Chapter 160: Dreaming
"What kind of punishment?" Zenitsu asked cautiously.
Ren replied calmly, "Once we return to the Demon Slayer Corps, I'll be responsible for your special training."
"Special training?" Zenitsu didn't understand, but panic still filled his voice. "What kind of special training? The kind that's going to get me killed?!"
Ren reassured him, "It's not as serious as you're making it sound. It's just special training related to Breathing techniques."
"That's good."
Only after hearing that did Zenitsu finally relax.
"Does this famous master have to participate too?" Inosuke asked from the side.
"That's right. All of you will have to participate in the special training."
Ren remembered that after the deaths of the three Upper Rank demons, the Demon Slayer Corps would gradually begin joint Hashira training. He believed that many of those training methods would be excellent ways to improve one's strength.
For example, the Love Hashira's flexibility training and the Serpent Hashira's attack-style training.
And Ren genuinely wanted to participate in the training conducted by all the different Hashira. Only by doing so could he gain their combat experience.
Of course, Ren would never admit that he was actually looking for an excuse to learn their Breathing techniques.
Absolutely not!
"Ren, it seems you really enjoy training!"
The Flame Hashira, who had been sitting by the window all this time, suddenly spoke.
"If you have any training plans in the future, be sure to tell me. I would also be very interested in Ren's training!"
Kyojuro was a typical training enthusiast, and he was extremely curious about Ren's training methods.
Could he become as strong as Ren by studying the way Ren trained?
There was no denying how curious he was.
Everyone in the Demon Slayer Corps had witnessed Ren's strength and the astonishing speed at which he had improved with their own eyes.
It would be a lie to say that the Flame Hashira wasn't curious.
Basically, every member of the Demon Slayer Corps was curious about Ren's training methods.
They all wanted to join in as well.
If they could learn even a little of Ren's techniques—or discover the secret behind his rapid growth—their own progress might practically take off like a rocket.
If every member of the Demon Slayer Corps possessed Ren's talent for cultivation, what would they have to fear from Muzan?
They would simply charge straight at him!
So when Kyojuro heard Ren specifically mention training methods, he naturally became even more curious.
Ren humbly said, "Actually, there's nothing particularly special about my training methods. Most of them were learned from the various Hashira."
Ren didn't dwell on the subject.
He knew that every Hashira had their own training methods.
The purpose was to strengthen the Demon Slayer Corps in preparation for the decisive battle that would eventually come.
As the Dragon Hashira, Ren naturally needed to develop a training method of his own as well.
He just hadn't figured it out yet.
And he had also noticed that the Flame Hashira seemed particularly interested in his training.
Could the Flame Hashira join him as well?
The group continued chatting happily.
With Ren smoothing things over, the somewhat awkward atmosphere gradually relaxed.
Ren also set Nezuko down.
He looked out the window.
Without anyone noticing, night had fallen once again.
Ren knew very well that tonight would be completely different from the previous night.
Inside the train, the passengers seemed listless and lifeless.
Even the children who had been laughing and playing earlier now looked tired and dispirited.
Some passengers had pale faces as they stared out the windows, seemingly lost in their own thoughts.
Others unconsciously glanced in Ren's direction.
Night had fallen.
The light outside the windows gradually faded until it was swallowed by darkness.
The route traveled by the train was enveloped in a cold, tide-like silence.
That oppressive atmosphere slowly spread throughout the entire carriage.
A train attendant pushed a small cart down the aisle, selling snacks while checking tickets.
His expression was dull, his eyes lifeless, almost like those of a corpse.
When he reached Ren's seat, he held out the ticket punch and gestured.
"Ticket."
Ren narrowed his eyes slightly before motioning for Kyojuro and the others to hand over their tickets as well.
The attendant checked them one by one, then pushed his cart onward.
From beginning to end, the only word he had spoken was "Ticket."
The atmosphere also made Tanjiro and Zenitsu feel that something was wrong.
Especially Tanjiro.
He quietly sniffed the air, confusion appearing on his face.
"That's strange. That man looked really sad just now. I don't know why he seemed like he didn't like us."
Zenitsu nodded without saying anything.
Instead, he looked toward Ren.
Everyone else remained motionless, unaware that anything unusual had happened.
The moment they noticed Zenitsu looking at Ren, they all turned their attention toward him as well.
Ren smiled faintly.
"It's nothing. Why are you all looking at me? It's inevitable for someone to have some resentment because of work. Don't overthink it."
Tanjiro looked at him innocently.
"But he looked so sad. Could it be because we did something wrong?"
"Nothing like that. Don't think too much about it."
Ren dismissed the matter and told everyone not to pay too much attention to it.
In truth, he had anticipated this from the very beginning.
The attendant who had just checked their tickets seemed to be hiding some secret.
That was because Ren recognized him.
This was the very attendant who had been deceived by Enmu. His purpose in checking their tickets was to plant the seeds that would lure them into pleasant dreams.
If nothing unexpected happened, everyone would soon fall asleep.
But why didn't Ren expose him?
First, he was worried that acting recklessly might cause Enmu to escape.
Second, Ren wanted to see what these people cared about most.
He remembered that Enmu would make those who fell asleep see the dreams they treasured most—the things they loved and couldn't bear to lose.
Right?
Ren was curious.
Besides, Enmu wasn't capable of causing much trouble, and there wasn't exactly any entertainment aboard the train.
So Ren figured he might as well take a nap himself and see what happened.
The attendant checked the passengers' tickets in batches.
Soon, everyone aboard the train had been inspected.
Then, everyone would fall into their dreams, while Enmu would merge his body with the train itself, transforming it into a boss guarding the next stage.
Outside the windows, the night grew deeper.
The Mugen Train raced along the neatly laid tracks, its whistle shattering the unique silence of the night and stirring the spirits of those aboard.
Some people unconsciously yawned.
Soon, they fell asleep.
Everyone seemed unusually easy to put to sleep tonight.
Perhaps it was because they were young.
In any case, most of the passengers on the train fell asleep almost the moment they closed their eyes.
Tanjiro, Inosuke, and Zenitsu, who were sitting beside Ren, quickly fell asleep as well.
Kyojuro looked at the scene before him and couldn't help sighing.
"Looks like these three youngsters have been exhausted by the journey. They've all fallen asleep at the same time."
Kyojuro turned toward Ren.
"Ren, let's take turns keeping watch tonight."
Kyojuro had previously taken the time to explain his mission to Ren—the very Mugen Train mission that Ren was already familiar with.
So when Kyojuro said this, Ren immediately understood what he meant.
Kyojuro was worried that a demon might appear tonight, so someone needed to remain awake at all times.
However, there was something rather amusing about the situation.
The moment Kyojuro finished saying those words…
He promptly fell into a deep sleep himself.