broly's heart eased; this was good news.

"Mm, this is Madam Tsuchimiya's grave. If you need to pay respects and offer incense, I'll go get some for you."

The old man brought the boy before a new grave, and upon discovering he had come empty-handed, said to him.

"Thank you, Mr. Administrator."

Broly didn't refuse, and after the old man brought the incense, he offered a stick to Tsuchimiya Kagura's mother.

At the same time, he solemnly vowed before the tombstone: "Madam Tsuchimiya, please rest assured, I will take good care of Kagura-neesan. If she is willing to become my family in the future, I will definitely strive to bring her happiness."

Old Administrator: "..."

These words sounded a bit off, but also didn't seem to have any problem. Okay, mainly because the person saying them is a child; if it were an adult male saying this, this old bone of mine would have to have a serious talk with him.

After paying respects, Broly left the Tsuchimiya Family cemetery, but he didn't go directly back to the Isayama Family. Instead, he recalled the Black and White Ninjas outside. Yesterday he had the two ninja soldiers continue the spirit-searching mission, and today just happened to be the net-closing again.

And today, the White Shadow Ninja returned first, but it shook its head, indicating it hadn't discovered any new spirits.

Rather, the Black Shadow Ninja, upon returning, knelt on one knee again and produced a black crystal.

"Hey, didn't I tell you not to attack those discovered spirits?"

Broly looked at the Evil Spirit Crystal and said somewhat dissatisfied to the Black Shadow Ninja.

In response, the Black Shadow Ninja began making body movements.

It raised its right hand and placed it horizontally across its brow, then looked left and right by turning its head. Upon seeing the White Shadow Ninja, it clenched one fist and struck the palm of the other horizontally placed hand.

Then it approached the White Shadow Ninja, took the White Shadow Ninja's hand and patted its own face with it. Immediately after, it made an exaggerated motion of being blown backward, rolled twice on the ground and climbed up, then drew its Ninja Sword and assumed an attacking posture toward the White Shadow Ninja.

How to put it, the Black Shadow Ninja's body language was a bit abstract, but Broly still barely understood: "You're saying that after you discovered the spirits, they attacked you, so you were forced to counterattack and wiped them out?"

Hearing this, the Black Shadow Ninja hurriedly withdrew its attack stance and nodded vigorously at Broly.

"Alright, looks like it really wasn't your fault. However, I don't need this thing anymore."

The words had just left Broly's mouth when the Black Shadow Ninja, kneeling on one knee with both hands presenting the black crystal, froze. The black crystal, slightly larger than yesterday's, rolled from its hand onto the ground. It looked as if it had received a huge blow.

Broly felt it was a bit subtle. Clearly it was the Black Shadow Ninja before him, yet it gave him the feeling of a big dog. And now this big dog was feeling dejected because the thing it had fetched wasn't what its master needed.

"Uh, although I don't need this thing, if you can absorb it, you can actually have it."

Broly hurriedly added a sentence. Upon hearing this, the Black Shadow Ninja's dejection vanished instantly.

It picked up the black crystal from the ground, solemnly nodded to its little master who had created it, and absorbed the black crystal into itself.

After absorbing the Evil Spirit Crystal, the chill on the Black Shadow Ninja's body also intensified. It and Byakuei are actually the same type of spirit entity; both can strengthen by devouring the resentment of Evil Spirits.

"The spirit-searching matter can pause for a bit. I need you two to rehearse a script..."

The Black and White Ninjas both looked over, silently listening to their master's instructions.

"Plans can't keep up with changes. This is the latest 'Exorcist Girl Training Plan 2.0' I've obtained. First, White Shadow, your major villain role is cancelled. Now Black Shadow will take on..."

Broly said to the White Shadow Ninja, then explained the matter of training Isayama Huangquan to the Black Shadow Ninja. The Black Shadow Ninja nodded vigorously, and while nodding, kept sneaking glances at the White Shadow Ninja beside it, which seemed to have fallen into a state of dejection. Its scarlet eyes seemed to say: A new generation of ninjas replaces the old.

The White Shadow Ninja stayed silent. It felt it would be like that Water Elemental that had already disappeared — from birth to disappearance, it wouldn't leave much trace.

"As for you, you'll serve as a newly added righteous character. After Black Shadow drives Isayama Huangquan into a desperate situation, you'll appear as the Spirit of Justice who saves the day."

Broly turned his head and assigned the White Shadow Ninja a new role.

"Before, I was still thinking what coincidence plot to design so your summon could let the girl go after driving her into a desperate situation without it seeming abrupt.

But now there's no problem. Because you have two summons, they can play the good and bad roles respectively, performing a double act for that girl named Isayama Huangquan..."

