Unlike others who needed to learn later in life, Yorii Tsugikuni had extraordinary talent. From the moment he was born, he possessed markings, the Clear World, and an understanding of the principles behind Breathing Techniques.
After reaching adulthood, Yorii Tsugikuni summarized the Sun Breathing Technique based on what he had mastered.
However, to this day, not a single person had learned Yorii Tsugikuni's Sun Breathing. No one could withstand the power of the sun, and thus no one could master Sun Breathing.
With no other choice, Yorii Tsugikuni could only teach the Demon Slayer Corps weakened branch Breathing Techniques.
Now, Yorii Tsugikuni intended to have Sayo and Ieyasu learn weakened branch Breathing Techniques as well.
"After completely mastering Total Concentration: Constant, you will have reached the minimum requirement for awakening markings."
"Although I do not know the exact conditions for awakening markings, without exception, all of them were genius swordsmen who had completely mastered Total Concentration: Constant."
"Therefore, I do not recommend that Sayo and Ieyasu attempt Total Concentration Constant Breathing."
Yorii Tsugikuni earnestly warned Sayo and Ieyasu.
Sayo and Ieyasu both nodded seriously. Neither wanted to pursue greater power only to die at the age of twenty-five.
The Terrifying Yorii Tsugikuni
"Master, don't worry!"
"I don't want to croak at twenty-five either."
"I definitely won't master that Total Concentration: Constant thing!"
Seeing Yorii Tsugikuni's somewhat worried expression, Ieyasu responded carelessly.
They did not need to master the highest realm of Breathing Techniques, Total Concentration: Constant.
Sayo and Ieyasu felt that it would be enough to learn the Breathing Techniques Yorii Tsugikuni taught them to a middling level.
There was no need to chase the ultimate realm and die young because of it.
"Mm. Just be mindful of it in the future."
Yorii Tsugikuni smiled faintly as he looked at the somewhat confused Sayo and Ieyasu.
Compared to Demon Slayer Corps swordsmen who had just entered the realm of Total Concentration: Constant, Yorii Tsugikuni's Total Concentration Constant Breathing showed no obvious signs. It was not much different from ordinary breathing.
However, Yorii Tsugikuni could also deliberately unleash his Breathing Techniques.
"To make it easier for Sayo and Ieyasu to understand."
"I will demonstrate how Breathing Techniques are used."
"So you can understand exactly how Breathing Techniques differ from normal breathing."
As Yorii Tsugikuni's words fell, Sayo and Ieyasu could clearly sense a change in him.
Originally, Yorii Tsugikuni gave everyone the impression of being gentle and refined, like a delicate, scholarly gentleman. Yet in that instant, he seemed to transform into a peerless fiend god capable of sweeping across the world.
It was as though raging flames had ignited around him, carrying an unparalleled majesty.
The two completely different, almost extreme changes left everyone present staring in stunned silence.
"M-Master..."
Looking at Yorii Tsugikuni, who seemed to have instantly turned into a man-eating beast, Ieyasu instinctively swallowed and tried to say something.
But facing Yorii Tsugikuni like this, Ieyasu found that he could not get a single clear word out.
It was simply too terrifying. Ieyasu had never imagined Yorii Tsugikuni could inspire such fear.
Is this what Master looks like when he gets serious?
I really hope I never make Master angry for the rest of my life.
Ieyasu silently resolved that he would never provoke Yorii Tsugikuni's anger in the future.
"Ieyasu, don't get distracted. Watch carefully and feel it properly!"
"Listen wholeheartedly to Master's breathing rhythm!"
Compared to Ieyasu, who had been completely overwhelmed by Yorii Tsugikuni, Sayo had also been startled by his sudden change in demeanor. However, she understood that Yorii Tsugikuni was teaching her and Ieyasu.
Therefore, Sayo quickly suppressed her emotions and listened to Yorii Tsugikuni's breathing rhythm.
Under Yorii Tsugikuni's guidance, Sayo quickly picked up his breathing rhythm and began trying to breathe in time with it.
"Sayo, don't rush."
