"I can clearly see the subtle changes in others' bodies and my own. With this ability, it wasn't difficult to replicate the Hinokami Kagura you used at that time. Of course, if you disagree, I won't use this sword technique again in the future," Chiba Yo said to Tanjirou as he sheathed his nichirin blade.
Upon hearing this, Tanjirou quickly replied, "How could you say that? It's a good thing that Yo learned the Kagura dance. Our family has been learning the Kagura dance for generations precisely because we want it to be passed down. Now, for someone else to learn it is clearly a good thing for the dance's legacy.
I even hope that Yo can further popularize the Kagura dance.
Besides, to take a step back, you've helped us so much with Nezuko, and I have no way to repay you. If the Hinokami Kagura is useful to you, then that's even better."
Tanjirou smiled, with no trace of dissatisfaction in his eyes.
Hearing Tanjirou's words, Chiba Yo also smiled.
"If you ever need help with anything in the future, just tell me. If I have time, I definitely won't refuse," Chiba Yo said to Tanjirou. He didn't say anything like "as long as it doesn't violate my principles," because he knew Tanjirou wouldn't make a request that would cause him to violate his principles.
"Then I'll thank you in advance," Tanjirou said with a smile.
Then he suddenly remembered something and asked Chiba Yo, "Oh right, Yo, when you demonstrated the Kagura dance just now, your blade turned red, didn't it? What's going on with that?"
"I was just about to tell you. This is called a Crimson Blade, and it can suppress a demon's regeneration," Chiba Yo said, drawing his nichirin blade. The black nichirin blade slowly turned crimson under his grip.
"As long as you apply enough grip strength to a nichirin blade, no matter what color the blade originally is, it can turn red. At the same time, it can also give the nichirin blade the ability to suppress a demon's regeneration.
Do you want to try it?" Chiba Yo asked Tanjirou.
Tanjirou was a little excited to hear this. If he could suppress a demon's regenerative ability, then he would definitely have a much easier time in future battles against demons.
"Okay, I'll try it too," Tanjirou said, drawing his new nichirin blade, which he had just received from Kotetsu.
The blade was the same obsidian color as Chiba Yo's.
Tanjirou gripped the nichirin blade tightly as Chiba Yo had instructed, but even with his maximum strength, he still couldn't make the nichirin blade turn red.
"Try using a Breathing Technique," Chiba Yo reminded him from the side.
Upon hearing this, Tanjirou began to use Total Concentration Breathing, Constant, which he had only recently mastered, inhaling a large amount of oxygen.
His own strength increased at that moment, and the veins on his arms bulged.
"Ah ah ah!!!" Tanjirou roared, mobilizing all the strength in his body, but the nichirin blade in his hand still didn't change.
A moment later, after Tanjirou felt his strength could no longer increase, he stopped, wiped the sweat from his forehead, and said with a wry smile, "I still can't do it."
Seeing this, Chiba Yo continued to tell Tanjirou, "If you can't do it with just grip strength, there's actually another method. By increasing the temperature of the nichirin blade through collisions between weapons, it can also enter the Crimson Blade state."
Chiba Yo said, gesturing to Tanjirou. Tanjirou understood, took a stance with his nichirin blade, and then nodded to Chiba Yo.
Then Chiba Yo and Tanjirou clashed their nichirin blades a few times. Chiba Yo's blade had already turned into a Crimson Blade due to his grip strength, and Tanjirou's blade also changed from black to red.
(There's an example in the original manga chapter 190, it's not made up (＞dish＜))
"It really turned red!" Tanjirou exclaimed in surprise.
"Although this method can also turn the nichirin blade into a Crimson Blade, it will be somewhat inconvenient overall. So, I think you should train more, and ideally, you should be able to turn the nichirin blade into a Crimson Blade solely with grip strength as soon as possible.
When you performed Hinokami Kagura earlier, I observed that your body struggled a bit when using this Breathing Technique and sword technique. This is also due to your physical fitness not being strong enough.
