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Lady Kocho's efficiency was extremely high.
Within two days, she found Mr. Cheng Mo with a reply.
"Mr. Cheng Mo, the Master has approved all matters."
A rare, genuine, and bright smile graced her face.
"Furthermore, the Master wishes... to meet you in person."
Mr. Cheng Mo's heart stirred slightly.
Meeting the Master of the Demon Slayer Corps was within his plans, but it also came with higher risks.
That man, though afflicted by a curse and physically frail, controlled the entire Demon Slayer Corps, and his wisdom and insight were far from ordinary.
He appropriately showed a hint of "flattered" and "hesitation" on his face: "This... I am merely a traveling merchant, how dare I trouble the Master to personally receive me?"
"The Master said that your help to the Demon Slayer Corps is immense, and it is only right."
Lady Kocho's tone carried a hint of earnestness.
"Please prepare yourself; we shall depart immediately."
This journey was far more secretive than the trip to the Butterfly Mansion.
Leading the way was an exceptionally majestic Kasugai Crow.
During the journey, Mr. Cheng Mo was asked to blindfold himself.
Guided by members of the "Kakushi," he began a long, secret trek.
However, the blindfold did not completely block the Eye of Truth's full perception, though its accuracy was somewhat diminished due to the obstructed vision.
He could vaguely "see"... that they were no longer traversing ordinary mountain paths.
Instead, they were on hidden routes that required the use of specific mechanisms or passage through naturally formed narrow rock crevices.
The surrounding wisteria flowers were planted more densely, forming an increasingly powerful energy barrier.
After several days of nearly continuous trekking, they finally arrived at a valley completely obscured by towering ancient trees and cascading wisteria.
The atmosphere within the valley was peaceful and serene, as if it were a different world from the dangers outside.
"Mr. Cheng Mo, you may remove your blindfold now."
A "Kakushi" member accompanying him reminded him.
Mr. Cheng Mo took off the black silk ribbon, and what greeted his eyes was a scene of tranquility.
The valley entrance was deep, birds chirped crisply, streams gurgled, presenting a picture of a secluded paradise.
Only the faint, almost imperceptible, yet infinitely layered and strengthened wisteria demon-repelling force field in the air hinted at the extraordinary nature of this place.
"The headquarters are just ahead."
Lady Kocho's voice carried a hint of imperceptible reverence, and her purple haori brushed lightly as she passed through an archway naturally formed by giant wisteria roots, "Please follow me closely, Mr. Cheng Mo."
Mr. Cheng Mo maintained his outward composure, but his internal vigilance was at its peak.
The Eye of Truth silently operated, and in his vision, this seemingly tranquil valley, beneath the ground, in the treetops, and in the rock crevices, was covered with countless precise alert devices and hidden "Kakushi" presences, like a dense spiderweb.
Passing through the last courtyard filled with white camellias, an ancient, elegant, and grand residence appeared before his eyes.
Mr. Cheng Mo smelled an indescribable, tranquil scent, like ancient wood warmed by sunlight.
In front of the innermost Japanese-style room of the residence, Lady Kocho and Murata stopped and bowed deeply.
"Master, Mr. Cheng Mo has been brought," Lady Kocho's voice was soft and respectful.
The paper door was silently slid open.
The room's light was soft, and the decor was simple; only a fresh wisteria flower in the alcove exuded a delicate fragrance.
A young man dressed in white, with a pure and noble demeanor, knelt in the main seat.
Even with prior mental preparation, Mr. Cheng Mo's heart was shaken the moment he saw the Master of the Demon Slayer Corps.
His face was delicate, but deep purple, eerie scar patterns had already appeared on his forehead.
It seemed his eyesight was severely damaged, his gaze slightly unfocused, unable to precisely focus.
Yet, he still tried his best to "look" in the direction of the doorway, a reassuringly gentle smile on his face.
That gentle and inclusive aura enveloped the entire room as if it were tangible.
A woman of exquisite beauty and noble, goddess-like demeanor sat beside him, ready to assist at any moment.
"Mr. Cheng Mo, welcome..."
Kagaya Ubuyashiki's voice sounded, gentle and soothing, like a clear mountain spring, carrying a strange calming power.
"I am Kagaya Ubuyashiki, and this is my wife, Amane. Please forgive my physical inconvenience, preventing me from greeting you further. Thank you for extending your help to the Demon Slayer Corps."
Mr. Cheng Mo felt a strange sense of peace welling up in his mind, subconsciously placing a hint of trust in the man before him.
His heart tensed, but he remained outwardly composed.
Under Lady Kocho's guidance, he sat properly according to etiquette.
Looking at the man before him with his powerful yet gentle aura, Mr. Cheng Mo spoke, neither humble nor arrogant: "I am Cheng Mo. It is my honor to meet Master Ubuyashiki and his wife. If my humble skills can be of assistance, that is all I ask."
Kagaya Ubuyashiki shook his head slightly; this simple action seemed to be somewhat strenuous for him: "You have saved many precious lives and brought new hope to the Butterfly Mansion. Shinobu has told me everything."
He paused, taking a slight breath, and continued gently: "I hear that you are willing to exchange medical knowledge for the opportunity to cultivate the Breathing Technique and a nichirin blade?"
