The Path to Godhood Begins from the Otherworld

This woman is really brave enough to speak up.

It is said that the debt of favor is the hardest to repay.

The poor senior probably doesn't know that even if she doesn't pay the price, her junior will still choose to help her.

Could it be that girls with pink hair are inherently sinister?

But why does Kurumizaka Ruri want Miyajima Sakura to owe her so many favors?

Hey, poor Miyajima-senpai, please don't look at me with such gratitude. It makes me feel guilty.

It’s a pity that Miyajima Sakura didn’t notice anything unusual. In fact, when she heard Liuli say this, she was very touched.

Because Liuli wanted her favor instead of anything else as the reward for this transaction, which further proved that she still cared about the friendship between her and herself.

As expected, Liuli is a person with a sharp tongue but a soft heart.

Luo Shu naturally didn't know what Miyajima Sakura was thinking.

In fact, Kurumizaka Ruri's psychological expectation is that as long as Miyajima Sakura owes her a favor, the reason she asks for three is that she has been in the business and social circles for many years and has developed this instinct.

After all, as a businessman, only when the original price of the goods is increased a little can there be room for bargaining.

Unfortunately, Kurumizaka Ruri never expected that Miyajima Sakura just thought about it for a while and then agreed directly.

"I promise you, as long as you don't let me do anything illegal, you can ask me for these three favors anytime."

"Ah?" Kurumizaka Ruri was dumbfounded.

She was really panicked this time and subconsciously glanced at Luo Shu.

Luo Shu just shrugged, his eyes indicating that he could do nothing to help.

After all, it was she herself who caused this situation.

As an outsider, Luo Shu had already done his best to interrupt the conversation at this stage.

He knew very well that this matter concerned the future of Miyajima Sakura.

Luo Shu didn't think that he would rashly interrupt this conversation about Miyajima Sakura's future without knowing any inside information.

"Since you've agreed, leave the investigation of Kase Masafumi to me."

Kurumizaka Ruri could only tearfully accept the favor from the three Bais and immediately offered a suggestion, "After school starts, senior, you don't need to do anything deliberately. If you have any personnel appointments for the Kendo Club, you don't need to deliberately target Kase Masafumi to avoid alerting the enemy."

"But……"

"Senior, what we need to do now is to find out whether Kase Masafumi is a true 'kendo gem' or just a piece of shit you see everywhere.

Only in this way can the uncle realize that he has been deceived. Given his uncle's hatred of evil, what do you think he would feel if he knew that the reason why Kase Masafumi achieved the so-called talent of "paper cutting" in just one year was actually premeditated?

Even if your uncle insists on his own opinion, you don't need to worry, because by then you can ask your grandfather for help.

At that time, given your grandfather's intolerant character, he would definitely not sit idly by.

After all, as the Menkyo Kaiden of the Miyajima Tenshin-ryu school, my uncle can make mistakes, but he absolutely cannot lose his responsibility after making a mistake, right?"

Chapter 12: Miyajima Sakura decides to save herself

"I understand." Miyajima Sakura thought for a moment and agreed with the plan. "But, if Kase Masafumi had practiced kendo beforehand, how did he manage to leave no marks on his body?"

"Senior, you can never wake someone who's pretending to be asleep." Kurumizaka Ruri sighed. "The moment my uncle gave Kase Masafumi the title of 'unpolished gem,' it didn't matter whether Kase Masafumi had practiced kendo before joining Miyajima Tenshin-ryu."

"You mean, my father might choose to go along with the mistake in order to maintain his reputation as 'Menkyo Kaiden' in the kendo world?"

"What Luo Shu said just now is very true. Sometimes, once words are spoken, they are like spilled water, and it is difficult to take them back." Kurumizaka Ruri sighed. "Right now, my biggest worry isn't that your uncle is feigning sleep. After all, with your grandfather around, he can't have the final say on your marriage. I'm more worried about Kase Masafumi's true motive for joining the Miyajima Tenshin Ryu, which may involve some unknown secrets."

"Liuli, where did you get this from?"

"I'm worried that someone is deliberately targeting Miyajima Tenshin-ryu. After all, your family is one of the few remaining kendo families in the Fuso Tenshin-ryu branch that has retained the complete Tenshin-ryu heritage. Your value in the Fuso kendo world is inestimable."