In the future, it's best to maintain Total Concentration Breathing, Constant at all times. This will allow your physical fitness to improve quickly, and your lungs will become stronger, making it easier to use Breathing Techniques.
This way, your strength will also improve very quickly,"
Chiba Yo said with a smile, guiding Tanjirou.
"Understood! I will work even harder in the future!" Tanjirou responded with a smile.
He gained a lot today: he got clues about Hinokami Kagura, learned that the twelve forms of Hinokami Kagura are a cycle and can be used continuously, understood the ability of the Crimson Blade, and received advice on how to improve his strength in the future.
Tanjirou felt that Chiba Yo was now just like Mr. Urokodaki, and also had a bit of the feeling of Sabito and Giyuu senior brother.
"Thank you, Yo," Tanjirou sincerely thanked Chiba Yo.
Chiba Yo smiled and waved his hand after hearing his words.
"It's getting late. Go back and rest."
"Okay."
...
Early morning
As soon as he stepped out of his room, his Kasugai Crow flew in front of him, loudly squawking, "North-northeast! North-northeast! There's a demon's trace within the alert area! Eliminate it quickly! Eliminate it quickly!"
Chiba Yo, who had just woken up, was so bothered by the Kasugai Crow that he lost all sleepiness. He immediately set off for the location the Kasugai Crow had mentioned.
...
Inside the Infinity Castle
The sound of a biwa resonated, and the scattered rooms constantly shifted. Four Lower Moons gathered here, waiting for the demon who summoned them to appear.
Thrum!
The biwa sounded again, and the four Lower Moons were moved to one spot.
Except for Lower Moon One, the other Lower Moons all looked panicked, constantly observing their surroundings.
The next moment, a beautiful woman in a black patterned kimono appeared above the four Lower Moons.
Her plum-red vertical pupils were exceptionally cold.
The four Lower Moons looked up at the woman in front of them, not immediately recognizing her identity.
"Bow your heads, kneel, and prostrate yourselves before me."
A cold and familiar voice rang out. The Lower Moons, except for Enmu, were instantly scared into a cold sweat, and then the four demons quickly knelt on the ground.
"I am very sorry, because your appearance and scent have changed..."
Lower Rank Four Mukago frantically tried to explain in her panic, but her words were cut off by Muzan before she could finish.
"Who gave you permission to speak? Do not speak because of your uninteresting wills. You are only allowed to answer what I ask you," Muzan said with a cold voice.
Mukago immediately shut her mouth and lowered her head, her fear increasing significantly.
Then Muzan continued to speak to the remaining four Lower Moons, "Rui and Rokuro have both been killed. One was Lower Rank Five, and the other was Lower Moon Two.
There is only one thing I wish to ask: why are the Lower Moon demons so weak?
Becoming one of the Twelve Kizuki does not mean the end; rather, it is just the beginning. The beginning of eating more humans, the beginning of becoming stronger, the beginning of being useful to me.
In the past hundred years, the Upper Moons of the Twelve Kizuki have never changed. It has always been the Upper Moon demons who have brought about the demise of the Demon Slayer Corps' Pillars.
But what about the Lower Moons? How many times have they been replaced?"
Having lost two Lower Moons in a row, one of whom he thought highly of and whose fate was similar to his own, Rui, and the other being Rokuro, ranked second among the Lower Moons, Muzan was now completely disappointed with the Lower Moon demons.
Even if he tells us these things...
At this moment, Lower Moon Six Kamanue was just about to complain inwardly, but before his thought had fully formed in his mind, Muzan's next sentence immediately filled him with terror.
"'Even if he tells us these things...' And what then? Tell me," Muzan said, staring at Kamanue.
He can read my thoughts? This is bad.
Cold sweat dripped from Kamanue's face, and the fear in his heart was constantly increasing.
"What's so bad? Tell me!"
The veins on Muzan's face bulged, revealing an angry expression.
As long as he was close enough, he could easily read the thoughts of other demons. The further away he was, the more blurred his perception became, but he could still know their locations.