At Fujiaya, in Toshō Town.
Qingshui received a small booklet from a Kakushi, who was completely shrouded in a black robe.
This booklet contained all the recent information about Demons in the area.
Taisho First Year, November 28th: Sakano Ryoma, a lonely old bachelor living on the outskirts of Toshō Town, disappeared.
December 3rd: Odajima Tsutomu, a hunter who went into the mountains, disappeared.
December 6th: ...
People had started disappearing from this town about half a month ago, but in the last few days, the number and frequency of disappearances had increased significantly. When the police searched the mountains, they found blood-stained, torn clothing. The police station then reported this to the local police headquarters, which in turn handed the case over to the Demon Slayer Corps.
"So, this Demon has eaten at least six people. During the day, it hides in the mountains, only coming out at night to hunt. But recently, perhaps due to increased strength, its frequency of attacks has risen, even breaking directly into residents' homes to kill and abduct people," Qingshui summarized after reading the file.
"It's likely eaten more than six people," the Kakushi replied. "Based on past experience, a Demon bold enough to directly enter a town at night to prey on villagers is usually not a low-level Demon. This Demon likely migrated here from elsewhere about half a month ago. Its initial low frequency of attacks was probably due to unfamiliarity with the environment."
"We will do our best to help you find this Demon as quickly as possible, otherwise, if it escapes again..."
Qingshui nodded slightly. "I understand. So, the challenge is how to find this Demon, right?"
As for whether he could kill the Demon, Qingshui had no doubts. With his current strength, he could easily slay any Demon other than the Twelve Kizuki and Demon King Muzan.
"From now on, just leave it to me."
Qingshui put away the file and went to the Toshō Town police station, presenting the identification Uesugi Sakaii had given him.
"A patrol from Shiga Police Headquarters? Cross-regional joint investigation?" The head of the patrol team at the police station looked at Qingshui suspiciously, then at the long sword tucked into Qingshui's waist.
"In any case, just do as I say. After tonight, no more residents will be harmed."
"Alright, how do you want to do this?" the patrol chief asked.
"Organize the strong men in the town, led by the police officers, to patrol at night. If anything unusual is detected, immediately beat gongs and drums, and I will personally take care of it."
With no other options, the police officers at the station could only comply.
...
...
As night fell, Toshō Town was brightly lit. Over a dozen teams, comprised of police officers and local young men, patrolled the streets.
On the roof of a civilian house in the very center of town, Qingshui sat cross-legged, eyes closed, his left hand forming a seal to perform the Wind Sight Technique. Without his main body or the abilities of his DC Universe Avatar, Qingshui could only use this method for large-scale perception.
"Can this really work? In the past, some members of the Demon Slayer Corps tried this, but often after making a big commotion, the Demons would hide and not appear, leading to a wasted effort. But the townspeople have to work during the day; they can't sustain this kind of training long-term." The Kakushi, dressed like a beekeeper, held a lantern and stood in the courtyard, asking Qingshui.
"What I want is for the Demon to have no way to act," Qingshui opened his eyes. "If you were a Demon, and you couldn't act within the town, but then unexpectedly found a lone person outside the town, what would you do?"
Qingshui gave the Kakushi a slight smile.
"Huh? But you're only one person?"
"Who said one person can't be used as two?"
On the outskirts of the town, Qingshui's Shadow Clone, using Transformation Jutsu, disguised itself as a simply dressed young farm woman, walking down a flat path. Young women and children, for Demons, taste better.
"Finally here..." The Shadow Clone looked at the Demon rushing towards it from ahead, forming hand seals.
*Bang!*
The Shadow Clone dissipated into white smoke, leaving only the drooling Demon rubbing its eyes in disbelief. Where did such a big person go? How did they just disappear?
The Demon frantically searched around the wheat field as if it had gone mad.
*Swish!*
Qingshui, on the roof of Fujiaya, instantly vanished.
"Thunder Breathing, First Form: Thunderclap and Flash, Sixfold!"
Qingshui made a single hand seal with his left hand, his right hand on his sword, and transformed into a bolt of lightning, traversing the town in an instant.
Thunder Breathing is the fastest in terms of explosive speed among the five main Breathing Styles, and the First Form is the fastest among the six sword forms of Thunder Breathing.
With the added boost from Chakra and the Wind Rush Technique, Qingshui's speed, while not as exaggerated as The Flash's, was still imperceptible to the naked eye at close range.
In just over ten seconds, Qingshui arrived at the spot where the Shadow Clone had dissipated.
The Demon was still searching everywhere for the vanished farmer's wife.
One second later, its head hit the ground, dissolving into smoky ash.
...
...
The day after slaying the Demon, Qingshui packed his bags and set off towards Yamanashi Prefecture.
It was already December, and no one knew when Muzan would target the Kamado family.
Strictly speaking, the fate of that family didn't have much to do with Qingshui, but he wondered if his arrival would cause a Butterfly Effect.
What if Tanjiro also died at Muzan's hands, or turned into a Demon?
Then Sun Breathing would be completely lost.
Although he hadn't made any major changes to the world's trajectory so far, it was better to be safe than sorry.
However, just as Qingshui arrived in Saitama Prefecture, separated from Yamanashi Prefecture by only one mountain, the very thing Qingshui least wanted to see happen, did.
In the night sky, tiny snowflakes drifted down, appearing crystal clear and pure white under the moonlight.
Qingshui's expression couldn't help but turn a little grim.
Without the slightest hesitation, Qingshui decisively stopped and checked into Fujiaya in Saitama Prefecture.
Although he didn't know if the Kamado family's incident occurred during this snowfall, he wasn't willing to gamble.
What if Muzan was in the vicinity right now?
Even though he had now mastered Wind Breathing and Thunder Breathing, Qingshui didn't think that was enough.
If something truly happened to Tanjiro, he would just have to continue along the existing path, relying on his main body and his Avatar from the DC Universe to at least master Wind Breathing and Thunder Breathing to their peak.
That way, he could at least become a Hashira, and as the Chakra capacity of this body increased, combined with Ninjutsu, with both enhancements, he might even be able to defeat Muzan in the future.
"But no matter what, I still hope my worries won't come true."
Inside Fujiaya, Qingshui sighed, planning to set off again after the snow stopped.
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