Su Chen stood perfectly still. His mind was replaying every single movement he had just witnessed.
He analyzed Kochou Shinobu's sword-swinging forms and her breathing frequency. He saw the Butterfly Dance. He saw the Dance of the Bee Sting. He saw the Dance of the Dragonfly and the incredible Dance of the Centipede. He used all of his observation skills, analyzing the vibration frequency of her blade, the exact timing of her footwork, and even how the poison was distributed on the blade.
Suddenly, his mind cleared. He had an epiphany. He had fully comprehended Insect Breathing.
New movements subconsciously appeared in his mind. He slowly raised his wooden sword and began to review the forms Kochou Shinobu had just demonstrated. He also started to integrate his understanding of Flower Breathing.
Before long, a graceful figure was moving in the courtyard.
Kochou Shinobu's beautiful eyes narrowed as she scrutinized Su Chen. Even though this was Su Chen's first time attempting Insect Breathing, his proficiency was already remarkable. She remembered how much effort it had taken her when she first started. Su Chen's talent was indeed the best she had ever seen. All he needed now was to steadily improve his physical fitness.
"Is this...?!" Kochou Shinobu's eyes suddenly widened.
Su Chen wasn't just copying her. He was attempting to combine Flower Breathing and Insect Breathing. He was adding the power of Flower Breathing to the graceful speed of Insect Breathing, integrating new sword techniques on the spot. The movements he ultimately displayed left even her astonished.
Slowly, Su Chen's movements began to slow down again. He then began to gracefully perform the movements of Flower Breathing, just as he had promised her.
Kochou Shinobu smiled. "You naughty boy, I thought you had forgotten," she muttered to herself, then began to watch intently.
In the tranquil atmosphere, Su Chen's figure gradually overlapped with the memory of Kanae in Kochou Shinobu's mind. She couldn't help but gaze in a daze. She hadn't expected Su Chen to be able to perform her sister's sword technique so well. It was just like watching her sister again.
In the quiet courtyard, the young girl nodded slightly, a single tear involuntarily flowing from her eye.
She said with a smile, "Thank you, Su Chen."
...
The next morning, as expected, Su Chen woke up late.
He and Kochou Shinobu had stayed up late practicing swordsmanship in the courtyard. They had lost track of time and only fell asleep in the middle of the night.
"Next time, I can't do this," Su Chen silently reminded himself, then headed toward the courtyard.
When he arrived, Kanao had already been practicing her sword for quite some time. She was still wearing her pure white haori, with a purple butterfly hairpin in her hair. Her black ponytail rested on her right shoulder, making her look very cute.
Upon seeing Su Chen, Kanao smiled and greeted him.
"Good morning, Su Chen."
"Good morning, Kanao," Su Chen politely replied.
He walked to the center of the courtyard. As soon as he did, three little girls ran out from the corner of the corridor. Their voices could be heard from far away.
"Mr. Su Chen, you're finally awake!"
"Just now, Xiao Caihui said that if Mr. Su Chen didn't get up soon, she would go tell Lady Shinobu!"
"Xiao Qing, you're talking nonsense! It was clearly Xiao Cheng who said that just now! What does it have to do with me, Takada Naho?"
The three little girls jostled and ran over, all crowding in front of Su Chen. He smiled and patted each of their heads.
"Where did Shinobu go?" Su Chen asked them.
Xiao Qing was the first to reply. "Lady Shinobu went to see the Master! A black crow called her away early this morning."
Xiao Cheng then added, "Mhm, mhm! And Lady Shinobu even said before she left that Brother Su Chen should sleep a little longer!"
Su Chen understood. He was surprised Kochou Shinobu had been able to get up after sleeping so late. Looking at the sun in the sky, Su Chen noticed that the weather was nice, so he walked to a large tree and sat down.
Kanao walked over with her wooden sword, her large eyes staring intently at Su Chen.
"Su Chen, let's practice."
But Su Chen waved his hand. "Not practicing today."
"Oh." The light in Kanao's eyes quickly dimmed.
"I have some new ideas I need to digest," Su Chen explained gently. "I promise I will definitely practice my sword with you later today, okay?"
"Then let's go make delicious food for Brother Su Chen!"
The three little girls excitedly left, presumably heading to the kitchen to find Kanzaki Aoi and ask for pastries.
Kanao nodded heavily. A smile bloomed on her face like a flower.
Su Chen closed his eyes.
The inspirations he had gained these past few days suddenly emerged in his mind. Shadowless Hand, Butterfly Steps, Flower Breathing, Insect Breathing, body coordination, flexibility...
He pondered the skills he had acquired and realized that these Breathing Techniques were not perfectly compatible with him. He decided he needed to deduce a new Breathing Technique.
He deconstructed the Dance of the Bee Sting from Insect Breathing, finding it very suitable for himself. He began to analyze it. He began to consider the application of poison. He heard the sound of bees collecting nectar nearby and gained some insight. He began to try and think about bee-related sword techniques.
Su Chen's brain operated at high speed, and before long, beads of sweat formed on his forehead.
Kanao quietly knelt beside Su Chen. She didn't speak, just watched him silently. She didn't know why, but ever since doing those things with Su Chen yesterday, she subconsciously liked being by his side. Upon seeing Su Chen sweat, Kanao actually became nervous as well.
Black, cloud-like patterns emerged from Su Chen's neck. At this moment, Su Chen entered a profound and mysterious state; he began to exert himself to deduce a new Breathing Technique...
Meanwhile, at the Ubuyashiki Residence.
A young girl landed in the main courtyard, kneeling respectfully on one knee. Her butterfly haori swayed gently in the wind.
Kochou Shinobu brushed back her purple-black hair, her beautiful eyes looking up at the pavilion above. Standing there was none other than the current Master of the Demon Slayer Corps, Kagaya Ubuyashiki.
"Shinobu, you said Su Chen can already fully master the Mark?" Kagaya spoke, his voice profound and pleasant to listen to.
Kochou Shinobu smiled and said, "Yes, Master. He can already control the Mark. Whenever he needs to use it, strange black patterns appear on his neck."
"Is that so." Kagaya seemed much happier. "Then, Shinobu, have you awakened the Mark?"
Kochou Shinobu shook her head.