Tong Mo had always believed that gods were nothing more than illusions born from human fear. In his hundreds of years of existence, he had never once encountered divine punishment. He had devoured monks, shrine maidens, and even desecrated sacred places, yet not once did heavenly lightning strike him, nor did any holy force descend to punish his cruelty. To him, gods, Buddhas, heaven, and hell were all comforting fictions humans invented to console themselves.
"If humans yearn for eternal bliss, then consuming them is no different from granting them eternity inside of me," he once said to his followers. It was his twisted way of seeing himself as a savior, not a monster.
But the events of the previous night shattered that belief.
Tong Mo had witnessed something that shook him to his core—a power that could only be described as divine. A light had descended upon the mountains, a phenomenon unlike anything he had ever seen before. For the first time, his certainty faltered. Perhaps gods did exist after all.
This sudden revelation, however, was not his to ponder alone. He had received direct orders from Lord Wuhan—the high master he served. The command was clear: discover the truth about the miracle that occurred in the mountains.
Yet Tong Mo was no fool. He had nearly lost his life in that place last night. Fear crept into his heart. He dared not step onto the mountain again. Instead, he relied on his network of followers from the Eternal Paradise Sect to gather information. Through them, he learned that members of the Demon Slayer Corps had ventured into the mountain. If anyone had glimpsed the truth of the gods, it would be them.
So he waited, his patience sharpened by centuries of hunting. Finally, his vigilance was rewarded—two sisters from the Corps descended the mountain path.
But Tong Mo did not strike immediately. He shadowed them, waiting until they had moved far from the mountain's protection. Only then did he reveal himself.
A soft, almost tender laugh echoed in the air. "Hahaha… provoking the generals is useless. Little girls of the Demon Slayer Corps, I want only one thing: the secret of that mountain. Tell me, and I shall spare you. Refuse, and I fear my hand may not be so merciful."
The voice slithered into their ears like silk, yet the malice within it was unmistakable.
Butterfly Shinobu stiffened. She recognized the tone, the subtle arrogance, the false kindness. It could only belong to an Upper Rank demon. Her heart thumped violently. Her swordsmanship was not on par with her elder sister's, and she knew she could not hope to slay such a monster alone.
Still, she did not falter. Her voice rang out, fierce and defiant: "You're nothing but a foul demon, clinging to life through blood and death. The gods of the heavens are already watching. You are an Upper Rank, aren't you? If you dare show yourself, then beware—for the Thunder God will smite you into dust!"
Though she spoke boldly, inside Shinobu's stomach tightened with dread. She hoped to buy time, perhaps even frighten him with the mention of divine punishment.
Tong Mo chuckled, the sound both mocking and contemplative. "Thunder God… so it is true. My suspicions were correct. You know much, little one. You must have seen the shrine. But alas, hatred clouds your tongue. If you will not tell me willingly, I will extract the truth with… other methods."
The forest stirred. Leaves rustled, branches creaked, and then sharp-nailed hands tore through the thickets. Ferocious grins glimmered in the darkness.
"Mine! These two women are mine! I'll devour their brains!" one demon shrieked.
"Flower Breathing · Fourth Form: Crimson Hanagoromo!"
With lightning grace, Butterfly Kanae stepped forward. Her sword carved a brilliant arc, descending in a deceptive line. Just as the blade neared one demon's shoulder, it twisted, slicing clean through its head. The creature collapsed, dissolving into ash.
But the sound of rustling grew louder. Eight more demons burst from the woods, surrounding the sisters.
"Ghost Slayers! They're Ghost Slayers! The ones Lord Wuhan desires!"
"Eat them! Rip their limbs!"
"They're mine! I want her arm!"
Kanae inhaled deeply, steadying herself. She understood immediately—these were pawns. Tong Mo, hidden, was too cunning to reveal himself. Instead, he was exhausting their strength with swarms of weaker demons. "So this is the wit of an Upper Rank… truly dangerous," she thought.
Her gaze softened, however, as she looked upon their snarling faces. "I'm sorry," she whispered, "I know you were once human. But now, there is no saving you. Your suffering was born from Muzan, the true source of evil."
Her sword flashed again. "Flower Breathing · Fifth Form: Peonies of Futility!"
In an instant, her blade spun in every direction, weaving light like the petals of a blooming peony. The ghosts screamed as their bodies split apart, collapsing into dust while their feral hunger remained etched upon their fading expressions.
Shinobu's eyes narrowed. "So it's true… He wants to wear us down."
Tong Mo's voice floated once more, feigned gentle: "Clever girls. You see through me. Humans can be fierce for a time, but your strength has limits. When exhaustion takes you, then we shall speak properly about the shrine."
Shinobu clenched her jaw. "Cunning monster!"
"Sister," she whispered harshly, "this won't end unless one of us finds him. Let me handle these. You go."
Kanae hesitated, slashing down three more demons in the blink of an eye. But she saw the truth in her sister's eyes. "Very well. Be careful, Shinobu." With that, she darted toward the source of the voice.
Alone now, Shinobu smashed a small vial against the ground. Purple smoke exploded—wisteria pollen.
The pursuing demons coughed and wailed. "What is this?! My eyes! My body—it's weak!"
Shinobu's lips curved into a grim smile. Her Nichirin blade, laced with wisteria poison, flashed like a needle through the air.
"Insect Breathing · Butterfly Dance: Caprice!"
The blade pricked each demon with delicate precision. They stumbled, clutching their throats as the venom coursed through them. Their faces turned violet, blood bubbling from their mouths.
"You… what did you do… you vile woman!" one howled, collapsing into the earth. Within seconds, all five were dead.
Shinobu exhaled slowly. "One doesn't always need to sever the head. Wisteria alone is enough to slay you." She pulled more vials from her pouch, scattering them with determination. "All demons must die. Every last one."
The forest filled with purple smoke. Inside it, shadows clashed, screams rang, and the battle raged on.
Meanwhile, Kanae's pursuit ended at the foot of a shrine. The air here was still, heavy with a lingering sanctity. Before her stood the carved stone of Ksitigarbha's shrine.
She tightened her grip on her sword, her voice steady. "At last, I've found you… Upper Rank demon."
From the shadows, Tong Mo's laughter answered, soft and chilling, echoing like a prayer twisted into mockery.
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