Chapter 202: Characteristics
They had been drawn over by the commotion just now.
"What was that sound? I could hear it even from my room!"
"Exactly! Exactly! I was pouring water for a patient when a sudden gust of wind came through and spilled all of it."
"Big Sister Aoi, you're here too?"
The three little girls were describing what they had experienced when they noticed Kanzaki Aoi standing nearby.
Aoi said helplessly, "I just wanted to find out where that powerful gust came from. It blew away all the bedsheets I'd just finished hanging up..."
Hearing that, the three girls looked at her sympathetically.
How tragic.
The group waited in the courtyard.
When they saw Ren carrying Kanao down, they immediately understood what had happened.
"Disperse, disperse! If it's Mr. Ren, then everything is fine."
"Mr. Ren, remember to tell us next time that Big Sister Aoi's clothes were blown away by the wind."
After Ren landed, he listened to the girls' complaints.
He looked rather embarrassed.
After reassuring them several times, the girls finally dispersed gracefully.
"Ren, did I cause trouble?"
Kanao asked with a remorseful expression.
"Don't think too much about it."
Ren waved his hand, telling Kanao not to dwell on the matter.
"But you were scolded because of me."
Kanao still wanted to say something, but Ren quickly redirected the conversation.
"Let me explain the problem you encountered just now. Do you want to hear it?"
"Yes."
Kanao immediately closed her mouth and obediently looked at Ren.
"Your Breathing technique itself had no problem just now."
"The main issue was that your Nichirin sword isn't particularly well suited to you anymore, so you're having some difficulty controlling your strength."
"Mm."
Kanao obediently nodded.
What Ren had said really was the problem troubling her most urgently at present.
"Then there were also some mistakes in your movements."
As soon as he finished speaking, Ren took her hand and directly guided her through the motions one-on-one.
"This is how you swing a Nichirin sword."
Holding Kanao's hand, Ren slowly guided her through the movements.
Kanao's comprehension wasn't poor at all. She quickly understood what Ren meant.
Her improvement was remarkably fast.
Time passed quickly.
Half an hour vanished in the blink of an eye.
Kanao had already corrected every incorrect movement Ren had pointed out.
Now it was time to teach her a Breathing technique.
At this moment, Kanao couldn't help feeling nervous again.
Although Ren had reassured her, she still couldn't suppress her nervousness.
There was even a trace of excitement mixed into it.
Once she learned that she could practice two different Breathing techniques, who could possibly remain completely calm?
Under Kanao's expectant gaze, Ren slowly asked,
"Kanao, do you know what the King of Flowers is?"
Kanao shook her head.
"I don't know."
Ren slowly explained.
"The Breathing technique most suited to you really is Flower Breathing. However, Flower Breathing still needs to be refined, because not every flower is suitable for you."
Kanao was somewhat confused.
"Ren, what do you mean?"
Ren asked, "What forms does Flower Breathing have?"
Kanao thought for a moment before answering.
"Flower Breathing, Second Form: Honorable Shadow Plum. Fourth Form: Crimson Hanagoromo. Fifth Form: Peonies of Futility. Sixth Form: Whirling Peach. And the Final Form: Equinoctial Vermilion Eye."
Ren nodded.
"That's right."
"Flower Breathing, Second Form: Honorable Shadow Plum. Slashes are released in all directions, scattering like plum blossoms to disperse the enemy's attacks."
"Flower Breathing, Fourth Form: Crimson Hanagoromo. A special twisting slash is released from below, its trajectory as beautiful as the flowing hem of a feathered robe. It is both elegant and powerful."
"Flower Breathing, Fifth Form: Peonies of Futility. Nine consecutive attacks are launched in an instant, the trajectories of the blade as beautiful as blooming peonies. This technique possesses the greatest area of effect among the forms."
"Flower Breathing, Sixth Form: Whirling Peach. The user twists their body in midair while unleashing a spiraling horizontal slash, pink petals seeming to drift down alongside the blade."
"Flower Breathing, Final Form: Equinoctial Vermilion Eye. By placing extreme strain on the eyes, dynamic vision is pushed to its absolute limit, allowing the user to see through every attack. However, using this technique carries the risk of blindness."
Ren continued explaining.
"These techniques are quite comprehensive. When you first began learning, they really were the most suitable techniques for you."
"But now..."
Ren's tone changed.
"Now that your strength has increased, although your previous techniques are still usable, their weaknesses have also become apparent."
"Excess energy."
Kanao listened seriously, nodding from time to time.
Ren's words were firm and encouraging.
"Kanao's strength has increased. Naturally, we should make use of that advantage. That's why the Flower Breathing you used before is no longer quite suitable for you."
"And the King of Flowers I mentioned earlier is meant to guide you toward developing a Breathing technique based on the characteristics of different flowers."
"Different characteristics?"
Kanao fell into thought.
Ren continued.
"For example, roses, peonies, tree peonies, and so on. We can use the unique characteristics of different flowers to develop different techniques."
Just now, Ren had used his Domain of Time to analyze Kanao's movements frame by frame.
That was how he had discovered this possibility.
Ren pointed toward the flowers growing in the courtyard.
"For example, the King of Flowers—the peony."
"The peony is renowned for its beauty and rich fragrance. Its large, gorgeous blossoms, graceful form, and noble, elegant appearance have made it a symbol of peace, happiness, and prosperity since ancient times."
"Its flowers are brilliantly colored, its petals gleaming like jade, while its fragrance is rich and sweet like pearls. Elegant yet unrestrained, it therefore earned the title of 'King of Flowers.'"
With a soft whoosh, Ren suddenly drew his sword.
His lungs expanded slightly.
"Total Concentration!"
In an instant, countless techniques Ren had used in the past resurfaced in his mind and were broken down into their individual components.
Finally, the movements of a new technique slowly took shape in his mind.
"Flower Breathing, First Form: Gorgeous Peony!"
The tip of the blade spun, gently lifting a medium-sized flower into the air and sending it dancing gracefully.
Its vivid colors and delicate fragrance evoked the beauty of jade and pearls, giving off an exquisite, elegant aura.
It was a peony.
"So this is the King of Flowers?"
Kanao murmured softly before slowly lowering her head.
Seeing this, Ren didn't interrupt her.
He knew that Kanao had already begun thinking.
All he needed to do now was wait for her to finish and see what conclusion she reached.
Kanao quietly contemplated.
Ren silently waited beside her.
About five minutes later—
Kanao slowly opened her eyes.
A powerful aura suddenly erupted from within her body.
She leaped into the air.
Under the sunlight, the shadows scattered across the courtyard floor were mottled and sparse.
The girl dressed in a pure-white haori looked almost like an elf beneath the sunlight.
"Flower Breathing, Fifth Form: Peonies of Futility."
Ren immediately realized what Kanao was about to do.
This technique was designed to launch nine consecutive attacks in an instant, the trajectories of the blade graceful like blooming peonies.