Before long, the two arrived at a small wooden cabin atop the mountain. Han Zhiqi was surprised to discover that the old man carrying him was no ordinary person.
He weighed at least a hundred jin. Yet the old man had carried him up hundreds of steps, chatting and laughing all the way.
When they reached the mountaintop, the old man was neither red-faced nor out of breath. His pace and breathing had remained steady throughout. Even a strong young man could not have managed that, much less an old man past fifty.
Amid his shock, Han Zhiqi could not help but feel delighted. He was fortunate to have found the right person.
Before he knew it, night had fallen.
The old man set Han Zhiqi down and entered the cabin. In the darkness, he lit an oil lamp hanging on the wall, and the pitch-black room brightened.
Han Zhiqi looked around the room. It was very plain, containing nothing beyond a few pieces of everyday furniture.
The old man opened a cupboard and brought several flatbreads and a few pieces of rabbit meat, crisp outside and tender within, to the table. He casually poured him a cup of water as well.
"All right, it's already late. Have something to eat first. I'll apply some medicine for you later, and you should get some rest early tonight."
Under the dim yellow lamplight, Han Zhiqi finally got a clear look at the old man.
He wore faded gray linen clothes and had a head full of white hair. Deep wrinkles crisscrossed his forehead, while a long, frightening scar ran across his right cheek. He looked no different from any ordinary old man, except for his unusually bright eyes.
"You're my trainer, Aoyanagi... what was it... Hyōbei?"
"Hmph. 'Aoyanagi what Hyōbei'? Just as Little Butterfly said, you're rude and full of yourself. If Little Butterfly hadn't personally come up the mountain to beg me, I wouldn't take in an arrogant greenhorn like you even if you beat me to death."
It seemed that woman had truly put a great deal of effort into arranging his apprenticeship.
Now that he knew this was the person he had been looking for, Han Zhiqi said no more and focused on gnawing at the rabbit meat.
After walking all day and fighting a demon along the way, he really was hungry.
"You're a derivative user of Water Breathing, yet you insist on learning breathing techniques from someone who uses Stone Breathing. That makes no sense at all. Other than that big fellow Gyomei several decades ago, no one has come here in a long time. I heard he's become a Hashira now. Hmph, at least he amounted to something."
Aoyanagi Hyōbei rambled on to himself, his wistful tone carrying a hint of pride. When he noticed that Han Zhiqi had kept his head down and was only eating, he could not help getting annoyed. He raised his chopsticks and sharply rapped Han Zhiqi on the head.
Han Zhiqi winced and let out a faint muffled grunt. Raising his head, he glared furiously at Aoyanagi Hyōbei.
"Were you a starving ghost in your last life? When an elder is talking to you, you could at least answer. No wonder Little Butterfly said you had no manners. You'll never win Little Butterfly's affection like this."
"If you want to talk, then talk. Why did you hit me? Besides, why would I need to win that woman's affection?"
Perhaps feeling that his tone had been too harsh, Han Zhiqi added, "Does Water Breathing mean I can't learn Stone Breathing?"
Aoyanagi Hyōbei had initially been displeased, but at the latter question, a smug expression appeared on his face.
He picked up a piece of rabbit meat and began eating too. As he ate, he said, "Not exactly. Actually, it's an issue with the Demon Slayer Corps itself. The Five Great Breathing Styles all originated from Sun Breathing, so they ultimately lead to the same destination."
Han Zhiqi had learned some general knowledge about Breathing Styles from books. He knew that the Five Great Breathing Styles had all originated from Sun Breathing.
Sun Breathing had been created by a demon slayer named Tsugikuni Yoriichi. His appearance had given countless demon slayers the strength to stand against demons, and the Breathing Styles he created had propelled the founding of the Demon Slayer Corps.
But with Tsugikuni Yoriichi's death, Sun Breathing had also been lost. Only the Five Great Breathing Styles, along with the other styles derived from them, remained in circulation today.
"If they all lead to the same destination, then it doesn't make much difference whom I learn from. From what I read, Breathing Styles are merely an auxiliary method for temporarily enhancing the body's potential. The reason the Demon Slayer Corps has newcomers study under trainers who use the same Breathing Style is, I imagine, mainly because it is easier to adapt to. The other reason is to learn some basic Martial Skills."
After saying that, Han Zhiqi looked at Aoyanagi Hyōbei as if asking, Am I right?
Aoyanagi Hyōbei nodded. "That's more or less it."
Having received confirmation, Han Zhiqi lowered his head and continued eating the rabbit meat as he said, "Since it is only an auxiliary method, what truly determines combat is physical ability, fighting skill, and experience in battle. Since you were able to train the strongest in the Demon Slayer Corps, you must have unique training methods beyond Breathing Styles. That is why I came to find you."
Uh!!
This brat was way too damn smart. Was he really some greenhorn who knew nothing? He had actually seen through the essence of combat at a glance. He was practically a natural-born fighter.
"Hmph, you really are unbearably full of yourself. No wonder girls don't like you."
This time, Aoyanagi Hyōbei was the one left speechless. He tossed out that feeble remark, then lowered his head and began eating.
He had originally planned to show off properly, but Han Zhiqi had exposed everything in just a few sentences. It immediately became boring.
After dinner, Aoyanagi Hyōbei had Han Zhiqi sit on a low stool. He brought over a basin of hot water and began cleaning his wounds.
When he untied the bandages and saw Han Zhiqi's body stitched with black thread like a ragged scrap of cloth, the old man could not help drawing in a sharp breath. Even the hand gripping the bandages began to tremble uncontrollably.
He could not remember how many years it had been since he had seen wounds this severe. For a boy of seventeen or eighteen to survive injuries like these was nothing short of a miracle.
Little Butterfly had told him that the youth had not yet recovered from grievous injuries and hoped he would go down the mountain to meet him. He had scoffed at the request, thinking it was some rich young master who wanted to join the Demon Slayer Corps for training. But it turned out... it turned out Little Butterfly had not exaggerated.
With a body in such condition, he had still been able to beat a demon into that state and hold on until help arrived. He was truly remarkable.
"What, old man? You... you weren't scared stupid, were you?"
Han Zhiqi sneered, though he spoke weakly. The pain from his wounds had drained all color from his face. Even while sitting on the stool, his body swayed constantly, as if he might topple over at any moment.
"Hmph. You're almost dead, yet you still have the strength to talk big."
Aoyanagi Hyōbei used white cloth to wipe the bloodstains from his body. Then he applied some strange herbs and rebandaged his wounds.
After finishing everything, Aoyanagi Hyōbei carried the basin of bloody water outside and poured it away. When he returned, he casually extinguished the oil lamp on the wall, told him to rest early, and said they could discuss anything else tomorrow.
The room fell into darkness. Only faint moonlight shone through the window onto the floor. Han Zhiqi heard a rustling sound coming from the inner room, but it soon fell silent.
The room sank into dead silence.
Feeling the softness of the bedding beneath him and smelling the strange herbal scent in the room, Han Zhiqi could hardly believe that he was still alive.
He took the pendant from inside his bandages and held it before his eyes. Under the moonlight, it gave off a lustrous blue glow. Joy at having survived the catastrophe surged through him, and two clear tears rolled down from the corners of his eyes.
Sister, wait for me. I will save you!
Before you continue