During the day, with the blazing sun high in the sky and a faint golden light coating the mountains, Kurozawa and Hongyue mainly rested in caves and forests, occasionally staying in abandoned shrines in the wilderness.
However, Kurozawa always liked to casually twist off the heads of the statues and throw them far away.
Because when he was doing something intimate, he didn't like the feeling of being watched or spied on.
As the twilight horizon receded further and further, eventually disappearing completely and night took over the land, the two began to move. And because they liked to chat unhurriedly about interesting things they had encountered while enjoying the scenery along the way, it took them longer than when they came to return to the vicinity of Mount Sagiri.
"We're almost there," Kurozawa said to Hongyue, looking at the tall, towering mountain ahead, its upper half shrouded in thick fog.
"I know, I came to Mount Sagiri to find you last time," Hongyue's hand unconsciously tightened.
Kurozawa, holding her soft little hand, noticed and asked, "What's wrong? You seem a bit nervous."
Hongyue recalled her visit to Mount Sagiri.
Iguro Obanai and Hanada Shizuka were fine. One knew Hongyue, and the other didn't have a deep hatred for Demons, so they didn't mind.
But the most important person, Sakonji Urokodaki, the master who raised Kurozawa, was extremely resolute. His face beneath the fierce Tengu Mask was probably filled with deep vigilance and caution.
As soon as Kurozawa asked, he understood the reason for Hongyue's nervousness.
He comforted her, "It's okay, Master might eventually side with me." He paused, then Kurozawa's voice deepened, "Besides, I don't plan to stay at Mount Sagiri. I'm just here to tell Master this news."
"I just don't want him to wield a sword on the battlefield in the future. People who have retired should just be Cultivators."
Sakonji Urokodaki was perhaps the person most conflicted and troubled at heart.
On one side was the Senior Disciple he had raised since childhood, and on the other was the Demon Slayer Corps to which he had dedicated his life. Caught in the middle, his situation was indeed difficult.
So Kurozawa had already thought it through for him.
That was to try his best to have Master Urokodaki not take sides. He would train Swordsmen for the Demon Slayer Corps, even if these Swordsmen would be enemies with Kurozawa and Hongyue in the future. Fine, Kurozawa didn't care, as long as he and the Junior Disciples he was familiar with wouldn't try to fight him.
These people were the only ones Kurozawa couldn't bring himself to harm.
Being the Senior Disciple for so many years wasn't for nothing. Through spending time together day and night, Kurozawa's relationship with these Junior Disciples had always been good, and he cared for them greatly.
Moreover, Kurozawa understood his Junior Disciples. Even if he became a Demon, as long as Kurozawa didn't actively attack them, it was impossible for the Junior Disciples to strike him. At most, they would be caught in confusion and distress. After all, they had always regarded Kurozawa as family, as their older brother.
If they were to draw their swords against Kurozawa, then it could only be said that Kurozawa had been mistaken about these Junior Disciples before, and there would be no need for reservations.
Hongyue lowered her head, then whispered, "When I came to Mount Sagiri to ask about your whereabouts last time, the process wasn't pleasant."
Kurozawa stroked her head, his fingers running through her soft, long black hair like a waterfall. He smiled and said, "Don't worry, we are already partners. That will never change."
At the foot of Mount Sagiri, Makomo, Sabito, Hanada Shizuka, and Iguro Obanai were at their usual training ground. Two of them had somewhat heavy expressions, while the other two showed no obvious emotions.
"So, because of Senior Disciple Danryu, Master was taken back to the Demon Slayer Corps headquarters?" Makomo stamped her foot and asked Hanada Shizuka beside her.
Hanada Shizuka nodded and said, "Yes, just a few days ago, people in Hidden Slayer Corps uniforms came."
"They said that Senior Disciple is very likely to have become a Demon, so they asked Master to go to headquarters for investigation and questioning."
