["I'll give you three moves."]
[Jingliu's voice was like a piercing needle, making Yanqing's neck prickle as he instinctively tightened his grip on his sword.]
[His gaze slowly turned back, his pupils dilating in an instant.]
[That was… her sword?]
[Yanqing could tell it wasn't forged from ordinary metal but condensed from solid ice, its blade shimmering with a cold, ghostly light, as if she held a sliver of moonlight in her hand.]
["What are you waiting for?" The battle was about to erupt, and Jingliu, seemingly impatient, urged coldly, "Draw your sword. Making a senior wait is quite rude."]
Emiya Residence—
"Can ice really be used as a sharp sword?" Emiya Shirou asked, puzzled. In his mind, while ice could be sharp and pointed, its hardness couldn't compare to metal—it would likely shatter on impact.
Even though Shirou was only somewhat versed in swordsmanship, he knew the quality of a sword was crucial for a swordsman. In a duel between masters, a weapon could not afford to fail.
"By conventional standards, this would indeed be risky," Sasaki Kojirou said, extending a finger leisurely. "But there's a prerequisite—if someone has reached the state of unity between man and sword, such a move is no longer risky. In that realm, one is no longer bound by the sword itself—grass, wood, bamboo, or stone can all serve as a sword."
"So, according to you, Kojirou-san… Jingliu has achieved unity between man and sword?"
"No…" Kojirou shook his head gently. "In my humble opinion, her realm surpasses even that."
The group paused, casting puzzled glances his way.
"The state of unity between man and sword, while rare, was something I was fortunate enough to witness in a few individuals during the war-torn era centuries ago," Sasaki Kojirou said with a faint smile. "But from the moment Jingliu appeared, I realized her sword is not merely a part of her body—it's the rhythm of her every move, the ebb and flow of her breath in every step and pause. Her sword… is not confined by her physical form but has merged with nature itself."
"In short… her sword has become one with heaven and earth."
"At such a level, every move flows without the slightest trace of artifice, as natural as the world itself." Kojirou gazed at the white-haired woman holding her sword with one hand, letting out a long sigh. "…This is the realm I've yearned to reach my entire life."
——
[Yanqing lunged forward with his sword, and in an instant, six flying swords streaked like meteors across the field, inflicting considerable wounds on the mara-struck.]
[The strike was powerful but failed to deliver a killing blow.]
[Jingliu's sharp critique soon rang in his ears. "Hesitant and weak. Where's the confidence you showed earlier?"]
[Yanqing cursed inwardly, "Damn it." Since his debut, aside from the General, he had rarely encountered such a formidable opponent. Spurred by her words, his sword aura surged even fiercer.]
["Again!"]
[A series of crisp "clang" sounds followed as several flying swords struck the mara-struck's armor, ringing like shattered jade and gold, their momentum like a raging storm. The trembling blades echoed through the Artisanship Commission.]
["…My turn."]
[With her words, Yanqing heard a gust of wind by his ear.]
[There was a faint scent of blood in the breeze.]
[When Yanqing came to his senses, the towering mara-struck that had stood moments ago was already on the ground, dissolving into countless ginkgo leaves drifting into the air. It hadn't even had a chance to make a sound before it was silenced forever.]
["This is how it's done—one strike, no return, a certain kill."]
[When she said "certain kill," Jingliu emphasized the words heavily, her killing intent almost uncontainable.]
Demon Slayer World—
"That strike… it didn't seem as fast as I expected?"
Sanemi Shinazugawa scratched his head, puzzled. Compared to Jingliu's battle with Jing Yuan, her speed today seemed deliberately slowed, as if she wanted a certain young swordsman to clearly see her movements.
Compared to Yanqing's storm-like barrage, Jingliu's sword had no superfluous motions. It was quiet… so quiet it was like a snowflake landing on a plum branch. Everything happened naturally, and even the mara-struck's death felt like a harmonious part of the scene.
If killing were a melody, the song she composed was flawless, flowing like water.
Thanks to Yanqing, the Hashira finally glimpsed her refined, simplified strike, honed through countless trials.
"Luckily, Miss Jingliu seems inclined to guide Yanqing. Otherwise, we wouldn't have had a chance to see her sword clearly," Mitsuri Kanroji said, sitting on the ground with a hint of relief.
Obanai Iguro nodded. "Yes, I hope this grandmaster teaches her disciple's disciple a few more moves so we can benefit as well. But just now… her tone seemed a bit off, didn't it?"
[After slaying the mara-struck, Jingliu stood with her back to Yanqing and spoke slowly, "That strike just now wasn't entirely disappointing."]
[Yanqing finally saw the gap between them and lowered his eyes in defeat. "…I lost."]
["The contest isn't over yet, because I haven't delivered my final strike—there are no opponents left on the field…"]
[The atmosphere grew heavy. Beads of sweat rolled down Yanqing's forehead as his gaze locked onto the white-haired woman before him. The oppressive aura felt like an invisible hand gripping him tightly, leaving him unable to breathe.]
["Heh… a sword drawn without purpose profanes the will of the Reignbow Arbiter—an ill omen," Jingliu said, looking up at the sky, her laughter tinged with a faint madness.]
[Yanqing gripped his sword tightly. "You…"]
["With your strength, even if you met Blade, it would only be a path to death," Jingliu said coolly. "Instead of dying in an instant, I'll give you a more honorable choice—to face my refined strike as a swordsman and meet your end."]
[At this, the corner of Jingliu's lips curled slightly.]
["Little brother, will you take my sword?"]
"Noooo—!"
Darkness's voice exploded in the tavern like a bomb, her piercing cry nearly bursting the eardrums of the adventurers around. Her anguished wail sounded as if she were about to lose a loved one.
"Jingliu, he's your disciple's disciple! Shouldn't you cherish such a talented junior?"
"Yanqing is so adorable—how could you bring yourself to strike him!"
"Didn't they say grandparents dote on their grandchildren? Why did you cut down Jing Yuan and now want to cut Yanqing too? General Jing Yuan, please save him! Waaah…"
"Hey, hey, hey, is 'grandparents dote on grandchildren' used like that? If you don't know how to use it, don't!" Kazuma retorted helplessly. He glanced around the tavern and leaned closer to the blonde girl. "By the way, Darkness, can you keep your voice down? Everyone's staring at us…"
"Let them stare," Darkness said, wiping away tears. Though she was sobbing so hard she could barely speak, she still managed a desperate plea:
"Jingliu, please don't cut Yanqing—cut me instead!!"
Kazuma: "???"
So that's your real goal?!
A gorgeous white-haired, red-eyed older sister wielding a blade herself—doesn't that just make you, you masochistic pervert, absolutely thrilled??