Yorii Tsugikuni Must Do Something Chapter 4

"So, if you activate the so-called Markings, you're guaranteed not to live past twenty-five?"

"Mr. Yorii Tsugikuni, are those flame-like patterns on your face the Markings?"

After hearing Yorii Tsugikuni's words, Ieyasu's expression became hesitant, and Sayo, standing beside him, was the same.

After all, whether it was Ieyasu or Sayo, they were only fourteen or fifteen years old this year. Although Ieyasu and Sayo had come to the Imperial Capital with great determination to make their way in the world.

However, Ieyasu and Sayo had never once considered the possibility of not living past twenty-five.

The idea that learning the Breathing Techniques taught by Yorii Tsugikuni could potentially lead to activating the Markings and not living past twenty-five was something Ieyasu and Sayo were not psychologically prepared for.

At the same time, Ieyasu and Sayo's expressions were also somewhat complex.

After all, Yorii Tsugikuni had activated the so-called Markings and gained immense power, but the price he paid was not living past twenty-five. For a moment, Ieyasu and Sayo didn't know what to say.

Ieyasu and Sayo didn't know that Yorii Tsugikuni was the only exception.

Even after activating the Markings, he could still live a lifespan comparable to that of a normal person, or even an abnormally long one.

During the Sengoku period in Fusang, the average lifespan of a normal person was only around thirty years old, with many dying before the age of thirty. Yorii Tsugikuni, who lived to be eighty or ninety at that time, was no different from a two-hundred-year-old monster living in modern society.

"That's right."

"This on my forehead is the Markings."

Yorii Tsugikuni looked at Sayo and Ieyasu, whose expressions were complex, and naturally understood what they were thinking. He smiled slightly and said, "However, I might be a bit different from others. I was born with the Markings."

"It's like I was born with a power far exceeding others."

"And, as of now, there's no saying that those born with the Markings will die by twenty-five."

After a moment of thought, Yorii Tsugikuni felt that his situation might be a bit complicated.

Therefore, he didn't explain his situation clearly to Sayo and Ieyasu, such as the fact that he was already over eighty years old, had passed away naturally, and then inexplicably revived.

Yorii Tsugikuni had now returned to his youthful appearance, knowing that no one would believe him if he told them the truth.

"!!!"

"That's just unreasonable."

Ieyasu had been looking at Yorii Tsugikuni with an expression of deep pity.

Ieyasu had particularly envied Yorii Tsugikuni's terrifying power, as both his skills and strength completely surpassed his own. He hadn't expected that the price Yorii Tsugikuni paid for this power was not living past twenty-five.

Thinking about this, Ieyasu felt less inclined to obtain Yorii Tsugikuni's kind of power.

Only being able to live until twenty-five was too tragic.

To his surprise, not long after saying this, Yorii Tsugikuni revealed that he was an exception.

He was born with the Markings and didn't have the curse of not living past twenty-five.

Of course, despite his internal grumbling, Ieyasu was still very happy that Yorii Tsugikuni had lived past twenty-five.

Sayo also breathed a sigh of relief.

Although he hadn't spent even a full day with Yorii Tsugikuni, Ieyasu felt that he would definitely become good friends with him.

His friend Tatsumi, who hadn't yet arrived at the Imperial Capital, would also surely become friends with Yorii Tsugikuni.

"Yes, compared to others, I am a bit special."

"That's why I need to make things clear to you, Ieyasu and Sayo."

Yorii Tsugikuni looked at Ieyasu and Sayo with a serious expression and said, "After learning the Breathing Techniques, there is a very powerful state within them called Total Concentration Constant Breathing."

"Once you reach this state, you will activate the Markings within a year at most."

As one of the first Breathing Technique swordsmen in the Demon Slayer world, Yorii Tsugikuni's understanding of the Markings was still somewhat superficial.

He didn't know that the activation of the Markings was directly related to him.

Yorii Tsugikuni only knew that all the swordsmen around him who had reached the highest state of Breathing Techniques, Total Concentration Constant Breathing, would activate the Markings within a year at most.

