A dimensional journey starting from the Dragon Clan

Chapter 393 386. Come on, no one will stop you this time

Yae raised the shotgun again and aimed at the figure rushing towards her.

"Since you can no longer transform from a beast back to a human, then at least I, as a Mata ghost, can shoot..."

But is it really impossible to turn back into a human?

Seeing the familiar faces getting closer and closer, Yae had doubts in his heart.

The face that should have always been kind and gentle in her eyes had now become ferocious.

She knew that the creature in front of her was no longer her father, but a man-eating monster.

Those companions who were also "yougui" were eaten by their father who turned into a ghost, but why was she the only one still alive?

Thinking of this, Yae's heart was shaken, and his finger on the trigger began to tremble.

"Is it true that ghosts can't turn back into humans?"

There is still a glimmer of hope in her heart.

Because her father ran away from her when he turned into a ghost. He must have run away because he still remembered her as a daughter, right?

"Dad, you still remember me, right?"

Her father failed to answer her question and threw her to the ground.

Yae pressed the gun barrel against the blood-stained mouth, with despair in her eyes. She seemed to be eaten, by her own father.

"But why... didn't you eat me too then?"

Suddenly, the force coming from his hand became lighter.

Yae looked at his ferocious father in front of him with some surprise.

It is impossible for human strength to fight against ghosts, let alone a weak girl.

After this ghost knocked down Yae, it did not tear her body apart with its sharp claws, nor did it bite her desperately, otherwise the girl would never escape the fate of death.

Ghosts are intelligent creatures, not pure beasts, and it would be too easy to kill a girl.

But Yae did not die because this ghost was struggling desperately.

He roared in pain while biting the barrel of the shotgun, and Yae could vaguely hear what he was roaring about.

"Eight...heavy..."

It was calling her name.

"Dad, he still remembers me!"

Hope appeared in Yae's eyes again.

But the next moment, her father could no longer control his bloodthirsty impulse and tremblingly raised his hand whose muscles had swelled due to the ghost transformation.

There was still congealed blood on the sharp nails, and his hand was trembling as he was about to swing it down.

Yae looked at this scene in despair. Suddenly she didn't want to resist anymore. She closed her eyes and waited for death to come.

"bass--"

The sound of swords sounded.

Yae felt a strong wind whistling above him, followed by a painful scream.

She opened her eyes in a daze and saw a figure holding a knife standing in front of her.

Her father had been forced back some distance, covering his severed arm and screaming in pain.

But the scream didn't last long, because the broken arm was growing a new hand at a speed visible to the naked eye.

"What a coincidence, Miss Yae."

Butterfly Nin's gentle voice sounded in the dazed Yae's ears.

"You... you..."

Yae's voice was trembling, not knowing what to say.

"Butterfly?"

Tomioka Giyu, who was confronting the ghost, noticed the movement behind him, and quickly realized that the Butterfly Ninja was chasing him.

"Since you're here... then Miss Yae, I'll leave it to you..."

"Are you sure? Mr. Tomioka. If you do this, girls will be hated. Why don't you let me do it? Use my poison to gently send him to hell."

The Butterfly Ninja smiled and pulled out the Nichirin Sword from her waist. The words "Evil Demon Killing" engraved on the sword made Yae's pupils beside her shrink sharply.

"etc!"

Before he could get up from the ground, Yae desperately pulled on the Butterfly Ninja's clothes.

"What are you waiting for?" Butterfly Ninja asked expressionlessly, "We are the Demon Slayer Squad, responsible for hunting ghosts, and you are the Mata Demon. It is your responsibility to hunt bears. There is nothing to say between us, right? Or... …You’re going to tell us…that he’s a bear?”

"He... is my father." Yae gritted his teeth and lay on the ground, holding the white snow on the ground tightly in his hands.

"You should know very well, right?"

"It is already a monster beyond the human category. Being shot in the head with a gun or having its hands and feet chopped off has no effect. It is a ghost."

Tomioka Giyuu also had an expressionless face. He slowly raised his Nichirin sword and pointed at the struggling figure in front of him.

He has been following the girl in order to make the girl realize that the creature in front of him is no longer human before taking action.

I originally thought it would make sense to let this girl go through the scene just now, but now it seems that it still doesn't make sense. It's really difficult to communicate with others...

"You have to make up your mind, he is no longer your father. Allowing him to continue will kill more people."

