. Chapter 66: Hinokami Kagura
66.
Tanjiro still wanted to stop him, but his chest began to ache, and a tickle in his throat led to a violent coughing fit.
"Father!" Little Tanjiro stood to the side in a panic, wanting to help but not knowing how.
The oden shop owner heard Tanjiro's violent coughing, hesitated, then turned back, gently patting Tanjiro's back, "With your body, you really need to get some good rest."
Thump!!!!
No sooner had he spoken than a huge noise suddenly came from the carpentry shop ahead. The entire shop shook violently, startling everyone nearby.
The next second, a dark figure flew out from inside, landing right at the oden shop owner's feet.
It looked like a human, yet it was covered in sharp teeth and claws, with a ferocious face.
The oden shop owner only took one look before backing away in fear.
Although it wasn't noon, the lingering rays of the setting sun shone on the demon, still unleashing astonishing power, instantly igniting its entire body.
"Ah ah ah ah!!!!"
The demon's painful wails attracted many vendors to watch.
Some people trembled with fear at the sight, a strong sense of dread mixed with confusion and bewilderment.
What in the world was that thing?
Everyone watched as the human-like monster was burned to ashes.
Meanwhile, Tanjiro had already covered little Tanjiro's eyes, while he himself watched the entire terrifying process of the monster's death.
Everything was real.
"Where is that young man?" Tanjiro, having recovered his senses, looked towards the carpentry shop. It was pitch black inside, and he couldn't see anything.
"Was that monster thrown out by that young man just now?" The oden shop owner was almost scared senseless, his face pale.
While the two were still wondering, Chu Yang had already left the shop through the back door, reached the forest outside the town, and retrieved his zanmatō.
The commotion just now was too great, and it was inconvenient for Chu Yang to remain in town, much less interact too much with Tanjiro under everyone's watchful eyes, as it wouldn't be good for his future life.
So Chu Yang simply slipped away amidst the chaos.
He climbed onto a tree, leaned against the trunk to doze, and waited for Tanjiro outside.
A moment later, Tanjiro slowly appeared at the end of the mountain path, leading little Tanjiro.
"You're slow."
Chu Yang leaped down from the tree, landing in front of the father and son.
"Thank you just now. If it weren't for you, I probably would have run into that demon." Recalling the situation, Tanjiro felt a lingering fear and immense gratitude.
"There's no need for gratitude; I saved you for a reason." Chu Yang waved his hand, then said seriously, "I want to make a deal with you."
Tanjiro was instantly bewildered. Besides selling charcoal, he had nothing worth trading.
Chu Yang got straight to the point: "I want you to teach me Kagura Dance. In exchange, I will give you a considerable sum of money, so that you and your family can live better."
"So that's it." Tanjiro immediately realized that Chu Yang was interested in his family's inherited Kagura Dance. He thought about it and agreed; the only valuable thing he had was the Kagura Dance.
"But… how did you know about Kagura Dance?" Tanjiro asked, puzzled.
"Let's talk as we walk." Chu Yang bent down and picked up the sleepy-eyed Tanjiro, then walked ahead on his own. Tanjiro was stunned for a moment, then quickly caught up.
Subsequently, Chu Yang told Tanjiro everything: the origin of demons, the history of the Demon Slayer Corps, and the friendship between Yoriichi Tsugikuni and Tanjiro.
For this man whose life was nearing its end, Chu Yang didn't need to hide anything. Given Tanjiro's character, he wouldn't spread these secrets everywhere.
As they talked, the two were almost at Tanjiro's home in the mountains.
Having learned everything, Tanjiro felt an indescribable emotion in his heart. He hadn't expected that in the end, Sun Breathing would be passed down in such a way.
"It seems that even my short life has meaning." Tanjiro smiled, his eyes shining with a brilliance he had never shown before.
"Even without mentioning Sun Breathing, you are an excellent father. The meaning of your life is not given by Sun Breathing, but by your children." Chu Yang replied sincerely.
When his children were mentioned, Tanjiro felt relieved. No matter what, he had to leave something behind to make life easier for his wife and children in the future.
He had no reason to refuse Chu Yang's offer, and the other party didn't seem like a bad person.
Finally, Tanjiro performed the Kagura Dance for Chu Yang at his doorstep. His movements were very fluid and agile, completely unlike someone who was sick.
After performing it once, Tanjiro prepared to perform it a second time, but Chu Yang stopped him. With Chu Yang's talent, he could completely remember the essentials after just one viewing.
If Tanjiro were to perform the Kagura Dance twice in a row, his body would be severely overdrawn.
As agreed, Chu Yang left a sum of wealth to ensure that after Tanjiro's death, his orphaned wife and children could live well.
