Back to Full Health

The night passed without dreams.

Qingxiao woke to the bright daylight streaming through his window.

The instant he opened his eyes, his first sensation was-his whole body felt light.

The muscle soreness from last night's intense training and the exhaustion from pushing his entire body to its limits had vanished completely.

He raised his arms and casually worked his shoulders, back, and wrists. His muscles and joints loosened, strength filled his limbs, and every inch of muscle brimmed with power. He felt indescribably refreshed.

Lying in bed, Qingxiao gently clenched his fists, his grip firm and strong. Without needing to think about it, he knew his Cursed Technique, Heavenly Motion, was taking effect.

Qingxiao marveled inwardly, Compared with flashy Cursed Techniques, this steady, grounded feeling of improving through hard work is actually the most reassuring.

Without wasting a moment, he briskly got up, washed, and changed into a lightweight training outfit.

His stomach was already empty. After last night's intense exertion, his hunger was particularly fierce, so he planned to head to the cafeteria first and treat himself to a proper meal.

The Jujutsu High cafeteria wasn't very crowded in the early morning, and the mild aroma of food drifted through the air. Qingxiao didn't hold back, filling a large plate with breakfast: rice, fried eggs, grilled meat, and hot soup.

After such intense training, his body urgently needed energy. Only by eating enough carbohydrates and protein could he avoid collapsing from exhaustion during today's workout.

He finished breakfast at a leisurely pace, then raised his hand to check the time. It was exactly nine in the morning.

Nine o'clock was just right for a morning workout, neither too early nor too late.

Having made up his mind, Qingxiao turned toward the dormitory area, intending to invite Suguru Geto to the Training Ground for some focused hand-to-hand training.

As he passed the doors to the three of their dorm rooms, the two rooms next door were quiet, without a sound.

Satoru and Geto are probably awake already, though who knows whether they're out of bed. As for Shoko... she's most likely still asleep.

An image of Shoko instantly surfaced in Qingxiao's mind. She had stayed up on the rooftop until late last night, smoking alone in silence to clear her head. With her accumulated worries and exhaustion combined, it would have been stranger if she hadn't slept in.

He left Shoko to sleep and raised his hand to knock softly on Suguru Geto's door.

Within a few seconds, the door opened. Suguru Geto was fully dressed in a clean training outfit, his hair neatly combed. It was obvious he had gotten up and finished getting ready some time ago and had been sitting down to rest.

"Morning." Suguru Geto's tone was gentle. A flicker of surprise crossed his eyes as he took in Qingxiao's refreshed appearance and steadier presence. "You look like you're in particularly good shape today?"

"All I need is a night's sleep to get back to full health." Qingxiao casually lifted his arms, his tone relaxed. "Got time? Let's go practice hand-to-hand combat at the Training Ground."

"I was just waiting for you to come." Suguru Geto immediately nodded without the slightest hesitation, set aside the book in his hand, and made to head out.

Just then, the door next door was flung open with a bang.

Satoru Gojo darted out of his room, his white hair a tangled mess and his eyes bleary with sleep, his jacket draped casually over his shoulders. He wasn't fully awake yet, but his ears were exceptionally sharp. Having caught their conversation perfectly, he immediately perked up and eagerly joined them.

"Wait, wait, wait! You two are going to the Training Ground?!" Satoru Gojo was instantly wide awake, bouncing around beside them as he said excitedly, "Take me too, take me too! How can you have a morning workout without me!"

Suguru Geto shook his head with a helpless chuckle. "Don't you hate getting up early to exercise and only want to play games?"

"That's normally! Today's different!" Satoru Gojo proudly raised his chin, sidling over to Qingxiao and shifting about beside him, his voice eager. "I want to see just how strong you are, Qingxiao. Let's spar!"

Looking at his eagerness for a spectacle regardless of the trouble it caused, and his brimming fighting spirit, Qingxiao was secretly amused.

This guy's enthusiasm never lasts. He only trains when he feels like it, but he's always eager for a fight.

He didn't refuse, simply nodding. "Suit yourself. Come along if you want."

And so the three headed leisurely toward Jujutsu High's Outdoor Training Ground, chatting and laughing along the way.

The morning sunlight over the Training Ground was gentle, and the breeze was mild. Without the chill and oppressive feeling of late night, the atmosphere was particularly pleasant. The entire grounds were open and clean, with no one around to disturb them.

Standing in the center of the Training Ground, Qingxiao rotated his wrists and ankles, his joints making soft cracking sounds. Then he turned toward Suguru Geto beside him and said seriously, "Geto, when we spar, don't use Cursed Energy. Just pure hand-to-hand combat."

Suguru Geto paused briefly, then nodded in understanding. "All right, got it. You want to see my foundation in hand-to-hand combat?"

"Yeah," Qingxiao replied, with considerations of his own in mind. "I want to see where your current weaknesses in hand-to-hand combat are, so I can help you work on them afterward. A Jujutsu Sorcerer needs a solid foundation in hand-to-hand combat to have more room for error in a real fight."

With that agreed, Suguru Geto said no more. He bent slightly and lowered his hips, adopting a standard opening combat stance. His breathing instantly steadied and quieted, his entire body ready for battle.

The next instant, he shot forward, his movements crisp and decisive, without the slightest hesitation.