She had played so wildly with Su Chen yesterday without developing a Demon Slayer Mark. Perhaps awakening one really depended on the person?
A trace of melancholy entered Kagaya Ubuyashiki's voice. "The other children haven't awakened their marks either. It seems I'll have to ask Su Chen more about it."
Recently, Kagaya Ubuyashiki had been paying close attention to the awakening of the members' marks.
But apart from Su Chen, not a single member of the Demon Slayer Corps had awakened one.
Shinazugawa in particular had reportedly been putting himself through hellish training every day lately, yet he still hadn't awakened his mark.
This made Kagaya Ubuyashiki realize that awakening a mark wasn't as simple as Su Chen had said.
It might even be more difficult.
"It seems only... can manage it for now." Kagaya Ubuyashiki paused for a moment, seemingly lost in thought.
At that moment, Shinobu Kocho spoke. "Master, I have something else to report."
Kagaya Ubuyashiki raised his head and asked with a smile, "What is it?"
"Lately, I've noticed that Su Chen is exceptionally talented. He can learn the sword techniques of a Breathing Style after seeing them practically just once."
"Really?" A look of surprise crossed Kagaya Ubuyashiki's face. "What Breathing Styles has he learned?"
Shinobu Kocho nodded. "Insect, and my sister's Flower."
"What about Water Breathing?" Kagaya Ubuyashiki asked again.
"Su Chen hasn't encountered it, so he doesn't know it," Shinobu Kocho continued.
"I see." Kagaya Ubuyashiki looked even more surprised.
Generally, the five main Breathing Styles were a little easier to learn because they were more broadly applicable.
Breathing Styles derived from Water Breathing, such as Insect Breathing and Flower Breathing, were more personalized.
Simply put, the Kocho Sisters hadn't been suited to Water Breathing back then, so they had adapted it into Flower Breathing and Insect Breathing to suit themselves.
To think that Su Chen had actually learned Flower Breathing and Insect Breathing first, skipping Water Breathing entirely.
"This child's talent may rival young Tokito's." Kagaya Ubuyashiki was unstinting in his praise. "Shinobu, take Su Chen to the Hashira training grounds in a few days."
Shinobu Kocho raised her head. "Master, do you want me to take Su Chen there to train?"
"Yes. Kyojuro will be back soon after finishing his mission. Take Su Chen there. I want to see just how far this child can go."
The Flame Hashira would be there too?
Shinobu Kocho looked surprised. It seemed the Master truly thought highly of Su Chen, to have the Flame Hashira practice with him.
"Understood, Master. I'll see to it right away."
In a flash, Shinobu Kocho withdrew.
Elsewhere.
The blazing sun hung overhead above a bamboo grove.
Rumbling sounds rose from somewhere every so often. Even half a kilometer away, the noisy sounds of something slicing through the air could be heard.
The ground trembled slightly, the shaking strong enough to knock leaves off the surrounding bamboo.
"How have I still not succeeded?!" A harsh, tearing voice suddenly rang out.
In front of a clearing, Shinazugawa swung his wooden sword, furiously using his Breathing Style.
Sweat poured from his forehead as though it cost nothing. Because of the scorching heat, great patches of sweat had already soaked his clothes.
Fallen leaves swirled through the air, and under Shinazugawa's assault, the bamboo grove swayed without stopping.
A youth wearing a black-and-white vertically striped shirt suddenly appeared.
Bandages were wrapped around the lower half of his face, and his eyes were two different colors, one yellow and one green.
A white snake lay around his neck, its scales smooth and white as jade.
The youth asked, "Shinazugawa, you still haven't activated your mark?"
Shinazugawa stopped what he was doing and glanced impatiently in his direction.
"No! Have you activated yours, Iguro?"
Obanai Iguro shook his head. "No. The conditions for activating a mark are harder to meet than I imagined."
The two youths exchanged a glance, each seeing confusion in the other's eyes.
How exactly had that brat Su Chen done it?
Neither said it aloud, however, because that would mean losing face.
"Iguro, come spar with me!" Shinazugawa Shimi stripped off his shirt, baring his upper body, and drew his Nichirin Blade.
The explosive strength within Shinazugawa's body was apparent even through his abs.
But Obanai Iguro shook his head. "No. I have a mission later."
"Then what did you come here for?" Shinazugawa asked.
"I came to tell you that Su Chen has already learned Breathing Styles."
"Oh?" Shinazugawa narrowed his eyes. "Which ones?"
"Insect, and Flower."
"The Kochos' Breathing Styles?" A stunned expression appeared on Shinazugawa's face. He hadn't expected it to be those two.
Iguro continued, "Su Chen is improving very quickly, even faster than Tokito did back then. He might really beat you in fifteen days."
"Thanks for your concern, but I'm more interested in activating my mark than beating Su Chen."
Shinazugawa rubbed his nose, not taking the written test in fifteen days to heart.
By comparison, he cared more about improving his own strength so he could kill a couple more demons.
"No, Shinazugawa, you have to teach that brat a lesson," Iguro insisted.
Shinazugawa gave him a surprised look. "Did that brat Su Chen offend you too?"
Iguro fell silent.
Was he supposed to admit he was jealous?
Lately, Kanro had been talking about Su Chen every day. His ears were practically growing calluses from hearing it!
"Forget it. What would a brute like you understand?" Iguro drew his sword and slowly walked toward Shinazugawa.
Seeing him looking ready for a fight, Shinazugawa couldn't help asking, "Don't you have a mission later? What are you doing now?"
"I'll go later!" Iguro said without thinking. "I think you've been slacking off. I'll spar with you!"
Shinazugawa laughed. "You little punk."
Shinobu Kocho returned home.
But she discovered that none of her children seemed to be inside.
Shinobu Kocho took off her shoes. The wooden boards creaked beneath her small feet as she slowly walked toward the courtyard.
Just as she entered the corridor, she saw Su Chen sitting beneath the shade of a tree, while her successor, Kanao Tsuyuri, wiped away sweat beside him.
Kiyo, Sumi, and Xiao Caihui each held a plate of pastries as they stood in front of Su Chen.
The sight left Shinobu Kocho dumbfounded.
Was Su Chen this popular in her Butterfly Mansion now?
Never mind little Kiyo, Sumi, and Xiao Caihui-why had even Kanao joined in?
As far as Shinobu Kocho could remember, this seemed to be the first time Kanao had been so warm toward a stranger.
Strange. This was truly strange!
Filled with curiosity, Shinobu Kocho walked over to Su Chen.
Everyone greeted her.
"Lady Shinobu, konnichiwa!"
"Konnichiwa!"
Shinobu Kocho gave a gentle smile and pointed at Su Chen as she asked the girls, "What's going on with Su Chen?"
Before the three little girls could answer, however, Kanao Tsuyuri spoke from beside him. "Su Chen is thinking about something."
Thinking about something?
Shinobu Kocho's lovely eyes slowly widened. "He's having another epiphany?!"
Before you continue