Dian Ci Dojo

After finishing his training in Stone Breathing, Xia Xi set out for the third Cultivator's residence.

This time, what he would learn...

Was Thunder Breathing, the fastest of the five major Breathing Styles.

His instructor was a tall woman named Nikaido Mei.

She was in her early thirties, with a plain black patch over her right eye and a clear, pale-blue left eye.

According to her, she was one-quarter British.

That was what she said, anyway. In reality, Xia Xi could find absolutely no trace of a "British gentleman or lady" in her.

His first impression was that she was more like a female leopard poised to pounce.

Agile, dangerous, wild.

With a touch of devil-may-care roguishness, too.

Though she had retired and become a Cultivator, she still wore the Demon Slayer Corps uniform.

Only, she had heavily modified it: the sleeves were cut off at the shoulders, and a cord replaced the belt.

She made no effort to conceal her shapely arms, covered in tattoos and scars both old and new.

Or her firm, sharply defined abs, which even Xia Xi couldn't help glancing at.

Of course, the most important thing...

Was her manner, which even Xia Xi found excessively pragmatic, bordering on brutal.

When he first entered the Dian Ci Dojo...

The dojo was surrounded by scaffolding and seemed to be under repair.

In front of it, a woman who looked like the head instructor was directing a group of disciples as they carried lumber and tamped down the foundations.

The scene looked less like a swordsmanship dojo and more like a construction site.

Less than a minute after Xia Xi handed over Kazami's letter of introduction, she skimmed it and casually tossed it onto a nearby lumber pile.

"A student of that old stick-in-the-mud Kazami? Played the good little boy under Urokodaki, too? And hammered some iron with that blockhead Matsuyama?"

She spoke quickly, and her constantly bouncing knee made her look exactly like a gangster.

The moment she spoke, Xia Xi realized this woman was anything but ordinary.

Because a second later, she attacked.

Nikaido drew the Nichirin Blade at her waist with a reverse grip and, without warning, slashed straight at his face!

"Let me see what you're made of! What makes you think you're qualified to learn the 'fastest' Breathing Style?"

She's a lunatic!

Her name's green, and we've got no beef! Who draws a sword on someone the moment they meet?!

An actual sharpened Nichirin Blade, at that.

Xia Xi's expression changed, and he immediately activated Wind Breathing, drawing his sword to parry.

[Wind Breathing]

[First Form: Dust Whirlwind Cutter]

Seeing Xia Xi activate his Breathing Style, the woman's grin grew even fiercer.

[Thunder Breathing]

[Fifth Form: Heat Lightning]

The whirlwind had barely risen before faster, fiercer, more violent thunder cut it off.

Her speed far surpassed Xia Xi's.

"Too slow!"

The swordswoman had no intention of retreating or changing her attack. Instead, she used her much larger frame to drive the boy, sword and all, toward the dojo wall.

With some deft maneuvering, Xia Xi barely managed to break free of that savage thunderbolt.

But she clearly had no intention of stopping there.

Because when Xia Xi turned back to look at her...

The tall Cultivator had already assumed the opening stance for her next sword technique.

Her body was crouched low.

So low that her face almost touched the floor.

Iaido!

Lightning erupted.

Her blade seemed wrapped in golden thunder, illuminating the dim dojo in an instant.

Her long, straight, muscular legs propelled her forward with incredible speed, as though they concealed boosters.

Rather than a sword technique...

It was more like a blinding bolt of lightning cleaving through his vision.

[Thunder Breathing]

[First Form: Thunderclap and Flash]

I can't block it.

Xia Xi's pupils contracted sharply, and all the strength in his body converged.

[Total Concentration!]

The wind's elusiveness.

The water's supple flow.

The stone's steadfast solidity.

The essence of all his grueling training surged forth at that moment, erupting almost simultaneously with the system's bright-red attack warning.

He barely managed to twist aside.

The blade skimmed the tips of his hair.

Xia Xi felt a chill beside his ear.

Had he not dodged, it might not have been fatal, but he would definitely have ended up with another scar on his face.

Suddenly, Xia Xi could make out the look in her eye.

It wasn't murderous intent, but something heavier-a nearly scorching expectation.

"Master Mei, what are you doing?!"

Xia Xi tried to stop her while parrying her relentless attacks.

Instead, it only made her more excited.

Xia Xi even saw a flush rise to her face, the kind that appeared only when she was thrilled.

"Testing your abilities, of course! Hahahaha! Everyone says you're strong, so naturally you should be able to hold out against me!"