"But……"

Yae looked hesitantly at the ghost in front of her who had recovered as before. She had clearly heard her father calling her name just now.

"..."

Tomioka Giyuu stopped talking and silently held the Nichirin Sword and rushed towards the ghost in front of him.

"Ah ah ah ah ah--"

Looking at Tomioka Giyu charging towards him with a knife, the ghost roared angrily.

From just now, Yae's father has completely lost his mind and turned into a man-eating ghost.

Sharp bone blades sprouted from his arms, and he waved his hands violently.

With a crisp cracking sound, the bone blade spun and flew towards Tomioka Giyu.

Tomioka Giyuu raised his knife without changing his expression and deflected the flying bone blade away. The next moment he appeared in front of the ghost.

"call--"

Mist-like air exhaled from Tomioka Giyu's mouth.

He sighed slightly and slowly raised the Sun Blade in his hand.

The breath of water, the four forms, the tide.

"puff……"

The sharp blade hit the neck of the ghost in front of him like a tide. The blood scattered and condensed in the wind and snow, and the head rolled to the ground.

"it's over."

Tomioka Giyu looked expressionlessly at the dissipating body lying on the ground, then turned his head and looked in the direction of Yae.

The Butterfly Ninja also lowered his head slightly, looking at Yae with a somewhat sad face.

She knew that this girl should be sad now and needed someone to comfort her, but as soon as she lowered her head, she was frightened by the scene in front of her.

"Yeah...it's finally...over..."

Yae took off her shoes with a look of despair on her face. The muzzle of the long-barreled shotgun was already pressed against her own neck. She clamped the shotgun between her legs and put her toes on the trigger.

"I can finally... be freed."

"Butterfly!"

Tomioka Giyuu in the distance roared to remind Butterfly Ninja.

But by the time the butterfly ninja reacted, it was already too late.

This girl has already set up her stance, and all she has to do next is to pull the trigger. Even if she is only one step away from this girl, it is impossible to catch up.

"Click——"

The trigger made a jamming sound.

Yae's eyes were slightly stunned, as if he was a little confused as to why he couldn't pull the trigger.

Before she could react, a big hand snatched the shotgun from her arms.

Yae, who lost her shotgun, fell to the ground helplessly, tears constantly pouring from her eyes.

"Why?"

"Why?"

"Why did you choose this time..."

"I usually take good care of myself..."

"Why don't you let me die?"

She covered her face and cried.

"My father became a cannibal. Everyone was eaten. Even Taro, who was with me in the end, is gone. Everything is gone. Why not let me die?"

"What do you know? Leave me alone...just let me be like this..."

"Snapped--"

A clear slap sounded.

Everyone present, including Yae, was stunned.

Butterfly Ninja and Tomioka Giyu were surprised, while Yae was stunned.

"You..." Yae looked at the man who suddenly appeared in front of him with some confusion.

This man not only took the shotgun from her hand, but also slapped her inexplicably.

"I don't usually hit women."

Xuan Hao expressionlessly put the handle of the shotgun in front of Yae, "This slap is for your father."

"What did you say?"

Yae couldn't understand what the man in front of him meant.

She just stared blankly at the shotgun handed to her.

The trigger was frozen with coagulated blood. No wonder she failed to pull the trigger.

This blood was obviously not her own. There was only one person bleeding here from beginning to end, and that was her father who had turned to ashes.

"You are very lucky to have a chance to choose again."

Xuan Hao shook the handle of the gun gently, and the clotted blood was dispersed.

He handed the shotgun back to the girl's hand, "Come on, no one will stop you this time."

"Hey you……"

The Butterfly Ninja was a little surprised when he saw Xuan Hao's actions. He stretched out his hand to stop it, but was forced to shut up by Xuan Hao's cold eyes.

"Think clearly, once the trigger is pulled, there will be no turning back. This opportunity will not come back again."

After the girl caught the shotgun, Xuan Hao slowly released his hand holding the shotgun, stood up and turned around to leave.

"Mr. Xuanhao..."

The Butterfly Ninja looked at Xuan Hao walking in front of him with some confusion.

"Let's go, you can't guard her all your life and not commit suicide." Xuan Hao didn't look back.

"..."

Butterfly Ninja was silent for a while, with a sad expression on his face.

She slowly turned around to keep up with Xuan Hao, "Miss Yae, please live strong..."

Xuan Hao is right. If this girl really wants to die, no one can stop her. She can't guard this girl for the rest of her life. She can't do anything except say some words of comfort.