Kurumizaka sighed. With the business acumen she had developed since she was a child following her parents in the business and social circles of Japan, she discovered from the intelligence she had obtained from her previous investigation of Masafumi Kase that some information about Masafumi Kase during his junior high school years had been artificially covered up.

Even the Kurumizaka family's business intelligence network found it difficult to find any clues, which was obviously unbelievable. She really couldn't see what was special about Kase Masafumi.

And if there is no problem with Masafumi Kase, then someone is manipulating it behind the scenes.

According to Kurumizaka Ruri's speculation, Kase Masafumi is just a chess piece.

With this in mind, she told Miyajima Sakura some of her findings about the Fuso kendo world. "Senior, haven't you noticed that the prize money for the recent Yulong Cups held by the University Alliance has been getting increasingly generous? This clearly goes against the logic of commercial activities."

"Wait, a competition held by a university alliance isn't strictly a commercial activity, right?" Miyajima Sakura was puzzled. "The prize money for the Yulong Cup is also co-funded by the Fuso National Kendo Federation."

"I don't know the specific situation, but the abnormal increase in the prize money for the University Alliance's Yulong Cup must involve huge interests.

The Fuso National Kendo Federation is, after all, just a loose organization. Even if they were willing to invest, they couldn't possibly allow the prize money for a student-focused tournament to swell to this level. You should understand that capital is all about profit."

"Wait, Kurumizaka-san, if I take that to mean you're worried someone is laundering money through the Yulong Cup, a student tournament, under the guise of funding the Fuso National Kendo Federation?"

"Shu-kun is quite perceptive." Kurumizaka Ruri smiled appreciatively, but her smile quickly faded as she continued in a serious tone, "Based on what I've learned about the common methods of money laundering, the most common ones are charitable donations and film investments, which are generally related to entertainment activities."

"Have swordplay competitions been very popular in Fusang in recent years?" Luo Shu pondered for a moment and asked, "Is there anything special about this university alliance's Yulong Cup?"

Miyajima Sakura had a complicated expression when she heard this. She explained, "The Yulong Cup, hosted by the University Alliance, is held annually. The top three teams in each group will automatically qualify for the Fuso National Youth Swordsman Tournament, held every four years.

The Fuso National Youth Swordsmanship Competition originally stipulated that the competition age must be at least twenty years old, and the winner would be awarded the "Menkyo Kaiden" of his or her corresponding style.

Miyajima Sakura paused, "It can be said that the six spots in the men's and women's divisions of the University Alliance's Yulong Cup are one of the few ways to break the 20-year-old age limit."

"I see." Luo Shu understood what he said. "The University Alliance's Yulong Cup has six spots for the Fuso National Youth Swordsman Competition. This gold content is indeed very attractive to those who are dedicated to the pursuit of kendo."

"That's not all." Kurumizaka Ruri had naturally paid attention to the Fuso National Youth Swordsman Competition, as it was a very famous national commercial event in Fuso. "This youth swordsman competition has a real sword fighting event."

"How is that possible?" Miyajima Sakura said in disbelief. "Hasn't the real sword combat event been banned by the National Kendo Federation a long time ago?"

"Senior, you're so naive." Kurumizaka Ruri sighed, "Think about it, is this so-called Fuso National Kendo Federation really a united front?"

"No." Miyajima Sakura shook her head. "Due to historical reasons, different swordsmanship schools still regard each other as mortal enemies."

"That's all," Kurumizaka Ruri spread her hands. "Since there's a conflict, it must be resolved. This National Youth Swordsman Competition is a bit like a platform built by the major swordsmen to resolve conflicts. However, modern society doesn't allow for life-and-death duels like in ancient times, so they can only settle for the next best thing."

"It's similar to the stage in martial arts novels where people compete for the top spot in the world?" Luo Shu thought for a moment. "Hmm, or perhaps, a stage for the struggle for the title of leader of the martial arts world?"

"That's roughly what I mean." Kurumizaka Ruri nodded, then looked at Miyajima Sakura. "Senior, not everyone who practices swordsmanship seeks perfection in the way of the sword. Most so-called sword practitioners in Fuso use their swords more as tools for fame and fortune."

Miyajima Sakura was speechless. As the president of the Seishin Academy Kendo Club, she had long been aware that there were only a handful of people in the club who were truly passionate about kendo and who aimed to compete in the National Youth Championship.

