Hideharu walked up the mountain and called out to Kamishiro Amane, who was trimming his hair by a small stream.
Amane stood up and replied, "We haven't seen each other in quite a while. Senior Buyou must have helped you grow a lot stronger over this past year."
Amane suddenly recalled the torment of the training sessions: thousands of sword swings every day, physical conditioning, and being told to staunch his bleeding using breathing techniques even though he didn't know any Breathing Style himself.
Amane looked awkward. "Well... I suppose I've gotten stronger."
"The so-called Breathing Style is about sensing the flow of air in the surroundings, allowing your breath to reach every single nerve in your body to heighten your spirit and vitality."
"Right, let me break it down for you. Breathing Styles stem from five foundational schools: Water Breathing, Flame Breathing, Wind Breathing, Thunder Breathing, and Stone Breathing."
"These five Breathing Styles can branch off into various other kinds. For instance, my Breath of Cherry Blossoms is derived from Flower Breathing, which in turn is derived from Water Breathing, and so on."
"That's why I have a fair understanding of the basics of both Flower Breathing and Water Breathing."
"First, your posture and movements must be correct. Relax your upper body, keep your lower body steady, and then take a deep breath."
"But when you saved me before, you didn't do any of that."
"That's because I've already mastered and solidified my Breathing Style. If you can master yours as well, you can omit a lot of the movements. Posture is really just a scaffolding."
Amane stood in place, trying to sense the flow of air.
"Relax the upper half, steady the lower half."
"The Nichirin Blade is also known as the Color-Changing Katana. If your breath can cause your blade to change color, it proves that you have mastered a Breathing Style."
Hideharu's phone rang. He answered it, and the person on the other end was Senior Buyou.
"Amane, that's really all I can teach you about Breathing Styles. Whether you can actually learn it depends entirely on yourself."
"Let me tell you a story. According to past records, there was once a Demon Slayer Corps swordsman who couldn't figure out how to practice it no matter what. Then he got struck by lightning, which changed his whole body and his hair, and just like that, he learned it. Amane, I believe you can do it too—changing your hair color would make you look just like him."
Amane thought to himself that getting struck by lightning, surviving, and somehow learning a Breathing Style was certainly bizarre.
"So I'm sorry, but I have to leave for a bit longer. Practicing a Breathing Style requires your own personal realization and perception."
With that, he turned around, waved, and left Amane alone to study.
Amane closed his eyes and tried to sense everything in the air.
A serene lake appeared before his eyes, and he was standing right on top of it. Suddenly, ripples formed on the surface, growing more and more numerous until the calm lake suddenly began to boil.
"That's right, I can feel it, but why!"
Maigo walked over and greeted Amane.
"Maigo? What brings you here? Is something wrong?"
Maigo handed over a record of breathing forms to Amane.
"Hideharu said he forgot to give you something. I was passing by to check on you, so he asked me to bring this to you, and by the way, I wanted to see how your training is going."
Amane closed his eyes and breathed in once more. The image of the lake from earlier reappeared in his mind's eye. Ripples still formed, but they didn't reach the point of boiling.
Maigo just watched as Amane stood there motionless, making this Breathing Style training seem rather pointless.
"I'm heading off."
Amane remained immersed in his mental realm, continuing his endless practice without stopping.
Late at night, Amane sat at a desk under the glow of a reading lamp, studying the forms of the Breathing Style.
He earnestly studied the movement breakdowns of the techniques, then took a deep breath.
Visible veins began to trace across his skin as his blood circulation rapidly accelerated.
Suddenly, the door to the room swung open on its own. Amane immediately stood up and looked back, but found no one there.
"Who's there! Who is this?"
Amane stepped out of the room and spotted a figure already standing in the hallway. He grabbed his Nichirin Blade and gave chase.
The figure ran all the way to the foot of the mountain, even pausing to wait for Amane, who suddenly realized: "It's as if he's guiding me somewhere. No matter what your intentions are, I need to know who you really are."
Over the past year, Amane had faintly been able to sense this presence. Finally, the figure stopped, and Amane caught up from behind.
"Who the hell are you?"
The person pulled back their hood and turned to look at Amane. At first glance, Amane saw—
"Nijio Ran!"
The person had the exact same hair color and the exact same pupils as Nijio Ran.
"I apologize for meeting you this way, Kamishiro Amane."
"How do you know my name?"
"I've been observing you here for a whole year. It's only natural that I know your name."
"Let me introduce myself. My name is Hongweilang. And I am already dead."
"You're Nijio Ran's older brother? And you just said you're... dead?" Amane looked somewhat astonished.