Tomioka Giyu put the Nichirin sword back into its sheath, with a sad expression on his face.

He followed the pace of the two people in front of him and walked down the mountain. When passing by the girl, he hesitated and stopped.

"I saw what he said before disappearing...probably - 'You have to live well'."

"..."

Yae silently sat on his knees in the snow holding the shotgun, looking ahead in a daze.

"Hey! You two guys!"

The three of them walked down the mountain in silence.

In the end, Butterfly Ninja couldn't help it anymore. She couldn't understand why these two men could be so calm.

"Why are you so calm?"

At this moment, the two men had frosty expressions on their faces, and it seemed that they would not frown even if gunfire rang out again from behind.

"Don't forget...the butterfly." Tomioka Giyuu replied calmly, "We are 'pillars'."

"What does this have to do with Pillar?" Butterfly Ninja frowned.

"..."

Tomioka Giyuu was silent for a while.

He recalled the teachings of Rin Taki-sensei.

Teacher Linlong taught him the 'breathing of water'. Water breathing is a defensive technique that can deal with any attack. But to master it, you must keep a calm mind, as calm as the real water.

If you want to become a swordsman of the Demon Slayer Corps who is stronger than anyone else, if you want to become the 'pillar' of the Demon Slayer Corps, you must always keep your mind stable, as calm and steady as the water's surface.

He cannot waver, because this is necessary, Zhu will not be defeated, and Yiyong will not waver.

In order to protect more important people, he must not waver.

"No matter what happens, my heart will not be shaken. Swordsmen who are stronger than anyone else, we are the 'pillars' of the Demon Slayer Corps, literally. Because of this, we cannot forget ourselves. Who do you wield your sword for, and what do you exist to protect?"

Tomioka Giyuu looked at the Butterfly Ninja calmly.

"For what you want to protect... it is necessary to kill ghosts. Even if you kill the girl's father in front of her face... you cannot waver."

Butterfly Ninja was slightly stunned.

She opened her mouth to refute, but found that she couldn't seem to find the words to refute. ,

Yes, they are pillars, and this is the right thing to do. Every swordsman of the Demon Slayer Corps shoulders the mission of saving mankind and fights with consciousness. If they are even shaken as pillars, then what? How to defeat ghosts?

But Butterfly Ninja was still a little unwilling.

That's not what she's angry about!

She caught up with Xuan Hao and tugged on his sleeve, "Why did you give her the gun back!? Even if she wanted to commit suicide, you didn't need to hand her the weapon, right?"

She saw with her own eyes that this man dispersed the blood that had condensed on the trigger, and that gun was now a deadly weapon. Their duty is obviously to save people. In this case... what is the difference between them and accomplices in murder?

"Because she won't kill herself again."

Xuan Hao replied calmly.

"Why? How do you know?" Butterfly Ninja was completely confused.

Xuan Hao just shook his head slowly and did not answer.

······

"You have to live well."

Hearing this familiar voice, Yae fell into a daze.

She looked at the illusory figure in front of her and subconsciously rubbed her eyes.

"Am I dreaming?" Her voice trembled.

"Does it still hurt?"

The figure in front of her gently leaned down and stretched out her hand as if to caress her cheek.

But the illusory hand could not touch her.

pain? correct!

Yae suddenly remembered that he seemed to have been slapped by that man, and there was still a red mark on his face to this day.

She touched her cheek gently.

"hiss--"

Because of the wind and snow, her frozen face was a little numb, but she felt severe pain at the slightest touch. The slap was so hard that her face seemed to be swollen.

But...since she can feel pain, it means that what she sees now is real!

"Wow ah ah ah ah..."

Looking at the illusory figure in front of him, Yae couldn't help crying anymore.

"Silly boy, don't come to me in such a hurry..."

The father smiled and looked at the crying Yae. He wanted to reach out and wipe away the tears from the corners of his daughter's eyes, but found that he seemed unable to do so.

"hehe……"

He stood up slowly.

The wind and snow had stopped at some point, a wisp of white appeared on the horizon, and the winter sun slowly rose.

The already transparent shadow became lighter in the sunlight.

He looked at the snow-capped mountains that gave birth to their ghosts. After the ice and snow melted, it should be a vibrant scene again.

"Ye..." He called his daughter's name softly, "Spring will come soon. You are the daughter of Mata, don't forget how I taught you..."

