The next day.
Shinobu Kocho called Lin Guang out into the courtyard.
Shinobu held two wooden swords and tossed one to Lin Guang.
"Lin Guang, could you use your Ice Breathing against me? I want to gain some combat experience first. That should make killing Doma a little easier when I combine it with my poison."
Lin Guang looked at Shinobu with concern. "Let's not. I'm afraid I'll hurt you."
Shinobu smiled faintly. "I am a Hashira, you know. My physical strength might be lacking, but that doesn't mean I'm weak in combat."
Lin Guang couldn't help laughing, then readied his wooden sword. "All right! You asked for it! Don't get mad if you lose!"
A smile spread across Shinobu's face. "Then let's begin."
The moment she finished speaking, Shinobu charged at Lin Guang. He didn't use Shave, but he had activated Telepathy, so he sensed her move the instant she attacked.
Lin Guang raised his wooden sword and blocked Shinobu's with a single motion.
When her first strike failed, Shinobu retreated, trying to put some distance between them.
Lin Guang seized the opportunity to close in, reaching out to grab her.
But Shinobu was incredibly nimble, evading him with a turn.
They slipped past each other, and Shinobu moved behind Lin Guang, thrusting her wooden sword at him again.
"Ice Breathing! First Form! Ice Blade Slash!"
A layer of frost formed on his wooden sword, and Lin Guang spun around with a slash.
Clack!
The two wooden swords collided, and Shinobu used the force of the impact to launch herself into the air.
Just then, an enthusiastic voice rang out in the courtyard.
"Shinobu! I came to hang out!"
As soon as Mitsuri Kanroji entered the Butterfly Mansion, she heard the sounds of combat. She hurried to the courtyard, arriving just in time to see Shinobu leap into the air.
Seeing that both Lin Guang and Shinobu were using wooden swords, Mitsuri realized they must be sparring.
Besides, since Lin Guang's Ice Breathing was a new Breathing Style, all the Hashira were somewhat curious about him.
Mitsuri watched Shinobu in midair, a hint of envy appearing in her eyes.
"That's Shinobu for you! She's amazing!"
Meanwhile, Shinobu used the speed of her descent to unleash a sword technique.
"Butterfly Dance! Playful Flurry!"
Lin Guang sensed Shinobu's intent and countered with a form of his own.
"Ice Breathing! Third Form! Raging Blade Ice Shatter!"
A series of clacks rang out as Lin Guang's wooden sword blocked every one of Shinobu's attacks.
At the same time, his sword technique caused the surrounding temperature to drop slightly.
When Shinobu prepared to use her breathing again, she felt a trace of cold in her lungs. She ignored it and unleashed her sword technique anyway.
"Dragonfly Dance! Compound Eye Hexagon!"
In an instant, thrusts even faster than Butterfly Dance came at Lin Guang.
Lin Guang held his wooden sword defensively. Wisps of frost crept over his face, and the surrounding temperature suddenly plummeted.
"Ice Breathing! Sixth Form! Unbreakable Profound Ice: Tortoise!"
Cold spread outward, and for a moment, Shinobu felt as though her movements had slowed a little.
But her instantaneous Sixfold Strike was already complete, and Lin Guang still blocked every blow.
Suddenly, Shinobu sensed a hint of danger.
"Ice Breathing! Sixth Form! Unbreakable Profound Ice: Snake!"
Lin Guang's wooden sword instantly shifted to offense, slashing at Shinobu from an unbelievable angle.
Shinobu held her sword across her body, trying to block his technique, but for some reason, her body reacted a little more slowly than usual.
With a clack, Lin Guang knocked the wooden sword out of Shinobu's hands.
"That settles it! I won again!" Lin Guang said with a smile.
Shinobu ignored him and studied the ground carefully. She discovered a thin layer of frost had formed on it, though it quickly melted in the sunlight.
Seeing this, Shinobu more or less understood what had caused the discomfort in her body during their fight.
Just then, Mitsuri ran over and picked up Shinobu's fallen wooden sword. "Shinobu, Lin Guang! I want to try too! Can I?"
Seeing Mitsuri approach, Shinobu smiled faintly and asked, "You're here, Mitsuri. Did you need something?"
Mitsuri's cheeks flushed at the question. "I heard Lin Guang became a Hashira even faster than Mr. Tokito did, so I came to take a look."
"And right when I arrived, I saw you and Lin Guang sparring. He's really amazing! He actually blocked all your attacks, Shinobu."
Mitsuri offered an excuse off the top of her head, praising Lin Guang along the way.
Lin Guang grinned. "Of course! I'm really strong now! This time, I definitely won't lose to you at arm wrestling, Mitsuri."
Hearing his words, Mitsuri said excitedly, "Lin Guang! Do you want to arm-wrestle me?"
After hearing what Lin Guang said, Shinobu turned to ask Mitsuri a question.
"Mitsuri, when did you and Lin Guang get so close?"
Mitsuri answered directly, "A year ago, when I first joined the Demon Slayer Corps, I met Lin Guang at Mr. Rengoku's house. He lost to me at arm wrestling then and treated me to lots and lots of sakura mochi!"
Shinobu was rather surprised by Mitsuri's answer.
"A year ago!"
Shinobu covered her mouth and glanced at Lin Guang.
Lin Guang made no attempt to avoid her gaze. Instead, he grinned and said, "When I came to headquarters with Grandpa Urokodaki a year ago, I originally wanted to see you. But you didn't want to see me, so I went to find Rengoku instead. That's when I met Mitsuri."
Mitsuri nodded in confirmation.
Then Shinobu smiled faintly. "So that's how it happened. Are you still going to arm-wrestle Mitsuri, Lin Guang?"
Lin Guang was just about to say something when a Kasugai Crow suddenly flew down and landed on his shoulder.
"South-southwest! South-southwest! Someone in a village to the southwest is suspected to have been killed by a demon! Lin Guang, go investigate the village to the southwest!"
Lin Guang gave a faint smile. "Seriously, didn't they say I could rest for a while? And now I'm already being sent on a mission."
Shinobu said seriously, "Demons are still very active, after all. Mr. Rengoku also left on an investigation this morning, and it might be connected to the Twelve Kizuki."
At her words, Lin Guang mentally worked out the timing. The Mugen Train incident originally happened four to five months after Mount Natagumo. But because of me, Tanjiro and the others weren't badly injured. They should recover in about a week.
That means the Mugen Train incident might happen one or two months earlier. Looks like I'll need to improve Tanjiro and the others' strength some more. I can also use these next two to three months to try things out and prepare.
Lin Guang smiled faintly. "Yes, I understand. I'll leave Tanjiro and the others in your care while I'm away. They have a lot of potential, so make sure you train them well for me."
With that, Lin Guang waved and left the Butterfly Mansion, heading toward his mission destination.
Before you continue