While I was chanting a curse, the system said I was Xiao Yan?

Riko paused for a moment, then lowered her head, tears falling and dripping onto the ground with a soft 'plop' sound.

Misato Kuroi pulled her into her arms, gently patting her back without saying a word, her eyes reddening.

Xia Youjie got out of the car, stood to the side, watched this scene, remained silent for a moment, and then spoke in a calm voice: "Let's go in, Lord Tianyuan is still waiting for us."

Riko lifted her head from Misato Kuroi's embrace, wiped away her tears with the back of her hand, took a deep breath, and then nodded.

The group passed through the main gate and walked along the gravel path towards the Hongxing Palace.

The Hidden Star Palace is located beneath the Higher Vocational School. It is a heavy bronze door covered with densely packed sealing runes. Under the dim light, the runes glow with a faint blue light, as if something is flowing inside.

Riko stood at the door, staring at it. Her body trembled slightly, and her palms were sweaty, but she gritted her teeth, neither backing down nor crying.

Kuroi Misato stood behind her, her hands resting on her shoulders, her fingers trembling slightly.

Gojo Satoru stood to the side, hands in his pockets, his expression calm, but his eyes remained fixed on Tennori Riko's profile, never looking away.

Xia Youjie stood on the other side, his brows slightly furrowed.

Tianyan stood at the very back, hands in his pockets, his gaze fixed on the door, lost in thought.

Nanami Kento and Haibara Yu stood further away, side by side, neither of them speaking.

The silence lasted for a moment.

Then Gojo Satoru spoke, his voice not loud, but very clear.

"Within the day."

Riko turned her head to look at him.

"If you don't want to go in, you don't have to." Gojo Satoru's voice was calm, as if he were talking about something trivial.

The corridor fell silent for a moment.

Everyone was looking at him.

Riko was stunned for a moment, her mouth opened as if she wanted to say something, but it was as if something was stuck in her throat, and she couldn't say a word.

"Satoru." Xia Youjie turned his head to look at Gojo Satoru, a hint of surprise in his eyes.

"I'm serious." Gojo Satoru didn't look at him; his gaze remained fixed on Tennari Riko's face. The corners of his mouth curved slightly, but the smile lacked its usual playfulness and casualness; instead, it was a serious one.

"If you don't want to merge, then you don't have to. No one can force you."

Riko's tears finally fell, like beads from a broken string, one by one. She wiped them with the back of her hand again and again, but the tears just wouldn't stop. She stood there, her shoulders trembling.

"You...you all..."

Her voice was broken and choked with sobs, "Weren't you...weren't you supposed to complete the mission...?"

"A mission is a mission," Gojo Satoru's voice remained calm, "but you are you."

Riko looked at him, crying so hard she couldn't speak.

Xia Youjie watched this scene in silence for a moment, then spoke in a calm voice: "Wu is right."

He paused, a slight smile playing on his lips. "We discussed this before: if you don't want to merge, then we won't merge."

Riko looked up at him, tears still on her face, but the fear in her eyes had lessened, replaced by something more complex and indescribable.

Nanami Kento walked up from behind and stood next to Tennori Riko, his voice steady: "I also think that Tennori should decide her own destiny."

Haibara Yu nodded vigorously: "Yes! Riko, if you don't want to, none of us will force you!"

Misato Kuroi hugged Riko Tenten without saying a word, tears streaming down her cheeks and dripping onto Riko Tenten's shoulder.

Tianyan stood there, watching this scene, and the corners of his mouth curved slightly.

Gojo Satoru withdrew his gaze, looked at the heavy bronze door, remained silent for a moment, and then spoke, his voice a little softer than before: "Alright, since you've decided, then we won't go in."

He turned around and walked back the way he came, his steps light and quick, his shoes making a "tap tap tap" sound on the stone pavement, exactly the same as when he came.

"Let's go back."

Riko stood there, watching his back, tears still flowing, but the corners of her mouth slowly curved up. The smile was faint and shallow, like she was crying, yet also like she was laughing.

"Enlightenment." Xia Youjie's voice came from behind.

Gojo Satoru stopped and turned his head to look at him.

"Have you thought about what will happen next?"

