Fighting Kyojuro Rengoku

After a week of recuperation, the vigor, spirit, and focus of the group had all reached their peak.

"Yo! You're full of energy! Suzuki Mufeng, up so early to practice your Breathing Style. As expected, I'm still not working hard enough!"

Around four in the morning, before the sun had even risen, Suzuki Mufeng had already begun practicing the Water Breathing he hadn't used in quite some time out in the courtyard.

"Senior Kyojuro Rengoku, I've been lying in bed for too long. My body has finally recovered, and since I couldn't sleep, I figured I'd come out for some practice."

"Just call me Kyojuro Rengoku, Suzuki Mufeng! In that case, let's begin your training in Flame Breathing right now!"

Kyojuro Rengoku drew his Nichirin Sword, brimming with enthusiasm to teach Suzuki Mufeng the Flame Breathing. He believed the best way to teach was through live combat; by sensing the opponent's breathing during a fight and experiencing the Flame Breathing firsthand, one could improve the fastest.

"I'll be in your care, Kyojuro Rengoku. Please, come at me with everything you've got!"

Suzuki Mufeng took his stance. Kyojuro Rengoku drew his blade and took a deep breath; to Suzuki Mufeng's perception, a faint, flickering fighting spirit began to ignite around him.

During the week he spent reading the Rengoku family's secret scrolls, Suzuki Mufeng had studied the concept of fighting spirit, and through his research, he had already gained the ability to perceive that hazy aura.

"Flame Breathing, First Form: Unknowing Fire!"

Like an aggressive, raging inferno, Kyojuro Rengoku slashed horizontally toward Suzuki Mufeng. The oncoming heat wave was so intense it nearly singed the tips of Suzuki Mufeng's hair.

"Total Concentration, Water Breathing, Eighth Form: Waterfall Basin."

Suzuki Mufeng held his Nichirin Sword high and leaped, slamming it downward with a surge of water coiling around the blade, as if a violent waterfall were crashing down from a cliffside.

Clang—

The heavy, powerful strike landed on the blade. Relying on his vast combat experience, Kyojuro Rengoku used the momentum of the Waterfall Basin to deflect the force, neutralizing the blow.

"Flame Breathing, Second Form: Rising Scorching Sun!"

Kyojuro Rengoku tightened his grip on the hilt, executing an upward arc slash. The speed was so great that Suzuki Mufeng was forced to activate his Sharingan to track his movements.

"Water Breathing, Third Form: Flowing Dance!"

With the superhuman dynamic vision of the Sharingan, he caught the opening in Kyojuro Rengoku's defense. Moving at high speed with Flowing Dance, he left only afterimages behind as he retreated repeatedly.

Looking closer, Suzuki Mufeng's clothes had been sliced from bottom to top. The movement had been too fast; even though he had reacted in time to dodge, his clothes were still torn completely in two.

Stripping off his ruined shirt, the bare-chested Suzuki Mufeng continued to ponder. The force generation of Flame Breathing was very similar to Thunder Breathing, but the difference was that Flame Breathing concentrated power in the lower body, whereas the core power of Thunder Breathing lay in the leg muscles, utilizing wide, sweeping movements over a large range.

"Flame Breathing, Third Form: Blooming Flame Undulation!"

As he thought, Kyojuro Rengoku stepped forward, creating gusts of wind. He raised his Nichirin Sword high above his head and brought it down in a fierce cleave. The blade was engulfed in roaring flames—this technique was stronger than anything he had used before!

"Water Breathing, Tenth Form: Constant Flux!"

Suzuki Mufeng immediately opened with his strongest technique, the Tenth Form: Constant Flux. He spun with his Nichirin Sword in hand; thanks to the training over the past few days, his physical fitness had undergone a qualitative leap.

Just in the opening move, Suzuki Mufeng had already spun five times, stacking the power as he slammed into Kyojuro Rengoku's descending blade. With five layers of force combined, he barely managed to block the Flame Breathing, Third Form: Blooming Flame Undulation.

