Chapter 59: The Terrifying Weapon

"Knowing how to pick up a weapon is important, but knowing when to put it down when necessary is even more important—your weapon can kill demons, but it can just as easily kill humans."

Before Chu Yang began testing the weapons, Himehara Gyomei had earnestly warned him this, his intentions deeply thoughtful.

"Master Gyomei, rest assured—I understand the meaning of the power I carry," Chu Yang replied sincerely, then walked over to the pile of heavy weapons and examined them closely.

Meteor hammer, spiked club, chain hammer, a giant halberd taller than a man, a horse-slicing blade with a blade nearly as wide as a door.

Chu Yang broke into a cold sweat.

This wasn’t weapon selection—it was choosing torture devices, an entire crime scene for identifying murder tools!

Among them were even long-handled great swords and spears, distinctly characteristic of ancient Huaxia.

Even Guan Er would give a thumbs-up.

Himehara Gyomei’s own weapon was essentially a modified chain hammer, with a broad axe attached to the other end, further enhancing its lethality; honestly, he hoped Chu Yang would choose something similar to his own.

But Chu Yang ultimately chose the horse-slicing blade.

At least this one was a sword.

The others had nothing to do with the "Nichirin Blade"—Chu Yang had no desire to use them.

I could just rename it "Tessaiga" or "Zangetsu"—it looks similar enough anyway.

Himehara Gyomei sighed, looking somewhat disappointed.

What’s wrong with a chain hammer?

High lethality, easy to handle, one swing kills a demon.

No appreciation!

Himehara Gyomei reminded him: "Itachi’re not yet a formal member of the Demon Slayer Corps, so the weapon in your hands is only temporary—meant to let Itachi participate in the Final Selection."

"Though the weapon forms differ, the techniques are largely similar—Itachi only need to adapt subtly in the details."

Himehara Gyomei picked up his weapon and began demonstrating the Sword Techniques of Stone Breathing to Chu Yang.

Most heavy weapon techniques share common principles; Himehara Gyomei hoped Chu Yang could find a style suited to him, one that maximized the horse-slicing blade’s strengths.

Chu Yang stared intently, memorizing every technique firmly in his mind.

Because Stone Breathing had few inheritors, its techniques were far fewer than other styles; Himehara Gyomei demonstrated only up to the Fifth Form before stopping.

"These are all the techniques I know—now it’s up to Itachi to complete them," Himehara Gyomei set down his weapon, clasped his hands together, "If Itachi have any questions, ask me now."

Chu Yang shook his head, indicating he had no doubts.

Seeing this, Himehara Gyomei couldn’t help but sigh, feeling strangely forlorn—teaching a genius like Chu Yang was indeed effortless, but too much ease robbed him of any sense of accomplishment.

Especially since Stone Breathing was the hardest of the Five Breathing Styles.

"For the next while, I must leave to investigate demon movements and clear demons in my jurisdiction, so Itachi’ll remain alone in the temple to train—remember, light the Wisteria Incense at night."

When mentioning Wisteria Incense, Himehara Gyomei’s expression grew unnatural, as if recalling painful memories; he returned to his room, packed his belongings, gave Chu Yang further instructions, then departed.

After Himehara Gyomei left, Chu Yang went up the mountain daily to fetch water—even though the courtyard water vats were already full, he never grew tired of it.

The training results were obvious—he soon returned to the temple by noon, even freeing up entire afternoons to practice sword techniques.

But Chu Yang clearly ignored Himehara Gyomei’s instructions—the Wisteria Incense placed in the temple had never been lit once.

Another half-month passed; Chu Yang practiced sword techniques in the courtyard until late into the night.

Suddenly, he smelled a strange odor.

It was an indescribable stench.

Like a pile of rotting food and corpses fermenting together.

The smell made Chu Yang feel like vomiting!

He suddenly realized… this was the smell of a demon!

Immediately, Chu Yang activated Kenbunshoku Haki, finally hearing something rapidly approaching the temple’s perimeter—its speed was terrifying, like a starving beast spotting prey.

Chu Yang stilled his breath, skillfully entering the Full Concentration Breathing state, his eyes locked on the front door.

BOOM!!

With a thunderous crash, the door shattered, and a dark shadow burst from the darkness, hurtling toward Chu Yang under the moonlight!

Simultaneously, Chu Yang leapt high into the air!

His horse-slicing blade descended from above with crushing force, aimed at the shadow!

【Stone Breathing·Second Form·Heaven’s Shatter】

The immense power shook the air, the violent gusts startling the ambushers.

This guy with the horse-slicing blade wasn’t ordinary!

As death approached…

The shadow roared inwardly, summoning all its strength to twist aside!

It succeeded!

The blade had been aimed at its head.

Instead, it carved from its right shoulder down to its right thigh, cleaving it cleanly in half!

"Aaaahhhhh!!!"

The shadow screamed in utter horror—partly from agony, partly from terror.

In a single exchange, Chu Yang had severely wounded it!

Had it not been a demon, it would already be dead!

After severing half the shadow’s body, Chu Yang passed it by; both turned back, locking eyes.

The shadow was indeed a demon—and it wore the form of a slender youth.

But its face was grotesque, covered in strange, twisted runes.

The demon youth’s eyes burned crimson, fixed on Chu Yang.

As if memorizing his face to seek revenge later.

"I aimed for the head… what a pity…" Chu Yang felt uneasy—he’d underestimated the demon’s speed in his first battle.

The demon youth, standing on one leg with only half its body remaining, had no intention of fighting this swordsman who looked barely older than itself.

It knew fighting meant only death.

Without hesitation, it leapt onto the eaves, preparing to scale the wall and flee this strange temple.

A gust of wind blew.

The demon youth felt the shadow of death return, instinctively shifting right—only for the familiar massive horse-slicing blade to flash past its left shoulder.

*Squelch*—another arm flew off.

*Plop*—it landed on the ground, joining its severed twin.

This time, the demon youth didn’t scream—it trembled violently, as if thrown into an ice cellar, its terror of death far outweighing its pain.

"Hmm, quick reaction—I missed again!" Chu Yang stared at the demon youth in surprise; its danger sense was nearly matching his own Kenbunshoku Haki—it had escaped death twice.

"Your Blood Demon Art isn’t by chance the ability to predict danger, is it?" Chu Yang glared at the demon youth.

The demon youth was startled—Chu Yang was right; its Blood Demon Art did allow limited prediction of danger, enhancing instinct.

The demon youth’s body was regenerating rapidly.

But it wasn’t sure it could survive until full recovery—the boy across from it, eyes locked on it, held a blade as wide as a door, capable of slicing it apart effortlessly.

Yet despite wielding such a heavy weapon, the boy moved faster than lightning!

(End of Chapter)