Xia Youjie's voice was calm, but his tone carried a serious, inquisitive tone: "The mission wasn't completed. How will we explain this to Lord Tianyuan? How will we explain it to the higher-ups?"

The corridor fell silent for a moment.

Gojo Satoru was silent for a moment, then the corners of his mouth slowly curved up, his smile carrying a sense of confidence that said, "I've thought this through all along."

"That's easy," he said, turning to look at the crowd. "Just get Tian Tian admitted to the college."

Everyone was looking at him.

"Join a vocational college?"

Haibara Yu paused for a moment: "But Riko... she's not a sorcerer."

"Who says otherwise?"

Gojo Satoru tilted his head, his smile widening: "The Stardust Body is a special constitution for sorcerers, it just hasn't been developed yet. Let her join the advanced college, learn sorcery, and she can become a sorcerer in the future."

He paused, then held up a finger and pointed it in the air: "That way, the higher-ups won't have anything to say. Tian Tian didn't run away, nor was he released by us; instead, he's staying at the vocational college as a 'sorcerer reserve,' receiving protection and education."

"Doesn't that shut them up?"

The corridor fell silent for a moment.

Then Xia Youjie laughed, a laugh that carried a hint of helplessness, as if to say, "Your brain can be quite sharp sometimes." He continued, "Wu, your idea... isn't entirely unworkable."

"What do you mean by 'it's not entirely impossible'?" Gojo Satoru raised an eyebrow. "It's clearly 'perfectly possible'!"

Haibara Yu nodded vigorously: "I think Gojo-senpai is right! If Riko joins the vocational high school, we can protect her forever!"

Nanami Kento was silent for a moment, then spoke in a steady voice: "From the perspective of system and procedure, it is indeed feasible. As long as Lord Tengen agrees, the higher-ups have no reason to refuse."

"I'll talk to Lord Tengen," Gojo Satoru said calmly, but with a certain confidence that he was leaving the matter to him.

Riko stood in the middle, looking at them, tears still flowing, but the curve of her lips had widened.

She opened her mouth, as if to say something, but something seemed to be stuck in her throat, and she couldn't utter a single word. She just stood there, looking at them, tears streaming down her face.

Misato Kuroi hugged her, also crying, but the corners of her mouth were curved in a smile.

Riko took the tissue, pulled out one, wiped her tears, blew her nose, and then looked up at Satoru Gojo.

"I understand." Her voice was hoarse, but clear.

"Um?"

"Thanks."

Gojo Satoru paused for a moment, then a mischievous smile slowly spread across his face: "You're welcome!"

"However, I still need to inform Lord Tengen."

After saying that, he immediately turned and walked back. Everyone was stunned for a moment, then followed him back to the door.

Gojo Satoru pushed open the door, revealing the dark passageway inside, and... the Night Moth Path.

"Teacher Night Moth?"

Gojo Satoru scratched his head in surprise: "I was wondering why I hadn't seen you. So you were already here."

Then he rubbed his hands together like a fly, as if caught cheating on a snack in class, and said, "Well, we've decided..."

Night Moth Masamichi raised his hand to interrupt him, saying with a hint of relief, "I heard everything."

He said to the people behind him, "From now on, Wu is all you need to do. You can go back now."

The group exchanged bewildered glances, and Xia Youjie was the first to turn halfway around, preparing to leave.

Tianyan frowned upon hearing this. He knew that following this passage would lead directly to Tianyuan's location, so he spoke.

"Ms. Night Moth, this decision was made together, can't we go together?"

Night Moth Masamichi waved his hand: "That's true, but only those invited by Lord Tengen can see Him."

"Previously, only Gojo Satoru and..."

At this point, he glanced at Tian Tian Li Zi: "There are two of us, Tian Tian Li Zi and Tian Yuan, and Lord Tian Yuan has no new instructions, so only Satoru remains."

Seeing that Yae Masakado's attitude was firm, Tenyan's eyes darted around, and he leaned over to Gojo Satoru and said a few words.

Gojo Satoru looked at Tenen in surprise: "You want to know that?"

Tianyan nodded: "I've been quite interested in this lately."

Gojo Satoru gave an "OK" sign and turned to walk deeper into the area.