Two days later.
Butterfly Mansion Garden.
" Insect Breathing!"
"Dance of Bee Teeth - True Trail!"
Shinobu Kocho's voice was clear and melodious, like a leaping stream in the forest. Holding a specially made wooden Nichirin Blade for training, she moved with lightning speed and agility, charging towards Teiichi.
As the first to arrive at the battlefield and the younger sister of Kanae, the Flower Hashira, she was the first to know about the battle that night. Therefore, she did not believe that she could hurt Teiichi, who could hold off Upper Rank Two, and she showed no mercy in her attack.
Facing Shinobu Kocho's swift thrust, Teiichi remained calm and composed. With a nimble twist of his wrist, the wooden sword instantly transformed into a solid barrier in front of him.
"Bang!"
Teiichi easily blocked the wooden sword that was thrust at him.
Teiichi gripped the wooden sword, the blade held upright, the face of the blade directly facing Shinobu Kocho. Shinobu Kocho's thrusting wooden sword was firmly blocked by the face of the blade, unable to advance even an inch.
Looking at the scene before her, Shinobu Kocho's pupils contracted slightly. Although she already knew from her sister Kanae how powerful the person in front of her was, she still didn't expect him to be this powerful.
The best way to deal with your own thrust is to use the length of the blade to slash and strike your own blade, forcing it to change direction.
Deflecting an attack by using the blade to brace against one's own thrust is undoubtedly no easier than using the tip of one's own blade against the tip of another's blade.
In combat, this situation is almost impossible unless both sides intentionally do so.
There's only one possible reason for this: the difference in strength between the two sides is too great!
Realizing the vast difference in strength between the two sides, Shinobu Kocho quickly adjusted her mindset, turned around, and launched another attack.
" Insect Breathing!"
"Centipede Dance - Centipede Belly!"
Her figure moved like a nimble centipede, darting around rapidly after Teiichi stillness.
Teiichi scanned left and right, keeping an eye on Shinobu Kocho's figure, while his ears twitched slightly, carefully listening for any sounds behind him to prevent Shinobu Kocho from attacking from behind.
"Tread!"
A slightly heavy thud sounded from behind.
Teiichi quickly turned around, and after seeing the attack in front of him, he held his Nichirin Blade diagonally in front of him, blocking the blow.
"Although I know you're trying to increase the power of your attack, if there's a significant difference in strength between you and your adversary, I don't recommend that you expend more effort to stomp on the ground before attacking."
This makes it easy for the other party to discover.
Alternatively, one could take another step, then attack from a different angle, which could mislead the enemy.
Teiichi offered his suggestion to Shinobu Kocho.
"Snort!"
Teiichi was met with a cold snort.
Shinobu Kocho then stopped running and resumed her running.
"Bang!"
"Bang!"
"Bang!"
A series of crashing sounds echoed through the courtyard, occasionally accompanied by the sound of Teiichi pointing.
This continued for some time.
After glancing at the panting girl in front of him, Teiichi to end his training session with Shinobu Kocho for the day.
After a clever collision, he smoothly deflected Shinobu Kocho's wooden sword to the side, while gently pressing his own wooden sword against her body to signal the end.
"Whoosh--! Whoosh--!"
Shinobu Kocho gasped for breath, looking at the wooden sword pressing down on her, and pulled back the sword she had swung out with her right hand.
Teiichi Shinobu Kocho sheathe her sword, Teiichi slowly withdrew his strength, pulling back the Nichirin that had been pressing down on Shinobu Kocho, and then let his right hand hang down naturally.
Looking at Shinobu Kocho, who was drenched in sweat, Teiichi's face showed approval as he gently asked, "Did you remember what I just told you?"
Shinobu Kocho nodded. "I've got it!"
Seeing Shinobu Kocho nod Teiichi, he changed the subject and continued, "When did you develop Insect Breathing?"
Upon hearing Teiichi's question, Shinobu Kocho replied, "About three or four months ago, what happened?"
