Chapter 12: The Buddha Statue

The theory Fang Jing got from books wasn’t enough to fill the most important piece—using his body to grasp information and master skills through muscle memory.

“So, I need to learn some basic fighting techniques in reality first. Only then can I use ‘Growth Value’ to achieve true strengthening.”

Looking at his skill list, Fang Jing knew that to improve further, the best way was still to find more Yin Energy to increase his Growth Value.

However, for the current Fang Jing, this was a complete mystery with no leads.

Knock knock knock!

A rapid knocking came from outside the door.

Fang Jing opened the door and found his mother, Motoko, standing there.

She looked tired, her face pale and waxy, but she tried her best to stay cheerful in front of her son.

“Atsushi, something happened to the landlord, Uncle Yuasa. We didn’t attend his funeral. Ms. Kyoko, Uncle Yuasa’s sister, came to handle things here recently. She’s sorting out his affairs. She should be at the Yuasa house near the apartment. Go say hello and bring a gift.”

Motoko spoke somewhat apologetically. “Atsushi, you’re still reviewing your studies, right? I’m really sorry to interrupt, but we can’t let that silly Satsuki girl go greet them.”

“I got it. Leave it to me.”

Fang Jing agreed instantly. He felt this was a good opportunity. Who knows? He might get some clues from the Yuasa family this time.

———————-

Holding a gift box tied with a silver clamp-shaped knot, Fang Jing walked downstairs. On the way, he unexpectedly bumped into Kuranaga, holding her own gift box, also heading to see Ms. Kyoko.

“Kuranaga, are you going to see Ms. Kyoko too?”

“Eh! Senpai! Didn’t I tell you before? You can call me Kuraruka.”

“Oh, my apologies!”

Seeing her puff out her cheeks, Fang Jing remembered that was indeed the case. He corrected himself. “Alright, Kuraruka. Have you met Ms. Kyoko before?”

“I ran into her a few times. She seems really approachable.”

Kuranaga Kuraruka was very straightforward. She grinned and said, “Ms. Kyoko lives in Hokkaido. She’ll be our new landlady. I’m visiting her specially to build a good relationship. Hey! If we get along with Ms. Kyoko, do you think our rent might get cheaper?”

“Don’t daydream! It’d be great if she doesn’t raise the rent!”

Fang Jing’s lips curved slightly. Actually, the rent for this apartment was very cheap. The Nishizuka family only found it here thanks to connections.

“Hey! I was just kidding!”

“Ms. Kyoko is from Hokkaido? That’s pretty far, right?”

“No, she moved there with her husband.”

“I see.”

Fang Jing continued, “Then she probably won’t stay here long. Most likely, she’ll hand the apartment over to an agency to manage!”

As they chatted, they arrived at the home of the landlord, Uncle Yuasa. It was a detached, two-story house on the street opposite the apartment. A small front yard lay before it, with a doorplate bearing the name “Yuasa” hanging outside.

After they knocked, a slightly weary, rather thin middle-aged woman opened the door. When Fang Jing and Kuraruka explained their reason for coming, the woman smiled and welcomed them in.

“I’m very sorry. My mother had some things to deal with, so we couldn’t pay our respects properly during the funeral last time.”

“Haha! Mrs. Nishizuka is far too polite.”

The three sat down in a Japanese-style living room. Ms. Kyoko served both of them a cup of barley tea.

They chatted casually for a while. During the conversation, Kyoko sighed softly. “My brother… I truly never imagined he’d pass away so soon. I knew he wasn’t in the best health, but I didn’t expect it to happen this fast.”

Landlord Yuasa had no other immediate family – no wife, no children. He lived alone. Even extended relatives were few, so handling the funeral solely relied on his sister, Ms. Kyoko.

……It showed that the Yuasa siblings had a very close relationship.

“Indeed. It was just the two of us siblings. Ah! If only I’d known how things would end, I should have moved back here with my husband earlier…”

She couldn’t help feeling deeply saddened by the timing of her brother’s death, clearly finding it hard to accept landlord Yuasa’s passing in the prime of his life.

“By the way, Ms. Kuranaga, how is your mother’s health?”

“Ah! Ms. Kyoko, you mean Mom? Well… she’s okay. Lately she can get out of bed and walk a bit. The doctor says she still needs quiet rest, but she insists on doing housework herself. She just can’t break her old habits…”

Strangely, once inside the house, Kuranaga Kuraruka became quite reserved, like a cautious cat in unfamiliar surroundings.

Since entering, most of the conversation with Ms. Kyoko had come from Nishizuka Tsukasa. Kuraruka only spoke occasionally, and in a much quieter voice.

Sensing this, Ms. Kyoko deliberately shifted the topic towards her.

“You must be careful then. Health really is the most important thing…”

Perhaps because the conversation touched on her mother, Kuraruka gradually opened up a bit more, making the atmosphere feel warmer.

Fang Jing estimated the time was right. Seizing a moment, he inquired about the wooden Buddha statue.

“A Buddha statue?”

“Exactly, about this size. All black. The head bigger than the body…”

Fang Jing said calmly, “Probably an antique piece. If it was something valuable left by the previous tenant, well, that would be a problem…”

“So this statue was given to my brother?”

“Yes.”

“Meaning that statue might be stored somewhere in his house…”

“I don’t know about that.”

Fang Jing didn’t mention that the wooden Buddha statue had been burned. He deliberately twisted the facts, hoping to get more information.

“Let me think. I’ve been sorting through his belongings.”

Ms. Kyoko pressed a finger to her forehead, thinking hard. “A black wooden Buddha statue, you say… Oh! Got it!”

She stood up hurriedly and went to another room, starting to search through things.

“…It should be here somewhere!”

After a little while, Ms. Kyoko came back with a black wooden Buddha statue identical to the one Fang Jing had held before. She handed it to him.

“Well? Is this the one?”

Fang Jing’s expression changed. As he took it with both hands, his Yin Devourer Fate Fragment flashed faintly. A wisp of cold Yin Energy surged from deep inside the black wooden statue and was directly absorbed by the Yin Devourer.

(Another wooden Buddha statue? I only wanted to find out its origin. I had no idea Uncle Yuasa’s things held another one.)

“I hadn’t seen this statue before. My brother didn’t seem like the type to collect things like this. I was wondering how it got there. This must be it now.”