DS Chapter 74 – Hundred Refinements! Ren's Reward
"Let me take a look!"
At that moment, Shinobu no longer cared about maintaining her usual composure.
She hurried to Ren's bedside, carefully slipping her hand beneath his clothing to examine his injuries.
Her breathing grew rapid, and beads of sweat formed on her forehead from the tension.
Shinobu swore she had never been this anxious while treating a patient.
"Master... how is Ren-san? Is he going to be alright?"
Kanao crouched beside Shinobu, her large eyes filled with worry.
She knew nothing about medicine, so all she could do was watch her master's examination in silence.
Seeing the change in Shinobu's expression, Kanao asked nervously,
"Master?"
Shinobu's beautiful face was filled with disbelief.
"Ren... his..."
"What happened to Ren-san?"
Kanao and Aoi asked at the same time.
Shinobu stared blankly at Ren before finally saying,
"His injuries..."
"They've already healed."
...
The following morning.
At dawn.
When Ren regained consciousness, he found himself lying in a bed inside the Butterfly Mansion.
However, instead of opening his eyes immediately, he quietly entered a state of meditation.
Bullet Domain activated.
«[Your cellular activity has increased.]
[You sense another bloodline flowing within your body. Your body has successfully adapted to it, and you instinctively recognize its tremendous potential.]
[While unconscious, you continuously maintained Total Concentration: Focus, allowing your body to recover at an extraordinary rate.]
[Your understanding of Total Concentration: Focus has deepened. You are exploring a higher realm of the technique.]
[Your vitality has fully recovered. Your physique has grown even stronger.]
[Every cell in your body has undergone a qualitative transformation.]
[You have comprehended a new Breathing Technique derived from Total Concentration: Focus—Total Concentration: Hundred Refinements.]»
Meditation ended.
Bullet Domain deactivated.
Ren slowly opened his eyes.
The last traces of his injuries had completely disappeared through the continuous use of his Breathing Technique.
He flexed his fingers.
Not only did his body feel free of stiffness...
It felt even lighter and more flexible than before.
So this is the effect of the new Breathing Technique...
Closing his eyes once more, Ren activated Total Concentration: Hundred Refinements.
His breathing settled into a steady rhythm.
Air flowed into his lungs before spreading throughout every corner of his body.
He could clearly sense every joint...
Every muscle...
Every single cell...
Rejoicing.
It felt as though his body had been tempered in a blazing furnace.
He had never felt better.
Ever since losing consciousness the previous night, Total Concentration: Focus had continued repairing his body on its own.
After an entire night of recovery, every cell in his body was brimming with vitality.
Ren began circulating Total Concentration: Hundred Refinements.
Every cell resonated together.
A series of crackling sounds echoed from throughout his body.
His physique was rapidly strengthening.
He could even feel himself growing taller.
Judging by the change, he estimated his height had increased from around 170 centimeters to nearly 180 centimeters.
Not bad.
Just as Ren prepared to get out of bed...
He suddenly felt something resting against his left leg.
Sitting upright, he caught the faint fragrance of wisteria.
Rubbing the sleep from his eyes, he looked toward the bedside.
A girl wearing a butterfly-patterned haori sat on a small stool.
Her head rested against his leg as she slept soundly.
The butterfly hairpin behind her head remained neatly in place, while several loose strands of purple hair had fallen across the bed.
Dark circles lingered beneath her closed eyes, showing just how exhausted she was.
Apparently sensing movement beneath her, she unconsciously hugged the blanket a little tighter before drifting back into a deeper sleep.
Ren couldn't help smiling.
She must have stayed here looking after me all night.
Carefully, he reached over and brushed a loose strand of hair away from Shinobu's face.
The slight movement finally stirred her awake.
She slowly rubbed her eyes before looking at Ren with sleepy, unfocused eyes.
For a few seconds, she simply stared at him.
Then a gentle smile appeared.
"Ren..."
"You're awake."
Ren nodded.
"I've been awake for a little while."
"You were sleeping so peacefully that I didn't want to wake you."
Hearing that, Shinobu's cheeks immediately flushed.
She quickly turned away and straightened her appearance.
Taking the opportunity, Ren glanced around the room.
"Has the competition already ended?"
Still facing away from him, Shinobu nodded.
"It ended yesterday."
"I sent everyone home."
"You could have rested a little longer."
Ren shook his head.
"No."
"This time I held everyone back."
"I couldn't secure the Hashira residence for the Butterfly Mansion."
There was a trace of guilt in his voice.
It had been a competition they should have won.
Yet he had become the deciding factor in their defeat.
Seeing his disappointed expression, Shinobu smiled warmly.
"It's alright."
"Sanemi admitted defeat."
"So the Butterfly Mansion now has three Hashira residences~"
Ren blinked.
"Three?"
"That's right."
"Rengoku also gave his residence to the Butterfly Mansion."
"We're practically rich now~"
There was unmistakable pride in her voice.
It seemed...
Money really could brighten someone's mood.
Still, Ren frowned slightly.
"I was eliminated."
"So why did Sanemi surrender?"
Before he could think further, Shinobu happily explained.
"Sanemi admitted he was the one who broke the rules first."
"He damaged the Butterfly Mansion."
"So he accepted responsibility and transferred his residence to us."
"As for Rengoku..."
"He said the Rengoku family wasn't short of money."
"So he gave theirs to the Butterfly Mansion as well."
Ren looked at her strangely.
"And... you accepted?"
"Of course not!"
Shinobu turned around and lightly patted her chest.
Then she smiled brightly.
"He said it was a gift for you."
"So I accepted it on your behalf."
"Rengoku also said that if you have time in the future..."
"You should pay the Rengoku family a visit."
"Don't forget to repay that kindness someday, Ren~"
Smack.
Ren covered his forehead with one hand.
So...
In the end, I'm still going to have to visit the Rengoku family and teach them Flame Breathing.