As a Puppet Master of upper-ninja rank, Qingshui's ability to utilize mental energy far surpassed Uzui Tengen's.
Qingshui had been able to activate the Score technique in actual combat ever since Uzui Tengen explained it to him that day, and he had deliberately practiced it in subsequent battles.
Even though Uzui Tengen had delved into Sun Breathing and could enter the Score state faster than before, he was definitely not as fast as Qingshui.
Qingshui could activate Score after just a few exchanges.
Moreover, having practiced Mind Illumination Technique and Sand Body Tempering Technique, Qingshui had already vaguely touched upon that level of mastery.
He might only be one trigger away from opening the Transparent World.
Unfortunately, Byouha was not that trigger, because he wasn't strong enough.
"Is this all you've got? Looks like if I want to feel pressure and get some training, I'll have to go find an Upper Rank Demon."
Qingshui closed his eyes, his right hand gripping his sword, easily blocking several of Byouha's attacks, while his left hand fired a shot to his side.
*Bang!*
Smoke dispersed, and Byouha's neck was shot again, forcing him out of his invisible Blood Demon Art state. Before he could even escape, a flash of sword light severed his neck, which had already regenerated by a third.
Sheathing his Nichirin Blade, Qingshui watched Byouha gradually turn to ash and dissipate. He clenched his left arm, and a sharp, thin needle sprang from the arm of his armored puppet, piercing Byouha's body and drawing a tube of fresh blood.
The blood of the Twelve Kizuki contained the highest concentration of Muzan's blood. Just a few drops could turn a person into a demon, making it quite valuable for research.
I wonder if the herb gatherers I hired on Mount Kumotori have found the Blue Spider Lily, Qingshui thought silently, looking up at the sky.
He had asked Tanjiro if there was anything resembling a blue flower near his home, explaining that someone in his family was ill and needed this traditional medicine for treatment. He mentioned that herb gatherers had once found it on Mount Kumotori, and Tanjiro's family happened to live there.
Tanjiro had answered readily—he had seen it, but only once, and he was very young at the time. He only remembered his mother taking him to see it once, and he hadn't seen it since.
Qingshui surmised that when the Blue Spider Lily wasn't blooming, it probably looked similar to wild vegetables and weeds.
Now that summer had arrived, with the strongest sunlight of the year, it was the most likely time for the Blue Spider Lily to bloom.
If he still couldn't find it, the "Blue Project" would leverage the Uesugi Clan's power to dig up all the wild vegetables on the mountaintop behind his house. He would eat only wild vegetables every day. As long as there were still Blue Spider Lilies left, he would eventually consume one.
Then, he would only need to take a portion of the Twelve Kizuki's demon blood, fuse it with his own, and finally expose it to the sun to determine if he had ingested the Blue Spider Lily.
If possible, Qingshui wanted to try and research whether he could also become a creature with infinite lifespan and super regenerative abilities. Of course, it would be even better if he could maintain his appearance and even retain his human identity.
...
...
Two days later.
At the Ubuyashiki Mansion, on the open ground in front of the courtyard.
A new Hashira Meeting was convened.
"Lower Rank Three, another one of the Twelve Kizuki has been dealt with?" Ubuyashiki Kagaya said with a smile, the purple markings on his face now even finer.
"Another one?" Qingshui paused, then turned to look at the courtyard entrance.
"The Hashira Meeting, it should be here, right?"
A girl with pink and green hair pushed open the door and peeked half her body inside.
"Ah, I'm sorry, everyone, I got lost and arrived late!"
Kanroji Mitsuri jogged into the courtyard, her two basketball-sized "headlights" bouncing with her movements, looking quite… elastic.
"It's alright, Mitsuri, it's not time yet. Everyone just arrived early," Rengoku Kyojuro said loudly, his face beaming with an enthusiastic smile.
Kanroji Mitsuri had been his apprentice and successor previously, so of course he would speak up for her.
"Indeed, we're actually still one minute away from the agreed time. Congratulations, Mitsuri," the Serpent Hashira, Iguro Obanai, said softly, uncharacteristically.
"Ah! Mr. Iguro! Thank you so much for the long socks you gave me last time! They're very breathable and comfortable!" Kanroji Mitsuri said, bowing casually.
Uzui Tengen, sitting next to Qingshui, lightly nudged Qingshui with his shoulder, a teasing smile on his face, and winked, signaling that there was gossip.
He had three wives and managed to keep them living harmoniously, so he was naturally an old hand at romance and could guess that Iguro Obanai was interested in Kanroji Mitsuri.
What man would send a woman something like stockings if he wasn't interested?
However, besides him and Qingshui, only Kocho Shinobu looked at the two with curiosity. The other Hashira were all somewhat eccentric and rather oblivious when it came to matters of the heart.
"Ahem, Mitsuri, Qingshui, thank you both very much for your efforts. You risked your lives to eliminate Lower Rank Six and Lower Rank Three. Starting today, you are officially Hashira of the Demon Slayer Corps." The frail Ubuyashiki Kagaya seemed tired of standing. Aided by Amane, he sat on the steps, his expression gentle.
"Ah, I actually didn't realize it was one of the Twelve Kizuki. I just saw him trying to harm people and rushed in without thinking, but thankfully, I still managed to win without much trouble in the end!" Kanroji Mitsuri said, clenching her fists and raising her small face with passion.
"Lower Rank Three is a bit… ordinary. I've sparred with everyone here except Mitsuri, and given your strength, it shouldn't be hard to deal with," Qingshui said calmly from his seat.
"Ordinary? The Twelve Kizuki are ordinary? Why do I feel like you're starting to sound like Tomioka Giyuu? To say something so unsettling in such a bland tone…" Shinazugawa Sanemi said, arms crossed, looking at Qingshui.
Meanwhile, Tomioka Giyuu, with an expression as placid as still water, said to Shinazugawa Sanemi, "Thank you for the compliment, Shinazugawa."
A vein, indicating annoyance, pulsed on Shinazugawa Sanemi's forehead. "Idiot, do you actually think I was complimenting you?"
"Wasn't it?" Giyuu genuinely believed Shinazugawa Sanemi was praising him and sincerely thanked him.
Shinazugawa Sanemi's eyes seemed to spit fire as he glared at Tomioka Giyuu. "This isn't the place to fight. After the Hashira Meeting, you're coming outside with me for a match!"
"I'll wait for you." Tomioka Giyuu stood up and headed for the door. In his mind, Shinazugawa Sanemi's way of expressing his feelings was through sparring. As for the Hashira Meeting… Tomioka Giyuu, who believed he wasn't worthy of being the Water Hashira, felt he didn't deserve to attend.
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