Butterfly Sisters Learn Tai Chi

Tsugikuni Kuuga had always harbored the idea of promoting Tai Chi within the Demon Slayer Corps. However, given his current lack of status, he knew it would be difficult, so he decided to postpone the matter until he became a Hashira, as a Hashira's words carried significant weight.

Although he couldn't promote it to the entire Demon Slayer Corps, he could at least start with those right in front of him. Thus, under the guise of physical conditioning, Tsugikuni Kuuga managed to trick two apprentices into learning: the Butterfly Sisters.

Tsugikuni Kuuga had originally invited Aoi Kanzaki as well, but she was simply too busy managing every aspect of the Butterfly Mansion and truly had no time to spare.

Suddenly, Shinobu Kocho's fist hammered into Tsugikuni Kuuga's chest, as that was the only part of him she could reach.

"Hey! Aren't you supposed to be teaching us that Tai Chi? Why are you spacing out? Hmph!" Shinobu Kocho complained.

"Oops! I was just trying to recall the details!" Tsugikuni Kuuga scratched his head in embarrassment.

Kanae Kocho walked over and held down Shinobu Kocho. This restless younger sister had become even more unruly since Tsugikuni Kuuga arrived, and Kanae felt quite helpless about it.

"Kuuga is our teacher now, so you need to show some respect. Don't go around hitting people all the time!"

Kanae Kocho stroked her younger sister's head. Shinobu Kocho acted just like a little kitten, her face full of enjoyment, which made Tsugikuni Kuuga's hands itch to do the same.

Suddenly, Tsugikuni Kuuga turned serious and explained, "Tai Chi is a traditional martial art that integrates self-cultivation, physical conditioning, and combat. It combines the changes of Yin-Yang and Five Elements, and it is a practice that cultivates both the internal and external—it is soft, slow, agile, and balances hardness with softness."

"Where did you even learn this Tai Chi? And half of what you said makes no sense to me!" Shinobu Kocho interjected.

Tsugikuni Kuuga pointed his index finger at Shinobu Kocho and shook it back and forth, saying, "No, no, no. Tai Chi emphasizes Overcoming Hardness with Softness and Four Ounces Deflect a Thousand Pounds. It uses a kind of clever leverage, which is perfect for compensating for your lack of physical strength, Shinobu!"

"It's that amazing?"

Hearing that her biggest weakness—her lack of strength—could be solved, Shinobu Kocho's eyes lit up.

"Forget it, just come over and attack me, and you'll understand. Let me give you a demonstration!"

Tsugikuni Kuuga stood with one hand behind his back, looking every bit the master. Shinobu Kocho was stunned for a moment, then started to laugh. It was the first time she had seen someone ask to be hit, so she decided not to hold back.

Without another word, Shinobu Kocho charged forward. The moment her fist was about to make contact with Tsugikuni Kuuga, he stepped aside with his left foot and grabbed her arm.

In an instant, Shinobu Kocho felt as if her strength had been drained away. Her body flew out of control, but just before she hit the ground, Tsugikuni Kuuga caught her in his arms.

At that moment, their eyes met, and both of their cheeks flushed red. Tsugikuni Kuuga instinctively looked away. Gazing at his handsome profile, Shinobu Kocho felt her heartbeat quicken.

She hurriedly scrambled out of his arms. Before leaving, she stomped hard on Tsugikuni Kuuga's foot. He let out a yelp of pain, then looked at her with an innocent expression.

"I'm telling you, Shinobu, that was just a demonstration! Besides, didn't I catch you?" Tsugikuni Kuuga grumbled.

Kanae Kocho was clearly shocked by Tsugikuni Kuuga's technique of Borrowing Force to Strike; it was truly impressive.

"By the way, Kuuga, how did you manage to do that?" Kanae Kocho asked.

"Well, I've been practicing since I was eight, so it's been about six and a half years now. I practice it every morning. The most important thing is to grasp the spirit within it and achieve a connection with heaven and earth!" Tsugikuni Kuuga explained.

