Tu Bai's hands had already gripped tight, his Construction Technique ready to be unleashed at any moment. His heartbeat was fast, but his brain was clear.
Sukuna. The King of Curses within Itadori's body.
Don't be nervous," Sukuna said, his tone casual, as if he were just chatting. "I'm not here to cause trouble.
Tu Bai said nothing, nor did he move.
Sukuna glanced at him, then walked in on his own and sat down on the Sofa. Crossing his legs, he surveyed the Living Room. "Not a bad place to live."
Tu Bai stood at the doorway, leaving the door open. His Demon Power was already circulating, his palm glowed faintly. Sukuna glanced at his hand and let out a smirk. "I said I'm not here to cause trouble. If I wanted to fight, you would have died long ago."
Tu Bai knew he was telling the truth. With Sukuna's strength, if he were to truly fight, he wouldn't even have time to react. But he still did not lower his guard.
What are you here for?
Sukuna looked at him, staring for a few seconds. "Sit. It's exhausting to talk while standing."
Tu Bai did not move.
Sukuna tutted. "Are you rabbits all this stubborn?"
Tu Bai hesitated for a moment, but then walked over and sat down on the single sofa furthest from him.
Sukuna leaned against the sofa, sizing up Tu Bai. Those eyes were completely different from Itadori's; Itadori's eyes were round and bright, while Sukuna's eyes were narrow and deep, as if he were looking at some kind of prey.
Tu Bai felt uncomfortable under his gaze, but he did not look away.
What do you want from me?
Sukuna withdrew his gaze, his Finger tapping twice on his knee. "Help me find someone."
Tu Bai was stunned. "Looking for someone?"
Yeah. A Rabbit Demon," Sukuna said. "The kind that has lived for a very long time. By seniority, he should be your ancestor.
Tu Bai widened his eyes. "What?"
The Rabbit Clan should have something like a genealogy, right?" Sukuna said. "Help me check if there is a rabbit that has lived for over a thousand years.
Tu Bai looked at him, his brain spinning through many thoughts. A Rabbit Demon that had lived for over a thousand years? He had never heard his Parents mention such a thing. He had seen the Tu Clan's genealogy when he was a child, but it only traced back as far as two hundred years.
What are you looking for him for?
Sukuna's expression shifted. It was a very subtle change; the corner of his mouth remained curled up, but something flashed through his gaze. Tu Bai didn't see it clearly, but a possibility suddenly occurred to him.
You know him?
Sukuna did not answer.
You guys.." Tu Bai asked tentatively, "Are you old acquaintances?
Sukuna's expression froze for a moment. It was only for a moment, a very short time, but Tu Bai captured it. He had his suspicions, but he did not dare to show it.
Sukuna cleared his throat. "Are you going to help or not?"
Tu Bai thought about it. "Why should I help you?"
I can help you resolve the problem within your body.
Tu Bai froze. "What?"
“You think I can't tell?” Sukuna looked at him, his eyes carrying a hint of mockery, “Demon Power and Cursed Energy are fighting inside your body; you can't even exert one-third of your usual strength. It hurts, doesn't it? Has it been happening more frequently lately?”
Tu Bai's hands gripped tightly.
He was right. Ever since the Shibuya Incident, he had possessed Cursed Energy within his body. Before, he only had Demon Power, he used Demon Power to disguise it as Cursed Energy to deceive everyone. But now, he possessed both types of power; they clashed and neutralized each other, leaving him with less than a third of the strength he used to have.
And his head ached.
At first, the pain only came occasionally, but lately, it has become increasingly frequent. Sometimes, while doing his homework, the pain will suddenly strike, causing his vision to go black, he has to lean against his desk and stand for a while before he can recover. He doesn't dare tell Gojo Satoru, he doesn't dare tell Tu Bao, he doesn't dare tell anyone. He is afraid they will worry, afraid that Gojo Satoru will stop him from taking missions because of this, afraid of becoming a burden.
So he acted normal. He took simple missions, avoided dangerous places, every time he had a headache, he would hide in the restroom and wait for the pain to subside before coming out.
He thought he had hidden it well.
How do you know?
I can tell," Sukuna said. "The way your Rabbit Demon Power runs is completely different from Cursed Energy. If you force them together, problems will arise sooner or later.
Tu Bai fell silent.
Sukuna leaned back on the Sofa, waiting for a moment. "Well? Is the deal on?"
Tu Bai looked at him. This legendary King of Curses sat on the sofa in his house, legs crossed, with a lazy expression, as if he were negotiating a business deal.
First, tell me how to solve it.
First, balance them out," Sukuna said. "The Demon Power and Cursed Energy in your body are roughly equal, but their ways of running conflict. I can teach you a method to let them each follow their own path so they don't fight.
“And then?”
And then?" Sukuna raised an eyebrow. "And then you'll be back to normal. Just go about your business.
Tu Bai stared at him. "Just that simple?"
It's that simple.
Then why don't you just tell me the method directly? Why do you still need me to help you find someone?
Sukuna looked at him, remaining silent for a while. "It's not like I'm doing charity work, besides, that is only a temporary method. To solve it completely, you must find that Rabbit. He is the expert in this field."
Tu Bai froze. "You mean.."
Your Demon Power and Cursed Energy are intertwined, it is not an ordinary problem," Sukuna said. "Ordinary regulation methods can only provide relief; they cannot cure the root cause. The only one who can cure it is him.