Yae stared blankly at his father's disappearing figure, holding the shotgun in his hand with tears in his eyes.

"Since you have killed...you must live well..."

They were "Yougui", children raised in the mountains and forests. The man's slap to her might have really been for his father.

······

"Where should we go next?"

Returning to Suyi under the snow-capped mountains, Butterfly Ninja subconsciously asked the man next to him.

Yan Ya has not assigned any new tasks yet. Normally, this man would decide where to go next.

"..."

On the side, Tomioka Giyuu looked at the conversation between Butterfly Ninja and this man with some confusion.

He had never asked this man's name before, firstly because he didn't like communicating with others, and secondly because he thought this man was just a hidden man who happened to come to Butterfly Ninja to perform a mission.

After all, the Butterfly Ninja is a pillar, and is also responsible for the affairs of Butterfly Residence, so it is normal for him to have contact with Yin.

But now it seems that it is not as simple as he thought.

Because he found that these two people seemed to be taking the lead in their actions!

But in his impression, there is no such man in the Nine Pillars. So who else in the Demon Slayer Squad besides the Lord can direct the actions of the pillars?

"Could he be Butterfly's elder?" Tomioka Yoshiyong thought in his mind and shook his head again. It doesn't look like that. He looks too young.

"Boy friend?"

He shook his head again. It didn't look like there was any intimacy between the two people. They even kept a distance while walking.

"Could it be..."

Tomioka Giyuu remembered that Butterfly seemed to have a sister. Before he became a water pillar, Butterfly's sister seemed to be a 'flower pillar', but he heard that his eyes were injured and he could not continue to perform the task.

I heard that the two sisters had been working together when the butterfly ninja's sister was still a flower. Could it be that this was the person who was worried that his sister would be in danger when she acted alone, so he placed someone beside her?

Tomioka Giyu nodded slightly. He felt that his idea should be correct. So this man... is Butterfly's brother-in-law?

"Mr. Tomioka?"

The butterfly ninja's voice interrupted Tomioka Giyu's thoughts.

"Why are you standing there? It's dawn, let's go have breakfast together and then make plans?"

"Um……"

Tomioka Giyuu nodded slightly and followed the pace of the two of them.

Xuan Hao and Butterfly Nin looked at each other, a little confused.

I have no idea what this taciturn 'Water Pillar' is thinking.

The three of them came to sit down in a steaming shop in Suyi.

"Come on, three guests, here's what you ordered."

After a while, the store manager came to the three of them with a plate and presented the food they ordered.

"Please enjoy."

After the store manager left with the plate.

Butterfly Ninja looked at the bowl in front of Xuan Hao curiously.

"It looks so simple...Does Mr. Xuanhao like such ordinary food? It's rare to come to a decent shop."

When they were on missions together, they spent most of their time eating dry food. They rarely had the opportunity to come to the store to enjoy food quietly like this.

What was placed in front of Xuanhao was just an ordinary bowl of ramen, and even Tomioka Giyu, who looked so rigid, was served salmon stewed radish. Thinking of this, she looked at Tomioka Giyuu again.

"!?"

Butterfly Ninja was surprised to find that at this moment, Tomioka Yoshiyuki's face actually showed a smile like a normal man. It seems that delicious food can really make people feel at ease.

"Okay, eat your food quickly."

Xuan Hao reminded the butterfly ninja who had not yet moved his chopsticks.

"After dinner it's almost time for us to say goodbye."

"Um……"

Tomioka Giyu took a sip of the soup and nodded in agreement.

Under normal circumstances, Zhu has his own area of ​​responsibility. It was just a coincidence that they met this time. Now that the task has been completed, it is time to split up.

"Huh? Are you really leaving?"

Butterfly Ninja looked at Xuan Hao in surprise.

"..." Tomioka Giyuu shut his mouth. Well, it turned out he wasn't talking to me. It's really hard to read his words.

"Of course, do you think I'm kidding you?"

Xuan Hao replied calmly, "I also have my own things to do. With your current strength, it will be no problem as long as you don't meet the Ghost of the Wind. Even if you do... it shouldn't be a big problem to escape. You don't need me to continue to follow you." ?Your sister asked me to follow you just because she was afraid that you were not strong enough to protect yourself."

"Right……"

The Butterfly Ninja fell into silence.

Tomioka Giyu, who was drinking soup at the side, closed his eyes and listened to the conversation between the two, which further confirmed his guess that this man should have some kind of relationship with his ex "Hanagi".