"You're standing right here in one piece! How can you say you're dead?"
"I am indeed dead, but for some reason, I've appeared here—or rather, I came here specifically to tell you something."
Amane began to suspect he had genuinely run into a ghost.
"Amane, I've watched you for a long time over this past year. You are exceptional; you possess the greatest talent for practicing Breathing Styles."
Amane sheepishly scratched the back of his head.
"Thanks for the compliment. By the way, does your sister know that you're—wait, I'm not dreaming, am I? But this doesn't make any sense."
Hongweilang wore a grave expression.
"You aren't dreaming. Furthermore, no one else knows. But right now, everyone except you is waiting for me."
Amane volunteered himself eagerly.
"I can tell them! Even though it'll hurt, they need to know the truth."
Hongweilang shook his head.
"No! My situation cannot be made known yet. My sister's heart is too fragile."
"The death of our parents has already been devastating enough for her. If we add my situation to that—"
Amane interrupted him bluntly.
"Your sister isn't weak at all! You're the one underestimating her. Besides, you can't keep this hidden forever."
Hongweilang paused for a moment before speaking.
"Amane, I didn't lure you out here to discuss matters between me and my sister. I have something much more important to tell you."
"And that is: Muzan Kibutsuji is still alive."
Amane's eyes widened in disbelief.
"Isn't Muzan Kibutsuji dead? He clearly died right under the noses of the Demon Slayer Corps—how could he possibly still be alive?"
As those words left his mouth, the atmosphere turned heavy. This was no laughing matter.
"As much as I find it hard to believe myself, I am 100% certain that the one I met that day was Muzan Kibutsuji."
Suddenly, a flash of white light swept past, and the surrounding environment was entirely replaced by a vast, blinding white expanse.
"This is my memory from when I was alive. The reason I came here is to tell you this."
As the white light faded, Amane found himself sitting inside a car. Right beside him sat Hongweilang, while Senior Buyou was in the driver's seat.
"Young master, the Kakushi reported this time that the demon possesses a Blood Demon Art. We must be careful." Senior Buyou repeatedly warned him about the dangers of this mission.
"I know. I'll be careful."
"Young master, the road ahead is too narrow for this old man's car."
Hongweilang looked out the car window.
"Just drop me off here. Oh, and when you head back, reassure my sister."
Senior Buyou and Hongweilang watched as a plant cultivation facility nearby went up in flames.
Hongweilang drew his Nichirin Blade and sprinted toward the blazing fire, with Amane following close behind.
Hongweilang looked at the raging inferno and the surrounding wreckage. A figure emerged from the flames.
Hongweilang raised his Nichirin Blade, getting into a fierce fighting stance as the figure finally stepped into full view.
"Blue Spider Lily, where on earth are you? Oh! I thought that rat had come back, but you're a nuisance too."
"Foul demon, what happened to the people inside!"
"Nothing much. There was nothing in there that I wanted. Those who died, died; those who turned into demons, became demons."
"Bastard! I'm going to kill you."
(Rainbow Breathing, Second Form: Dream Wandering Dance)
As the blade slashed, it formed trails of rainbows that looped back to the starting point like a Möbius strip.
Yet the demon simply stood in place without moving at all.
"That's not right! It's not that I missed—his body has already completed its regeneration. I didn't inflict any damage on him at all."
"Are you done with your little performance, clown? It's a great time to test out the power that fellow left me."
The demon reached out his hand. An eye opened on his palm, marked with the numeral "Zero," which suddenly shifted into a "Four."
(Blood Demon Art: Infinity Castle)
A door materialized beneath Nijio Ran's feet. Hongweilang managed to dodge in time to avoid falling through.
Gazing down into this bottomless black hole forced Hongweilang to ready his defenses.
(Blood Demon Art: Arrogant Moon)
Numerous sharp tentacles sprouted from the demon's back and lashed about, sending out blade-like arcs of crescent moonlight.
(Rainbow Breathing, Fifth Form: Pledge of Joyful Rainbow)
When the smoke cleared, Hongweilang was covered in countless bleeding wounds.
(Rainbow Breathing, Fourth Form: Phantom Sun)
The demon changed the numeral on his arm to a "Two."
(Blood Demon Art: Scattered Lotus)
Petals rained down upon Hongweilang. These petals acted like razor-sharp blades, piercing straight into his wounds and instantly dissolving into his body.
"Damn it, these petals are blocking my blood circulation from the inside."
Blood gushed from Hongweilang's wounds.
"Using a Breathing Style to purge your own necrotic blood, are you?"
"I've grown tired of this boring game. It's time to finish you off."