Curse Returns: Eight Extraordinary Skills? I lack nothing.

Qiong stared into his eyes for a few seconds, then turned her face away, her ear tips turning slightly red: "...I understand."

Dinner was simple: bacon and eggs with a vegetable salad and some warm miso soup. The two sat facing each other at the table, eating quietly, the only sound the soft clinking of cutlery. The night outside was deep, and the shadows of the maple trees in the yard swayed gently in the moonlight.

After finishing their meal, Qiong took the initiative to clear the dishes and wash them. Youren didn't stop her and went to the study to turn on his computer. There were several unread emails in his inbox, mostly reports from the Sword-Wielding Academy and its offices in various locations.

He first opened the weekly training report for the Hida FART Special Task Force sent by Supervisor Kobayashi. The report was very detailed, listing each member's performance, progress, and existing problems. Yuuto quickly skimmed through it, marked several items that required special attention, and replied to the email requesting a targeted assessment next week.

Then came an email from Miwa Kasumi, containing the preliminary test results for her younger brother, Daisuke. The attachment included a detailed analysis chart of the cursed energy fluctuations, as well as several photos.

A thin boy stood in front of the testing device, his expression tense but his eyes bright. Yuuto zoomed in on the image and saw that the boy's magical power was indeed very special, with a high but extremely unstable fluctuation frequency, as if it had just awakened and was not yet under his control.

He replied to the email, asking Miwa Kasumi to bring Daisuke to the Kyoto campus over the weekend so he could visit in person.

After finishing his work emails, Yuuto leaned back in his chair and rubbed his temples. Several days of intense work had left him somewhat exhausted, but the fluctuating points on the system panel instantly invigorated him. The settlement for the Aomori battle had finally arrived, and combined with his previous accumulation, the total amount was now quite substantial.

He pulled up the exchange list for the Eight Extraordinary Skills, his gaze lingering on several options. He already had a plan for what to exchange for next, but some preparation was still needed. But before that…

The study door was gently pushed open, and Qiong walked in carrying two cups of hot milk. She placed one cup next to Youren, and sat down on the beanbag chair next to her with the other cup in her hand.

"Thank you." Yuuto took the milk; the temperature was just right.

Qiong sipped her milk, her gaze wandering aimlessly around the study. Her eyes swept over the spellbooks on the bookshelf, the map of Japan on the wall, and the pile of documents on the corner of the table, finally settling on Yuuto's face.

“Brother,” she suddenly said.

"Ok?"

"Senior Nishimiya...do you like me?"

Yuuto nearly choked on his milk. He coughed a few times and looked at Sora: "Why are you suddenly asking this?"

Qiong's expression was calm, but there was a hint of inquiry in her eyes: "The way she looked at you was different. And she invited you to dinner."

Yuuto was silent for a few seconds. He could certainly sense Nishimiya Momo's affection for him. That blonde girl with twin tails was straightforward and simple-minded; she liked what she liked and never hid it. But he…

“Nishimiya and I are friends,” Yuuto said earnestly. “Very good friends.”

Qiong stared at him for a few seconds, then said "Oh," and lowered her head to continue drinking her milk. But Yuuto could see a tiny, slight smile curving up the corners of her lips.

This kid… Yuuto smiled bitterly to himself. Sometimes he really didn’t know if Kyō was worried about him or teasing him.

After finishing her milk, Qiong stood up, holding the empty cup, and said, "I'm going to take a shower and go to bed."

"Okay, get some rest."

Qiong walked to the door, then stopped and looked back at him: "Brother, go to sleep early too."

"it is good."

The study fell silent again. Yuuto turned off the computer and walked to the window. Kyoto was dimly lit in the night, and the outline of Nijo Castle could be seen faintly in the moonlight in the distance. This city carried too many grudges and histories of the jutsu world, and he was now deeply entangled in them.

The next morning, Yuuto went to Kyoto Higher Vocational School. He first went to Principal Rakuganji's office to report on the situation at the Tokyo campus and his suggestions for adjusting the training plan for first-year students. Rakuganji nodded after listening, without saying much, only telling him to "be mindful of his actions."

After leaving the principal's office, Yuuto went to the training ground. Kamo Noriki was already waiting for him, wearing his high school uniform, standing ramrod straight with a serious expression.

"Lord Kasuga." Noriyuki bowed slightly.

