fictional spring

I lost to Ji Guo Yan Sheng.

The moment the wooden knife in my hand was knocked down, I heard other people exclaiming in a low voice, as if they were very inconceivable about such a result.

Such a reaction made me suddenly realize that perhaps in their view, my strength should be higher than Ji Guo Yan Sheng.

I don't know when my performance made them think this way, and I don't understand why they regard me as a stronger swordsman than Ji Guo Yan Sheng.

The actual situation is that I was defeated by him during the first sparring session.

When picking up the wooden knife from the ground, other pillars also came to the courtyard, and their footsteps got closer, followed by the sound of talking.

"It doesn't matter, it's just a swordsmanship competition, Mutsuki will work harder next time..."

Probably my expressionless face misunderstood others and made them think that I was sad about such an ending, so I tried to comfort me with this explanation, telling me that the discussion between the pillars is not something worth taking to heart big event.

But when Yan Zhu stood in front of me and explained like this, I caught a glimpse of Ji Guo Yan Sheng's increasingly ugly face.

It was obvious that the sparring had ended, but he clenched his knife handle tightly and looked at me with such a deep and complicated expression—this time, the others also saw his strangeness.

"Yan Sheng, what's wrong with you?"

After someone asked this sentence, Ji Guoyan Sheng's words, which were blocked in his throat, were poured out like □□□.

He seemed to be gnashing his teeth, and the volume was not loud, but the emotions contained in it were enough to make everyone stunned.

"You didn't try your best!"

This sentence was spoken to me.

I don't know why Yan Sheng felt this way, but what I do know is, "I have used my maximum strength."

This is my interpretation.

But such an answer did not satisfy Yan Sheng, it could even be said to add fuel to the fire, making his anger burn his reason even more violently.

At this time, Feng Zhu and Lei Zhu also joined the persuasion team. They tried to appease Yan Sheng's emotions, but they didn't hear a single word.

Ji Guo Yan Sheng wants to compete with me again.

He said to me, "What I want to see is your full strength."

Not just "maximum power".

Ji Guoyan Sheng caught the loopholes in my words, and then exposed my lies.

I just don't think it's necessary to do that.

When using water breathing, the maximum power I can use is only so much. Compared with other pillars that are constantly improving, the water breathing that stays at that time without any progress will only be repeated day by day. The day is downwind.

But my role in the Ghost Killing Squad is Water Column, so until the next Water Column is born, I should fulfill my duties and keep the position I took over from Master Yuanshan and Master Lord.

But Yan Sheng may not be able to understand my mood, because in his view, I deliberately did not show my true strength-because I did not regard him as an opponent, so I would not take him seriously.

The sharp sword style fell, even if most of it was removed with a wooden knife, it made my tiger's mouth start to go numb.

I am not good at protracted battles, and I am well aware of that.Not only that, my breathing method can't last for a long time like other swordsmen - they can continue to maintain this operation even when they are asleep.

But I can't do it.

The water column I saw was just a water column that used the breath of water to fight in front of me. The way of breathing during battle is very different from the way of normal breathing. It is extremely difficult to maintain the breathing state during battle. things.

So I choose to stop water breathing more often—when I don't need to fight, so as not to affect the next use.

The consequence of doing so is that when returning to a normal state, the body will be weaker than before.

Although I have never shown a weak appearance in front of other pillars, and I have deliberately told the children of Butterfly House not to tell others about this matter, it is an indisputable fact that my body is deteriorating day by day.

And this is definitely not what Yan Sheng wants to see and hear.

I don't know if he has any opinion on me, but the intertwined eyes when we meet by chance on weekdays, it seems that it is indeed not very kind, but we don't have much contact with each other, so I have never taken it to heart.

but now……

He won't let it go easily, as long as he still thinks that I haven't tried my best, even if this "discussion" ends here, he will definitely be obsessed with this problem in the future.

So I switched the breathing method.

This is the first time I have used other breaths except water breath, but just like the first time I used water breath, there is no feeling of unfamiliarity in using other breaths, as if I have used it thousands of times and I am proficient in my heart.

I use the breath of the sun.

It only took one knife, just one knife with all its strength, and cut off the wooden knife in Yan Sheng's hand.

When the wooden blade fell to the ground, I didn't know how other people reacted, but the shock on Yan Sheng's face completely fell into my eyes.

