Hearing the young man call out his name, Sakonji Urokodaki finally confirmed that the other party was a member of the Demon Slayer Corps, and he replied loudly, "That's me."
Chu Yang quickly walked over, "I have a letter here that Makomo asked me to deliver to you."
Sakonji Urokodaki was startled, thinking it was bad news, and his breathing became rapid, "What happened to her?"
Seeing his tension, Chu Yang realized he had misunderstood and immediately explained, "She was slightly injured during the Final Selection and is currently recuperating at the Butterfly Mansion. She'll probably need some time to rest. She was afraid you'd worry, so she asked me to bring you a letter."
Upon hearing this, Sakonji Urokodaki immediately breathed a sigh of relief.
His tense body also relaxed, and he smiled, "Thank you for your trouble, young man."
Chu Yang handed Makomo's handwritten letter to Sakonji Urokodaki and politely replied, "It's no trouble. We participated in the Final Selection together, so we're teammates from the same period. This little help is nothing."
If Shinobu Kocho were here, she would definitely complain about Chu Yang's hypocrisy, as he had seemed unwilling to help earlier.
"Thank you." Sakonji Urokodaki nodded. After hearing that Chu Yang was also a newcomer who participated in the Final Selection, a strange gleam flashed in his eyes.
Sakonji Urokodaki opened the envelope and began reading the letter Makomo had written to him. Chu Yang knew this might be a long process, as Sakonji Urokodaki's psychological changes could fill nearly ten thousand words.
He didn't treat himself as a guest at all, and with self-familiarity, he walked to the side of the small house, lifted the lid on the water vat, and scooped out water with a wooden ladle, drinking large gulps.
Just as Chu Yang, half-full from drinking, was about to leave, his Kasugai Crow suddenly flew over, perched on the edge of the water vat, and began to speak in human language, relaying Chu Yang's first mission.
Perhaps startled by the Kasugai Crow's voice, Sakonji Urokodaki carefully put away the envelope, turned to Chu Yang, and said, "I originally wanted to keep you here for something to eat, but for us, no mission is more important than the sky falling. I'll prepare some dry rations for you to eat on the way."
"That's not necessary. I'm very good at hunting in the wild; I don't lack food…" Chu Yang politely declined Sakonji Urokodaki's kindness.
"Take it with you. Consider it a small token of my appreciation." Makomo had explained the whole story clearly in her letter, and Sakonji Urokodaki knew that it was this young man who had slain the Hand Demon, allowing the souls of those deceased children to find release.
Chu Yang no longer refused. After sincerely thanking Sakonji Urokodaki, he readily accepted the food prepared for him.
So, Chu Yang, having just delivered the letter, immediately rushed to an area where demons were active.
Looking at Chu Yang's departing figure, Sakonji Urokodaki stood still for a long time, not moving a step, deep in thought.
A few days later, Chu Yang arrived at a remote small town according to the location told by his Kasugai Crow. To avoid causing panic, Chu Yang hid his zanmatō in the nearby forest before entering the town.
However, to be fair, even without the zanmatō, Chu Yang could still slay demons; it would just be a bit more troublesome. Without the Masira Scarlet Ore to suppress the demon's regenerative abilities, it would be easy to be dragged into a prolonged battle.
A centipede may die but never fall, and while it posed no threat to Chu Yang, it was disgusting enough.
Without the enhancement of the zanmatō, Chu Yang's demeanor immediately shifted from that of a perverted killer to a sunny, athletic young man, his strong arm muscles bulging through his clothes.
As he walked, many passersby, including older sisters and younger sisters, were already observing Chu Yang.
Unfortunately, Chu Yang's attention was entirely focused on detecting demons. Unable to smell them, Chu Yang tried to expand the range of his Observation Haki as much as possible, attempting to hear any clues.
"Hey! Tanjiro, we need some charcoal for our house! Thank you for helping me fix my chair last time."
"Tanjiro, my shop needs some charcoal too. Next time, could you bring some wild game? I'll buy it at a high price."
"Tanjiro, I forgot to pay you for the goods last time. I'll make it up to you today."
Soon after he unleashed his Observation Haki, a name kept appearing in Chu Yang's mind!
Tanjiro!
This person seemed to have quite good connections.
No matter where he went, people would greet him and buy things from him.
A charcoal seller…
Chu Yang remembered something very important and began to look for the one named Tanjiro.
After turning two crossroads, Chu Yang saw a thin man talking to the owner of an oden shop in front of it.
The man was carrying a basket thicker than himself, filled with black charcoal, and he was holding a small boy's hand. The boy looked very much like him, with fiery red hair and a burn-like scar on his forehead.
The owner planned to buy all the charcoal in the man's basket for the shop's stove, to make customers more comfortable while eating.
The man named Tanjiro smiled. Business was going smoothly today, and he had sold all the charcoal in his basket before dark.
65. Chapter 65: The Demon in the Carpenter's Shop
65.
Chu Yang was still wondering whether he should pretend to be a customer and buy oden, then casually greet Tanjiro so the other party wouldn't suspect anything.
Then a peculiar stench wafted through the air, interrupting Chu Yang's thoughts.
He followed the smell and saw it was coming from a carpenter's shop across the street.
The little boy next to Tanjiro seemed to have also smelled this stench, showing a disgusted and nauseated expression, but he was too young to know what that smell represented.
Chu Yang thought for a moment and decided to deal with the demon hidden in the carpenter's shop first, then go find Tanjiro.
"Ah, I remember now. Before we left, Nezuko told me she wanted a toy. Tanjiro, how about we go buy a toy for your sister?" After unloading all the charcoal, Tanjiro coughed a few times, then bent down and discussed with the little boy.