"Ieyasu, calm down quickly as well. Listen carefully to my breathing rhythm and follow it."
Naturally, Yorii Tsugikuni did not only know Sun Breathing.
Back when he was in the Demon Slayer Corps, the Breathing Techniques of the other swordsmen had all been created with Yorii Tsugikuni's assistance. Thus, he swiftly changed his breathing rhythm into a weakened version of Water Breathing.
Then, before the astonished eyes of Sayo and Ieyasu, the feeling Yorii Tsugikuni gave off changed once more.
In an instant, he went from a peerless fiend god wreathed in blazing flames to an otherworldly young gentleman as still as water. His gentle aura left both Sayo and Ieyasu feeling relaxed and refreshed.
However, in the next instant, Sayo and Ieyasu both snapped back to their senses. Closing their eyes, they began listening intently to Yorii Tsugikuni's breathing rhythm and studying it.
Meanwhile, in a small dining room within Aria's home.
At that moment, Caven, Calitan, and Aria were all leisurely enjoying their daily breakfast.
"So neither Aria nor I can touch those two outsiders?"
Taking a sip of milk from her cup, Calitan smiled at her husband, Caven. "Darling, it seems we have a rather remarkable guest in our home this time."
"Mm, that's right."
"For the next few days, Calitan and Aria, you two should behave yourselves."
After hearing Calitan's words, Caven nodded slightly and said seriously, "This Mr. Yorii Tsugikuni may have quite the background. We can talk after Mr. Yorii Tsugikuni and his two country-bumpkin disciples have left."
"Aria, just endure it for two more days."
"Mr. Yorii Tsugikuni seems decent enough. Let's build a good relationship with him."
As he spoke, Caven rubbed Aria's little head.
Caven truly doted on his obedient daughter. In a sense, the only people Aria's family did not regard as human were those outsiders with no background.
Before someone like Yorii Tsugikuni, who clearly had status and connections, Aria's family became much more restrained. As for Sayo and Ieyasu, they were practically Yorii Tsugikuni's pet dogs.
Aria's family would be a little more polite and would not casually touch someone else's "pets."
"Mm, I'll endure it for another two days."
"After all, there's nothing else we can do."
Aria was clearly much more well-behaved in front of her father and mother. She smiled sweetly and said, "After Mr. Yorii Tsugikuni and the others are done visiting, Aria can go find new toys."
"Aria still isn't very good at some noble etiquette, so she'll study noble etiquette at home for the next few days."
"There's a banquet in a few days that Aria is planning to attend."
Although it was a pity that she could not lay hands on Sayo and Ieyasu, especially Sayo, Aria did not actually care that much. She had grown up in the Imperial Capital, that great melting pot.
Aria could still distinguish what mattered and what did not.
Once she learned that Yorii Tsugikuni had a significant background, she could no longer make a move against him or the "pet dogs" by his side.
"My Aria is the best."
"In that case, Mommy will teach you noble etiquette properly."
Calitan covered her mouth and chuckled after hearing Aria's words. "Your mother is quite confident in noble etiquette. When the time comes, Aria will definitely be the most dazzling girl at the banquet."
"Mm-hmm!"
"With Mommy teaching me, I feel even more confident!"
Aria beamed with joy.
In some ways, the relationship within Aria's family did resemble that of a normal family.
Aria's Family Decides to Drive Them Away
Unfortunately, Aria's family was cruel and twisted toward outsiders they looked down upon. Or rather, they simply never regarded outsiders like Sayo and Ieyasu as human beings.
Watching his wife and daughter interact so warmly, Caven smiled gently as well. Then he turned his gaze toward his wife, Calitan. "By the way, Calitan."
"If I remember correctly, Mr. Yorii Tsugikuni's two disciples want to make something of themselves here in the Imperial Capital, right?"
One look at Yorii Tsugikuni's face told Caven that he was a man free of worldly desires, making him difficult to win over.
Since he had decided to build a good relationship with Yorii Tsugikuni, Caven planned to start with those around him. Compared to Yorii Tsugikuni, the thoughts of outsiders like Sayo and Ieyasu, who wore their thoughts on their faces, were far easier to handle.