Suzuki Mufeng was sent flying back, stumbling a dozen steps before finally finding his footing.

"Mm, mm! You are strong, Suzuki Mufeng! Next, come at me with everything you have! This is the final form of Flame Breathing that I know."

As soon as he finished speaking, Suzuki Mufeng sheathed his sword, crouched down with his hands on the scabbard and hilt, and took a deep breath, pushing his vigor, spirit, and focus to the absolute limit.

This was a rare opportunity to fight a powerhouse, and he had to give it his all to hone himself to the maximum.

"Total Concentration, Thunder Breathing, First Form: Thunderclap and Flash!"

Fast—the speed was so great that even Kyojuro Rengoku couldn't track him. Since he couldn't see him, he would have to feel him, catch Suzuki Mufeng's presence, and counterattack in an instant!

"Total Concentration, Flame Breathing, Fourth Form: Blooming Flame Undulation!"

As if he had anticipated it, Kyojuro Rengoku waited in the direction of Suzuki Mufeng's charge. A vortex-like flame slash appeared, and a massive swirl of fire enveloped him in a defensive stance, instantly forcing Suzuki Mufeng's lightning-fast strike to deflect.

"What a truly exhilarating battle! Suzuki Mufeng, how was it? Did you learn anything?"

Beads of sweat covered Kyojuro Rengoku's forehead; this battle had put significant pressure on him as well. It seemed that knowing only four forms of Flame Breathing wasn't enough; he had to learn the remaining forms. He decided he would stay up all night reading those guidebooks.

"Kyojuro Rengoku, do you only know these four forms? Perhaps I can demonstrate the Fifth and Seventh forms I've hypothesized to serve as a reference for you."

Having read the original story, Suzuki Mufeng knew that after Shinjuro Rengoku became despondent, he stopped teaching Kyojuro Rengoku and Senjuro Rengoku. These four forms were likely things the eldest brother had figured out on his own, which was already impressive enough.

The books Senjuro Rengoku had brought naturally contained the subsequent Fifth and Seventh forms, though unfortunately, the Sixth was missing, so he could only demonstrate the Fifth and Seventh.

In front of Kyojuro Rengoku, Suzuki Mufeng demonstrated everything from the Flame Breathing, First Form: Unknowing Fire, skipping the Sixth, all the way to the Seventh Form: Flame.

"That was amazing, Suzuki Mufeng! I never expected you to master them so perfectly after just one look. And your demonstration has given me new ideas. Thank you, Suzuki Mufeng!"

Kyojuro Rengoku excitedly threw an arm around Suzuki Mufeng's shoulder. His enthusiasm was infectious, and they both smiled, genuinely happy for one another.

"A bunch of stinking brats, making such a racket early in the morning. What's the point of working so hard? It's all meaningless anyway. You're all just useless trash with no value."

Shinjuro Rengoku stood there with messy hair, holding a sake bottle and pouring it into his mouth, as if that were the only way to escape a reality he refused to face.

"Father, greetings! Drinking so early in the morning isn't good for your health. Please, stop."

"Hmph, how boring. You, with no talent, should just give up early. What is the point of... demon slaying anyway!"

After venting his emotions, Shinjuro Rengoku prepared to leave.

"Just because we lack talent, does that mean we should give up and stand by while demons slaughter everyone? I believe that a single spark can start a prairie fire; as long as we keep trying, we can see hope!"

"Hope? You ridiculous brat, what do you know, you ignorant fool."

"Are you just wallowing in self-pity because you think Flame Breathing is a poor imitation of Sun Breathing? Are you going to deny all the experience and achievements in demon slaying that the Rengoku family has accumulated since its founding?"

As soon as he finished, Shinjuro Rengoku suddenly flashed in front of Suzuki Mufeng, aiming a palm at his face, but Suzuki Mufeng reacted in time and grabbed his wrist.

"Where on earth did you learn about... Sun Breathing!"