The Yoshiwara Pleasure District, due to the intense battle between Kurozawa, Kanae, and the Upper Moon, was thrown into considerable chaos. The streets, once bustling with pedestrians, were now much emptier.
Returning to the main street from behind the Kyogoku House, one could clearly see that most people on the street had expressions of lingering shock on their faces. They gazed at the severely damaged Kyogoku House on the fourth floor, huddled together, discussing animatedly.
Kurozawa's hearing was excellent, and he overheard that most people believed someone had deliberately retaliated against the Kyogoku House, perhaps a rival business owner or a disgruntled, obsessive customer. Almost no one guessed the truth.
And rightly so. While there were people who knew about the existence of Demons and the Demon Slayer Corps, their numbers were like a drop in the ocean compared to the entire human population.
At this moment, Kanae returned to the Kyogoku House. She casually eliminated the Demon disguised as Daki's attendant, then found the proprietress and told her many truths.
Kanae was experienced and knew how to handle the aftermath.
Meanwhile, Kurozawa, who typically only cared about the killing and not the cleanup, waited outside. His breathing was somewhat erratic because he was trying the breathing technique Kanae had mentioned; he wasn't using Total Concentration: Constant Water Breathing.
The cultivation of Higan Suzume Eye was very similar to the original Breathing Technique training because it was itself a type of Breathing Technique skill. It involved two aspects: the rhythm of breathing and the flow of energy within the body.
The breathing rhythm was fundamental. Only by replicating the correct and complete breathing rhythm could a person generate the unique energy belonging to the Breathing Technique within their body. Then, by controlling this energy to circulate within the body and stimulating different body parts, they could achieve some miraculous abilities.
It sounded simple, but the actual cultivation had many problems that needed to be solved, such as the speed of energy flow, the specific subtle areas that needed stimulation, the degree of stimulation, and so on.
Higan Suzume Eye was particularly complex in this regard because it was more intricate than the energy circulation of other Breathing Techniques.
Starting from the eyes and spreading outwards to the rest of the body, circulating once before returning to the eyes, Kurozawa didn't dare to be careless because it involved many subtle nerves in the eye area.
The eyes were near the brain, a crucial location. He didn't want to turn himself into an idiot because energy rushed to his brain.
As long as he could get started and obtain the initial prototype of Higan Suzume Eye in the Skills panel, he could use Potential Points to level it up. So, Kurozawa didn't need to be overly meticulous.
Progress was slow, but he wasn't anxious.
About ten minutes later, Kanae emerged from the Kyogoku House and saw Kurozawa, who was slightly closing his eyes by the wall, studying Higan Suzume Eye.
He's quick to act. Kanae walked up and waved her hand in front of Kurozawa's eyes: "Alright, go inside and continue your research."
Opening his eyes, Kurozawa's breathing returned to a steady and orderly rhythm: "Go inside?"
Kanae nodded: "Yes, we'll rest at the Kyogoku House for a night and set off tomorrow morning. At least it's better than resting in the wilderness."
She had spoken with the proprietress of the Kyogoku House, who agreed to provide lodging for Kanae and Kurozawa to rest.
Although the Kyogoku House was severely damaged by the battle, the proprietress knew her life was more important. If Kanae and Kurozawa hadn't forced Daki away, she would have been living on the edge of death every day. If Daki was in a bad mood, she might have been gone.
Furthermore, Kanae said that the Demon Slayer Corps would send people to help her repair the Kyogoku House afterward, so the proprietress naturally harbored no resentment and readily allowed Kanae to stay and rest.
Subsequently, the two re-entered the Kyogoku House and found two adjacent empty rooms to stay in.
...
Mount Sagiri, eleven o'clock at night, mid-mountain.
Iguro Obanai held an iron sword shaped like a Nichirin Blade, seriously practicing Breathing Technique Sword Forms. With every strike, Iguro Obanai was extremely focused. The iron sword created a whooshing sound as it swung through the air with Iguro Obanai's movements. The small white snake around his neck, however, was sound asleep, sleeping very soundly.
