Heaven has bound me to weakness? I angrily unleash the Eight Gates!

This made Zenji Jinsuke fall into deep thought: Is he really that scary?

He knew that Mayi was timid, but not this timid, was she? Was he more terrifying than a cursed spirit?

"Stop crying, or I'm really going to eat you up."

"Hmph..."

Upon hearing this, Zhenyi quickly covered her mouth and began to sob softly. Although she was very scared and wanted to cry, she didn't want to be eaten even more.

Originally, she was only afraid of Zenin Shinsuke, but today, Maki asked her mother why the other members of the Zenin family were so afraid of their cousin.

She happened to overhear her mother describing Shinsuke as a monster.

At such a young age, she naturally regarded Shinsuke as an existence no different from a cursed spirit.

She told herself that the other person only looked like a human, but was actually a monster.

"You're not allowed to cry next time you see me, understand?"

The Zen monastery was very strict and austere.

Zhenyi covered her mouth and nodded vigorously, having already made a secret decision in her heart that she would never come to this place again, not even with her sister!

Seeing that Zhenyi was sensible, the Zen monastery finally put her down.

Turning to look at Maki, whose expression was calm, he felt a little puzzled. This girl seemed much more mature than her younger sister.

Indeed, in an environment like a Zen temple, heretics mature early.

"Speak, what are you doing here? Didn't I warn you this morning?"

"I want you to teach me." Maki clenched her fists, her eyes resolute.

She wanted to gain the power to silence the Zen family.

She couldn't use magic, let alone more advanced spells. She didn't know how she could make those who mocked and bullied her fear her in the future.

However, this cousin in front of him must know, because he also cannot use magic power, yet he can frighten the people of the Zen family.

Even Zenji Naoya, who often mocked her, lost all his mockery when he heard her name, replaced by respect and fear.

"What will I teach you? To become stronger?"

Zenin Shinsuke was also staring at this guy, his eyes telling him that Maki was serious.

"Yes! To become stronger! You can definitely make me stronger, right!"

A light shone in Maki's eyes.

Even though she's just a little girl now, she's already realized the importance of strength.

This piqued the interest of Zenji Shinsuke.

"Good, I see your determination, but... I'm sorry, I don't want to teach little brats."

He refused. Teach a little brat to become stronger? What a joke! Does he expect little Maki to train with him?

Upon hearing this, Maki immediately knelt on the ground, startling Mai, who was still sobbing beside her.

"Sister, what are you doing?"

Zhenyi ignored her and looked at Shenjie with bright eyes, then kowtowed to him, saying, "Master, please accept my bow!"

The childish voice echoed in the courtyard, leaving Zenji Shinsuke completely bewildered. Had he traveled back to ancient times?

Why did they even start bumping into each other...?

Chapter 12 The Threshold of Becoming an Apprentice, Free Jobs

"If you don't agree, I'll keep kneeling until you do."

Maki's tone was unusually firm.

Although she didn't know why her cousin was unwilling to teach her, that's how it was done on TV—as long as you kneel down and kowtow, the other party would most likely agree.

If she still doesn't agree, then you're testing her; just keep kneeling.

"..."

Zenji Shinsuke was successfully amused by Maki.

I just said the other person was quite mature, but now it seems that no matter how mature they are, they are still just a child.

"Get up."

"You agreed!" Maki was overjoyed.

"What are you thinking? It's not that easy. Don't you know that becoming an apprentice requires an assessment?"

The Zen monk said in a very serious tone.

"That seems to be true." Maki thought about it seriously; the other person was right.

"Then come and test me!"

Compared to having greater strength, what does a mere assessment matter?

"Hehe, alright, my assessment condition is that you must be able to exorcise a level one... uh, level two, I'll say. When you can exorcise a level two curse on your own, I will teach you how to become stronger."

Zenji Shinsuke originally intended to set the threshold at level one, but considering the other person's situation, he decided to give her some hope.

Having the strength to defeat a level two curse should be enough to barely reach the threshold for becoming stronger.

"Okay! It's a deal!"

Maki doesn't even know the extent of a Level 2 curse yet, but she believes she will be able to achieve it in the future.

Having achieved the result she wanted, Maki finally pulled her whining little sister away.

Zenji Shinsuke smiled and shook his head.

Zen monasteries will eventually be destroyed by their own arrogance.

Zenji Jinsuke didn't care at all what would happen to the Zenji family in the end; he even planned to ask an old man from Nagoya to use his connections to get him a job with a salary.

It'll get cold sooner or later anyway, so grab what you can while you can, or you won't be able to grab anything later.

Time comes the next day.

