Chapter 839: Two Years
Chapter 839: Two Years
In the projection, Tanjiro's training continued.
Time flew by, and in the blink of an eye, a year had passed. Tanjiro had mastered all the forms of the Water Breathing technique under Ruka's guidance and was now left to continue his training alone as Ruka no longer instructed him.
This was partly because, from this point on, further progress depended on his own efforts and understanding. Additionally, Ruka didn't want Tanjiro to take the Demon Slayer Corps' assessment. Many of his disciples in recent years had perished during that assessment, and none had passed.
"That's a huge rock. Mr. Ruka is really pushing it," said Mitsuri Kanroji, covering her face as she watched Tanjiro staring at a massive stone in the projection.
"Mr. Ruka doesn't want Tanjiro to pass," Kanae said thoughtfully.
For a Hashira, accomplishing this task would be effortless, but Tanjiro had only just finished learning the breathing technique and hadn't even practiced Total Concentration Breathing yet. Presenting him with such a large stone clearly indicated that Ruka didn't want him to succeed.
"Mhm," Feng Ye nodded. "Ruka's disciples in recent years have all perished during the assessment, so he's conflicted. However, the will of the deceased will eventually be conveyed."
As if in prophecy, Tanjiro showed no signs of giving up in the following scenes. Instead, he doubled down on his training, persevering for over half a year. During this period, his physical abilities improved, but he still couldn't meet the standard of slicing through the stone.
Until one day, a masked boy appeared and began to instruct Tanjiro in swordsmanship.
"Hey, isn't that..." Mitsuri exclaimed, a hint of surprise in her voice.
"Tekido, Ruka's disciple who perished during the assessment," Kanae said thoughtfully. "So, the one appearing here should be his spirit?"
Kanae was aware of the existence of spirits in this world. Spirits could interfere with one's will, provided that one's will could touch them. Most of Ruka's deceased disciples had become spirits, but Tanjiro hadn't been able to perceive them until now. After half a year of arduous training, his will had finally connected with the spirits.
"Mhm," Feng Ye took a sip of tea and then continued to accelerate time.
In the projection, under the guidance of Tekido's spirit, Tanjiro trained for another six months and finally mastered the art of Total Concentration Breathing. With the power of Water Breathing, he cleaved the massive rock in two.
"Hooray!" Mitsuri cheered and applauded for Tanjiro's achievement.
Under Feng Ye's time acceleration, two years had passed in the outside world, but less than half an hour had gone by in the house. Nonetheless, Tanjiro's austere training during those two years was evident.
Kanae nodded slightly.
Subsequently,
Tanjiro descended the mountain to take part in the Demon Slayer Corps' entrance exam!
During the exam, Tanjiro displayed strength beyond that of a typical Demon Slayer Corps member. He defeated the strongest demon, a Hand Demon, and his gentle heart earned him Kanae's approval, while Mitsuri also became a fan.
The group in the house had witnessed Tanjiro's journey of over two years in just a few hours. To the outside world, it appeared as though Feng Ye, Mitsuri, and the others had been secluded in the wooden house for over two years without any news.
Although Kagaya Ubuyashiki sent supplies for daily life punctually every month, he received no response, and no one dared to intrude on Feng Ye's cottage. In the end, they merely replaced the supplies each month.
During this period, only Shinobu Kochou returned to the cottage.
"About twenty minutes?" Mitsuri replied with a smile. "You're just in time for dessert!"
Shinobu picked up her teacup from the table and took a sip, finding the tea still slightly warm. "I've been out there for almost two months," she remarked.
Hunting demons for two months, only to find that less than half an hour had passed in the cottage—the first time Shinobu realized this, she was bewildered until Feng Ye explained the time difference to her.
Although Feng Ye had offered to let her stay and 'watch the show,' Shinobu felt that her absence might put undue pressure on the Demon Slayer Corps, so she continued to run errands for them, only occasionally returning to the cottage.
But each time she came back, only a few minutes or barely half an hour would have passed in the house.
"If you go out a few more times, you might have to call me 'little sister' when you return," Kanae said, serving Shinobu a dessert with a graceful smile.
"That is a problem," Shinobu frowned, finding the idea of her older sister becoming her younger sister rather odd.
However, Feng Ye chuckled and added, "If we're going by actual age, Shinobu is indeed a bit older than you now. You two should reconsider how you address each other."
"Eh?" Shinobu froze, teacup in hand.
Mitsuri, on the other hand, munched on a sakura mochi as she casually suggested, "Ah, who cares? If you like, Shinobu, you can keep calling her 'older sister.' Besides, Feng Ye took me to the very beginning of this world's creation, so if we go by that, my age is practically uncalculable!"
Shinobu looked at Mitsuri with a blank expression, then in her typical blunt manner, said, "Granny Mitsuri?"
"Grandma Mitsuri?" Kanae chimed in playfully.
Mitsuri's eyes widened in mock outrage. "I said that's not how it works!" she exclaimed.
As the group bantered, Tanjiro passed the Demon Slayer Corps' entrance exam in the projected scene and embarked on his first mission, encountering a relatively weak demon that he defeated with ease.
After Tanjiro took care of a second demon, Shinobu set down her sakura mochi and announced, "Master, I need to leave again."
In the projection, more than ten days had passed.
This meant she had used up over ten days of her vacation in one go.
"Go ahead," Feng Ye waved and smiled at her. "I can show you the replay later."
Shinobu bowed politely and then hurried out, carrying her Nichirin Sword to continue her duties with the Demon Slayer Corps.
Just as Shinobu left, Feng Ye's expression shifted.
"Hmm, it's finally done," he murmured. With a wave of his hand, the curtain split once more, revealing a new scene. A beautiful and intelligent-looking woman in a kimono with her hair styled in a bun appeared. She was surrounded by an array of colorful bottles and jars, and in her hand, she held a bottle of strangely colored potion that shimmered under the light.
After obtaining the initial formula from Feng Ye, years of experimentation and gathering materials had finally paid off for Muzan's doctor, Tamayo, as she successfully recreated the potion that transformed Muzan Kibutsuji from a human into the Demon King!
"It's about the time I predicted," Feng Ye nodded.
(End of Chapter)
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