"So, Mr. Yorii Tsugikuni."

"As long as one doesn't master the highest state of Breathing Techniques, Total Concentration Constant Breathing, they won't get the Markings, right?"

Sayo's eyes lit up slightly upon hearing Yorii Tsugikuni's words.

Although it was a pity that she couldn't learn the highest state of Breathing Techniques, Sayo felt that even learning a weaker version would improve her and Ieyasu's strength.

This would increase their chances of making a name for themselves in the Imperial Capital.

"I'm not entirely sure about that."

"However, there hasn't been a swordsman with the Markings who hasn't mastered Total Concentration Constant Breathing yet."

Yorii Tsugikuni recalled, speaking somewhat hesitantly, "If one doesn't master Total Concentration Constant Breathing, they shouldn't activate the Markings, but I'm not entirely certain about this."

Yorii Tsugikuni was expelled from the Demon Slayer Corps because he failed to kill Muzan Kibutsuji.

He wasn't very clear about the situation within the Demon Slayer Corps afterward.

He also didn't know if there were any new swordsmen who had activated the Markings.

"Mr. Yorii Tsugikuni."

"Ieyasu and I want to learn Breathing Techniques from you."

Compared to Yorii Tsugikuni, who seemed a bit hesitant, Sayo's expression became firmer.

Pulling Ieyasu, whose face clearly showed confusion, Sayo walked solemnly in front of Yorii Tsugikuni and knelt down. She performed a formal master-disciple ceremony, kowtowing three times.

Then, she looked up and gave Yorii Tsugikuni a smile he had never seen before, saying, "Master!"

Ieyasu, seeing Sayo's determined kowtow to become a disciple, also knelt before Yorii Tsugikuni and kowtowed three times.

Looking at Yorii Tsugikuni, whose face was slightly flushed and seemed unaccustomed to the situation, he said, "Mas-Master!"

Chapter 7: Strange Noises in the Dead of Night

To be honest, Ieyasu was a bit reluctant.

After all, Yorii Tsugikuni currently looked no older than fifteen or sixteen, not much older than himself. Sayo taking the lead and kowtowing made Ieyasu genuinely unable to react.

Of course, Ieyasu himself didn't think there was anything wrong with kneeling and kowtowing to Yorii Tsugikuni.

The Empire in the Akame ga Kill world was modeled after Yanhuang Country. Both in terms of territory and traditional customs, it was similar to Yanhuang Country, which emphasized the saying "Filial piety is the first of all virtues."

And a master was naturally half a father to a disciple.

Besides one's own parents, the person most deserving of respect was the master who taught them the Way and dispelled their doubts.

Therefore, if Yorii Tsugikuni was truly willing to teach his Breathing Techniques to Sayo and Ieyasu, then Sayo and Ieyasu kowtowing to Yorii Tsugikuni right now was completely reasonable.

They would even need to present a proper disciple-gifting ceremony to Yorii Tsugikuni later when they had the means.

"This, this..."

"Miss Sayo, Mr. Ieyasu, you are far too formal."

"I am not much older than Miss Sayo and Mr. Ieyasu, there is absolutely no need..."

Facing Sayo and Ieyasu's kowtows, Yorii Tsugikuni expressed his discomfort.

Back in the Demon Slayer Corps, when Yorii Tsugikuni offered to teach his special Breathing Techniques to everyone, although they were all very happy and excited, no one had ever performed such a grand ceremony for him.

Even when meeting the Master of the Demon Slayer Corps, one only needed to kneel on one knee.

Only those who had committed serious mistakes would kneel on both knees. Yorii Tsugikuni himself had once been ordered to kneel by his comrades in the Demon Slayer Corps for missing the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to kill Muzan Kibutsuji, the progenitor of demons.

They had even ordered him to commit seppuku as atonement.

Of course, the Master of the Demon Slayer Corps at the time did not make Yorii Tsugikuni do so; he merely expelled Yorii Tsugikuni from the Demon Slayer Corps.

