Mist on the Mountain Path, Butterflies Chasing the Wind

Before dawn, Mount Sagiri resembles a dream imprisoned by mist.

Thick fog surged up from the depths of the valley, engulfing the tree roots, climbing the trunks, and finally shrouding the entire forest in a hazy, indistinct mist.

Two figures emerged from the mist, like two butterflies that had strayed into the human world, tearing open the curtain of fog with their wings.

Shinobu Kocho's small stature is worrying, but her movements are as agile as a weasel in the forest.

She wore a dark purple training outfit that allowed for easy movement; the fabric clung to her body, outlining her slightly slender figure.

Her short, purple hair was damp with sweat, a few strands clinging to her forehead, the ends glistening with tiny dewdrops in the dim sunlight.

"Sister! Third from the left, rope net!"

Ren's voice was crisp and clear, piercing through the mist.

As soon as she finished speaking, she lightly touched a protruding tree root with her toes and leaped into the air.

The deep purple figure traced a smooth arc through the milky white mist, narrowly avoiding the rope net that bounced up from the ground.

Shinobu adjusted his posture in mid-air, and upon landing, he performed a forward roll to dissipate the force. The moment he stood up, he was already charging forward again. The whole process was very clean and efficient, without any unnecessary movements.

Kanae Kocho, a fourteen-year-old girl, is already showing the beginnings of a young woman's figure, but her figure under her training uniform is still slender.

She tied her long, black hair into a high ponytail with a simple dark blue hair tie that bounced behind her head with her movements, like a leaping flame.

Compared to her sister's speed, her movements were more composed and elegant, not like running in the deadly mountains, but like performing a carefully choreographed dance.

She heard Ren's warning and glanced to her left.

The third trap... was indeed a rope net.

At the last moment, she slightly turned her body and precisely placed her right foot on the bluestone slab next to the trigger mechanism, which was the only spot in the entire area that would not trigger a trap.

The stone slab sank slightly, but she used the momentum to propel herself forward, her body nimbly dodging the impact like a flower petal blown by the wind.

Her long pink hair traced a soft path through the mist.

"Bear with it, watch your breathing."

Kanae spoke, her voice gentle yet clear, carrying far through the quiet mountain forest.

"This is the third stretch. Keep your rhythm. Disordered breathing won't save your life..."

"Okay!"

Ren responded with a drawn-out tone.

She took a deep breath and then slowly exhaled, and the rhythm of her steps changed accordingly, from purely fast to a more steady pace.

This is their daily training routine for the past month: the morning obstacle course in Mount Sagiri.

From the mountaintop cabin to the training ground halfway up the mountain, a five-kilometer mountain path with forty-seven traps... all were personally set up by Sakonji Urokodaki.

That former Water Hashira guy really knew how to train people:

True battles are never straightforward duels; they are death mazes made of falling rocks, lassos, poisonous fog, and sneak attacks. Only those who can survive such mazes are worthy of wielding Nichirin Blade.

At first, the two sisters fell and got bruised all over on this road.

The worst time was when the two of them triggered a series of traps at the same time and were hung upside down from a tree for a full half hour until Master Urokodaki came to rescue them.

They were covered in mud, their hair was a mess, and their eyes were filled with tears, but they gritted their teeth and said, "We have to continue tomorrow."

It is now the thirtieth day.

The mist flows through the forest like a living white river.

The two entered the second section of the trail – a rockfall area.

The ground here is covered with inconspicuous pressure slabs; once stepped on, the mechanisms on them will release falling rocks.

"Sister! Three o'clock position, two steps back jump!!"

Ren ran and shouted, while simultaneously turning his body sharply to the right.

A rock grazed her left shoulder as it fell to the ground with a dull thud.

Kanae's eyes quickly scanned the ground, then she suddenly crouched down and crawled under a low rock.

As she got up, she instinctively pulled Ren along, making sure her sister avoided another piece of wood rolling in from the side.

"Thank you, sister!!"

He forced a grin, revealing his sharp little tiger teeth.

"Concentrate."

Kanae smiled too, but her eyes remained wary.

They weaved through the falling rocks like butterflies dancing in a storm.

Shinobu is faster, but sometimes takes risks; Kanae more reliable and always finds the safest path.

The two worked in perfect harmony, one in front and one behind, one fast and one steady.

"Speaking of which..."

Ren suddenly spoke, her voice slightly breathless from running.

"Sister, is Mr. Giyu coming back soon?"

Kanae's breathing paused for a moment.

The black ponytail drew an arc in the air.

"It should be... soon."

Her voice was still gentle, but if you listened carefully, you could detect a slight fluctuation.

"The mission to Hachijōjima should be coming to an end by now."

"It's been a month."

Ren pouted and jumped over a ditch.

Not even a letter. Really, don't they know we'd be worried?

"Mr. Giyu has his duties."

Kanae's tone held a hint of reproach, "But... I really should send a message back."

That's just how he is!

Ren rolled her eyes, her purple pupils turning upwards, which, combined with her puffed-up cheeks, made her look both angry and adorable.

He always has an icy expression, speaks very little like a taciturn person, and never says what he's thinking. Last time he demonstrated Water Breathing, he was clearly very cool, but he left right after the demonstration and wouldn't stay a little longer!

The image flashed through Kanae's mind.

On that morning at the training ground, Giyu held his Nichirin Blade, a light blue aura swirling around him.

