I assembled the strongest swordsman group.

Aoto's question to Kiryu earlier, "Is the move that instantly kills Kamaitachi the legendary 'Flowing Light'?" was simply out of curiosity.

The moment Kiryu killed Kamaitachi with a single strike was the first time Aoto had witnessed the art of sword drawing since he had transmigrated to this era.

Kiryu swiftly and decisively drew his sword, instantly killing Kamaitachi. When he came to his senses, all that remained before him was the lingering glint of the blade and a faint afterimage still clinging to the edge of the sword… This scene left a very deep impression on Aoto.

Even though more than 20 days have passed, I still feel that this shocking scene is still vivid in my mind.

So, it turns out that such cool and powerful moves really do exist in this world...

……

Qing is not quite sure what she did or thought during the following period.

I feel like I've thought about so many things, but I can't remember exactly what I've been thinking about.

They didn't even know how much time had passed.

All I remember is whispering to Kiryu when I came to my senses—

"...Then I look forward to your guidance from now on, Mr. Kiryu."

Qing Deng's response was quite brief.

But that's enough.

"..." Kiryu smiled silently.

A relieved smile appeared on his cheeks, his wrinkles smoothed out, and he looked much younger.

Kinoshita Mai's expression at this moment is very charming.

She blinked her eyes thoughtfully a few times, then, as if she had thought of something wonderful, she revealed a smile with a touch of naivety.

—I'm going to learn sword-drawing technique from Kiryu-sensei...

Thinking of this, Qing Deng, overwhelmed with mixed emotions, let out a long sigh and casually asked:

"Kiryu-sensei, when will I be able to begin training in sword-drawing techniques?"

"There's no rush."

Kiryu waved his hand with a slightly boastful gesture.

"Aren't you still recovering from your injury?"

"Once you have fully recovered, I will formally begin your training in sword-drawing techniques."

"Before that... let me teach you something else."

"Something else?" Qing Deng raised an eyebrow in confusion.

"Tachibana-kun, do as I say from now on. Do whatever I tell you to do."

"Straighten your back, open your shoulders back, and slowly inhale through your nose."

As Kiryu spoke, he demonstrated by standing up straight, opening his shoulders, and slowly inhaling through his nose.

Qingdeng didn't understand, but he still obediently did as he was told.

"You should now feel your abdomen bulge; this is because the lower part of your lungs is filling with air."

"Don't stop, keep inhaling. Fill the upper part of your lungs with air as well."

"Keep breathing until your ribs rise, your chest expands, and you can't breathe in any more air."

"After filling your lungs with air, hold your breath for 5 breaths."

"After five breaths, slowly exhale, gradually emptying your lungs of all air."

"After your ribs, sternum and abdomen have returned to their original positions, pause for a breath or two, and then start from the beginning again, slowly inhaling and exhaling."

"Ju-kun, from today onwards, you must set aside at least 2 minutes each day to repeatedly practice the breathing method I described above."

"With practice, you can gradually increase the time you hold your breath, from 5 breaths to 10 breaths, and even more."

"Huh?" A look of confusion, which he couldn't hide, appeared on Qing Deng's face. "Mr. Kiryu, why do we have to do this kind of exercise?"

"This set of exercises can effectively improve your lung capacity."

"Lung strength?"

"I also go for runs and swims regularly, as both are excellent for improving lung capacity."

Lung strength... should mean lung capacity.

"Does the strength of a sword-drawing technique have anything to do with lung capacity?"

"It's irrelevant. Lung strength and sword-drawing skills are unrelated. The reason I have you train your lung strength every day is to prepare you for something... powerful that I will teach you in the future."

"Something powerful?" Qing Deng's expression grew increasingly bewildered.

"You don't need to know what it is yet. Just do as I say, and you must exercise your lung capacity every day without slacking off."

"Once your lung strength reaches a certain level, I will tell you what this 'powerful thing' is."

Kiryu chuckled softly a few times.

His smile was intriguing.

……

……

Edo, somewhere—

"Eiichi, still haven't found Kamaitachi?"

"Yes... I have sent all the people I can to search for Lord Kamaitachi, but..."

"...Tsk."

Standing by the window, Rasetsu smacked his lips loudly as he gazed at the scenery outside, interrupting Shimizu Eiichi, who was standing respectfully behind him.

"Neither alive nor dead..." Rakshasa half-closed her eyes, rhythmically tapping the window frame with her right index finger.

"...Lord Rakshasa, how about...we investigate that Tachibana Aoto?" Shimizu Eiichi offered his suggestion tentatively. "You sent Kamaitachi to secretly protect Kamino Tatsugoro. But Kamino Tatsugoro was killed by Tachibana Aoto, perhaps..."

"Do not."

Before Shimizu Eiichi could finish speaking, he was interrupted by Rasetsu once again.

"Do not act rashly."

Rakshasa's tone was neither sad nor happy, making it difficult to fathom his current mood and thoughts.

"The disappearance of the Kamaitachi...it might be that the Karasuya is up to something behind the scenes."

"The Kamaitachi was demoted to my place by Lord Orochi because he was not careful enough and made a mistake, almost getting caught by the people of the Gourd House."

"We cannot rule out the possibility that the Gourd House successfully tracked down the Kamaitachi's movements and sent people to hunt him down."

"When it comes to anything related to the Calabash House, we can never be too careful. We've already suffered quite a few losses at the hands of the Calabash House."

"Don't act rashly."

"Let's continue to secretly investigate the whereabouts of Kamaitachi for now."

"Report to me immediately if there are any results."

"Yes." Shimizu Eiichi nodded forcefully, as if he wanted to tear his head off.

"What is the current situation of the Expeditionary Force?" Rakshasa asked the next question.

"Destruction is imminent." Shimizu Eiichi's answer was quite quick and simple. "Without the leadership of Kanno Tatsugoro, the remnants of the Extermination Group are now completely disorganized."

"Judging from the current efforts of the Magistrate's Office and the Fire Thieves Bureau, the destruction of the Extermination Group is only a matter of time."

"It will take at least one month, or at most three months, before there will be no more anti-foreign groups in this world."

“…What a pity.” Rakshasa tapped the window frame rhythmically with his right index finger again. “The Extermination Group was wiped out just like that…I was thinking of making more use of them.”

"Tachibana Takayuki's son is becoming more and more capable."

Rakshasa's lips slowly curled upwards.

It outlined a curve that was difficult to fathom.

"I wonder where he will be demoted to after making such a great contribution."

"If I could be transferred to the Fire Thief's Office... that would be wonderful."

"Haha...hahahaha..."

Rakshasa lowered his voice and let out a sinister "hahahahaha".

The laughter came so abruptly.

So bizarre...

Clang—the Rakshasa slammed the window shut in front of her.

The sunlight streaming into the room through the window in front of the Rakshasa was the only source of light in the room.

After Rakshasa closed the window, every corner of the room, including Rakshasa's surroundings, was instantly enveloped in dense darkness...

……

……

Edo, somewhere—

Thud!

Upon hearing the sound, Asa knew that it must have been their house cat, Doushabao, who had knocked over the Niou statue placed in the entryway.

Hey! Red bean bun!

Asa rushed to the entrance.

Sure enough—their black and white kitten, Doushabao, was lying on the fallen Niou statue, looking at Asuka with an innocent expression.

"Go! Go!"

Asa waved his hand, shooing away the innocent-looking red bean bun who hadn't realized he'd done anything wrong. Then, with both hands, he respectfully picked up the statue of the Benevolent King placed in the entryway to ward off evil, preparing to put it back in its original position, straightening it.

But at this very moment—

"Finally finished writing!"