As Gyomei Himejima's words fell, the air seemed to instantly freeze.
Even though Kuwajima Jigorō had a lot of words in his heart, he could only tightly close his mouth at this moment.
Although he was once the former thunder Pillar, facing the current Stone Pillar, he knew his weight was insufficient.
Of course, he could act as a senior, but the remaining dignity and justice in Kuwajima Jigorō's heart would never allow him to act in such a way.
Kaigaku was already greatly mistaken, and the evidence was conclusive.
If he were to defend a wrongdoer, how would other swordsmen view him upon learning of it?
Thinking of this, Kuwajima Jigorō sighed deeply, filled with helplessness.
Subsequently, Kaigaku appeared where everyone's gaze was focused.
Kaigaku originally thought that even if he was exposed, it wouldn't matter, as he hadn't caused any substantial losses.
In his view, this was merely a child's prank and an immature act.
This was the excuse he had prepared beforehand.
However, he never expected that before these words could even leave his mouth, he would see the man he never wanted to see in his life.
Gyomei Himejima's tall figure was like a towering mountain, his pale eyes revealing a chilling majesty.
In Kaigaku's eyes, that figure seemed like the most hideous demon in the Human World, terrifying to the extreme.
In an instant, Kaigaku's cold sweat poured down like a waterfall, and his heart pounded wildly, as if it would burst from his chest.
His face instantly lost its color, and his lips trembled incessantly, like fallen leaves in the autumn wind.
"You…"
He instinctively retreated, his pupils shrinking to the size of needlepoints.
He frantically told himself that none of this was real, that this man couldn't still be alive!
He had fled the moment the demon broke into the temple.
Even though he hadn't witnessed what happened afterward, he firmly believed that humans could never be a match for demons!
But why…
His breathing became heavy, as if a huge stone was pressing on his chest, making it difficult for him to breathe.
Kaigaku felt for the first time how difficult it was to live; Gyomei Himejima's appearance was like a sharp thorn, piercing deeply into his heart.
He was unwilling to face all of this.
Across from him, Gyomei Himejima keenly sensed Kaigaku's emotions.
He held his prayer beads, tears silently streaming down, murmuring in a low voice: "Amitabha…"
Kaigaku's behavior was just as he expected, as annoying as ever.
Although Tanjirou and the other's performance slightly changed his view of children, Kaigaku…
At this moment, the sound of the wind seemed to halt for an instant, leaving only the sound of Gyomei Himejima's prayer beads.
Meeting Kaigaku's trembling gaze, he slowly raised his eyes.
His voice was calm and powerful, tinged with sadness, yet containing clear determination and undeniable authority:
"I already know everything. You may leave; from today onwards, you will no longer be a member of the Demon Slayer Corps…"
"Why?!"
Kaigaku didn't wait for Gyomei Himejima to finish speaking, gritting his teeth and loudly arguing.
"It was just a few people arrested by mistake, why should my identity and status be taken away?!"
"Teacher, aren't you going to say something?!"
His angry and indignant gaze was fixed on Kuwajima Jigorō, who opened his mouth, wanting to speak but hesitating, clearly standing on the opposite side.
Seeing this situation, the anger in Kaigaku's heart surged even more fiercely.
He shouted, "I refuse! You have no right to take away my identity and status!"
Although the Demon Slayer Corps is unknown to the world, there is a clear hierarchy within the Demon Slayer Corps.
The reason he climbed so hard was to enjoy the envious gazes of others, and at the same time, to earn money to enjoy a better life.
Once he lost his current status, under the sword prohibition order, he would lose everything.
He hadn't become a Pillar yet, hadn't earned enough money to spend for a lifetime, how could he fall here?!
Gyomei Himejima watched Kaigaku's distorted expression, and a surge of sorrow rose in his heart.
Ah… what an ugly sight; he felt increasingly that his actions back then were not worth it.
Lowering his gaze, Gyomei Himejima's voice was low but full of undeniable meaning:
"The first rule of the Demon Slayer Corps is to prohibit mutual harm among Demon Slayers. Kaigaku, your mindset is extreme, your actions are reckless, and you almost caused other swordsmen to die. We will not allow you to see the Master."
"This is the last time; leave now. In doing so, you can maintain your last bit of decency, otherwise, don't blame us for being merciless…"
As he spoke, his muscles tensed slightly, and the aura he exuded made Kaigaku's heart heavy and difficult to breathe.
"You… you…"
No one defended him, and Kaigaku was somewhat at a loss.
He didn't understand why things had turned out this way; were they not even giving him a chance?
Damn it!
In his anger, he gritted his teeth, glaring at the people in front of him, the anger and unwillingness intertwined in his heart burning him.
