Due to excessive blood loss, Cold Cry drifted in and out of consciousness for most of the day. Even when he managed to wake, his mind remained hazy, unable to distinguish between dreams and reality.
That night, Yanrobei carefully prepared a nourishing chicken and fish broth to help restore his strength.
To Cold Cry's surprise, the old man—already past fifty—took care of him with remarkable attentiveness. In fact, he was far more reliable than the three overly talkative girls at the Butterfly Mansion.
Although his mouth felt bitter and he could barely taste anything, Cold Cry forced himself to drink two full bowls for the sake of recovery.
After the meal, Yanrobei set up a simple stove outside the cabin. He retrieved a large wooden barrel from the storage shed behind the house, placed it over the fire, and filled it with water.
Cold Cry sat quietly on the stone bench by the door, watching the old man move back and forth. For the first time in days, the heaviness in his heart eased slightly.
His village had been destroyed. His sister had been taken. He had thought his life would be nothing but despair.
Yet somehow, he had met people from the Butterfly Mansion—and now this old man.
It almost felt as if fate itself had guided him here.
Yanrobei was preparing a medicinal bath.
Cold Cry's injuries were severe. Not only had he lost a dangerous amount of blood, but his body was covered in claw wounds from the demon. Worse still, those wounds carried traces of demon toxin.
Although demons in canon do not possess "poison" in the traditional sense, their blood and attacks can corrode the human body and hinder recovery. A medicinal bath infused with wisteria and herbs would help cleanse his wounds, promote healing, and strengthen his constitution.
Soon, steam began to rise from the barrel.
After testing the temperature, Yanrobei walked over.
"Do you want me to carry you in, or can you manage on your own?"
Cold Cry stiffened.
Carry him?
The image alone made his scalp tingle.
"I-I'll do it myself."
He braced himself against the wall and slowly stood up, staggering toward the barrel. But after only a few steps, dizziness overwhelmed him. His vision blurred, and his stomach churned.
In the end, Yanrobei had to support him as he eased into the hot water.
The old man returned to the stove, occasionally adding firewood. The flickering flames illuminated his weathered face.
"Hey, old man," Cold Cry muttered, leaning against the rim of the barrel. "You talk so much, yet you live alone up here. Don't you get lonely?"
Yanrobei snorted.
"Old man? No wonder Shinobu said you lack manners."
He clicked his tongue.
"Besides, I don't stay here all the time. And listen—your application has already been submitted. In two months, you'll participate in the Final Selection at Mount Fujikasane."
Cold Cry tilted his head back, gazing at the stars.
"…I see."
His tone was indifferent, but deep down, his resolve hardened.
He needed to join the Demon Slayer Corps.
Only then could he search for his sister with his own strength.
Relying on others was never enough.
---
Under Yanrobei's meticulous care, Cold Cry recovered nearly eighty percent of his strength within a week.
Though he still couldn't endure intense exertion, normal movement was no longer a problem.
Soon after, Yanrobei designed a structured rehabilitation and training regimen—both to complete his recovery and to prepare him for the demanding training ahead.
With only a month and a half remaining before the Final Selection, Cold Cry had to grasp the fundamentals of Breathing Techniques.
In the world of the Demon Slayer Corps, Breathing Techniques are not merely supportive—they are the very foundation of combat.
Through controlled breathing, a swordsman maximizes oxygen intake, accelerating blood circulation and raising body temperature. This enhances physical performance, allowing one to draw out strength far beyond normal human limits.
However, this process places immense strain on the body.
Without strong lungs, a resilient physique, and disciplined control, forcing such breathing could cause serious harm.
Simply put—the stronger the body, the greater the power one can draw from Total Concentration Breathing.
---
To prepare him, Yanrobei divided the six-week training period into three stages, each lasting two weeks.
The program included:
Physical conditioning
Agility and coordination training
Sensory sharpening
Cardiopulmonary endurance
Swordsmanship and combat practice
Every morning and evening, Cold Cry ran between the mountain peak and its base:
First stage: empty-handed
Second stage: carrying 5 kg
Third stage: carrying 10 kg
In the mornings, he navigated forests filled with traps to sharpen reflexes and awareness—similar to the training methods used by former Hashira.
In the afternoons, he practiced sword strikes beneath a waterfall:
First stage: standard practice
Second stage: with 2 kg weights on each limb
Third stage: with 5 kg weights on each limb—weights he could not remove even during daily life
He also trained underwater, holding his breath at the bottom of a lake to improve lung capacity.
Finally, Yanrobei personally guided him through combat drills.
---
At night, Cold Cry did not rest in the usual sense.
Instead, he meditated while maintaining Total Concentration Breathing.
This advanced state—known as Total Concentration Breathing: Constant—allows a swordsman to sustain enhanced breathing even while sleeping.
In the Demon Slayer Corps, most members only reach basic Total Concentration.
Only a select few can maintain it constantly.
Although Cold Cry had begun to touch this state, his control remained unstable.
Some nights, he maintained it perfectly.
Other times, he would wake to find himself breathing normally again.
Even so, his rate of growth astonished Yanrobei.
From their first meeting, the old man had sensed something extraordinary about the boy.
Sharp-minded. Unyielding.
And now, proven through relentless training.
No matter how grueling the regimen became, Cold Cry never complained.
Yanrobei exhaled slowly, recalling a certain monk from years past.
"…Even Himejima Gyomei wasn't this smooth in the beginning."