Water Breathing: Seeking Recommendations and Collections

Was Atsushi pitiful? Yes, he was.

But weren't the people he had eaten pitiful too?

Pitiful people always had something hateful about them!

What surprised Mu Yu was that he could actually "see ghosts," and even hear them speak.

"My master, you were grown from a seed. Before your revival, your soul had been nurtured within the World Tree for a long time, and your soul is exceptionally powerful. Secondly, you possess the Imperial Blade. Strictly speaking, you are a blade wielder. [Seeing Ghosts] is merely one of your most basic abilities."

Mu Yu nodded, considering himself informed.

Just then, Mu Yu saw the Demon Slayer Corps swordsman kneeling on the ground, looking utterly broken.

"I did it, I did it... Why was I stupid enough to run away before? It was all my fault! Akihiko, I got you killed! I got you killed!"

Seeing the broken Demon Slayer Corps swordsman, Mu Yu could not help falling silent.

Humans were strange creatures. You could call them strong, and they would remain unyielding through countless setbacks. Yet you could also call them fragile, for their will to fight could be crushed with ease.

If he simply left this swordsman alone, his life might very well be ruined.

"Idiot. If you keep blaming yourself like this, can the dead Akihiko come back to life?"

After being harshly scolded by Mu Yu, the swordsman actually felt much better.

Because the one scolding him was a powerful Hashira, the backbone of the Demon Slayer Corps!

Mu Yu said, "Akihiko died because of your cowardice and weakness. Remember this sin and bear this shame."

"Your life no longer belongs to you alone. It also belongs to Akihiko. Whatever dreams he failed to fulfill, you must fulfill them for him. Whatever demons he should have slain, you must slay them for him. Because you owe him that."

"Live on with Akihiko's share as well!"

Mu Yu's words were like Resounding Words, crashing into the swordsman's heart.

This Hashira was right. He had to live on for Akihiko as well!

"Thank you, thank you! I will remember your teachings, sir!"

The Demon Slayer Corps swordsman wept uncontrollably, but his eyes had become exceptionally resolute.

Mu Yu nodded.

He did not know whether what he had done was right. With such resolve, this swordsman might undergo a complete transformation. But he might also die during his next demon-slaying mission!

Compared to demons, creatures that were practically ageless and immortal, human flesh and blood were ultimately far too fragile.

It was time to leave!

Just moments ago, he had gained another three million energy points, yet Mu Yu felt little joy from the harvest.

Hell was empty; demons walked among men. This world truly was dark!

Just then, the swordsman knelt before him.

"My lord, I know this request may be shameless, but please take me as your successor. I want to become stronger, stronger, stronger! I have to become stronger for Akihiko's sake too!"

Mu Yu was stunned.

A "successor" was a disciple, an inheritor. This swordsman really knew how to push his luck!

Still, Mu Yu did not dislike the desire to grow stronger.

Besides, this was someone he had rescued from a demon. If he died on his next mission, that would be far too embarrassing for Mu Yu.

"I will not take you as my successor, but I'll wait for you for half an hour. Bury Akihiko, then come find me."

"Yes."

The swordsman was immediately overjoyed. Though he had not become a successor, receiving guidance from a Hashira was already an immense stroke of fortune.

Half an hour later, Hasegawa buried Shichiri Akihiko. After mourning him, he followed Mu Yu away.

An hour later, Shinobu Kocho stood before Shichiri Akihiko's grave in silence.

After receiving the Kasugai Crow's message, she had rushed here at full speed, but was she still too late?

Even as a Hashira, Shinobu still felt helpless.

To be honest, the longer she served as a Hashira, the more lost Shinobu became.

Could humans truly coexist peacefully with demons?

By the way, where was the demon-slaying swordsman named Hasegawa?

Since he had buried Shichiri Akihiko, he should not be dead. But where had he gone?

"Bai, is your partner really here?"

The Kasugai Crow called Bai replied, "Nearby, nearby, right nearby."

Shinobu smiled. "Then let's keep looking. With Hasegawa's strength alone, he shouldn't have been able to kill the Centipede Demon!"

On a small hill.

Hasegawa panted heavily, his entire body already drenched in sweat.

