Flowing Dance was a technique that used strange, unpredictable footwork to imitate the flow of water, rapidly closing the distance to the enemy through lateral movement.
It could confuse the enemy's vision while launching an attack at the same time. It was both offensive and defensive, though its attacking power was slightly weaker than that of other techniques.
Facing Aoi Kanzaki's fierce attack, Han Zhiqi curled his lips into a cold smile. Although Aoi Kanzaki's footwork was exquisite, it was nothing special in his eyes.
Han Zhiqi lowered his body and assumed the same sword-drawing stance. He took a deep breath, then suddenly drew his sword and charged at Aoi Kanzaki when they were less than a meter apart.
His movements were natural and fluid, not the least bit inferior to Aoi Kanzaki, a veteran of the Demon Slayer Corps.
A look of surprise appeared on Aoi Kanzaki's face, but it quickly vanished.
Even if Han Zhiqi had studied Martial Skills, she did not believe he could defeat her. After all, he had never received systematic training.
Aoi Kanzaki gripped her sword with both hands and thrust straight at Han Zhiqi's throat.
A demon's weakness was its neck. To kill a demon, one had to use a specially made Nichirin Blade to sever its neck, only then could it be completely killed.
Thus, during their daily training, Demon Slayer Corps members consciously aimed for their enemies' necks, whether in their martial skill techniques or through instinctive bodily reactions.
"Fancy but useless. Cold Tide."
Han Zhiqi's technique had only two simple words: "Cold Tide."
No one knew what those two words represented, nor did anyone know what kind of technique it was, because no one had ever seen it.
Aoi Kanzaki's sword tip drew close to Han Zhiqi's throat. She did not believe someone who did not even know Breathing Styles could evade such a close-range attack.
Hmph, you arrogant fool. Let me show you the true strength of the Demon Slayer Corps.
Aoi Kanzaki had thought one strike would end the battle, but the result was somewhat unexpected.
The instant Han Zhiqi drew his sword and spoke the words "Cold Tide," she suddenly discovered that her movements had slowed. More precisely, the temperature around them had abruptly dropped.
Breathing Styles used unique breathing methods to promote blood circulation and accelerate the rise of body temperature, thereby unlocking one's potential, improving perception, and enhancing speed and strength.
But the sudden drop in temperature caused the lungs to inhale a great amount of cold air in an instant. The cold air in her chest had low activity and spread slowly, making it difficult to fully merge with the blood. The excess air had nowhere to go and could only be expelled through coughing.
As for the oxygen that did merge with her blood, it not only failed to promote blood flow but instead slowed it. Combined with the effects of the cold air both inside and outside her body, Aoi Kanzaki's body temperature dropped even further, causing her movements to slow.
Han Zhiqi sidestepped Aoi Kanzaki's attack, circled to her side, and swung his sword toward her back.
Aoi Kanzaki was greatly alarmed, but at that very moment, inhaling too much cold air had made her lungs uncomfortable.
Damn it! What kind of martial skill is this? Is it really a type of Breathing Style? Is this Breathing Style meant for killing demons or dealing with Demon Slayer Corps members? It's practically the Demon Slayer Corps' nemesis!
"Water Breathing: Sixth Style: Twisting Vortex."
Aoi Kanzaki forcefully twisted her body, using the rotation to make her wooden sword knock aside Han Zhiqi's wooden sword. Before Han Zhiqi could organize a second attack, she swiftly widened the distance between them.
Han Zhiqi did not press Aoi Kanzaki relentlessly.
Aoi Kanzaki stood some distance away, clutching her chest and coughing continuously. She had underestimated the boy before her and committed the grave mistake of being rash and overconfident. If not for her extensive combat experience, she truly would have fallen to him just now.
But there was one thing she did not understand. They were both using Breathing Styles, so why was the boy unaffected by the cold air?
The Butterfly Mansion trio beneath the corridor had been cheering for Aoi Kanzaki all along. Now, seeing her clutch her chest and cough nonstop, they had no idea what had happened.
