The mountain path grew steeper, and the trees became denser, leaving the clamor of the town far behind. All that remained was the rustling of wind through the treetops and the crunch of their footsteps on fallen leaves.
Tanjirou carried the heavy 'refrigerator' box on his back. Though it was a bit strenuous, his steps remained steady.
He looked at his teacher's tall figure ahead, his heart filled with anticipation for the training that was about to begin.
He couldn't help but quicken his pace to walk alongside Cheng Mo, asking curiously, "Teacher, we've come so deep into the mountains, far from town. Is it time for you to formally teach me sword techniques?"
He remembered Mr. Tomioka saying that the Demon Slayer Corps swordsmen all had their own unique and powerful sword forms.
His teacher was so strong; his sword skills must be even more formidable, right?
Cheng Mo didn't turn around, nor did his steps falter.
He countered with a question: "In your opinion, Tanjirou, what is the most important thing for a swordsman?"
Tanjirou paused, instinctively wanting to answer, "Powerful sword skills" or "The resolve to slay demons."
But he immediately felt that his teacher's question would never be so simple.
He thought of his previous experiences fighting demons, and of his teacher's thunder-like strike.
Recalling the bits and pieces of his teacher's usual guidance, he thought it over and finally shook his head honestly: "I... I don't know. Please enlighten me, Teacher."
Cheng Mo's voice came steadily from ahead: "In my opinion, for a qualified swordsman, or indeed anyone who wishes to control power, the three fundamental elements—Mind, Body, and Technique—are all indispensable."
"Mind? Body? Technique?" Tanjirou murmured, looking puzzled.
"Mind is your state of mind, your will, your understanding and reverence for power."
Cheng Mo explained, his voice exceptionally clear in the mountain forest.
"When one possesses a sharp weapon, the urge to kill arises. Power itself is neither good nor evil, but if the person wielding it lacks firm resolve or has flaws in their state of mind, they can easily be enslaved by power and lose their true self."
"A person's state of mind often determines how much power they can wield and how far they can go on this path."
He paused, seemingly recalling something. His tone remained calm, but carried a hint of imperceptible warning: "Just like that traitor Kaigaku, his talent wasn't bad, but he was narrow-minded, jealous of the capable, and only saw the vanity power brought and the pleasure of crushing others. He never felt gratitude towards the teachers who granted him power, nor reverence for power itself."
"His mind was long ago hollowed out by negative emotions, full of holes. Such a person, once they gain power beyond their control, will only fall faster into the abyss, harming themselves and others."
Tanjirou's heart trembled.
This was the first time he had heard his teacher voluntarily mention that fellow disciple who betrayed their master.
He had been curious before but dared not ask too many questions.
So... was it for this reason?
A person with a 'hole' in their heart... He nodded vigorously, engraving his teacher's words deeply into his mind.
"I understand, Teacher! I will always remember that power is for protection, not for harm! I will strive to keep my mind clear!"
"Mm." Cheng Mo nodded slightly and continued, "Next is 'Body.' That is, physique, physical foundation. This is the basis for all cultivation and the execution of techniques. Without a strong physique, even the most exquisite sword technique is like a tree without roots, easily shattered."
He glanced sideways at the box Tanjirou was carrying: "I didn't expend effort to acquire these medicinal herbs and top-grade ingredients for enjoyment."
"The upcoming training will heavily deplete your stamina and even place a considerable burden on your muscles and meridians."
"These things are meant to maximally replenish what's consumed, repair damage, and solidify your foundation. The stronger your physique, the greater the training intensity you can withstand, and the higher the ceiling you can reach in the future."
Tanjirou suddenly understood; so his teacher's lavish purchases were for this reason.
He had previously thought it was just his teacher's high standards for quality of life.
A warm current and deeper respect surged within him. He instinctively straightened his back, as if to not fail the heavy sentiment behind him.
"Finally, there is Technique—combat skills, the application of Breathing Technique, and the mastery of sword forms." Cheng Mo concluded, "But this is not the highest priority. I don't recommend you get too engrossed in learning specific sword techniques too early."
"Why?" Tanjirou couldn't help but ask.
He yearned to become stronger; wasn't learning powerful sword techniques also a path to training?
"The more solid your physical foundation, and the stronger your control over your own muscles, bones, and breath, the more effective and natural it will be to learn any technique."
"Moreover, by then, you'll be better able to understand the essence of the force application in each move and form, rather than merely imitating the outward appearance." Cheng Mo explained.
He himself was the best example.
The Myriad Realms Physique granted him a physique far exceeding ordinary people's, along with minute control over his body and muscle coordination.
This allowed him to master all forms of Thunder Breathing in a very short time, even without any prior sword skill foundation, and instinctively find the optimal points and angles of force application in actual combat.
However, he couldn't elaborate on these principles to Tanjirou.
He no longer rushed to learn flashy sword techniques but refocused his attention on his own breathing and footsteps.
He felt the sense of power filling him with each inhale and the subtle control of his muscles with each exhale.
"Very good." Cheng Mo said no more and quickened his pace. "Keep up. We need to find a suitable camping spot before dark."
"Yes!" Tanjirou's spirits lifted, and he followed closely.
The mountain path became increasingly rugged and rarely trodden.
Tanjirou was fully immersed in adjusting his breathing and steps, striving to adapt to the weight on his back and his teacher's rhythm.
He didn't notice the occasional glint of scrutiny and calmness in Cheng Mo's eyes.
There were also deeper reasons Cheng Mo hadn't explicitly told Tanjirou.
The reason he chose to go so deep into the desolate mountains was not only to provide his disciple with an absolutely quiet training environment but also for some of his own intentions.
He needed to find some 'experimental materials'—some lone demons.
The nature of a top medical student, once his own strength was sufficient to ensure safety, began to gradually override a purely martial artist's mindset.
The physiological mechanisms of demons, to him, were as tempting as Breathing Technique or Chakra.
Infinite regeneration, cells dividing almost madly without causing cancer, peculiar allergic reactions to sunlight, and an unnatural reliance on and transformation by human blood... all of this was like the most captivating puzzle, intensely challenging all of Cheng Mo's past medical knowledge.
If he could decipher the mechanism of demon cells' non-aging, even if only catching a glimpse, it might provide a completely new direction for extending human lifespan or greatly enhancing one's own cellular vitality and regenerative power.
Moreover, he had noticed when collecting Muzan's and Lower Moon's blood that demon flesh and tissue, once separated from the main body, would begin to decompose and break down at an astonishing speed, as if losing the sustenance of some core energy.
This led him to a conjecture.
Had demons, to some extent, transformed into a 'energy life form' that relies on special biological energy?
And the 'absolute stillness' characteristic of the compass space happened to perfectly freeze this process, which allowed him to successfully preserve the samples and hand them over to Tamayo after sealing them in special vials.
While mentally organizing these complex thoughts and constructing a preliminary research plan, Cheng Mo casually answered Tanjirou's subtle questions about breathing rhythm and blood-qi coordination, appearing completely at ease.
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