[You observed Shinobu Kocho's sword swings and breathing rhythm, gained insight, and imitated them.] [You observed Shinobu Kocho's Butterfly Dance.] [You observed Shinobu Kocho's Dance of the Bee Sting.] [You observed Shinobu Kocho's Dance of the Dragonfly.] [You observed Shinobu Kocho's Dance of the Centipede.] [You made full use of your observational abilities, analyzing the vibration frequency of her blade, the timing of her footwork changes, and the distribution of poison along the blade. You comprehended the Insect Breathing Style!]
Su Chen's mind instantly cleared, and certain movements surfaced instinctively in his mind.
He had an epiphany.
Slowly raising the Wooden Katana in his hand, Su Chen reviewed the movements Shinobu Kocho had just demonstrated.
He also incorporated his own understanding of Flower Breathing.
Before long, another graceful figure moved through the courtyard.
Shinobu Kocho narrowed her beautiful eyes slightly, unable to resist studying Su Chen.
Although this was Su Chen's first time using Insect Breathing, his proficiency already seemed remarkable to Shinobu Kocho.
After all, she had put a great deal of effort into practicing it herself back then.
Su Chen's talent truly was the best she had ever seen. Now, he only needed to steadily improve his physical fitness.
"What's this?!" Shinobu Kocho suddenly widened her eyes, looking at Su Chen in the courtyard.
Su Chen had just tried combining Flower Breathing with Insect Breathing.
He had added a little of Flower Breathing's power to Insect Breathing's grace, merging their sword techniques!
Even Shinobu Kocho marveled at the movements Su Chen ultimately performed.
Gradually, Su Chen's movements slowed again.
He began slowly performing the movements of Flower Breathing.
Shinobu Kocho smiled. She knew this was what Su Chen had promised her earlier.
"You little brat, I thought you'd forgotten." Shinobu Kocho couldn't help grumbling a little before settling down to watch.
In the quiet atmosphere, Su Chen's figure gradually overlapped with the Kanae in Shinobu Kocho's memories.
Shinobu Kocho couldn't help becoming spellbound. She had never expected Su Chen to perform her sister's sword techniques so well.
He was just like her sister herself.
In the peaceful courtyard, the girl lowered her head slightly, and a tear slipped uncontrollably from her eye.
She smiled and said, "Thank you, Su Chen."
Early the next morning.
Su Chen woke up late, unsurprisingly.
He had enjoyed himself too much with Shinobu Kocho the previous night, and the two had kept practicing swordplay in the courtyard.
As a result, Su Chen had lost track of time and hadn't gone to bed until the middle of the night.
I can't do that next time. Su Chen silently reminded himself, then headed toward the courtyard.
By the time he arrived, Kanao Tsuyuri had already been practicing her swordsmanship for quite a while.
She was still wearing that pure white haori, with a purple butterfly hair clip on her head and her black ponytail resting over her right shoulder. She looked very cute.
Upon seeing Su Chen, Kanao Tsuyuri smiled and greeted him.
"Konnichiwa, Su Chen."
"Konnichiwa, Kanao," Su Chen replied politely.
Only then did he walk to the middle of the courtyard.
Just as he stepped down, three little girls came running out from the opposite corner of the corridor.
He could hear their voices from far away.
"Mr. Su Chen, you're finally up!"
"Xiao Caihui just said that if Mr. Su Chen didn't get up soon, she'd go tell Lady Shinobu!"
"Kiyo, that's nonsense! Sumi was the one who said that! What does it have to do with me, Naho Takada?"
The three little girls jostled their way over, all crowding in front of Su Chen.
Su Chen patted each girl's head in turn.
"Where did Shinobu go?" Su Chen asked the three little girls.
Kiyo answered first. "Lady Shinobu went to see the Master. A black crow called her away early this morning."
Sumi added, "Yes, yes! Before Lady Shinobu left, she even said to let you sleep a little longer, Su Chen!"
Su Chen understood. He hadn't expected Shinobu Kocho to be able to get up after going to bed so late the night before.
Glancing at the sun overhead, Su Chen saw that the weather was nice today, so he walked over to a large tree and sat down.
Kanao Tsuyuri approached with her Wooden Katana, her large eyes fixed on Su Chen.
"Su Chen, sword practice."
But Su Chen waved his hand. "Not right now."
"Oh." The light in Kanao Tsuyuri's eyes quickly dimmed.
"I have some insights I need to digest. I promise I'll practice with you today, Kanao, all right?" Su Chen said.
"Then we'll go make something tasty for you, Su Chen!"
The three little girls left excitedly, presumably heading to the kitchen to find Aoi Kanzaki and make pastries.
Kanao Tsuyuri nodded emphatically.
A smile bloomed across her face like a flower.
Su Chen closed his eyes.
The inspirations and gains of the past few days immediately sprang up like bamboo shoots after rain.
Shadowless Hand, Butterfly Footwork, Flower Breathing, Insect Breathing, physical coordination, flexibility.
These skills Su Chen had mastered gradually began evolving in his mind.
[You reflected on the skills you had acquired and discovered that the Breathing Styles did not suit you particularly well, so you decided to devise a new Breathing Style!] [You broke down Insect Breathing's Dance of the Bee Sting and felt it suited you well. You began analyzing it!] [You began considering the application of poison!] [You heard nearby bees gathering nectar and gained inspiration. You began trying to conceive a Bee-related Sword Technique!]
Su Chen's brain worked at high speed, and before long, sweat beaded on his forehead.
Kanao Tsuyuri knelt quietly beside Su Chen, saying nothing and simply watching him in silence.
She didn't know why, but ever since doing those things with Su Chen yesterday, she had instinctively enjoyed staying by his side.
Upon seeing Su Chen sweat, Kanao Tsuyuri actually grew nervous as well.
A black Auspicious Cloud Pattern emerged on Su Chen's neck.
At that moment, Su Chen entered an incredibly mysterious state, exerting himself to devise a new Breathing Style.
Meanwhile, elsewhere, at the Ubuyashiki Residence.
A girl landed in the main courtyard and respectfully knelt on one knee.
Her butterfly haori swayed gently in the wind.
Shinobu Kocho brushed back her purple-black hair, her beautiful eyes turning toward the upper story of the building above.
Standing there was none other than the current leader of the Demon Slayer Corps.
Kagaya Ubuyashiki.
"Shinobu, did you say Su Chen can already fully control his Demon Slayer Mark?" Ubuyashiki asked.
His voice flowed on, very pleasant to listen to.
Shinobu Kocho smiled and said, "Yes, Master. Su Chen can already control his Demon Slayer Mark. Whenever he needs to use it, strange black markings appear on his neck."
"Is that so?" Ubuyashiki looked considerably happier. "Then, Shinobu, have you awakened your Demon Slayer Mark?"
Shinobu Kocho shook her head.
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