Finding Your Own Breath

Birds are never picky about food; they're happy as long as they can fill their stomachs.

While they were in Hayama, although Miss Rika often prepared tea and snacks for them, her skills were really not commendable, and apart from Asuka, not many people were willing to try.

The food in front of me wasn't luxurious, but it was exquisitely prepared and delicious—glistening rice balls, perfectly grilled sweetfish, bright green blanched wild vegetables, a small bowl of miso soup, and a few seasonal fruits.

This caused the bird, which had been engaged in intense combat all morning, to unusually feel hungry.

Beside Madam Tianyin, the young children sat quietly, their little faces filled with innocence and a hint of curiosity about the guest.

They inherited their mother's gentle and calm temperament, and every move they made exuded good manners.

Asuka, who was used to living alone, knew nothing about fine dining. She could only kneel down like Muichiro and eat slowly and awkwardly.

The only sounds under the eaves were the soft clatter of bowls and chopsticks and the occasional whispers of children.

The bird ate silently, its gaze unconsciously sweeping across the tranquil mansion.

He noticed that apart from himself and the hidden troops standing not far away, he didn't seem to see the figure of the lord with the gentle and warm demeanor.

"Madam, why is our lord not dining with us?"

The air seemed to stagnate as the question arose at the exit, under the corridor.

The members of the Hidden Division who were standing by turned their gazes toward them, and the children around them fell silent. Even Muichiro stopped eating and looked at Asuka with a hint of dissatisfaction in his eyes.

This question might seem a bit presumptuous, but Asuka really doesn't have any bad intentions; she's just curious.

Lady Tianyin's smile did not disappear, but a faint sadness lingered deep within it.

She gently put down the soup spoon in her hand and looked at Asuka with a calm gaze: "Asuka-kun, thank you for your concern, but Kagaya is unwell and cannot come with us."

"Is the Lord's illness very serious?" Asuka thought of the hideous scar on the other's face, which seemed to be spreading, and couldn't help but ask with genuine concern.

Lady Tenon nodded gently: "Yes, Mr. Asuka."

"Kakuya's body has been weak since childhood, and he has always suffered from illness. This is... a hereditary disease passed down through generations of the Ubuyashiki family, which cannot be avoided."

She brushed a stray strand of hair behind her ear, her eyes filled with compassion: "Therefore, he can only eat the mildest, most easily digestible food. Every outing, every breath, every thought is a great burden for him. I hope you can understand."

"Of course, Lady Amane..." Asuka replied, "Our lord is the heart of the Demon Slayer Corps, so naturally we must protect him carefully."

Ubuyashiki Amane gazed at the vibrant greenery in the courtyard, as if drawing strength from it to fight against the darkness, and said solemnly:

"Kyoya dedicated everything to the cause of exorcising demons, and he would not give up even if he were to perish in body and mind. His will to slay evil demons and protect the living never wavered in the slightest."

"With such outstanding children like you, this mission will surely be accomplished..."

The bird felt a heavy sense of respect weighing on its heart.

According to his understanding, the Demon Slayer Corps has been established for hundreds of years, and the lord of the Ubuyashiki family has changed countless times from generation to generation.

Their enemy, Muzan Kibutsuji, the ancestor of all demons, is still alive today.

Why is the lord so determined to organize the Demon Slayer Corps to fight against demons when he is already so weak?

He thought of Tanjiro's words about finding joy in helping others, but felt that his lord's actions went even further.

Protection is a power he doesn't quite understand yet.

"I see..." Asuka murmured softly, mimicking others' prayer gestures, she clasped her hands together: "May my lord recover well and get well soon..."

The topic shifted, and the tea break ended with pleasantries between Madam Amane and Asuka.

Sitting in the corridor, Asuka rubbed her wrist, which had been struck by Muichiro and was now bruised.

He was still savoring the feeling of fighting Muichiro Tokito, the feeling of being seen through, suppressed, and having every move guessed when using only sword skills, which made him somewhat irritable.

"Ms. Arashi, you should change your teaching methods..." he thought to himself.

