Rebirth In The Days When Curse Gao Was The Boss Chapter 31
byDay 31 of Crossing Over
The addition of theoretical classes was like a bridle attempting to rein in a wild horse. While it couldn’t fully tame the runaway stallion that was Xue Yang, it certainly added a few shackles of “routine” to his life and made his friction with the “normal” jujutsu world of Jujutsu High more concrete.
Teacher Sato Hiroki clearly viewed Xue Yang as a key subject for “special attention.” This was not only because of Xue Yang’s open defiance in class, but also due to Gojo Satoru’s undisguised favoritism, and what Sato Hiroki had learned from Principal Yaga and scattered mission reports regarding Xue Yang’s bizarre and dangerous power system.
“Xue student, please elaborate on the practical application boundaries of ‘Cursed Energy Negative Energy Conversion Efficiency’ in combat.” Teacher Sato pushed up his glasses, his gaze sharply fixed on Xue Yang, who was sitting by the window.
The classroom instantly fell silent, and everyone looked at Xue Yang. The question was tricky, involving deep areas of jujutsu theory; even Fushiguro Megumi frowned slightly in thought.
Xue Yang was listlessly using the sheath of his Personal Sword, Calamity, to scratch something on the desk. Without lifting his head, he replied lazily, “I don’t know.”
“You don’t know?” Teacher Sato’s voice rose. “This is a crucial extension of basic theory! As a sorcerer, how can your understanding of your own power be so superficial?”
Xue Yang finally lifted his head, his amber eyes devoid of emotion. “My power, as long as it’s easy to use, that’s enough. There’s no need to know why it’s easy to use. It’s like killing someone—knowing the fastest way to kill is sufficient. Why bother researching why the knife is sharp?”
His words were spoken plainly, but the content sent chills down the spines of most of the sorcerers present, who had received orthodox education since childhood. Even Itadori Yuji widened his eyes and subconsciously touched his own neck.
“Absurd! Simply absurd!” Teacher Sato’s fingers trembled with anger. “Power must be accompanied by knowledge and responsibility! Your attitude, which prioritizes power above all else and disregards rules, will sooner or later lead to disaster!”
Xue Yang scoffed, ignoring him. He lowered his head again and continued his “desk graffiti.” His attitude clearly showed that he felt even arguing was a waste of energy.
The worry and disapproval in Teacher Sato’s eyes were almost overflowing. He turned to the other students, his tone heavy. “I hope everyone takes this as a warning. The loss of control over power often stems from a lack of understanding and internal imbalance…”
After class, Xue Yang was the first to leave the classroom, as if staying for another second would contaminate him with the “pedantic” aura he disliked.
“Hey, Xue Yang, wait up!” Kugisaki Nobara caught up to him, looking a bit helpless. “Why do you always butt heads with Teacher Sato? Even if he’s a bit rigid, some of what he says makes sense.”
Xue Yang didn’t stop walking, his tone cold. “His sense won’t save your life.”
Itadori Yuji also followed, scratching his head. “But, there’s no harm in learning more knowledge, right…”
“Waste of time,” Xue Yang said concisely.
Fushiguro Megumi walked at the back, watching Xue Yang’s retreating figure, deep in thought. He could understand Xue Yang’s perspective. In Xue Yang’s world of the survival of the fittest, survival was the primary objective, and all knowledge and rules had to serve that purpose. But this was not that world, and Teacher Gojo bringing him back clearly wasn’t intended for him to continue following those laws.
The conflict in theory inevitably spread to practical training. During a simulated confrontation, Xue Yang used a controlled low-grade Cursed Spirit as bait to attract his opponent’s attention, while simultaneously concealing his own presence, preparing to launch a fatal strike. The tactic itself was flawless, but the way he manipulated the Cursed Spirit, and the sudden burst of power fluctuation carrying a heavy, resentful aura, made Teacher Sato, who was observing nearby, change color instantly.
“Stop!” Teacher Sato shouted sternly, quickly walking onto the training ground. “Xue Yang, the power you just used is not orthodox Cursed Energy at all! How is that sinister and foul aura any different from a curse? Stop this dangerous attempt immediately!”
Xue Yang’s attack was interrupted, and his eyes instantly darkened, his aura turning dangerous. “You said… sinister and foul?”
Gojo Satoru, who had been lazily leaning against the wall, straightened up at the sight and walked over, placing himself between Xue Yang and Teacher Sato.
