Chapter 4 Training
From then on, You Xiaohun followed Xingjuro back to his residence. In order to facilitate training, he settled You Xiaohun in a small house next to his house.
The Demon Slayer Corps selection is imminent, time is running out, and training must begin without delay.
Before the first rays of sunlight penetrated the clouds in the morning, You Xiaohun had already begun her daily training in the courtyard. Kyojuro firmly believed that a strong physique was the foundation of combat, so physical training was given top priority.
"Breathing techniques are a secret skill unique to the Demon Slayer Corps, and are also the key to improving physical fitness." Kyojuro's voice was steady and powerful. He personally demonstrated the basic principles of breathing techniques, which are a type of breathing technique that resonates with nature and can stimulate potential within the body.
You Xiaohun followed closely behind, trying hard to imitate every movement. At first, she made slow progress because she didn't know the key points.
Moreover, her brother-in-law was very busy. He had to carry out missions at night and take time to train her during the day. You Xiaohun didn't want to disturb her brother-in-law's rest often, so most of the time she figured it out on her own.
Later, during her training, she unexpectedly discovered that when she meditated and combined her breathing techniques with her unique understanding of the spiritual energy of heaven and earth, each breath resonated with nature, greatly improving the efficiency of absorbing and transforming spiritual energy. Moreover, after each meditation session, she felt refreshed, even better than a deep sleep.
So, she began meditating instead of sleeping. As time went on, You Xiaohun not only became more proficient in her breathing technique, but she even created her own—Spirit Breathing. (This is really a bit of a middle school kid, but never mind, I won't yell it out anyway!)
In addition to breathing exercises, there are also high-intensity physical training courses: weighted long-distance running, rock climbing, jumping obstacles... Each one tests You Xiaohun's endurance and explosive power.
Whenever she felt overwhelmed and wanted to slack off, Kyojuro's determined eyes and encouraging words became her motivation to persevere.
In addition to physical training, swordsmanship is equally important. As the pillar of the Demon Slayer Corps and the strongest fighting force of the Demon Slayer Corps, Kyojuro's swordsmanship is so superb that even You Xiaohun is amazed.
"The sword is the second life of the Demon Slayer Corps!" Kyojuro said. "Although you are good at using Taoist swords to kill demons, the basic posture of swordsmanship, the power and angle of the sword can be flexibly adjusted according to different enemies."
"Hmm! You're a complete novice when it comes to this basic convenience! Be prepared for some training!"
"Actually, you're quite talented. If you can get rid of your bad habit of laziness, your abilities will definitely improve. Hahaha!"
You Xiaohun had no choice but to accept reality and train seriously.
You Xiaohun held the wooden sword and repeated the actions of chopping, slashing and stabbing again and again. From the initial clumsiness to the later fluency, every progress was the result of sweat and hard work.
Tactical training is even more complex and varied. Kyojuro uses simulated combat scenarios to teach You Xiaohun how to observe enemy movements, determine their attack intentions, and develop the most effective response strategies.
He also emphasized the importance of teamwork, and taught You Xiaohun how to play to his strengths in the team, cooperate with teammates, and fight against strong enemies together.
Although his brother-in-law seems approachable and easy to talk to, You Xiaohun is actually a little afraid of him.
During training, if she even had the slightest thought of slacking off, he would notice, and the consequence would be...
"Sister! You're distracted again!" Kyojuro said seriously, "Distracting yourself during a battle is a big no-no!"
Kyojuro swung the wooden sword at her again, and the attack became more and more fierce. You Xiaohun could hardly withstand it!
"Hmm! It seems that my stepsister's training isn't intense enough. She's even distracted by other things. I'll continue to train harder today!"
"Although your Taoist magic is marvelous, close combat is your weakness. Once someone gets close to you, it's going to be very bad! Hahaha!"
Seeing this, You Xiaohun had no choice but to use his ultimate move and pretend to faint: "Woo! Brother, the sun is a bit strong today~ I think I might have a little heatstroke."
Kyojuro looked at her with bright eyes and a smile. "Hmm! That's right. Then we'll have extra training at night! No rest until dawn! Come on, girl!"
"Ah hey hey~~" You Xiaohun couldn't believe that his brother-in-law was so cruel.
......
Time flies, and You Xiaohun gradually grows up under Kyojuro's training.
"Ah! Good morning, Sister Xiaohun, you came early today too." The speaker was Kyojuro's younger brother, Rengoku Chijuro.
Although Chijuro's hairstyle and face are very similar to his adopted brother, his personality is completely different from his adopted brother. He is a shy and well-behaved mini version of his adopted brother, so cute! You Xiaohun smiled in his heart.
You Xiaohun nodded and smiled at Qianshoulang, extending her hand: "Mm~ Good morning, Qianshoulang, look! What did Sister Xiaohun bring you?"
Chijuro blushed slightly and said, "Konpeito? Sister Soul, I'm not a child anymore."
Although he said this, he honestly took the candy with his hands. You Xiaohun knew that he actually liked sweets very much.
You Xiaohun smiled and touched his head: "Yes, yes, our Qian Shoulang has grown up and can already stand on his own."
"Hmm! I was just about to look for you, and here you are, my sister." Kyojuro's voice was filled with his usual vigor.
It is true that one hears the voice before seeing the person. You Xiaohun and Qian Shoulang smiled at each other and looked in the direction where the voice came from at the same time.
You Xiaohun ran over with brisk steps: "Good morning, brother! Are you okay? Have the injuries you suffered that day healed? Do you still need my help with treatment?"
Hearing this, Kyojuro laughed heartily: "Hahaha! It's just some minor injuries. It's really my fault as a brother to make my sister worry! Don't worry, there's nothing wrong now!"
"Actually, today I wanted to tell my sister that the selection date has been set!"
"The final selection took place on Fujisho Mountain, a place controlled by the Demon Slayer Corps and inhabited by demons. The mountain is surrounded by wisteria flowers, which demons hate, so the demons on the mountain cannot escape to the outside world and cause harm to humans."
"To qualify, you must survive seven days in Fujiki Mountain, where demons lurk. The demons here, imprisoned for so long and unable to feed on human flesh, will attack any swordsman who arrives with all their might, and will compete with each other for prey."
"It's worth noting that the qualification criteria for selection is not necessarily to hunt a certain number of ghosts, but to survive for seven days. This means that you can protect yourself through various strategies, including hiding, calculation, and even cooperation."
"So you need to leverage your past training to counteract these threats."
You Xiaohun's eyes sparkled, and he answered firmly, "Brother, don't worry, I will do my best. Just wait for my good news!"
Qian Shoulang looked at her, a trace of worry flashing in his eyes. He gently pulled You Xiaohun's sleeve and said, "Sister Xiaohun, you must come back safely!"
You Xiaohun smiled gently: "Mm-hmm! Of course!"
......
Finally, the day of selection arrived. You Xiaohun stood at the entrance of Tengxi Mountain, gazing at the mysterious land surrounded by wisteria flowers.
In the next seven days, she will not only have to fight against ferocious evil spirits, but also face harsh natural environment and extreme challenges to her body and mind.
She took a deep breath, adjusted her state, and then resolutely stepped into this forest full of unknowns.
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