Escape

Tsugikuni Kuuga really wanted to curse right now. This demon was a total pervert. Was she that desperate to get married?

"Who knows how long an old auntie like you has lived? Don't go robbing the cradle!"

Tsugikuni Kuuga could not afford to keep treating his wound. He swung his blade straight at Zero Yu Zi, but she blocked his attack with a single claw.

Tsugikuni Kuuga hurriedly retreated. His injured right shoulder was really affecting his performance, and the Lower Rank was not as weak as he had imagined.

"I never expected you to be Rare Blood, kid. I found quite a treasure just passing through here today!" Zero Yu Zi licked the blood remaining on her hand.

"So what if I am? You won't get to eat me!"

Tsugikuni Kuuga used Sun-Breathing: Fourth Form - Mirage Sun Rainbow to increase his speed, then followed it with Sun-Breathing First Form: Vortex Waltz.

Tsugikuni Kuuga had pushed his speed to its limit. Facing a Lower Rank while injured, he had no choice but to give it everything he had.

As Tsugikuni Kuuga's figure flashed past, a wound appeared across Zero Yu Zi's chest.

Zero Yu Zi was still in shock. She had clearly seen that Tsugikuni Kuuga's blade was still some distance away from her—so how had she suddenly been cut?

What Zero Yu Zi did not know was that Tsugikuni Kuuga had used three sword techniques at once. Sun-Breathing: Eighth Form - Flying Wheel Sun Haze could create the illusion that the blade had shortened.

"Ah! Damn it! You actually wounded me! Die!"

Zero Yu Zi roared and instantly appeared before Tsugikuni Kuuga. Her demon claws rained down on him, while Tsugikuni Kuuga continuously blocked them.

The sound of metal clashing echoed endlessly through the quiet forest.

With Tai Chi Sense, Tsugikuni Kuuga could completely keep up with Zero Yu Zi's speed. However, his blade was beginning to give out. Its surface was now covered in cracks, as though it would shatter at any moment.

When Zero Yu Zi saw his speed slow, a smug smile appeared on her lips. But Tsugikuni Kuuga suddenly used Sun-Breathing: Eleventh Form - Halo Dragon: Head Dance.

As he unleashed the sword technique, Tsugikuni Kuuga instantly delivered a barrage of flaming high-speed strikes. The flames made Zero Yu Zi extremely uncomfortable, and she could even feel them burning her.

After dozens of consecutive strikes, the flames gathered into a dragon's head. Tsugikuni Kuuga struck at Zero Yu Zi with all his strength. At that moment, he was like a dancing Fire Dragon.

The Fire Dragon opened its massive jaws, targeting Zero Yu Zi's neck. Yet instead of being afraid, Zero Yu Zi gave Tsugikuni Kuuga a meaningful smile.

Tsugikuni Kuuga's blade had indeed slashed through her, yet it felt as though it had struck nothing. Zero Yu Zi vanished.

Only Tsugikuni Kuuga and the thick fog remained in the forest. At that moment, his Tai Chi Sense sent him a warning of danger.

Tsugikuni Kuuga hurriedly held his blade across his chest. A white fist formed from mist smashed into him, sending him flying.

His blade had already been in terrible condition after his continuous barrage, and after blocking that strike, it shattered into fragments. This time, it could not be repaired even if he wanted to.

Tsugikuni Kuuga stared silently at the tsuka in his hand. Now that he had lost his blade as well, the situation had become even worse.

Within the thick fog, Zero Yu Zi's head gradually appeared, only it was much larger than before.

Zero Yu Zi sneered, "Kid, my Blood Demon Arts are Mist Transformation Technique and Mist Manipulation Technique. Did you really think you could still cut off my head? Tsk, tsk, tsk!"

"Oh, right. Your blade is gone now, so go ahead and die!"

Zero Yu Zi truly wanted to eat Tsugikuni Kuuga now—not because he was Rare Blood, but because the wound he had left on her chest still burned even after she transformed into mist. It was really irritating.