And this wealth happened to come from the demon in the carpentry shop.
That demon had long mingled in human society, preying on humans, and enjoyed collecting things from dead people as its spoils. Over time, the valuable items on it accumulated more and more.
Chu Yang had little interest in wealth; no amount of wealth could buy Sun Breathing.
Besides the wealth, Chu Yang also specifically used Wood Release Chakra to restore some of Tanjiro's vitality. Although it couldn't completely cure his illness, it could extend his life by several years, giving him a chance to watch Tanjiro grow into an adult.
Interestingly, Tanjiro, in his sleep, seemed to sense something.
He held onto Chu Yang's clothes tightly, not letting him go. It took Chu Yang some effort to break free.
After bidding farewell to the Tanjiro family, Chu Yang's solitary figure once again disappeared into the darkness.
Meanwhile, Tanjiro stood by the door, gazing at Chu Yang's retreating figure.
In the darkness, he looked up at the sky, silently offering a sincere prayer in his heart.
"May the gods bless you!"
...
After leaving Tanjiro's house, Chu Yang returned the way he came, and when he passed through the small town again, it was unusually lively.
The carpentry shop was covered in blood.
The bodies of the owner's family were gnawed beyond recognition by the demon. How could such a horrifying crime scene not cause a sensation?
More importantly, many vendors had witnessed the demon's death at the time.
Just as Chu Yang was wondering what to do.
Around the small town, he saw members of the "Kakushi."
Clearly, they had been sent by the Demon Slayer Corps to handle the aftermath.
The town's geographical location was relatively remote.
News and rumors were not easy to spread, so the impact was small and relatively easy to handle.
The truly tricky part was the battle that broke out near Kyoto, which was difficult to conceal. The Ubuyashiki family even had to use their official connections.
In small places like this, as long as the money was in place, even the biggest matters could be suppressed, and the Ubuyashiki family had no shortage of money.
Professional matters should be left to professionals. Chu Yang had no intention of getting in the way. Instead, he planned to return to the temple to practice Sun Breathing, and if a mission came, he would go kill demons.
As for Butterfly Mansion, Sakonji Urokodaki would naturally go visit Makomo once he thought things through; this was not something Chu Yang could interfere with.
After joining the Demon Slayer Corps, Chu Yang began a life of demon slaying and cultivation, a two-point-one-line existence.
Chu Yang's situations in the Pirate World and Naruto World were largely similar.
Meanwhile, in the Harry Potter World, Chu Yang welcomed his first Halloween since starting his studies at Hogwarts.
67. Chapter 67: Draco's Dilemma
67.
Harry Potter World.
Time flew by, and two months had passed since Chu Yang began studying at Hogwarts.
In fact, ever since Chu Yang's conflict with the older Slytherin students, those senior Slytherin students had not stopped harassing Chu Yang in secret.
The result was predictable.
Hogwarts' school hospital was long overcrowded, to the point where Dumbledore had to personally warn those senior students and some of their parents to make them stop.
Chu Yang's reputation soared as a result.
In Hogwarts' nearly thousand-year history, there had never been a first-year student beating up seniors.
And partly because they were beaten into submission by Chu Yang, and partly due to Dumbledore's stern warning, the Slytherin students reined themselves in considerably.
Chu Yang's study environment gradually stabilized.
It's worth mentioning that Draco still hadn't dared to share a room with Chu Yang and had been squeezing into Goyle's dormitory for two months.
Until Draco's father—Lucius Malfoy—heard about it from others.
An enraged Lucius stormed to the school and severely disciplined Draco, scolding him for disgracing the Malfoy family.
Draco, who had been terrified of his authoritative father since childhood, trembled with fear, unable to utter a complete sentence.
Lucius, seeing him like this, was instantly filled with disappointment. His son's behavior…
This anger was directly transferred to Chu Yang.
If Chu Yang hadn't been a Hogwarts student, he would most likely have mysteriously died in some dark wizard hideout in Knockturn Alley.
Those dark wizards, after the deed was done, might have received a generous bounty from the Malfoy family.
But Chu Yang happened to be a Hogwarts student, and a talented one at that, constantly under the watchful eyes of all teachers and students.
Lucius Malfoy had no way to deal with him.
He had once tried to cut off Chu Yang's full scholarship but was stopped by Dumbledore. Afterwards, he also received a warning from Ollivander, whose tone was no longer as friendly as before.
Ollivander's exact words were: "If Mr. Chu Yang loses his full scholarship at Hogwarts, then Ollivander's Wand Shop will financially support Mr. Chu Yang to complete his studies."
Lucius was very surprised why Ollivander, who had always been unwilling to participate in disputes, would be so resolute.