One could see that Iguro Obanai's arms were slightly trembling from the prolonged sword practice, but he remained focused and serious, without any slackening or relaxation.
Physical pain had no effect on Iguro Obanai. Over a decade of imprisonment in a dungeon had given Iguro Obanai psychological endurance far exceeding that of his peers, as well as maturity far exceeding his peers.
Beside him were Sakonji Urokodaki and Hanada Shizuka.
Hanada Shizuka was lying on a tree branch, resting her head comfortably on her arm, with an unknown wild grass blade in her mouth. Her appearance and demeanor closely resembled Kurozawa; she was imitating some of Kurozawa's favorite postures.
Sakonji Urokodaki stood like a pine tree, silently watching Iguro Obanai, a look of pity flashing in his eyes.
Iguro Obanai's performance pleased him, but the more pleased he was, the more he could feel Iguro Obanai's misfortune; this child's past was too tragic.
At this time on Mount Sagiri, most disciples were on missions. Only Sakonji Urokodaki, Iguro Obanai, and Hanada Shizuka, who had just completed a mission, were on the mountain.
Iguro Obanai was extremely diligent. As long as Sakonji Urokodaki didn't stop, he would likely continue to train even if his arm muscles tore, gritting his teeth. His level of diligence and stubbornness surpassed all the disciples Sakonji Urokodaki had taught, including the former Kurozawa.
"Don't think about replicating the Water Breathing Sword Forms. Your Serpent Breathing is a self-created Breathing Technique. The Water Breathing Sword Forms are only for reference."
"Creating suitable Sword Forms for Serpent Breathing based on the Water Breathing Sword Forms is the direction of your current training."
Breathing Techniques and Sword Forms were always two sides of the same coin, cultivated simultaneously. The Serpent Breathing that Iguro Obanai derived and created based on Water Breathing already had a rough prototype. Now, he was trying to create Serpent Breathing Sword Forms.
Hearing Sakonji Urokodaki's words, Iguro Obanai paused for a moment, then his sword-swinging posture became much more relaxed, deviating further from the Water Breathing Sword Forms pattern. His performance made Sakonji Urokodaki know that without any accidents, this child would become a Demon Slayer Pillar within the next one or two years.
On the tree, Hanada Shizuka tilted her head, glanced at Iguro Obanai, then withdrew her gaze and continued to chew gently on the wild grass, imitating Kurozawa, and squinted her eyes comfortably, feeling the faint fragrance in her mouth.
She neither disliked nor liked Iguro Obanai. Firstly, it seemed her position as the Junior Disciple had been taken, becoming a Junior Disciple (male). Secondly, Iguro Obanai's cold demeanor always reminded Hanada Shizuka of slithery snakes.
She was afraid of snakes, and Iguro Obanai always had a snake around his neck.
"Ah, I haven't seen Senior Disciple in a while. I wonder what day it is since I started missing Senior Disciple." She mumbled casually, then closed her eyes, planning to sleep on the tree tonight. On a summer night, the breeze on the treetop was much more comfortable than being indoors.
Below, Sakonji Urokodaki suddenly felt his brows furrow, sensing a feeling of unease.
The sudden feeling of unease caught his attention. Pillars who were proficient in Breathing Techniques were always very accurate in their intuition.
Before Sakonji Urokodaki could even think about the reason for the unease, a strange aura, carried by the night wind, came from afar, arrived at Mount Sagiri, and reached the location where Sakonji Urokodaki was currently standing.
This aura was captured by Sakonji Urokodaki's keen Enhanced Sense of Smell.
In an instant, beneath the Tengu Mask, Sakonji Urokodaki's expression changed. Unprecedented solemnity and tension climbed onto his face.
-----------
Machine Translation by: https:// randomtranslator.com/
Read 777+ original & fanfic translations in English, Español, Português, Deutsch, Français, or Русский at: https:// randomtranslator.com/
Join our Discord: https:// discord.gg/NSWvfN7vua
-----------