Chapter 41: Learned It All
"Fake Rainbow."
Tanjuro's figure suddenly became blurred, like a rainbow refracted under the sunlight, making it impossible to pin down.
This is an illusion created by using afterimages and high-speed movement.
"I see, using subtle changes in footwork to deceive the optic nerves, combined with the instantaneous burst of speed from breathing..."
The corner of Tatsu's mouth curled into a playful arc,
"Learned it."
Next came "Fire Wheel," "Burning Bones, Summer Sun," "Sunflower Thrust"...
Tanjuro danced tirelessly, the Hinokami Kagura unfolding in his hands like flowing water.
Tatsu was like an insatiable sponge, greedily absorbing it all.
His brain was like the most precise supercomputer,
deconstructing, analyzing, and reorganizing every movement of Tanjuro's, then branding it deep within his memory.
Not just imitating the movements, but understanding their essence.
He simulated the scene of himself swinging a blade in his mind.
If he were to perform this move, how should he apply force?
If facing a demon, how should he behead it?
Gradually, a faint aura began to emanate from Tatsu's body.
Though weak, that aura shared the same source as Tanjuro's—blazing and domineering.
Standing on the other side, Tanjiro was watching his father intently.
His dark red eyes were filled with seriousness, and his small hands unconsciously mimicked his father's movements.
For the young Tanjiro, he could not yet understand the heavy meaning behind this dance,
nor could he see through the principles of the sword within it like Tatsu.
He simply felt that the way his father danced was beautiful and solemn, making him feel at ease.
"Father's body is clearly so frail, why does he seem like a different person when he dances?"
"I must work hard too, I cannot let the family dance die out."
Time passed unknowingly, and the moon had already climbed to the middle of the sky.
Finally, Tanjuro completed the last form—"Flame Dance."
This was a double strike, first a vertical slash, followed immediately by a horizontal sweep.
With the completion of the final movement,
Tanjuro slowly withdrew his stance and let out a long breath.
Tanjuro turned around, the flush on his face quickly fading, replaced by his usual pallor.
But his eyes were exceptionally bright as he looked gently at his son standing nearby.
"Tanjiro."
"How was your learning today?"
Tanjiro snapped back to his senses and scratched his head sheepishly,
a somewhat honest smile appearing on his face, his eyes revealing a hint of clear-eyed naivety (in a positive sense).
"Um... well, Father."
Tanjiro blinked and said honestly,
"It feels about the same as before.
Some movements still feel very difficult, and my chest hurts a bit when I breathe."
Hearing this, Tanjuro was not disappointed; instead, he showed a kind smile.
He reached out and gently patted the top of Tanjiro's head.
"It's all right, Tanjiro."
Tanjuro said softly,
"As long as you remember with your heart and feel with your heart, you will understand one day.
Don't rush, take it slow."
He never forced or reproached him.
He knew well that although his son was exceptionally gifted, some things required the passage of time.
"Yes! Father!"
Tanjiro nodded vigorously, his gaze determined.
After comforting his son, Tanjuro turned his head, his gaze falling on Miss Kanae and Tatsu nearby.
There was a hint of inquiry and expectation in his eyes.
While dancing just now, he could keenly perceive two completely different gazes.
One gaze was full of curiosity and shock; that belonged to Kanae.
And the other gaze... was full of aggression and insight, as if it wanted to see right through his soul.
"Miss Kanae, Mr. Tatsu."
Tanjuro bowed slightly and asked politely,
"What are your impressions?"
Kanae took a deep breath to calm her excitement.
She took a step forward, her hands folded in front of her, with an elegant and appropriate smile on her face,
but the shock in the depths of her eyes could not be hidden.
"Mr. Tanjuro, it was truly amazing."
Kanae praised sincerely,
"Although I don't understand the mysteries within, I can feel a very blazing sensation.
It's like... like the sun is right before my eyes.
That vitality, that rhythm, it really opened my eyes."
She paused and shook her head with some regret:
"Unfortunately, I am dull-witted. Having only seen it once, I haven't learned any specific moves,
I've only remembered some general movement trajectories."
Kanae was telling the truth.
As a Hashira, her talent was naturally extremely high,
but Sun Breathing was, after all, the progenitor Breathing Style; its difficulty was beyond imagination and certainly not something that could be learned in one viewing.
Tanjuro nodded understandingly and said with a smile:
"Miss Kanae is too modest.
The Hinokami Kagura is something that requires years of practice to master; it's not the work of a single day."
Then, Tanjuro turned his gaze toward Tatsu.
The man who had been leaning against the tree trunk, silent.
"And Mr. Tatsu?"
Tanjuro asked, his tone seeming to carry an extra bit of solemnity.
Tatsu slowly stood up straight and stepped out from the shadows.
The moonlight shone on his peerlessly handsome face, making it look exceptionally pale.
"I've learned it all."
Tatsu calmly uttered those four words.
The air seemed to freeze at that moment.
"Eh?"
Kanae was stunned. Thinking she had misheard, she blinked her large eyes at Tatsu,
"Tatsu, what did you just say?"
Tanjiro also opened his mouth wide, looking at this big brother he had just met with disbelief.
Even the usually steady Tanjuro had his pupils contract slightly, and a look of astonishment appeared on his face.
"I said, I've learned it all."
Tatsu repeated once more, his tone still calm,
"All the movements, all the breathing rhythms, all the force-application techniques... I've remembered them all."
This was not arrogance, but fact.
With the help of [Astonishing Insight],
this set of sword techniques known as a legend
had already been deconstructed into the most basic mathematical formulas in his eyes; as long as the data was plugged in, it could be perfectly replicated.
"This... how is this possible?"
Kanae said, stuttering slightly,
"Tatsu, this is the Hinokami Kagura... and you only saw it once..."
It wasn't that she didn't believe Tatsu, but this truly exceeded the scope of her common sense.
Even the Stone Hashira, Himejima Gyoumei, who was known as a genius, couldn't possibly learn a completely new Breathing Style in one viewing, right?
Let alone the most difficult Sun Breathing.
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