A Natural Warrior

"Falling Snow."

This was the second form of Han Zhiqi's breathing technique, simple as the first, just two words.

Han Zhiqi charged directly at Aoi Kanzaki. Influenced by the breathing technique, a large amount of cold air swirled around his body.

The water vapor suspended in the air turned into ice shards upon contact with the cold. Everywhere he passed, it was like a moving white mist. Even the brown wooden sword was covered in ice shards, turning white.

Before the person arrived, the cold air had already reached her face.

Watching the white figure darting through the white mist, Aoi Kanzaki took a deep breath. She had to complete her breathing before Han Zhiqi got close. Otherwise, once the cold air approached, it would undoubtedly place a heavy burden on her lungs if she tried to breathe then.

"Ice Breathing: Third Form: Flowing Dance."

Using her agile footwork, Aoi Kanzaki shifted her posture left and right, transforming into a winding, twisting stream of water that surged into the white mist.

Han Zhiqi swung his sword at the approaching Aoi Kanzaki. The blade drew a beautiful arc, carrying a gust of wind and snow as it collided with Aoi Kanzaki's wooden sword.

Aoi Kanzaki blocked Han Zhiqi's wooden sword and, using the momentum of the "Flowing Dance" footwork, moved to his side. She swung her sword towards his nape. The previous strike was just a feint; this one was the real attack.

They were very close, and Aoi Kanzaki was sure Han Zhiqi couldn't dodge. This strike would hit the back of his head. An ordinary person would be knocked unconscious, if not killed.

It's over, you arrogant guy. It's impressive you lasted this long without understanding anything.

Aoi Kanzaki increased the force slightly, intending to incapacitate Han Zhiqi with a single blow.

But just as the wooden sword was about half an inch from the back of Han Zhiqi's head, his white head suddenly dipped forward. Then, Aoi Kanzaki heard a voice.

"Shattering Timed Rain."

Crap!

Aoi Kanzaki had no time to think about how he had detected her attack. Through her peripheral vision, she had already seen Han Zhiqi's attack.

Han Zhiqi was crouched on the ground, his wrist twisting in a strange posture. He swung his sword upwards, and several ice spikes, as thick as thumbs, were propelled by a gust of wind and snow directly towards Aoi Kanzaki's chest, neck, and cheek.

Aoi Kanzaki's expression changed drastically. The situation had reversed far more unexpectedly than she had anticipated. She had planned to catch him off guard and win with a single blow, but not only did she fail to win, she had fallen into his attack range.

Han Zhiqi's attack covered a wide area and was at extremely close range. It was impossible to block all three attacks.

With no other choice, to resolve the immediate crisis, Aoi Kanzaki had to forcefully activate her breathing technique, suppressing the discomfort in her lungs, and shouted.

"Sixth Style: Twisting Vortex."

In her haste, Aoi Kanzaki twisted her body and swung her wooden sword with force.

The wooden sword stirred the air into a small whirlwind. The ice spikes shattered upon contact with the whirlwind, and even the surrounding white mist was blown away, revealing Han Zhiqi's clear figure.

Aoi Kanzaki's lungs were aching, and at such close range, if Han Zhiqi continued his assault, she knew she wouldn't be able to withstand it.

"Third Form: Flowing Dance."

Aoi Kanzaki had no choice but to use "Flowing Dance" again, attempting to create distance between herself and Han Zhiqi.

A bone-chilling coldness spread from her shoulder and the right side of her neck. Although "Twisting Vortex" had blocked most of the ice spikes, a few still hit her.

This time, Han Zhiqi didn't give Aoi Kanzaki a chance to catch her breath like before.

As Aoi Kanzaki used "Flowing Dance" to prepare for escape, Han Zhiqi pushed off the ground with one hand and leaped into the air.

Under the bright moonlight, Han Zhiqi raised his sword with both hands. Instantly, the temperature in the courtyard plummeted, and snowflakes began to fall from the sky, as if the season had suddenly shifted to winter.