But Kanae Kocho knew that practicing without interruption for six and a half years required a level of perseverance that ordinary people rarely possessed. The fact that Tsugikuni Kuuga had stuck with it showed just how remarkable he was.

It wasn't just Kanae Kocho; even Shinobu Kocho was impressed by the perseverance of Tsugikuni Kuuga. Why did he insist on such training? This made Shinobu very curious.

"Alright, today we'll start by learning some basic Tai Chi moves: the Fist, the Palm, and the Hook. Although Tai Chi is called a 'fist' art, it involves much more than just fists!" Tsugikuni Kuuga said.

Following this, Tsugikuni Kuuga demonstrated the hand position for the Fist: the five fingers curled and gripped naturally, with the thumb pressed against the second joints of the index and middle fingers.

The Butterfly Sisters mimicked Tsugikuni Kuuga's movements. Next, he taught them the Palm and the Hook. The sisters were quite clever, and within a single morning, they had memorized the basic hand techniques.

Tsugikuni Kuuga was shocked. Back when he first learned Tai Chi, he would forget the moves almost as soon as he learned them; it had taken him an entire week just to memorize all the hand techniques.

Time spent learning always passes quickly, and the morning practice soon ended. In the afternoon, Tsugikuni Kuuga went to practice his swordsmanship. Of course, he wasn't just swinging his blade up and down; he was continuously repeating the Twelve Forms of Sun-Breathing. He knew that when those twelve were linked together, they formed the Thirteenth Form.

Only after practicing it himself did he understand why Yoriichi Tsugikuni was called a god. This stuff really wasn't meant for humans to practice. If Tsugikuni Kuuga hadn't been strengthening his body since childhood, he never would have survived the toll of Sun-Breathing.

Tsugikuni Kuuga also fantasized about having a system like other transmigrators. Wouldn't that mean he could just stomp on the Upper Moons and beat Muzan to a pulp?

But reality was far harsher than his ideals; those things didn't exist. If Tsugikuni Kuuga wanted to protect the people around him, he had to train diligently. Keeping his feet on the ground was the only true path.

Soon, the next day arrived, and Tsugikuni Kuuga's little classroom began again. Shinobu Kocho was rubbing her eyes, looking utterly exhausted.

"Shinobu, don't tell me you stayed up all night making medicine again!" Tsugikuni Kuuga asked.

"I couldn't help it, it kept failing. Besides, your blood is very useful!" Shinobu Kocho licked her lips greedily.

Tsugikuni Kuuga instantly got goosebumps. Was she going to draw his blood again? If she kept drawing it, he would die of anemia.

Tsugikuni Kuuga hugged his shoulders and shivered. Right now, Shinobu Kocho looked like a hungry wolf, and he was nothing but a little lamb.

"If you draw any more, I'll become anemic, wuwuwu!" Tsugikuni Kuuga put on a pitiful expression.

"I'll just replenish you later, won't I? If the medicine is successfully developed, you'll be a great hero. After all, not everyone has a self-healing ability that rivals a demon's!" Shinobu Kocho looked at Tsugikuni Kuuga with a mischievous smirk.

"Alright, stop teasing Kuuga. Let's continue our lesson!"

Kanae Kocho had appeared behind Shinobu Kocho at some point, startling her so much she jumped.

"Sister, why don't you make any noise when you walk? If you scare your dear younger sister to death, you'll be the one crying!" Shinobu Kocho complained.

"You act like such a tomboy every single day. What are you going to do in the future? What if you can't get married? Sigh!" Kanae Kocho held her forehead in resignation.

However, Shinobu Kocho didn't know why her eyes drifted toward the deep-in-thought Tsugikuni Kuuga. Tsugikuni Kuuga, however, remained oblivious.

Suddenly, Tsugikuni Kuuga looked up and locked eyes with Shinobu Kocho. Thinking there was something on his face, he hurriedly wiped at it.

Shinobu Kocho instantly looked away, muttering to herself, "How did you know I wouldn't be able to get married!"