Fang Hao listened outside the door for a while before leaving, probably only about ten minutes, after all, Zenitsu was his closest relative and brother, how could he bear to listen to Zenitsu being beaten for so long.
Oh, he's receiving praise from his master inside, then it's fine, listen a little longer, the sound of fists hitting flesh must be applause for Zenitsu's performance, truly a kind master and filial disciple, I love it.
Soon, Zenitsu also came out. He was originally bruised and swollen, but now his face was even more swollen. The blue color on his face had completely disappeared, only the purple and purplish-black parts were more prominent.
Fang Hao nodded. He knew at a glance that Zenitsu was almost recovered. Sure enough, praise makes people happy and can even alleviate injuries.
"Big bro!" Zenitsu looked at Fang Hao with a resentful gaze, the sorrow in his eyes capable of circling the Earth three times.
"Ahem, Zenitsu, well, Master must want to know how we performed in the Final Selection. Are we supposed to lie? Master will know your performance sooner or later. If we tell him when he's still happy, right after we've returned, won't he hit us a little lighter?"
Fang Hao stumbled at first while making up the excuse, but the more he thought about it, the more he felt he was right, and gradually became self-righteous.
"Is that so?" Zenitsu felt that Fang Hao's words made a lot of sense, but why did he still feel something was off? Was it just an illusion?
"Of course, look at your injuries this time, aren't they lighter than before the Final Selection?" Fang Hao said, looking at Zenitsu's clearly severely injured face.
"Is that so? It seems so." Zenitsu thought carefully for a moment. He couldn't remember how severe his injuries were last time. At that time, his mind was full of thoughts like "I have to participate in the Final Selection, I have to kill demons, I'm going to die, I don't want to go." He was even beaten by his grandpa because of this, but he didn't pay attention to his injuries at all.
But Big Brother shouldn't lie to him, Zenitsu thought. He showed a grateful smile to Fang Hao, "Hiss, it touched a wound."
Seeing his foolish little brother being fooled again and again, Fang Hao had no desire to laugh, but instead felt a hint of loneliness. "Life is as lonely as snow. I wish for a wise person but cannot find one, alas!"
Of course, if there's still a chance to fool him, then it won't be lonely. Keep deceiving the foolish junior brother.
"Next, let's practice swordsmanship first, and get more familiar with Water Breathing."
Fang Hao didn't want to practice Water Breathing sword techniques; he just wanted his body to get used to Water Breathing. Although he had learned Water Breathing from Tanjiro before, he was already proficient in Thunder Breathing: Total Concentration: Constant, so he still needed his body to adapt to Water Breathing.
"It's a pity I haven't seen Nezuko. Tanjiro would probably still avoid letting other Demon Slayer Corps members see his sister, otherwise, I could have walked with Tanjiro and learned Sun Breathing on the way."
Fang Hao still felt a bit regretful thinking about it, but this thought was just a thought. He had been in Peach Mountain for a year. Although he passed the Final Selection and there was nothing much to do after returning, he should at least let the old man see his obedient disciple.
"Always go home and visit, alas, but I can't go back." Fang Hao's eyes held a hint of regret. Although the legendary compendium had a Crossing function, he didn't think he could travel back, unless the legendary compendium could list all worlds, or could travel back to worlds he had been in. Otherwise, even if he had eternal life in the future, he probably wouldn't have a chance to go back.
Thinking of this, Fang Hao casually opened the legendary compendium.
"Still the familiar interface, at least update it." He pouted.
Host: Fang Hao
Strength: E+
Agility: E+
Constitution: E+
Perception: E+
Charm: D+
(Note: For a healthy adult male, all values except Charm are E)
Talent: Swordsmanship Prodigy A
Skills: Thousand Languages C, Identity Implantation D, Thunder Breathing B, Demon Slayer C
"Is there really no difference?" Fang Hao didn't care. He was just casually looking, like suddenly opening his equipment inventory in a game. He casually flipped backward, and suddenly, his eyes widened.
Travel: Passed the Final Selection on Mt. Fujikasane, rewarded with 1 world travel attempt.
Current world travel attempts: 1
Currently available worlds: [puella magi madoka magica]
When Fang Hao first saw the travel function, a fire ignited in his heart, but now it was extinguished.
"puella magi madoka magica? Good, good, good. It was fine when I couldn't travel before, but now that I have a chance to travel, you want me to die, right?" Fang Hao felt that this legendary compendium was playing mind games with him, when he clearly wanted to be in sync with his cheat.
Fang Hao couldn't muster even a single thought of going to that world, even if it was just Kyubey, he couldn't go at all. Not to mention Madoka and Homura.
