Chapter 14: The Dead Souls' Instructions
Tanjiro's still somewhat unrefined, yet anciently rhythmic, Kagura Dance was like a key, opening a brand new door for Arthur.
He worked tirelessly, immersing himself in the study of Breathing Technique.
Hinokami Kagura, without a doubt, was a Breathing Technique.
It was a Miracle technique capable of stirring up scorching, sun-like energy, and its amplification of bodily functions far exceeded imagination.
Afterward, Arthur, combining what Tanjiro had said, repeatedly consulted the ancient texts of the Ubuyashiki Clan, further corroborating his own conjecture—
Sun Breathing, Mark, shortened lifespan…
A few simple words, yet they pointed to that long-lost, strongest inheritance.
Using the Kagura Dance as the skeletal foundation, he inversely integrated the essence of the five basic Breathing Techniques.
A path unique to Arthur was slowly being forged by him.
Time flowed, and the injured gradually recovered.
The prematurely recovered Tanjiro would always return to Butterfly Mansion during breaks between missions, to visit his companions and also to call on Arthur.
Through repeated close contact, his superhuman sense of smell detected an astonishing transformation in Arthur.
It was no longer just a simple scent, but an invisible aura; merely being close was enough to cause chest tightness and suffocation.
It was as if facing a slumbering, prehistoric giant dragon, every inch of space emanating a destructive pressure.
Reason told Tanjiro that Mr. Arthur was not an enemy.
But the alarm bells from the deepest part of his being rang wildly, urging him to stay away from the dangerous person!
This morning, Tanjiro first visited his companions, delighted by their recovery and progress.
Then, he habitually walked into the small courtyard where Arthur often stayed.
The sight that greeted his eyes made his pupils contract sharply; the once flat rehabilitation ground was now completely unrecognizable.
The ground was covered with grotesque pits, their edges shattered.
Narrow cracks spread like a spiderweb, seemingly bottomless.
The left side was muddy, as if a torrential rain had poured down.
The right side was scorched black, as if repeatedly burned by fierce flames.
Boom!
Accompanied by a dull, thunderous explosion, Arthur's figure appeared in the center of the ground.
"Hiss—"
The most efficient breathing sound came, and the surrounding air twisted due to the high temperature, with rolling heat waves rushing towards him.
Tanjiro subconsciously raised his hand to wipe his face, feeling a layer of sweat, and even his lips felt a scorching dryness.
"Ka… Mr. Arthur?"
Tanjiro's voice trembled.
Instantly, the suffocating sense of oppression vanished like smoke, as if it had never existed.
Arthur slowly turned around, his gaze calm.
"Mission completed?"
Tanjiro immediately straightened his back and reported.
"Yes! The demon in South Street has been slain by me!"
Arthur nodded slightly and analyzed.
"Actual combat is the best training; compared to two months ago, your body is much tougher."
He casually dispersed his longsword; as he passed Tanjiro, his steps paused slightly.
"With your current physical capabilities, you are not yet able to perform Hinokami Kagura for extended periods."
"Water Breathing is easy to learn, but it also restricts you. You should try to experience Flame Breathing if you get the chance."
Before he finished speaking, Arthur had already walked towards the lounge, leaving Tanjiro standing alone in place, processing the information.
At this moment, the belated Tanjiro was stunned.
That terrifying aura around Mr. Arthur, it had disappeared?
…
Inside the lounge.
The originally bored Fufu noticed the change in Arthur's aura; a sharp glint flashed in its beast eyes, then it returned to its endearing, clumsy appearance.
Arthur was completely unaware of this, merely staring intently at his own palm.
Discarding superfluous thoughts, his senses were highly concentrated.
The flesh and blood body before him seemed to shed its outer shell, becoming clear and transparent.
Blood surged like a river, bones were tightly interlocked, and even the tremor of every muscle fiber was clearly visible.
This was the Transparent World that Tanjiro's father had once mentioned.
A supreme state that discerns the essence and reaches the core.
In this state, every bit of the human body's strength could be precisely mobilized.
Making any technique effortless, and the enemy's movements and intentions had nowhere to hide.
More importantly, this ultimate control allowed him to perfectly contain the aura that overflowed due to his cultivation.
That was why Tanjiro had felt the oppressive sensation around him disappear just now.
But Arthur, after all, was just beginning to grasp it and could not maintain the Transparent World for long periods.
The mental burden continuously increased, and tinnitus and a feverish head surged over him.
He immediately adjusted his breathing frequency, and his heart then beat strongly.
The newly generated magic power surged with his blood to all his limbs, nourishing and strengthening his body, and the discomfort slowly receded.
Arthur let out a long breath, his eyes eager.
"Next, master Total Concentration: Constant."
Maintaining his breathing and integrating it into his instincts was not difficult for him.
Arthur closed his eyes and began adapting to an all-day breathing rhythm.
Sun rose and moon set, stars revolved.
After a full day and night, Total Concentration: Constant had completely integrated into his every heartbeat and breath.
However, the moment his consciousness returned, Arthur was astonished to find that he was not in Butterfly Mansion.
Instead, he stood in an boundless, pure white space, so silent it was unsettling.
"Where is this…?"
Ding-a-ling-ling—!
A crisp bell sound came from behind him with the wind; Arthur suddenly turned to look.
He saw a man dressed in a fiery red haori, with a high ponytail, standing silently in the distance.
The hanafuda earrings hanging by his ears swayed gently with the imperceptible airflow, identical to the pair Tanjiro wore.
Arthur's gaze narrowed slightly, and a name long forgotten by the world was on the tip of his tongue.
"Yoriichi Tsugikuni?"
The man did not respond to this tentative call, as if immersed in his own world, his voice filled with an ancient loneliness and deep regret.
"I actually… always wanted to confide in someone."
Arthur frowned slightly, quickly analyzing the incredibly bizarre situation before him.
A soul?
Impossible, there was no Throne of Heroes in this world.
How could a figure from the Sengoku period's soul remain until now?
So it was more like a strong obsession, etched into the world—
An echo?
"I am a worthless failure."
Yoriichi Tsugikuni's voice was low, recounting a lifetime of regret.
"I failed to protect my important wife and child, failed to fulfill my life's duties, and even… never understood my elder brother's heart…"
"Now, I shamelessly entrust this heavy burden to others."
"Please, I beg you, end Muzan Kibutsuji, and completely eradicate that darkness that should not exist in this world."
The moment his words fell, this legendary swordsman bowed his head deeply.
The being that once stood at the pinnacle of the world shattered, his body turning into specks of light and vanishing.
Gazing at where the figure dissipated, Arthur was silent for a moment, then sighed softly.
He had heard about Yoriichi Tsugikuni's life from Kagaya Ubuyashiki.
A tragic swordsman of divine talent, yet plagued by misfortune, who spent his entire life constantly losing.
"Even if you don't say it, I will do it."
Arthur murmured to the empty white space, a sharp glint flashing in his eyes.
"I came for this, and— "
He clenched his fist, feeling the surging power within him and the peak of martial arts he had just mastered.
"The preparation phase is over, Muzan Kibutsuji, it's time to drag you out of the shadows!"