Upon reaching the foot of Mount Sagiri, Kurozawa looked up at the familiar mountain and activated his Fighting Spirit Domain.
However, to his surprise, Sakonji Urokodaki was not within his Fighting Spirit Domain. The entire Mount Sagiri only contained the presence of two junior brothers and two junior sisters.
"Where did Master go?"
After formally retiring and no longer serving as the Water Pillar of the Demon Slayer Corps, Sakonji Urokodaki's busy life suddenly became much more relaxed. He went from not necessarily being on Mount Sagiri for even a single day within ten-odd days to staying on the mountain daily, training and teaching his junior brothers and sisters.
His absence from the mountain like this was quite rare.
However, Kurozawa didn't think too much about it. He simply took Hongyue and ascended the mountain along the familiar path.
Along the way, they also passed the Ruined Shrine where he had formally slain his first Demon.
The Torii Barrier Gate in front of the shrine was still the same. A lot of the red paint on its surface had peeled off, leaving its color mottled and showing a sense of dilapidation and decay.
He remembered how he had psychologically tormented a Demon there to test the Power of Despair.
What was its name again?
Kurozawa stopped his steps, thought for a moment, and realized he had forgotten the Demon's name.
"Was this shrine ever prosperous?" Seeing Kurozawa gazing silently at the desolate, shadow-shrouded shrine, Hongyue also looked closely and then asked curiously.
"It was here that I first fought a Demon," Kurozawa said with a light chuckle to Hongyue.
Hongyue looked into Kurozawa's eyes and said, "Hmm, did you feel fear or nervousness for the first time then?"
Kurozawa recalled for a while, then shook his head. "There was some nervousness, but fear... I've rarely genuinely felt fear."
"Because I believe the worst possible outcome is nothing more than being shattered and dying."
Coincidentally, Kurozawa wasn't particularly afraid of death, perhaps because he had already experienced the fear and torment of watching death approach step by step in his previous life.
What he feared was his own weakness, the powerlessness and unwillingness of being able to only watch everything happen without being able to change reality.
In Kurozawa's heart, this was perhaps the greatest despair.
A few minutes later, Kurozawa and Hongyue walked to where the junior brothers and sisters were gathered according to his Fighting Spirit perception.
He looked at the four figures ahead, opened his mouth, and called out, "Hey, long time no see, did you miss me?"
The figures first trembled slightly, then quickly turned around.
However, to Kurozawa's slight surprise, he didn't see obvious joy on the faces of his junior brothers and sisters.
Only Hanada Shizuka, ignoring the surrounding atmosphere, jumped up and cheered, "Yay, Senior Disciple is back!"
She jogged all the way to Kurozawa's side, then stopped with a sudden brake, her eyes sizing up Hongyue, showing an expression of admiration and envy. Then she looked at Kurozawa and said, "Um, Senior Disciple, we were just talking about you, and you're back just in time."
"But..."
With a look of 'I knew it,' Hanada Shizuka said dismissively, "As expected, you couldn't resist the temptation of beauty."
Kurozawa's eyes widened, and he raised his hand, saying, "What are you saying? Are you missing my fists?"
Hanada Shizuka made a face and said with a giggle, "Would you really hit me?"
Sighing helplessly, Kurozawa pointed at Hongyue. "This is your sister-in-law. From now on, call her Big Sister Hongyue." Then, turning to look at Hongyue, Kurozawa introduced her. "Hanada Shizuka, my youngest junior sister on Mount Sagiri."
After some thought, Kurozawa still lightning-fast tapped Hanada Shizuka on the head, adding with disdain, "And also the most useless junior sister."
"Wah, how could you say that!" Hanada Shizuka covered her head aggrievedly after being tapped twice in a row.
"She's very cute," Hongyue said with a smile before Kurozawa could speak.
She also showed patience and gentleness towards the people around Kurozawa.