"Of course they want to make something of themselves in the Imperial Capital, Father."
"Every outsider who comes to the Imperial Capital wants to make something of themselves here."
After hearing her father's words, Aria said with a giggle from the side, "Weren't so many of our previous toys drawn here because they wanted to make something of themselves in the Imperial Capital?"
As a count's family, Aria's family only needed to show the slightest bit of kindness, and those outsiders who came from elsewhere hoping to rise in the Imperial Capital would desperately flock to them.
Behind that false facade, no one knew how much blood Aria's family had already stained their hands with.
Whenever they ran out of toys, Aria's family would patrol around at night. Whenever they saw outsiders like Yorii Tsugikuni, Sayo, and Ieyasu sleeping on the streets, they would lend them a helping hand.
"Darling, what are you thinking?"
"Helping an outsider make something of himself is quite troublesome."
"I have no idea how far Mr. Yorii Tsugikuni's family is from here."
Unlike Caven, Calitan was not particularly interested in building a good relationship with Yorii Tsugikuni.
The Empire's current situation was far from ideal. It faced the threat of four Foreign Tribes around its borders, and Calitan believed that Yorii Tsugikuni's family could hardly have crossed the territories of the Foreign Tribes to reach the Empire.
Calitan even felt that making Yorii Tsugikuni disappear outright might not cause any trouble.
Although they were a count's family, they still had to assess the situation in the Imperial Capital. Calitan felt that investing in Yorii Tsugikuni like this would not yield any worthwhile returns.
They would most likely never even live to see Yorii Tsugikuni repay them. Building a good relationship with him was simply not worth it.
"Mm, Calitan, you make a good point."
"Mr. Yorii Tsugikuni's family really is too far from the Empire."
Caven pondered for a while, considering how to deal with Yorii Tsugikuni next.
They had already established their image, so they needed to maintain it to some extent. At the very least, they had to appear charitable and kind. But if they invested too many resources, Caven was reluctant to part with them.
"Forget it. Although Mr. Yorii Tsugikuni seems decent and might be worth investing in, it truly isn't feasible."
"It just so happens that a few people recently died in the Security Force, leaving several positions vacant..."
Considering that Yorii Tsugikuni continuing to stay in his home might affect his quality of life, Caven finally decided to grant him a small favor.
He would have the Imperial Capital Security Force take in Yorii Tsugikuni, Sayo, and Ieyasu.
That way, once Yorii Tsugikuni and the others had proper jobs, they would naturally have to move out. His wife and precious daughter could then continue searching for their beloved toys and happily bringing them home to play with.
Before long, the morning passed, and it was time for lunch.
Yorii Tsugikuni's teaching of Sayo and Ieyasu did not cause much of a stir.
Only Sayo and Ieyasu could clearly sense the tremendous changes in Yorii Tsugikuni when he used his Breathing Techniques. People farther away did not feel much of anything.
After all, Yorii Tsugikuni had lived for over eighty years. His control over his power was extremely strong.
When demonstrating for Sayo and Ieyasu, he had not allowed any of his power to leak out.
If Aria's family had personally experienced the pressure and imposing aura that Sayo and Ieyasu had felt from Yorii Tsugikuni earlier, they would probably have rushed over to cling to him without hesitation.
After all, anyone with even a little knowledge would understand that what Yorii Tsugikuni had casually displayed just now was at least combat power on the level of an Imperial Arms User.
"Mr. Yorii Tsugikuni, Miss Sayo, Mr. Ieyasu."
"The Imperial Capital Security Force happens to have several vacant positions, and the compensation is quite good."
Sitting at the dining table, Caven looked at Yorii Tsugikuni across from him and smiled. "Mr. Yorii Tsugikuni's hometown is likely quite far from the Empire, and unfortunately, the Empire's borders have been in a state of war."
"I have a fairly good relationship with Mr. Oka, the captain of the Imperial Capital Security Force."
"If Mr. Yorii Tsugikuni does not mind, you may take Miss Sayo and Mr. Ieyasu there to report for duty."
Caven got straight to the point and laid out his arrangements.
Before you continue