(I'm back stronger than ever ^-^ Thank you all for your patience)
The World of Demon Slayer.
Taisho Year 3, April 27th. This was the day Ubuyashiki Kagaya succeeded as the head of the family and took over the Demon Slayer Corps. It was the most unforgettable day in his nearly fifteen years of struggle against the Demons.
This day was also a tragic one for Muzan Kibutsuji. After becoming a Demon and spending a thousand years painstakingly assembling the six Upper Moons, nearly three of them were slain at the same time!
Aside from Upper Moon One Kokushibo, Upper Moon Two Doma, and Upper Moon Six Gyutaro—who was saved in the nick of time by Doma's appearance—Upper Moon Three Akaza, Upper Moon Four Hantengu, and Upper Moon Five Gyokko were all dead!
The initiator, or rather the main figure responsible for disrupting the balance between the Demon Slayer Corps and the Demons, was... Kamado Eiichiro!
"Caw~"
On April 28th, within a dense wisteria forest, an unknown village lay hidden. A mansion in the center of the village was the family estate of the Ubuyashiki clan, which had been passed down for nearly a thousand years.
At this moment, crows circled overhead as the Hashira, who had been out on missions, flew into the courtyard one by one. Seven had departed, but with the Stone Hashira Gyomei Himejima guarding the estate and the Insect Hashira Shinobu Kocho coordinating the treatment of the wounded, only five returned. Among them, one was missing an arm. The one missing an arm was none other than Tengen Uzui, who always had the word "flamboyant" on his lips!
"It's a pity I let that guy get away. Otherwise, I definitely could have killed him!" Tengen Uzui's left arm was severed at the shoulder, and he fumed just thinking about it.
During the battle against the Demon siblings in the Entertainment District, he had already used Sound Breathing to figure out the opponent's attack patterns. Just as he was about to turn the tables and gain the upper hand, an iron fan suddenly appeared, blocking both him and Sanemi Shinazugawa. It not only helped the Demon siblings escape but also forced him to sacrifice an arm—shattered by ice—just to barely escape with his life alongside Sanemi Shinazugawa.
"Doma... Upper Moon Two... I swear, the next time I see him, I will definitely kill him!"
Beside Tengen Uzui, Sanemi Shinazugawa's expression was ferocious, even uglier than Uzui's... He couldn't forget the disappointment on the face of the Demon holding the iron fan when he realized it was just the two of them, muttering something like, "Pity, the main target isn't here."
Obviously, Doma hadn't taken him seriously at all, but had come for the so-called "main target" he spoke of!
As for who the "main target" was, Sanemi Shinazugawa didn't want to recall, but that hundred-meter-long flame blade that had brushed past his shoulder and spanned the entire small courtyard had been lingering in his mind for days, refusing to fade.
He gritted his teeth, fuming silently on the side!
The Water Hashira Giyu Tomioka and the Serpent Hashira Obanai Iguro remained silent. One was perched in a tree, while the other silently found a corner to crouch in. Neither spoke. They were even more dejected than the other two. The reason was simple... they hadn't encountered a single Upper Moon, or even a Lower Moon...
Initially, Ubuyashiki Kagaya had speculated that Muzan Kibutsuji deliberately incited the Demons to cause chaos in several incidents to deal with Roy. Among these, only Giyu and Obanai Iguro had come up empty.
In the Infinite Train incident responsible by Roy, the Entertainment District incident handled by Sanemi Shinazugawa and Tengen Uzui, and the Swordsmith Village incident led by Kyojuro Rengoku with his disciple Mitsuri Kanroji and the rookie swordsman Muichiro Tokito—all had more or less encountered Upper Moons...
The trio led by Kyojuro not only encountered Upper Moons but also, following Roy's slaying of Upper Moon Three Akaza, killed two Upper Moons in one go... Upper Moon Four Hantengu and Upper Moon Five Gyokko. Their momentum was unparalleled, making everyone look at them with new respect!
"Mitsuri-sama, you're amazing!"
"Are the Upper Moons scary? I heard every one of them looks ferocious, is it true?"
In a corner of the courtyard, several members of the Kakushi who were familiar with Mitsuri Kanroji surrounded her with starry eyes. Fortunately, she had a good temper and was generous and straightforward. In some ways, she was deeply influenced by Kyojuro Rengoku and was loved by everyone. Otherwise... if Obanai Iguro, who didn't understand this, saw it, he would definitely get jealous and might not be able to sit still, flying down from his spot.
"Hiss~" The white snake Kaburamaru flicked its tongue. Obanai suppressed his temper and turned his head to look...
Mitsuri Kanroji waved her hands and laughed, "Not at all, it was Master... Master killed them all!"
"Both Upper Moons?"
"Both of them."
The noisy small courtyard instantly fell silent...
Pairs of eyes focused on the yellow-haired young man in the courtyard who, as usual, stood with his head held high, waiting for the Hashira meeting to begin. The tips of his hair were dipped in red, and he stood quietly as always... but looking at him now, he seemed different from the past. There was a sense of boundless majesty, deep and imposing, like the sun above their heads... as long as it tore through the darkness and leapt into the sky, no one in the world dared to ignore it, not even evil Demons!