Compared to his ignorant colleagues in the Demon Slayer Corps, the Master of the Demon Slayer Corps clearly had a more far-sighted perspective.

"No, Master."

"I don't know how important these Breathing Techniques are to you, Master."

Looking at Yorii Tsugikuni, who was flustered and trying to help them up, Sayo said with a serious expression, "But your Breathing Techniques are definitely very important to Ieyasu and me."

"If we can truly learn your Breathing Techniques, our destinies will surely change."

"Ieyasu and I don't have any money right now."

"When Ieyasu and I earn money in the future, we will definitely make up for the disciple-gifting ceremony with you, Master."

Compared to Yorii Tsugikuni, Sayo presented a very proper attitude.

Yorii Tsugikuni might come from a remote place and not know basic moral conduct, but Sayo, as his disciple, could not afford to be ignorant.

Since they wanted to learn the secret technique of Breathing Techniques from Yorii Tsugikuni, they had to do it properly.

From this day forward, Yorii Tsugikuni was their master, and their attitude must be respectful.

Of course, it was perfectly fine to chat casually during normal times; otherwise, there wouldn't be the saying "as much a friend as a master."

"Master, Sayo is right."

"You teaching us Breathing Techniques, no matter how unimportant they may be to you, Master, you are still our master!"

Ieyasu, who had been a little hesitant, quickly corrected his attitude after seeing Sayo's serious expression.

As Sayo's companion, Ieyasu was not an idiot either.

Ieyasu clearly understood the immense significance of the Breathing Techniques Yorii Tsugikuni was preparing to teach him and Sayo.

Ieyasu didn't know if the Imperial Fist Temple had any special secret techniques that could mass-produce relatively strong individuals like a modern assembly line factory.

However, Ieyasu felt that even if Yorii Tsugikuni's Breathing Techniques were not as good as the Imperial Fist Temple's special secret techniques, they probably wouldn't be far off.

The rest naturally fell into place.

Yorii Tsugikuni couldn't refuse Sayo and Ieyasu and could only accept them as his disciples.

Overall, Yorii Tsugikuni found it somewhat novel. Back in the Demon Slayer Corps, he would simply ask others if they were willing to learn his Breathing Techniques, and if they were, he would teach them.

No one had ever treated him with such seriousness.

Yorii Tsugikuni himself didn't particularly care about such things, but there were some things that were hard to explain.

For example, Sayo and Ieyasu had become somewhat special in Yorii Tsugikuni's heart.

The sky gradually grew somewhat dim.

The streets, which had been bustling with people earlier, had become rather empty.

Yorii Tsugikuni, Sayo, and Ieyasu sat quietly on the street, no one speaking.

As the day ended, Sayo and Ieyasu hadn't seen Tatsumi arrive. They could only make do for the night on the street. Although spring had passed, the nights were still a bit cool.

Fortunately, Sayo and Ieyasu had pretty good physical conditioning, so sleeping on the street temporarily for a few days wouldn't be an issue.

Compared to the relatively lively atmosphere during the day, the mood among the three now seemed rather quiet.

Of course, a part of it was also due to not having eaten all day and needing to conserve energy.

Ieyasu, in particular, had almost completely depleted his stamina during his spar with Yorii Tsugikuni. He could only rest early, hoping that Tatsumi would arrive promptly the next morning to meet with them.

As time continued to pass, the night slowly deepened.

Seeing Sayo and Ieyasu gradually drift off to sleep, Yorii Tsugikuni smiled.

'I'll stay here a bit longer.'

'After Sayo and Ieyasu learn my Breathing Techniques, then I'll go look for that guy.'

Yorii Tsugikuni made a new decision, then lightly closed his eyes, feigning sleep.

Camping outdoors, even on the streets of a bustling city, required a night watchman. Therefore, Yorii Tsugikuni wasn't planning to sleep too deeply, just a light doze.

If there was any disturbance, Yorii Tsugikuni could unleash his full power at any moment to respond.

After an unknown amount of time passed, a slightly different sound reached Yorii Tsugikuni's ears.