"Little Aoi sister, be careful!"

The Butterfly Mansion trio watching from the corridor could no longer sit still. They had been hoping Aoi Kanzaki would avenge them and teach this rude fellow a lesson. Who would have thought that after a few moves, not only had the opponent not fallen, but Aoi Kanzaki was being forced into a desperate situation, facing danger at every turn.

Aoi Kanzaki was focused on escaping and hadn't noticed Han Zhiqi's subsequent actions. It was only when the Butterfly Mansion trio warned her that she finally noticed Han Zhiqi in mid-air. Before her feet had even landed, she heard two words from above.

"Icefall."

Another strange move.

Han Zhiqi swung his sword down from the sky, slashing at Aoi Kanzaki.

Affected by the cold air and having used her breathing technique twice in quick succession, Aoi Kanzaki's lungs were already overloaded. Furthermore, Han Zhiqi's pressure was so urgent, giving her no chance to breathe. She had no choice but to improvise with that move for defense.

"Water Breathing: Seventh Form: Stinging Rain Ripple."

Concentrating all her attack power onto a single point, this was the fastest and sharpest move among all the Water Breathing techniques.

Aoi Kanzaki raised her sword and thrust forward rapidly, meeting Han Zhiqi's blade with her sword tip. But upon contact, she immediately sensed something was wrong.

"Stinging Rain Ripple" was a head-on confrontation, effective when point met point, but what if point met a surface...

Han Zhiqi's strike wasn't a simple slash; it seemed to contain immense power. Just like the form's name, "Icefall," it was like a waterfall cascading from the heavens. Was it realistic for her to try and stop a waterfall falling from the sky with a bamboo pole?

Aoi Kanzaki thought of another Water Breathing move, "Eighth Form: Stagnant Water."

Han Zhiqi's "Icefall" was very similar to "Stagnant Water." Both borrowed the downward momentum from falling from the sky to deliver a crushing blow to the enemy. Even if the enemy managed to dodge, the moment the attack landed, it would cause splash damage to nearby enemies.

Aoi Kanzaki could already feel the immense force transmitted through her wooden sword. It felt as if she were standing beneath an iceberg, the overwhelming pressure carrying a bone-chilling cold. If she didn't stop immediately, she would surely be crushed by this force.

But at this point, how could she stop? How could she retreat? Where could she retreat to? Aoi Kanzaki was filled with despair.

She never imagined she would be pushed to the point of being unable to fight back by a novice kid.

Last time, it was because she didn't understand Han Zhiqi's breathing technique that she almost suffered a major defeat. What was the reason this time?

Could it be that this ill-mannered wild child was far stronger than her?

In that instant, numerous thoughts flashed through Aoi Kanzaki's mind, and a sense of frustration welled up from the depths of her heart. She often saw herself as a member of the Demon Slayer Corps, yet due to her timidity and fear of death, she dared not face demons, let alone kill them.

Since completing the final selection, she had hardly undertaken any missions. Could such a person still be called a member of the Demon Slayer Corps?

She herself was the disgrace of the Demon Slayer Corps.

Thinking this, Aoi Kanzaki's fighting spirit completely faded, and she fell into a state of mental daze.

Shinobu Kocho, standing in the hallway, suddenly rose, her right hand pressing down on the hilt of her sword. She sensed the change in Aoi Kanzaki's aura.

Losing one's fighting spirit during combat was a grave taboo, a matter of life and death. Without the courage to face life and death, it would be difficult to throw oneself into battle selflessly when confronting demons.

Although Aoi Kanzaki was impatient and her actions were rough, her heart was actually very soft and gentle. She was merely using her roughness to conceal her own weakness and inferiority.

Not everyone could stomach bloodshed with ease, nor could everyone possess the extraordinary talent, keen perception, clear mind, resolute courage to face death, and the burdens they carried, like Tanjiro or Han Zhiqi.

They were born warriors, born to exist for the sole purpose of slaying demons.

Their appearance in the Demon Slayer Corps was no accident.