"What happened back then?" Someone stole a glance at Kyojuro Rengoku and quietly asked Mitsuri Kanroji.
Muichiro Tokito had also gone to the Swordsmith Village with Kyojuro Rengoku. Tengen Uzui, who usually looked after him, draped his remaining right arm around the boy's shoulder and asked, "Muichiro, you saw it too, right?"
Muichiro Tokito, whose eyes were often dull due to memory loss, rarely lit up with a few glimmers of light. He swept his gaze toward Kyojuro Rengoku and said softly, "Mhm."
The boy noticed Tengen Uzui frowning, seemingly feeling that this answer was a bit perfunctory, so he added two more words: "Very strong."
"Be specific."
"Strong enough that he seemed like a different person."
?!
Including Sanemi Shinazugawa, Obanai Iguro, Shinobu Kocho, and even Giyu Tomioka, who always felt out of place with the others, everyone looked up... just then...
"Clap~" A soft sound rang out!
Sitting at the lower end of the wooden corridor, Gyomei Himejima, who had been chanting sutras, pressed his palms together and chanted a Buddhist name: "Namu Amida Butsu."
"Quiet, the Master has arrived!"
Following that, he took a pointed look at Kyojuro Rengoku before taking the lead to kneel on one knee, bowing to the man emerging from the inner room supported by his wife and daughter.
"Master!"
"Swish~" Following Gyomei Himejima, Sanemi Shinazugawa, Tengen Uzui, Shinobu Kocho, Obanai Iguro... all the Hashira, including Giyu Tomioka, knelt in unison.
Suddenly... one person stood out like a crane among chickens, appearing even more out of place than Giyu Tomioka, who didn't consider himself the "Water Hashira" and felt unqualified to attend the Hashira meeting!
Who was it?
Was it that guy Eiichiro?
No... he didn't come... it was... Kyojuro Rengoku!
The sudden change shocked everyone, including Gyomei Himejima and all the Hashira, as well as the Kakushi members responsible for delivering intelligence. They all stared in unison... The young man wearing the white haori with flame patterns on the hem stood straight. Upon seeing Ubuyashiki Kagaya come out, he merely bowed slightly...
Every pair of pupils was filled with disbelief!
"Kyojuro! Do you know what you are doing?" The hot-tempered Sanemi Shinazugawa couldn't tolerate anyone being disrespectful to the Master. It was fine for that guy Eiichiro, as he wasn't a member of the Demon Slayer Corps and had no reason to kneel... but you... "Don't forget, you are a Hashira!"
Shinobu Kocho, Obanai Iguro, and Giyu Tomioka—Hashira generally considered "hard to get along with"—usually maintained a good relationship with Kyojuro Rengoku. This was mainly because of his character... cheerful, kind, upright, and always taking care of everyone, giving warmth to others like a big brother, worthy of trust!
But... today's "Big Brother" was a bit too unexpected!
Shinobu Kocho and Obanai Iguro frowned in silence. Giyu Tomioka, sitting at the lower end of the right row, watched silently... For some reason, he felt that today's Kyojuro Rengoku looked somewhat... familiar. Did he have a trace of someone's shadow?
That person had been just like him last time, perhaps even more "arrogant." When he saw Ubuyashiki Kagaya come out, he had only nodded slightly at him. That person was his junior brother... Kamado Eiichiro!
"Amitabha... Kyojuro, I think you need to give everyone, and the Master, an explanation." Gyomei Himejima fingered his prayer beads. Although his gaze wasn't as angry as Sanemi Shinazugawa's, the weight of his words made everyone feel heavy-hearted and suppressed.
"Gyomei," Ubuyashiki Kagaya raised a hand, signaling everyone to be quiet... Accompanied by an angry snort from Sanemi Shinazugawa, the man, supported by his wife Amane, looked gently at Kyojuro Rengoku and said, "Kyojuro, I heard... Shinjuro-sama has quit drinking?"
"I was just about to report to the Master. My father is preparing to return to active duty and will come to see you soon," Kyojuro Rengoku said loudly.
Gyomei Himejima's eyes moved, and tears flowed down like two streams as he silently chanted a Buddhist name.
Others, such as Tengen Uzui and Shinobu Kocho, exchanged glances, all looking at each other in dismay... Even Sanemi Shinazugawa, who instinctively felt "betrayed," raised his eyebrows in surprise, thinking only... unbelievable!
When discussing whose family had the longest lineage and had followed the Ubuyashiki clan the longest, if the Rengoku family claimed second, no one dared claim first. Among those present, only Kyojuro Rengoku had the most ancient family heritage!
Precisely because of this, Shinjuro Rengoku's alcoholism and decadence were known to all. Unexpectedly... he was actually able to quit drinking, reclaim his life, and even planned to return... Not just the Hashira, but even Ubuyashiki Kagaya was greatly surprised when he first received this news, holding onto the message for a long time unable to look away.