He suddenly drew his nichirin blade and threw it heavily to the ground, cursing:
"Demon Slayer Corps my foot! Whoever wants to be a swordsman can be one, Teacher, you're great!"
"It was just a small mistake, yet you conspire with them to drive me away. Is Azuma Zenitsu really that important in your heart!?"
"No, Kaigaku, I…"
Kuwajima Jigorō wanted to explain something at this moment.
Before he could finish speaking, Kaigaku harshly interrupted him: "Don't say anything, I don't want to hear it! The mountains don't turn, but the waters do; we'll meet again someday!"
With that, he turned and angrily walked down the mountain, leaving a series of broken footprints on the ground as he stepped.
Kuwajima Jigorō wanted to stop him, but was blocked by Gyomei Himejima beside him.
It was better to cut ties with such a person of low character as early as possible, otherwise, if they did something irreversible and implicated themselves, that would be a sin.
He softly recited Amitabha, and then instructed the Kakushi who arrived later to take all the innocent people away and arrange them properly.
Yoriichi quietly watched everything before him, not speaking.
In his eyes, whether human character was noble or base, it had little to do with him; he was a person of the past.
Matters of the Human World should be resolved by the people of the Human World.
His only target was Muzan.
After a brief conversation, he quickly left the place.
…
At this moment, in the Infinite Castle.
Soft warm light shone, but it could not dispel the pervasive oppression and fear.
Muzan was curled up in a dark corner, his eyes filled with terror, his face distorted, his jaw unnaturally clenched, murmuring:
"Douma is dead…"
"Who's next…"
"Damn it, damn it, damn it, why is he still alive, why can mere humans live forever, what am I, what am I considered…"
"Am I going to continue hiding in this cramped space for hundreds or even thousands of years?"
"No, no, this shouldn't be happening!"
Muzan suddenly looked up, his voice low and ruthless.
"I've had enough of this life!!"
"Tsugikuni Yoriichi, since you are immortal, what about those humans around you?!"
He had decided to turn all those swordsmen into demons.
This would both make him feel guilty and slow down Tsugikuni Yoriichi's pursuit.
Let's start near the Eternal Paradise Faith! It just so happens that a bunch of Demon Slayer swordsmen appeared there.
As the thought emerged, Muzan acted without hesitation.
He immediately called Nakime, ordering her to send some demons to the territory of the Eternal Paradise Faith.
He also ordered these demons to infect humans with their blood as much as possible, even if it cost them their lives.
Because Muzan knew that a single drop of his blood could create hundreds of cannon fodder.
Previously, he had remained inactive merely out of fear that those demons would unite and overthrow his rule.
Or perhaps he was afraid that an anomaly would appear among the demons.
However, the situation was different now; if he didn't act, his lair would be razed to the ground.
Nakime followed the order.
Subsequently, demons, bewildered, fell from the sky, crashing heavily into the mountains near the Eternal Paradise Faith.
As the demons fell, Nakime, through their blood link, fully conveyed Muzan's command to them.
The demons, upon learning that this was a task personally ordered by Lord Muzan, were instantly invigorated.
After landing, they frantically searched for traces of humans like hungry wolves.
…
…
At the foot of the mountain.
"Thud," Kaigaku angrily kicked a pebble away.
He watched the pebble fly into the darkness, the gloom in his heart never dissipating.
On the mountain, he spoke freely, claiming that the mountains don't turn, but the waters do, and they would meet again someday.
But the reality was, once he left the Demon Slayer Corps, he had no idea how to proceed with his future path.
Should he take revenge on them?
But how should he take revenge?
His martial arts, while powerful among ordinary people, seemed vulnerable when facing those Pillar-level swordsmen.
Bullying children was certainly easy, but it brought no sense of accomplishment; on the contrary, it would only remind him of his past painful experiences.
Thinking carefully, he seemed to have nowhere to go.
Work also left him feeling lost.
Be a farmer? Too lowly.
Be a hunter? Boring.
The samurai profession had long been swept into the dustbin of history.
The only reason he could wield a sword was thanks to the Demon Slayer Corps.
The more he thought, the more lost he became, Kaigaku's clenched teeth "creaked," and at this moment, he was increasingly annoyed by Kuwajima Jigorō's inaction.
Just then, a loud "bang" came from behind him, instantly pulling his thoughts back to reality.
He had thought there was no more danger around, as any demons would have been cleared by the Demon Slayer Corps ascending the mountain.
So, Kaigaku confidently turned to look.
Unexpectedly, the hideous creature that met his eyes instantly stung his mind.
With a "whoosh," a dense demonic aura rushed towards him, making Kaigaku's breathing hitch.
He instinctively wanted to grab his sword, but then suddenly remembered that he had thrown his nichirin blade on the mountain in a fit of anger.
