Lan Mingang looked at Kochou Shinobu, who had purple eyes and black hair, purple tips on her bangs, a butterfly hair ornament, was less than 1.6 meters tall, wore a gentle smile, yet was constantly in a state of anger, her heart filled with rage; a look of pity appeared in his eyes.
Kochou Shinobu's parents were killed by demons, and later her older sister also died at the hands of a demon.
However, she was so physically weak that even with a nichirin blade, she couldn't cut off a demon's head; she could only use poison to kill demons.
Ultimately, after more than a year of ingesting wisteria poison into her body and being swallowed by Douma, sacrificing her life, she barely managed to kill Douma and avenge her sister.
Calculating the time, it was almost the point when she first started ingesting wisteria poison.
Kochou Shinobu frowned slightly, because she saw a very strange emotion in the eyes of the person in front of her.
It was as if the other person had known her for a very long time.
Kochou Shinobu tilted her head slightly and asked:
"Um, why are you looking at me like that? Have we met before?"
Lan Mingang shook his head.
"No, we haven't."
Kochou Shinobu pouted and said, "That's really strange."
"As the Master's guest, you must be very strong, right?"
"Can we spar a bit?"
After the battle with Pylos, Kyojuro Rengoku was sent to the Butterfly Estate for treatment and recovery.
During this time, Kochou Shinobu learned about Lan Mingang's existence and his strength through Kyojuro Rengoku's account.
He was able to suppress Lower Rank Two and Kyojuro Rengoku, who already barely possessed the strength of a Hashira, merely by his aura from a hundred meters away.
And he didn't even affect Mitsuri Kanroji, who was beside him.
This was truly amazing and terrifying!
"Spar? Yes!"
"But if I win, can you promise me one request?" Lan Mingang asked.
"What request?" Kochou Shinobu asked, puzzled.
"You tell me if you can promise first."
After a moment of thought, Kochou Shinobu said;
"I promise, as long as you beat me, I will grant you one request."
"But the premise is that it must be within my capabilities, and it cannot be something like murder or arson, and you certainly cannot make any rude requests of me!"
Lan Mingang smiled slightly and said:
"Naturally."
"What if I win?" Kochou Shinobu retorted.
"If you win, I'll tell you who the demon you've always wanted to kill is."
Upon hearing this, Kochou Shinobu instantly bristled, the smile vanished from her face, and veins bulged on her forehead.
The anger she usually suppressed was unleashed.
She drew her nichirin blade and pointed it at Lan Mingang.
Clang!
The sound of metal clashing rang out.
Upon sensing Kochou Shinobu's anger, Mitsuri, although knowing full well that Kochou Shinobu couldn't possibly harm Lan Mingang, still instantly appeared in front of Lan Mingang, also drawing her nichirin blade and deflecting the nichirin blade in Kochou Shinobu's hand.
Kochou Shinobu was about to open her mouth to angrily ask Lan Mingang what he meant, but seeing her nichirin blade deflected, she was somewhat startled.
So fast!
Her speed was actually not inferior to her own!
And her strength was greater than her own!
Mitsuri stared at Kochou Shinobu displeased and said:
"Don't even think about harming Ming Ang Ge!"
"You're Mitsuri Kanroji?" Kochou Shinobu said in surprise.
"You know me?"
Hearing Mitsuri Kanroji's reply, Kochou Shinobu was even more bewildered.
According to Kyojuro Rengoku, wasn't Mitsuri Kanroji just a 'Ranks' Demon Slayer Corps member?
Although her muscle density seemed to be eight times that of an ordinary person, and Kyojuro Rengoku even intended to take her as his Tsuguko.
But she shouldn't be this strong, right?
Her speed was comparable to her own, and her strength was also greater than her own; wasn't this clearly Hashira-level combat power?
How was she only 'Ranks'?
A month ago, without Qi cultivation and without sparring with Lan Mingang, Mitsuri was indeed a Ranks-level, but after Mitsuri learned the method of Qi cultivation, and with various daily and nightly spars with Lan Mingang, Mitsuri's strength improved rapidly.
After a month of Qi cultivation and arm wrestling, and various strength contests with Lan Mingang until exhaustion, Mitsuri was already far beyond what she was in the past.
Lan Mingang patted Mitsuri's shoulder and said:
"Mitsuri, put your blade away."