At that time, Mount Sagiri only had Hanada Shizuka and Iguro Obanai, so only they knew the situation.
However, yesterday Sabito and Makomo returned to Mount Sagiri for a temporary rest after completing their Demon Slaying Mission. They didn't see Sakonji Urokodaki, so they asked Hanada Shizuka for the reason.
"The others don't know about this yet, but when they come back and find Master gone, they'll probably all ask," Sabito mused for a moment, then suddenly said, "Shizuka, Obanai, if others ask in the future and Master hasn't returned yet, let's all keep the truth to ourselves for now. Just say that Master went out to do something, and didn't tell you the specifics."
"Why?" Hanada Shizuka asked blankly.
Makomo tilted her delicate face up, looking at the deep night sky, and sighed softly, "Because it will distract everyone. In this situation, if they go out on a Demon Slaying Mission again, they'll most likely not come back."
Whether it was their Master or Senior Disciple, they were extremely important to the disciples of Mount Sagiri. If something happened to them, no one could remain calm and rational. And for Swordsmen, the more unstable their state of mind, the easier it was for their breathing to become disordered, and their situation would naturally be very dangerous.
Although she had only recently become a formal Swordsman, Makomo had already experienced several life-or-death crises and knew the dangers of Demon Slaying Missions. She absolutely could not be distracted by other things.
A little more worry appeared on Hanada Shizuka's slightly round face. She said, "It should be okay, right? Senior Disciple is so powerful. I heard Master say he even defeated a Lower Moon, and Master is the former Water Pillar. Even the Master is polite to Master. Yes, he definitely won't be in trouble."
The silent Iguro Obanai said in a low voice, "Not necessarily... I observed Senior Disciple's expression in Asakusa."
"When he agreed to the marriage proposal, although Senior Disciple was flustered, his face still had a contradictory expression of hidden joy."
He had been in a dungeon since childhood, and although he knew very little about human relationships, his ability to read people was far, far stronger than ordinary people. On that day in Asakusa, Iguro Obanai had sensed Kurozawa's contradictory feelings towards Hongyue.
Hearing Iguro Obanai's words, Hanada Shizuka's face showed indignation, and she muttered in a low voice, "Hmph, Senior Disciple must have definitely been captivated by her beauty." After saying that, she whispered in a voice only she could hear, "I would do the same if I were him..."
Just from meeting her once, Hanada Shizuka estimated that she would never forget Hongyue's appearance in this lifetime. Beautiful things always had a Charm, regardless of gender.
Sabito, however, furrowed his brows slightly and said, "Shizuka, don't say that. Senior Disciple's will is strong, he wouldn't be easily swayed."
"That's because you haven't seen how that female Demon sister looks. She's beautiful and powerful, even Master didn't dare to move," Hanada Shizuka fantasized about one day growing up to be like Hongyue, and subconsciously spoke her thoughts.
Thump! After a sharp rap on her head, she squatted on the ground, covering her forehead.
Withdrawing her finger, Makomo glared at Hanada Shizuka, "Stop talking nonsense!"
With the Senior Disciple's authority displayed, Hanada Shizuka shrank her head and burrowed behind Iguro Obanai, "Junior Disciple, Sister Makomo is going to hit me, you have to protect me."
Seeing this, Makomo covered her face helplessly.
Among everyone present, only this simpleton still didn't understand the situation, but the heavy atmosphere around the few people also lessened because of her.
No longer placing hope in Hanada Shizuka, Makomo and Sabito exchanged glances, planning to discuss a solution between themselves.
Just then, a familiar voice came from the road leading to the foot of the mountain not far away.
"Hey, it's been a while, have you missed me?"
The few of them turned their heads in surprise and saw a familiar handsome face; it was Kurozawa.
But the next second, the expressions of the four changed slightly at the same time.
Because they all saw that beside their Senior Disciple, there was a red figure accompanying him.
The two walked side by side, looking intimate.
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