"excuse me."

I put down the wooden knife in my hand.

Yan Sheng's expression suddenly became extremely strange, as if he had seen something extremely terrifying, and also seemed to feel some kind of sadness spontaneously, his eyes seemed ferocious and helpless, but in the end they all returned to calm.

Nothing can be seen there.

So I looked away, and looked at Enichi who was just standing on the veranda from the beginning to the end.

His eyes passed through the other pillars in front of me, and met my eyes in the air. At that moment, I saw the expression on his face—it was half gratified and half lucky, which made people feel a little false.

This doesn't look like Ji Guoyuan will ever have.

Although my mind was occupied by this thought, when the other pillars gathered around me and asked me how I learned the breath of the sun, I still answered them.

"Always always will."

On the same day, the day I saw Breath of Water, I also saw Breath of the Sun.

As early as that day, I already knew the breathing method of the sun's breath.

But this kind of statement made other people fall into silence, and the eyes that looked at me seemed to become distant in an instant—that was the same look that I often saw when they looked at Yuanyi.

My position seems to have changed in an instant, from an ordinary pillar to an existence like Yuanyi who can't be integrated with them, because I am the only one who can also use the sun besides Jiguo Yuanyi Breathing swordsman.

"It's very difficult to master this kind of breathing," Yan Zhu said to me: "Mu Yue, you have a talent that none of us have, so if anyone can understand Yuan Yi's feelings, I'm afraid it's only you."

I don't really agree with his statement, because even other people, those who can still be regarded as ordinary human beings in their eyes, will always be puzzled by many people.

Then it is not uncommon for Yuanyi to be unable to blend in with the crowd.

After dinner that day, I sat on the porch to watch the moon.

The full moon hangs high, casting faint moonlight on the dark ground. The evening wind is mixed with fine wisteria petals. Occasionally, a few of them fall on the hem of my clothes, but I don't pay much attention to them.

Yuanyi sat beside me at some point.

"During the day, elder brother said very excessive things to you." Yuan Yi suddenly said, and said to me in an unprofessional tone: "I'm sorry."

It was enough for me to be surprised that he could say such a thing, but what I didn't even expect was that he didn't leave immediately after saying this.

All that passes between us is silence.

After some time, I broke the silence and asked, "Do you like the moon?"

Yuan Yi raised his face and looked at the sky, but did not answer.

Seeing this, I said to him: "In fact, I seldom come out to look at the moon."

"When I was living in the city lord's mansion, I had the experience of being seriously ill because the barrier door was opened a little at night, so since then, my lord mother forbade me to open the barrier door on a windy night. The door. It’s also because of my body, so I can’t go out at will during the day when the weather is too good. It’s rare for me to go out to breathe, and it’s rare for me to go out to breathe, and it’s rare for me to have a good temperature and beautiful scenery at night.”

"It is a very happy thing to be able to see such a beautiful moonlight."

After I said such words, the red-haired swordsman looked a little dazed.

Just when I thought he would just keep silent like this, he opened his mouth to talk about his own affairs.

"I used to take a happy life for granted. When I opened my eyes, I could see the person I cherish and live in a small house with the person I like. Feeling happiness is something that can be done by raising your hand."

His voice was calm, but there was a bottomless sadness hidden in that calmness.

What I heard about Yuanyi from the lord suddenly made me match his image at this moment.

In my impression, Yuanyi is strong and calm, but in his own eyes, he is not like that.

"I failed to protect what I cherished, and I failed to keep such ordinary happiness. There are many beautiful and gentle existences in this world, and there are also many people who live happily together."

Yuan Yi said softly: "But because of the existence of ghosts, many people's happiness has been taken away."

It stands to reason that I should quietly listen to what he wants to say at this time, or give him some comfort, or go along with his words.

But for some reason, I suddenly said, "Is this why you became a ghost hunter?"

Yuanyi didn't answer this question, and didn't continue his topic, but suddenly turned his face, looked at me and said: "Most people in the ghost killing team have lost their happiness because of ghosts, so they are here. Will join the team of hunting ghosts."

"Just like you, the number of ghost killers who also lost their families has been increasing."

Yuanyi looked at me and said, "What is your wish?"

At this moment, I suddenly didn't know what to say.