"See? You blocked my sword! Good, you've got some real ability!"

Several more slashes followed.

They sent showers of sparks flying as Xia Xi parried them.

Several dojo disciples nearby were frightened into retreating a few steps.

One younger child even muttered, "The instructor's going crazy again..."

But Nikaido Mei acted as though she hadn't heard.

Her sword kept accelerating, pressing Xia Xi harder and harder.

"Besides, aren't you here to train in Thunder Breathing?!"

"The best teaching is an all-out fight, of course! How can you fight without spilling blood? How can you get stronger without spilling blood?!"

"Yaguruma Nishitaro, was it? Kid, come on, watch my chest and breathe with me!"

"I, Nikaido, am going to teach you properly! Hahahaha!"

Like hell I'm watching!

How am I supposed to learn like this?!

Xia Xi couldn't help averting his eyes from her impressive chest.

"Show me some more backbone! Where's your grit?!"

"All flash and no substance! Are you chopping firewood?"

"Not bad, kid! You've got a pretty sturdy body!"

She didn't seem to be holding back.

After several minutes of relentless pressure, Xia Xi's stamina began to drop, and his movements started to lose their form.

But...

The Thunder Breathing progress bar actually went up?!

While parrying, Xia Xi noticed it.

His progress in the Breathing Style was increasing at a speed he had never anticipated.

In that case, you lunatic...

Bring it on!

A second later, Xia Xi switched from defense to offense, merging his figure into the storm and turning into countless blades that slashed at her.

"Oh?"

Excitement and mockery still filled her lone eye.

But only now did a flicker of genuine interest appear.

"Finally starting to look the part..."

"Good! Let me measure just how much you've got! You'd better not be all show and no substance, Gosha Natsutaro!"

"I won't go easy on you like those other idiots."

"Don't cry if you lose."

This woman talks so much trash...

For a moment, it even made Xia Xi feel a sense of familiarity.

It was like the spectacularly foul-mouthed trash talk of those parentless players from all over the world in a game.

Only, those players might simply be stubborn loudmouths spewing insults, without the skill to back them up.

But the woman before him truly had the ability to justify her arrogance and vicious tongue.

She's strong.

Thunder exploded, tangling once more with the gale Xia Xi had raised.

Late that night, on the dojo roof.

Nikaido dragged Xia Xi into a lively chat, completely unconcerned about disturbing the disciples sleeping below.

"Forget that little incident during the day! A man should be more generous!"

She heartily slapped Xia Xi on the back and tossed him a bottle of shochu.

The mixed-race swordswoman teased, "Don't try to fool me with some excuse about being underage! Drink!"

Resigned, Xia Xi opened the bottle.

The crisp scent of liquor washed over his face with the night breeze.

"I have to say, ma'am, your teaching methods... are certainly unique."

Naturally, Nikaido caught his implied meaning.

She patted the Nichirin Blade lying beside her, its sheath tapping softly against the roof tiles.

She laughed. "What, you can't handle even this little bit of pressure? And you want to kill all the demons and take down Muzan?"

She raised a finger and lightly tapped her right eye, covered by the black eyepatch.

Where there should have been an eye as beautiful as a sapphire, there was now only a lifeless patch pressed against her face.

And a large, old scar that even the patch couldn't conceal.

In the darkness, her smile faded a little.

"Whether you're fighting the Twelve Kizuki or the Demon King, their claws, fangs, and Blood Demon Arts are far worse than my Nichirin Blade."

"If you can't even handle my enthusiasm, how will you fight them?"

How are red-named monsters and green-named NPCs remotely the same?

Xia Xi took a small sip and ventured, "So you really don't have a grudge against Mr. Kazami?"

"Of course not!"

She grinned, her white teeth gleaming coldly in the moonlight.

"That old pedant who looks like a gust of wind could knock him over? I certainly don't hate him. I just think his teaching methods are too outdated."

"To teach a Breathing Style, he practically has to start with the history of the Warring States period."

"By the time he finishes all that theory, the demons will have died of old age!"

"Sure, it builds a solid foundation, but how many years do Demon Slayer Corps swordsmen get to live? Rather than let a somewhat talented brat like you die while slogging through the basics, I might as well put you through more training myself."

"Fight enough, and you'll naturally learn Thunder Breathing."

She guzzled her liquor with abandon, spouting crude language all the while.

What a straightforward guy.

Xia Xi couldn't help thinking.

(Former Kinoe-ranked Corps member, Nikaido Mei)