Black Wolf Fang laughed heartily. "Hahaha, don't even think about it. I won't give you the chance—I'm going to kill you right now."
"Look at you, pinned to the wall by my blade through your head. Recovering your body from just the head would take a long time."
"But you want to remotely control your body, don't you? Don't be foolish. I didn't stop you earlier because I wanted to give you hope before crushing it."
"I've been a demon for decades. I've experienced decapitation before—did you really think I wouldn't notice your little tricks?"
"Feeling hopeless? You thought you had a chance, but I saw through you all along."
"I gave you an opportunity, but you couldn't seize it."
"Haha, now die in despair."
As he spoke, Black Wolf Fang stepped forward. The blade pinning Yuu's head to the wall dissolved into crimson energy and returned to his body.
Black Wolf Fang lifted Yuu's head with one hand and began slamming it repeatedly against the cave's rocky wall. He intended to torture Yuu like this until sunrise, making the young demon suffer before death.
The continuous violent impacts caused Yuu's consciousness to fade. The hard-won sense of bodily control he had managed to grasp disappeared again.
But at that moment, a gentle voice seemed to whisper in Yuu's ear.
"Yuu, don't forget to breathe～"
In his fading consciousness, Yuu remembered the teachings of his father, Tanjuro.
When Yuu was eleven years old, he had insisted on accompanying Tanjuro to cut firewood in the mountains. Tanjuro had refused several times, but seeing Yuu's determination, he finally brought him along.
Trekking through the mountains was exhausting work.
Though Yuu had strong willpower, his young body quickly grew tired.
Yet he stubbornly kept pace with Tanjuro's footsteps.
Then, Tanjuro stopped and looked back at Yuu with amusement.
"Little one, you should turn back if you can't continue."
Yuu pressed his lips together. "No, I can do it."
Tanjuro paused, then smiled. He crouched down, ruffled Yuu's hair, and straightened his slightly messy collar.
Then he said gently, "Yuu, don't forget to breathe."
Yuu rolled his eyes. "Dad, I'm always breathing. People die if they stop breathing, you know."
Tanjuro flicked Yuu's forehead lightly. "You little rascal, rolling your eyes at me now."
Yuu grinned. "I'm just telling the truth. Nobody forgets to breathe."
At that, Tanjuro's smile faded, and he spoke with unusual seriousness. "Yuu, listen carefully."
Sensing his father's change in tone, Yuu tilted his head and concentrated.
"What do you hear?"
"Well... I hear leaves rustling in the wind, and some birds singing nearby."
"Oh, and my stomach's been growling too."
Tanjuro sighed. "If you're hungry, just say so. We'll head down after finishing up. Kieboshi is probably preparing dinner."
He became serious again. "Yuu, you must remember—everything in this world breathes, everything follows its own rhythm."
"Human breathing is usually chaotic, but if you master the proper breathing technique, you can achieve things beyond normal human limits."
"Remember my breathing pattern. This is our family's inherited breathing technique—Hinokami Kagura."
"You and Tanjiro must pass down both Hinokami Kagura and our family's earrings someday."
After speaking, Tanjuro closed his eyes, signaling Yuu to observe his breathing.
To Yuu's surprise, Tanjuro's entire presence transformed in that moment.
He became lively, spirited, passionate, burning... even somehow.
Tanjuro, who had always been somewhat frail, now radiated boundless vitality and fiery passion, giving Yuu a sense of infinite life.
The feeling was truly extraordinary.
Yuu committed Tanjuro's breathing rhythm to memory.
Then he immediately tried practicing the Hinokami Kagura breathing technique himself. But after taking one deep breath, he choked, tears streaming down his face, nearly suffocating...
Tanjuro opened his eyes, patted Yuu's back to help him recover his breath, then teased, "Did you feel the gaze of the Fire God?"
Yuu rolled his eyes again. "I felt Death's gaze... You were tricking me, right, Dad?"
Tanjuro laughed heartily. When his laughter subsided, he grew serious once more. "Yuu, I wasn't tricking you."
"You're still too young—your body can't handle Hinokami Kagura yet. It's an extremely demanding technique..."
"When you grow older and stronger, don't forget to breathe. Don't forget Hinokami Kagura."
"You must engrave this breathing technique firmly in your heart."
Yuu rarely saw Tanjuro so serious. Though he still thought his father might be joking, he nodded solemnly, promising to remember Hinokami Kagura forever.
Seeing his obedient, understanding son, Tanjuro sighed almost imperceptibly.
"Yuu... It's too bad I won't be able to watch you grow up. My time is running short."
"I can already feel it. Both you and Tanjiro have greater talent than I did. One day, you'll truly master Hinokami Kagura."
"As for me... I'll be going ahead to meet the Fire God first."
...
"When did I start forgetting to breathe?"
"I can feel it—even after death, Father is still helping me."
"Your spirit is watching over me from the heavens now, isn't it?"
"I'm sorry... I forgot to breathe, and I failed to protect our family..."
In his daze, Yuu seemed to see Tanjuro again.
Tanjuro sighed softly, then gently ruffled Yuu's hair as he always used to.
"I should be the one apologizing."
"I'm sorry my weakness forced you to carry such heavy responsibilities. Sorry, you've been trapped in self-blame and regret."
"Don't torment yourself with guilt. I've never blamed you, and neither has your mother nor your siblings. We only want you to live well."
"Even as a demon, you must hold fast to your true heart."
"Yuu, don't forget to breathe～"
The voice grew fainter. Yuu knew Tanjuro had left, transformed back into a star in the sky, watching over him.
"Father... I won't disappoint you."
In Black Wolf Fang's grip, Yuu's head continuously regenerated only to be smashed against the wall again and again.
Black Wolf Fang delighted in Yuu's pained expressions.
But now Black Wolf Fang noticed something different—Yuu's face was no longer contorted in agony, but had become calm and serene.
Simultaneously, a strange sound began echoing around Black Wolf Fang.
"What is that noise?"
"It sounds like... a Demon Slayer's breathing technique?"
At the same time, the dull, lifeless eyes in Yuu's bloodied head began glowing with increasing brightness.
"Hinokami Kagura!"
"Blood Demon Art: Blazing Feathers!"
<><><><><><><><>
Read Advance chapters (15+) In Patreon.com/Yuuma046