Crash!
Kei looked at the familiar surroundings, then down at the changed clothes on his body—he realized he had entered an illusion.
"So, this is a dreamscape. These clothes… they look familiar. Aren't these the ones I wore when I first arrived in the Gourmet World?"
"My body feels so weak too… What a realistic illusion."
Facing the familiar food street, Kei took a step forward—and the moment he did, he ran into Toriko.
Toriko invited him on an adventure, and he agreed. The journey was full of danger, but he managed to survive with nothing but the strength of an ordinary human.
The second step forward, he encountered Lisa Lisa. He began training in Hamon, later facing off against the Pillar Men.
Once again, he survived—through relentless training, and he even awakened his Stand.
The third step forward, he encountered a red dragon. Without hesitation, he slashed it down, beheading the beast. It was then that he stepped into the realm of invincible swordsmanship.
On the fourth step, he returned to the Dragon King Festival. Alone, he faced seven dragons—and won once more. Seated on a dragon's back, he entered the Eclipse Gate and awakened the power of the Dragon King.
On the fifth step, many familiar figures appeared. A small girl approached him.
"Store Manager… are you leaving?"
Binchō-tan looked up at him with timid eyes full of reluctance, reaching out as if asking for a hug.
"Yes, I still have things to do. Once I'm done, I'll come back and have dinner with you."
"Stay at the store and wait for me, alright? Oh, and remember to straighten your bow."
Kei adjusted her bowtie, patted her head, and continued walking forward.
"I'll be good and wait for you to come back to eat."
She nodded cheerfully.
Moving further down the road, Kei found a white dog waiting beside the street, looking at him pitifully and nudging its empty bowl—"047."
"Woof."
"You want me to feed you? Not happening. You're a wolf, aren't you? If you want food, get it yourself."
Kei said.
The dog thought for a moment, then walked over and picked Kei up, carrying him step by step. Its thin body quickly became plump and full again, turning into a chubby, happy dog humming a tune as they reached the end of the road.
"Woof."
"When I'm done, I'll come back and give you a big bone."
With that, Kei took the final step—leaving the gourmet street, leaving behind the first half of his life, and returning to the present.
[You have re-experienced your life, overcoming every trial again. Your mind has grown tremendously stronger! Your physical attributes have slightly improved!]
[Your Gourmet Cells have tasted the flavor of growth! Their potential has been raised!]
[Indomitable Diamond Will, Unyielding Heart of Victory! Your unbreakable will has been strengthened!]
After just a few steps, Kei had exited the illusion. His gaze immediately locked onto Fengqi.
"That illusion wasn't bad. Got anything else? If not, you might as well surrender now."
He spoke calmly.
"You're way too arrogant! This is the Tree of Eternal Sorrow! My domain!"
Fengqi screamed—but inside, she was trembling. Her mind repeated a single thought:
Is this guy even human?!
She couldn't peer into the illusion fully but could guess it brought Kei back to his weakest days—where he would face the most terrifying enemies and inner demons.
Anyone with even a sliver of hesitation would be swallowed whole and never escape.
But not only did he not hesitate, he conquered the illusion with sheer willpower and even controlled it!
Not even Tushan Honghong—no, not even the Black Fox Empress, who wielded mental powers—could do that!
"…Anything else you'd like to say?"
Kei raised his hand and summoned a golden ripple sword. Its sword aura surged forth, unstoppable.
"This aura—it's the one that fought the Third Young Master!"
Fengqi gulped. Instinctively, fear overtook her.
She was certain—if she got hit, she would die.
Completely. Not even ashes would remain.
"Wait! I have a question. How did you get through the illusion? Don't you have any attachments?"
"The Tree of Eternal Sorrow only opens to those with emotional ties. How did you get in? Tell me—I can help you fulfill that bond!"
Fengqi didn't want to face this monster head-on. She had no chance. Her only hope was to find a weakness in his heart.
And the key was emotional ties. She knew this tree inside and out. There had to be a connection.
If she found it—she could strike!
"I don't have any. As for the illusion? I just walked out."
"You're not afraid of your own fears? You didn't even try to run away?"
"Run? If I killed them once, I can do it again. Win or die. What's there to be afraid of?"
"You became your past, powerless self! That didn't scare you?!"
Kei took a step forward.
"No power? Then I'll train it all back. Grind 'til I drop!"
He had relived his growth. Repeated the grind. Every step was earned through blood and effort.
For others, it would be agony. But for Kei?
Grind? He lived to grind.
With every question she asked, every answer he gave, Fengqi shrank in presence—until Kei was a giant and she was a speck.
One look could tell whose will was stronger.
Kei slashed!
"No—don't!!"
Fengqi screamed. That sword… She knew there was no escaping it.
But when the light faded, she was unharmed.
Looking up, she saw Kei had entered Honghong's mind.
"That sword severed my connection with Honghong—and even created a path into her heart!"
"How did he do that?!"
Fengqi was stunned. Others might just think it was powerful.
But she understood the principle—and that made it even scarier.
It was like reading the name of a place: "Drinking from the Hanhai Sea." Sounded cool.
But once you knew where the Hanhai was, it became awe-inspiring.
—
Inside Honghong's mental world, the illusion of Tushan was collapsing.
Kei saw her trapped in a cage, full of despair.
He called out. No response.
"It's no use. She's fallen completely into despair. No one can wake her now."
Fengqi's voice echoed.
