Yoriichi took the Nichirin Blade from Yuko's hands in surprise. He brushed a finger lightly across the surface. The blood clinging to it was like a layer of paint—impossible to wipe off.
Its color resembled that of a Red Blade, yet the temperature was the complete opposite.
It was cold.
He had noticed this earlier, when Yuko smeared her blood onto his wound. It felt as cold as ice water.
Yuko explained, "As long as it isn't exposed to sunlight, it will stay on for three full days."
Blood Demon Arts were akin to supernatural powers or sorcery, and were the very reason demons surpassed humans. Compared to the bizarre variety of Blood Demon Arts, even the regenerative abilities that set demons apart from humans had to take a step back. Their one and only weakness was the sun.
Under sunlight, any Blood Demon Art would lose its effect.
Yuko had never tested it, but Blood Demon Arts were instincts engraved deep into a demon's mind. She didn't need experiments to understand.
After the explanation, she raised her eyebrows proudly. "Pretty impressive, right?"
"…Impressive." Seeing Yuko acting just like she did before, Yoriichi couldn't help the slight upward curl of his lips.
Yuko suddenly asked, "By the way, Brother, have you been in contact with Lady Tamayo?"
Yoriichi shook his head.
His only interaction with Tamayo had been the day they drove Muzan away. They hadn't met again afterward, much less kept in touch.
"I see…" Yuko sighed with a hint of disappointment.
In the future, Tanjiro seemed to have met Tamayo in Asakusa—but this was still the Warring States period. Hundreds of years separated them from the Taishō era. Who knew where Tamayo even was at this point in time?
It seemed joining her—the "organization"—wouldn't be that easy after all.
She might as well stay at home and live off her brother. At least she wouldn't starve.
And with her Blood Demon Art, Yoriichi's wounds would always heal quickly.
Wait a moment.
She had… accidentally invented a perpetual-motion machine.
Yoriichi stiffened slightly under Yuko's intense, almost divine stare. It was a sensation he hadn't felt since Muzan.
Just as he opened his mouth to say something, Yuko spoke first. "Brother, do you remember Sumiyoshi?"
Yoriichi paused for a moment. Although he didn't understand why Yuko brought up Sumiyoshi now, he still nodded.
"Of course."
Sumiyoshi's family lived in the place where he and Uta had once lived.
Yuko smiled. "Let's visit them when we have time, see how they're doing."
And also look for the Blue Spider Lily.
She had likely freed herself from Muzan's control because she had accidentally eaten the Blue Spider Lily while staying with Sumiyoshi's family.
Nezuko seemed to have overcome her weakness to sunlight later in the story, but Yuko wasn't sure she could do the same.
After all, Nezuko hadn't overcome sunlight from the beginning—and her family had lived there for generations. Who knew how much genetic mutation had accumulated before Nezuko's unique condition appeared?
Yuko had only eaten it a few times…
She felt it was absolutely necessary to undergo a "maintenance course."
Hearing Yuko's words, Yoriichi fell into memory.
Scenes from years ago—Sumiyoshi's family warmly welcoming them—floated vividly before his eyes.
After a long moment, he nodded.
"Alright."
…
It was a warm spring evening when the two visited Sumiyoshi's home.
"Yoriichi-san, Yuko-san, it's been two years, hasn't it?" Sumiyoshi brought tea to them, while Suyako was inside coaxing the children to sleep.
Seeing his benefactors again filled him with joy written plainly across his face.
Inside the house, Yuko removed her straw hat. She and Yoriichi sat before Sumiyoshi and offered a small bow.
"Apologies for visiting so late."
Since she still wasn't certain whether she had overcome her weakness to sunlight, visiting at night was the only option.
She could shrink herself like Nezuko and re-enact a Warring-States-era sibling performance of Demon Slayer…
But she did not have the dignity to let her brother carry her around like a child.
Sumiyoshi hurriedly waved his hands. "No, no, Yuko-san, you're too—"
His words suddenly stopped.
His eyes were drawn to Yuko's unusual, lantern-lit irises.
The atmosphere froze slightly just as Suyako walked out from the inner room.
She wiped a bit of sweat from her forehead. "He finally fell asleep."
Yuko smiled at her. "Putting children to sleep is tough, isn't it?"
Suyako chuckled. "Mm, that child is far too energetic."
"Even at night."
Since then, Suyako had given birth to another son, still a newborn wrapped in swaddling clothes.
"Yoriichi-san, Yuko-san, since it's so late, please stay the night," Sumiyoshi said, still puzzled but not overly concerned.
"Thank you for your hospitality."
Sumiyoshi prepared a room for them to rest.
…
Early the next morning, before dawn, the siblings rose and went to visit Uta's grave.
While Yoriichi tended the grave, Yuko circled the area, scanning the surroundings.
Where were the flowers?
Where were they?
Yoriichi watched her pacing back and forth in confusion.
Yuko frowned deeply. Did Blue Spider Lilies not bloom in spring?
Then she recalled their last visit—it had been in… summer.
And back then, the flowers seemed to have bloomed suddenly all at once. If they had already been there beforehand, such an unusual flower would definitely have caught her attention.
Blooming suddenly, withering suddenly.
No wonder Muzan couldn't find them after searching for so many years.
It seemed she would need to return in summer and try her luck.
Realizing this possibility, Yuko let out a long sigh.
The sky gradually brightened, pale dawn spreading across the horizon.
They returned to Sumiyoshi's house.
Sumiyoshi waved happily from his doorway. "Yoriichi-san, Yuko-san, breakfast is ready."
"Thank you." Yuko quickly stepped inside the house, avoiding the trailing sunlight.
Suyako brought out the dishes. The dining area was bathed in morning light.
Thoughtfully, Yoriichi served some food into a bowl and brought it to Yuko, who sat in the shaded corner of the room playing with Sumire, Sumiyoshi's daughter.
Sumiyoshi and Suyako exchanged a puzzled look.
Yuko only shook her head gently.
Food was the most precious thing to ordinary people of this era. Sumiyoshi's family lived by cutting wood and burning charcoal—life was already difficult.
She no longer needed food, so it would be wasteful. It was better for everyone else to eat well.
It was worth mentioning that the family lived in a rather nice house because they had once saved the wife and daughter of a feudal lord while in the mountains, and received a reward.
Seeing Yoriichi return without eating, Sumiyoshi couldn't help asking, "Yoriichi-san, Yuko-san is…?"
Sumiyoshi was as gentle and observant as Tanjiro, which made him notice the subtle abnormalities in Yuko.
As a demon, Yuko's changes weren't extreme, but her unusual eyes and nail color still carried an air of strangeness.
At his question, Yoriichi instinctively looked toward Yuko.
Sumiyoshi and Suyako also directed their gazes at her.
Yuko continued playing with Sumire, smiling softly. "Let's eat first. I'll explain everything after the meal."
People of this era were far less open-minded than those of later ages.
Just like Namiko—after learning Yuko had become a demon, she had been terrified, kicking and punching her even though Yuko hadn't harmed her at all.
But Sumiyoshi's family…
Perhaps they would be different.
---
Currently at chapter 162 for advance chapters
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