It was probably because I was silent for too long that Yuanyi thought of something by himself. By the time I realized it, he had already looked away and continued to look at the high hanging full moon.

I saw his pair of Sunrise flower earrings.

"Is this a gift from the family?"

For some reason, I asked this question.

"My mother is a devout believer. This is the amulet she made when I was young to let the god of the sun bless me who is deaf."

After hearing such an explanation, I suddenly thought of my mother.

In my memory, she will always bury her true sadness in her heart, and show a forced smile in front of me.

Although I am not a believer, in the past, my mother would often invite priests and monks for me to perform rituals such as apologetics or praying for blessings, because she wanted to make me healthy when I was not in good health.

Also to make me a little bit happier, she brought back the lizi for me, and hoped that I would have the "friends" that everyone else has.

After listening to my words, Yuan Yi cast a deep look at me, and he asked me: "Do you want to kill him? Gui Wu Tsuji Wu Mi."

Under those gazes, I nodded involuntarily, opened my mouth but did not speak.

Everyone, not only the other pillars in the Demon Slayer Squad, including Enichi, as well as the children of Choya, thought that I hated Kimai Tsuji as much as anyone else.

The family was taken away, the original life was destroyed, and the happiness that was at hand disappeared-my hatred for Kimai Tsuji is absolutely no less than anyone else.

Everyone thinks so.

Yuanyi's eyes still fell on me, and he said to me: "If it were you, I would definitely be able to do it."

Being able to get such recognition is not something to be thankful for me. Yuan's evaluation of me caught me off guard.

"Why...you say that?"

I can't understand why Yuanyi said this.

Is it because he saw that I also used the Breath of the Sun today?

Hearing my question, Yuanyi replied: "Because you have it too, those things that you don't want to lose no matter what, they are more important than life."

I suddenly understood Yuanyi's intention.

What he wanted to tell me was that just because the ghosts took these things away and everything was destroyed by Kiwu Tsuji, the hatred that ignited from the bottom of his heart would keep driving him forward until Kiwu Tsuji was killed. He will not stop until the day of killing comes.

but……

I suddenly remembered what happened before that, before Onimai Tsuji Muyou did anything, there was a nobleman from Kyoto who wanted to marry me.

In Yuanyi's mouth, those things that he is unwilling to lose no matter what, are his wife who has lived with him for many years, and the child who was killed before it was born.

"I've been engaged to one too."

Like a ghost, I mentioned that matter to Yuanyi.Although it was like a joke, even as soon as he agreed, his father regretted the canceled engagement.

But at that time, the wedding date that should have been set was exactly this time.

"At that time, I was looking forward to the coming of the Spring Festival."

I spent the Spring Festival this year in the maternity house, and the lord and other pillars also gathered together, including most of the members of the ghost slaying team. This is a rare and lively scene.

But at that time, I didn't see Yuanyi's figure in the lively crowd, and subconsciously walked out to look for him, but what I saw was Yuanyi sitting alone on the porch.

At that time, I was also like now, sitting side by side with him, looking at the unreachable bright moon - such a distant distance, just like those cherished things that are no longer accessible.

But then neither of us spoke or even looked at each other, we just sat in silence until someone else showed up and broke the silence.

That was Yan Sheng who also came to look for Yuanyi.

Maybe that's why Yan Sheng doesn't like me.

But now I don't think too much about what happened at that time, Yuanyi listened to me quietly, didn't make a sound, just waiting for my next words.

I told him, "At that time, the priestess disguised as Miko Onimai Tsuji was still regarded as my most important friend."

Yuan Yi's eyes suddenly changed.

"But at that time..."

He only talked here, and he didn't go on, because we all know the result later.

Guiwu Tsuji Mumi exposed his identity, and then in front of me—he killed my family with his own hands in front of me.

I justifiably hated him.

But just as he was thinking this way, the breath of the sun also stopped.

My skin suddenly felt a chill, followed by a constant itching in my throat, I coughed uncontrollably, and my mind became a little dizzy.

The appearance of covering my mouth and coughing is not good, I was about to tell Yuanyi and go back to the room first, but when I couldn't react, something was suddenly hung on the earlobe.

I subconsciously reached out and touched it—it was a pair of earrings.

Under Yuanyi's earlobe, the pair of flower earrings are no longer there.

