Demon Slayer: Tanjiro becomes a ghost, Nezuko becomes a pillar!

Chapter 128 Explanation of Breathing Techniques

"Kamado Nezuko, your ideas are all commendable. But I must tell you frankly that I share the same view as Shinobu Kocho: no one has ever succeeded in forcibly merging two completely different breathing techniques throughout history."

Kyojuro Rengoku saw the deep-seated determination in Nezuko's heart to become stronger and stand on her own.

He stopped insisting on making her his stepson and instead began to explain the most fundamental essence and form of breathing techniques to her in detail.

He sat upright, his flame-patterned haori gleaming warmly under the light, and his voice remained loud and clear.

"The vast majority of the breathing techniques currently used by the Demon Slayer Corps are derived from the five basic breathing techniques derived from the Sun Breathing. There has never been a precedent of directly fusing two different breathing techniques."

"That is why the vast majority of swordsmen spend their entire lives searching for the direction that best suits their physique and temperament among the five basic breathing techniques, thus forming their own unique derivative breathing techniques."

Kyojuro's explanation was meticulous and clear, with every sentence hitting the nail on the head.

Mi Douzi sat upright opposite, her hands gently resting on her knees, listening intently, her clear eyes unblinking, as if afraid of missing any crucial detail.

She memorized every word of the explanation and repeatedly compared it with her own feelings as she integrated water breathing and Kagura dance over the past few days.

The chaotic energy and conflicting forces that had once puzzled her finally had clear answers.

But as her understanding deepened, a subtle, almost imperceptible sadness began to rise in Midouzi's heart.

She firmly believed that she could break the mold and truly unify the two breathing techniques.

But now even the most powerful Pillar admits there is no precedent, and she can't help but begin to doubt whether the path of fusion she insists on was a dead end that was impossible from the very beginning.

Tanjiro keenly noticed his sister's subtle emotional change and immediately spoke gently to comfort her, his voice soft yet firm.

"Don't be discouraged, Nezuko. Just because there's no precedent doesn't mean it's impossible. You work harder and are more resilient than anyone else. Maybe you're the one who can create a miracle."

Upon hearing this, Rengoku Kyojuro nodded heavily, his bold voice full of power, like a beam of light that instantly dispelled the gloom in Nezuko's heart.

"That's right! Tanjiro Kamado is right!"

The double affirmation from her brother and the Flame Pillar was like a warm and powerful force, re-injected into Nezuko's heart.

She suddenly raised her head, the confusion and dejection in her eyes vanished, replaced by an unwavering determination, and nodded heavily.

"I understand! Thank you, Mr. Purgatory, thank you, brother!"

"Then, Mr. Rengoku," Nezuko leaned forward slightly, her eyes earnest and devout, "if I want to forge my own path of breathing, where should I begin?"

Kyojuro pondered for a moment, tapping his fingertips lightly on the table. After a short while, he patiently explained to her, using the two most representative Pillars of the Demon Slayer Corps as examples.

"Although I have never personally evolved derivative breathing techniques, as far as I know, the Serpent Pillar Obanai Iguro and the Love Pillar Mitsuri Kanroji evolved their own unique Serpent Breathing and Love Breathing from the five basic breathing techniques."

Upon hearing that someone had actually successfully found their own breathing path, Mizuko's eyes lit up instantly.

"I am quite close to both of them, so I am also familiar with the way they evolved their breathing."

Kyojuro continued, his tone filled with approval and praise for his companion.

"Mitsuri Kanroji initially practiced Flame Breathing, and Obanai Iguro also trained in basic techniques under the tutelage of Gyomei Himejima, the Stone Pillar. After mastering various basic breathing techniques, they gradually separated, refined, and evolved them based on their own physique, strength characteristics, and fighting habits, eventually creating a breathing method that perfectly suited them."

Every word was like a key, gradually unlocking the shackles in Mi Douzi's heart.

She listened quietly, her mind rapidly constructing, deducing, and comparing, mentally refining and integrating the breath of water and the Kagura dance one by one.

When they heard that Mitsuri and Iguro had achieved their unique breathing techniques after practicing various breathing methods, they were amazed.