"To develop to this level in just three or four months, you seem to be a genius. I feel like in another two years, we'll be seeing you in a pillar position!"
Shinobu Kocho said calmly, "I was destined to become the next female Pillar of the Demon Slayer Corps!"
Upon hearing Shinobu Kocho's words, Teiichi couldn't help but smile.
Shinobu Kocho saw Teiichi smiling and assumed Teiichi was mocking her.
Over the past two days, the emotions she had been suppressing because her sister had persuaded her to leave the team finally erupted, and she angrily shouted, "What are you laughing at? Do you also think I can't become a pillar?"
Teiichi was taken aback, then quickly suppressed her smile, her eyes filled with doubt and concern.
"Also?"
Shinobu Kocho realized that her emotions were not right and tried to control them. She explained to Teiichi how her older sister had persuaded her to leave the team.
Upon hearing Teiichi lowered his head and began to think.
Even though Kanae survived, did she still tell Shinobu Kocho about leaving the team...?
Kanae was probably worried that Shinobu Kocho would encounter Upper Rank in the future.
She only has one family and doesn't want to lose Shinobu Kocho. She wants Shinobu Kocho to be able to live an ordinary life like everyone else.
So, should I help Kanae persuade Shinobu Kocho leave the team?
but...
He looked up and glanced at the delicate girl in front of him.
Even though she said that, she couldn't see a single hint of wanting to give up in Shinobu Kocho's eyes...
After a moment, having finished his thought, Teiichi slowly raised his hand and gently placed it on Shinobu Kocho's slender shoulder. Their eyes met in the air.
Teiichi Shinobu Kocho's eyes, Teiichi said seriously:
Don't blame your sister; she's just worried that you might encounter the Upper Rank in the future.
Just keep doing what you want to do.
"But... but my talent..."
"If you're doubting your own talent, then I can tell you this very seriously."
You are a very talented girl.
In essence, fighting boils down to two things: speed and strength.
Speed is more important than strength, because if you only have strength but no speed, you're useless if you can't hit your opponent.
Speed includes movement speed, attack speed, reaction speed, and so on.
It just so happens that you have a great talent for these areas.
Therefore, I believe that even in the future Demon Slayer Corps, you will definitely be among the top!
Upon hearing Teiichi's words, Shinobu Kocho trembled all over.
In this era where everyone can cut off a demon's head, no one truly believes that someone who can't cut off a demon's head can go very far.
This was the first time she had ever felt genuinely appreciated by someone.
Tears welled up in my eyes, and I tried hard to hold them back.
"Can... can I really do it?"
Teiichi smiled and nodded.
Night, during the banquet.
This is the first time in the past few days that Kanae has gone out to eat with everyone.
Shinobu Kocho watched the two people who would glance at each other every now and then, only to quickly separate as if struck by lightning, and felt a mix of emotions.
How could she not see that there was something fishy going on between the two?
Seeing Shinobu Kocho's sullen expression, Kanae Kocho asked in confusion:
"Ren, what's wrong? Is it because you don't like the food today?"
Shinobu Kocho shook her head. "No, I was just thinking about some sad things."
Kanae looked puzzled. "Something sad?"
Shinobu Kocho's mind raced, and she asked, "After the Hashira Meeting in Teiichi few days, isn't it time for Teiichi to return to Kyushu Island to be stationed there?"
Upon hearing Shinobu Kocho's words, Teiichi moment before slowly saying, "That's probably true. After all, the team doesn't have many Hashira Rank fighters, and recently, there seems to be an increasing trend of demon incidents."
The atmosphere in the room fell silent as Teiichi finished speaking.
Although the Hashira Meeting was still several days away, the three people in the room seemed to be already overcome with sadness at parting.
Kanae sat in her seat, silently eating with her head down, occasionally picking up a few bites of food, seemingly lost in thought.
After the meal, just as everyone was preparing to leave, Kanae waved to Teiichi.
" Teiichi, come with me!"