Tu Bai fell silent. He lowered his head and looked at his own hands, his palm still glowing with a faint light. Demon Power and Cursed Energy surged within his body like two intertwined snakes, neither able to suppress the other.
He thought of Gojo Satoru. He thought of that man's hesitant expression every time he saw him rubbing his temples, how he had been coming back early lately, bringing various supplements and saying, "Your complexion hasn't been good lately." He likely knew all along, given the existence of the Six Eyes. He just hadn't said anything.
I'll consider it." Tu Bai raised his head. "I'll give you an answer in one week.
Sukuna stared at him for a few seconds, then stood up. "Fine. I'll come back in one week."
He walked to the Doorway and turned back to glance at Tu Bai. "Don't tell that white-haired man. This is a deal between us."
Tu Bai said nothing.
Sukuna opened the door and walked out. The moment the door closed, Tu Bai saw Itadori's face return to normal—round eyes and a somewhat dazed expression, as if he had just woken up.
Tu Bai leaned against the Sofa, staring at the Ceiling.
Demon Power. Cursed Energy. Ancestors. Old flames.
He rubbed his temples. The pain started again.
The night outside the window was thick. He took out his mobile phone, intending to send a message to Gojo Satoru, but he typed a few words and then deleted them.
Forget it. I'll wait until he gets back.
He placed his Mobile Phone on the coffee table and closed his eyes.
Chapter 69
Tu Bai sat on the Sofa for a long time.
Sukuna closed the door when he left, the Living Room returned to silence. The TV was still on; Animal World had finished, it had been replaced by a Food Program. The Host was eating Ramen in front of the Lens, the slurping sounds were very loud in the empty Room.
Tu Bai turned off the TV.
He leaned back against the Sofa, staring at the Ceiling. The lights were off, with only the dim yellow light from the Streetlight outside the window shining in, casting a patch of dim yellow onto the Ceiling.
His brain was a mess. The words Sukuna said kept spinning over and over in his mind. Demon Power and Cursed Energy were fighting inside his body, causing a headache, leaving him able to exert only one-third of his power. The Ancestor, having lived for thousands of years, could cure his problem completely.
And when Sukuna said, "Don't tell that white-haired man," his tone was casual, as if he were talking about something trivial. But Tu Bai knew that this matter could not be kept secret.
How could he possibly hide it from the Six Eyes? Every day, Gojo Satoru watched him rubbing his temples, watched him taking simple missions, watched him looking unwell; he saw those hesitant expressions and the supplements brought home early—he had known all along, but he simply hadn't said anything.
Tu Bai rubbed his temples. The pain was starting again. It wasn't intense, just a dull ache, as if something inside was twisting. He took a deep breath, waiting for the throbbing to pass, then picked up his Mobile Phone.
[When will you be back?]
Gojo Satoru replied instantly: 【Twenty minutes. I'll bring you a late-night snack.】
Tu Bai looked at the Screen, the corner of his mouth curving slightly. He typed: 【Okay.】
Putting down his Mobile Phone, he stood up and went to the Kitchen to boil water. The kettle hummed, steam rose, the Kitchen became a little warmer.
He took two cups out of the Cabinet, one printed with a Rabbit and one printed with a Cat. The Rabbit was his, the Cat was Gojo Satoru's. He had picked them up during a buy-one-get-one-free sale at the supermarket; Gojo Satoru had complained they were too childish at the time, but he used them every single time.
The water has boiled. He poured the hot water into the cup and carried it to the Coffee Table.
The lock clicked.
Gojo Satoru pushed the door open and walked in, carrying a bag. He changed his shoes and walked inside, placing the bag on the Coffee Table. "I brought you some Takoyaki; it's from that new place."
Tu Bai opened the Bag, the Box was still warm. He took one and stuffed it into his mouth; the octopus pieces were a bit hot, so he inhaled a breath of air.
Eat slowly, no one is going to snatch it from you." Gojo Satoru sat down beside him, looking at him. "What is it you need to say?
Tu Bai chewed a few times before swallowing. "How did you know something was wrong?"
You never use punctuation in your messages. Today you used a question mark." Gojo Satoru leaned against the Sofa. "Spit it out.
Tu Bai put down the Takoyaki. He looked at Gojo Satoru, that man also looked at him, his Blue Eyes shining in the dim Light, his expression calm, but Tu Bai knew he had probably already guessed halfway.
“Someone came to see me today.”
“Who?”
"Sukuna," Tu Bai said.
Gojo Satoru's expression remained unchanged, but Tu Bai could feel the air around him tighten slightly.
What is he here for?
He.." Tu Bai paused, "He discovered the problem inside my body. The matter of the Demon Power and Cursed Energy fighting.
Gojo Satoru said nothing. Tu Bai looked at him. "You already knew, didn't you?"
Gojo Satoru remained silent for a few seconds, then nodded. "I found out after returning from Shibuya. Your Demon Power fluctuation is different from before, your Cursed Energy is also there; the two powers are interfering with each other." He reached out and rubbed Tu Bai's hair. "Since you didn't say anything, I didn't ask."
Tu Bai's nose felt a bit stingy. "I was afraid you would worry."
I know," Gojo Satoru said, "that's why I didn't ask; I'm finding a way myself.