I couldn't help but froze for a moment, not quite understanding his intentions.

"This is the amulet my mother gave me, but I think you need this blessing more than I do at this time."

That's what Yuanyi told me.

I have no reason to refuse.

because he is so...

Hope I can realize my wish.

To fulfill that wish—to kill Onimai Tsuji Mumi, who took everything from me and destroyed everything from me, with my own hands.

For this purpose, I must not fall down before the day when I see Tsuji Mumi again.

Maybe there are psychological factors added, or the flower earrings given by Yuanyi played a role, my body seems to have really improved.

But the more intuitive change is that on my forehead, I don't know when it climbed up with red spots.

At the beginning, it was covered by the broken hair on the forehead, so no changes could be noticed. It was not until it gradually |expanded day after day that people noticed its existence.

The other pillars in the Demon Slayer Squad were very surprised by this, but after me, other pillars also had spots on their faces one after another.

But what followed was a piece of news that could not be called good news—the swordsmen who gave birth to stripes would not live to be 25 years old.

This kind of news is not groundless, but a fact admitted by Yuan Yi himself.

Because you have eyes that can see through the world, you can even see the changes in everyone's body and the impact.

But I don't think it would be unacceptable to die before the age of 25. I even feel that 25 years old seems a bit long for me.

But others may not see it that way.

I heard the conversation between Yuanyi and Yan Sheng. When Yan Sheng was lamenting that after their death, such powerful swordsmanship would probably be lost due to no one learning it, Yuanyi was very calm.

He doesn't care whether the sword technique will be lost or whether the breathing method can continue, he just thinks——

Even if they all die one day, stronger and better people will be born.

Yuan Yi and Yan Sheng have never had the same thoughts.

I suddenly felt so.

Because the day after Yuanyi gave me the flower Zha earrings, when I met Yan Sheng, I noticed his eyes fixed on the bottom of my earlobe.

Mixed with obvious astonishment and bewilderment, he looked as if he wanted to ask the reason but hesitated to speak.

Finally asked out.

I told him: "It was given to me by Yuanyi."

Hearing this, Yan Sheng's expression changed obviously. He seemed to have suddenly remembered something, and his brows were tightly furrowed. After a while.

"you……"

I opened my eyes wide, trying to guess what he wanted to ask.But Yan Sheng only said these few words, as if he couldn't say anything, and fell into a long silence.

It wasn't until the other pillars passed by us and saw the teasing smile on the flower earrings on my ears that I suddenly realized that maybe what Yan Sheng wanted to ask was the same question.

I want to explain.

Because these are the amulets that Yuanyi's mother made for him when he was young, and Yuanyi felt that I needed such blessings more, so he gave them to me...

As soon as I said this, everyone's eyes became more meaningful, and they even asked me if I had any plans for the date.

I was silent for a moment, but I still wanted to continue explaining.

Not for Yuanyi, but also for myself.

But if I wanted to explain clearly to them, I had to tell them about my physical condition. In addition, there were a lot of tasks during that time, which delayed the opportunity to explain a lot.

But if I knew that this explanation, which was not heard by Yan Sheng, might lead to such consequences, then I would take the time to solve it anyway.

Because not long after that, news came back to the Demon Slayer Team——the user of Moon Breath, as Yuezhu's successor Yan Sheng, became a ghost.

To be honest, everyone in the Ghost Killing Squad did not believe the news for the first time, and even wondered if there was something wrong with the crow, or where the strange voice was misrepresented...

But such self-deceiving doubts were wiped out in another pillar-level meeting.The lord told us personally that when Ji Guoyan Sheng went out to perform a mission a few days ago, he met Guiwu Tsuji Wumi, but when he was fighting with him...

Suddenly stopped the confrontational scene, and accepted the opponent's blood instead.

The only ancestor of ghosts who can turn people into ghosts, he endowed the swordsman of the ghost killing team with his own blood, turning them into his own kind.

After the lord finished speaking, without thinking at all, I looked in Yuanyi's direction.

Like us, he also maintained a half-kneeling posture, with a calm expression on his face, but an unusual feeling emanated from his body.

Seemingly angry and sad, full of indescribable incomprehension and pain, it is impossible for anyone to maintain peace of mind after hearing such news.

That night, Yuanyi told me one thing.