A sudden flash of understanding crossed Mizuko's eyes, and she abruptly looked up, staring straight at Rengoku Kyojuro.

Kyojuro saw right through her thoughts and nodded in affirmation without hesitation.

"That's right, you're absolutely correct. They don't just stick to one type of breathing technique; rather, they've condensed their own breathing method from various basic breathing techniques."

In an instant, Ni Douzi suddenly understood.

The fog that had been lingering in her mind was finally completely dispelled.

She looked down at the Nichirin Blade with cherry blossom tsuba in her hand, her fingertips gently tracing the cool blade, her thoughts becoming clearer.

Currently, I only possess the Water Breathing and Fire Kagura systems, which are far from sufficient in terms of both depth and breadth. To truly integrate them, I cannot force them together; rather, I must first enrich myself, understand more about the essence of breathing techniques, and find a bridge for resonance between the two…

Having figured this out, Mizuko was no longer depressed. Instead, she was filled with the motivation to move forward and immediately continued to ask Rengoku Kyojuro for more details about the evolution of breathing.

Kyojuro patiently answered all my questions, leaving no stone unturned. The atmosphere in the carriage was warm and earnest, filled with an air of growth and hope.

Tanjiro sat to the side, watching Kyojuro talk eloquently and Nezuko with her eyes shining, feeling a sense of peace in his heart.

But at that moment, his sense of smell, which had been greatly enhanced by his demonic physique, suddenly detected an extremely strange aura.

That was the stench of ghosts.

So faint as to be almost imperceptible.

It hides beneath the smells of the carriage, the aroma of food, and the body odor of passengers, like a cold little snake, silently slithering in the shadows.

Tanjiro's expression changed slightly for a moment.

He glanced around calmly.

Zenitsu was still drowsy, while Inosuke looked around listlessly.

Midouzi listened attentively to the explanation.

Even Rengoku Kyojuro, a Pillar with senses far exceeding those of ordinary people, did not notice this barely perceptible malice.

Tanjiro immediately realized that this was a signal that only he could detect.

His demonic constitution allowed his sense of smell to surpass human limits, enabling him to detect approaching danger in advance.

He suppressed the alarm bells in his heart and did not immediately alert the crowd, so as not to cause unnecessary panic or even alert the enemy.

Tanjiro stood up gently and gave everyone a warm smile.

"I'll just wander around somewhere else in the carriage for a bit, I'll be right back."

After saying that, he turned around and slowly walked towards the direction from which the smell was coming.

Inosuke, who had been bored but whose attention was always on the Flame Pillar and Tanjiro, immediately sensed that something was wrong.

Without saying a word, he quietly followed, staying close behind Tanjiro.

As the train continued forward, leaving carriage after carriage behind, the stench of ghosts not only did not dissipate, but instead grew stronger and clearer.

Tanjiro's brows furrowed slowly, his vigilance growing stronger.

[This scent... is becoming clearer. It's chilling, not particularly oppressive, yet strangely eerie. Could it be... a Lower Moon demon?]

His steps were steady, his expression calm, but his heart was already churning with turmoil.

Inosuke, who was about to call out to Tanjiro, immediately shut his mouth after seeing Tanjiro's suddenly tense profile and furrowed brows.

The Tanjiro before me is no longer the gentle, smiling boy, but a warrior whose body is tense and who senses danger.

[This guy... he always has such a gentle demeanor, but now he's so serious... could it be...?]

Inosuke's pupils contracted slightly, and he instantly understood everything.

He fell silent, gripping the two Nichirin swords at his waist tightly, his knuckles turning white. His wild aura subtly receded as he focused intently on his surroundings.

Following Tanjiro, they approached the front of the train car by car, one car at a time.

The air grew colder, and the shadows grew thicker.

That eerie aura was almost within reach.

Just as the two were about to pass through the last carriage and reach the front of the train, a figure in a train conductor's uniform suddenly emerged from the shadows and blocked their way with an expressionless face.

The other person kept their head down, their tone flat and rigid, devoid of any emotion.

"The front of the train is ahead, and this is a no-entry zone. You may not proceed. Please show your tickets."