"Ah…" He opened his mouth, but only an incoherent murmur came out, and intense regret instantly surged into his heart.
Almost in an instant, he suddenly turned and fled frantically forward, the fear in his eyes unconcealed, and a hint of resentment towards the Demon Slayer Corps also surfaced.
—Run! Run!
Demon Slayer Corps my foot!
Why are there still demons on this mountain!
He cursed angrily.
Behind him, the demon, seeing his fleeing back, couldn't help but reveal a hideous smile.
"Heh heh…" What good luck.
Just received Lord Muzan's order and met a fresh human.
Although this kid runs very fast, he is still a demon close to an Upper Moon.
What if I give you two seconds?
Two seconds later, with a "whoosh," the demon rushed forward like an arrow released from a bowstring, its body turning into an afterimage.
Almost in the blink of an eye, he instantly arrived behind Kaigaku.
Since Kaigaku couldn't use Thunder Breathing, his speed wasn't fast, and he knew this himself.
But he never expected that this demon's speed was several times his own!
Seeing the demon about to strike with a claw, he quickly stopped.
With a "thud," he knelt down without hesitation, shouting:
"Spare my life!"
"As long as I can live, I'm willing to accept any conditions!"
This scene immediately piqued the demon's interest.
He had never expected a human to surrender, and so decisively at that.
The demon curled his lips: "Oh? Really?"
"Of course!" Kaigaku didn't dare to look up, but in his heart, he cursed this demon to hell.
Along with him, he also cursed those people from the Demon Slayer Corps.
He always adhered to the philosophy that as long as he could survive, everything else could be abandoned.
Whether it was companions or dignity, they were merely external possessions.
Only he himself was the most important.
Seeing this, the demon cut his palm, letting the blood drip to the ground, his tone carrying a hint of mockery:
"Since that's the case, then become a demon, and let me see your resolve."
Upon hearing this, Kaigaku's trembling body instantly stiffened.
Become a demon!?
He slightly raised his eyes, which reflected the scene of blood splattering like water droplets, his jaw trembling unnaturally.
He couldn't imagine what would happen if he became a demon here.
Because those Pillar-level swordsmen of the Demon Slayer Corps were still on the mountain and hadn't left.
Although he had thought about retaliating against the Demon Slayer Corps, he hadn't expected this day to come so soon…
After a moment of hesitation, the demon's tone gradually became impatient.
"Hey, are you trying to play me for a fool?"
"Since you don't want to choose, then I'll choose for you!"
Saying that, he was about to forcibly pour the blood into Kaigaku's stomach.
However, Kaigaku quickly said at this moment: "Willing! Willing!"
He immediately expressed his loyalty, his tone urgent: "How dare I trouble you to do it!"
Since both ways were death, it was better to take a chance and leave quickly after transforming.
The mountain was so big, if he found a random place to hide, even that legendary existence wouldn't be able to find him!
With these thoughts, Kaigaku caught the continuously dripping blood, and had just swallowed a little.
Suddenly, a cold voice sounded behind him.
"Have you fallen?"
"Human."
With a "whoosh," before Kaigaku could even discern whose voice it was, the demon in front of him was instantly beheaded.
This unexpected change made Kaigaku's pupils contract, startling him, and in his desperation, he swallowed even more blood.
In an instant.
"Ah…"
He groaned, a soul-tearing pain instantly entanglement him.
Kaigaku wanted to run, but in the next moment, his limbs were severed.
Even with the demon's blood continuously improving his body, wanting to restore his severed limbs, the burning pain at the wounds inhibited the regeneration of his limbs.
Kaigaku found it hard to understand.
Why?
Why did he still have to suffer such immense pain after becoming a demon?
And who was this guy behind him?
Why was that Upper Moon demon, whom even he found hard to resist, instantly killed?
Kaigaku had never seen Tsugikuni Yoriichi in action, so he thought that no matter how strong Tsugikuni Yoriichi was, he would at most be on par with the Stone Pillar.
The so-called instant kill of Upper Moon One, in his opinion, was nothing more than others' boasting.
The more people lacked something, the more they cared about it, and the more they wanted to show it off.
But now… it seemed these rumors were all true?
Damn it, damn it!
Regret spread like a plague in his heart, Kaigaku wanted to turn around and explain, but unfortunately, at this moment, due to the pain, he couldn't even utter a complete sentence.
This beast-like appearance made Yoriichi slightly lower his gaze:
"So be it."
"Since this is your choice, then I will respect your choice."
"Be a good person in your next life."
Whoosh!
A whooshing sound of wind rang out, and in Kaigaku's vision, what remained was a scene of inverted landscapes and dizzying disorientation.
Immediately after, his vision turned black, and he knew nothing more.