Just...a hidden protection 'pillar'?

He was a little confused. Could it be that there are any powerful people among the "hidden" people? I've never heard of it... Whether it's the ordinary swordsmen of the Demon Slayer Corps or Hashira's impression, Yin is someone whose strength cannot meet the standards to become a swordsman. Could it be said that Yin is different now from before?

Tomioka Giyuu frowned. Although he had just become a pillar not long ago, he already had a thorough understanding of the Demon Slayer Corps.

Even he, who is the pillar, didn't know about this matter, which meant that it should be a very confidential matter, otherwise the lord would not fail to inform him.

"If I have a chance later, I'll ask Teacher Linlong if he knows. If it really doesn't work, please let me know...\

,"Thinking of this, Tomioka Yoshiyuki finished the contents of the bowl in two or three times.

"Then...I'll take my leave now."

He stood up slowly and held back these words for a long time.

"Okay, Mr. Tomioka, be careful when performing your mission."

The butterfly ninja smiled and waved his little hands.

"Um……"

Tomioka Giyuu nodded slightly and prepared to find the store manager to pay the bill.

"shop……"

"Uncle! I'll treat the three of them to dinner."

A female voice came from the door.

"Oh! Yae!"

The store manager looked up with a smile when he heard the familiar voice, but when he saw Yae's dusty appearance and the redness and swelling on his face, the smile on his face disappeared instantly.

"You girl, sneaked up the mountain again?"

"How many times have we told you!? Don't run up the mountain, it's very dangerous!"

The store manager stopped what he was doing and scolded the girl who lowered her head, looking very annoyed.

But in the eyes of Xuan Hao and others, they felt unusually warm. Even Tomioka Giyu, who was about to leave, was stunned when he saw this scene, and the expression on his face became much softer.

"The things your father caused...and the problem about the man-eating bear, the adults will find a way to solve it. You girl, just stay at home peacefully for us, do you understand?"

"knew……"

Yae's eyes were a little moist and he nodded gently.

"I know I was wrong."

"well……"

The store manager sighed and continued to do what he was doing.

This is a poor child.

An inn built like this at the foot of a mountain is easily attacked by wild beasts. In addition to making a living by hunting, the Youguis also have the job of protecting the villagers.

Not only do they not have to worry about the village being attacked by wild beasts, but they can also get some specialties from the mountains.

Although the Youguis just follow their own way of making a living, the people here are still very grateful to the Youguis.

Therefore, they almost always take good care of the orphan left by this 'Yougui'.

"What do you mean everything is gone? Don't you still have a lot of people who care about you?"

Xuan Hao looked at the girl who came to him and asked with a smile.

"Are you still planning to commit suicide?"

"No..."

Yae touched his face gently, "Sir, is this slap really for my father?"

She looked straight at the man in front of her, as if she wanted to confirm something.

"Yes." Xuan Hao nodded slightly and gave a positive answer.

He was indeed 'commissioned' to hit this girl. He could resonate with the soul, and of course he would be affected by such a soul full of obsessions wandering in the world.

The father's soul did not dissipate after his death because he was worried about his daughter.

When he saw his daughter pointing the gun at him, the desperate father could only keep calling from the side.

The person who responded to this father was Xuan Hao.

That slap was not just a slap to the face, it also allowed the girl to see her father.

This is the true use of the power Lu Mingfei gave him.

"Do you still have any doubts?" Xuan Hao asked with a smile.

Yae shook her head. She didn't know whether it was because of shame or because the swelling on her face had not gone away, but her cheeks were still red.

"I know I was wrong. Sir, this slap woke me up. Thank you!"

She bowed deeply to the man in front of her.

The butterfly ninja and Tomioka Giyuu on the side looked at each other with confusion on their faces.

They didn't understand what happened at all. It turned out that someone was actually beaten and said thank you... But this seemed to solve the problem satisfactorily?

"Okay, I have received your thank you gift."

Xuanhao tapped the noodle bowl lightly and signaled Yae, who was bowing, to stand up.

Then he put down the chopsticks in his hand and greeted the Butterfly Ninja and Tomioka Giyu beside him, "It's time for us to go."

"Hmm..." The two of them nodded in response.

"Safe travels."

Yae waved gently to the three people leaving the shop.

"elder brother……"

The three of them had just walked out of Suyi, when Xuanhao, who was walking in the front, suddenly stopped.

