Chapter 22: Practice (2)

The days that followed were basically like this. Shiraha would learn swordsmanship and sword techniques from Urokodaki Sakonji every day, while Tanjiro would do his physical training on the side. At mealtime, Tanjiro would go to a designated place to catch raw fish. Tanjiro's

  compulsory project every night was to run back to the cabin from Mt. Sagiri.

  Although this project doesn't sound difficult, according to Tanjiro's own account, there were many traps set up on the mountain by Urokodaki Sakonji.

  Moreover, the location changed every day, and as Tanjiro became more and more comfortable, the nature of the traps gradually changed, from simple containment to the intention of killing Tanjiro.

  Tanjiro also came back from the beginning to only clean up the mess left by Shiraha and Urokodaki Sakonji after dinner, and gradually became able to eat a few mouthfuls of leftover soup and rice, and then to come back halfway through dinner, and finally to be able to return to the cabin before dinner preparations began.

  Every night, Tanjiro has the habit of talking to Nezuko and writing a diary, while Bai Yu lies in his sleeping place, staring at the ceiling in a daze.

  After Tanjiro can avoid all the traps, Tanjiro also began to formally learn the basics of swordsmanship - swinging the sword.

  As Tanjiro grows up, he needs to learn more and more things. But Bai Yu is still exploring the way of kendo and the ten types of water taught by the old man.

  Compared with Tanjiro, Bai Yu has much less to learn. For example, Tanjiro must practice physical fitness every day, but Bai Yu does not have to practice.

  During these long days, Tanjiro's sister Nezuko has been in a coma. Urokodaki Sakonji could not give a reasonable explanation for why Nezuko has been in a coma.

  Half a year later, Urokodaki Sakonji formally taught Tanjiro the key and essence of the water breathing method.

  "Tanjiro, today I will teach you the water breathing method, you must listen carefully!" Urokodaki Sakonji said to Tanjiro very seriously.

  "Yes, Master!" Tanjiro immediately became serious.

  Bai Yu stood quietly beside Tanjiro without saying anything more.

  "The breathing method is to let oxygen spread to every cell of the body through conscious long-term breathing, which can improve the body's natural healing power, as well as the body's strength and reaction ability. This kind of breathing is called full-concentration breathing!"

  "And water breathing is to maintain a specific frequency of breathing on the basis of full-concentration breathing. At a specific frequency, the rhythm of water will be generated. This is water breathing. The same is true for other breathings, and they all have their own rhythms."

  ——"Tanjiro, now relax your upper body, stabilize your lower body, and then start breathing."

  Urokodaki Sakonji changed his tone and said to Tanjiro.

  Hearing this, Tanjiro began to try to breathe according to Urokodaki Sakonji's instructions. Just

  after taking a breath, Tanjiro's expression suddenly became painful and screamed.

  Looking around, it turned out that Urokodaki Sakonji hit Tanjiro in the abdomen with a palm.

  "No, you need to focus on breathing. You must use your Dantian to breathe in oxygen, not just your nose. Your nose is just a channel for oxygen to flow in."

  "Try it again. Let the Qi sink into your Dantian~ and use your Dantian to spread oxygen to every cell in your body."

  "Yes, Master!" Tanjiro responded again, and then tried again.

  "Ah~Ah~Ah~"

  What happened next was Tanjiro's screams of failure after failure.