They were too close. Through the thin night air, Su Chen could smell the faint fragrance of wisteria from the girl. The air she exhaled brushed against his face. It wasn't warm, but Su Chen suddenly felt incredibly hot.
"Oh my, Su Chen-kun, you're really diligent!" Kochou Shinobu looked at Su Chen with a smile.
Su Chen turned to look at Kochou Shinobu, a bright smile on his face. "Shinobu-san, what brings you here?"
As he spoke, he leaned in just a little closer. The air they breathed seemed to mix.
Now it was Kochou Shinobu's turn to be flustered. Is he really this smooth?
Just as Su Chen was about to press his luck, Shinobu quickly pulled her face back. She gave him a knowing look. "My, my, Su Chen-kun, you're quite the naughty younger brother."
"Oh?" Su Chen smiled, complaining silently, Weren't you the one who started this?
Of course, he didn't say that out loud. He just exhaled the air he had been holding.
The night air was cool. The breath Su Chen exhaled formed a small, white cloud of mist. This sight made Kochou Shinobu freeze.
She couldn't help but ask, "Su Chen-kun, is that... a Breathing Technique?"
Su Chen was a little surprised. He hadn't expected her to be so sharp. She had figured it out from just one breath.
"I can't be mistaken," Shinobu continued, her smile widening. "That way of breathing... it's my sister's Flower Breathing! Do you know my sister?"
"No," Su Chen replied directly. "I learned it from Kanao today."
After he spoke, Su Chen suddenly remembered the rules for Breathing Techniques in the Demon Slayer Corps. The main styles—Water, Flame, Wind, Stone, and Thunder Breathing—were all derived from the original Sun Breathing. Those were often taught by cultivators to anyone with talent.
But the other derivative Breathing Techniques were different. Styles like Mist Breathing, Love Breathing, or Serpent Breathing were usually taught privately, often only to a Hashira's chosen successor, their Tsuguko.
He had just admitted to secretly learning Flower Breathing. Would Shinobu be angry?
Just as he thought that, the expression on Kochou Shinobu's face stiffened.
"Oh, is that so?" she said, sounding a little disappointed.
Su Chen tensed, but her disappointment wasn't what he expected. She wasn't angry that he had copied the style; she was sad that he didn't know her sister.
Still, the fact that Su Chen could learn Flower Breathing so quickly was amazing. He was just an ordinary person who hadn't even held a Nichirin Sword, and yet he could do this. Before coming here, Shinobu had heard the whole story from Kanzaki Aoi. This young man she brought back had, through his own efforts, managed to defeat Kanao in just two days.
Su Chen's incredible talent reminded Shinobu of Muichiro Tokito. He was a true prodigy.
This boy... he might actually be able to defeat Shinazugawa in fifteen days.
"Su Chen-kun," Kochou Shinobu suddenly said softly.
"What is it?" Su Chen turned to look at her.
The two sat side-by-side on the rooftop under the bright moon. A soft, sparkling glow seemed to surround them, and the girl's colorful haori gave off a dream-like shine. She looked as beautiful as an angel.
But as Su Chen looked closer, he saw an intense, suffocating anger in her expression. It was pure hatred.
As this hidden emotion surfaced, the wisteria fragrance from her suddenly became stronger, almost sharp.
Kochou Shinobu spoke, her voice calm again. "Su Chen-kun, can you demonstrate my sister's Flower Breathing for me?"
Su Chen was stunned for a moment. That was a strange request. Kanao also knew Flower Breathing, so why would she need to watch him perform the techniques?
But Su Chen didn't ask why. He could guess she just missed her sister.
However, he didn't plan to do it for free. He decided to bargain. "Well... if I do a good job, could you, Shinobu-san, demonstrate how Insect Breathing is used?"
Su Chen's goal was clear: he wanted to learn her signature technique.
Kochou Shinobu looked slightly surprised. She hadn't expected this fourteen-year-old kid to be so clever. He really wasn't going to do anything for free.
Shinobu immediately guessed Su Chen's intention. According to Aoi and the girls, his talent is amazing. He can learn anything just by watching. It seems he's aiming for my Insect Breathing!
A small smile played on her lips. "Su Chen-kun, I don't think my Breathing Technique will be much help to you. You haven't seen my Nichirin Sword yet, have you? Go ahead, take a look."
As she spoke, Shinobu gripped the hilt of her sword. With a push of her left thumb, she gently drew the unique blade from its sheath and held it out for Su Chen.
Su Chen examined it carefully. It was a very strange Nichirin Sword. It only had a full blade at the very tip and near the hilt. The middle section of the blade was missing, making the entire thing look more like a bee's stinger than a sword.
"It looks pretty strange, doesn't it?" Kochou Shinobu smiled, her voice as sweet as cotton candy.
Su Chen's expression didn't change. He just continued to observe Shinobu's Nichirin Sword with intense focus.
You have observed a uniquely shaped Nichirin Sword. You found the designer to be talented, discovered the designer's intent, and understood the blade's purpose. You closely observed the blade's edge, point, tsuba, hilt, ring, spine, and tip, gaining an understanding of the blade's basic construction. You had an epiphany! You learned Nichirin Sword Mastery Design!
Su Chen looked at the blade in front of him and nodded slowly. "This Nichirin Sword is well-designed. It maximizes the blade's integrity while reducing its weight, which gives it basic combat capabilities. However, since it doesn't have a full blade, it can't be used to slash demons. That means the person using this sword must put in a lot of effort. Unfortunately, the designer made a mistake. If I were designing it, I wouldn't have done it this way."
Listening to Su Chen's analysis, the smile on Kochou Shinobu's face froze again.
The first time anyone—human or demon—saw her Nichirin Sword, they always looked confused, surprised, or even laughed at it. Very few people had ever analyzed the blade as carefully as Su Chen.
For a moment, Kochou Shinobu was actually a little moved.
But the last half of his statement quickly ended that feeling.
What did he mean, "If I were designing it, I wouldn't have done it this way"?
What a strange thing to say. After all, her Nichirin Sword was designed by the Chief of the Swordsmith Village!