“Teacher Sato, in practical training, the result is what matters,” Gojo Satoru said in a light tone, yet with an air of unquestionable authority. “Xue Yang’s tactic succeeded, and that’s enough. As for the nature of the power… I think it’s quite creative.”
“Gojo Satoru!” Teacher Sato rarely called him by his full name, his voice agitated. “You are indulging him! Do you understand the nature of this power? It is full of uncertainty and danger! If it gets out of control, the consequences will be unimaginable! As a teacher, you have a responsibility to guide him toward the right path, not just spoil and shield him!”
“The right path?” Gojo Satoru sounded as if he had heard something amusing. His gaze behind his sunglasses swept over Sato, then returned to Xue Yang, carrying an almost arrogant confidence. “Wherever I stand, that is the right path.”
He reached out and ruffled Xue Yang’s slightly bristled hair, his tone softening. “As for losing control? With me here, he won’t slip out of my grasp.”
The words were both ambiguous and domineering, a response to Sato and a declaration to Xue Yang.
Xue Yang looked up at Gojo Satoru, his tense expression easing slightly, but his gaze toward Teacher Sato remained icy.
Teacher Sato watched the scene unfold, seeing Gojo Satoru’s attitude of complete trust, even indulgence, and then looking at the residual aura of power that clearly did not belong to this world on Xue Yang. He could only sigh heavily in the end and walked away, knowing that with Gojo Satoru present, he couldn’t impose any substantial restraints on Xue Yang.
The commotion seemed to be quelled by Gojo Satoru’s forceful intervention, but the clash between theory and practice, rules and wildness, had already sown seeds within Jujutsu High.
That evening, Xue Yang sat cross-legged on the dormitory floor, the theoretical texts required by Teacher Sato spread out before him. His brow was furrowed into a knot. The convoluted terminology and complex theoretical models made him dizzy and irritable.
Gojo Satoru emerged after showering, finding Xue Yang grimacing at the book as if it were an incomprehensible text. He couldn’t help but chuckle, walking over and sitting down beside Xue Yang, bringing with him the scent of moisture and shower gel.
“What’s wrong? Stumped?” Gojo Satoru leaned in to look at the book. “Oh, this one. The energy conservation hypothesis regarding Cursed Energy form transformation. It is a bit convoluted.”
Xue Yang irritably pushed the book away. “What’s the use of looking at this junk?”
“Usefulness, you ask…” Gojo Satoru picked up the book and casually flipped through a few pages. “For example, it can help you more precisely calculate the mental and Cursed Energy consumption required to control different grades of Cursed Spirits, preventing overexertion. Or, understanding the formation principles of certain specific Cursed Spirits can make it easier for you to find their weaknesses, or even… reverse-engineer their rules.”
He spoke lightly, but his words immediately piqued Xue Yang’s interest. Xue Yang looked at him suspiciously. “Really?”
“When have I ever lied to you?” Gojo Satoru smiled. “However, Old Man Sato does teach it a bit boringly. Come on, Teacher will teach you in a way you can understand.”
He put down the book and began to dismantle the dry theories for Xue Yang using the simplest, most direct, and even slightly unorthodox methods. He used combat metaphors, gave examples involving sweets, and occasionally interspersed a few sarcastic remarks about the rules of the Jujutsu Headquarters. Xue Yang listened, sometimes frowning, sometimes realizing something, and actually absorbed some of the information.
The moonlight streamed through the window, enveloping the two figures sitting side by side on the floor. One spoke animatedly, the other listened with rare focus. The cold words and formulas, interpreted by Gojo Satoru, seemed to be injected with vitality, creating a strange connection with the world of power Xue Yang was familiar with.
Gojo Satoru smiled inwardly, watching Xue Yang’s eyes gradually brighten. His little wild beast wasn’t resistant to knowledge itself, only to the form of being constrained. And he always knew how to find that unique key that could open the other’s heart.
The resumption of theoretical classes was like a mirror, reflecting Xue Yang’s incompatibility with this world, and also reflecting Gojo Satoru’s extraordinary protectiveness and method of guidance. The conflict and integration continued, but within the gentle yet powerful net woven by Gojo Satoru, Xue Yang was being slowly but surely pulled toward the center of the light at a speed he hadn’t even noticed, while also being more deeply branded with Gojo Satoru’s mark.