Su Chen silently wiped the sweat from his forehead. He looked down and only then realized his body was covered in the black Marks.
Bullet Time deactivated.
A wave of fatigue washed over his mind.
Is this the Flame Hashira's strength? He's incredibly strong... way stronger than I thought.
Su Chen actually felt a little disappointed. He had just started to adapt to the Hashira's attack rhythm and wanted to observe more, but Kyojuro suddenly stopped the fight. What could he do?
Su Chen didn't realize it, but Senjuro, who was watching from the side, looked like his eyes were about to pop out of his head. What had he just seen? Su Chen had actually dodged his big brother's "Unknowing Fire" and "Flame Tiger"! That technique had killed countless Lower Moons, but Su Chen had just avoided it completely!
Senjuro often heard his brother talk about Su Chen at home. Kyojuro always said Su Chen was very talented, even though he had barely ever held a Nichirin Sword.
This is someone who's barely held a sword?!
Kanao was also stunned, but she was much calmer than Senjuro. As she looked at Su Chen, a small smile curled her lips.
In the middle of the training ground, the Flame Hashira spoke. "Mr. Su Chen, your talent is even greater than I expected. I was using my full strength in those last two attacks. Next, I will teach you another technique."
Before Su Chen could speak, Kanao stepped in front of him protectively. Senjuro also ran to his brother's side. The two of them glared at each other.
Su Chen patted Kanao's shoulder. "It's alright," he signaled.
He could tell Kyojuro only wanted to give him some pointers. If Su Chen really couldn't handle it, Kyojuro would have pulled back in time. As for the other technique... Su Chen thought he already knew what it was. He had just grasped a sliver of inspiration.
"Kanao, wait for me a moment," Su Chen whispered softly in her ear.
Then, he sat down right there on the ground. The Rengoku brothers exchanged confused glances, not sure what Su Chen was doing.
But Kanao seemed to understand. She took off her white haori and carefully draped it over Su Chen. Then, she stood guard at his side.
At that moment, Su Chen entered a state of enlightenment. The scenes from his battle with Kyojuro flooded his mind.
No, it's not this, Su Chen thought. He wasn't trying to find the techniques Kyojuro used. He was looking for the Breathing Style Kyojuro used when he became the Flame Hashira—the technique that kept his lungs constantly full of oxygen.
Slowly, Su Chen's attention focused on the movement of the Flame Hashira's chest.
[You recalled the opponent's movement... Action decomposition is in progress...] [Action analysis is in progress...] [Frame-by-frame assembly is in progress...] [You studied the vibration of the opponent's lungs. You felt the opponent's chest beating. You mimicked it frame by frame with your own lungs. You found the technique.] [You have mastered: Chest Cavity Vibration Technique.] [You have mastered: Throat Qi Circulation Technique.] [You have mastered: Mouth and Nose Breathing Technique.] [You continued to observe. You discovered the pattern. You developed a patterned breathing method. You have learned Total Concentration Breathing!] [You practiced repetitively. You have learned Total Concentration Breathing - Constant!] [You feel the 'Total Concentration Breathing - Constant' technique has room for improvement. You are attempting to modify it...] [Modification successful! You applied this Breathing Style to every muscle in your body. Your physical movement ability has greatly increased!] [Your inspiration surged! You continued to research. You enabled your body cells to learn Anaerobic Respiration - Constant! Your stamina has increased!] [Your endurance has increased!] [You have gained a self-healing ability!] [You have gained a prolonged breath-holding ability!] [Your mind is clear. An idea has come. You have comprehended the advanced Breathing Style: Total Concentration - Focus!]
Su Chen sat there for a full hour.
If Kanao hadn't been watching his condition so closely, the Rengoku brothers might have thought Su Chen had died and passed on.
Finally, Su Chen slowly opened his eyes.
Kyojuro immediately walked over. "Are you alright...?" Before he could finish, Kyojuro swallowed his words.
Su Chen's aura had completely changed. It was different, but Kyojuro recognized it. Su Chen had mastered Total Concentration Breathing - Constant.
Kyojuro was stunned. He hadn't taught Su Chen that technique yet, had he? So how did he learn it? But no matter what, Kyojuro was happy about Su Chen's progress.
"Mr. Su Chen, you really are amazing!" Kyojuro boomed. "'Constant' is the first step to becoming a Hashira. I didn't expect you to learn it so quickly!"
"I was just lucky, and you taught me well, Big Brother Rengoku," Su Chen said humbly. "If not for your guidance, I probably wouldn't have learned 'Constant' so quickly."
His way of addressing him had changed from 'Mr.' to 'Big Brother.' This new title clearly pleased Kyojuro. His eyes seemed to get even wider, and his face filled with joy.
Kyojuro looked at Su Chen and sighed to himself. This must be the most talented person I've ever seen. I've never seen progress this terrifying. Among all the people he knew, maybe only Muichiro Tokito could compare.
Su Chen took a short break, then started sparring with the Flame Hashira again.
[You observed the opponent's Breathing Style... You gained insight... You learned the opponent's Breathing Style.] [You observed the opponent's sword technique... An idea came... You have learned Flame Breathing, First Form: Unknowing Fire!] [You observed the opponent's sword technique... An idea came... You have learned Flame Breathing, Second Form: Rising Scorching Sun!] [You observed the opponent's sword technique... An idea came... You have learned Flame Breathing, Fourth Form: Blooming Flame Undulation!] [You observed the opponent's sword technique... An idea came... You have learned Flame Breathing, Fifth Form: Flame Tiger!] [...] [Observation is complete.]
Aside from the Ninth Form, Rengoku—which Kyojuro didn't show him—Su Chen had now completely mastered Flame Breathing.
He found that his understanding of Breathing Styles was on a whole new level. And after learning 'Constant,' his physical abilities had increased again. Now, he could keep up with the Flame Hashira's "Unknowing Fire" without even activating Bullet Time.
This made Kyojuro exclaim in admiration.
Su Chen's talent was truly top-notch. Not even Tokito could compare. Kyojuro had a feeling that Su Chen could break Tokito's record of becoming a Hashira in only two months.
"Mr. Su Chen, your talent is excellent! Are you willing to become my Tsuguko?" Kyojuro sheathed his Nichirin Sword and offered the invitation to Su Chen again.
Su Chen's dazzling talent and hard work made Kyojuro want to train him. He had made up his mind. If Su Chen agreed to be his Tsuguko, he would ask the Rengoku Family to pass on the secrets of Flame Breathing to him.