Kyubey sees him: A life form not belonging to this universe, another way to avoid the heat death of the universe, take it for experiments.
Homura: Because of you, the timeline has changed, and it's another ending where Madoka dies. Fang Hao dies.
As soon as he thought of these, Fang Hao shivered, seal it, permanent seal. As for when it will be unsealed, it will probably be when he surpasses the Law of Cycles.
By the way, the Law of Cycles refers to a hypothetical cosmic order that transcends the phenomenal world (time, space, or causality).
Surpassing the Law of Cycles, not even in the next life.
Fang Hao nodded, deciding to continue familiarizing himself with Water Breathing and not have such unrealistic fantasies. It's not that he felt he couldn't do it, but mainly that he liked the feeling of being down-to-earth.
---
In Peach Mountain, two golden flashes, accompanied by the roar of thunder, continuously collided, intertwined, and then separated.
Fang Hao retreated at Extreme Speed, then casually swung his nichirin blade, instantly unleashing dozens of thunder-patterned slashes.
"Thunder Breathing, Sixth Form: Rumble and Flash."
Looking at the slashes coming towards him, Kuwajima Jigorou's expression grew more solemn. He also raised his nichirin blade and met Fang Hao's slashes head-on.
"Clang."
"Clang."
"Clang."
...
Blades clashed continuously, the two long nichirin blades colliding dozens of times in an instant. Sparks, accompanied by electric light, fluttered around them.
Both were silent, only the sharpness in their eyes seemed to be saying something. Gradually, the veins on Kuwajima Jigorou's face began to bulge, and the strength with which he wielded his nichirin blade increased by a few points. In contrast, Fang Hao appeared to be at ease, relaxed and comfortable.
As time passed, the nichirin blade in Kuwajima Jigorou's hand grew heavier, and his sword-wielding arm gradually became weak.
Fang Hao looked at the panting old man in front of him, feeling quite helpless. He said he wanted to test his current strength, but why did he get carried away during the fight? The irritable old man swinging his nichirin blade online, can't provoke him, can't provoke him.
Thinking of this, Fang Hao also added a little force, using the nichirin blade in front of him to retreat several meters.
"No more fighting, no more fighting, I surrender."
Kuwajima Jigorou looked at Fang Hao, who only had a slight sweat on his forehead, and once again sighed that he was indeed old. However, Fang Hao's strength was indeed no less than his own when he was young.
"Your Breathing Style is no longer just Thunder Breathing." Kuwajima Jigorou was once again shocked by the talent of this disciple. "It possesses the explosiveness of Thunder Breathing and the flexibility of Water Breathing, the speed of Thunder Breathing, and the continuous flow of Water Breathing, truly remarkable."
Fang Hao's current Breathing Style was a new Thunder Breathing that integrated Thunder Breathing and Water Breathing, with Thunder Breathing as the main body, incorporating advantages such as the low consumption of Water Breathing. Overall, Fang Hao was very satisfied.
"Mr. Kuwajima."
At this moment, two people wearing strange masks walked towards them and respectfully greeted Kuwajima Jigorou.
"Hello." Kuwajima Jigorou nodded to them. "The nichirin blades are ready, I presume. I'll go call Zenitsu." With that, he walked towards the residence.
"This is your nichirin blade." One of them, or rather, the swordsmith, handed a long box to Fang Hao.
The long box was wrapped in black cloth. The swordsmith spread his hands and presented the long box to Fang Hao.
Fang Hao politely thanked him, took the long box, and lifted the black cloth, revealing a standard katana.
Fang Hao had not made any specific requests for the forging of the nichirin blade, so the one he received was quite standard. Unlike some who use hammers but insist on calling them swords, the swordsmith must have been very troubled at the time.
Fang Hao didn't need any special requirements for his nichirin blade, because he possessed the Swordsmanship Prodigy talent. He had realized when using the nichirin blade prepared by Kuwajima Jigorou that he was suitable for all nichirin blades, or rather, all nichirin blades had to adapt to him.
"Clang..."
Fang Hao slowly drew the nichirin blade from its sheath. The smooth and sharp blade, the perfectly balanced body, the comfortable hilt—Fang Hao was very satisfied with this nichirin blade.
"It's even better than the nichirin blade I imagined. Thank you very much." Fang Hao nodded towards the swordsmith.
The swordsmith was filled with joy seeing Fang Hao so satisfied. For an artisan like him, nothing was more exciting than having his work recognized.
"As long as you are satisfied." The swordsmith said seriously, "A nichirin blade that is compatible with its owner can play a greater role in battle. Please use it to slay more demons."
