I faced the two in front of me and flashed in front of Yoriichi Tsugikuni. I crossed my fingers, letting my sharp nails block his Nichirin sword. One demon leaped toward Tanjiro, and the other tried to attack Yoriichi from behind—but Yoriichi kicked it away effortlessly.
"What exactly do you want?" Yoriichi asked calmly.
I sneered. My eyes flickered as I twisted my arms, cutting off my hands and stepping back. My body formed a triangle with the ground as the base, my new hands coordinating with my waist and legs. My left arm pulled back like an elbow, my right tilted forward like a fist.
Yoriichi stepped forward instantly. Using the momentum from retracting his right hand, he thrust his shoulder forward. My left elbow struck toward his chest.
The classic starting stance of Bajiquan—Liang Yi Stance and Ding Xin Elbow.
Yoriichi twisted his wrist, blocking the strike. The blade met his chest, but he was thrown back ten meters, leaving a long scratch across the snow.
He steadied himself, gripping his Nichirin Sword, though it trembled and his palm went numb.
"Strange moves…" he muttered.
I blinked, surprised he blocked me. Even Kokushibo hadn't reacted that fast. I started thinking of my next move when Tanjiro appeared behind me, yelling and charging with his axe.
I dodged sideways, pressed his wrists with my left hand, pushed his elbow with my right, blocked his heel with my foot, and tossed him toward Yoriichi. Yoriichi caught Tanjiro mid-air with both hands.
That was close. If he hadn't held back, Tanjiro's arm would've broken… How did he get here so fast?
I turned to see the demon that had leaped at Tanjiro—its head was pinned to a tree with an axe, twitching as the Kamado family pelted it with stones.
What a loser… Can't even do vampire magic.
I looked at the two in front of me again. They really looked alike—one calm, one full of anger.
Finally, I acted like a man for once. If I pretend again, I'm done.
╭(￣▽￣)╮
I lunged at Yoriichi. Sharp nails sprouted from my hands, and I reached him in an instant. The ghost Yoriichi had just kicked away appeared behind him.
Yoriichi's eyes flickered. He pushed Tanjiro away and held his Nichirin Sword ready.
"Third Form: Blazing Red Mirror!"
His Sun Wheel Sword ignited with red flames—white at the core. Two slashes appeared: one in front of me, one in front of the ghost.
I stepped back just in time, barely avoiding the front slash. My arm got scratched, but it was better than losing my head. The ghost wasn't so lucky—its head was cut off, turning to ash instantly.
Infinite City
"Teleport me to… Lord Muzan's location."
Kokushibo stood before Mingnu, expressionless as ever. Naruto sat nearby, helpless. Mingnu had warned that disturbing Muzan was impossible, yet Kokushibo kept pressing. Finally, she plucked the zither strings, and Kokushibo vanished instantly.
"Almost time…"
I tried to contact Mingnu for a teleport back to Wireless City, but a black shadow flashed before my eyes. A familiar smell hit me, and I frowned.
"What are you doing here? Didn't I tell you not to disturb me?"
Kokushibo ignored me. He removed his haori and wrapped me tightly, nearly covering my head.
"You… forget it. Go back first," he said.
Just as I tried to tell Mingnu to teleport us, Kokushibo drew his Nichirin Sword, glaring at Yoriichi.
"My Lord, I…"
Perfect. If Kokushibo and Yoriichi fight, I don't have to do anything. He won't listen to reason, so I'll be cruel instead.
"If you go, you won't stay a top-stringer!"
Kokushibo's body trembled. He slowly sheathed his sword but kept glaring at Yoriichi.
Before I could be teleported back, I looked at Yoriichi and Tanjiro. Yoriichi stayed calm as ever, but Tanjiro's red eyes burned with rage.
"Hmph… I won't let you protect them forever," I muttered.
Tanjiro roared, "Don't touch my family! No matter where you are, I'll kill you!"
