Chapter 242: A Foxian Tale of the Haunted 『 Part Seventeen 』
「 Upon arriving at the scene, the group discovered a Cloud Knight brandishing his weapon in a frenzied, chaotic manner. After a coordinated effort to restrain him, the soldier finally managed to claw back a semblance of lucidity from his delirium.
"He tried his best to recall the events," the report noted. He had originally come to the Alchemy Commission to purge the Abominations of 『 Abundance 』, but somehow, it felt as though he had slipped into a waking dream. In this dream, his own weapon began to speak, mocking the ostentatious nature of his forms while simultaneously offering to tutor him in the way of the blade.
Relaxing his body and surrendering control to the weapon, he felt his martial prowess reach heights he had never imagined possible. Yet, the weapon deemed his natural talent too dull. It claimed it needed another disciple to truly carry on its legacy… It was only then that he realized Yanqing, the General's prized pupil, was standing right beside him.
As if possessed by a sudden, inexplicable obsession, he turned his blade toward Yanqing. The result was a swift, effortless defeat; even while holding back, the boy had ended the bout in an instant. He watched as Yanqing began conversing with his own sword, while the weapon in the soldier's hand fell eternally silent. 」
「 .....」
〜Demon Slayer World〜
"So, this Heliobus is actually hand-picking its own disciples now? Hmph…"
Sanemi Shinazugawa, the Wind Hashira, crossed his arms and let out a sharp, irritated grunt.
Among the Hashira of the Demon Slayer Corps, aside from the Stone Hashira, their strengths were generally comparable. However, ever since Muichiro Tokito, the Mist Hashira, had gained enlightenment from witnessing Jingliu's swordsmanship, his skills had ascended to a different realm. Now, even a combined effort from Sanemi and the Serpent Hashira was no match for him.
If one were to pinpoint the greatest disparity between the Hashira, it was innate talent.
While anyone reaching the rank of Hashira was already a paragon among humanity, Muichiro had achieved that status in a mere two months. His talent was peerless.
Seeing this Heliobus show such blatant favoritism based on raw potential left a stinging sense of resentment in Sanemi's chest.
"Don't let it get to you, Shinazugawa,"
Obanai Iguro, the Serpent Hashira, remarked from his perch on a nearby tree, sensing his comrade's agitation.
"Choosing a student based solely on talent is just a master's way of being lazy. Besides… that Heliobus is hardly what I'd call a 'good teacher'."
"Oh? And how did you figure that out?"
Sanemi looked up at him, curious.
"In that world, any power worth holding requires years of discipline and tempering. That possessed Cloud Knight surrendered his body to the Heliobus; he gained strength, yes, but it was fleeting. The moment the creature leaves, that power vanishes. The only reason he dared to challenge Yanqing was that the Heliobus robbed him of the 'true sensation' of growth."
Obanai continued, his voice cold and analytical.
"Learning ten years' worth of swordsmanship in a single breath means the mind understands, but the limbs do not. He has no grasp of the fundamentals required to adapt in a real fight. Whether this shortcut suits Yanqing, I cannot say, but it certainly isn't fit for a common soldier with a weak foundation."
Sanemi understood this all too well. As a Hashira, he had taken on Tsuguko before, attempting to pass down the forms of Wind Breathing. He had once tried to make disciples memorize entire sequences in a few days, but the results were disastrous. Their "First Form" was a hollow imitation, lacking even a fraction of the necessary lethality.
Since then, he had emphasized grueling foundational training, though it was an agonizingly slow process.
"That Heliobus has lived for untold ages; perhaps it does possess genuine skill. But to teach by possession—by forcing a lifetime of mastery into a disciple instantly… the outcome is inevitable. It will fail."
Obanai let out a dry, mocking chuckle.
"Still, I am curious to see how it fares now that it has taken hold of Yanqing. I wonder how its bladework compares to that woman, Jingliu."
—
「 The group tracked the trail and discovered a flying sword hovering mid-air.
Sushang recognized it immediately as one of Yanqing's blades—a masterwork from the Artisanship Commission that shared a spiritual resonance with its master. Seeing it abandoned here, Sushang feared he had encountered some grave peril.
"I have a theory, though I'm not sure if I should say it out loud…"
"If it's bad luck, then keep it to yourself!" Guinaifen's grave expression was already making Sushang's heart race.
"Judging by what happened to that Cloud Knight earlier, I don't think Yanqing is the one in danger. I think it's…"
"…Us?" Stelle finished the thought.
Guinaifen clutched her chest and nodded, her face pale.
Yanqing was the General's personal disciple and the finest swordsman in the Cloud Knights. With a Heliobus amplifying his abilities, it was hard to tell if they were going on a rescue mission or just lining up for the slaughter.
The priority remained saving Yanqing before things escalated. They followed the flying sword toward the ferry, but as they approached the Dragonprayer Altar, Sushang suddenly halted. Charging in blindly felt like a mistake.
"Shangshang, are you scared? I mean, this Heliobus looks a lot tougher than the ones we've dealt with. I'm shaking in my boots, too."
"What are you talking about?" Sushang's face flushed as she protested. "My mother started teaching me the blade the moment I could walk! I might not be the General's star pupil, but retreating now would disgrace the name of the Cloud Knights and my family's legacy!"
But her voice trailed off as she looked down. "Still… I am a little afraid. If that Heliobus loses control, I'm not sure I can protect you all." 」
「 .....」
〜Frieren: Beyond Journey's End World〜
"I really think we should play it safe and go find the General,"
Stark muttered, recalling Yanqing's autonomous flying swords. The boy didn't even need to lift a finger to dispatch enemies; back during the wager with Jingliu, the abominations couldn't even get close to him.
It wasn't that he looked down on Sushang, but the facts were clear: there was a massive gulf between her and Yanqing. Furthermore, no one knew just how powerful a possessed Yanqing had become.
"Don't worry, they have Stelle with them. Think of all the monsters she's thrashed! A little guy like Yanqing is—"
"Master Sein, I wouldn't be quite so certain if I were you."
Fern cut him off before he could finish his boast. The girl narrowed her eyes, her expression stern.
"After being tempered by the likes of Jingliu, Blade, and Dan Heng, Yanqing's swordsmanship is nothing like it used to be. Given his natural genius… I believe a conservative approach is best."
"Fern, aren't you being a bit too cautious? Don't you remember when she protected Kafka? Stelle beat Yanqing in a duel then."
"That was because Kafka was a constant underlying threat. Yanqing had to divide his focus to guard against her Spirit Whisper."
Fern recalled, resting her chin in her hand.
"I remember Kafka saying it herself—if Stelle hadn't intervened, she and Blade would have been hauled off to the Shackling Prison. But this time is different. First, the possession has undoubtedly made Yanqing stronger. Second, aside from Stelle, Sushang poses no real threat to him. As for Guinaifen and Huohuo… those two are strictly there for moral support."
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