"I will, or rather, I couldn't ask for more." Fang Hao replied solemnly.
Subsequently, the swordsmith's gaze returned to the nichirin blade. This was the part he looked forward to most, apart from forging. "It's starting. I wonder what color it will be?"
"Color? I'm looking forward to it too."
When a nichirin blade is first drawn by its owner, it will display a different color depending on the owner.
This color represents the Breathing Style most suitable for the owner of the nichirin blade, such as red for Flame Breathing, green for Breath of Wind, and so on.
This color also represents a certain characteristic of the owner. For example, Stone Pillar's steadfastness corresponds to gray, and Wind Pillar's irritability and recklessness correspond to green.
Under their expectant gazes, a blue-white hue gradually spread, engulfing the entire blade.
"Blue-white? I don't think I've ever seen this color before." The swordsmith said, looking at the nichirin blade that was between blue and white.
"Hmm, everyone has seen this one." Fang Hao raised an eyebrow, then looked up.
The swordsmith followed his gaze and laughed, "Haha, indeed, everyone has seen it. The color of the sky."
Afterward, Zenitsu also came to receive his nichirin blade. After drawing it, a nichirin blade with a black spine, silver-white blade, and yellow thunder patterns covering the blade appeared before everyone.
"It's beautiful. Zenitsu, your nichirin blade has an indescribable delicate beauty." Fang Hao gave Zenitsu a thumbs up.
"Thank you, Big Brother." Zenitsu also really liked his nichirin blade, because it was truly beautiful. Who wouldn't like something beautiful?
And with their nichirin blades in hand, they were about to descend the mountain.
"Zenitsu, let's part ways here." Fang Hao said to Zenitsu.
Zenitsu looked as if struck by lightning, suddenly freezing. "No, Big Brother! I'll die without you!"
He lunged at Fang Hao, but Fang Hao had already anticipated this and deftly dodged, then pointed behind Zenitsu. "Zenitsu, look behind you."
Zenitsu heard Fang Hao's words and quickly looked behind him, only to see... no one there. "Big Brother, there's nothing behind me." Zenitsu turned his head and said.
"Big Brother, Big Brother." Zenitsu turned his head back, only to find his Big Brother gone. After calling out twice, he realized his Big Brother must have run off.
"Big Brother!" Zenitsu's tears flowed uncontrollably, then he looked at Chuntaro on his shoulder and said, "Chuntaro, I only have you left."
Fang Hao, having shaken off Zenitsu, felt completely relaxed and refreshed. What he wanted to do most at this moment was to go on missions with Tanjiro, after all, by following Tanjiro, he might just meet Muzan. Moreover, by following Tanjiro, the legends in his legendary compendium might be achieved faster.
Although it wasn't tested during the Final Selection on Mt. Fujikasane, Fang Hao still felt that following the protagonist would lead to benefits.
[Caw, in a certain town, there have been successive cases of girls disappearing, suspected to be the work of demons, caw.]
"Huh? What's going on?" Fang Hao's eyes widened in surprise. This mission was Tanjiro's in the original story, and now it's his?
He now realized the seriousness of the problem. If the plot changed, Tanjiro wouldn't be able to meet Tamayo, and thus wouldn't collect the blood of the Twelve Kizuki.
"The plot has undergone a huge change." Fang Hao narrowed his eyes, wondering what he should do about this. Should he let the plot change, or try to bring it back to its original path?
Fang Hao was more inclined to correct the plot, because changing the plot wouldn't benefit him at all; instead, deviating from the plot would leave him completely in the dark.
Conversely, maintaining the original plot, although Fang Hao's arrival had already changed the original plot, would still follow a certain trajectory.
And Fang Hao would be able to maintain some foreknowledge, which would be the most beneficial for him.
Moreover, Tanjiro's character was good, and Fang Hao also admired Tanjiro's personality. Fang Hao also sympathized with his background.
And Shinobu Kocho, although Fang Hao hadn't met her, he greatly admired this Insect Pillar who was determined to kill Douma to avenge her sister.
Now, due to Fang Hao, Tanjiro might not meet Tamayo, which could prevent Tamayo from researching the medicine to turn demons into humans, preventing Nezuko from turning back into a human; and prevent the creation of Wisteria Flower Poison, making Shinobu Kocho's path to revenge difficult. All of this made Fang Hao feel guilty.
Not to mention the sorrow of the Demon Slayer Corps eliminating demons; Tamayo played a huge role in that.
Fang Hao also firmed his resolve, "Even if I have to turn Asakusa upside down, I will find Tamayo."]
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