Just as he was lost in thought, a calm and even voice, like a feather gently drifting down beside him:

"Perhaps the Breath of the Wind isn't entirely suitable for you."

Asuka turned to look at Muichiro, who seemed lost in thought, as if those words had not come from him.

"What does that mean?"

"Your body is resisting it."

In the early stages of his sparring with Asuka, Muichiro had observed Asuka's Wind Breathing.

It's very solid and pure. You can't have such a deep and long-lasting aura without putting in a lot of hard work. Based on this alone, it's almost on par with Shinazugawa-senpai.

But when it was actually put into practice, the effect wasn't quite as harmonious as it seemed.

"I've also studied the Breath of the Wind. The wind is free, unrestrained, fierce, and swift... I know that very well."

Muichiro pointed to Asuka's body, his tone flat: "But your body is neither free nor fierce, it's like something is always pulling at your will, preventing you from truly giving your all in the battle..."

Yes, that's the feeling.

After being enlightened by Muichiro, Asuka suddenly realized that the reason why she always felt that her Breath of Wind was not perfect was actually here.

His conviction to slay demons wasn't strong; his most recent firm desire to do so was to avenge Arashi-saki-sensei...

If it was just an order from the Demon Slayer Corps, he suspected that if he encountered a demon he couldn't defeat, he might give up the fight...

As for freedom... Professor Arashizaki had explained this concept to him many times, but Asuka simply couldn't grasp it at its core...

Asuka's voice was hesitant: "...But this was taught to me by Arashi-saki-sensei, and I've always used it in battle."

"Usability and suitability are two different things, and this doesn't mean you should give up Breath of the Wind..."

With that, Muichiro walked to the center of the arena and slowly raised his wooden sword.

He lightly touched the ground with his left foot, and his aura changed instantly. A white mist appeared out of thin air and floated along the edge of his blade, as if the blade itself was a diffused rosy light.

"Breath of the Mist, Third Form: Mist Scattering and Spraying".

Muichiro spun around and drew his sword. In an instant, the sword light transformed into hundreds of tiny, silvery droplets, wrapped in a pale blue mist, shimmering with starlight in the air and rippling with twisted waves.

Although it looked beautiful, Asuka knew very well that the killing intent and sword aura contained within were genuine, and if it struck a demon, it would immediately tear flesh and bone apart.

Muichiro, who had unleashed that strike, brandished his wooden sword: "See that? That's the Breath of Mist. Does it look familiar?"

Before Asuka could reply, Muichiro continued, "The Breath of Mist originates from the wind, yet it is entirely different, more unpredictable and elusive... It is the kind of breathing that suits my body."

"Asuka, each person's body is a unique battlefield."

"The structure of the skeleton, the texture of the muscles, the rhythm of the flow of breath, and the fighting desire of one's own soul are all different."

"Forcing yourself into a style that doesn't suit you is like wearing shoes that don't fit... Maybe you should find a style that suits you."

Although his tone was cold and empty, it was indeed a friendly suggestion from the bottom of his heart.

Given Muichiro's personality and his troublesome memory issues, he wouldn't normally talk to others so much.

But Asuka was, after all, his apprentice, personally assigned to him by the lord, and it was his mission.

Therefore, he shared his understanding with the other party without reservation, hoping to help him complete the training as soon as possible.

After all, Zhu's time is very precious, and he doesn't have time to keep sparring with others.

"...My own breathing." Asuka repeated softly, as if something in her heart had been touched.

In his hands, the techniques of Breath of the Wind can sometimes be distorted into more violent and unreasonable forms.

Even though she had practiced the Breath of the Wind sword technique countless times, when actually using it, Asuka would still subconsciously react physically, using the sword moves as she understood them.

Perhaps... this is simply the body seeking a more appropriate expression.

"So what should I do?"

"Fight, fight on and on." Muichiro threw away his wooden sword, his lifeless eyes fixed on Asuka: "Only in the face of life and death will the body's 'truth' be revealed without reservation..."

"Starting tomorrow, let's train with real swords."