"That is good news... Shinjuro-sama has a prestigious reputation. If he is willing to return to the Demon Slayer Corps, just let me know, and I will arrange it immediately."
"Master," Kyojuro Rengoku bowed to thank him on behalf of Shinjuro, then straightened his back and looked sincerely at Ubuyashiki Kagaya. "Please forgive my earlier 'disrespect,' Master. A servant cannot serve two masters. I have come this time to resign from the title of 'Flame Hashira' to the Master. From now on, I will no longer hold an important position in the Demon Slayer Corps!"
"Wah!"
As soon as the words fell, it was as if all the air in the room had been sucked away, causing everyone's breath to hitch!
"Clang~" A sound rang out, and a blade flashed...
Sanemi Shinazugawa abruptly drew his sword and roared, "Kyojuro Rengoku, you've gone too far!"
"Whoosh~" In an instant, a tornado rushed toward Kyojuro Rengoku, the wind scraping the faces of everyone present!
"Wind Breathing · First Form · Dust Whirlwind Cutter!" Sanemi Shinazugawa, who had failed to kill Gyutaro and Doma, was holding back a belly full of anger and frustration, and now he seemed to have found an outlet!
Wind blades were hidden within the tornado, whistling toward Kyojuro Rengoku's face... As the Hashira dodged, they suddenly saw a dazzling light of fire rise up. In the next glance, Kyojuro Rengoku sheathed his sword as if he had never drawn it. With an effortless motion, he peeled apart the Dust Whirlwind Cutter and burned it to ashes in an instant!
"This..."
"Ding~" A crisp sound echoed; the clash ended in a split second!
Sanemi Shinazugawa gripped the sword in his hand, stunned!
The others, whether it was Obanai Iguro... or Shinobu Kocho, felt their pupils constrict as they looked at Kyojuro Rengoku in shock.
The swift strike wrapped in fire just now was fast, fierce, and hot, almost impossible to see clearly... It seemed to be on a completely different level from Sanemi Shinazugawa!
Was this really... a strike that could be unleashed by the Kyojuro Rengoku in their memories, who always smiled and took care of everyone?
"There it is again..." Muichiro Tokito recalled the battle in the Swordsmith Village. Kyojuro Rengoku had led the team, chasing down and hacking Gyokko and Hantengu to death all by himself. He had thought it incredible at the time, but looking at it now... in less than a day on the return journey, the other party seemed to have improved again!
At this moment, a hand quietly rested on Muichiro Tokito's shoulder... The boy turned his head to see Tengen Uzui looking at Kyojuro Rengoku, saying deeply, "You were right. That flamboyant swordsmanship isn't the same person."
"Sanemi, stand down!"
"The Master is right here; how can you allow such rowdiness!"
With a fling of his large sleeves, Gyomei Himejima stood up, his tall figure instantly overshadowing everyone.
He stared burningly at Kyojuro Rengoku, subtly protecting Ubuyashiki Kagaya's side. Ubuyashiki Kagaya patted the monk's shoulder. "I don't believe Kyojuro would harm me."
Taking a step forward, he refused Amane's support. Propping up his weak body, he stumbled over to Kyojuro Rengoku, smiling as he looked at the young man. "Kyojuro, I heard from reports that you once asked Eiichiro for advice on sword techniques. So... is it him?"
"A servant cannot serve two masters. If it is him... then you may go with him..."
"Master!" Sanemi Shinazugawa had just stood up when he suddenly saw... Kyojuro Rengoku put down the sword in his hand and performed a dogeza, touching his head to the ground, bowing solemnly to Ubuyashiki Kagaya. His body lowered; it was neither standing nor squatting, but he froze in that half-standing, half-squatting posture!
Then, the young man wearing the white haori with flame patterns on the hem spoke sincerely: "Kyojuro Rengoku is a member of the Demon Slayer Corps for a day, and a member of the Demon Slayer Corps for life."
His yellow hair swayed in the wind as Kyojuro Rengoku raised his head again, taking a deep breath. "Please understand, Master. Kyojuro is absolutely not a treacherous person who abandons faith and righteousness. It is just... there are more important things to do!"
"Can I ask what kind of things?" Gyomei Himejima suddenly asked.
The Stone Hashira fingered his prayer beads and chanted a Buddhist name. "That day in the wisteria forest, what did Kamado Eiichiro say to you, and what could he give you? Can you enlighten us?"
Kamado Eiichiro... The young man's voice and appearance immediately surfaced in everyone's minds... Giyu Tomioka, as his senior brother, was secretly glanced at by several people. In the silence... they quietly waited for Kyojuro Rengoku's answer.
This time, Ubuyashiki Kagaya did not stop Gyomei Himejima. To be honest, he was also very curious about what kind of magic potion that child Eiichiro had given Kyojuro... to make him change so drastically in such a short time!
Kyojuro Rengoku did not answer. He simply stood up and silently opened his Aura Nodes...