'Half a minute to kill a demon, two hours to find one... how are these guys so good at hiding?'
By the time Kiyokawa Izumi returned to the Butterfly Mansion, it was already noon.
The remaining two demons were far too good at hiding, and since he lacked a special sense of smell, the coverage of the Fourth Form he had created wasn't yet large enough to encompass the entire Natagumo Mountain.
After fighting Rui and collecting the blood, he had gone off to find the remaining demons—but the mockery he had imagined never happened, and those demons weren't stupid enough to just jump out and shout.
"Are you a Hashira?"
They simply had no ambition.
If they could kill him here, they might obtain more of Muzan's blood, and there would be great hope of being promoted to the Twelve Kizuki.
Searching alone was undoubtedly very inefficient.
It wasn't until dawn was about to break that he finally found the hidden Spider Demon Sister.
This one was still saying some incomprehensible things.
She said she was being forced, that she didn't want to do it.
She also said she hadn't eaten anyone since becoming a demon, and that her Blood Demon Art was entirely a gift from Rui—of course, she claimed she was forced to drink the blood Rui shared with her back then.
She spoke with such a pitiful air.
She then said she was willing to do anything as long as he spared her.
At that moment, Kiyokawa Izumi thought: 'You're using this to test a Hashira?'
Which Hashira can't withstand such a test?
Because her words were too nonsensical, Kiyokawa Izumi drew and then sheathed his blade, easily beheading her.
Having not slept all night, he was still energetic at this moment.
Before he could even step into the Butterfly Mansion, he saw someone suddenly burst out, his face covered in tears and snot.
This fellow wasn't looking where he was going either, charging straight into Kiyokawa Izumi.
"Be careful!"
Kiyokawa Izumi grabbed him, but his gaze shifted to a spot not far away—simply because he felt a strange yet powerful aura appear.
It was a thin Little Old Man; his empty right trouser leg was tied at the thigh, and below that was a pine prosthetic limb.
He wore a yellow Kimono printed with a triangular pattern; perhaps due to losing a leg, his walking speed was not fast.
The old man's hair was already completely white, and there was a prominent lightning-shaped scar on his wrinkled face, which made him look even more majestic.
His hands, with large knuckles from years of holding a sword, were leaning on a cane, the veins on the back of his hands bulging noticeably like old tree roots.
"This kind of training won't kill anyone! Aren't those Official Members all training?"
"Get back here! You idiot!"
The old man shouted in dissatisfaction as he gave chase.
Then, he naturally saw Kiyokawa Izumi, who was about to enter.
At first glance, he seemed ordinary.
Just like those common Team Members who were currently training.
But with a second look, the old man immediately recognized that this was the current Dark Hashira, whose self-created Breathing Technique seemed to be derived from Water Breathing.
A very young but very capable swordsman.
His aura was hidden very well; even he hadn't noticed it at first glance.
"Are you the Former Sound Hashira, Kuwajima Jigorō, Your Excellency?"
Kiyokawa Izumi only reacted after a brief daze.
This was probably a Butterfly Effect caused by himself.
During the Hashira Meeting, he had proposed strengthening the training for Official Members, suggesting that if they were shorthanded, they could invite the retired Former Hashira to return.
More than half a month had passed since the meeting.
Kiyokawa Izumi had long since forgotten about this—seeing the Former Sound Hashira suddenly appear here, he really didn't react for a moment.
'A Hashira from the previous generation, or perhaps the one before that?'
Kuwajima Jigorō looked to be sixty or seventy years old; with his head of white hair, he had chosen to retire at thirty-five after losing a leg.
Judging roughly, it should have been thirty or forty years ago, right?
He and the Former Water Hashira Urokodaki Sakonji should have been part of the same active generation of Hashira.
As for whether he was the strongest of the previous generation?
It was hard to judge.
He hadn't seen them take action during their Peak; judging only by the feel of their aura, they could only be described as 'not weak'.
Of course, if they really fought, the winner would definitely be Kiyokawa Izumi!
How could an old man with a broken leg who was no longer at his Peak possibly defeat Kiyokawa Izumi in his prime?
The most precious things about such a Senior were not their remaining strength, but their understanding of Breathing Techniques and their years of accumulated swordsmanship.
This experience was worth Kiyokawa Izumi's consultation.
"Kiyokawa Izumi, Your Excellency? Your achievements have even reached the ears of an old man like me; killing two Lower Ranks in succession has already far surpassed me in my younger days."
Facing such an outstanding young man, the old man was naturally extremely polite.
'A Hashira?'
'A Hashira like Gramps?'
Hearing this conversation, Zenitsu looked up blankly at Kiyokawa Izumi, who was holding him, and couldn't help but become cautious.
"Zenitsu, standing before you is one of the Nine Hashira, the current Dark Hashira who created Dark Breathing. He's about the same age as you and is already a Hashira, so why aren't you coming back to train with me?"
The old man's tone grew stern, but he didn't forget to introduce him to Kiyokawa Izumi.
"This good-for-nothing fellow is my Disciple; please excuse the embarrassment."
When he said this, his tone softened considerably.
The old man had no intention of looking down on him; on the contrary, he seemed faintly proud.
'These retired old guys are all very decent people, whether it's him or Urokodaki Sakonji!'
Seeing this scene, Kiyokawa Izumi couldn't help but think to himself.
________
I'm seriously considering taking a break; I've already published two wrong chapters.