In the afternoon, sunlight filtered through the sparse pine needles of Mount Sagiri, casting dappled shadows on the training ground.
The air was filled with the fragrance of earth and the faint smell of sweat.
"Water Breathing - Fifth Form - Blessed Rain After the Drought!"
A clear, delicate shout rang out, and a figure, like a fluttering butterfly, traced a gentle yet swift trajectory across the arena.
It's Kanae Kocho.
The Nichirin Blade in her hand spun in the air, creating a near-perfect splash of water, before its blade precisely slashed at the wooden dummy in front of her.
However, just as the blade was about to touch the wooden stake's neck, her seemingly smooth breathing became slightly disordered.
The water-flowing sword light, which should have been solid, suddenly trembled, and its power was reduced by 30% out of nowhere.
"Clang!"
Although the blade still struck the target, it only left a shallow white mark on the hard wooden stake, far from achieving the desired effect of killing the enemy with a single blow.
Kanae froze in place, staring at the shallow, laughable slash mark, her delicate brows furrowing tightly.
Another failure.
Why...
Why is it always like this?
She had followed the instructions of Master Urokodaki and Mr. Giyu perfectly for every movement and every breath, but why did she always feel powerless at the last moment?
It's as if there's an invisible wall inside the body, completely blocking the flow of power.
"Sister! Let me do it!!"
Before Kanae could think further, an even smaller figure rushed out from the side, exuding an indomitable spirit.
It's Shinobu Kocho.
She pursed her lips tightly, and a stubborn fire burned in her purple eyes.
"Water Breathing - Second Form - Water Wheel!"
Shinobu's body suddenly flipped in the air, and the Nichirin Blade in her hand drew a vertical circle from top to bottom, accompanied by a sharp whistling sound!
She pushed the power, speed, and angle of this move to their absolute limit!
However, just as the blade was about to complete its circular slash, a strong feeling of suffocation suddenly came from her chest!
The energy within his body seemed to be forcibly severed at that moment!
"Ugh... cough cough!"
Ren's face turned deathly pale instantly. He could no longer hold the knife in his hand, and it flew out, spinning and landing with a "clang" in the mud some distance away.
She herself fell heavily to the ground, clutching her chest and coughing violently.
"Tolerate!!"
Kanae's expression changed drastically. She exclaimed in surprise and rushed to her sister's side to help her up, her face filled with worry and heartache.
How are you? Are you alright?
"I... I'm fine, sister..."
Shinobu pushed Kanae's hand away and struggled to stand up, but her legs felt weak and she couldn't muster any strength.
She bit her lower lip hard, tears of resentment welling up in her eyes.
Why!!
Why can't I just do it?!
They've already worked so hard! They swing the knife three thousand times a day, and even when they're so tired they can't lift their arms, they've never slacked off for a single day!
But what was the result?
He couldn't even execute the most basic sword techniques properly, and he even got injured because he forced himself to exert force!
Not far away, under a huge, century-old pine tree.
Giyu Tomioka stood silently in the shade of the trees, like a statue. He had seen everything that was happening in the training ground.
Deep within those icy blue eyes lay a stillness, like the surface of a frozen lake.
However, in his view, the whole world had long since become a completely different place.
[Transparent World].
He could clearly "see" every inch of the Kocho Sisters' bones and every meridian inside their bodies, and even "see" how their faint blood and qi circulated under the guidance of Breathing Style.
A month ago, when he first met them in the Crimson Sakura Village, he had already seen through everything.
Their physical condition is simply not suitable for practicing Water Breathing.
Kanae's body is flexible enough, but her frame is too light and lacks the composure and weight required for Water Breathing.
But forbearance is even more extreme.
She was too thin and small; the strength and density of her muscles were completely insufficient to support the expansive, continuous power exertion required for Water Breathing. Forcing herself to train would only cause further damage to her body, just like what happened before.
Giyu could even "see" something more ethereal and mysterious.
He saw that on the two sisters, the path to "Future," the path leading to "Water Breathing," was a dark, cracked, and crumbling wooden trail.
No matter how hard they try, that path is destined to be a dead end.
He already knew this would happen.
But he didn't say it.
Because Master Urokodaki is a professional Cultivator.
Since their master was willing to accept them as disciples and personally teach them the Water Breathing, Giyu believed that his master must have his own considerations and methods.
As a disciple, he should not, and has no need to, question his master's decision.
But now, seeing the bloodstains at the corner of Shinobu's mouth, and the confusion and self-blame in Kanae's eyes, Giyu with a hint of reluctance that he himself was unaware of.
Just then, a tall figure wearing Tengu Mask walked slowly from the direction of the wooden house.
Sakonji Urokodaki.
He walked up to the Kocho Sisters, squatted down, and placed two fingers on Ren's wrist.
A moment later, he released his grip and let out a barely audible sigh through the mask.
That's enough.
Urokodaki's voice was deep, carrying an undeniable decisiveness.
"The teachings on the Water Breathing end here."
These words, like a thunderclap, exploded in the ears of the two sisters!
"Why?!?!"
Ren was the first to scream. Ignoring her injuries, she suddenly raised her head, her tearful purple eyes staring intently at Urokodaki, her voice filled with incomprehension and the anger of being abandoned.
"Is it because we were too stupid?! Is it because we disappointed you?!?!"
"We can work even harder! If swiping the knife three thousand times isn't enough, then five thousand! Ten thousand times! As long as you don't give up on us, we can endure any hardship!!"
Although Kanae didn't speak, her instantly pale face, her hands tightly gripping the hem of her clothes, and her slightly trembling hands betrayed the immense shock she felt inside.
Urokodaki watched them in silence.
