"Now, tell me what information you have," he said, twirling his fingers and effortlessly sheathing his nichirin blade.
"It's highly probable the demon is in one of the three shops we infiltrated."
"As for whether it's an Upper Rank demon, no one knows."
"But Zenitsu has disappeared."
"We lost contact with him last night."
Uzui Tengen's playful smile vanished, and his expression sobered. His excessive worry for his wives' safety had led him to make a poor judgment.
"However, with Kochou and Yoizumi here, three Pillars facing an Upper Rank should have an absolute chance of winning, right?"
"We'll begin our operation once night falls."
After hearing all this, Shinobu nodded. She realized she had never seen Yoizumi fight before. She was curious to see what kind of injuries he would sustain this time, right under her nose.
"I'll be going then."
She lightly pushed off her toes, her nimble body flitting away like a butterfly.
"Zenitsu disappeared?!"
Tanjirou said, unwilling to believe it.
"A missing person is considered dead. It's my fault."
"If it truly is an Upper Rank, I permit you to leave now."
These individuals were too low-ranked. Uzui Tengen had never fought an Upper Rank himself. Even someone as strong as Kyojuro Rengoku, when he encountered Upper Rank Three, couldn't defeat him even with Yoizumi, and almost died.
He couldn't guarantee their safety during the fight.
Since he brought them here, he had to take responsibility.
"Staying alive is the most important thing," he said, glancing at them sideways. "Don't miss your chance to live."
Uzui Tengen disappeared from the spot after speaking.
Leaving Tanjirou and Inosuke to exchange bewildered glances on the rooftop.
"I don't think Zenitsu is dead," Tanjirou said after a long silence.
"Well, of course not! That guy isn't that weak!" Inosuke said, picking his ear with a nonchalant expression, though his tone conveyed his trust in Zenitsu.
"I believe the demon is one of the staff members here. To hide its identity, it would be extremely careful when killing, so as not to expose itself!"
"There might be a secret passage in the house, which is how it could silently abduct someone!"
Tanjirou shared his insights. He still needed to thoroughly investigate the Tokito House.
A secret passage?
That makes sense then!
"I sensed a demon's presence over there. No wonder it escaped so quickly!" Inosuke exclaimed, hitting his thigh in sudden realization, propping his chin with his hand.
"Alright, after I finish investigating my area, I'll immediately go help Inosuke tonight!"
"So, before that, please don't die!"
Inosuke smiled confidently.
"What foolish talk! This great me won't die! None of us will!"
..."Zenitsu disappeared?"
Yoizumi learned the news from Shinobu, his eyes downcast in thought.
Zenitsu's hearing was incredibly sharp; it was impossible for a demon to approach him without him noticing. He had vanished without even a hint of a struggle.
This could only mean the demon was either extremely adept at hiding, or so powerful that Zenitsu was captured before he could even react defensively.
Another troublesome demon.
"Yoizumi-nii!" Tanjirou, having changed back into his Demon Slayer Corps uniform, called out. His investigation had confirmed the existence of a secret passage. The sun was setting, and he needed to go assist Inosuke.
"I'm going to Inosuke's side. Do you want to come?"
"No, I'll stay here." The demon might come looking for him. Yoizumi only needed to wait quietly here; if it didn't come, he could always use his Blood Demon Art to assist Tanjirou.
"Understood, I'm going ahead!"
After Tanjirou left, Yoizumi felt a little uneasy and looked at Shinobu.
"Shinobu, could I ask you to help Tanjirou?"
"I'd be delighted ~"
"You be careful too," Yoizumi cautioned.
She turned her back, a faint pink smile on her lips, and disappeared into the fading glow of the setting sun.
Yoizumi's nichirin blade was hidden under the table, within easy reach. He sat upright on the cushion, motionless and silent, eyes closed.
Waiting for the sun to fully set, until the arrival of the evil demon.
A chilling presence behind him pierced his spine. Yoizumi opened his eyes.
The demon had arrived.
"What is this ~ I heard there was an incredible beauty at the Tokito House, and it turns out to be a demon." Her tone was dismissive, yet with a hint of underlying anger, the demon's breath hot at his ear.
"You! Don't you know this is my territory!"
He subtly glanced with his calm eyes. Upon seeing the characters in the female demon's eyes, he calmly faced forward.
Upper Rank Six!
"What's with your attitude? You're so arrogant!" Daki raised her hand, her sharp-nailed fingers about to poke at his eyes, which she found irritating. Her hand snapped off at the wrist, blood splattering.
"?" She recoiled her hand in pain, knitting her brows.
What happened?
Her hand suddenly broke off?
Yoizumi dodged the splashing demon blood, avoiding contamination, and looked at the scantily clad female demon before him. She had pink tattoos on her left cheek and right forehead.
"You dare to hurt me! You must be tired of living!" Daki angrily tilted her head, her green and red eyes glaring viciously at Yoizumi, the malice in her gaze as if he could see through it.
So many words, so many threats. Yoizumi inexplicably felt that the Upper Rank Six before him wasn't very clever.
She was full of openings.
A cold glint flashed in his icy blue eyes. Under Daki's puzzled gaze, he crouched slightly. Daki seemed to have misunderstood something, wrongly assuming this demon was about to kneel and beg for her forgiveness, and she laughed maliciously.
"Even if you kneel, I won't forgive you. I'll torture you horribly, and then throw you out to dry in the sun!"
His hand touched the hilt of his nichirin blade. Yoizumi exhaled a puff of white mist, his clear breathing entering Daki's ears. She seemed to notice something was wrong. This breathing... why was it so familiar?
Breath of Snow First Form: Falling Snow
The sudden drop in temperature, the biting cold, assailed Daki. Snowflakes appeared out of nowhere and melted into her eyes, followed by the agonizing pain of her neck being instantly severed.
Her eyes, bearing the mark of Upper Rank Six, widened in disbelief. A demon who could use Breathing Techniques?!
That's right, this golden-haired, blue-eyed demon, the demon who joined the Demon Slayer Corps!
The being Muzan-sama wanted to eradicate!
Found him!
Daki, whose head had been severed, actually smiled.
As long as she killed him! She could gain more of Muzan-sama's blood, more of his favor!
This demon is smiling?
Yoizumi didn't believe an Upper Rank's head could be so easily cut off. And indeed.
The head didn't turn to ash and disappear; instead, it reattached itself, grinning hideously.
"Found him! Found him!"
"I will offer your death to Muzan-sama!"
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