Giyu Tomioka's eyes always seemed calm and rational.
But right now—
They burned with anger!
Under Xia Feng's gaze, Giyu drew his Nichirin Blade and rushed forward!
Xia Feng grinned and drew his own sword to meet him!
Clang! Clang! Clang! Clang!!!
Their blades collided several times in an instant, spraying dazzling sparks across the dim forest on the mountain.
The two separated at the same time—one filled with rage, the other looking rather pleased.
Xia Feng held his sword, feeling exhilarated.
Swordsmen were warriors who lived on the edge of youth.
Compared with Giyu, Urokodaki was too old, and Tanjiro was too young.
But Giyu—
Was twenty-one years old.
In terms of experience, swordsmanship, and strength, he was the strongest Water Breathing user alive!
If Tanjiro's Water Breathing was a gentle stream…
And Urokodaki's Water Breathing was a roaring river…
Then Giyu's Water Breathing was a violent ocean wave!
Without even pausing to adjust, Giyu attacked again.
His eyes were wide open like a furious demon.
Gripping the sword with both hands, he slashed downward with terrifying force—
With that strike, waves of water surged and roared as if a tidal wave were following behind him!
Xia Feng showed a delighted smile.
Sure enough—
A swordsman fought best when fueled by hatred!
This strike from Giyu could cleave iron apart!
Xia Feng flicked his wrist, creating several flashes of blade light.
Insect Breathing – Dance of the Dragonfly: Compound Eye Hexagon!
Clink! Clink! Clink! Clink! Clink!!!
Their blades clashed like two torrential rainstorms colliding in midair!
Giyu felt a hint of surprise.
He hadn't expected Xia Feng to wield Insect Breathing, a style that relied purely on speed and precision, with such powerful force.
Meanwhile, Xia Feng was also impressed.
Giyu had turned Water Breathing—normally soft and flowing—into something unbelievably fast!
Nearby, Kanao stood watching in confusion.
Nezuko was clearly sleeping peacefully at the house…
So how had she suddenly died?
Was Xia Feng deliberately provoking the Water Hashira?
Although she didn't know what Xia Feng was planning, since he seemed to be enjoying himself, Kanao didn't overthink it.
She simply stood nearby with a gentle smile, watching their battle.
The stray sword energy that occasionally reached her was easily avoided.
The intense high-speed battle quickly drained Giyu's stamina.
He decided to end the fight with his full strength!
He would subdue Xia Feng—
Then take him back to headquarters and report his crime!
He gripped his sword tightly.
Water Breathing – Seventh Form: Piercing Rain Drop!
The blade thrust forward like lightning!
With that strike, the air itself seemed to vibrate with a sound too fast to hear.
This attack—
Was faster than sound!
Blue ripples spread outward in circles.
Though it was Water Breathing, it was several times faster than Kaigaku's Thunder Breathing!
Xia Feng didn't dodge.
The blade pierced straight through his chest!
Kanao froze.
Her eyes widened as she inhaled sharply and grabbed the hilt of her sword.
But Giyu looked confused.
He stared at Xia Feng in disbelief.
Every sense told him Xia Feng was standing right in front of him.
But…
His sword had hit nothing.
Why?
Giyu wasn't very good at thinking things through to begin with.
Seeing something that defied common sense nearly crashed his brain.
As Giyu's blade passed through his body, Xia Feng canceled Intangibility.
He swung his sword upward from below!
He had intentionally let Giyu close the distance—
Just to force him to use the Eleventh Form: Dead Calm (Nagi)!
Xia Feng was extremely interested in that move!
Giyu instinctively leaned back, cold sweat appearing on his forehead.
He adjusted his breathing, preparing to counter Xia Feng's strike with Dead Calm.
At that moment—
A voice echoed from afar.
"Mr. Xia Feng! Miss Kanao! Are you over there?! It's time to eat!!"
Both Xia Feng and Giyu froze mid-motion.
Giyu remained leaning backward, expressionless, deep in thought.
"…That sounded like Tanjiro."
He asked.
Xia Feng didn't answer.
He flipped his wrist, reversed the blade, and sheathed it.
"Food's ready! Fight's over!"
With that, he walked toward the direction of the voice.
Giyu straightened up, blinking in confusion.
Tanjiro ran over and smiled happily when he saw Xia Feng.
"I found you! Hurry up, the porridge will get cold!"
Xia Feng nodded.
"Let's go, Kanao."
Kanao obediently followed beside him.
Giyu remained standing there silently.
In the cold wind, he suddenly felt like the world had forgotten he existed.
Fortunately, Tanjiro soon noticed there was still someone else there.
He looked surprised.
"You are… Mr. Tomioka! The one who guided me to find Mr. Urokodaki before…"
Giyu looked at him quietly from afar.
After a few seconds, he said:
"I am Giyu Tomioka."
I know, Tanjiro thought blankly.
After another awkward silence, Giyu spoke again.
"About your sister…"
Tanjiro's eyes immediately lit up, and he became excited.
"After Nezuko came here she's been sleeping the whole time and wouldn't eat anything! I was really worried, but thankfully Mr. Xia Feng found food she can eat, so I finally feel relieved…"
Listening to Tanjiro ramble on and on, Giyu's mind became even more chaotic.
Wait.
Wait wait wait.
He looked at Xia Feng in confusion.
Wasn't Nezuko supposed to have been killed?
Seeing Giyu's expression, Xia Feng showed a gentle smile.
"See? Now you don't need to ask me what I think about Nezuko."
"You were willing to draw your sword against me for her. Why hesitate anymore?"
"You clearly like Tanjiro… and Nezuko too."
With that, he turned around and leisurely walked back toward the house.
Giyu stood there silently for a long time.
Finally—
He understood.
Xia Feng had never killed Nezuko.
Nor had he harmed Tanjiro or his teacher.
He had simply used a strange method to help Giyu sort out his own confusion and cut away his doubts.
Which meant…
Everything Giyu had just said passionately earlier—
Made him look like a complete idiot.
Thinking of that, Giyu suddenly wanted to die.
🌟 The story is already written… waiting to be unleashed.
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