Chapter 489

Jinwei Tong still stood behind Yutang Zhiji with her hands hanging down, motionless, with no intention of leaving.

Natsume Chikage's gaze swept over the banknote on the board, but he didn't take it.

He looked at Yutang Zhiji and asked, his tone calm:

"Senior Sister Yutang, is there something you need to instruct me on?"

Yutang Zhiji arched her eyebrows slightly, and a hint of displeasure flashed in her deep eyes.

"Call me Zhiji."

Natsume Chikage was silent for a moment.

He truly couldn't understand this inscrutable senior sister in front of him.

"... Zhiji."

A faint, yet real smile appeared on Yutang Zhiji's face.

Her tone was leisurely:

"I remember, you seem to be collecting the set of shogi board, pieces, and records that your late father gave away back then?"

"As far as I know..."

She paused, her gaze seeming to pierce through the human heart.

"You have already obtained the board and the records, right?"

Natsume Chikage's thoughts flickered.

When he discussed this with Anjing Liangdou and Araki Jieai at school earlier, he hadn't deliberately avoided people.

With the resources and connections Yutang Zhiji could mobilize, it was not strange at all for her to know this.

He nodded and admitted it frankly:

"Yes."

The arc of Yutang Zhiji's lips deepened.

"Then, you naturally want to get back the final pieces as well, don't you?"

Natsume Chikage was slightly startled.

He didn't deny it and nodded gently.

"Yes."

If his deduction was correct, those pieces were also likely "special equipment."

If he could collect them all, perhaps it would trigger the "synthesis" prompt he had been looking forward to.

But...

Yutang Zhiji bringing it up now could never be just idle chatter.

Given her personality, it was even more impossible for her to return the items for free.

There must be conditions attached.

"So," Natsume Chikage asked directly, "how can I get those pieces?"

Yutang Zhiji didn't answer immediately.

Jinwei Tong, who had been silent, stepped forward half a step upon hearing this.

Her voice was steady, without any ups and downs:

"The condition is very simple."

"Our school's kendo club has been a regular recipient of awards at the Yulong Flag National Tournament for years."

"But in the last three years, results have continued to decline, failing to win any honors."

"What's more troublesome is—"

She paused and continued.

"Recently, some members of the club were involved in a large-scale brawl with people from another school, and many were injured, making them unable to compete in the short term."

"This has led to a severe shortage of members with the strength to participate in the individual tournament."

"Therefore, we need you to participate in the Yulong Flag individual tournament as an 'outside mercenary' to fill the vacancy."

"And, you must win the championship."

"As long as you do that, the set of pieces you want will be handed to you intact."

Natsume Chikage shook his head after hearing this:

"Since you investigated so clearly, you should also know that I don't know kendo at all."

"Instead of looking for me, it would be better to find a more suitable candidate."

Jinwei Tong denied it expressionlessly:

"That is not important."

"If you don't know, you can learn."

"We will arrange for the top coaches to give you special training."

Natsume Chikage fell into a brief contemplation.

Regarding winning, he was not without confidence.

That "decayed wooden sword" had granted him an extraordinary understanding of "sword"-type weapons, which had already been verified during his previous baseball training.

He raised his head and looked at Yutang Zhiji, his tone calm:

"... It's not impossible for me to agree."

"But I have one question that I need you to answer first."

Yutang Zhiji seemed to have expected this, her red lips parting slightly:

"Let's hear it."

Natsume Chikage looked straight into her deep eyes and asked slowly:

"Why me?"

Hearing this, Yutang Zhiji was slightly startled.

Subsequently.

She actually began to laugh lowly.

The laughter was very light, but it carried a pure joy, like discovering a secret.

"Why you?"

She repeated the question, ignoring the filth and dirt around her, and even the 'Jinwei Tong' composed of twisted flesh, her gaze only on the pure Natsume Chikage.

"Because..."

"In this world, only you are the same as me."

Natsume Chikage's brow furrowed tightly:

"The same? What does that mean?"

Yutang Zhiji didn't answer directly.

She raised the crimson folding fan in her hand and tapped Natsume Chikage's lips with the cold fan ribs.

Stopping him from further questioning.

"You have too many questions."

She withdrew the folding fan and leaned back lazily against the cushion.

"However... I am indeed in a good mood today."

"If you can win the championship, as an extra reward..."

"I can answer some of your questions at my discretion."

Natsume Chikage's thoughts raced.

He caught the key point in her words and immediately pursued:

"Then if... I don't win?"

Yutang Zhiji smiled.

The smile was beautiful and peerless, but it made Natsume Chikage feel a hint of chill.

"If you don't win?"

She unfolded the folding fan unhurriedly and shook it gently.

"Then, the old wooden sword you took from the kendo club must be returned in its original state."

"In addition..."

She paused, her tone still relaxed. ===== CHAPTER 490 =====