They assumed it was merely an accident. After all, the boy had not done anything strange. Still, the fact that he had evaded Aoi Kanzaki's swift strike left the three of them deeply surprised.
"Go, Sister Xiao Kui!"
"Sister Xiao Kui, teach that rude guy a harsh lesson!"
"Sister Xiao Kui, don't show someone like him any mercy!"
Only Shinobu Kocho at the side had seen through part of it. When Han Zhiqi shouted the words "Cold Tide," she noticed a cloud of white mist suddenly form around the two of them. Aoi had inhaled a large amount of damp, cold air at once, and her lungs could not bear it, which was why she had started coughing.
Han Zhiqi's Breathing Style was indeed very unique. It slowed an enemy's attack speed by lowering the surrounding temperature while enhancing his own perception.
As for why he was unaffected, it was probably related to his physique and living environment.
The area around White Snow Mountain was covered in snow year-round, with temperatures remaining below freezing. To adapt to such an unusual environment, his lungs and blood cells had undergone strange changes. Even when inhaling low-temperature, damp, cold air, his body was completely unaffected.
There was one more thing: his perception was extremely sharp.
People received information from the outside world through their five senses. Demon Slayer Corps members underwent special training, granting them perception superior to ordinary people's. For example, Tanjiro had a keen sense of smell, Zenitsu had sharp hearing, while Han Zhiqi's method of perception differed from everyone else's.
He perceived enemies through temperature.
That move, "Cold Tide," had not been intended as an attack. It merely created a low-temperature environment around his body. Once someone entered it, he could immediately sense them.
Whether it was the intruder herself or her attacking technique, any movement would cause changes in airflow and temperature.
"Go, Han Zhiqi! Go, Aoi! Both of you, do your best!"
Shinobu Kocho called out happily, picking a grape from the fruit platter and stuffing it into her younger sister Kanao Tsuyuri's mouth.
"Kanao, who do you think will win between them?"
Kanao Tsuyuri first glanced at her sister, then looked at the two people in the middle of the courtyard and shook her head.
"You don't know? Does that mean Han Zhiqi might win too?"
Kanao Tsuyuri smiled without saying anything.
"Then Han Zhiqi really is quite impressive."
Hearing their conversation, the Butterfly Mansion trio looked at one another. Since even Miss Shinobu and Lady Kanao thought this guy was formidable, perhaps he really did have some skill.
"Sister Xiao Kui, you absolutely cannot lose to that rude guy."
"Go, Sister Xiao Kui!"
"..."
At this moment, Aoi Kanzaki had no mind to listen to their cheering. After coughing for quite a while, she finally steadied her breathing. She let out a long breath and reassessed Han Zhiqi, the contempt in her eyes gone.
If this guy had pressed his advantage just now, I'd probably already have lost. At least from that, he doesn't seem like a bad person.
Breathing Styles stimulated physical strength through breathing. Now, that very breathing had become both the key to victory and a shackle holding her back. She had never encountered such a situation before and did not know how to proceed for the moment.
"Is this really a type of Breathing Style?"
"I told you, I don't know what the Breathing Styles you speak of are. If a so-called Breathing Style means fighting with Martial Skills through a unique breathing method, then it probably counts. Are you still going to fight or not?"
"Of course I'm fighting. Why wouldn't I? Don't think you can defeat me just because you know some strange Breathing Style. I'm a proper Demon Slayer Corps member. If I can't even beat an amateur like you, I might as well go home and embroider flowers."
Though she said that, Aoi Kanzaki truly had no confidence in how to deal with Han Zhiqi. The only thing she knew for certain was that she could not fight him at close range, or she would be unable to use her Breathing Style.
After thinking it over, Aoi Kanzaki decided to breathe from outside his range, then use agile footwork to close in and attack. Afterward, she would use her footwork to pull away and catch her breath. That way, she could counter the cold air around his body.
"You really talk too much."
Han Zhiqi launched the first attack.
Before you continue