He stood up, turned his head, and looked at Giyu Tomioka under the pine tree.
"Giyu, come here."
Giyu stepped out of the shade of the trees and into the field.
Urokodaki pointed to the Kocho Sisters, who were still kneeling on the ground with resentment on their faces, and spoke the cruel truth in an extremely solemn tone.
"Kanae, Shinobu."
"Your talent and perseverance are unparalleled in my life. To grasp the basics of Breathing Style in just one month—this talent is even comparable to that of Giyu back in the day."
"But..."
His tone turned somber, and each word struck the sisters' hearts like a heavy stone.
"Your physical constitution is fundamentally unsuitable for practicing Water Breathing."
The surroundings were eerily quiet.
The wind rustled through the pine forest, as if providing accompaniment to this cruel pronouncement.
The anger and resentment on Ren's face froze instantly, replaced by utter disbelief and bewilderment.
Kanae, on the other hand, seemed to have all her strength drained away; her petite body swayed, and she almost fell over.
Is your constitution... unsuitable?
Because of this... something predetermined from birth, something that cannot be changed, their month-long desperate struggle, their determination to avenge their parents, their dream of following in the footsteps of Mr. Giyu...
Did trying to have it all end up costing me nothing?
A profound sense of loss and despair, like icy seawater, engulfed Kanae in an instant.
She remembered the night her parents died tragically, the man's imposing figure, and the endless, surging blue water in his hands, like the wrath of a god.
From that moment on, Water Breathing became her only belief.
But now, that faith has collapsed.
"I don't believe it!!"
Ren's scream shattered the deathly silence!!
She abruptly stood up, swaying precariously from her agitation, yet still managed to point with all her might at Giyu Tomioka beside her and loudly question him:
"If Mr. Giyu can do it, why can't we?! We're human beings just like him!!"
Urokodaki shook his head.
"He can do it precisely because he is Giyu Tomioka. But you are not him."
Just when the atmosphere reached a freezing point, Giyu Tomioka, who had been silent all along, finally spoke.
"Master is right."
His voice was calm, yet it carried a convincing power.
Ren suddenly turned her head and glared at him fiercely, like a cat that had been provoked.
Giyu ignored her anger and continued to explain in his characteristically emotionless tone:
"The Water Breathing emphasizes a balance of strength and gentleness, continuous and unbroken. It requires practitioners to possess extremely strong core strength and endurance. And your bodies..."
He paused, as if searching for a less hurtful word.
"... too light."
These words shattered the last glimmer of hope in the two sisters' hearts.
Kanae's tears finally broke free and silently streamed down her cheeks.
However, just as they were sinking into their deepest despair, Urokodaki suddenly changed.
"However, this does not mean that your path as swordsmen has come to an end."
He looked at the two sisters, and his eyes, hidden behind the Tengu Masks, shone with wisdom and expectation.
"There are more than just five basic Breathing Style techniques in the world. From these basic Breathing Style, countless unique sword techniques suitable for different physiques can also be derived."
"One month from now, I will personally lead you to a Flower Valley in the east."
"There, there lives an old friend of mine. The Flower Breathing she mastered was derived from the Water Breathing, but she abandoned the reliance on absolute power, instead pursuing ultimate flexibility, speed, and explosiveness."
"That sword technique is light and swift, like flowers blooming, and it's a perfect match for your physique."
The Flower Breathing.
These four words, like a ray of sunlight piercing through the dark clouds, instantly illuminated the sisters' gloomy world.
Kanae suddenly raised her head, and in her tear-filled eyes, a flame of hope rekindled.
"Master... is what you're saying true?"
"Of course." Urokodaki nodded. "Your efforts over the past month will not have been in vain. The breathing principles and power generation techniques you have mastered will become a solid foundation for your transition to Flower Breathing, and may even allow you to progress faster than the average person."
"So..."
He reached out and gently placed his hand on the tops of the two sisters' heads.
Don't be discouraged. This is not the end, but a brand new beginning.
~~~
At dusk, the setting sun shone like blood.
Kanae was quietly preparing dinner ingredients in the kitchen.
After the dramatic events of the afternoon, her mood was like a rollercoaster ride, climbing from the depths of despair back to the peak of hope.
She peeled the white radish and cut it into evenly sized chunks with practiced skill.
Just then, a figure appeared silently at the kitchen doorway.
It's Giyu Tomioka.
"Mr. Giyu."
Kanae turned around and gave him a gentle, slightly apologetic smile.
"This afternoon... I'm sorry, we were too impulsive."
Giyu shook his head without saying a word, but silently walked in, picked up the firewood beside him, and skillfully added it to the stove.
In the kitchen, only the crackling sound of burning firewood could be heard for a moment.
"Mr. Giyu,"
Kanae couldn't help but speak, her voice soft, "Did you... already know?"
Giyu paused for a moment as he added firewood.
After a moment, he nodded, his voice still calm.
"Um."
"Then why..."
"My master is a professional Cultivator."
Giyu interrupted her, looked up, and stared at her intently with his icy blue eyes.
"I trust my master's judgment."
Kanae's heart skipped a beat for no apparent reason.
She suddenly understood.
It turns out he wasn't indifferent or uncaring. He was simply expressing his purest trust in his master in his own way.
Yes, they are all just children.
Faced with an elder and senior like Master Urokodaki, what can one do besides trust him?
A warm feeling flowed through Kanae's heart.
The smile on her face became even gentler.
"Mr. Giyu, shall we make radish and salmon tonight?"
"Um."
Giyu nodded, adding unusually, "Add more radish, and stew it until it's soft."
"Good!!"
Kanae smiled, her eyes crinkling like a new moon.
She turned around and continued processing the ingredients in her hands, but her mood was completely different from before.