Chapter Eighty-Seven: Farewell

The next morning, Yue Longze rose early while Mihoko was still deep in sleep. He dressed quietly and, finding his own clothes too thin to withstand the harsh winter, slipped on Mihoko’s coat as well. After washing his face with hot water, he rummaged through Mihoko’s refrigerator. Fortunately, there were still some slices of bread and over half a bottle of fresh milk left.

He warmed the milk and bread, eating only two or three slices absentmindedly, but drinking a good deal of milk. He couldn’t possibly finish all of Mihoko’s food—otherwise, what would she have for breakfast when she woke up?

He stood by the window, silently lighting a cigarette, eyes lost in the gloom of the alley outside, his thoughts adrift. Lately, it seemed his cravings for cigarettes had grown stronger.

He flicked the cigarette butt into the narrow alley below and, turning back, gazed at the sleeping Mihoko. His mind wandered back to the scenes of his departure from Xiaoxiang. Then, he had left her to pursue the Land of Light. Now, for the very same reason, he would leave Mihoko behind.

“But… I will come back!” he murmured, moving to the bedside and gently stroking Mihoko’s soft hair, his eyes fixed upon her delicate features. He made no further move.

“Mihoko… I promise, I’ll return!” he whispered.

Finally, Yue Longze left a note on her pillow, telling Mihoko he had gone. He carefully removed her coat and placed it where it belonged. At the door, he paused, taking one last look at Mihoko before leaving resolutely.

With a metallic click, the door closed, and Yue Longze’s figure vanished from Mihoko’s room.

Hearing the sound, Mihoko’s eyes brimmed with tears, and a single drop slid down her pale cheek. She could no longer hold back her sobs.

Mihoko did not sleep the rest of the night.

...

Yue Longze returned to the old woman’s house, also leaving a note to tell her of his departure. He wrote in large, clear characters, worried she might have trouble reading smaller print at her age.

...

He then hurried toward the kendo dojo. Under the astonished gazes of the students, Yue Longze handed in his resignation to Director Masao Chiba.

“Is it the pay? We could discuss that, you know!” Masao Chiba tried to persuade him, for he had a fond appreciation for this strong young swordsman.

“Coach Aze! Please don’t go!” the students pleaded as well. Even the usually boisterous Yoshida grew solemn, while Shuichi Nanano, the eldest disciple, though silent, clearly showed his reluctance in his eyes. As for Masako Haneda, her eyes were red with unshed tears.

Yue Longze smiled and shook his head. “I have my reasons. Believe me, I don’t want to leave, either!”

He swept his gaze over them all. “You must keep training hard! When I return, I hope you’ll all be strong enough to defeat me!”

“Let’s have one more match!” Masao Chiba suddenly proposed.

Yue Longze paused, then nodded. “Alright.”

...

The outcome was never in doubt—Yue Longze won. Masao Chiba let out a sigh, his expression complex.

Gazing at the wooden sword in his hand, Yue Longze’s eyes flickered. After a moment’s thought, he said, “Well, everyone… farewell.”

He intended to visit the Two-Sword Style Dojo as well, to bid farewell to the Feitanian—Tetsuo Miyamoto.

To his surprise, on the way he ran into Shin Asuka, who was out on his morning run.

...

“You’re saying your mom gave you a beating when you got home the other night?” Yue Longze looked at the young Asuka with a teasing smile.

“Sigh! It’s all your fault—you guys made me drink and kept me out so late!” Asuka pouted his distinctive sausage-shaped lips in complaint. “How could I not get in trouble with my mom?”

Yue Longze couldn’t help but laugh, ruffling Asuka’s hair. “Keep striving, young man!”

He looked up at the sky. “There are still so many unknown territories in this world waiting for us to explore!”

Asuka nodded, half understanding, but feeling like he’d just heard something profound.

“Alright, go on with your run,” Yue Longze said, patting Asuka’s small shoulder with a smile.

“See you, Aze!” Asuka jogged off, waving back at Yue Longze as he went.

“Goodbye, Asuka! If I ever return, I hope you’ll have become a true Dyna Ultraman!”

...

“Miyamoto-san!”

“Aze-kun.”

Luckily, Tetsuo Miyamoto was at the dojo that day—otherwise, Yue Longze would have had to call on him at his house.

“I’ve come to say goodbye,” Yue Longze announced.

“Oh, you’re leaving?” Miyamoto set down his wooden sword and wiped the sweat from his brow.

“Yes. I don’t know if I’ll have a chance to come back.”

Yue Longze glanced at the diligent students behind Miyamoto, including Miyamoto’s adopted daughter, Reiko.

“But, Miyamoto-san, you must find a good husband for Miss Reiko!”

Miyamoto laughed heartily, giving Yue Longze a playful punch on the chest. “That’s not something you need to worry about!”

The laughter drew the attention of all the students, for it was the first time they had seen their director laugh in such a way. They also saw Yue Longze—the formidable young man who could trade blows with Miyamoto in his two-sword style.

“I just mean, don’t let Miss Reiko marry someone like you!” Yue Longze added.

Miyamoto’s eyes twinkled with curiosity. “And why not?”

Glancing around, Yue Longze leaned in mischievously and whispered, “Because, Miyamoto-san, your taste is really questionable!”

With that, he dashed out of the dojo, calling back, “Goodbye, Miyamoto-san!”

“You rascal!” Miyamoto watched Yue Longze’s retreating figure with a mixture of annoyance and amused fondness. “No matter what, good luck to you!”

“Father, your friend seemed a little odd today,” Reiko said as she approached, her tall, graceful form unmistakable.

“It’s nothing. Let’s all just keep working hard,” Miyamoto replied.

...

“Next, I’d better contact Daigu and Masaki.” Yue Longze quickly got in touch with them, and both readily agreed to meet him at Mount Sukuna.

He hailed a cab, destination—Mount Sukuna!

Soon, the taxi arrived at Mount Sukuna. Paying the fare, Yue Longze headed deep into the mountain, toward the place where he had first arrived in this world and fainted.

After the battle with the Demon of Sukuna, the mountain’s landscape had changed. Some of the forest was devastated, leaving stretches of barren ground.

“What’s that…”

From a distance, Yue Longze spotted two figures—one tall, one short.

As he drew closer, he saw to his astonishment that the taller figure was none other than Kirino! But the other, a graceful silhouette, was even more unexpected.

Yue Longze stood rooted to the spot as if turned to stone, unable to take another step for a long while.