She couldn't move—her body locked in place by the overwhelming pressure. Even standing was exhausting.
Kei ignored her. He walked forward. Illusions tried to stop him—he cut them down. Until he reached the cage.
"It's okay. Stop crying, stop being afraid. Your sisters are waiting for you. Wake up now."
With a single sword strike, he shattered the cage of despair and pulled Honghong out.
"Who is he?"
"He looks familiar."
"What is he doing? He opened the cage!"
"Is he here to hurt me?"
Honghong curled up, unable to remember who he was. She heard him, but the words didn't reach her.
When he grabbed her hand—suddenly, the warmth returned. The memories came rushing back.
This moment… was just like that moment back then.
She looked up at him—the man who once saved her from despair—and her lips trembled.
Finally, she said what she never got the chance to before:
"Thank you… for saving me."
"No need. Time to go back."
Kei led her step by step out of the illusion—out of despair.
Fengqi stared in utter disbelief.
He had walked into someone else's heart, shattered their despair with a single sword, and saved them.
What can't this man do?
The power she had sacrificed everything to gain—meant nothing to him.
Black Fox? Outer Realm being? In his eyes, they were just background noise.
"Ha… hahaha. I get it now, Honghong-sama. I finally get it."
"You always said I didn't understand your feelings, even with the memories. I didn't care back then…"
"But now I do."
"That man… he really is unbeatable. But I'm not willing to give up yet!"
Fengqi poured the last of her strength into Kei's illusionary figure. Even if it cost her everything, she tried to stain him—taint him with darkness!
"Let's see whose vision of Kei is stronger—yours, or mine!"
It was irrational. Even if she won, she'd gain nothing. But she didn't care anymore—she just wanted to prove her efforts weren't in vain.
"There's only ever been one of me."
With those words, the illusion Kei vanished—shattered completely.
The only one left was the real Kei.
Fengqi was finished.
She found herself on a giant plate on a dinner table. A dragon-headed man sat across from her.
He was dressed in a suit, knife and fork in hand. He looked regal—and hungry.
Then he turned into Kei.
She watched in horror as he sliced into her and slowly consumed her.
And that's when she realized—
From the moment he appeared…
She had become the dish.
This was no longer her domain.
It was his banquet.
Fengqi fell into despair. Perhaps this wasn't a bad way to go.
Everything would finally be over.
—
"I read about you in the letters Kongling sent me," Kei said.
"Fengqi, Lord of Tushan."
"She described you as a reliable older sister, someone who managed Tushan flawlessly."
"You protected everyone, preserving the sacred reincarnation rituals, giving everyone a chance to meet again."
"A fine lady—pity you turned to darkness."
Fengqi opened her eyes.
She thought he was mocking her. But his eyes were genuine. There was no ridicule—only admiration.
"It's all fake. None of it mattered."
"Is that so? If you say so, then maybe it is."
Kei turned away with Honghong.
"You're… not going to kill me?"
"I came to bring Honghong back. Not to kill you. But maybe… someday, she will."
"She always was the vengeful type."
Honghong smiled. He hadn't changed at all.
Always the same.
"But I can't let you roam free—Eternal Acupuncture!"
Suddenly, Kei turned and punched.
Golden ripples spread across the entire Tree of Eternal Sorrow.
Fengqi froze—completely. Body, soul, and thought—all paralyzed.
"This move should last a long time. If you ever become strong enough… you can come back and decide what to do with her."
"Mhm."
As Kei walked out, Honghong took his hand.
She felt small again—he, tall and towering.
Hand in hand, they walked out together.
—
"What just happened in the Tree of Eternal Sorrow?!"
"I sensed a terrifying presence!"
"It was… terrifying. Like I was about to be eaten. But also… weirdly familiar?"
Rongrong and the others had faint impressions of what happened inside.
"The tree's activity stopped!"
"Kei-nii did it!"
Kei emerged, looked around, stretched a bit, then patted the husky.
"…Are you fatter than before?"
"Woof?"
The husky tilted its head. Wasn't he always this beefy?
"How is my sister?!"
Yaya rushed over, eyes full of urgency.
"She's fine. She should be waking up now. Go check on her."
Yaya immediately ran off. Rongrong walked over after.
"Kei-nii… thank you."
"No need. But I am charging ten coins."
"Huh? We're that close and you still want payment?"
"Of course. The Tushan clan's rich. You even started a business with Fatty Qian in the human world. Don't tell me you can't afford ten coins."
Rongrong squinted, pulled out ten coins from her sleeve, showed them to him… then put them back and ran off.
"…So stingy already. Wonder how bad she'll get when she's older."
Kei shook his head.
"Divine Doctor! I have a question! How did you use acupuncture on the Tree of Eternal Sorrow? I've been trying to figure it out this whole time!"
"This is ten coins—if that's not enough, I have more!"
Cuoyu Ling handed him the money, full of curiosity.
She and her sister had racked their brains trying to understand how Kei pulled it off.
"Not enough. Still short."
"Twenty coins?! You raised the price! …Fine!"
Kei patted the husky's head.
"Let's go, Doggo. We're done here."
In the next second, the husky turned into a flash of white light and vanished.
A speed-type yōkai king—even a Yōkō would struggle to catch him at full power.
"…Wait—why do I have to pay on Tushan's behalf?!"
Cuoyu Ling yelled after thinking it through.
"And why does my dumb sister get to study with you and not me?! Am I worse than that idiot?!"
—
(End of Chapter)
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