Chapter 130: The Demon Slayer Corps must engrave the Jing Liu sword techniques into their minds!
「 "General..." Jingliu's tone seemed a little surprised.
"I know you haven't visited for a long time, but surely you've heard of General Jing Yuan? He says he has no affinity with the sword — that his skills are getting rusty... Well, if that's true, I never noticed from his training." Yanqing looked around, "Alright, the area is safe. Let's keep going."
The Starskiff Dock was very close to them. They didn't walk far before arriving at a Starskiff. After retrieving the navigation records, Yanqing planned to send Jingliu to a safe place.
"Given the present circumstances, the Cloud Knight garrison probably isn't a safe destination, wouldn't you say?" Jingliu said coldly, crossing her arms.
"Exactly." Yanqing continued her words, "So we're not going to the Cloud Knight Outpost, but directly to the Shackling Prison. Food and lodging are provided, and you'll be guarded by heavy troops. It's absolutely safe."
Jingliu, however, remained unhurried: "...Little brother, if you wish to apprehend someone, shouldn't you have a reason?"
"Suspicious behavior, hiding your true identity—those alone are reason enough. You think you can fool me just because I'm a child?" Yanqing's gaze was alert,
"Not to mention how a stranded traveler suddenly appeared in a sealed port. All this way, I've observed your light and steady steps. You don't look like a blind person at all."
"As for your swordplay, it's one thing that you can hear everything clearly with your ears, but you can even report the exact number of swords I wield. This kind of insight is not what an ordinary person should possess." 」
「 .....」
〜Genshin Impact World〜
Teyvat, Sumeru—
"Whoa, whoa, whoa! This isn't good! Looking at Yanqing's stance, is he planning to draw his sword against his grandmaster?"
Seeing Yanqing's sharp demeanor, Kaveh was afraid that his grandmaster might accidentally succumb to Mara and instantly... well, you know.
The scene wasn't hard to imagine, after all, when Jingliu was afflicted by Mara, she showed no mercy when cutting down her disciple!
"Logically, Yanqing is one of the best swordsmen on the Xianzhou. Couldn't he sense the strength of this white-haired woman?"
Cyno thoughtfully put down his Genius Invokation TCG cards and began to analyze the situation on the screen:
"Could it be that he's doing it on purpose? Trying to force Jingliu to make a move?"
"...Cyno, you're overthinking it."
Tighnari chuckled,
"Perhaps it's just the simple sense of responsibility of a Cloud Knight? He might have sensed that this woman is very dangerous, but given the current situation on the Xianzhou... such a dangerous person cannot be left unchecked."
"But then again, even if Jingliu is willing to draw her sword, given the power gap between her and Yanqing... it would probably just be a game."
As Collei's Sensei and a senior among the Forest Rangers of Gandharva Ville, Tighnari could now truly understand the irrepressible joy one feels when seeing an excellent junior.
Even if Miss Jingliu is inherently aloof, seeing a grand-disciple like Yanqing would surely evoke some appreciation for talent, wouldn't it?
—
「 "You're not blind at all, are you?" Yanqing's sword-like eyebrows stood erect as he questioned her.
"Heh." Jingliu sneered, "I never said I couldn't see. You saw my eyes covered by a black veil and just assumed."
"Uh..." Just moments ago, he was aggressively questioning, but with Jingliu's rebuttal, Yanqing's tone immediately softened.
Sensing the awkwardness, Jingliu proactively said, "It's alright, little brother. I hold no grievance against you and have never held ill intent towards the Xianzhou. The black veil covering my eyes is merely proof of my resolve to never look back, to never fall again into Mara and 『 Destruction 』."
"I came here only to catch someone, and your company would be just right."
Yanqing frowned slightly: "You're also... here for Blade?"
"He goes by "Blade" nowadays? A fitting name for someone who dedicated his mind and body to the ways of the sword.—he certainly knows how to pick a name."
Jingliu walked past Yanqing, softly saying, "Take me to him, little brother. You are not my opponent, and therefore, you are not Blade's opponent either. With me accompanying you, you won't throw your life away, little brother."
These words seemed to strike Yanqing's heart, making him very indignant. He didn't turn to look at Jingliu but coldly snorted, "HHmph, we've not even drawn swords yet, and you declare yourself the winner? Let me offer you a word of advice: don't underestimate me."
"sigh... I was hoping to avoid a conflict with the Cloud Knights. How about this—" Jingliu turned and suggested, "Let's have ourselves a little contest. We can use the abominations that have infested the Luofu as target practice... and see whose sword can slay more, and slay faster. How about it?"
"If you win, I'll admit defeat, surrender willingly, and will obediently follow you to the Shackling Prison and receive whatever judgment awaits me there. Don't worry, I'll keep my end of the bargain." Jingliu's tone shifted, "But if I win, you'll have to share Blade's whereabouts with me. Fair enough?"
Yanqing confidently shook his head: "A Cloud Knight never gambles with official business. But in any case, you won't beat me." 」
「 .....」
〜Frieren: Beyond Journey's End World〜
"Heh, I like his confidence... what an interesting little fellow."
Serie nodded appreciatively. As a teacher, she loved young people who were exceptionally talented yet defiant. Only such individuals could break conventions, create history, and bring surprises.
Young and spirited, unaware of how to conceal his edge... what Jingliu saw as flaws, Serie saw as no problem at all.
Can someone truly be called young without a spirited nature?
She had seen countless exceptionally talented mages study under her. In their youth, they followed established routines; in middle age, they were bogged down by various affairs; in old age, their spirit was worn away by time, regretting too late, looking back only on an unremarkable life.
It was those who liked to argue with her from a young age who achieved remarkable feats in their short lives, like fleeting meteors, brief but brilliant enough.
Looking at Yanqing's confident expression, Serie's smile deepened.
With this little fellow's talent and temperament, his future is truly limitless...
—
〜Demon Slayer World〜
Meanwhile—
"Quick! Quick! Quick!"
"Hold your wooden swords tight! Move quickly!"
In the dead of night, Sanemi Shinazugawa's loud voice echoed through the mountains.
In the blink of an eye, almost half of the Demon Slayer Corps was mobilized. Most of them had sleepy eyes, were yawning, and looked bewildered.
In the Butterfly Mansion, even injured members like Tanjiro and Zenitsu were forcibly awakened and summoned to the courtyard where the Hashira meeting was held.
"Giyu-san, this is..."
Tanjiro pointed at the vast crowd of Demon Slayer Corps members in front of him.
He, Zenitsu, and Inosuke were all asleep and had no idea what was happening.
Suddenly awakened from their dreams, they thought an Upper Rank demon had attacked the Demon Slayer Corps headquarters.
"This is more important."
Giyu Tomioka tightened his grip on the long sword at his waist, instructing,
"Soon, Yanqing and Jingliu will demonstrate their sword skills. We must engrave every move and stance of their swordsmanship into our minds."
"Eh? Jing, Jingliu?"
Hearing that name, Tanjiro's sleepiness immediately vanished,
"Didn't she die? At the hands of General Jing Yuan..."
"I'm not sure what exactly happened, but she's currently on the Xianzhou and intends to pursue Blade."
"But her sword skills are incredibly fast. I'm afraid I..."
Recalling her battle with the General—truth be told, even now, Tanjiro couldn't quite grasp Jingliu's moves. He watched the entire battle and only felt one word: "fast." Even ordinary sword techniques were many times faster than Zenitsu's First Form.
—