Without hesitation, after finishing his training, Zenji Jinsuke swaggered into the Zenji family home, which displeased the Zenji family members.

But he just loves the way these guys can't stand him but are helpless. If they don't like him, they'll come and mess with him, if they can.

"Damn it, this guy is too arrogant."

Only after Zenji Jinsuke's figure disappeared did these people begin to whisper among themselves.

"Shh—, keep your voice down, don't let that freak hear you, or he'll go crazy again."

"No, is he really that amazing?"

Some young people who went out on missions back then did not witness Zenji Jinsuke's madness firsthand and could not believe that a guy without any magical power almost slaughtered the Zenji family.

"That's why I call him a freak; both brothers are freaks."

In a corner, Zenji Maki encountered this situation again, her belief becoming even stronger, and at the same time, a sense of admiration arose in her for this future master.

Is this what it feels like to be a strong person?

These ugly fellows only dare to gossip behind people's backs.

Of course, besides Maki, there was another young man who witnessed this scene.

Sixteen-year-old Zenji Naoya hid behind the house, watching Zenji Jinsuke's back from afar, his eyes filled with both fear and admiration.

Brother Shen Jie, you're still as powerful as ever.

It's even more terrifying than it was back then.

Zenin Naoya, who had the good fortune to have seen Zenin Jinsuke in his tyrannical form, became his devoted fan back then, though he only dared to glance at his idol from afar.

Our gaze then turned to the head of the family.

Zen-in Shinsuke showed absolutely no courtesy to Naobi.

"Old man, can you help me find a job that doesn't require me to work?"

Asking the Zen temple for money directly seemed rather impolite.

But getting a job shouldn't be a problem, right?

Upon hearing this, the old Jibi man's beard twitched, and he immediately realized that this deadbeat was here to fleece him.

"What do you want to do? With your abilities, you'd never lack money!"

The Zhibi people didn't agree directly, fearing that this kid was setting a trap for them.

"Making money isn't difficult, but it's a bit of a waste of time."

He now needs to focus his time on cultivation, so when it comes to making money, it's naturally easier to just take it for free.

You can't be penniless, after all, it's a modern society and there are many things you need money for.

"Then go to the spellcasting academy as a part-time teacher, I can arrange it for you."

The Nagahito knew this kid wanted to get something for free, but luckily it was just an easy job, and with the Zenin family's influence, they could arrange it.

As for why they didn't just give money directly...

The Nagahi people said, "Do you really think Zen temple families are very rich?"

A family that values ​​spell power and magic above all else; if you want money, go earn it yourself.

Not to mention others, even he, the head of the Zen temple, sometimes has to take on tasks to earn some extra money to supplement his family's income.

"What? A professor at a sorcery academy is going to be a teacher?"

Zen Monastery was completely dumbfounded.

I thought the old man was going to arrange some kind of sinecure job for him in a listed company, or have him become a teacher at a magic academy. That's ridiculous.

"You want me, someone with no magical abilities, to teach those sorcerers?"

What will they teach? Physical skills?

"Ahem, anyway, it's just a temporary post, you don't actually have to teach."

The Nakabi explained.

"Don't you want an easy life? At the Spellcasting Academy, as long as you don't take on any missions, you can just collect your monthly salary for free."

Although the profit margin is a bit lower, the good thing is there's no risk, which just meets your requirements, doesn't it?

The base salary for teachers specializing in sorcery is not high, but the commission for removing curses during missions is quite considerable.

If you don't want to do tasks, you'll be a bit poor, but at least you get it for free.

For example, the top-tier sorcerer Tsukumo Yuki doesn't do any missions, but he still gets a small amount of salary deposited into his account every month.

"Alright, alright."

Zen-in Shinsuke waved his hand.

Since it's free money anyway, might as well take advantage of it.

If things really get too tough, go back to your old profession and occasionally go out to make some quick money.

Regardless, I will absolutely not do the work.

This is his principle.

Once the money was settled, Zen-in-suke left satisfied.

Meanwhile, the old man from Naobi made a phone call and used the connections that the Zenin family had cultivated over the years to get the higher-ups in the sorcery world to do him a favor and get Zenin Jinsuke's personnel arrangements at the Tokyo Sorcery Academy sorted out.

Since face is worthless, might as well use it.

"Now, this kid should have a better impression of the Zen family, right?"

"It was a Nakabi man," he murmured.

He never looked down on the Zenji brothers like he did on the other members of his clan; he simply ignored them.

They neither valued nor ridiculed him, treating him simply as an ordinary member of the Zen family.

Even though Shen'er had stolen many of the Zen family's powerful magical artifacts, he didn't care.