He demonstrated the ten forms of Water Breathing, each move flowing as smoothly as real water. The water vapor created by the sword's strikes illuminated a rainbow in the morning sunlight.

After the demonstration, he sheathed his knife, nodded, and turned to leave. He didn't say more than three sentences throughout the entire process.

But he was indeed very handsome like that.

Kanae felt a little hot behind her ears.

"My sister blushed!!"

Shinobu suddenly leaned closer, grinning mischievously, and said, "Thinking about Mr. Giyu again! You've mentioned him so many times this past month!"

"Tolerate!!"

Kanae was a little annoyed and quickened her pace, trying to shake off her sister.

That's exactly right!

Ren chased after him, talking as he ran.

"But seriously, when Mr. Giyu was demonstrating, although his face was still cold, his eyes were very serious. And the way he ate the radish and salmon—"

She paused deliberately to see her sister's reaction.

Kanae turned her head as expected. "How is it?"

"So--cute!!"

He spoke slowly and deliberately, then burst into laughter.

"Even such a serious person's eyes will light up slightly when they eat their favorite food! It's only for a fleeting moment, but it's incredibly funny!"

Kanae smiled too.

She remembered that scene.

Giyu sat at the dining table, a bowl of rice piled high with radish and salmon in front of him. A fleeting look of satisfaction did indeed flash in his usually calm, icy blue eyes.

Like a small sun suddenly falling into the surface of a lake in winter.

Although it only flashed by.

But in that instant, Giyu looked like... an ordinary thirteen-year-old boy who would be happy because of food.

Instead of Water Hashira to slay evil spirits.

"Okay, focus."

Kanae shook off her jumbled thoughts and focused her gaze back ahead. "The last section, the maze area."

The fog thickened here.

Looking out, it's less than five meters away. The arrangement of the trees has also been deliberately rearranged, making it resemble a natural maze.

There are no physical traps here, but it's easier to get lost... Once you go the wrong way, you might end up back at the starting point or wander into a more dangerous area.

Both of them slowed down at the same time.

Close your eyes, take a deep breath, and then slowly exhale.

Kanae listened intently.

"This way."

Ren opened his eyes and pointed to the left front.

"Agree."

Without discussing it, they reached the same conclusion. A month of training together had forged an almost intuitive understanding between the sisters.

Enter the maze.

The fog was as thick as milk, enveloping everything. The two figures appeared and disappeared in the fog, sometimes almost vanishing, leaving only the sound of footsteps and the rustling of clothes. They stopped talking, focusing all their attention on finding their way.

Three minutes later, the area in front of us suddenly became brightly lit.

The fog suddenly thinned, and sunlight pierced through the tree canopy, casting golden dappled patterns. The wooden markers for the training ground were just fifty meters away.

"Final sprint!!"

Ren's eyes lit up, and he suddenly accelerated.

"Wait, hold on..."

Kanae wanted to warn someone, but her sister had already rushed out.

The purple-haired girl was like a streak of purple lightning, speeding along the final straight section of the road.

She was indeed fast; her footsteps made a dense "tap-tap" sound on the ground, and the fallen leaves behind her were whipped up by the wind into a small tornado.

But Kanae didn't rush to pursue him.

She adjusted her breathing, maintaining a steady pace.

Thirty meters, twenty meters, ten meters...

Ren was the first to rush past the wooden stake marker.

She braked, turned around, a victorious smile on her face, and was about to say something...

Kanae crossed the finish line two steps behind her.

Then, he ran forward for another five steps before slowly stopping, turning around and walking back.

Her breathing remained steady, with only a fine layer of sweat on her forehead, while Ren was already panting heavily.

"Sister, sister, you..." Ren's eyes widened.

"It's too early to start."

Kanae spoke gently, taking a handkerchief from her bosom and handing it to her younger sister.

"Sprinting at full speed in the last fifty meters will disrupt your breathing rhythm. If there's an ambush at the finish line, or if you need to fight immediately, you'll be out of breath for a short while... that can be fatal."

Ren took the handkerchief, wiped his sweat, and pursed his lips, but his eyes were full of admiration.

"Okay, I'll be more careful next time."

Thirty-two minutes! Two minutes faster than yesterday!

"Yeah!!"

He clenched his fist, and immediately became lively and energetic again.

"At this rate, if we practice for another month, we might be able to catch up to Senior Brother Sabito's speed from that demonstration! How long did it take him to run the whole course? Twenty-eight minutes?"

"Twenty-seven minutes and forty seconds," Kanae stated the number precisely.

"... Sister, you remember so clearly." Ren glanced at her sideways.

Kanae pretended not to hear and turned to look in the direction of the mountain.

The morning fog is dissipating, and the outlines of the mountains are becoming clearer.

In the distance, the roof of the cabin could be vaguely seen among the treetops, and a wisp of smoke from cooking rose slowly, tinged with a faint blue-gray in the morning light.

"It's time to go back! Master Urokodaki is waiting for us for breakfast!"

"Great!! I can smell the pickled salmon!"

Ren jumped up excitedly, but then remembered something, wrinkled his nose, and

"But sister, do you think Mr. Giyu might suddenly come back? Maybe we should leave him some fish?"

Kanae paused for a moment.

Then she smiled, a gentle smile like a newly opened cherry blossom.

"Keep it~ just in case!!"

The two turned and walked towards the cabin.