Demon Slayer: My breathing technique went awry after Nezuko pushed me down.

Upon arriving at the familiar training ground halfway up the mountain, Urokodaki hadn't even opened his mouth to ask a question when he suddenly stopped, his tengu mask abruptly turning towards Shirakawa Yu.

Where is your "Changzhong"?

His tone was clearly questioning and scrutinizing, "Just now, inside the house and on the road, you were clearly maintaining a state of full concentration breathing, so how did it suddenly stop?"

Shirakawa Yu's heart skipped a beat.

As expected of the former water column! Its perception is incredibly sharp!

His face immediately showed confusion: "Chang... Zhong? Master, what is that? You didn't teach me that?"

Urokodaki: "......"

Chapter 10: There's no way there could be such a lewd breathing technique!

Indeed, he never taught Chang Zhong at all, not because he was hiding anything from him.

Rather, the most basic Demon Slayers don't need to learn this ability; it's something only the Preparatory Pillars need to master.

If you force yourself to use it when your strength isn't up to par, you're more likely to get distracted in battle, making it impossible to focus on both swordsmanship and breathing.

Generally, it is only after a swordsman has fully mastered the breathing technique and gained a certain amount of combat experience that the decision of whether or not to teach the constant breathing technique is made, depending on their talent.

But this little guy had been maintaining his composure the whole way, which he thought was a characteristic of his breathing technique.

"The so-called 'constant concentration' refers to maintaining a state of fully focused breathing 24 hours a day."

Urokodaki gave a brief explanation, then commanded, "Try maintaining your breathing rhythm from before."

Shirakawa Yu said with a bitter face, "I...I can't try, Master. Just now in the room...I was just breathing naturally, I didn't try to maintain anything."

He was only half telling the truth.

Within five meters of Nezuko, the movement is automatic; he doesn't need to do anything.

But he really doesn't know how to use it without Nezuko.

At least not now.

Urokodaki frowned even more deeply.

He carefully observed Shirakawa Yu's breathing, and it was indeed disordered and ordinary, completely different from the steady, deep, and rhythmic breathing he had just experienced in the room.

"Can you still use the techniques you used before?" Urokodaki pointed to the wooden stakes opposite the open space. "Use your full strength."

“No problem!” Bai Chuanyu took a deep breath and got into a fighting stance.

Pink aura rose from all around, quickly wrapping around the blade and turning the straight edge a vibrant pink.

The flames began to extend, condense, and take shape...

But this time, the extension was noticeably slower.

In the end, the pink giant blade that condensed on the blade was only four meters long, more than half the length of the ten-meter giant blade that appeared in the morning.

Their momentum has also weakened considerably.

Shirakawa Yu himself could feel it—the force had become lighter, but the consumption of breath had not decreased at all.

As expected... without Nezuko by my side, even the power of my moves is diminished.

Breath of Color, you're so realistic.

But he didn't show it; instead, he shouted:

"Breath of Color - Form One - Heroine!"

The giant blade cleaved down.

A pink arc of light streaked through the air and struck the wooden stake.

"Crack!"

The wooden stake cracked open and collapsed to the ground with a thud.

A shallow trench, about half a foot deep and two meters long, was also cut into the ground.

Its power is decent.

But compared to that stab during the day...

That's far from the truth.

Shirakawa Yu sheathed his sword, took a breath, and this time the breath wasn't feigned; he was genuinely a little tired.

Urokodaki, standing to the side, frowned deeply. He could clearly see that Shirakawa Yu had used all his strength twice, without holding back.

But the difference in power...

"What happened?" he asked in a deep voice. "Why is it so different from last time?"

Shirakawa Yu wiped the sweat from his forehead and continued to play dumb: "I don't know either, Master... I just feel... something's not right? It doesn't feel like... um~ the effortless feeling from before."

Something doesn't feel right.

Urokodaki felt a throbbing sensation in his temples.

He forced himself to calm down and reviewed the process of Shirakawa Yu awakening his breathing technique, the use of the moves, and the appearance and disappearance of the "normal state"...

All the clues flew through my mind.

That pink aura... he named it Breath of Color.

If this color is not a color, then what color is it?

His breathing technique was awakened when Nezuko tackled him and they were in close contact...

When he used that move, his desire to show off was no different from that of a male peacock displaying its plumage.

While carrying Nezuko on his back, his breathing was steady, and he was even able to maintain his breathing using the automatic breathing technique.

The same was true inside the house; Chang Zhong did not stop.

But as soon as he leaves the house and leaves Nezuko's side, his attacks break down, and even the power of his moves is greatly reduced.

He himself said, "Something doesn't feel right."

How does it feel?

If you really want to say there's any difference...

Between these two cases, there is only one different variable!

Nezuko!

With Nezuko around, this kid is great at everything!

With Nezuko gone, this kid just went limp!

This...this...

Could it be that his breathing technique... involves inhaling...?

An extremely absurd and outrageous conjecture, which he felt was a disgrace to the term "breathing method" just to think about, uncontrollably sprouted in his mind.

No...impossible!

Absolutely impossible!

Breathing techniques are the supreme art used to slay evil spirits and protect humanity!

It is the culmination of the swordsmen's painstaking efforts in forging their skills!

How could this be... how could someone be so lewd?!

Urokodaki shook his head vigorously, trying to shake off that terrible thought.

But once the seeds of doubt are sown, they will grow wildly like weeds.

He suddenly grabbed Bai Chuanyu's arm with such force that Bai Chuanyu grimaced.

"Let's go! Let's go back!"

"Hey, hey, hey? Slow down, Master! I can walk by myself!"

Urokodaki practically dragged Shirakawa Yu back to the front of the cabin.

He didn't open the door immediately, but stared intently at Shirakawa Yu's face, especially his mouth and nose.

"Open the door and go in," Urokodaki commanded, his voice tense and trembling slightly.

Bai Chuanyu didn't understand why his master was nervous, but he still obediently pushed open the door.

A faint, sweet scent wafted out from under the door.

That was Nezuko's natural scent.

For ordinary people, it may be very faint and almost imperceptible.

But for Shirakawa Yu, who possesses the Breath of Color...

Yet it was exceptionally clear.

The next second, the pale pink scent naturally returned to his mouth and nose, and his breathing became deep and steady.

Full concentration breathing - Normal mode, automatically activated.

Urokodaki: "!!!"

He saw it clearly!

Just a second before and after he entered the door, the kid's breathing was completely different!

The last glimmer of hope was ruthlessly shattered.

Urokodaki felt like he was about to crack open.

His voice trembled slightly, clinging to the last shred of hope, as he said in a trembling voice, "You...you stand right here! Facing outwards, use that move again."

"Huh? Here?" Shirakawa Yu looked at the narrow, low door frame.

"Use it facing the door!"

"Alright, fine..." Shirakawa Yu turned to face the door and swung his sword again.

"Breath of Color - First Form - Heroine!"