[Killing intent…!]
[Yanqing's heart felt as if it were gripped by an invisible hand, his breath catching in his throat.]
[He closed his eyes, and in that moment, countless voices echoed in his mind, all repeating the same two words: "Don't take it!!!"]
[The honor of a swordsman, the fleeting moment between life and death… countless thoughts surged in Yanqing's heart, only to fall away one by one. Finally, he clenched his teeth, opened his eyes with resolute determination, and took a firm step forward.]
["My sword is no less sharp!"]
[Jingliu gave a faint smile, nodding with rare approval. "Bold spirit."]
["Then, let this moonlight—"]
[Before she finished, Jingliu leaped into the air, her icy blade flashing. Her sword arced in a horizontal slash, like a crescent moon crossing the heavens, transforming the Milky Way into a cascade of light, coalescing into a sword aura shaped like a curved moon.]
["—illuminate all rivers!"]
[This strike was unavoidable, but Yanqing had no intention of dodging. He surrounded himself with countless flying swords, the long sword in his hand glowing brilliantly. He poured his life's training into a single strike, determined to meet Jingliu's refined blow head-on!]
["Haaah—!"]
[With a roar, Yanqing's sword expanded several times in size. He hurled it with all his might, his youthful edge piercing through the boundless snowy waves toward the crescent moon in the sky.]
[The clash resounded with a sharp ring. Amid the swirling dust, it was as if a blizzard of goose feathers fell, landing on Yanqing's trembling arms.]
[That single strike had exhausted him, and he gasped heavily for breath.]
Demon Slayer World—
After witnessing Jingliu's sword strike, the Demon Slayer Corps fell into a stunned silence.
After what felt like an eternity, Mitsuri Kanroji, the first to recover from the shock, asked in a small voice, "Um… so, did anyone learn that sword technique?"
[…]
No one answered, the silence as heavy as death.
Even Sanemi Shinazugawa, who had been somewhat prideful, lowered his head without a word. After a moment, the Mist Hashira, Muichiro Tokito, spoke slowly, "Don't ask. We can't learn it. That kind of sword technique… it's not something humans can master, is it?"
That inverted sword stance, the boundless snowy waves unleashed in a single slash… Muichiro had a premonition that this strike would be too much for the Demon Slayer Corps to withstand. Even if Muzan himself faced it, he'd likely die ten times over.
"If we can't learn Miss Jingliu's technique, what about Yanqing's?" Mitsuri Kanroji asked again. "Yanqing took on Jingliu's strike head-on… did anyone learn that?"
The silence persisted, with no one responding.
Obanai Iguro patted her shoulder from behind, his head lowered like Sanemi's, his expression forlorn. "Kanroji, let's stop here for today. Don't ask about learning sword techniques anymore."
Meanwhile, in the Infinity Castle—
Muzan Kibutsuji, sweating profusely, clutched his forehead, unwilling to let the other Upper Ranks see his darkened expression.
Jingliu's strike… it reawakened the psychological trauma from centuries ago when he faced Yoriichi Tsugikuni. Back then, the wielder of Sun Breathing had forced him to split into over a thousand pieces to escape. And now, seeing Jingliu's crescent-moon-like strike…
The killing intent seemed to seep through the screen, nearly causing him to split apart again in fear.
Looking up at the Upper Ranks, Upper Rank Five, Gyokko, had retreated entirely into his pot, the vessel trembling violently. Upper Rank Four, Hantengu, was much the same, cowering in a shadowy corner, barely daring to breathe.
Akaza showed some courage, kneeling on one knee, though his body trembled uncontrollably. Kokushibo's expression was different, his gaze filled with a yearning for that supreme level of swordsmanship…
"My lord."
Douma's voice suddenly rang out nearby.
Muzan narrowed his eyes, nodding slightly to signal him to continue.
"My lord, if we truly receive the blessings of Abundance, it also means we might face pursuit from the Xianzhou Alliance."
"Then, this woman named Jingliu might hunt us down as abominations…"
"—Enough."
Unwilling to hear more, Muzan coldly interrupted Douma.
Even if Douma's words made sense, Muzan had to admit one thing: compared to the temptation of sunlight, the Xianzhou's hunters were far more dangerous…
If a long-lived being like Jingliu set her sights on him, his days ahead would be anything but pleasant.
New Eridu—
Section 6 Combat Training Room.
High-risk Hollows generated by projection technology were swept away by a torrent of sword aura the moment they appeared. As the next wave spawned, they were quickly dispatched in the same manner.
Tsukishiro Yanagi, holding a stack of documents, arrived at the training room, watching the foxian girl's repeated practice with admiration.
"Section Chief, what's this training about?" Tsukishiro Yanagi asked with a slight smile.
Hoshimi Miyabi, mid-air, once again mimicked Jingliu's inverted sword stance, but her sword aura fell short of Jingliu's quality, only managing to eliminate some high-risk Hollows.
Landing gracefully, Hoshimi Miyabi sheathed her blade and calmly took the documents from Tsukishiro Yanagi.
"This training is—until I master the sword strike Jingliu used on Yanqing, I'm refusing to attend the debriefing meeting."
"Is this a new training regimen to avoid debriefing meetings?" Tsukishiro Yanagi helplessly ushered the foxian girl out of the training room, urging her repeatedly, "Chief Miyabi, tonight's debriefing is very important—you have to attend!"
"And! Practicing swordsmanship is great, Chief Miyabi, but this kind of training will only get your bonuses canceled for the next few months… no, years!"
"Yes, Yanagi," Hoshimi Miyabi nodded calmly. "That's why I'm practicing so hard, to avoid losing next year's bonus."
"—If I can master it this year."
——
[Yanqing stared in disbelief at his still-trembling hands. "I… I blocked her sword?"]
[Jingliu had already vanished, her voice echoing in the air. "I'm taking those records you found."]
["Thanks, little brother."]
[Yanqing trudged forward heavily, suddenly noticing a thin piece of paper underfoot. He picked it up and saw Jingliu's handwriting: This sword is my thanks. Our fates are intertwined, and we shall meet again.]
[Yanqing crushed the note in his palm, unease stirring in his heart. "This mysterious woman is also after Blade's whereabouts…"]
["No way. Whatever she plans to do with the criminal, I can't let her get to him first."]