Aftermath

Soon the two arrived at a small wooden house on the mountaintop. Han Zhiqi was surprised to find that the old man beneath him was no ordinary person.

He weighed at least a hundred catties, yet he carried over a hundred catties of Han Zhiqi and climbed over a hundred steps, all while chatting and laughing.

Upon reaching the summit, the old man's face was not flushed, nor was his breathing heavy. His pace and breathing remained consistent. Even a young, strong lad couldn't achieve this level, let alone an old man past his prime.

Amidst his shock, Han Zhiqi couldn't help but feel a surge of joy, grateful that he had found the right person.

The sky had turned dark without them realizing it.

The old man placed Han Zhiqi on the ground and walked into the wooden house. Fumbling in the dark, he lit an oil lamp hanging on the wall, illuminating the dark room.

Han Zhiqi scanned the room. It was very simple, containing only a few pieces of everyday furniture and nothing else.

The old man opened a cupboard, brought out several flatbreads, and placed them on the dining table along with some tender, crispy roasted rabbit meat. He casually poured a glass of water for him as well.

"Alright, it's quite late. Just eat something casually for now. I'll apply some medicine for you later, and you should get some rest early tonight."

Under the dim, yellowish light, Han Zhiqi finally got a clear look at the old man's appearance.

He wore a faded grey cloth robe, his head was covered in white hair, and his forehead was crisscrossed with wrinkles. There was also a long, frightening scar on his right cheek. From the outside, he looked no different from any ordinary old man, except for his exceptionally bright eyes.

"You are my Trainer, Aoyanagi Hyōbei?"

"Hmph, Aoyanagi Hyōbei. Just as the little butterfly said, you're both rude and arrogant. If the little butterfly hadn't personally come up the mountain to beg me, I wouldn't have taken in an arrogant novice like you, not even if you beat me to death."

It seemed that woman had indeed gone to great lengths to arrange his apprenticeship.

Knowing he had found the person he was looking for, Han Zhiqi stopped speaking and focused on gnawing on the rabbit meat.

He had walked all day, fought a demon midway, and was truly hungry.

"You, a derivative of Water Breathing, insist on learning breathing techniques from someone who practices Stone Breathing. It's like trying to match donkey lips with horse lips. Apart from that big fellow Gyomei decades ago, no one has come here in a long time. I heard he's even become a Hashira now, hmph, at least he's got some ambition."

Aoyanagi Hyōbei spoke to himself, his melancholic tone laced with a hint of pride. Noticing Han Zhiqi kept his head down, solely focused on eating, he became somewhat annoyed. He raised his hand and sharply tapped Han Zhiqi's head with his chopsticks.

Han Zhiqi cried out in pain, letting out a faint grunt. He looked up, glaring angrily at Aoyanagi Hyōbei.

"Are you a ghost reborn from starvation? An adult is speaking to you, and you should at least respond. No wonder the little butterfly said you're rude. You'll never win the little butterfly's heart like this."

"I'm just talking, why did you hit me? Besides, why should I try to win that woman's heart?"

Perhaps feeling his tone was a bit harsh, Han Zhiqi added, "Can't Water Breathing users learn Stone Breathing?"

Aoyanagi Hyōbei was initially unhappy, but upon hearing the follow-up question, a smug expression appeared on his face.

He picked up a piece of rabbit meat and started eating, saying as he did, "That's not entirely true. Actually, it's an issue with the Demon Slayer Corps itself. The Five Great Breathing Styles are all derived from Sun Breathing, so they all lead to the same destination."

Han Zhiqi had a general understanding of breathing techniques from books, knowing that the Five Great Breathing Styles all originated from Sun Breathing.

Sun Breathing was created by a demon slayer named Tsugikuni Yoriichi. It was his appearance that gave many demon slayers the strength to fight demons, and it was the breathing technique he created that propelled the establishment of the Demon Slayer Corps.

However, with Tsugikuni Yoriichi's death, Sun Breathing was lost. What remained in the world were the Five Great Breathing Styles and other breathing techniques derived from them.

"Since they all lead to the same destination, it doesn't make much difference who you learn from. I understand from books that breathing techniques are merely auxiliary methods to temporarily enhance one's physical potential. The reason the Demon Slayer Corps has new recruits follow Trainers with the same breathing style is mainly for easier acceptance, and to learn some basic Martial Skills."

After speaking, Han Zhiqi looked at Aoyanagi Hyōbei, as if asking, "Am I correct?"

Aoyanagi Hyōbei nodded, "That's about the gist of it."

Receiving an affirmative reply, Han Zhiqi lowered his head, continuing to eat the rabbit meat, and said, "Since they are just auxiliary methods, battles ultimately test physical fitness, combat skills, and combat experience. You were able to train the strongest person in the Demon Slayer Corps, and besides breathing techniques, you must have unique training methods. This is why I came to find you."

Ugh!!

This kid is too damn smart. Is he really such an ignorant novice? He actually saw through the essence of combat at a glance. He's practically a born martial artist.

"Hmph, so arrogant. No wonder girls don't like you."

This time, it was Aoyanagi Hyōbei's turn to be stumped. He threw out a dismissive remark, then buried his head and started eating.

He had initially intended to show off, but he never expected Han Zhiqi to see through him in just a few sentences. He suddenly felt it was pointless.

After dinner, Aoyanagi Hyōbei had Han Zhiqi sit on a low stool, brought a basin of hot water, and began to clean his wounds.

When he removed the bandages and saw Han Zhiqi's body, sewn with black thread like a tattered rag, the old man couldn't help but gasp. The hand holding the bandage began to tremble uncontrollably.

He couldn't remember how many years it had been since he had seen such severe injuries. For a seventeen or eighteen-year-old child to sustain such grave wounds and still be alive was nothing short of a miracle.

The little butterfly had told him that the young man was seriously injured and not yet recovered, hoping he would go down the mountain to meet him. At the time, he had scoffed, thinking it was just some young master from a wealthy family wanting to train in the Demon Slayer Corps. But now... it turned out the little butterfly hadn't exaggerated.

To be able to fight a demon like that with such a body, and to hold on until his rescue, was truly remarkable.

"What's wrong, old man? You... you're not scared silly, are you?"

Han Zhiqi sneered, his voice weak. The pain from his wounds had caused his face to turn pale, and even while sitting on the stool, his body swayed uncontrollably, as if he might fall over at any moment.

"Hmph, you're practically dead, yet you still have the energy to spout nonsense."

Aoyanagi Hyōbei used a white cloth to wipe away the bloodstains from his body, then applied some strange herbs and bandaged his wounds again.

After finishing, Aoyanagi Hyōbei carried the basin of bloody water outside to dump it. Upon returning, he casually extinguished the oil lamp hanging on the wall, told Han Zhiqi to get some rest, and that they could discuss anything tomorrow.

The room plunged into darkness, with only the faint moonlight cast on the floor through the window. Han Zhiqi heard a rustling sound from the inner room, but it quickly quieted down.

The room fell into a deathly silence.

Feeling the softness of the bedding beneath him and the strange smell of herbs in the room, Han Zhiqi couldn't believe he was still alive.

He took out the pendant from his bandages and held it before his eyes. In the moonlight, the pendant emitted a soft blue glow. A sense of joy at surviving a near-death experience surged through him, and two clear tears trickled down his cheeks.

Sister, wait for me. I will definitely save you!