"It's all a misunderstanding."
Since Ming Ang Ge had spoken, Mitsuri naturally sheathed her nichirin blade and retreated to Lan Mingang's side.
Lan Mingang looked at Kochou Shinobu in front of him and said:
"Are you very confused?"
"Defeat me, and I will resolve your confusion; otherwise, you must grant me one request."
"Hmph! Follow me!" Kochou Shinobu sheathed her nichirin blade.
She led Lan Mingang towards the Butterfly Estate's rehabilitation dojo, with Mitsuri following closely behind.
Shoes were not allowed in the dojo, so the three took off their shoes and entered.
Kochou Shinobu, wearing purple socks that covered her small, delicate feet, walked towards the weapon rack holding wooden swords.
Mitsuri, wearing white stockings, walked to a distant seat and sat down to watch the match.
Lan Mingang did not pick up a wooden sword; instead, he walked directly to the center of the arena, waiting for Kochou Shinobu, who was holding a wooden sword, to approach him.
Looking at Lan Mingang, who had empty hands, Kochou Shinobu asked:
"You're not taking a weapon?"
"Just now I thought about it, if you want to defeat me, it's simply a pipe dream, after all, you can't even beat Mitsuri."
"Therefore, I've decided to give you a handicap; as long as you can hit me with a wooden sword, I'll consider it a loss!"
Kochou Shinobu was stunned, and then immediately filled with rage.
This person was actually so arrogant!
"I'd like to see if it's a pipe dream!"
Kochou Shinobu quickly rushed in front of Lan Mingang, holding the wooden sword and chopping vertically towards Lan Mingang.
Lan Mingang, unhurried, closed his eyes, put his hands behind his back, and swiftly sidestepped, dodging Kochou Shinobu's attack.
Missing her strike, Kochou Shinobu raised her blade and swept upwards with a backhand.
Lan Mingang pushed off with his heels, his body gliding backward as if on ice, dodging Kochou Shinobu's attack.
How is that possible!
Kochou Shinobu was greatly surprised.
Although the dojo floor was relatively smoother than ordinary ground, it shouldn't be this slick, right?
Looking at Lan Mingang's raised lips, Kochou Shinobu immediately used her breathing style sword art and attacked Lan Mingang.
Dance of the Bee Sting: True Thrust!
Kochou Shinobu stepped forward, holding the sword with one hand, and thrust straight at Lan Mingang's chest.
In response, Lan Mingang merely leaned back and dodged it.
Dance of the Dragonfly: Compound Eye Hexagon!
Dance of the Butterfly: Caprice!
Dance of the Centipede: Hundred Legs Serpentine Abdomen!
One after another, Insect Breathing sword techniques were used by Kochou Shinobu, but all were dodged by Lan Mingang, who kept his eyes closed and hands behind his back, using extremely exquisite footwork.
Not only that, Kochou Shinobu also noticed that Lan Mingang could always anticipate her attacks and prepare to dodge before she even fully launched them, by observing her subtle movements.
Kochou Shinobu was very clear about this situation: it meant the opponent had insight into her attacks, observing her micro-movements, and preparing in advance.
But wasn't Lan Mingang's eyes closed?
Why could he still perceive his surroundings with his eyes closed?
Half an hour later, Kochou Shinobu was drenched in sweat, which dripped onto the floor.
Her purple socks, covering her small, delicate feet, left a footprint with every step.
Kochou Shinobu looked at Lan Mingang, who was only a step away, and felt a sense of despair.
Even though the distance was less than a meter, she just couldn't hit him.
Kochou Shinobu gasped for breath, her hand holding the wooden sword naturally hanging down, no longer in an attacking stance.
Lan Mingang opened his eyes and said:
"What? No more attacks?"
"Giving up?"
Then he took a step forward, putting himself less than thirty centimeters from Kochou Shinobu.
Seeing this, Kochou Shinobu instantly exerted force.
Dance of the Dragonfly: Compound Eye Hexagon!
Kochou Shinobu attacked Lan Mingang again with extreme speed.
You're good at dodging, aren't you? This time, at such a close distance, and with six consecutive strikes, let's see how you dodge!
This time, Lan Mingang indeed did not dodge.
Kochou Shinobu was overjoyed and exclaimed excitedly:
"You lost!"
...