Chapter 307

Chance!

He forced himself to endure the pain in his shoulder, stamped his foot to steady his stance, then exploded with all his strength, driving the fastest thrust technique he had at that towering figure that had brought him such overwhelming pressure and immense fear.

Water Breathing, Seventh Form.

"Drop Ripple Thrust!"

Luo En gave a casual flick of the dead branch in his hand.

In the air before him, as if on the surface of water, several twisted water-blue vortices appeared out of nowhere.

Tanjiro's full-power thrust plunged into them, as if sinking into a mire.

In his wide-open eyes, the Nichirin blade he had thrust toward Xiang Luoen was forcibly pulled by that vortex force and stabbed off to one side.

Luo En kicked out.

Tanjiro was sent flying backward over ten meters in an instant, slammed heavily into the trunk of a large tree, and slid down clutching his Nichirin blade, his face twisted in agony.

He forced his eyes open and stared at Luo En in the distance in disbelief: "J-just now, that was…"

"Looks familiar, doesn't it?"

Luo En took a sip of wine and said to him: "This is also the Water Breathing you've learned, but it's a sword art I created myself."

Tanjiro's eyes widened slightly: "A sword art… you created yourself."

Shinobu and Kanao were also a little surprised.

"Sword arts aren't dead things. Learning the sword techniques passed down by predecessors can indeed help a person grow stronger, but once sword arts reach a certain level, the ones you create yourself are the ones that suit you best."

As Luo En spoke, he walked over to the campfire and tossed the dead branch—nearly shattered after bearing one of his sword techniques—into the flames.

He glanced at Tanjiro, who was slumped under that tree staring at him in a daze, and smiled: "When you're able to create your own sword arts too, you'll have become quite strong."

"But for now, focus on mastering Total Concentration Breathing as quickly as possible."

Luo En looked at Shinobu and smiled: "I'll leave that matter to you, Miss Shinobu."

Shinobu froze at his words.

"Eh?"

……

The next two days.

The group traveled while continuing their training.

During the day, Shinobu was in charge of training Tanjiro's physical fitness, teaching him ways to master Total Concentration Breathing as quickly as possible.

At night.

Luo En would release a certain amount of killing intent and spar with Tanjiro in sword combat.

"Fear no death, let your heart be tough as iron, do not allow even a shred of fear toward me!"

*Smack. *

Tanjiro was sent flying backward on the spot.

"Don't think, leave everything to instinct!"

"Y-yes!"

"What was that hesitation just now?!"

*Smack. *

Tanjiro flew backward, his head wedged into a tree trunk.

"Heart like still water—when you execute Water Breathing sword arts, you must not harbor stray thoughts!"

*Smack! *

……

Three full days passed.

Tanjiro was trained brutally, covered in wounds, but his growth was plain to see.

At first he could only last around twenty exchanges against Kanao, but now he could go back and forth with her.

His breathing technique was also close to reaching the level of Total Concentration.

Even Shinobu was surprised by the growth in his strength.

Three days passed.

Just as the group was about to arrive at Tanjiro's mission location.

Shinobu received a reply from the leader of the Demon Slayer Corps.

She walked to a tree, looked up at Luo En sitting on a treetop drinking wine, and said: "The Master invites you to visit the Demon Slayer Corps."

Luo En took a sip of wine and said lazily: "Is that so… then when do we set out?"

"I'm fine with anything. What about you? Should we wait for him to finish this mission?"

Shinobu glanced at Tanjiro and Nezuko as she spoke.

"No need. The demons here aren't strong; Tanjiro can handle them. Besides…"

Luo En flipped over, dropped from the tree, and walked past Shinobu reeking of alcohol: "That kid needs more real combat against demons to gain experience."

"Is that so…"

……

Luo En called Tanjiro, who was in the middle of physical training, over and explained the situation to him.

"Eh? Mr. Luo En and Miss Butterfly are leaving?"

Tanjiro was a little surprised.

"Mm, pretty much everything I need to teach you at this stage, I've taught you. What comes next is real combat and your own comprehension." Luo En stood before him with his arms folded: "Next time we meet, I hope you'll be a bit stronger than you are now. When that time comes, I'll guide you in the sword arts of Sun Breathing."

Tanjiro looked at Luo En with deep gratitude.

"Mr. Luo En, I will never forget your kindness for the rest of my life! Thank you truly!"

Looking at Tanjiro, who had bowed to him at a ninety-degree angle, Luo En rather helplessly picked at his ear: "Alright, no need to be so dead serious."

Then he glanced at Nezuko beside Tanjiro, who was looking at him, bent down, reached out, and patted her head, saying gently: "See you next time, Nezuko."

Shinobu Kocho, along with Kanao, also said goodbye to Tanjiro and Nezuko.

Then the few of them departed into the night.

Tanjiro gazed at the receding, disappearing backs of the people, deeply moved: "Mr. Luo En… truly is a gentle and powerful person. Can I become someone like Mr. Luo En in the future…"

Nezuko, biting on her bamboo mouthpiece, looked up at that departing back, and reached out to touch the top of her head.

…………

On the way to the Demon Slayer Corps headquarters.

Shinobu Kocho asked Luo En some questions she had not asked in front of Tanjiro.

For example, why, as a human, did he possess the ability to control ice?

Why did he know so much about what happened four hundred years ago?

Luo En only replied with two words to her.

"Secret."

17, give it a try and you'll die

On the road.

Luo En, as promised, began to give Shinobu Kocho pointers on her swordsmanship.

"As a swordsman, neither your physique nor your intent is your strong suit, so you must reach the extreme in swordsmanship and technique if you are to have any chance of killing the Ice Demon Douma."

"I don't have much to teach you about poison; you can go back and research it together with Tamayo."

"In swordsmanship and technique, the body's feeling is always far more important than verbal instruction."

Luo En held Kanao's Nichirin Blade in his right hand, looked at Shinobu Kocho opposite him, and said with a smile: "Come on, through actual combat, let your body feel for itself what the Transparent World is, and what swordsmanship is."

Shinobu Kocho, holding her slender Nichirin Blade, gazed at him with a serious expression: "I'm counting on you."

Kanao sat on the grass, staring unblinkingly at the two people facing each other ahead.

Shinobu Kocho fixed her full attention on Luo En, who stood in a casual stance opposite her.

Total Concentration Breathing.

After her spirit, energy, and mind reached their peak.

She tapped the ground with her foot, her figure leaping high into the air, the butterfly haori on her back fluttering, making her look like a moth—light and illusory as she charged toward Luo En.

Insect Breathing, Dance of the Butterfly…

Just as she, light as a butterfly, was about to launch a high-speed thrust at Luo En.