Breathing Styles were first created by Yoriichi Tsugikuni. They were techniques devised to let humans fight demons, primarily by strengthening the heart and lungs so the blood could absorb vast amounts of oxygen in a short time. This could dramatically enhance physical abilities in an instant, briefly granting humans strength and stamina comparable to a demon's.
After Yoriichi Tsugikuni taught the swordsmen of the Demon Slayer Corps his original style, Sun Breathing, the Hashira combined it with their own swordsmanship. They developed the five basic Breathing Styles-Water, Flame, Stone, Wind, and Thunder-as well as other, less common offshoots, such as Flower Breathing and Insect Breathing...
Each of these Breathing Styles, derived from the original Sun Breathing, had its own focus.
Wind Breathing excelled in speed and agility.
That was why this swordsman who practiced Wind Breathing had managed to catch up in time.
Gu Kouyi landed lightly and stood some distance away with his blade in hand, making no further attacks.
As a practitioner of Wind Breathing, he was faster and more agile, but lacked strength and physical power. The heavy kick he had just delivered, for instance, had only sent the demon before him staggering backward.
Had a swordsman who practiced Stone Breathing delivered that kick, the result would have been far more than a few stumbling steps.
Fortunately, he was not fighting alone.
Hunting demons was never a solitary battle, whereas demons usually stood alone.
For Gu Kouyi, the most important thing now was to hold his opponent here.
He only needed to stall until his companions arrived. Joining forces was the best way to finish the fight, rather than taking risks alone and putting himself in danger.
When circumstances allowed, the best approach to fighting a demon was still to outnumber it.
Thus, after forcing Su Mu to stop with a single strike, Gu Kouyi did not attack again. Instead, he stood nearby, blade in hand, watching Su Mu coldly.
But his heart immediately tightened when he noticed the little girl riding on the demon's back. The situation had suddenly become complicated. If this demon used the little girl to threaten him...
The instant that thought arose, Gu Kouyi saw the demon set the girl down.
Was he going to use this girl to threaten me? Or use her as a human shield?
Almost instantly, Gu Kouyi's expression darkened terribly. These cruel demons were always like this.
"Hah..."
He took a deep breath, and his gaze slowly grew resolute. Though he could hardly bear it, sacrifices were sometimes unavoidable. If a moment of compassion allowed a demon to escape, even more people would die because of it.
There had been far, far too many such cases.
Far too many demons had escaped Demon Slayer Corps swordsmen through such despicable tactics.
And far too many swordsmen had been hamstrung by those tactics and ultimately placed in danger. In the end, not only had those they sought to save failed to survive, but the rescuers themselves had also died at the demons' hands.
Gradually, certain understandings had formed within the Demon Slayer Corps. Protecting humans was essential, as was hunting demons, but when those duties conflicted, hunting demons took priority.
No matter how painful it was, they had to harden their hearts.
Su Mu slowly lowered Kanao from his back, his eyes fixed on Gu Kouyi. In truth, he had been watching this Demon Slayer Corps swordsman all along. The moment he learned that his opponent practiced Wind Breathing, he knew today's battle was unavoidable.
As long as his opponent blocked his path, Wind Breathing's exceptional speed would let him hold Su Mu back.
Yet killing him would be difficult. A practitioner of Wind Breathing was fast. If he avoided a direct fight and merely harried Su Mu to delay him, he could retreat or disengage almost whenever he pleased.
Unless Su Mu could get close, then use the explosive speed of Hiten Mitsurugi-ryu to kill him in a single strike.
"Are you trying to threaten me with that child, you filthy monster?"
Gu Kouyi watched the demon set the girl down, his expression icy. "I won't yield to your despicable tricks. I'll... sever your neck with my own Nichirin Blade, even if it means sacrificing that child."
Su Mu ignored Gu Kouyi. Instead, he lowered his head and looked at Kanao. "If I die here today, don't hate anyone for it. Live well from now on."
As he spoke, he patted Kanao's head and pointed at Gu Kouyi. "Go over to that uncle."
Kanao, who had always been obedient, vaguely sensed that leaving this time might mean leaving forever. In a rare act of disobedience, she refused to leave her uncle, her little hands clutching his sleeve tightly.
"Be good."
Su Mu spoke again.
Kanao trembled slightly, but obedient as she was, she could not defy her uncle's command in the end. Reluctantly, she released Su Mu's sleeve and walked toward Gu Kouyi.
Gu Kouyi's pupils contracted slightly, disbelief spreading across his face. The despicable demon had actually abandoned the idea of using the little girl to threaten him. He had neither used her as a human shield nor kept her hostage. This was completely unexpected.
Had it not happened right before his eyes, he would never have believed it.
But as he watched the girl approach, already some distance from the demon, excitement appeared on Gu Kouyi's face.
"Quick, come here! Get away from the demon!"
If he could slay the demon while protecting the child, that would naturally be the best outcome.
As he urged the girl to hurry over, Gu Kouyi watched the demon warily. Sure enough, the demon had raised his Nichirin Blade horizontally before his brow, seemingly aiming its edge at the girl walking toward Gu Kouyi.
"I knew it. I knew it! You demons are always vile and shameless."
Gu Kouyi tightened his grip on his Nichirin Blade. Alongside the anger on his face, a trace of inner conflict appeared. He knew that as a practitioner of Wind Breathing, speed was his greatest advantage. Once he took the girl with him, she would undoubtedly become a burden and might even put his life in danger.
He also knew that a one-on-one fight would put him at a disadvantage.
But as a Demon Slayer Corps swordsman sworn to protect humans and eradicate demons, how could he willingly watch the girl be cut down by a demon right before his
eyes?
He clearly had a chance to save this girl. Abandoning her out of concern for himself would be unforgivable, no matter what.
At that same instant, Su Mu bent forward slightly, planted his foot against the ground, and lunged toward Kanao. The Nichirin Blade in his hand rose high above her.
He looked so vicious.
So merciless.
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