Xiao Hei watched Feng Yu in confusion, unable to understand why it felt like today, Tanjiro was being tortured so terribly, as if it was exactly the outcome Feng Yu had intended.
Xiao Hei silently glanced at Tanjiro, feeling a fleeting moment of sympathy for him.
Had Feng Yu known what Xiao Hei was thinking, he would have praised him for being right.
If the million swings of the Sword couldn't be utilized to their utmost potential, it would be a waste—and wasting something was shameful!
Feng Yu looked at Nanako, whose body was covered in blood, knowing that her training process had not been easy at all.
On the contrary, it was probably even more dangerous, considering Nanako was young, had never learned breathing techniques, and hadn't taken a marrow-cleansing pill. She had relied solely on her natural talent to push through to the very end.
"You've worked hard…" Feng Yu gently stroked Nanako's forehead, saying with quiet satisfaction.
"When you wake up, I'll give you your gift. It will be the first gift from a master to their disciple."
Nanako remained still, sound asleep, showing just how utterly exhausted she was.
Nightfall
Tanjiro was still soaking in a medicinal bath, while Feng Yu and Sakonji Urokodaki were standing outside.
"Nanako's performance really surprised me. I can hardly believe she's just around ten years old…" Sakonji Urokodaki remarked.
"Perhaps it's related to her experiences from a young age. When I first met her, she seemed like a little adult—mature and able to take care of herself," Feng Yu replied.
Feng Yu's mind wandered back to the first time he met Nanako.
He had been fishing, and she had secretly watched him from behind.
At that time, Nanako's face had been full of rebelliousness—an absolute wild child. But there was also kindness and an unyielding spirit behind her gaze.
Since Feng Yu's spiritual power had broken through to a new level, he had been able to see a different world, one that was blank and seemed to make everything visible to him, as if nothing could hide from his eyes.
This world included not just what happened to people, but also their innermost feelings.
Feng Yu wasn't sure whether this level of perception was the "transparent world" mentioned in past texts, but it seemed close enough.
In his past life, he had read descriptions of the highest realm, and it had sounded similar. But Feng Yu felt that his current state was still somewhat incomplete.
He had tried to figure out why, but so far, he hadn't found the answer.
"Have you decided what breathing technique to teach her?" Sakonji Urokodaki asked.
"I'll let her choose... After all, the Breathing of Light is still incomplete..." Feng Yu replied.
Sakonji Urokodaki nodded, seemingly agreeing with Feng Yu's approach.
"But what if she insists on learning your breathing technique?" he asked.
"After all, I can tell that this child seems to have a special attachment to you," Sakonji Urokodaki added, looking at Feng Yu.
Feng Yu remained silent for a moment before answering, "Perhaps it's because she just lost her family. She might be looking at me as a replacement for them."
Feng Yu didn't want to discuss this topic further, so he changed the subject. "Sakonji, have you heard the legend of the Striped Swordsman?"
"The Striped Swordsman?" Sakonji Urokodaki frowned.
"Where did you hear that name?"
"I overheard it once... and I've always wondered about it. I thought I'd ask if you knew anything."
"I've heard a little about the Striped Swordsman. In the Demon Slayer Corps' records, there are mentions of such a swordsman. It's said that whenever a Striped Swordsman appears, more and more striped swordsmen start appearing around them. But while the stripes can give the swordsman a burst of power, there's a fatal flaw."
"It's rumored that anyone who awakens the stripes won't live past 25. Every time they activate the stripes, they're consuming their life force. These swordsmen are also called 'short-lived people'..."
"There was one who awakened the stripes and didn't suffer from the usual age limit. He lived to an old age, but after him, all the striped swordsmen have had short lifespans. Though their lifespan is short, the surge in power is very tempting. Unfortunately, the method to awaken the stripes has been lost, and there hasn't been a striped swordsman in hundreds of years."
"Whether it's just a legend or a true story, we can never know for sure…" Sakonji Urokodaki sighed.
"I see… That's a pity," Feng Yu murmured.
"The one who first awakened the stripes was likely Yoriichi Tsugikuni, the founder of the Sun Breathing technique. The pinnacle of power in this world!" Feng Yu said, more with certainty than doubt.
"What a shame that the method to awaken the stripes wasn't passed down. Otherwise, with my eternal youth, I would've been practically invincible!"
"It seems Tanjiro's scar on his forehead is a stripe… but it hasn't awakened yet," Feng Yu mused.
"Maybe if we push Tanjiro to the brink of death… and he somehow reverses his fate… there's a good chance the stripe will awaken," he thought to himself.
As Feng Yu pondered, Tanjiro, who was still soaking in the bath with his eyes closed, suddenly felt a chill down his spine.
"Sigh, I should've paid more attention in my past life. If I had just remembered the method to awaken the stripes, my power would've skyrocketed," Feng Yu sighed inwardly.
"Stripes... Blood Sword..." he muttered, struggling to understand.
"Could it really take Tanjiro all this time to awaken the stripes?" Feng Yu wondered, frustrated at how long it would take for Tanjiro to reach that point.
He felt like throwing Tanjiro straight in front of an Upper Rank demon, just so they could torment him and awaken his potential.
"Life's path is long and winding…" Feng Yu sighed.
Sakonji Urokodaki quietly observed him, saying nothing. After all, he too didn't know the method to awaken the stripes.
Sakonji Urokodaki noticed that ever since Feng Yu returned, his desire to increase his strength had been growing stronger. But as his master, Sakonji Urokodaki couldn't offer any meaningful advice.
On the contrary, Feng Yu's strength had far surpassed his own.
Sakonji Urokodaki felt both joy and worry—joy that his disciple had surpassed him, and worry that time was running out.
Soon, the next day arrived.
Both Nanako and Tanjiro had woken up.
When Tanjiro saw that he was submerged in a tub, he was initially surprised. But soon he realized that his body felt lighter, his speed had increased, and he could feel even more power within him.
"What is this…" Tanjiro looked at Feng Yu, who simply smiled without answering. Feng Yu then walked over to Nanako, saying, "You did great yesterday, so I've decided to reward you with something."
Feng Yu pulled out a blue crystal necklace from his pocket and fastened it around Nanako's neck. "From now on, no matter what happens, you must never take this necklace off."
Feng Yu's expression suddenly became serious as he addressed Nanako.
"Wh… Why…" Nanako asked in confusion.
"No reason. Just do as I say," Feng Yu responded, not wanting to explain too much. After all, who would believe that this tiny crystal necklace could form three protective shields around its wearer when they were fatally injured, and block lethal attacks? Not to mention, it could also enhance the wearer's appearance over time!
"Okay, thank you, Master! This necklace is beautiful, and I promise I'll never take it off, not even if it costs my life!" Nanako exclaimed happily.
"This little thing cost me 200 million swings of the Sword..." Feng Yu thought, looking at his remaining swings, which were still over 7 million. It wasn't too bad, but when Nanako put on the necklace, her aura seemed to change instantly, making her seem even more adorable.
...