Chapter 50: It Must Be a Coincidence
"No, are we really jumping on a train again..."
Standing on the rain-proof roof of the train station platform, Ryuji watched the train slowly approaching in the distance and couldn't help but complain to the reclining Uzui Tengen, "Can't we just buy a ticket and walk in?"
"I told you, I can't bring my flamboyant nichirin blades inside. This Sword Abolition Edict is truly detestable; now there are only a few regions where you can carry a blade..."
Uzui Tengen said softly, resting his hands behind his head.
Ryuji was speechless. Indeed, it was currently the Meiji Period, the Restoration Movement was in full swing, and the Sword Abolition Edict was still very strict.
As the train entered the station, the two of them seized the moment, quickly jumped onto the roof of the train, and lay low.
Ryuji sat cross-legged, pulled some rice balls from his robe, and handed them to Uzui Tengen.
"Let's eat first."
Chewing on a rice ball, Ryuji glanced at the gloomy, sunless sky and said softly, "With the sky this dark, I have a feeling a demon will appear..."
His eyes turned red, then his expression became serious, and he let out a sigh. "Speak of the devil."
He glanced at the village flashing by and shook his head.
Uzui Tengen stood with his arms crossed, looking at Ryuji. Seeing his solemn expression, he asked, "What's wrong?"
He knew about Ryuji's perception; it was stronger than his, and by a lot!
Right now, the sound of the wind on the train was too loud; he could hardly hear anything unusual.
But perception is different... or rather, Ryuji's perception is different!
Standing at the edge of the train roof, Ryuji sighed. "Our luck isn't great. We've encountered a demon!"
As he spoke, he leaned back and was instantly carried away by the airflow, falling backward.
Watching Ryuji, Uzui Tengen's lips curled up, and he laughed wildly. "That's truly flamboyant!"
He reached for the nichirin blades on his back to ensure they were secure, then stood at the edge of the train roof with a flamboyant smile on his face.
"However, it's probably the demon's luck that isn't so great..."
He leaned back as well, similarly swept away by the airflow, his flamboyant voice drifting through the wind: "They ran into us!"
Whoosh! Whoosh!
Inside a carriage, a young girl sitting by the window saw their figures flash past. The Sakura Mochi she was bringing to her mouth paused for a moment.
She rubbed her eyes and muttered to herself in confusion, "Are my eyes playing tricks on me? Why would someone jump off a train..."
She shook her pink hair and took a big bite of the Sakura Mochi, saying while chewing, "I must be eating too little and getting lightheaded from hunger..."
In a village very close to the train tracks, in a fallow field.
Thud.
Uzui Tengen rolled on the ground a few times and stood up. First, he checked his nichirin blades; they were fine.
Then, he patted the dust off his clothes and looked at Ryuji, who was currently striking a superhero landing pose, and asked the doubt in his heart: "Don't your knees hurt?"
Ryuji said flatly, "It's okay, doesn't really hurt."
"Don't let that flamboyant pose impair your movement... I can go alone anyway."
Uzui Tengen said as he walked toward the village ahead. Away from the noisy environment of the train, he also sensed the aura of a demon.
It wasn't dense, but it was pure.
He looked back at Ryuji, feeling emotional. No matter how many times it happened, he was still shocked by Ryuji's flamboyant perception.
To be able to sense so far in such a noisy environment like a train... truly impressive. Such a talent would be perfect for protecting the Master!
I'll mention it to the Master when I get back... thinking this, he strode toward the village.
He said to Ryuji, "Stay here and don't move. I'll be back soon."
Ryuji's mouth twitched as he looked up at Uzui Tengen's retreating back and slowly stood up.
Uzui Tengen definitely doesn't know the essay 'The Sight of My Father's Back'.
This must be a coincidence... He quickly caught up with Uzui Tengen. The first few steps were a bit uncomfortable and his knees hurt quite a bit, but after eating two rice balls, he had recovered.
This was the power of the One Piece Physique.
As long as there was food and energy intake, he could quickly recover his stamina and heal his injuries!
Uzui Tengen, walking in front, suddenly turned around and scanned Ryuji up and down.
"You..."
"What about me? Want one?"
Ryuji handed a rice ball to Uzui Tengen, still chewing one himself.
Uzui Tengen shook his head. "It's nothing..."
He was surprised. From the footsteps just now, he could tell Ryuji's legs were definitely injured.
But, in just this short moment, he's recovered?
Are you kidding me... this recovery rate is practically like a demon's. Could what Himejima-san said be true?
Did Ryuji really overcome demonization and now has demon blood in his body?
Impossible, he doesn't have any demon aura... those with demon blood in their bodies will eventually become demons.
Most importantly, they would all carry the scent of a demon.
But Ryuji doesn't.
Could it be a characteristic of his Breathing Technique?
Uzui Tengen thought to himself and casually remarked, "Don't you hate rice balls?"
Ryuji nodded. "Yeah, but they're convenient to carry..."
Halfway through his sentence, his eyes grew solemn. "It's better than having nothing to eat."
"Ah, that's true."
Uzui Tengen also said seriously, "Better than starving!"
They noticed several children peeking at them—or rather, it wasn't exactly peeking.
They were observing them from a distance.
These children were dressed in rags, were emaciated, and their eyes were full of vigilance!
Two of them glanced at them and then disappeared, likely going to find adults.
"They've seen the Demon Slayer Corps, or at least samurai..."
Uzui Tengen said softly, gripping his nichirin blade and remaining alert. The demon's aura was strong, but he couldn't pinpoint its location.
He glanced sideways at Ryuji and asked softly,
"Ryuji, can that flamboyant perception of yours determine the demon's exact location?"
"Wait a moment."
After Ryuji finished speaking, he pulled two more rice balls from his robe and threw them toward the children peeking at them.
"Stop peeking. Big brother has more rice balls here than he can eat."
Well, that was a lie; he just wanted them to have something to eat.
However, to Ryuji's surprise, these children just watched the rice balls fall to the ground, and not one of them dared to pick them up.
They just watched the rice balls land, even though they were already swallowing and saliva was almost dripping out.
They remained frozen in place, not daring to pick them up!
"Hmm?"
This abnormal behavior made Ryuji frown, and then he fully activated his Observation Haki!
The spreading Haki covered almost the entire village.
"Phew..."
Ryuji deactivated his Observation Haki perception and let out a long breath. This was the first time he had used it on such a scale.
It was a bit tiring.
"Found it. It's in the central-most house! There seem to be hostages inside..."
Ryuji said with a dark expression. Having hostages meant this demon was intelligent or could overcome its physiological impulses.
Neither type was easy to deal with... at the very least, they would know some Blood Demon Arts!
Uzui Tengen had been a Hashira for a long time, so he naturally knew what Ryuji's words implied.
This demon has intelligence!
A wild beast isn't scary; what's scary is a wild beast with intelligence.
If this beast also has special abilities, it becomes even more troublesome... but in the end, they are still prey!
Uzui Tengen smiled, checked the explosive bombs in his belt, and said softly, "Let's go. No matter how cunning a demon is, it will be slain by us."
"Yeah, let's live up to the name of the Hashira."
Ryuji hopped twice on his toes. He had even landed a punch on Doma; could this demon really be stronger than Doma?
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