Dual Wielding Style

Although Tsugikuni Kuuga had no idea what Shinobu Kocho's little gesture meant, Kanae Kocho understood perfectly. It seemed she had not only picked up a little brother, but had also conveniently settled her younger sister's lifelong affair.

Kanae Kocho smiled meaningfully at Shinobu Kocho, who looked utterly confused. Her sister was acting a little strange today.

Suddenly, Shinobu Kocho stood on tiptoe and placed a hand on her sister's forehead, then touched her own forehead before finally letting out a sigh of relief.

"That scared me! I thought you were sick, Sister!"

"I won't get sick. Maybe Little Shinobu is the one who's sick?" Kanae Kocho said with a smile.

Tsugikuni Kuuga looked completely baffled. They had learned Tai Chi, so by all rights the chances of getting sick should be very low. And what were they even talking about? He recognized every word, but when they were put together, he could not understand a thing.

"Don't worry. Once you learn Tai Chi, you won't get sick!" Tsugikuni Kuuga said confidently.

"All right, Little Kuuga, continue," Kanae Kocho said with a smile.

"Got it. Today, we'll be learning the eight basic techniques of Tai Chi, also known as the Eight Methods. They are Peng, Lu, Ji, An, Cai, Lie, elbow, and Kao."

"The first method is the Peng stance. Its basic principle is to brace the back outward, raise one arm to the left or right, while the other hand opens and draws downward. Combine the strength of both arms with the force of your body movements, supporting a rounded form in all directions until the movement becomes full and unified."

Tsugikuni Kuuga explained as he demonstrated. He then explained and demonstrated the remaining seven forms as well, leaving the two girls staring blankly. These Eight Methods were a little difficult.

"Kuuga, are those movements really something a human can do?" Shinobu Kocho complained.

"Are you saying I'm not human?"

"I never said that. Someone admitted it himself, hahaha!" Shinobu Kocho burst into laughter.

"It's fine. Those are only hand movements. There are also leg and foot movements!" Tsugikuni Kuuga said with a wicked grin.

"Ah!" Shinobu Kocho cried out.

"Don't panic. Don't forget, what you find difficult is something Little Kuuga has repeated day after day for more than six years," Kanae Kocho reminded her.

After hearing that, Shinobu Kocho immediately stopped complaining and began studying seriously. A little competitive spirit was not a bad thing.

"If Kuuga can do it, so can I. Just watch me learn a complete Tai Chi routine. Then I can become a Hashira and wipe out all the Evil Demons, so everyone can live happily ever after!" Shinobu Kocho began to dream.

Who would have thought that peace and happiness had become such extravagant words? They were clearly the most basic things needed for human survival. Tsugikuni Kuuga looked toward the distant mountains, his eyes gleaming.

And so, Tsugikuni Kuuga taught earnestly while the Butterfly Sisters learned earnestly. He was also preparing for the future. Otherwise, he would not be able to teach the entire Demon Slayer Corps by himself. Having two assistants would be great.

The morning passed in a hurry. Shinobu Kocho stretched lazily, delighted. "It's finally over! I'm so happy. This was even more exhausting than training!"

"I think it feels great. Tai Chi is meant to relax the mind. It can make your heart as still as water. It's very useful!" Tsugikuni Kuuga never forgot to promote the benefits of Tai Chi.

Once the fiercest part of the sunlight had passed, Tsugikuni Kuuga took the sword he had borrowed from Kanae Kocho and headed up the mountain. He found an open grassy field backed by a Wisteria Flower grove. Not only was it suitable for training, but it also offered a view of the Demon Slayer Corps Headquarters.

But Tsugikuni Kuuga did not notice that someone was sneaking after him.

Tsugikuni Kuuga gripped his sword and took a deep breath. He could now maintain Total Concentration: Constant. He just did not know how far he still was from a Hashira, since he had never truly sparred with one, though people came to bother him every day.

Tsugikuni Kuuga closed his eyes and quickly entered a state where his heart was still as water. Then came Sun-Breathing First Form: Vortex Waltz, followed by Second Form: Azure Sky.

Setting Sun Transformation, Mirage Sun Rainbow, Train, Bone Scorching Sun Flame, Sun Blossom Thrust, Flying Wheel Sun Haze, Setting Sun Turn, Brilliant Grace Light, Dragon Sun Halo: Head Dance, Flame Dance.

The Twelve Forms of Sun-Breathing seemed to be carved into his genes, but Tsugikuni Kuuga did not know why he always paused abruptly whenever he tried to chain them together. Because of that, he could not link them smoothly, which frustrated him greatly.

Still, he had improved tremendously compared to before. When he had first started training, he could not even execute the moves. Now, he could swing his sword a thousand times in one afternoon.

Of course, if an ordinary person trained with a sword the way Tsugikuni Kuuga did, they might not master the sword before training themselves to death. But Tsugikuni Kuuga's powerful healing ability gave him the conditions to train like this.

The sun gradually gave way to the stars. Tsugikuni Kuuga's clothes had long since been soaked with sweat, and his sword practice was finally complete. He could feel the Tai Chi Bagua beneath his feet with increasing clarity.

He felt it was probably something like Big Brother's Battle qi. Perhaps his Battle qi had fused with Tai Chi. At least, that was what Tsugikuni Kuuga believed, so he named it Dual Wielding Style.

Tsugikuni Kuuga had always believed that all the sword techniques in this world were manifestations of Battle qi. It seemed he had proven himself right.

After resting for a while, Tsugikuni Kuuga stood up. On a sudden whim, he activated the Tai Chi Bagua, and a black-and-white Tai Chi slowly appeared beneath his feet.

Tsugikuni Kuuga felt that everything around him had become much clearer. Suddenly, he looked toward the nearby grass. Someone was there, and he had somehow failed to notice.

Tsugikuni Kuuga released the state and slowly walked toward the grass. Then he suddenly spotted a butterfly hairpin and knew who it was.

Tsugikuni Kuuga quietly circled around behind Shinobu Kocho. However, Shinobu Kocho, half asleep and half awake, had no idea.

Shinobu Kocho felt something poke her. She jolted in fright and instantly woke up. Looking up, she found that Tsugikuni Kuuga was gone. Then she turned around and found nothing there either.

"Maybe that was just an illusion. You damn Tsugikuni Kuuga, you actually left without waiting for me. Just see how I deal with you when we get back!" Shinobu Kocho complained, pouting.

Then Shinobu Kocho felt something touch her again. She turned around, but there was still nothing there. Cold sweat instantly broke out across her body.

Suddenly, a grim and eerie voice drifted through the air. Carried by the evening breeze, it made Shinobu Kocho shudder.

"I died so horribly... so horribly!"

"Ah!"

Shinobu Kocho threw a punch, followed by Tsugikuni Kuuga's scream. By the time Shinobu Kocho realized what had happened, Tsugikuni Kuuga had earned himself another panda-eyed look, though no one knew for the how-many-eth time.

Soon, the two sat on the grass. Shinobu Kocho complained, "That's what you get for scaring me. You can't blame me. It was self-defense!"

"Right, right. Then why was Shinobu there? Don't tell me you watched me all afternoon. Who would have thought that I'm so handsome, so irresistible to girls!" Tsugikuni Kuuga began admiring himself.

"Can't I just be passing by?" Shinobu Kocho said tsunderely.

"Oh? Is that so?"

"I feel like someone's eyes aren't quite symmetrical."

As Shinobu Kocho spoke, she blew on her fair fist. Tsugikuni Kuuga immediately covered his right eye.