In fact, before she joined, the Kendo Club of Seishen Academy, regardless of the men's or women's teams, had not been ranked in the top ten in the Yulong Cup of the College Alliance for four consecutive years.

Last year, she participated in the competition for the first time and only won fourth place in the Yulong Cup, almost getting a ticket to the National Youth Fencer Competition.

But even though it was only fourth place in the Yulong Cup, the senior board members of Chengshen Academy were still satisfied and immediately resumed financial support for the Kendo Club.

She plans to compete again this year.

Moreover, after school started, the joining of Masafumi Kase gave her hope that the men's team of the Seishin Academy Kendo Club would enter the top ten of the Yulong Cup.

If Kurumizaka Ruri hadn't come to visit today, she guessed that after school started, she might really focus all her attention on this year's Yulong Cup.

However, after listening to Kurumizaka Ruri's analysis, she felt that it was not a good thing to let Kase Masafumi participate in this year's Gyokulong Cup as a dual representative of Miyajima Tenshin-ryu and Seishin Academy Kendo Club.

After all, everyone in the Fuso kendo world knows that the Miyajima family has no male heirs. If there really is an extra male disciple at this time, it will inevitably trigger various speculations about the Miyajima family from the outside world.

At that time, Miyajima Sakura, as the focus of the topic, might be in trouble.

More importantly, if Masafumi Kase participates in the men's competition of the Yulong Cup in his freshman year this year and is lucky enough to make it into the top ten, then when Miyajima Sakura enters her third year of high school this year, the next vacant position of president of the kendo club will definitely belong to him.

At that time, if Sakura Miyajima's father really wants her to be together with Masafumi Kase, Sakura Miyajima will not have the right to refuse regardless of whether Masafumi Kase is willing to marry into the Miyajima family.

Because, when Masafumi Kase was able to get into the top ten of the Gyokuryu Cup in his freshman year, it was enough to prove the correctness of the evaluation of "unpolished jade" given to him by Miyajima Munetoshi, the current "Menkyo Kaiden" of Miyajima Tenshin-ryu, and it also saved his face as the current Menkyo Kaiden of Miyajima Tenshin-ryu.

By then, Miyajima Sosuke will have achieved the first step in restoring the influence of Miyajima Tenshin-ryu in the Fuso Kendo world.

Miyajima Sakura knew very well that her father had always longed to restore the former glory of Miyajima Tenshin Ryu, and anything that stood in his way would be ruthlessly crushed by him.

Before Miyajima Sakura's grandfather abdicated, he could have suppressed him.

But after her grandfather abdicated, the leadership of Miyajima Tenshin-ryu has now been handed over to Miyajima Munesuke.

Miyajima Sakura knew that instead of relying on her grandfather to take action, it would be better to find a way to nip the crisis in the bud.

Rather, in order to avoid becoming a victim of a political marriage in the future, and to avoid becoming a caged bird losing her personal freedom in the future, Miyajima Sakura can only choose to save herself at this time.

So, now she finally understood why Kurumizaka Ruri proposed to make Kase Masafumi lose his "unpolished kendo talent" first.

Chapter 13: Heartbeat

Only by preventing Masafumi Kase from participating in the competition with the skills of a Miyajima Tenshin-ryu disciple before the start of the Yulong Cup held by the University Alliance this year can we avoid misunderstandings about the Miyajima family from the outside world.

Even if Masafumi Kase really made it into the top ten of the Gyokuryu Cup in his freshman year, he would have lost his status as a disciple of Miyajima Tenshin-ryu and could only go on stage as a member of the Seishin Academy Kendo Club, and would not be able to show his presence as a disciple of Miyajima Tenshin-ryu.

Without the support of a school and without making it into the top three, the appeal to the major swordsmanship schools would be quite limited.

Miyajima Sakura doesn't think Kase Masafumi has the ability to stand out in the highly competitive first-year high school boys' group.

Because in a swordsmanship competition, one can only prove one's strength through swordsmanship.

But what if someone takes action in secret?

By then, it may not be impossible for Masafumi Kase to enter the top ten.

After all, Miyajima Sakura is a female player, and she has no idea what the competition process of the men's group is like.

Although she is the president of the Kendo Club of Seishin Academy, when the time comes to participate in the competition, the male members of the Kendo Club will definitely choose a male team leader.

