Chapter 207 — The Human-Demon Deal
The girl stubbornly said, "I don't need your help!"
Ren chuckled.
"All right, all right. Whatever you say."
How could Ren possibly not know that Shinobu had effectively claimed him?
Even if he didn't come here, he could still find some free time to go learn Breathing Styles from Tanjiro and the others.
Shinobu, however, didn't know what Ren was thinking.
Instead, she was extremely pleased.
A smile returned to her face.
"Oh, right."
Shinobu suddenly said, "I've already contacted the Swordsmith Village."
"The village chief said he's free this afternoon. And since you're a Hashira-level member, we can go there directly."
Ren asked, "What about the slots for forging swords?"
"More than enough," Shinobu said. "I saw Master this morning, and he gave the slots to you. You can forge as many as you want."
Ren was slightly stunned.
"That many?"
Shinobu smiled.
"Of course! You're the Demon Slayer Corps' treasure now. Master will support anything you want to do without conditions!"
Ren hadn't expected himself to enjoy such enormous privileges.
But it seemed the Demon Slayer Corps really wasn't short on money!
In that case, he could truly go all out.
After a brief discussion, the two immediately decided to take Kanao to the Swordsmith Village that afternoon...
Meanwhile, on a mountain five hundred meters away from the Butterfly Mansion.
A patient who had fled earlier wore a frightened expression as he made his way deep into the forest.
The scenery along the way was lush and verdant, with the trees blocking out most of the sunlight.
Gradually, he reached an area covered in shadow.
Large pieces of timber had been deliberately arranged to block the entrance, beneath which lay a long tunnel.
A voice came from the darkness.
"You're here?"
The patient looked nervous.
"I'm here."
The voice spoke again.
"Tell me."
"Yes. Ren has returned to the Butterfly Mansion. I saw him with my own eyes."
The figure hidden in the shadows remained silent for a long time.
"I understand. You can leave now. Continue monitoring Ren's movements. Before Master arrives, make sure you find out where he is!"
"Understood."
The patient nodded in agreement.
But after saying that, he couldn't help asking, "What about the thing you promised me?"
"Hmph."
A contemptuous voice came from the shadows.
"After Ren dies, you'll naturally receive your blood reward from Master Kokushibo. Don't worry."
"Good, good, good!"
The patient nodded repeatedly.
He had been waiting for this day for a long time.
The patient's name was Luo Chuan.
He was the very same man who had fled from Ren earlier.
As for why he had made a deal with demons...
It was because he had been diagnosed with a terminal illness a month ago.
During a mission, he had visited several doctors, but none of them had been able to determine what was wrong with him.
Not only had he spent all his money, but his body had also grown weaker with each passing day.
Faced with the fear of death, he had become terrified.
That was why he wanted to become a demon.
That way, not only could he be saved, he could gain eternal life as well!
He was the one who had revealed the location of the Butterfly Mansion.
During a chance encounter on a mission, he had met a demon serving Kokushibo.
At the time, he had been unable to defeat it.
In order to beg for his life, he had revealed the Butterfly Mansion's new location.
Coincidentally, that demon also knew about Ren.
And that was how all of this had come about.
The demons' influence had already begun infiltrating the intelligence network of the Demon Slayer Corps!
The light was dim inside the shadows, making it impossible to see clearly into the depths of the darkness.
A voice continued to come from the dark abyss.
"Why are you still here?"
Luo Chuan hesitated.
After thinking for a moment, he finally spoke.
"Well... Master, I have a friend who says he also wants to join the demon family."
The figure in the shadows paused.
"Who?"
"There is a man named Kaiyue. He's very skilled with Thunder Breathing, and he's extremely strong."
"What value does he have to me?"
Luo Chuan bit his lip.
His face was pale.
After a brief internal struggle, he finally spoke.
"He knows more than I do!"
At last, the figure in the shadows became interested.
"Tell me."
Luo Chuan fell silent again.
An unpleasant voice came from the shadow demon.
"Speak. Your master will naturally give you more blood!"
A brilliant smile spread across Luo Chuan's face.
"Yes, yes, yes."
Luo Chuan knew that he had to pique the demon's interest enough if he wanted to gain anything from the deal.
However, once that happened, the demon would probably forget all about him within the span of a meal.
So Luo Chuan had found a balance.
A man named Kaiyue had happened to approach him.
If Luo Chuan wasn't going to gain anything from it, why would he introduce Kaiyue?
Luo Chuan said, "His name is Kaiyue. He's a disciple of the former Sound Hashira. He's very strong and is one of the few swordsmen who have mastered a Breathing Style."
"He's been in the Demon Slayer Corps for a long time, so he knows about many places that I don't."
For a member like Luo Chuan, he basically only knew the Butterfly Mansion.
He didn't know the exact locations of places such as the Swordsmith Village or the Ubuyashiki Estate.
Normally, the master would also contact the various members through Kasugai Crows.
But Kaiyue was different.
He had previously traveled to many places with the former Sound Hashira.
Hashira possessed extremely high authority and could travel to practically any location.
Kaiyue had probably been to several such places.
Sure enough, when the shadow demon heard Luo Chuan's information, its expression immediately brightened.
It was also a weak demon, but it had dreams of its own.
Its dream was to become one of the next Lower Ranks.
It had long heard that there were many vacancies among the Twelve Kizuki.
So the shadow demon wanted to make a good impression as well.
Recently, while working under Kokushibo, it had encountered Luo Chuan.
It knew that it might not be far from becoming a Lower Rank demon.
And as it turned out, the current situation did not disappoint it.
"Tell me. What does that man named Kaiyue know?"
Luo Chuan raised his head, his eyes filled with mystery.
"For example... the location of the Ubuyashiki Estate."
That afternoon, the sun gradually became unbearably hot.
Before the seasons changed, the lingering strength of the autumn tiger was still formidable.
Ren, Shinobu, and Kanao set off for the Swordsmith Village.
It wasn't long before sweat began to form on their bodies.
However, they weren't the ones sweating.
Several members of the Kakushi were.
Because of the secrecy surrounding the Swordsmith Village, Ren and the others were escorted to and from the village by members of the Kakushi.
But only Kanao had her eyes covered.
According to the rules of the Kakushi, members at the Hashira level or above did not need to have their eyes covered.
And the only person here who wasn't a Hashira was Kanao.
So Kanao's eyes were blindfolded.
Ren looked at the Kakushi member carrying him on his back.
Seeing the man drenched in sweat, Ren asked with concern, "Are you all right? Or would it be better if I got down and walked for a while?"
"No need! It's our honor to serve Lord Dragon Hashira!"
The Kakushi member carrying Ren wore an excited expression, as though he were carrying his own bride.
Seeing the man's excited expression, the female Kakushi members carrying Shinobu and Kanao couldn't help casting envious looks in their direction.
By now, Ren's achievements were known throughout every branch of the Demon Slayer Corps.