Having grasped the true nature of his own demonic energy, breaking through was only a matter of course for Tōga.
After a few circulations of yōki through his body, the mist-like energy within him gradually thickened, gaining the weight and density of liquid.
As a single drop of this water—condensed from the essence of his own demonic power—was born within him, Tōga's eyes opened in sudden clarity.
A strange transformation spread through his body: both the quality of his yōki and the strength of his limbs and bones were reinforced to varying degrees.
Without relying on burst techniques or ultimate moves, even in his normal state, Tōga reckoned he was now slightly stronger than Shirayuki.
If he fought with everything he had, using the Third Elder Ziyan as a reference point, he might even be able to exchange a few blows with a weaker high-level yōkai—though escaping afterward was another matter.
'Now all I need is a fang-sword of my own… the day I forge my Tessaiga.'
Rising to his feet, his bones cracked audibly as he stretched his neck and loosened his body.
Then, back in the hidden chamber beneath his house, he sat at his desk and began writing down his reflections and experiences of the breakthrough.
Tōga's 'secret chamber' was more like a small study: shelves upon shelves of books filled the space.
There were miscellaneous works of geography from the human cities under the Dog Clan's rule, as well as his own records from this second life—his observations on the world, the cultivation systems of yōkai, various ultimate techniques, and his thoughts on the future.
A poor memory is better than none at all. Each time he revisited his own notes, Tōga always found new insights.
It was like a novel without an outline, written as he pleased.
Perhaps incoherent, perhaps unrealistic, perhaps lacking support from others—but with a lifespan stretching far beyond sight, there would always be chances to test everything one by one.
Turning his thoughts toward the current situation of the Dog Clan, Tōga frowned slightly as his mind lingered on the crow tengu and the peculiar yōkai Sen'in Yūko.
"Those who are not of our clan, their hearts must be different." Tōga firmly believed in this principle.
To let outsiders throw away their lives to fill the Dog Clan's holes—without blood ties or bonds—was foolishness. He would never trust it.
All living things act to seek benefit and avoid harm. Otherwise, proverbs like "bringing charcoal in the snow" or "adding flowers to brocade" would never have come into being.
His gaze shifted back to the crow tengu: they resembled the samurai of his previous life's small island nation.
They feared power but did not respect virtue, practiced small courtesies but lacked great righteousness.Of course, there could still be true gentlemen born in a small country—it would not be the fault of the individual.
Then he thought of Shirayuki's restless temperament regarding Dog Clan affairs.
He also found it strange that the crow tengu, who did not strike him as a death-defying race, insisted on remaining in the Wind and Thunder Gorge. A new idea began forming in his mind.
He added a few lines to his book, "On How to Conquer and Cultivate One's Future Wife," when suddenly the bell-rope in his secret chamber rang.
Tōga immediately stood, tucked away the book that would surely bring him social death into a hidden compartment, locked the chamber, and set a barrier before finally leaving with ease of mind.
Upstairs in the main hall, he found Shirayuki sitting gracefully like an orchid.
"The Great Elder has already led our people to garrison the fortress. When are we departing?"
Awkward when it came to her feelings for Tōga, but direct in everything else, Shirayuki looked him straight in the eye.
"Speak of the devil…"
Tōga didn't share his own musings. Instead, he asked, "What did the General say?"
The young lady, long familiar with him, rolled her beautiful eyes. "If he had agreed, I wouldn't be here."
Her tone carried a hint of disdain.
Whether it was directed at her father—who still hadn't arranged her marriage, or at the smiling boy before her, who hadn't had the gall to propose was unclear.
Either way, her heart was utterly vexed.
"Heh… Shirayuki, wait here for me a moment. I'll be right back."
Tōga set some of her favorite snacks beside her. Shirayuki took them without hesitation, reaching out while humming.
"You'd better not be scheming with Father to trick me. If you are, you'll regret it."
Then her soft lips bit into a mountain fruit.
Juice burst instantly between her teeth, sweet liquid trickling slowly down her lip.
Her face flushed red as she hurriedly covered half her cheek with her sleeve.
Her beautiful eyes glared at Tōga's back as he turned and left.
"Hmph. What's so worth staring at, anyway?"
But in her mind she replayed that brief, stunned expression on Tōga's face—until her eyes shimmered with moisture.
'Stop overthinking. Right now the goal is to eat well, drink well, and trick Tōga into becoming my live-in husband. Then let's see how smug he can be.'
Shirayuki picked up another fruit, chewing carefully. Her cheeks puffed out like a hamster savoring its treat, each bite accompanied by little satisfied hums.
Her gaze, however, wandered to the corridor leading both upstairs and down to the basement. She had been to both.
The barrier and key to the secret chamber—Tōga had told her himself.
"Shirayuki, treat this as your own home. You can go wherever you like."
She remembered it clearly: a sunny spring day, after a routine spar, Tōga had mysteriously revealed he had a "secret."
Her innocent heart was instantly hooked by the word, and she followed him home.
There, the strange wonders of his secret chamber drew her in, and before long she had become a frequent visitor.
One time she stayed too late and was caught by the grim-faced Dog General himself.
Back then, Tōga had been forced to live with the Great Elder for quite some time just to lie low.
Those warm and beautiful childhood memories flowed endlessly through her mind like a gentle stream.
Her smile never left her lips.
Only when the snacks beside her were all gone did Shirayuki come back to herself.
She blinked, her eyes still carrying a trace of lingering sweetness.
Her mouth glistened with juice, sparkling in the sunset glow.
Sticking out her soft pink tongue, she licked her lips lightly, then found it improper and quickly wiped them with her hand.
She then made her way, as if at home, to the bath chamber to wash her sticky hands.
"It's been half the day already. Why hasn't Tōga come back? Did Father find an excuse to beat him?"
"Or… did things not go well, and now he's too embarrassed to return?"
Stepping back into the hall, Shirayuki looked toward the door, her moonlike face shadowed with faint displeasure. With a sigh, she went into the kitchen, rolled up her sleeves, and gathered what ingredients there were.
Using lard she had rendered herself, she tried the homestyle dishes Tōga had taught her. Humming a little tune as the aroma filled the room, she waited for his return.
Meanwhile, across the street in the keep, Tōga—who had long since finished his business—was now locked in a staring contest with his own father-in-law.
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[T/N: Fun Fact—The manga and anime series Inuyasha by Rumiko Takahashi draws significant inspiration from Chinese mythology, folklore, and literature. The series incorporates numerous elements rooted in Chinese culture, particularly through its characters, story arcs, and symbolic references. While Inuyasha is set in a Japanese feudal context and features many Japanese yōkai and folklore, its narrative and symbolic depth are enriched by extensive Chinese cultural references, demonstrating a clear and deliberate inspiration from Chinese mythology and literature. So 'cultivation' shouldn't be too out of place, right?]