After suddenly being praised, Hanada Shizuka's face flushed, and then she looked at Hongyue and said sincerely, "Big Sister Hongyue, you are truly beautiful."
Hongyue's smile deepened, and she looked at Kurozawa.
Kurozawa understood her gaze; it meant, This junior sister of yours is quite interesting.
I think she's quite silly, Kurozawa looked back. Sabito, Makomo, and Iguro Obanai were all standing there without moving, their expressions constantly changing.
Stepping forward, Kurozawa smiled and said, "What's wrong? Don't you welcome your Senior Disciple back?"
"Of course we welcome you! Do you have any presents, Senior Disciple?" Hanada Shizuka, who had followed along, asked with a giggle.
However, besides her cheerful voice, no one else responded. The scene became awkward for a moment, with only the faint sound of the wind remaining.
Sabito sighed almost imperceptibly, looked at Kurozawa, and said with a complex tone, "Senior Disciple, Master was taken to headquarters by the Hidden Slayer Corps."
The face of that stubborn old man flashed through his mind. Kurozawa's heart tightened, and he pressed, "Why?"
Sabito closed his mouth and lowered his head.
Turning to look at Makomo, Kurozawa's eyes narrowed slightly, and his voice became calm. "Makomo, tell me, what reason did the Hidden Slayer Corps use to take Master?"
Makomo's brows furrowed slightly, her heart caught in a struggle and confusion.
Her gaze constantly shifted between Kurozawa's familiar and reliable face and Hongyue's stunning beauty. She opened her mouth several times but couldn't utter a word, repeatedly trying and failing to speak.
At this moment, Iguro Obanai stepped forward and whispered, "Let me say it. Senior Brother Sabito and Senior Sister Makomo are not in a good state right now."
Kurozawa's gaze shifted to Iguro Obanai. He took a step forward and said in a deep voice, "Speak!"
Iguro Obanai's heart suddenly leaped. For a moment, he felt as if he was being stared at by a fierce beast.
Is it a hallucination? Senior Disciple Danryu's aura has changed. It seems intertwined with a Demon. Under the scarf wrapped around his face, Iguro Obanai opened his mouth, his voice hoarse, "Senior Disciple, headquarters has been investigating you. They believe you've betrayed the Demon Slayer Corps and become a Demon."
"They said you've been acting strangely, and a red-clothed female demon claiming to be your wife killed over a dozen Swordsmen guarding Mount Fujikasane, as well as the Flame Pillar, Shinjuro Rengoku." Several gazes simultaneously turned towards the person beside Kurozawa.
The red-clothed female demon, clearly, referred to Hongyue.
Hongyue parted her red lips, about to say something, but Kurozawa stopped her with a hand.
He knew about this matter; Hongyue had told him before.
Under the silent night sky, Kurozawa took a deep breath, then looked around.
His junior disciples were all silent. Even Hanada Shizuka sensed the wrong atmosphere, standing behind Kurozawa and staring at the tips of her feet.
Before long, Kurozawa said in a deep voice, "I understand. What about you, then? What do you few think?"
"What if I told you... I really have become a Demon!"
He didn't need to think much about the Demon Slayer Corps; he was probably already listed as a dangerous enemy. What Kurozawa cared about were the people of Mount Sagiri and his master, Sakonji Urokodaki, who was at the Demon Slayer Corps headquarters.
Master, as the former Water Pillar, fought for the Demon Slayer Corps his entire life and is highly respected. Besides, I did these things myself; they have nothing to do with Master. He should be okay, Kurozawa thought.
On the other side, Sabito and Makomo exchanged glances, seeing the struggle and confusion in each other's eyes.
Meanwhile, Hanada Shizuka tugged at Kurozawa's sleeve, looked up, and said earnestly, "I don't know about right and wrong, who is right and who is wrong. You all always thought I was dumb. I only know that Senior Disciple, you are very good to me, so no matter what happens, I will stand by your side, Senior Disciple."
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