I sneered, ignoring him. I turned to the Kamados, and froze when I saw a pair of pink eyes.
Damn it! Forgot to turn her into a ghost!
I had no time. The pipa's music began, and my vision blurred. At the critical moment, I cut my hand, letting blood flow into a thorn that flew toward Nezuko.
Her arm was scratched. The blood was minimal, but it would turn her into a ghost.
Close call… The plan is complete. At least my efforts weren't wasted…
Because the Kamado family's house had collapsed, Tanjiro was reluctant to leave. After all, it had been passed down for generations. But if they didn't find shelter from the snow and freezing cold, they wouldn't last long. He decided to move into the crowded town area, even though he worried about ghosts attacking his family again.
Nezuko, now a demon, couldn't stay around people. So Tanjiro joined the Demon Slayer Corps—to turn his sister back into a human and to hunt down the demon that destroyed their family.
Tanjiro asked Yoriichi Tsugikuni to train him in killing demons. Yoriichi refused at first, but Tanjiro's determination didn't let him take no for an answer. After all, he was a descendant of Yoriichi's good friend, Tankichi. So Tanjiro and Nezuko said goodbye to their family and went to a small wooden house in the mountains to start training, while Nezuko fell into a deep sleep.
Infinite City
I had returned to my original form. This time, I wasn't sitting in a rocking chair, but on a simple wooden stool, a red leather-bound book in my hands. Beside me, a girl played the piano softly. I leaned against the window and watched the dark clouds slowly part, letting sunlight bloom across the room.
"It's a nice day today, isn't it?" I whispered. My voice was quiet, but it carried everywhere.
"I think so too," came Kokushibo's voice—but it didn't come from beside me. It came from above.
He was tied up like a mummy, bandages wrapping his body tightly, leaving only his head exposed. His feet were tied with a long rope, suspending him upside down from the ceiling.
This was his punishment for ignoring my orders. I had told him not to disturb me, but he came anyway. After returning to the Infinite Castle, I asked why he came. He didn't answer, so I hung him from the ceiling.
Nearby, a thin rope dangled from the roof—who it belonged to was obvious. That person had been hung for just a day, while Kokushibo had been up there for a week.
I lowered my gaze to my book again. After finishing a page, I folded the corner, closed it, and set it on the table. I picked up something like a dart and twirled it in my hand.
Glancing up at Kokushibo, I waved, tossed the dart, and cut the rope in one throw.
Boom!
Kokushibo fell, uninjured, though the bandages on his body scattered. He didn't rise immediately, kneeling instead. I looked at him coldly.
"Do you understand what you did wrong?" I asked.
"My subordinate realizes his mistake," he replied.
"What mistake?" I pressed.
"…"
After a brief exchange, I tossed him a blood bag from the table, signaling he could stand.
"If there's a next time, I won't hesitate to squeeze you to death." My words were heavy, each one landing like a hammer on his heart. Of course, this warning was for Naruto too.
Mingnu's chest tightened, and she knelt instantly.
"Lord Muzan, I'm so sorry! It won't happen again!"
Kokushibo's heart grew heavier at my words. A strange emotion stirred within him…
Wronged…
I noticed it, turned, and fixed him with a cold stare.
"Why? Do you feel something is wrong?"
Kokushibo's abnormal feelings faded immediately. He returned to his usual state.
"No… I obey your command."
I stood, waved to Mingnu, signaling she could rise, and walked slowly toward Kokushibo. The room was silent.
When I reached him, he lowered his head, avoiding my gaze. My face was still dark, but then I smiled.
"Oh, that's right. Stand up."
Kokushibo trembled, looking up at me in confusion.
"As ordered."
I nodded in satisfaction.
"Just stay home and feed the pets for now. I can't take care of so many myself."
Surprise flickered across Kokushibo's face, though he tried to hide it. A hint of joy slipped into his voice.
"Yes."
I nodded, turned back to the window, picked up my red book, and walked slowly to my room.
Retirement begins again.