Chapter 47

"Welcome back, Master." The white ghost appeared in the room and bowed to Aoba.

"I'm back." Aoba replied with a smile.

"Master, do you have any preferences for dinner?" the white ghost asked.

"Let's just have something simple for dinner. I have to go out for a bit and might be back late." Aoba said while changing out of his school uniform.

"Very well, Master, I'll prepare it right away." the white ghost replied.

Soon, a simple plate of fried rice was served by the white ghost.

After eating, Aoba got up and prepared to leave.

"Have a safe trip, Master." the white ghost said.

"Thanks, see you later." Aoba, now dressed in casual clothes, said to the white ghost and then left the room.

"Kazuko, Yamawaki, I have to go first!" Passing by the apartment entrance, Aoba saw that Kitagawa Kazuko and Yamawaki Natsu were still leisurely drinking tea. Aoba greeted them.

"Leaving so soon, Aoba-kun?" Kitagawa Kazuko was surprised that Aoba, who had just returned, was leaving again after only a few minutes.

"Yes, I have some things to take care of. I'll be back later. See you." Aoba said goodbye.

"See you, Aoba-kun." Kitagawa Kazuko waved.

"See you, Uesugi-kun." Yamawaki Natsu added.

Aoba left the apartment and, as he walked out the gate, he waved to the beautiful female driver sitting in the car.

Aoba's destination was a dilapidated building not far from Sengoku Ayase's house.

That's right, it was the abandoned building where Aoba and Sengoku Ayase had killed someone a week ago.

Although the bloodstains were discovered, the police couldn't find any clues from them, nor could they locate any possible victims' bodies. With the subsequent high-profile serial killer case requiring a large police force, the bloodstains found here were eventually ignored.

Now, the place had returned to its desolate and quiet state. Aoba had arranged to meet Sengoku Ayase here in the evening when they went to school together this morning.

Entering the abandoned building through a gap in the wire fence, Aoba headed to the top floor, the place where he and Sengoku Ayase had first met.

"You're already here? You're early!" Aoba said, looking at Sengoku Ayase, who was already waiting.

"Master Aoba, did you really mean it when you said you could help me completely suppress my inner urge to kill?" Sengoku Ayase asked eagerly.

"Of course, I never lie." Aoba smiled.

"What should I do?" Sengoku Ayase asked, almost impatiently.

"Let's not rush. Before that, I need to confirm a few things." Aoba said.

"What things?" Sengoku Ayase asked, puzzled.

"I think you've already noticed that I'm not an ordinary person." Aoba said.

"Yes, I know. Whether it was making the bodies disappear here before, blocking bullets with a sword, or electrocuting the police last night, all of these have shown that you are not an ordinary person." Sengoku Ayase looked at Aoba with reverence.

"Would you be willing to become like me?" Aoba asked seriously.

"Like you? Do you mean I can also have that kind of power? Can I also block bullets with a sword?" Sengoku Ayase's breathing quickened.

For her, making bodies disappear and electrocuting the police were not important. As a martial artist and a swordsman, what she most admired was Aoba's ability to block bullets with a sword.

"Of course, you can! But for you, having power is not necessarily a good thing." Aoba said calmly.

"Huh? Not necessarily a good thing?" Sengoku Ayase asked, puzzled.

"Exactly. With power, you can more easily suppress the urge to kill inside you. But if you indulge in this desire, you will fall deeper into a darkness far worse than what you are in now. So, you need to think carefully if you have the courage to face all of this." Aoba looked at her seriously.

Sengoku Ayase was silent, then she looked at Aoba with determination. "I've thought about it. I'm willing to face everything. For me, even if the situation gets worse, it can't get much worse than it already is." Aoba saw a bitter smile on her lips.

"That's because you haven't seen true darkness, a darkness far worse than what you can imagine." Aoba shook his head and then continued, "Forget it. Since you've made your decision, I'll help you. But I have one last piece of advice: don't become a slave to power."

"Hai, I understand." Sengoku Ayase bowed excitedly.

Aoba didn't respond but took out a spindle-shaped pendant from his bag.

The pendant looked like an ordinary piece of jade, but it was wrapped in ominous black light, giving it an eerie and sinister appearance.

"The *Yōmei Jutsu* is the most suitable cultivation technique for someone with a killing heart. I happen to have the inheritance item for the *Yōmei Jutsu*, so today, I will give it to you. I hope you use it wisely." Aoba handed the pendant to Sengoku Ayase.

"Thank you, Master Aoba." Sengoku Ayase looked at the pendant with excitement and took it with both hands.

"Be careful. I'm about to activate it. You might feel a lot of pain, so you must endure it." Aoba warned her as she examined the pendant.

"Hai, I understand." Sengoku Ayase replied.

"Also, no matter how much pain you feel, don't let go of the pendant. It will determine how far you can go on this path." Aoba added.

"I understand." Sengoku Ayase replied again.

Aoba nodded and, without another word, lightly tapped the pendant, channeling a stream of pure yang energy into it to activate it.

Suddenly, the dark light surrounding the pendant expanded rapidly, enveloping Sengoku Ayase entirely.

Sengoku Ayase then collapsed on the ground, rolling and trembling violently, her teeth clenched so tightly that blood seeped through.

Despite this, she did not let go of the pendant, not even uttering a single cry of pain.

Aoba nodded, gaining a clearer understanding of Sengoku Ayase's strong willpower.

But precisely because of her strong willpower, he felt concerned.

A person with such strong willpower still couldn't control their urge to kill, indicating how powerful that desire must be.