He raised his head and looked at the vast white snow-capped mountains in the distance.

"What's wrong?"

Butterfly Ninja looked at Xuan Hao who suddenly stopped with some confusion.

"Let's say goodbye right here."

Xuan Hao turned around and waved to the two of them.

"well!?"

Butterfly Ninja opened his mouth, but before he could say anything, the man in front of him suddenly disappeared from the spot.

"So fast……"

Tomioka Giyuu stared at the place where the man disappeared and his eyes narrowed slightly.

He failed to see clearly how the man left, it was so fast that it was unbelievable.

"Who is he?"

Tomioka Giyu finally couldn't help the doubts in his heart and asked the Butterfly Ninja.

"..."

Butterfly Ninja looked at the place where the figure disappeared in front of him in silence.

The man walked in a hurry.

This was the first time she saw that anxious look in this man's eyes.

There must be something urgent, right?

The Butterfly Ninja shook his head slightly, then turned to look at Tomioka Giyu with some confusion, "You don't know?"

"..."

Tomioka Giyuu didn't know why, "I...should know?"

"It shouldn't be."

The Butterfly Ninja suddenly remembered what his sister had said. It seemed that Mr. Xuanhao's identity was only known to the lords and Hashira in the past, and Tomioka Giyuu had just become Hashira, so the lord probably hadn't told him about this yet...

No, it should be said that the lord deliberately did not tell him.

The fewer people who know about this man's awakening, the better. Even the original few pillars probably don't know that this legendary man has woken up now. As for the new ‘pillars’ who were unknown from the beginning, it would be best for them to remain unaware.

"Mr. Tomioka had better not mention anything about him to anyone. This is an order from the Lord."

Butterfly Ninja said with a serious face.

"..."

Tomioka Yiyu nodded silently, "I understand."

He felt that the butterfly ninja's worries might be a bit unnecessary...because few people would take the initiative to talk to him.

······

Rapid and heavy footsteps sounded in the snow-covered mountain forest.

The boy with the scar on his forehead walked in a panic, leaving deep footprints on the snow with every step he took.

The reason why his steps were so heavy was because he was carrying his sister on his back.

The reason why he was panicking was because his sister was going to die.

"Don't die! Nezuko..."

Kamado Tanjiro was sweating profusely and called to his sister, "Don't die!"

"Brother will not let you die, brother will find a way to save you..."

He was breathing heavily, with tears in his eyes. The long journey had left him a little exhausted, but he couldn't stop.

Because Nezuko's body was still warm, and he didn't know how long this situation would last. Every moment he was slow, he was afraid that his sister's life would be in danger.

"Why did things become like this..."

"Why did it become like this?"

Tears kept pouring out of the corners of Tanjiro's eyes, but he didn't even have time to wipe the tears while carrying his sister. The cold air in the winter condensed the tears on his face, causing his cheeks to hurt.

He just goes down the mountain to sell charcoal...

Why did this happen overnight?

Yesterday, when he was about to rush back to the mountains after selling charcoal, Grandpa Saburo, a woodcutter at the foot of the mountain, asked him to stay one night before going into the mountains.

It was said that 'ghosts' might appear in the mountains at night. He remembered that his grandmother had told him such a legend before she passed away.

But it's just a legend. Tanjiro has never really seen a 'ghost' since he was a child, and he still hasn't seen one until now, so it's just a legend.

But when he returned home early the next morning...it was too late.

When happiness is broken, there is always the smell of blood.

The strong smell of blood stimulated Tanjiro's already sensitive nose.

He walked into the woods not far from his home and began to realize something was wrong.

When he rushed home and saw the scene at home, he felt what real despair was for the first time.

Dead... all dead...

He didn't know what happened, but everything he saw told him that his family was dead.

Mom, Hanako, Takekuma, Amao, Sixth Tai...

The cold corpses and scarlet blood painted a picture of hell in his home.

The only one who could feel that there was still a glimmer of hope was Nezuko, who he was currently carrying.

"Don't die... Nezuko..."

Tanjiro gasped for air, prayed silently, and ran towards the town with heavy steps under his feet.

Only Nezuko still had a trace of body temperature left in her body. If she could find a doctor, she might be able to be saved.

"Why did things turn out like this... Could it be a bear? Is a bear out of hibernation coming out?"

No one could answer his question.

He could only keep running with the doubts in his heart. Even if he was out of breath and the cold air stung his lungs, he still couldn't stop.