"Okay, let's go buy a toy for Nezuko." Young Tanjiro was excited.
The toys Tanjiro mentioned were actually some inexpensive wooden trinkets, which were sold at the carpenter's shop across from them.
But today, that carpenter's shop, which should have opened early, was still tightly shut. Tanjiro prepared to knock on the door, hoping that if the owner was home, they would sell him a few toys.
Given Tanjiro's personality, if he hadn't promised Nezuko before leaving, he would never bother anyone.
The father and son walked hand in hand towards the carpenter's shop.
Little Tanjiro excitedly tugged at his father's hand, hopping along the road.
"Be careful, Tanjiro." Tanjiro looked down and gently reminded his son, completely unaware that a tall figure was blocking his path.
"This shop is closed. Come back another time."
Hearing the voice, Tanjiro looked up and saw Chu Yang standing between them and the carpenter's shop. Tanjiro frowned slightly, but he still politely explained, "I apologize, but I'm really in a hurry to get some things custom-made. If I cause any inconvenience to the owner, I will apologize."
After speaking, adhering to the principle of avoiding trouble.
Tanjiro took his son's hand, walked around Chu Yang, and continued towards the carpenter's shop.
Chu Yang sighed. Honest people, when stubborn, were indeed difficult to deal with, so he followed them.
Tanjiro, who had practiced Hinokami Kagura, which is Sun Breathing, for many years, despite his serious illness, had senses far more acute than ordinary people. He could sense Chu Yang following behind him, and a flicker of worry crossed his eyes.
From the aura of the young man in front of him, Tanjiro could tell that the other party was definitely not an ordinary person. He was very clear about his own physical condition; if the other party meant harm and they really fought, regardless of winning or losing, he could not bear the consequences.
Tanjiro unconsciously quickened his pace, thinking of buying some toys from the carpenter's shop quickly and then leaving early.
Little Tanjiro sensed his father's anxiety and stopped fooling around, following his father's steps very nervously.
He didn't know why his father was so flustered. Was it because of the big brother behind them?
But the big brother didn't seem like a bad person, because he didn't have any bad person's smell on him…
Unconsciously, Tanjiro arrived at the carpenter's shop door and reached out to knock.
Suddenly, a strong hand grabbed his wrist.
"Sir, don't go too far!" Tanjiro glared, still hesitating whether to make a move.
Chu Yang made a gesture that surprised Tanjiro. He placed his index finger to his lips, signaling Tanjiro to be silent.
Tanjiro was stunned; the other party didn't seem like he was looking for trouble.
Just then, little Tanjiro showed a terrified expression, nervously tugged at his father's hand, and pointed to the carpenter's shop, saying, "Father, there's the smell of blood in here, so much, so much blood…"
Tanjiro's face suddenly changed. He knew how exceptional Tanjiro's sense of smell was; it couldn't possibly be wrong. That meant there was indeed a lot of blood inside the shop.
Coupled with the fact that the carpenter's shop, which should have opened early, remained silent, Tanjiro instantly realized that the carpenter's shop owner might have been killed.
The question was, how did this young man know?
Tanjiro looked at Chu Yang with a face full of doubt.
Chu Yang whispered a word in his ear. Tanjiro looked at Chu Yang with uncertainty; he had always thought that such creatures only existed in legends.
Demon!
"Don't you believe it?" Chu Yang had already anticipated Tanjiro's reaction. He placed his hand on the door and whispered, "That demon is right behind the door…"
Tanjiro pulled his son back, retreating repeatedly. Although he didn't quite believe it, he was still a little scared.
"You'll be fine as long as you stand in the sunlight." Chu Yang pulled the handle, preparing to open the door. His reason for coming to this town was to eliminate this demon.
Daring to remain in town during the day was undoubtedly seeking death. Demons should be like rats, hiding in dark sewers.
"Wait a moment." Tanjiro said nervously, "If it really is a demon, what do you plan to do?"
"What to do?" Chu Yang chuckled, "Of course, kill it. I am a demon slayer."
"A demon slayer?" Tanjiro suddenly remembered some legends about demon slayers his parents had told him when he was a child. It seemed his family also had some connection with demon slayers.
Hinokami Kagura…
Tanjiro instinctively thought of this special family technique.
Little Tanjiro tilted his head; he didn't quite understand what his father and the big brother were saying.
But he could sense that the big brother seemed to be about to do something dangerous.
"If you're scared, leave quickly. After I deal with this demon, I'll visit you." Chu Yang reminded Tanjiro to leave one last time.
But Tanjiro asked, "Will I be safe as long as I stand in the sunlight?"
Chu Yang felt that this guy seemed very eager to confirm the existence of demons. Without saying anything more, he violently pulled open the door, attracting the attention of nearby vendors.
"Hey! Why are you damaging someone else's shop?! Tanjiro, quickly stop that guy." The oden shop owner across the street shouted.
Tanjiro did not follow the oden shop owner's words.
Instead, after Chu Yang pulled open the door, he quickly retreated with Tanjiro.
Chu Yang walked alone into the dim shop.
It was pitch black inside, with no light whatsoever, and outside, it was already sunset, unable to illuminate the interior of the carpenter's shop.
"Seriously, what are you two doing?!" The oden shop owner, seeing Chu Yang damage the door and then brazenly walk in, immediately stomped over, fuming.
"Just stand here, don't get closer!" Tanjiro anxiously grabbed the oden shop owner's clothes, fearing that he would ignorantly rush in.
"What's wrong with you today, Tanjiro? You're not like your usual self at all!" The oden shop owner looked at Tanjiro in surprise, suddenly feeling an indescribable sense of unfamiliarity. He frowned, shook off Tanjiro's hand, and stubbornly walked towards the carpenter's shop.