As Long As You're Happy

Beneath the silver moon, two figures unlike mortals stood tall.

After Yuko adjusted her body's state, the Demon Blade lightly grazed her palm, a few drops of blood falling to the ground. The dark red hue slowly covered the blade, transforming the sacred, snow-white edge into a true Demon Blade.

Yuko raised the dark red Demon Blade, placing it beside her cheek.

Yoriichi's expression shifted slightly; his starting stance changed.

This rough-looking starting stance… it was a sword form he'd never seen.

Yuko's concentration was at an unprecedented level. The feeling of being instantly killed just moments ago was too intense, to the point where she could almost understand Kokushibo.

Veins bulged on the back of Yuko's hand as she gripped the hilt.

"Older Brother, I'm here."

The instant the words left her lips, under Yoriichi's transparent vision, Yuko's leg muscles contracted, and her body leaped high into the air.

As Yoriichi watched the figure appear under the moonlight, his expression became somewhat startled.

What kind of form was that?

Was it really that exaggerated?

The next moment, he understood.

"Snow Breathing: Tenth Form: Moonlit Snowfall!" Yuko twisted her body, and a white-purple aura erupted.

As Yuko's body spun, the blood-red Demon Blade carved a perfect arc through the air.

A massive, coiling blood-red moon appeared in the sky, its diameter a full six to seven meters.

So this is what the sword form looks like with a Blood Demon Art enhancement?

Yuko herself was surprised by the range increase.

In her human state, this form barely extended beyond the blade's length, but now, it was several times longer.

Under Yoriichi's astonished gaze, it was as if the moon in the sky had truly descended to crush him.

It wasn't over yet.

Yuko spun around once more in mid-air.

"Snow Breathing: Tenth Form: Moonlit Snowfall - Second Connect!"

Two intersecting blood-red moons crashed down.

Even though they had chosen a relatively open area for their battle, the vast range of the Blood Demon Art-enhanced sword form caused the edges to graze the trees on either side, slicing them instantly without any resistance.

Facing a sword technique that defied human comprehension, Yoriichi instinctively chose to evade.

Yoriichi took two steps back, looking up at the sky. Behind the still-descending moons, Yuko's figure was nowhere to be seen.

Using the sword form to conceal her movements?

This is different from the mist generated by Mist Breathing; it uses the wide attack range to force the enemy to divide their attention, thereby concealing her next move.

But…

Yoriichi's keen senses urged him to turn around rapidly.

Not far behind him, Yuko's rapidly approaching figure entered his vision.

Yuko's physical structure, completely unhidden, appeared in his pupils.

That raise of the hand, the control of her muscles…

Is that Scorching Bone Flame Sun… No!

A flicker of emotion crossed Yoriichi's face.

"Snow Breathing: Ninth Form: Sun Flame Snow." A triumphant smile spread across Yuko's lips as blood-red flames ignited in Yoriichi's eyes, rapidly closing in.

The development of this technique was actually Yuko's preparation for Kokushibo, who was familiar with Sun Breathing.

When their realms were equal, and the combatants could only rely on their basic physical abilities, she couldn't have won against Kokushibo in her previous state.

Therefore, she created this sword form, which had a pre-execution almost identical to Sun Breathing: Sixth Form: Scorching Bone Flame Sun.

The goal was to make the opponent's preconceptions work against them, catching them off guard.

The result proved effective.

Not only Kokushibo, but even Yoriichi now made an unconsciously incorrect judgment.

Eyes don't lie, but people do.

Just as Yuko's blade neared Yoriichi's neck, and Yoriichi hadn't reacted yet, Yuko was about to stop her attack.

After all, Yoriichi couldn't regenerate a severed head.

However, the moment she eased her strength, Yoriichi drew his blade.

So fast!

His iron blade was already pressing down on her long sword, almost forming afterimages in Yuko's eyes.

The iron blade pressed down on her long sword at an extremely tricky angle, scraping bright sparks off her flame-enveloped blade. Yuko's pupils reflected the rapidly enlarging iron blade.

Too fast.

Even though her eyes could see, her body couldn't react in time to dodge.

A slight burning pain on her neck, Yuko's falling head desperately looked towards Yoriichi's figure.

It was just an ordinary iron blade, but under the friction of her sword technique, it actually produced blood-colored flames, like a Scarlet Blade.

Her head hit the ground, rolling several times.

"Ptooey, ptooey."

The sound of Yuko spitting out mud and sand brought Yoriichi back from his daze.

Yoriichi quickly put away his long sword, picked up Yuko's head, and gently wiped the mud and sand from her mouth.

"Are you okay?"

"...I'm not okay." Yuko felt like her whole worldview had been shattered.

A move that had almost severed Kokushibo's neck was now easily countered by Yoriichi.

Same realization, different reaction.

Kokushibo, I finally understand you.

Seeing her dejected expression, Yoriichi knew she was fine.

He smiled and said, "That was an excellent sword form. I almost didn't react in time."

"Really?" Yuko looked at him suspiciously. "Was it just almost? Not like, a lot almost?"

"Really." Yoriichi was used to his sister saying things he didn't quite understand sometimes.

Besides, he wasn't lying.

Yuko's attack had indeed amazed him.

The move just now was a purely instinctive counter.

And instinctive counters often don't hold back.

Despite a sliver of comfort, Yuko still sighed heavily.

"Sigh, it's severely damaged my confidence. It's extremely detrimental to my growth."

"..." Yoriichi was speechless.

The golden color in Yuko's eyes gradually faded. She looked up, her wine-red eyes staring blankly at Yoriichi.

Yoriichi stood still.

Yuko suddenly tilted her head, as if confirming something, her expression fluctuating slightly.

Suddenly, she murmured, "Hmm, but it's not like there's absolutely no way I could have won."

Yoriichi looked slightly confused.

Yuko raised her hand and gestured above both their heads.

"See? I'm taller than you now, right?"

Yoriichi froze for a moment. Following Yuko's gaze to above her head, he fell silent.

Yoriichi was slightly shorter than Kokushibo, so Yuko, at 1.7 meters plus her 20-centimeter horns, was indeed a little taller than him.

But...

It was useless.

As long as she's happy.

Yoriichi inexplicably didn't want to continue this topic and changed the subject. "The breathing technique you used just now, it incorporated the Sun Moon Breathing, right?"

Yuko nodded repeatedly and smiled, "Mhm, mhm, amazing, right!"

Yoriichi smiled along with her. "Yuko, you truly are talented."

This is genuinely impressive.

Combining various breathing techniques one by one was no simple feat.

Each breathing technique had different methods of breathing, frequencies, and even styles.

For example, the solidity of Rock Breathing, the gentleness of Water Breathing, the sharpness of Wind Breathing, the passion of Flame Breathing... and so on.

Combining them all wasn't as simple as one plus one equals two.