"As expected of a Hashira. So powerful. After using a Breathing Technique, I'm so tired that my heart feels like it's about to leap out of my chest, yet this lord's breathing hasn't become disordered in the slightest!"

Mu Yu looked at Hasegawa and said mercilessly, "I don't know who your trainer was, but your fundamentals and endurance are both terrible. No matter how good a sword technique is, you can only bring out thirty percent of its power at most!"

A trainer was someone who specialized in training demon-slaying swordsmen. They were generally former Demon Slayer Corps members who had retired from the front lines!

It had to be said that Hasegawa's teacher's methods of instruction were truly awful.

Mu Yu seriously doubted how someone of Hasegawa's caliber had passed the Final Selection.

"Yes."

Hasegawa immediately became deeply dejected. Compared to Mu Yu, his performance just now had truly been abysmal.

"Pick up your sword and attack me!"

Now?

Hasegawa's face was filled with confusion. He was practically exhausted to death already!

Mu Yu said, "Can't you understand human speech? If you encountered a demon, would it wait for you to rest before fighting you?"

"Yes."

Hasegawa's expression sharpened, and he immediately drew the Nichirin Blade hanging at his waist.

Seeing the flash of deep blue on Hasegawa's Nichirin Blade, Mu Yu immediately understood.

A user of Water Breathing!

"What are you waiting for?"

Hasegawa hesitated. "You... you haven't drawn your sword."

Mu Yu struck him mercilessly. "Do you think you're worthy of making me draw my sword?"

Stab!

Hasegawa suddenly felt as if he had been stabbed in the chest. This Hashira's words were unexpectedly sharp!

"Excuse me."

Hasegawa immediately raised his sword and began slashing horizontally and vertically at Mu Yu. But what left him dumbfounded was that no matter how he attacked, he could not even touch the corner of Mu Yu's clothes.

Every time, Mu Yu evaded his attacks with the smallest possible movement.

His strength was beyond imagination!

"There are too many unnecessary movements. Didn't your trainer tell you that too many flashy movements will get you killed?"

Bang!

With a flick of his finger, Mu Yu struck Hasegawa directly on the forehead. Hasegawa immediately clutched his forehead and rolled around on the ground without stopping.

"It hurts so much! Why does it hurt this badly?!"

"If I were a demon, you would already be dead. Breathing Technique—was your Water Breathing merely for show? Why did I hear nothing but you breathing wildly just now?"

Hasegawa was left speechless by Mu Yu's question.

He had nearly been exhausted to death just now. How could he remember to regulate his breathing?

Mu Yu was speechless. "Start reviewing now. What are the key points of Water Breathing? What is its breathing rhythm? Recite it for me!"

Huh?

Hasegawa was quite surprised.

Could a Hashira possibly not know the fundamentals of Water Breathing?

Mu Yu put on a stern little face. "What? Have you given all the knowledge back to your teacher?"

Hasegawa was immediately ashamed beyond measure.

"No. I remember every point my teacher taught me very clearly!"

"Recite."

"Yes. Water Breathing has ten forms: First Form: Water Surface Slash, Second Form: Water Wheel, Third Form: Flowing Dance, Fourth Form: Striking Tide, Fifth Form: Dry Rain, Sixth Form: Twisting Whirlpool, Seventh Form: Drop Ripple Thrust, Eighth Form: Waterfall Basin, Ninth Form: Water Flowing Splendor, Tenth Form: Constant Flow!"

"The breathing rhythm and key points of Water Breathing are..."

As Hasegawa continued reciting, a system notification also sounded in Mu Yu's mind.

Congratulations, you have mastered all key points of Water Breathing. Reward: 5,000,000 energy points.

Congratulations, you have mastered the ten forms of Water Breathing. Your swordsmanship has reached a new level.

Comment: Can a swordsman's business be called stealing?

Mu Yu: "..."

The system had just mocked him, hadn't it?!

How unfair! If he did not learn Water Breathing, how was he supposed to teach a Water Breathing swordsman swordsmanship?

He absolutely had no intention of coveting Hasegawa's sword techniques. Whether anyone else believed it or not, he believed it!