“Don’t be so formal.” Yuto sat down on the bench by the field and gestured for him to sit down as well. “I wanted to talk to you about the Kamo family.”

Xianji sat down beside him, his back still ramrod straight: "Please speak."

"The Kamo family was severely weakened after the purge," Yuuto said bluntly. "What's the situation inside the family now? Can you control it?"

Xianji remained silent for a moment. This seventeen-year-old boy had a seriousness on his face that far exceeded his age.

“It’s difficult,” he finally said. “Although the elders of the main family outwardly support me, they are secretly cultivating their own power. The collateral branches are in a state of panic; many want to leave, but dare not. Moreover… the cash flow is in trouble, and the family business is suffering serious losses.”

Yuuto listened quietly. He had heard about these circumstances to some extent. The Kamo family, as one of the three great families, had a deep foundation, but years of decay had left the family riddled with problems. It was easy to imagine the pressure that Kenkichi had to bear on the entire family alone.

"Do you need any help?" Yuuto asked.

Kenji paused for a moment, then looked at him: "Lord Kasuga, this..."

“It’s not free,” Yuuto said directly. “The Kamo family has many ancient books, magical artifacts, and research materials on Crimson Blood Manipulation. I need access to them. In exchange, I can help you stabilize your family, provide financial support, and even send some people to assist with management.”

Kenji's eyes lit up. He understood, of course, how precious this opportunity was. The support of the fourth seat of the Sword-Wielding Academy meant that the Kamo family could at least regain its footing in the world of sorcery. While those ancient texts and materials were valuable to the Kamo family, they were insignificant compared to the family's survival.

“I agree,” Xianji said without hesitation, “but we need to discuss it with the other elders…”

“That’s your problem.” Yuuto stood up. “I’ll give you three days. Give me your answer in three days.”

“Yes!” Kenki stood up and bowed deeply. “Thank you, Lord Kasuga.”

Leaving the training ground, Yuuto encountered Momo Nishimiya on campus. She was descending from the sky on a broomstick, her orange twin tails shimmering in the sunlight.

"Yuuto!" She jumped off the broom and ran to him. "I was just looking for you. Um... it's my birthday next week, remember about dinner?"

"I remember," Yuuto nodded. "Has the time and place been set?"

"It's settled!" Nishimiya Momo pulled her phone out of her pocket and quickly tapped a few buttons. "I'll send it to you. Saturday night at seven o'clock, at that Italian restaurant on Shijo-dori, you know it?"

"I know." Yu Ren looked at the address she sent; it was indeed a good restaurant he knew. "Just the two of us?"

Momo's face flushed slightly: "Um... if you feel it's inappropriate, I can ask Maki and the others..."

“No need,” Yuuto said. “It’s fine just the two of us.”

Nishimiya Momo's eyes lit up instantly, and the corners of her mouth couldn't help but turn up: "Then, it's settled! No standing me up!"

"Don't worry, it won't happen."

Nishimiya Momo nodded happily, then mounted her broom and flew away. Yuuto watched her disappear behind the school building and sighed softly.

He knew Xigong Tao's feelings and cherished them. But his current situation was really not suitable for discussing these things.

However, having a meal together shouldn't be a problem. After all, they are indeed friends.

In the afternoon, Yuto returned home and began preparing the new training plan for Itadori and the others. Based on the problems he observed during yesterday's sparring match, he tailored a training program for each person.

Itadori needs to improve his physical combat techniques and rhythm control, so he's been given a lot of reaction training and simulated battles. Fushiguro needs to enhance his shikigami's ability to coordinate attacks, so he's planned to have him control three different shikigami simultaneously in complex missions. Kugizaki's focus is on accuracy, so he's been given practice on targets at various tricky angles. Junpei, on the other hand, needs to overcome his psychological barriers, so he's been given some low-risk but courageous practical exercises.

After finishing the plan, Yuuto sent it to Kusakabe via an encrypted channel, asking him to oversee its execution. Just after sending the email, his phone rang; it was Gojo Satoru.

"Yuto-kun~ I received the plan." Gojo Satoru's voice was still lazy. "You put a lot of effort into it. As expected of a good senior."

"Come on," Yuuto said irritably. "How's it going on your end? Did your business trip go smoothly?"

"So-so~" Gojou Satoru said, "The matter of the Apocalypse Knights in Europe has been temporarily suppressed, but the hidden dangers remain. [The rest of the text appears to be unrelated and possibly machine-generated gibberish.]

