"Can you tell me why?"
Tanjuro coughed lightly twice before asking.
"I cannot."
Lin Chen shook his head gently, refusing decisively: "I've already shown my sincerity. We mean no harm."
Some things absolutely could not be mentioned—for instance, the fact that before he transmigrated, all these worlds were anime works.
That would be a secret he'd take to his grave forever.
Tanjuro sensed Lin Chen's firm resolve and didn't press further.
He wasn't the type to push people.
Moreover, during their brief exchange, his wariness toward Lin Chen had already dropped considerably.
He could almost certainly determine that the young man before him was not a bad person.
The way Lin Chen looked at him carried a sense of regret.
"You seem very reluctant to see me die."
Tanjuro revealed a gentle smile as he spoke.
Lin Chen fell silent, then let out a heavy sigh: "You're a good person."
"Furthermore, you're a strong one. Your mastery of Sun Breathing is remarkably high—calling you the greatest of this era wouldn't be an exaggeration."
"In this regard, the only one with deeper attainment than you is probably Tsugikuni Yoriichi, who created the breathing techniques several hundred years ago."
"Although arriving here was a coincidence, I truly did want to learn breathing techniques from you."
"And also the Transparent World."
"..."
"You even know about the Transparent World. It seems you really do know quite a lot."
Tanjuro had shown more surprised expressions today than in his entire lifetime combined.
Having been confined to these deep mountains for years, his understanding of the outside world was quite limited.
"What a pity that you're dying."
Lin Chen sighed. It wasn't just about learning breathing techniques.
He had also wanted to rewrite the Kamado family's fate—to bring Tanjuro to the Demon Slayer Corps.
To cure his illness as much as possible, then through systematic swordsmanship training and diligent cultivation—
He could absolutely become an extremely powerful Pillar.
Combined with his mastery of the Transparent World and the current Taisho Pillars' talents—
He could easily teach several Pillars to master the Transparent World.
That way, the Infinity Castle wouldn't be so difficult to conquer.
But unfortunately, it was all too late now. Tanjuro probably wouldn't last even two more days.
Let alone moving through heavy snow in his sickly condition to find the Demon Slayer Corps.
"I am indeed going to die."
Tanjuro's coughing grew more violent: "What a shame."
"I had wanted to hear you tell me more about the Demon Slayer Corps, Sun Breathing, and the story of that man named Tsugikuni Yoriichi."
Tanjuro's complexion had already grown somewhat withered.
The man as gentle as a plant was approaching the moment of his life's wilting.
Tanjuro touched the earrings on his ears.
He was quite an intelligent man. When Lin Chen had mentioned Tsugikuni Yoriichi earlier, he had felt a stirring in his bloodline.
Fragmented images seemed to flash before his eyes.
The earrings passed down through generations of the Kamado family. Despite being an ordinary family of woodcutters and charcoal-makers, they possessed miraculous breathing techniques and the Kagura dance.
Through Lin Chen's scattered words, he had pieced together many things.
Unfortunately, he didn't have much time left to verify them.
"Breathe, young man."
Tanjuro suddenly spoke.
Lin Chen was momentarily stunned, then quickly understood and began using Sun Breathing.
Within the Transparent World, Tanjuro could clearly see all of Lin Chen's internal workings.
Bones, flesh, the beating of his heart, the rise and fall of his lungs, the flow of his breath.
He extended his withered arm and lightly pressed several points on Lin Chen's body, helping him adjust his breathing.
[Sun Breathing proficiency +5]
A single adjustment caused Lin Chen's Sun Breathing proficiency to surge dramatically.
This was the ability of Tanjuro under the Transparent World.
The Transparent World was the highest realm of the Demon Slayer's power system.
And Tanjuro had already essentially approached the state of maintaining Transparent World constantly.
Equivalent to a Grandmaster in martial arts worlds—his guidance would greatly benefit anyone cultivating the same system.
"Consider this payment for carrying me back from the snow and telling me so many interesting things."
Tanjuro's complexion grew even paler, but the smile on his face remained gentle.
"This is all I can do. Breathing techniques are quite miraculous—even with the same technique, different people will use it differently."
"These differences accumulate in the subtle details. You can only slowly experience them yourself."
Tanjuro coughed violently. Even speaking had become a heavy burden for him now.
"You two go in. Mr. Tanjuro has something to say to you."
Lin Chen sighed, walked outside, and let Tanjiro and Nezuko enter.
Tanjuro's life had reached its end.
These final moments naturally belonged to his family.
Huu.
Lin Chen took a deep breath, drawing the cold air into his lungs.
He felt somewhat stifled.
If only this coincidence hadn't happened.
If he had entered the Demon Slayer world later, after Tanjuro had already died, he wouldn't feel so suffocated.
But it was precisely this coincidental.
They had happened to catch Tanjuro's final Kagura dance.
Happened to witness Tanjuro's life ending right before their eyes, unable to do anything about it.
An inexplicable frustration rose in Lin Chen's heart.
To put it unpleasantly, it was somewhat like a kind-hearted lord who couldn't bear to see poor people, so all the poor within ten miles were driven away.
Some things, if they didn't happen before Lin Chen's eyes—even if he knew they had occurred—wouldn't stir much emotion.
But when they happened right in front of him and he was powerless to change them, it was quite suffocating.
"Sun Breathing, First Form: Dance."
Lin Chen didn't even acknowledge Secretary Fujiwara standing outside. He casually picked up a wooden stick, walked to the snowy ground by the entrance, and began performing Sun Breathing swordsmanship.
Just as Yoriichi had once come here and demonstrated Sun Breathing for the Kamado family.
The same location—only now the audience was Secretary Fujiwara.
Sword techniques of astonishing power, as beautiful as a spirit's dance.
Sun Breathing First Form, Second Form.
Fifth Form: Fire Wheel.
By the Fifth Form, Lin Chen had reached the limit of his Sun Breathing swordsmanship.
Yet he didn't stop, but continued onward.
Even though his movements were no longer as precise, his power insufficient, his breathing rhythm disrupted.
He still continued performing the sword techniques. At this moment, his swordsmanship somewhat resembled the Dance of the Fire God.
Only the forms, without the power.
But still beautiful, carrying a flowing, continuous grace.
In that instant, Lin Chen felt a trance-like sensation before his eyes, as if he saw a man with an upright posture, dancing with his sword like a spirit.
His features were refined and handsome, yet carried an air of melancholy.
On his forehead was a birthmark that seemed to burn like flames. Earrings hung by his ears.
Without question, this was Tsugikuni Yoriichi.
The strongest existence in this world's history.
In the Demon Slayer world, death was not the end. Souls watched over the world, and under special circumstances, resonance could occur, allowing encounters.
And Lin Chen, practicing Sun Breathing in the snow before the Kamado house—
Seemed to have resonated, for just an instant, with Yoriichi from several hundred years ago.
"Those who master the way return to the same place."
In that haze, Lin Chen seemed to hear Yoriichi's voice.
[Sun Breathing Swordsmanship proficiency +10]