This is Gouhui's original words. Upon learning of the Black Shadow Ninja's existence, this Red Demon Clan girl was very happy, because it saved a lot of plot-designing effort. Just like writing a novel with a system makes it much easier to write — all unreasonable plots can be pushed onto the system.

Broly had just finished speaking when he felt two beams of light seem to light up before him. Looking closely, he discovered it was the radiance in the White Shadow Ninja's golden pupils.

On the contrary, the crimson eyes of the black shadow ninja beside him seemed somewhat sluggish; the two gazed at each other as if a sense of rivalry between summoned beings had arisen, and the air seemed to permeate with a whiff of gunpowder.

"I'm just having you cooperate to put on an act and train a girl, not letting the two of you really fight to the death; can you understand that?"

Broly felt his summoned beings were a bit off; fearing they might misinterpret the meaning of his words, he hurriedly added.

Hearing this, the two ninjas only then retracted their gazes at each other and nodded toward him.

However, the white shadow ninja raised its hand again, but used body language to raise a question.

To put it simply:

【I can train the girl because my ability is up to standard, personally certified by the Master, but is your strength qualified? Do you know the Master's third-rate swordsmanship?】

"This is indeed a problem."

Broly nodded, feeling the question the white shadow ninja raised via body language was quite insightful.

In response, the black shadow ninja narrowed its crimson eyes, drew its ninja sword, and looked at the white shadow ninja.

The meaning was also very obvious:

【Whether it's qualified or not, you pale guy can give it a try!】

Of course, the black and white dual ninjas couldn't achieve this kind of clear expression, but the feeling they gave was exactly that of needlepoint against wheat awn — head-on confrontation.

"You teach it swordsmanship, then have a bout, and let me see its condition."

Broly quickly had an idea and said to the white shadow ninja.

The white shadow ninja nodded, the black shadow ninja didn't object either, and seriously followed the white shadow ninja to learn the third-rate swordsmanship.

And its learning ability turned out to be not much different from the white shadow ninja's; only its emphasis in mastering the third-rate swordsmanship seemed more inclined toward the Sword God Style, while the white shadow ninja was the Water God Style.

The Tsuchimiya Family cemetery was in a rather remote location; even after walking a distance, there weren't many people on the street.

The white shadow ninja and the black shadow ninja stood facing each other on the deserted street, looking exactly like two swordsmen about to engage in a life-and-death duel.

As Broly shouted "Begin," the two ninja soldiers rapidly closed in on each other, and the two ninja swords actually slashed out incomparably dazzling blade lights.

Clanging sounds rang out — who knows if ordinary people could hear them — and every slash, from a normal person's angle, was incomparably fatal, completely aimed at killing each other.

And in Broly's eyes, the black and white dual ninjas' techniques were about the same, but what surprised him somewhat was that the white shadow ninja soon won this summoned-being sparring battle.

"Is it because of the Soul Crystal used for the summoning?"

Considering the Qi the dual ninjas used for summoning was about the same, the only factor influencing their strength would be the summoning variable this World added.

And the facts were indeed so: an A-Rank Spirit's remnant Soul Crystal, even if not all of it, contains stronger power than an Evil Spirit Crystal composed of a group of Class C Spirits combined.

"With this kind of strength, acting as an instructor seems a bit barely qualified!"

Just as Broly was getting a bit troubled, the black shadow ninja climbed up from the ground and again made body language.

"Absorb, grow? Eh, you mean absorbing impure black Soul Crystals can make your own strength grow?"

The black shadow ninja hurriedly nodded.

"Then looks like there's work to do; alright, your mission temporarily becomes hunting Evil Spirits to thereby gain growth in strength, but remember Ghosts are not your hunting targets."

Having asked Jianshan Huangquan yesterday, Broly had already figured out the distinction between Spirit Bodies: harmful ones are Evil Spirits, the kind that once eliminated are just eliminated.

Harmless ones are Ghosts; that kind of Spirit Body, Exorcists basically don't care much about when they see them, and won't actively eliminate them; at least before they lose their wits and turn into Evil Spirits, that kind of spirit is also treated as half a person.

Exorcising them, many Exorcists believe, is no different from killing a person, and brings great mental pressure.

The black shadow ninja's eyes lit up, but immediately afterward it heard Broly's following words: "To avoid you possibly mistaking the Spirit Body to hunt, therefore, the white shadow ninja will assist you in distinguishing Spirit Bodies."

Regarding this, although the black shadow ninja wanted to act freely more, it didn't show dissatisfaction toward this Master Broly, and nodded accepting this arrangement.

"Alright, before your strength improves, the tempering plan may have to slow down a bit; additionally..."

The black and white dual ninjas both looked over, waiting for their Master's lecture.

"Tonight each of you buy a shovel and come over here, and dig graves with me!"

(Chapter End)