Although Miyajima Sakura is the president of the kendo club, she is a woman. After being assigned to the women's group, she essentially has no right to interfere with the selection of the team leader of the men's group.

"Liuli, I understand what you mean." Miyajima Sakura sighed softly, "After school starts this year, I will follow your instructions."

"Okay, don't be so depressed." Kurumizaka Ruri laughed and said, "This is all just my personal speculation. Maybe I'm overthinking it."

Miyajima Sakura didn't say anything after hearing this. "Okay, the tea is getting cold. I'll make you another cup."

"No more drinking, it's getting late." Kurumizaka Ruri yawned, then turned to Sasaki Setsuna and Hamasaki Reina who were busy playing with their phones, "They must be getting impatient waiting."

"It's so late." Miyajima Sakura looked up at the clock on the reception room wall. It was already past six in the afternoon. She didn't try to persuade him to stay, but said to Luo Shu with a hint of apology, "I'm so sorry. I hope I didn't take up too much of his time."

"It's okay, it's okay." Luo Shu quickly waved his hands and said jokingly, "If I had known that visiting the Kendo Club today would have this result, I would probably have chosen to follow Hamasaki Reina to visit the Women's Basketball Club."

"Yeah." Kurumizaka Ruri also pretended to be distressed, "If I had known earlier, I should have taken you away directly. Although the tea made by the senior sister is good, it is a headache to drink."

Miyajima Sakura was not angry when she heard this, but just quietly packed up the tea set.

And Kurumizaka Ruri did not choose to leave immediately, but waited silently.

At this time, Setsuna Sasaki and Reina Hamasaki also put away their mobile phones, looked at each other, and chose to wait with her.

Seeing this, Luo Shu naturally felt embarrassed to leave first.

What's more, he had already invited the hot girl trio to his home.

Thus, the reception room returned to its quiet state, but unlike the slightly heavy and cold atmosphere before, the setting sun shining into the room actually brought a little warmth.

More than ten minutes later, Luo Shu and the three hot girls said goodbye to Miyajima Sakura at the gate of Seishin Academy.

Luo Shu and the others were silent for a long time as they watched the black car that picked up Miyajima Sakura disappear at the end of the street in the dusk.

"Shu Jun, you won't be angry, will you?"

Kurumizaka Ruri silently followed Luo Shu's footsteps forward, but she found that he had not spoken a word. She couldn't help but feel a little uneasy. Finally, she couldn't help but timidly explained, "I had no intention of reminding Miyajima-senpai today, but the appearance of Shu-kun today unexpectedly gave me a great opportunity."

"I'm not angry." Luo Shu was stunned for a moment after hearing this, then said with some emotion, "Rather, I'm a little envious of Miyajima-senpai for having a friend like you."

"Really?" Kurumizaka Ruri heard this and looked at Luo Shu with a look that was almost tearing. "Shu Jun, you are really very gentle."

"Don't call me gentle. It makes it seem like I'm nothing but gentle."

Luo Shu felt a wave of PTSD when he heard the Japanese word "Asashi". He looked at Sasaki Setsuna and Hamasaki Reina who were following him weakly and changed the subject, "Instead of worrying about me getting angry, you should think about how to comfort your two best friends."

"Hehe, Setsuna and Reina definitely won't be angry."

"Yes, yes. Liuliqin is right."

Sasaki Setsuna said weakly and perfunctorily.

"I'm hungry." Reina Hamasaki would naturally not be angry. Rather, it was because she and Setsuna knew that Kurumizaka Ruri was a person who valued friendship so much that they made Kurumizaka Ruri the leader in this small group.

"I'm hungry too." Kurumizaka Ruri said she wasn't worried about them getting angry, but she still secretly glanced at them several times. After confirming that they were really not angry, she pretended to be cheerful and said, "Tonight, let Ruri treat everyone to a big dinner."

"You guys go ahead. I plan to go home and cook for myself." Luo Shu subconsciously refused, but was immediately made uncomfortable by three resentful gazes. "I get it. Don't look at me like that. I'll go with you."

"Great." When Kurumizaka Ruri heard Luo Shu agreed, she was immediately excited and naturally put her arm around Luo Shu's left arm.

Seeing this, Setsuna Sasaki and Reina Hamasaki were stunned for a moment, then they silently stepped forward and pulled her away from Luo Shu.