"You should commit seppuku!"
"It's all your fault for letting that demon escape!"
"You are the sinner, the culprit of everything, you shouldn't even be alive in this world!"
What are you all saying?
"How could the Demon Slayer Corps have scum like you!"
In the darkness, countless faceless figures surrounded the one in the middle, pointing at him and spewing malicious words.
"No, don't! Don't…"
With that startled cry, Wan Mi suddenly awoke from his nightmare.
He gasped for breath, his eyes wide with terror as he looked around. Only after recognizing his familiar surroundings did he slowly come back to his senses, gradually feeling the cold and clammy sensation of his sweat-soaked body.
It was just a dream...
"Brother!"
A tender voice reached his ears, and a pair of small hands covered Wan Mi's calloused palm. Chitose asked with a face full of concern, "Brother, did you have a nightmare again?"
"...Mm."
Wan Mi was silent for a moment before nodding.
Chitose's small body came forward and hugged Wan Mi: "Brother, I'm here, don't be afraid."
Looking at his younger brother's tender face, Wan Mi's mood gradually calmed down.
The morning sun shone on his face, reminding him that a new day had begun.
"I have a mission, don't run around alone at home."
"I know, Brother, please be careful."
"Don't you know Brother's strength?"
After a simple wash-up, Wan Mi picked up the nichirin blade from the rack and walked out.
"Wait a moment, Brother."
Chitose ran over with a 'thump-thump-thump', stood on tiptoes, and hung an earring on Wan Mi's ear.
"Done!"
He stepped back with satisfaction: "That's better. I'm going to make rice balls. Brother, remember to ask Yoriichi-dono to come for dinner."
"Okay."
Wan Mi touched his ear, pushed open the door, and walked out.
Outside, the bustling Demon Slayer Corps members, Wan Mi's expression suddenly became a little dazed. He suddenly remembered the scene from his dream just now.
For some reason, the people pointing fingers at him in the dream were very similar to the people in front of him.
He shook his head, telling himself not to think too much.
Ever since he came to this world, he had been plagued by this nightmare for so many years.
Yes, Wan Mi was not from this world; he came from another world.
Seven years ago, he arrived in this unfamiliar ancient world.
Without parents, he only had his younger brother for company.
And he soon discovered that this world was not as simple as it appeared. There was a terrifying, man-eating creature called a Demon in this world.
His fate took a turn several years ago one night when a vicious Demon broke into his home, attempting to attack him and Chitose.
He was alerted in time and fought with the Demon.
However, that Demon could use a strange technique, which he later learned was called Blood Demon Art.
Naturally, he was no match for a Demon with Blood Demon Art and quickly found himself unable to hold on. Just then, a passing swordsman saved him and killed the Demon.
The swordsman who saved Wan Mi was called Tsugikuni Yoriichi, and he was now his master.
He later learned that Tsugikuni Yoriichi came from the Demon Slayer Corps, a civilian organization dedicated to slaying Demons.
And Tsugikuni Yoriichi was the strongest swordsman in the Demon Slayer Corps, as well as the creator of the Demon Slayer Corps' Breathing Technique.
To protect Chitose and ensure he would not be threatened by Demons in the future, Wan Mi followed Tsugikuni Yoriichi and joined the Demon Slayer Corps, becoming Tsugikuni Yoriichi's disciple.
And Wan Mi's talent had been extraordinary since the first time he held a nichirin blade.
From the moment he held the nichirin blade, everything in his eyes became transparent.
He could see the blood flow within a person's body, their bones and internal organs; he could even easily see a person's movements!
A swordsmanship that someone had painstakingly practiced for decades could be replicated by him with just one glance.
It was this terrifying talent of his that allowed him, in just a few short months, to go from someone who had never touched a nichirin blade to becoming a Pillar of the Demon Slayer Corps!
To become a Pillar meant being the strongest swordsman in the Demon Slayer Corps, the pillars of the Demon Slayer Corps.
And Wan Mi becoming a Pillar in just a few months caused quite a stir within the Demon Slayer Corps.
However, after witnessing Wan Mi's strength, any lingering doubts vanished without a trace.
Although Wan Mi had only been in the Demon Slayer Corps for a short time, the number of Demons he had killed was even more than those who had been in the Demon Slayer Corps for several years combined.
After becoming a Pillar, Wan Mi brought Chitose to the Demon Slayer Corps headquarters to settle down, because for him, there was no safer place than the Demon Slayer Corps headquarters.
Walking on the street, Demon Slayer Corps members who passed by Wan Mi all bowed their heads in greeting. Wan Mi's face showed no expression, only a faint nod in response.
The Demon Slayer Corps members looked at Wan Mi with reverence, but did not dare to approach.
After walking for a while, Wan Mi saw a lonely figure standing in the distance, as if waiting for something.
"You're here."
Hearing the voice, the figure turned around. The expression on that face was as calm as Wan Mi's, as if nothing in the world could stir any ripples in him, and there was nothing they cared about.
"Master."
Wan Mi respectfully called out.
This was indeed his Master, Tsugikuni Yoriichi.
"Let's go."
Tsugikuni Yoriichi turned and was about to leave.
"Master."
Wan Mi suddenly called out to Tsugikuni Yoriichi.
Tsugikuni Yoriichi stopped and looked at him calmly.
"Let's act separately this time."
Wan Mi said with a smile, "Every time I act with you, Master, there's nothing left for me to do when I see a Demon. After all, I am now a Pillar of the Demon Slayer Corps; I can't always hide behind you, Master."
"Okay."
"Then I'll go to our original mission area, and you, Master, will go somewhere else?"
"Mm."
Wan Mi was about to leave when Tsugikuni Yoriichi suddenly slashed at him with a nichirin blade.
"Clang!"
Wan Mi blocked the strike with the hilt of his nichirin blade: "Master?"
Tsugikuni Yoriichi retracted his nichirin blade and nodded gently: "Go."
Wan Mi smiled helplessly: "Master, are you not trusting me?"
Tsugikuni Yoriichi said nothing, only turned and left.
"Chitose made rice balls today, Master, remember to come home for dinner!"
Tsugikuni Yoriichi didn't look back, only raised his hand and waved.
"Honestly, they all say I'm aloof, but I think you're the truly aloof one."
Wan Mi shrugged and walked in the opposite direction.