No wonder this woman could become Lower Rank Four. Mist Transformation Technique really was troublesome to deal with, especially now that his blade was gone.

But if she truly transformed into mist, then Sun-Breathing and Flame Breathing happened to counter her. Unfortunately, he no longer had a blade. There was nothing else for it—bring out the other side's boss and run.

"Look! Your daddy Muzan is behind you!" Tsugikuni Kuuga put on a terrified expression.

The moment she heard the name Muzan, Zero Yu Zi, despite being a Lower Rank, immediately dispelled her Mist Transformation Technique and dropped to one knee.

Tsugikuni Kuuga decided that this dad-summoning trick was genuinely useful. It worked every time. From now on, he would call it Dad Breathing: Scum Boss Descent.

While Zero Yu Zi was kneeling, Tsugikuni Kuuga had already run far away.

Zero Yu Zi remained kneeling for a long time. When she finally raised her trembling head, she found nothing there and realized she had been tricked.

Veins instantly bulged on Zero Yu Zi's forehead, and her face twisted. She would not rest until she had killed Tsugikuni Kuuga.

Because he had been running too urgently, Tsugikuni Kuuga did not notice someone in the fog and slammed straight into him.

"Young brother, I finally found you!" Sakonji Urokodaki let out a breath of relief.

"Mr. Urokodaki?" Tsugikuni Kuuga was somewhat surprised.

But there was no time for surprise. After all, the Lower Rank was chasing him from behind.

"Mr. Urokodaki, Lower Rank Four is on Mt. Sagiri!"

As soon as Tsugikuni Kuuga said this, Sakonji Urokodaki immediately turned serious and drew the sword at his waist.

"Is that true?" Sakuji Urokodaki asked.

"Do you think I'd joke about this? My blade was shattered!" Tsugikuni Kuuga waved the tsuka in his hand.

Sakonji Urokodaki suddenly felt an indescribable emotion. The person before him had fought a Lower Rank until his blade broke before fleeing. If his blade had not broken... Sakuji Urokodaki did not dare think further.

After all, this youngster had only completed the Final Selection yesterday, yet he already possessed the strength of a Hashira.

At that moment, Zero Yu Zi also entered their field of vision. The instant she saw Tsugikuni Kuuga, she charged at him without a word.

But Sakonji Urokodaki knocked her into the air with Water Breathing: Form Four - Striking Tide.

That was immediately followed by Water Breathing Tenth Form: Flowing Flow. Within a single breath, Sakonji Urokodaki had already reached the fifth rotation, and his blade was at Zero Yu Zi's neck.

Zero Yu Zi instantly transformed into mist, or she would have been finished. She knew that the man before her was a real Hashira. Though he looked somewhat old, his attacks were not sluggish in the slightest. Every strike was aimed at her neck.

Zero Yu Zi's first instinct was to run. Run now. If this old man and the young one joined forces, she would certainly die.

Tsugikuni Kuuga was somewhat stunned. Was this the Water Hashira's true strength? Upon encountering a Lower Rank, he showed neither hesitation nor fear, and every move landed precisely where it should.

Tsugikuni Kuuga knew that this was experience accumulated over decades. Even though his body had somewhat declined, he had certainly killed Lower Ranks before—and more than once.

Sakuji Urokodaki moved his nose as though sniffing for something. After a while, he sheathed his Nichirin Blade and murmured, "It escaped!"

"Mr. Urokodaki, you're amazing!" Tsugikuni Kuuga praised.

"You have surprised me as well. Perhaps all you lack now is experience!" Sakonji Urokodaki explained.

"Oh, right, the food has been ready for ages. Let's go home and eat. Headquarters will send someone to handle the Lower Rank matter!" Sakonji Urokodaki returned to his usual kindness.

"Food!" Tsugikuni Kuuga shouted happily, as though nothing had happened.