Tanjirou, is that how you ask things directly?
Also, what exactly is going on with that nose of yours?
Why can you even smell my emotions? Is that even reasonable?
"It's probably because the demon-slaying mission didn't go very smoothly."
Kiyokawa Izumi gave a casual, perfunctory answer, but his eyes were fixed on Tanjirou—if you dare expose my lie, don't blame me for being rude!
Sure enough, Tanjirou, who had wanted to say more, seemed to sense Kiyokawa Izumi's true thoughts and didn't say anything else.
A nose that can smell emotions is truly extraordinary.
Tanjirou knew that Kiyokawa Izumi wasn't speaking from the heart, and he also understood that he didn't want to talk about it further.
Did you think this matter would end here?
How could that be possible!
What Tanjirou was thinking was that he would ask again later.
'Like a traveler drifting outside the world with no place to belong, beneath that detachment hides a faint sadness and nostalgia.
Something seems to have happened in his past.'
The old man wearing the Tengu Mask said nothing, yet he had already seen through everything.
In front of these two freaks, Kiyokawa Izumi felt exceptionally distressed.
Who would want their true emotions to be seen through by others?
It was like not wearing any clothes; there was a strange sense of shame!
This kind of ability is simply unreasonable!
Even more unreasonable than Breathing Techniques!
More unreasonable than his own nerfed version of the Sharingan!
"Lord Urokodaki, I passed the Final Selection this year. As a swordsman who has mastered Water Breathing, I feel deeply that my abilities are insufficient. Evil spirits are rampant, and I do not want, nor do I hope, to be powerless when encountering demons in the future.
I heard from other swordsmen that the current Water Hashira was trained by you.
Therefore, I would like to ask you to guide me in my Breathing Technique and swordsmanship.
Please forgive me for this sudden intrusion."
Kiyokawa Izumi's words were exceptionally formal.
His intent and purpose were all contained within his speech.
It was also because Urokodaki Sakonji possessed the same ability as Tanjirou.
Coupled with those extra decades of experience, Kiyokawa Izumi naturally didn't dare to just make up a reason to deceive him, so he could only speak with a mix of truth and lies.
Beside him, Tanjirou looked bewildered and didn't quite understand, only vaguely gathering that Master Sakonji seemed to be very powerful.
Of course, regardless of whether this person was a powerful figure or not, he was very grateful to him.
Turning back to Urokodaki Sakonji, his brow furrowed slightly as he looked at Kiyokawa Izumi with a nearly scrutinizing gaze.
Visiting suddenly without a letter of recommendation from an acquaintance or a Hashira was naturally a bit presumptuous.
At the very least, he should state his lineage and which Trainer's tutelage he was originally under.
"Who is your Trainer?"
Urokodaki Sakonji did not drive Kiyokawa Izumi away on the spot. His personality was also on the gentler side; he was strict with his Disciples only because he didn't want to see them killed by demons.
He wore a mask because he had often been mocked by demons in the past for having a facial expression that was too gentle.
"Watanabe Seijuro."
Hearing this name, the Former Water Hashira thought for a moment—he hadn't heard of it—but with so many Trainers cooperating with the Demon Slayer Corps, it was normal not to have heard of one.
How could Urokodaki Sakonji possibly know a mediocre swordsman who had retired?
"Follow me!"
Without asking anything more, Urokodaki Sakonji suddenly turned around and spoke in a slightly majestic tone.
Regardless of whether he agreed or not, the necessary tests could not be skipped.
The old man didn't know Kiyokawa Izumi, so how could he possibly agree to such a presumptuous request upon their first meeting?
At the very least, he had to give himself some time to observe him, right?
Despite his advanced age, he moved as if on level ground on the mountain where the air was thin.
A young lad like Kiyokawa Izumi couldn't even catch up to him!
'Just like Kochou Shinobu, his footsteps make no sound... How on earth does he do it?'
'At first glance he seems like an ordinary old man, but his aura seems to merge with this mountain forest, completely natural.'
'His breathing is also methodical. How exactly do the rhythm, depth, and frequency differ from the Breathing Technique I've mastered?'
Kiyokawa Izumi stared intently, wishing he could memorize everything in his mind to recall and ponder carefully when he had time.
Upon seeing this man, his goal had already been achieved.
With these eyes of his, he had a talent for stealing techniques.
Even if he wasn't taught, he could learn by watching.
For example, at this moment, Kiyokawa Izumi had already begun to imitate the man's breathing rhythm—matching his long and short breaths, and even mimicking the frequency of the breathing with extreme precision.
"Cough—"
Coughing wretchedly, Kiyokawa Izumi clutched his somewhat bloated lungs, still unable to be as natural as the man.
Maintaining Total Concentration Breathing: Constant for decades had already become a habit, forming an instinct.
Was it a bit whimsical for Kiyokawa Izumi to want to learn it all in just a few short minutes?
It was like asking a toddler who had just learned to walk to study the running form of a top athlete.
Could the toddler learn it?
Even if he remembered the posture, so what? Did his body allow him to use those postures? Had his physical fitness reached that standard?
If not, forcing the learning would only result in hurting himself.