Hearing Xia Feng's words, Kaigaku couldn't help but freeze for a moment.
Although he constantly mocked Zenitsu, the truth was… he was well aware of Zenitsu's talent.
Zenitsu's Thunder Breathing – First Form was executed with exceptional proficiency.
If Zenitsu was in good condition, the combat power he could unleash was extremely high.
Did he really want to stake something this big just to suppress Zenitsu?
Before he could respond, Zenitsu let out a miserable scream first.
"No! I don't want to fight Senior Brother!"
Then he suddenly remembered something and hurriedly added,
"Right! Aren't Demon Slayer members forbidden from fighting each other? I—"
Xia Feng smiled.
"You're not a Demon Slayer yet, so it doesn't matter."
Zenitsu's face fell miserably.
"But… whether I get hurt or Senior Brother gets hurt, Grandpa will be sad."
Hearing this, Jigoro Kuwajima couldn't help but feel a little touched.
On the other side, Kaigaku's face instantly darkened.
"Me getting hurt? You think you can hurt me? What a joke!"
He clenched his teeth tightly and looked at Xia Feng.
"Lord Xia Feng, I accept this duel!"
"Very good."
Xia Feng nodded, not even bothering to ask Zenitsu's opinion.
"The match will begin in ten minutes. Both sides prepare yourselves."
After saying that, he sat back down beneath the shade of the tree and closed his eyes to rest.
Kaigaku coldly glanced at Zenitsu, then walked to a spot not far away, closed his eyes, and began gathering his momentum.
Kuwajima walked over to Xia Feng.
"Doctor Xia Feng… is this really alright? I mean… no matter who loses, the price is too great, isn't it?"
Xia Feng opened one eye and looked at him, a hint of teasing at the corner of his lips.
"Senior Kuwajima, your ability to deceive yourself is a little too strong."
"That Kaigaku has clearly already walked down a twisted path. At this point, he can't be saved anymore. His entire body reeks of the most malicious stench. If you keep someone like that under your tutelage, are you waiting for the day you'll lose your life because of the mistakes he commits?"
Hearing Xia Feng's words, Kuwajima's expression changed repeatedly.
He opened his mouth, wanting to refute him, but discovered he had no words.
Because deep in his heart…
He actually thought the same thing as Xia Feng.
That child Kaigaku—sooner or later, he would walk down the path of evil.
If he were still young, he might have already expelled him from the sect.
But after growing old…
He had begun to hesitate about many things.
He sighed.
"What about Zenitsu then? If he loses, will he really never join the Demon Slayer Corps? I've trained him for so many years. He's worked so hard… what would it all have been for?"
Xia Feng chuckled.
"Don't worry. He won't lose."
Kuwajima revealed a puzzled expression.
But Xia Feng had already closed his eyes again and said nothing more.
Kuwajima felt extremely conflicted, but after thinking for a moment, he could only observe quietly.
He trusted Xia Feng's character.
He believed Xia Feng would never gamble with a young man's future.
Seeing that his "grandfather" had been defeated in the argument, Zenitsu hurriedly ran over to Xia Feng, threw himself to the ground, and grabbed Xia Feng's coat while crying.
"Lord Xia Feng! Please don't! Senior Brother is very strong! I'm not even married yet, I don't have children—I don't want to die this early!"
Xia Feng opened his eyes and looked at him with a faint smile.
"You won't die."
"When the duel starts later, if you feel something strange in your body, don't make a fuss about it. Just continue fighting."
After saying that, he ignored Zenitsu again.
Zenitsu: "???"
Every single word Xia Feng said made sense on its own.
But when put together…
Zenitsu couldn't understand a single thing!
He racked his brain trying to figure out what Xia Feng meant.
Unfortunately, before long, the time was up.
Under everyone's watchful eyes, Kaigaku slowly walked forward and stood in the open space.
His brows were slightly furrowed, his eyes locked onto Zenitsu like a wolf about to devour its prey.
Zenitsu trembled slightly as he walked forward.
Kaigaku sneered and drew his sword.
"Zenitsu, it's still not too late to admit defeat."
Zenitsu swallowed nervously.
He instinctively glanced at Kuwajima.
Seeing the worried expression on the old man's face, he clenched his teeth fiercely.
Then—
He drew his sword with determination!
"Tch."
Kaigaku curled his lips.
The next moment—
He attacked instantly!
His entire body lunged forward with explosive speed, so fast it was difficult to see clearly. In the blink of an eye he appeared in front of Zenitsu, his blade slashing down violently!
Seeing this scene, the Thunder Breathing trainees were all shocked.
"He didn't even use a breathing technique, yet he's already that fast?!"
"That's insane!"
Zenitsu's eyes widened as he raised his sword upward.
Clang!!!
The sound of metal clashing rang out, sparks flying everywhere!
He had barely relaxed when he saw Kaigaku's leg kick out.
Bang!
Zenitsu felt a heavy blow to his chest. His body was sent flying backward uncontrollably. He rolled several times on the ground before finally managing to regain his footing!
Under the shade of the tree, Xia Feng sat calmly.
Beside him, Kanao knelt quietly, still and silent like a doll.
"Kanao, what do you think?" Xia Feng asked.
Kanao thought for a moment.
"Kaigaku's strength is indeed very strong, but he's too impatient. His sword techniques contain too many openings."
"As for Zenitsu, he's too timid, which prevents him from displaying his true strength."
"If both of them were fighting at their full power right now…"
"…then it should be evenly matched."
Xia Feng nodded.
As expected of the Tsuguko personally trained by Shinobu—her insight was impressive.
Thinking about it, Xia Feng suddenly remembered something.
Kanao herself seemed to possess extremely sharp eyesight.
Just like Tanjiro's sense of smell or Zenitsu's hearing.
If he had the chance, he should test it and see just how enhanced Kanao's vision really was.
After landing the first strike, Kaigaku obviously had no intention of giving Zenitsu time to recover.
He grinned, gripping the sword hilt tightly as he crouched low.
"Thunder Breathing—Fourth Form…"
"Distant Thunder!"
Golden lightning burst forth!
Seeing the lightning, Kuwajima's pupils shrank.
Against a Zenitsu who had just been injured, Kaigaku was already using Thunder Breathing?!
Was he trying to kill him?!
The Thunder Breathing trainees all held their breath.
They were afraid that the next moment—
They would see blood!
Zenitsu clenched his teeth, his face twitching.
He stomped hard on the ground, trying to leap high into the air.
But Kaigaku was too fast.
Wrapped in a streak of lightning, he instantly rushed in front of Zenitsu—
And swung his blade viciously toward Zenitsu's shoulder!
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