Not only could he not stop, he had to find a way to go faster. After all, it was still a long way from the town, and he didn't want his only relative to die like this.

"Brother will definitely find a way to save you..."

Tanjiro panted and ran.

He didn't notice any abnormal changes happening in his sister.

······

"Is it this direction?"

It was obviously daytime but the sky was covered with haze.

In the mountains covered with ice and snow, a figure was moving so fast that no one could see him clearly. If the snow hadn't rolled up like a long dragon, no one would have noticed his passing.

The snow and wind roared across the sky, and the sharp wind blew on Xuan Hao's face, but his expression was gloomy and he didn't care.

"This is the direction..."

A familiar voice echoed in Xuan Hao's ears.

It was his sister's voice.

Not long ago, his sister heard a cry for help.

It was a girl with a soul fragment who was in danger, so he immediately set off in this direction.

But an ominous premonition kept lingering in his heart, and he couldn't get rid of it. It seemed that something bad was happening or might have happened...

······

"Dong-dong-dong-"

It seemed like something was coming.

The mountain suddenly became restless, and Tanjiro sniffed. He smelled the smell of uneasiness. It seemed that the hibernating animals were awakened by something unexpected, and the uneasiness exuding from them filled the entire forest.

Tanjiro stopped.

"What's coming this way?"

He was a little confused. He was very sure that something was coming. An indescribable smell was approaching here. It seemed to be a human... but it was different from ordinary people...

The smell was mingled with anxiety and a hint of unspeakable anger.

"Ah, oh, oh, oh, oh -"

"!?" Tanjiro's attention was nervously focused on the thing approaching rapidly in front of him, and he didn't notice anything strange about Nezuko on his back until he heard the shrill horn sound.

"Nezuko!? What's wrong with you?"

He turned around in panic.

And Nezuko on him kept struggling, causing him to lose his balance.

Tanjiro, who was walking on the mountain road, suddenly slipped and fell down the mountain with Nezuko.

"boom--"

The sound of falling sounded.

Tanjiro looked at the sky in fear.

"I'm not dead yet?"

He quickly climbed up from the ground, leaving marks on the snow when he fell.

It was the thick snow that saved his life.

"Nezuko!?"

Before he could confirm the extent of his injuries, he began to call his sister's name anxiously.

Because his sister was injured and was weaker than him. She fell from such a high place...

"!?"

Tanjiro looked at the familiar figure not far away in surprise.

Who is Nezuko, if not his sister?

But he was surprised to see Nezuko, who was supposed to be dying, now standing up.

"Nezuko! Are you okay?"

Tanjiro anxiously dragged his bruised body over and ran over, "Don't force yourself to stand up! It's my brother... who will carry you to the town to see a doctor, right?"

"Nezuko..."

Tanjiro slowed down as he approached Nezuko.

He hesitantly reached out his hand to figure out Nezuko's condition.

There seemed to be something wrong with Nezuko's appearance, because... he felt that there seemed to be a subtle change in the smell of his sister.

"Ouch——"

Suddenly, Nezuko raised her head.

There were some bloodshot eyes in those cherry-colored pupils, and clearly visible meridians appeared on the originally beautiful face. What surprised Tanjiro the most was... the fangs that appeared in his mouth at some point!

Seeing his sister rushing toward him, Tanjiro suddenly realized something.

"It's a ghost."

He suddenly recalled this creature that he thought was just a legend.

"Nezuko is... a man-eating ghost?"

The next moment, Tanjiro rejected this idea.

This is impossible. He knows his sister best. Nezuko is a human being. She has been a human since birth. How could the sister he watched grow up be a ghost?

Although this smell... definitely did not belong to the Nezuko he knew, but he was sure that he would not admit it wrong. This was his sister, and it could not be Nezuko who killed his family, because when he returned home, he found Nezuko was lying at the door protecting the sixth wife, her mouth and hands were clean without any trace of blood.

"ah--"

Before he could think carefully, the demonized Nezuko had already pounced on Tanjiro.

Tanjiro gritted his teeth and took out the ax that was no longer used for chopping firewood from his waist, and pressed the handle of the ax against Nezuko's biting mouth.

But the power coming from Nezuko is getting stronger and stronger.

Tanjiro was horrified to find that his sister's body was expanding, her muscles were bulging, and her strength had already exceeded the level of a normal person.

The hands pressing on him became harder and harder, and he could even hear the bones in his body creaking under pressure.

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