The Appearance of the Evil Spirit

Kyojuro Rengoku crossed his arms and looked at Tanjiro with great enthusiasm:

"Your father? What's wrong? Tell me!"

"He was a very frail person..."

"Weak? That's really not good!"

"Even so, he could still dance the Kagura dance in the biting cold snow..."

"Hmm! That's really nice!"

...For the first time, Tanjiro felt that if someone responded to every word with excessive enthusiasm, it would put a lot of pressure on the other person.

He quickly refined his words and spoke at lightning speed:

"Mr. Rengoku! What I wanted to say was that my family's Hinokami Kagura Dance can unleash power similar to the Flame Breathing Technique! Have you heard of it?"

Kyojuro Rengoku sat with his arms crossed, his eyes fixed intently ahead, and after a long period of contemplation:

"Hmm! Never heard of it!"

"Huh?"

"However, young Kamado, it's a good thing that your father's Kagura dance can utilize the power of breathing techniques! It might be some kind of derivative breathing technique!"

"Derivative breathing?"

"Hmm! The Flame Breathing I use originates from one of the five basic branches of the Initial Breathing Technique! Its core lies in the fiery sword aura, as intense as the sun, purifying all things!"

As he spoke, he extended his right hand, fingers spread wide, as if invisible flames of fighting spirit were rising from his palm: "Because the original breathing technique is very difficult to learn, the five major breathing techniques were developed to accommodate everyone's different physical characteristics, and your father's Hinokami Kagura is very likely a derivative of it!"

"I see!" Tanjiro clenched his fist excitedly, and was about to ask another question when Rengoku Kyojuro interrupted him:

"But that's all I know! Haha! Why don't you become my stepson? I'll take care of you!"

"Huh? Aren't you going to say a few more words? And what have you been looking at?"

The bird listened quietly, its mind churning with thoughts.

The last time I heard the term "derivative breathing" was from Muichiro Tokito.

He thought for a moment, then asked his question: "Mr. Purgatory, I'd like to ask you some questions about the Derivative Breathing Technique..."

Next, Asuka and Kyojuro discussed the similarities and differences between Wind Breathing and Flame Breathing, and proposed to supplement the sword form by referring to Flame Breathing.

Kyojuro Rengoku was quite magnanimous in response, saying that it was no problem for him to refer to the Flame Breathing technique, but that would require him to borrow the "Guidebook of Flame Breathing" from his father after the mission was over and he returned to the Rengoku family home.

"Has the method of training in Flame Breathing always been a family tradition passed down to Mr. Rengoku?"

"That's right. Our family has been practicing the Flame Breathing technique for generations of swordsmen. No matter the era or the circumstances, we will always find a way to pass on this power!"

Just as the discussion about breathing techniques had somewhat eased the anxieties about the ghosts in the carriage, the carriage door was gently pulled open.

A railway attendant in a black uniform walked in.

His face was haggard, and his steps were light and unsteady, like a puppet being pulled by silken threads.

The flight attendant walked straight past the other passengers who were already asleep and came to Asuka and the others:

"Good evening, passengers. Please show your tickets."

His voice was hollow and sounded extremely weak.

Is this the ticket? Asuka reached into his pocket and took out the yellow slip of paper that Zenitsu had handed him before he boarded the train.

The flight attendant, expressionless, gently took each passenger's ticket and stamped it with ticket clips in turn.

Click! Feiniao's ticket was also stamped.

Sizzle sizzle.

The bright incandescent light bulb flickered incessantly.

Om-!

Asuka suddenly felt very uneasy and immediately gripped the asaka at her waist.

A ghost?!

"Flight attendant, it's dangerous here, please step back."

Kyojuro Rengoku immediately stood up, revealing his Nichirin Blade with a flame-shaped hilt at his waist: "The situation is urgent, please do not pursue the matter of the Sword Abolishment Order."

puff!puff!

Almost as soon as Purgatory finished speaking, a sudden change occurred!

As if appearing out of thin air, three evil spirits simultaneously appeared inside the carriage.

The first ghost suddenly jumped up from the back seat.

He was wearing work clothes covered in coal dust, but his neck was twisted 180 degrees in a bizarre way, and a bloody mouth full of fangs split open on the back of his head as he lunged at the nearest female passenger!

