The bitter winter ended in the blink of an eye. A sharp spring breeze scattered the snow that filled the sky, and the biting chill that had shrouded Jujutsu High all winter finally departed.
The daylight grew clear and bright. Warm breezes brushed through the woods, carrying the fresh sweetness of new growth. Jujutsu High shed its bleak winter desolation entirely and welcomed a gentle, vibrant spring.
Life at Jujutsu High continued as usual. Since holding hands at the night market that evening, the two had grown increasingly affectionate and in sync. Neither needed to deliberately test the waters or hold back with awkward restraint. The tender intimacy of their time alone had long become a tacitly accepted part of their lives.
Afternoon training ended, and sunlight filtered through the leaves, casting scattered patches of light and shadow.
Qingxiao stood still, gazing across the empty Training Ground, a question he had pondered for days lingering in his mind.
"Seriously, why is Reverse Cursed Technique so hard? Maybe I should just ask Shoko."
After much deliberation, Qingxiao turned toward Shoko, who was resting beside him, and asked earnestly, "Shoko, could you teach me how to use Reverse Cursed Technique?"
Shoko looked up at his question and stopped what she was doing. She already knew Reverse Cursed Technique inside out. Sitting a little straighter, she patiently broke down its core principles for Qingxiao.
"The foundation of Reverse Cursed Technique is converting negative energy into positive energy." Shoko spoke at an even pace, clearly explaining the underlying logic. "The Cursed Energy flowing through the human body is fundamentally negative energy generated by negative emotions and mental power. Reverse Cursed Technique multiplies accumulated negative Cursed Energy together, converting it into pure life energy to heal injuries."
She tapped her palm with a fingertip. A