Hammer Chain

In seven months, the once thin and weak bird began to grow strong and taller.

His sword-wielding movements, which were initially stiff and clumsy, became smooth and swift, with each strike accompanied by a sharp whistling sound.

Although it is far from reaching the level of the tearing storm that Arashizaki demonstrated, its power and stability are incomparable to what they used to be.

The next day, Asuka arrived at the foot of the most precipitous peak of Hayama, as Arashizaki had requested.

"The wind is formless and intangible, its gathering and dispersing are unpredictable! Don't try to fight it, but feel its flow and its power!"

"Immerse yourself in it! The swordsman of the Breath of the Wind must not fear the wind! Be as free as the wind, as all-pervasive as the wind, as...destroy everything!"

The wind here is even more violent, like an invisible giant hand tearing at people's bodies; a slight misstep could send you flying off the cliff.

"You've laid a solid foundation; it's time to begin training in [Total Concentration Breathing]..."

"Focus on your breathing. You need to continue to reinforce the breathing techniques I taught you before. Expand your lungs to deliver oxygen to every blood vessel in your body, accelerating blood circulation and your heartbeat!"

"In this way, your body temperature will rise rapidly, your bones and muscles will become searing, granting you, in a human body, power as great as a demon!"

Arashi stood at the foot of the mountain, his expression serious. "Asuka... from today onwards, you will climb to the summit every day without lifting a finger! There you will practice concentrated breathing and daily sword stances, and then climb down the mountain!"

"Come find me when you can finish all this within two hours!"

"Have the belief that you're going to die, and keep going."

Arashizaki Tesshin didn't give any further instructions, leaving only Asuka behind.

He believed that even if he were alone, a flame would burn within the boy's heart, urging him to complete his training.

Initially, the biggest challenge was climbing the mountain in strong winds.

The howling wind could blow him down into the ravine at any moment, turning him into a bloody mess, but after gradually becoming familiar with the mountain path, it became the easiest task.

The fierce winds at the summit filled his mouth and nose, and the thin oxygen made it extremely difficult for him to even breathe, let alone maintain full concentration.

His body was blown around unsteadily, and each swing of the knife was extremely difficult, his movements severely distorted.

But he did not back down. Instead, he faced the wind, breathing more deeply and adjusting his center of gravity and point of exertion more precisely.

He struggled in the gale, like a lone wolf fighting in a storm, blown about again and again, but each time regaining his balance and swinging his wooden sword with an indomitable will.

The time allotted for cultivation was continuously compressed until he was able to complete it all in about an hour.

Over the months, the bird's skin became dark and rough from the mountain winds, but its eyes became sharper, like the edge of a knife honed by wind and frost.

His movements on the mountaintop became increasingly stable, and his sword-wielding movements gradually became fluid even in the gale-force winds. He could even subtly use the wind to adjust his attack angles.

When he appeared before Arashizaki Tesshin, the other party had no intention of personally testing whether Asuka could do it, but instead took him to the back of Hayama, a secluded training ground.

The ancient trees here are towering and lush, and the dim light makes it look both quiet and dangerous.

For the next year, apart from Miss Rika who went in and out of the back mountain every day and Arashizaki Teshin who would occasionally come out of the back mountain to instruct the other disciples, no one saw Asuka again.

In the eyes of the birds, the only thing that remains of Yeshan's four seasons is the different winds blowing from the training ground in each season:

The gentle breeze of spring carrying the scent of new buds, the scorching, dry winds of summer;

The bleak autumn wind carrying fallen leaves, the biting winter wind that cuts to the bone.

The bird's body was already covered in wounds.

There are bruises from sparring with wooden swords, cuts from sharp rocks while climbing mountains, scratches from branches while traversing dense forests, and countless bandages for tendon and even bone damage caused by pushing the limits.

Before the old wounds have completely faded, new wounds have already covered them.

The marks all over his body are proof of his desperate pursuit of power.

Time flies, and the seasons change.

All told, the seventy-eight birds have spent two whole years in Yeshan, the place where the breath of wind is passed down.

Under Arashizaki Tesshin's strict, almost cruel, guidance, Asuka's physical abilities were pushed to the limits of ordinary people. Her once slender frame was now covered by tough muscles, with smooth lines and explosive power, every inch of her muscles containing the power of the wind.

More importantly, he finally began to systematically learn the sword form of Breath of the Wind.

From the first form to the ninth form, Arashizaki Tesshin demonstrated the usage and shared his insights with Asuka.

Asuka learned quickly. His body seemed to be naturally in sync with the wildness and unpredictability of the wind. Although his power was insufficient, he had already mastered the basic momentum and key points. All that was left was to hone his skills.

His swordplay lacked the flawless mastery of Arashi, but was full of primal wildness and savage vitality, as unreasonable as a hurricane suddenly rising in the wilderness.

In addition, Arashi noticed that when Asuka was fully immersed in the sword form of Wind Breathing, there was always a faint, almost imperceptible, power about to burst forth from him...

"Is it the Natural Breathing technique used when exorcising demons...?" Arashizaki wasn't quite sure.

Furthermore, no matter how strong his body became or how skilled his swordsmanship became, the light in his eyes never changed.

Although his gaze softened and carried an almost clumsy trust when facing Arashizaki Teshin, who taught him his skills, and Rika, who had always taken good care of him, his gaze was always cold and distant at other times.

Like a wild beast that has been temporarily taken in, even after it has eaten and drunk its fill and sharpened its claws, it has never truly let down its guard against its surroundings.

Arashizaki Tesshin saw all of this.

He had experienced countless life-and-death battles and taught all sorts of disciples. He knew that great power, without the guidance of a matching mindset, could easily slide into a dangerous abyss.

Arashi often sat alone in a secluded spot in the back mountains, watching the solitary figure of Asuka wielding her sword, remaining silent.

He admitted that he was not good at subtle guidance and emotional comfort; all he could give the birds was the most rigorous training, the most solid skills, and almost demanding requirements.

They believe that strict teachers produce outstanding students, and that only through rigorous training can one become truly strong.

Moreover, the child's demeanor reminded him of a student.

Compared to that child, Asuka has no last protection or bond, making him a truly worrying character.

"Was my choice wrong...?" Arashizaki Tesshin would sometimes ask himself. "Did I focus too much on forging his body and neglect the emptiness in his heart? Will he lose his way after gaining greater power...?"

This thought was like a thorn stuck in the old man's heart, lingering there for a long time.

Not long after, Ye Shan's tranquility was shattered by a series of familiar yet somewhat rough footsteps.

The newcomer was tall and muscular, dressed in the Demon Slayer Corps' dark green uniform, with a white haori casually draped over his shoulders. On the haori, a huge and ferocious character for "kill" was written in thick ink, as if he wanted to crush all evil spirits under this murderous intent.

He had a head of unruly, silver-white short hair, and several deep scars across his face, especially the one that ran diagonally from his forehead to his cheek, which added to his fierce appearance.

What is most striking about him are his eyes, sharp as a raptor, flashing with an almost frenzied fighting spirit and undisguised sharpness, as if he were about to devour someone at any moment.

He exuded an invisible, suffocating sense of oppression.

That was a terrifying aura honed through countless battles on the brink of life and death, bathed in the blood of demons.

The current Wind Pillar of the Demon Slayer Corps—Sanemi Shinazugawa.