"Flame Breathing - First Form: Shiranui!!"

Without uttering a single wasted word, Purgatory transformed into a golden-red meteor, its Sun Wheel Blade, wreathed in explosive flames, sweeping straight at the demon's throat!

*Snap!*

The flaming blade instantly severed the demon's head, burning it to ashes that scattered in the air!

The second ghost appeared from the shadows of the corridor, leaping out like a venomous snake and aiming straight for the bird's back!

Whoosh—!

Asuka didn't even use the sword form of Breath of the Wind, yet she severed the demon's head. The speed of her strike was so fast that even Kyojuro Rengoku was taken aback.

"Hmm! As expected of the Pillar who slew the Lower Moon Demon Moon! Very good!"

As for the third ghost, it resembled a hunched old woman, struggling to fall from the shelf.

Her spine twisted, with sickle-shaped bones jutting out, sweeping towards the travelers!

"First Form: Water Surface Slash!!"

"Second Fang - Cleave!!"

Tanjiro and Inosuke attacked simultaneously! Their swords hummed, and sparks flew!

The two worked together to immediately halt the demon's attack, preventing the passengers from being harmed.

The next second, Kyojuro Rengoku arrived again!

"Flame Breathing - Second Form: Ascending Blaze!!"

boom--!!

Golden-red streaks of light shot into the sky! Blazing flames exploded out of thin air!

With a mournful howl, the demon's neck, along with its attached body, instantly turned to ashes in the flames!

In the blink of an eye, all three ghosts were dead.

There was a moment of silence in the carriage, followed by enthusiastic applause and shouts, as everyone paid tribute to the ghost hunters!

"Well done!" Purgatory sheathed her sword and laughed, the golden-red haori vibrating in the carriage with her laughter: "How could you, you wretched demons, shake our resolve to protect you! Hahahaha!"

His loud and infectious laughter dispelled the last vestiges of gloom in the carriage.

Tanjiro and the others, even Asuka, all wore relieved smiles.

"Wow, that's amazing! Big brother is incredible! Please take me as your apprentice!" Tanjiro exclaimed excitedly, waving his arms and legs around Rengoku Kyojuro.

"Great! I'll take good care of you!"

Rengoku Kyojuro loudly agreed, his voice surging with energy.

Zenitsu and Inosuke also surrounded Kyojuro, shouting in unison, "Please take us as your disciples too!"

"Haha! Good! I will train you all to become excellent swordsmen!"

"Long live! Brother Purgatory!"

"Ha ha ha ha!!"

only......

The flight attendant watched the group coldly from a distance, as if she hadn't witnessed the exciting demon-slaying act just now.

He put away the ticket tongs, took out a few hemp ropes from his pocket, and squatted down gently.

The world twisted, and all these images vanished.

The next second, the people who were just celebrating their victory were now quietly asleep in their seats.

Whose dream was all that just happened...?

He carefully tied the rope around the wrists of the men and waved towards the other end of the carriage.

Four young men and women, just like him, walked in.

"Each of you pick one, I'll take care of this one..." He pointed to Asuka, the boy with a furrowed brow in his sleep.

As he spoke, he pulled an awl out of his pocket.

"Are you ready?"

A chilling voice came from above him.

One hand, just one hand, using its five fingers as legs, twisted and crawled up from the ceiling.

The hand had blue eyes, and a mouth on the back of the hand, revealing a set of gleaming white teeth.

The gaunt-faced men looked respectfully at the hand and responded in deep voices:

"What should we do now?"

"Wait a little longer, and these people will fall into a deep sleep... You only need to use my Blood Demon Art to invade their dreams."

"Find the spiritual core of their souls in their dreams and destroy it."

"No matter how powerful a demon hunter is, they are powerless in a dream. Killing them is a piece of cake, so don't be nervous."

Ghost Hand sized up Asuka and Rengoku Kyojuro, then added, "However, these demon slayers have very keen senses. They might be awakened by killing intent and demonic energy. Be careful not to touch their bodies..."

"Please... let me see my dead daughter..."

The flight attendant suddenly spoke, and respectfully knelt before the ghostly hand.

"Okay, as long as you complete the mission, I can give you any kind of wonderful dream."

It chuckled, making a sound of rapture:

"How blissful it is to die in a beautiful dream..."