Watching Rengoku Mujuro grab Izumi Kiyowa and start pulling him outside, Mei tried to stop them out of concern.
"His wounds haven't fully healed yet! Even if you want to spar, shouldn't you wait until he's in better shape?"
Mujuro laughed and reassured her, "His body is mostly recovered. When I was checking his frame earlier, I examined his wounds as well—they essentially won't interfere with training. I've also checked your brother's condition. With the medicine I gave you and a better diet, he should be back on his feet in about seven days. There's no cause for alarm."
Even with Mujuro's explanation, Mei remained worried. After all, she had personally bandaged Kiyowa's gashes just yesterday. How could injuries like that heal so quickly?
Seeing the look in Mei's eyes, Kiyowa offered a gentle comfort, "It's alright. Just as Mr. Rengoku said, my body is fine now."
"But..."
Mei tried to protest again, but she was interrupted by Gyutaro from behind.
"Mei! Let them spar. I want to see it too. If they really are that strong, then I'm prepared to join the Demon Slayer Corps as well. At the very least, I can earn enough money there to make sure you live an easy life."
Hearing this, Mujuro's smile grew even more brilliant. He nodded toward Gyutaro, his approval clear without needing a single word.
Since both Kiyowa and Gyutaro had agreed, Mei felt helpless despite her lingering anxiety. She could only watch as the two men headed to the clearing outside to spar.
The area where Gyutaro and Mei lived was quite remote, situated on the very edge of the slums. Following yesterday's brawl, the few nearby residents had fled to avoid being caught up in the trouble. Because of this, the duo had a wide, open space for their practice.
"First! Let me see your current limits! Only then can I determine the general direction for your future training."
Mujuro didn't draw his Nichirin Sword. Instead, he snapped off two tree branches of moderate thickness and tossed one to Kiyowa.
"Use this! Come at me with everything you've got! Don't worry about hurting me; attack with the intent to kill. Only then can you unleash your full potential. Your breathing style is unique—set your talent free!"
After saying this, Mujuro took a deep breath. The moment he gripped the branch, his eyes turned razor-sharp, and a blazing, fire-like aura surged around him. Although there was no killing intent, he radiated an intense pressure that felt like standing too close to a scorching flame.
Kiyowa gripped the branch tightly and took a deep breath, feeling a surge of nerves.
He had been surprised to learn his body already possessed the strength of a Rank Kanoe slayer. Before practicing the breathing style, he had been a typical salaryman; he shouldn't have been capable of earning such an evaluation. Yet, only a single day after acquiring Sun Breathing, his physical stats had undergone a qualitative leap. This staggering rate of improvement gave Kiyowa high hopes for his future.
Thus, he too wanted to know exactly where he stood in terms of power within the context of the Demon Slayer Corps.
Without holding back a single ounce of strength, he circulated the Sun Breathing technique within his body. A warm current flooded his veins, and a sense of raw power filled his limbs.
"Watch out!"
Kiyowa shouted low as he dropped into a slight crouch. With a sudden explosion of strength from his leg muscles, he lunged forward like an arrow released from a bow.
Simultaneously, the branch in Kiyowa's hand carried a sharp, scorching heat as it thrust straight toward Mujuro's face!
This move was the opening stance of Sun Breathing, First Form: Waltz. Although he was using a mere branch, the form—which seemed designed to drag the opponent into his own offensive rhythm—was already beginning to take shape.
"Splendid technique!"
A flash of excitement crossed Mujuro's eyes. He didn't dodge. Instead, he swung his own branch from the side with a sudden snap, accurately striking Kiyowa's wrist.
Crack!
Following the sharp sound of impact, Kiyowa felt a massive force transfer to his wrist. The power was immense and carried an indescribable sensation of heat.
Caught off guard, Kiyowa nearly dropped the branch. To maintain his grip, he was forced to retreat half a step, stumbling slightly before he managed to stabilize himself.
"Excellent move! But your offensive intent is too obvious, and your speed and power are still insufficient. I used raw strength and speed to break your attack just now. Keep going! I'll try to block using sword techniques this time."
Kiyowa shook his wrist, adjusting to the sting of the pain, before charging forward once more.
As another crisp sound of wood hitting wood rang out, Mujuro continued his critique:
"The coordination between your breathing and your movements isn't fluid enough! I can feel that you are proficient in using the breathing itself, but your application of power and timing for the techniques is still clumsy. Your strength is often too scattered, and your strikes are too straightforward.
"To put it simply, your swordsmanship is too 'flat.' There's no follow-up or variation! Once an enemy parries or dodges, you'll be cut down before you can even transition to the next form!"
As he spoke, Mujuro flicked his wrist. His branch moved like a spirit snake, sliding up against Kiyowa's branch and snapping upward!
Kiyowa's heart skipped a beat. His Sun Breathing instinctively drove his body into a spin, narrowly avoiding the strike. Simultaneously, he swung his arm back in a counterattack.
"Umu! Good reaction! But your power is coming from the wrong place! Use your core! Drive your whole body with your waist and abs! The breathing! Remember your breathing! It is the foundation of everything when you wield a sword. The sword follows the breath—the breath does not follow the sword!"
Mujuro dodged every one of Kiyowa's attacks with ease, his booming voice constantly pointing out every flaw. His guidance was precise and hit the mark every time, devoid of flowery theory and focusing entirely on the most direct and effective points of real combat.
Meanwhile, Gyutaro and Mei sat on the porch watching. Gyutaro suddenly asked in a low voice, "Mei, do you know why he smiled at us after I spoke earlier?"
"After what you said?"
"After I told them to go spar."
"I... I don't really understand."
"Because he knew that the moment I was willing to watch, it meant I was already preparing to join that Demon Slayer Corps myself."
"But... but Brother, are you really going to go fight those demons?"
"I don't want to go, and I don't have any grand ideas about protecting people. I just want you to be able to live the life of a normal person."
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Demon Slayer: Starting by Snatching Daki(89 Chapter- Ongoing)
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