"Yes," Mr. Cheng Mo nodded, his gaze quickly and cautiously sweeping over Kagaya Ubuyashiki's condition, gaining a more intuitive assessment of his illness.
"I have traveled far and wide, deeply feeling my own insignificance, and yearn for a power that can secure my livelihood. I am fortunate that you are generous enough to grant this."
"This is a fair exchange."
Kagaya Ubuyashiki said slowly, his voice soft yet carrying weight.
"What do you intend to exchange, Mr. Cheng Mo?"
Mr. Cheng Mo knew the crucial moment had arrived.
He took a deep breath, seemingly taking out a thick, carefully cloth-wrapped, moisture-proof package from his satchel with great solemnity.
He carefully placed the package in front of him, opening it layer by layer.
Inside were stacks of meticulously organized, hand-copied or printed paper documents.
The paper was of good quality, and the ink was clear.
Although numerous, they were categorized, clearly labeled with different tags, and accompanied by many detailed hand-drawn anatomical diagrams and illustrations.
"This is my sincerity."
Mr. Cheng Mo offered the topmost, thick, thread-bound general catalog with both hands.
Lady Amane walked over, took it with both hands, and softly read it aloud to Kagaya Ubuyashiki.
"It contains some... medical ancient texts' essences, sourced from overseas and meticulously compiled and translated over several generations. This includes standardized procedures for surgical disinfection and sterilization, the intrinsic mechanisms and control methods of infection, systematic treatment plans for various traumas, and many new interpretations of human physiology and pathology... all supplemented with numerous illustrative diagrams."
"Perhaps... it can be beneficial to Lady Kocho's research and the treatment of the Demon Slayer Corps members' injuries."
Lady Kocho's breathing instantly quickened.
Her gaze was fixed on the thick stack of documents.
As a professional, merely hearing the titles and seeing the detailed illustrations, she felt as if countless doors to a whole new world were opening.
Its value was simply immeasurable in monetary terms!
Kagaya Ubuyashiki listened carefully to his wife's description.
Although his vision was blurry, his expression grew increasingly focused and solemn.
He could clearly sense the immense power contained within this knowledge, a power capable of changing the current situation.
He was silent for a moment, and when he spoke again, his voice carried an imperceptible tremor and immense solemnity: "Such systematic medical knowledge is enough to illuminate our dark path forward; its value surpasses a thousand demon-slaying blades."
"Mr. Cheng Mo, what you have given may turn the tide in many battles and save countless lives of our members. The Demon Slayer Corps is indebted."
He paused, trying to maintain clear speech: "Since this is the case, the Demon Slayer Corps shall fulfill its promise. Regarding the Breathing Technique, you are permitted to choose one basic style to cultivate. I will arrange for a seasoned trainer to teach you everything, with the sole condition that you promise never to transmit this technique outside."
Mr. Cheng Mo immediately responded solemnly: "Thank you for your guidance, Master! I swear by my family name that I will never transmit the Breathing Technique I learn to outsiders!"
He also took the opportunity to propose a condition.
"Similarly, I hope that the medical knowledge I provide will only be used for the Demon Slayer Corps' cause against demons, and not be disseminated externally, to avoid unnecessary disputes."
"It shall be so."
Kagaya Ubuyashiki readily agreed, a more relaxed smile appearing on his face.
"You and I shall each guard our secrets; this oath, heaven and earth bear witness."
"Regarding your weapon," Kagaya Ubuyashiki continued, "I have specially approved the opening of our secret vault to gather sufficient 'Scarlet Crimson Iron Sand' and 'Scarlet Crimson Ore'."
"Next, your sword will be sent to the Swordsmith Village, where top swordsmiths will reforge it with your original blade as the core, ensuring its external characteristics are preserved and imbuing it with the demon-slaying Nichirin radiance."
"I am extremely grateful!" Mr. Cheng Mo's heart settled.
"Furthermore..."
Kagaya Ubuyashiki gestured to Amane, who gently clapped her hands, and two "Kakushi" members carried in a heavy wooden box.
The wooden box was opened, revealing neatly stacked, gleaming gold ingots.
"In addition to the remuneration from the Butterfly Mansion, the Demon Slayer Corps will offer ten times that amount in gold, totaling one hundred large gold coins. This gold is both a token of gratitude and a fund to support your future research, and furthermore, a pledge for long-term cooperation with you in the future."
"During your time at the Butterfly Mansion, the Demon Slayer Corps will strive to meet all your needs. In the future, should you have any more wondrous items or knowledge, the doors of the Demon Slayer Corps will always be open to you."
Mr. Cheng Mo looked at the box of gold, and even with his composure, his heart couldn't help but quicken a few beats.
This was truly a huge sum of money.
Kagaya Ubuyashiki's generosity and sincerity indeed exceeded expectations.
He took a deep breath, suppressing his excitement, and solemnly said: "Master's generous gift, Cheng Mo accepts with humility. I will not fail your trust!"
He immediately gave Lady Kocho a brief explanation of the classification and core content of the documents, along with several detailed drug samples and instructions.
Kagaya Ubuyashiki tried to focus his gaze in Mr. Cheng Mo's direction, his smile gentle and profound: "May the friendship between the Demon Slayer Corps and Mr. Cheng Mo bloom as enduringly as the wisteria, until the dawn arrives."