"Not accepting."
Haseki Dorou is a decent opponent. A year ago, they had clashed, the other party was defeated at his hands, becoming his experience pack on the path to eighty-one consecutive victories at the Heavens Arena.
Now, a year has passed, Haseki Dorou is still that same Haseki Dorou, while he... is no longer the person he once was.
To be precise, ever since opening his Acupoints, the two have belonged to different worlds.
"Not just Haseki Dorou," Wutong went through some recently collected information and reported: "there's also Wing."
"After being defeated by the young master, he disappeared for nearly a year. It's said that he has now developed Nenryoku and reached two hundred floors."
"A few days ago, he even sent the young master a text message to say hello."
Was that really a disappearance? Most likely he was taken by some veteran and forced into a mentor-student relationship.
Now that he's chosen to come out, it's evident he's been trained by Biscuit into the form she desires.
Roy thought without any Evil Thought, his face as calm as still water, asking: "What did he say?"
"He said he wants to see the young master in the sky."
"In the sky?" Roy smiled noncommittally: "Even if he successfully challenges the floor master, it doesn't guarantee he can stand tall in the sky."
"Moreover..."
Roy squinted with deep meaning: "From what I know of him, he would never say something like that."
"Most likely he was forced..."
Ha... Shingen-ryu VS Zoldyck?
Neither is the type to easily bow their heads....
"So... does the young master want to reply to him?"
Wutong took out his phone, the contact information Roy handed out was entirely his.
"Did you get results from the doctor I asked you to contact?" Roy didn't answer directly,
Wutong replied truthfully: "Two are confirmed, one is still in contact, another is a bit far, but quite close to the Heavens Arena."
"Then on our way to see the doctor, we might as well go take a look."
"Yes."
Wutong ran to catch up with Roy, master and servant, one in front and one behind, yet took two different paths towards separate forks.
"Whoosh——"
He tossed Yubashiri to the young steward to be oiled.
The young man returned to his bedroom, took a quick shower, and before dinner was ready, pulled up the panel to look through it carefully.
[Name: Roy Zoldyck]
[Constitution: 11.75 (Note: Normal person is 1)]
[Nenryoku: "Gate of Cognition"]
[Nenryoku Form Change: Entry Level (10/100)]
[Nenryoku Property Change: To be activated]
[Breathing Technique: "Sun Breathing": Entry Level (30/100)]
[Fighting Experience: Level 2 (35/100)]
[Swordsmanship: Level 1 (10/100)]
[Applied Techniques - Dark Step: Mastery (99/100); Limb Curvature: Mastery (84/100); Snake Life: Entry Level (98/100) (Note: Applied Techniques are divided by mastery level: Entry Level, Mastery, Great Success, Perfect)]
[Title: "Nenryoku" rookie just starting out, eager green plant waiting to grow]
From "Tender Shoot" to "Green Plant", would this be considered a significant progress?
Roy was unsure... he only knew the focus of training ahead would still be in two directions—
One, "Nen"; two, "Breathing Technique"....
"Nen" is the foundation, "Breathing Technique" is the numerical value, grasping both with hands, both must be strong, directly reflecting in "techniques", is....
"My 'Dark Step' and 'Snake Life' are about to break through, if not tomorrow, then tonight."
Having learned [Zetsu], he can discern the scent of "Nen" to sense the trajectory of a whip's strike, whether or not he can dodge, still depends on his own speed and reflexes.
Since his father had the intention to test him by having him endure three whips, Roy neither wanted nor would accept it.
That evening, after dinner, he closed his eyes and entered the world of Demon Slayer.
The snow continued to fall, showing no signs of stopping.
After Tanjiro left, a vibrant corner of the warm floor yonder lessened by one, filled instead by several bundled up demons.
Urokodaki Sakonji had already gotten up early, started cooking porridge. Old age and finding it difficult to sleep through the night, often causing him to nap off and on was the norm.
Roy awoke to the scent, opening his eyes to see a pair of pretty eyes wide open staring at him, seemingly curious why he didn't blow mucus bubbles while asleep.
"Makomo, stop it." Sabito crossed his arms, leaning against the doorframe.
Helplessly glancing at Makomo, the young girl waved a hand in front of Roy's eyes, seeing no reaction, draped herself idly beside Sabito.
"He really can't see." Makomo said.
"It's not like you just found out today."
"Oh~"
The young girl pouted, abandoning Sabito, following Roy into the kitchen.
Perking up her ears...
She then heard the young man, imitating Sabito leaning against the doorframe, silently watching Urokodaki Sakonji for a moment, then saying: "Master, today I want to practice swords."
Swordsmanship is, apart from "Breathing" itself, another key to mastering the "Breathing Technique."
Roy felt it was time to learn from the original Tanjiro, starting his own "Ten Thousand Basic Swings," which entails swinging the sword a thousand times daily.
"Didn't I just tell you day before yesterday?" Urokodaki Sakonji said with his back to Roy, peeling potatoes.
Now in the Taisho era, before Showa, after Meiji, wanting to eat a piece of fresh green vegetable in the winter is as likely as finding a gold bar on the street.
Steamed potatoes with rice porridge, today's breakfast.
"I haven't forgotten." Roy expertly opened the cupboard, took out two sets of bowls and chopsticks, and placed them on the table.
"Master said, not to touch swords before mastering breathing."
"But I've learned now."
The young man smiled and activated [Zetsu],
Instantly retracting the scattered "Sense" from his skin back into his body, perfectly sealing the Acupoints, blocking its flow... at that moment it was as if he had vanished from the room, if not for Sabito and Makomo right beside him, constantly watching him, otherwise...
They really wouldn't know that in this little wooden cabin carrying their childhood memories, there was still such a person as Roy!
"Blending into nature?"
"Oh—— Fukuda, look what I've found!"
"What's all the noise, demons need sleep too."
Shinsuke had been idly lounging on the beam, urgently pushed Fukuda as he saw this.
Poor Fukuda almost fell flipping head over heels, almost strangled him in anger, but changing his mind, he realized he was a demon, capable of floating, held back the thought of killing him, followed his pointing finger, his small beady eyes widened suddenly.
"Only a few days... how did he learn 'Breathing'!" Fukuda cried out in surprise, leaping from the beam, circling around Roy's head...
"Whoosh~" the cold wind passed....
The stunned group of demons circled Roy, as if viewing some novelty.
Sabito and Makomo were just beside, secretly exchanging a glance, simultaneously discovering a hint of surprise in each other's pupils.
The latter mischievously poked Sabito: "Hmm~ ten days, huh~"
Sabito shook his head with a bitter smile, he knew Eiichiro would be fast, but didn't expect he would be so fast, suddenly a thought popped in his mind—
'If Giyu knew someone grasped the secrets of breathing in just ten days...'
'Then his expression must be very interesting...'
Just like the master in front of us... his hand peeling potatoes paused.....