Yu Ren's gaze narrowed slightly. He looked at the glass, his expression shifting, a mixture of emotions swirling within him. He seemed to be looking at a woman, her eyes fixed on the glass, a hint of something more tangible. He looked at her, a hint of something more subtle ...

"What do you need me to do?" Yuuto asked.

"Not for now," Gojo Satoru said. "Take care of what you're doing first. By the way, have you contacted the Kamo family?"

"Yes, I just spoke with Xianji."

“That’s good.” Gojo Satoru’s tone became more serious. “Although the Kamo family is rotten, they still have a solid foundation. Bringing them over will benefit us. But you have to be careful, those old guys are not to be trifled with.”

"I know."

After hanging up the phone, Youren leaned back in his chair, lost in thought. (The rest of the text appears to be gibberish and unrelated to the previous sentences.)

The sky outside the window gradually darkened. Yuuto stood up and walked to the living room. Kyō was sitting on the sofa playing a game, his fingers flying across the screen, his expression focused.

Hearing footsteps, she looked up: "Brother, is it time to eat?"

"Hmm, what would you like to eat?"

“Curry,” Qiong said without hesitation.

Yuuto smiled and walked towards the kitchen. He took out chicken, potatoes, and carrots from the refrigerator and began preparing dinner. The sounds of chopping vegetables, the aroma of stir-frying, and the sound effects from the game console—these ordinary sounds intertwined to form his most cherished daily routine.

This is his reason for fighting. Not for any lofty ideals, not for the future of the sorcery world, but simply to protect these ordinary moments.

The daily routine of eating with Sora, the daily routine of spending time with friends, and the daily routine of guiding the growth of juniors.

The aroma of curry filled the air. Qiong put down her game console, walked to the kitchen doorway, and watched Yuuto's busy figure.

“Brother,” she suddenly said.

"Ok?"

"For the next mission... if it's really necessary, take me with you." Her voice was soft, but firm. "I don't want to be protected forever. I want to protect you too."

Yuuto's hands, which were chopping vegetables, stopped. He turned around and looked at Sora. The girl stood in the doorway, her red eyes gleaming with determination under the kitchen light.

After a long pause, Yu finally spoke: "...When you get a little stronger."

Qiong's lips curved into a small smile: "Okay."

Chapter 170 Study

A few days later, after finishing with the students, Yuuto watched as Itari and three other first-year students dragged their tired but determined steps back to their dormitory before turning around and heading towards the infirmary at the back of the campus.

"Knock knock." He knocked lightly on the door.

"Come in." Shoko Ieiri's voice came from inside the door, carrying her usual weariness.

Yuuto pushed open the door and entered. The infirmary was filled with the mixed smell of disinfectant and coffee. Shoko was sitting at her desk organizing medical records, with a freshly opened can of coffee beside her. Her dark circles were particularly noticeable under the fluorescent light.

"All done?" Shoko asked without looking up.

“Hmm.” Yuuto sat down opposite her. “I gave them a lesson.”

Shoko then looked up at him, a hint of inquiry flashing in her deep brown eyes: "Gojo said those kids haven't been doing well lately, and he asked you to come and 'give them a talking-to.' How exactly did you do it?"

"Practical guidance," Yu Ren replied simply, "to help them recognize where their problems lie."

Shoko stared at him for a few seconds, then put down her pen and leaned back in her chair. "You have injuries. Although they were healed with the Double-Handed Technique, the marks are still there." Her tone was calm, yet incisive.

Yuuto remained silent. He hadn't been able to hide it from the strongest healer in the world of sorcery, after all.

“Let me see.” Shoko stood up and walked up to him.

Yuuto didn't refuse. He unbuttoned the top two buttons of his shirt, revealing his left collarbone.

There was a faint, almost invisible silver scar, a piercing wound left by Hana's vines in the Garden of Eternal Rest. The Double-Handed Technique repaired the tissue, but the deeper "memory of the wound" would take time to completely fade.

Shoko's fingers gently pressed against the scar, her cursed energy probing into it through her fingertips. She closed her eyes to sense it for a few seconds, then opened them: "Slight damage to the nerve endings, and the muscle fibers aren't arranged neatly enough. Was it Hanamichi's doing?"

“Mm.” Yuuto nodded.

"The injuries you sustained in the field?" Shoko pressed.

"Correct."