The Journey Home

When Moyu and Tengen Uzui area, dawn was breaking. The hustle and bustle of the night had faded, and the streets of the Entertainment District quarters were much quieter. Only early-rising servants were sweeping in front of the doors, and the air still carried the mixed scents of cosmetics and wine. Daki had been lured away, and the battle took place in the suburbs, far from the city center. The decadent lifestyle there seemed undisturbed, except for the absence of the courtesan "Warabihime," who had once been admired and feared by countless people.

They quickly found Tanjiro and his companions in a relatively secluded courtyard near Kyogoku House. This courtyard was a temporary base that Tengen Uzui had arranged beforehand.

"Mr. Moyu! Mr. Uzui!" Tanjiro was the first to spot them and immediately came to greet them, his face showing the relief of completing a mission and the joy of seeing his comrades. The wooden box behind him was secure, Nezuko seemed to be sleeping peacefully inside. Zenitsu and Inosuke also gathered around.

Although the three boys were covered in dust, they had no obvious injuries and were in high spirits. After rescuing Hinatsuru, Tengen Uzui quickly rushed to the cave beneath the Ogimoto House. With his Pillar-level strength, dealing with the Ribbon Demon created by Daki's Blood Demon Art was effortless. Tanjiro and the others were responsible for clearing out the remaining weak demons in the cave and assisting Tengen Uzui in safely transferring the women who had been kidnapped and imprisoned by the Ribbon Demon. Although there were some twists and turns in the process, there was no real danger.

"Yo! You've returned in style after a glorious mission!" Tengen Uzui stood with his hands on his hips, his diamond headdress sparkling in the morning light, a signature smug smile on his face. "My wives are all settled, thanks to these three lads!" He patted Tanjiro on the shoulder and then pointed to Zenitsu and Inosuke.

"Mr. Uzui, you flatter us. We didn't do anything..." Tanjiro scratched his head somewhat embarrassedly.

"Hmph! Of course! With me in charge, what are a few brats!" Inosuke puffed out his chest, brandishing his twin swords, his Boar's Head bobbing up and down.

Zenitsu looked shaken. "That scared me to death! That cave was so dark and narrow, and there was a moving belt! Thank goodness Mr. Uzui arrived quickly... But it's all over now! Can we go back to the Butterfly Mansion? I miss Nezuko! And Aoi- san!" He muttered to himself, his eyes already drifting towards the direction of home.

Moyu's gaze swept over the three people, confirming that they were indeed unharmed, and he nodded. "Well done." His tone was as calm as ever, but those who knew him well could hear the approval in it.

"Moyu, are you... alright?" Tanjiro noticed that Moyu's breathing was steady and his Haori was as clean as new, but recalling Mr. Uzui's solemn expression earlier and his hasty rush to provide support, he couldn't help but ask. Zenitsu and Inosuke also quieted down and looked at Moyu.

"It's resolved," Moyu said succinctly. "A slightly troublesome demon has been dealt with." He didn't describe Upper Rank Six and the battle in detail; now was not the time to talk about those things.

Tengen Uzui raised an eyebrow but didn't say anything. He glanced at the sky. "Alright, we can't stay here any longer. Mission accomplished, it's time for a graceful retreat! Report back to headquarters, then everyone go home!"

The group quietly left the Entertainment District and embarked on their journey back to the Demon Slayer Corps headquarters. Along the way, Tanjiro couldn't help but inquire about the specific details of the rescue and the arrangements for the rescued women. Tengen Uzui then launched into a flamboyant and exaggerated account, leaving Zenitsu and Inosuke occasionally interjecting with shouts of "I'm amazing too!" Moyu mostly walked in silence, listening to the boys' tired yet excited conversation, feeling the Sage Body and meditation techniques at work, quickly recovering from the exhaustion of using "Kaku." By the time they returned to the vicinity of headquarters, he had fully recovered.

Upon arriving at headquarters, Tengen Uzui needed to report the mission in detail to his Oyakata-sama Kagaya Ubuyashiki, especially regarding the Upper Rank Six. Although the demon had been completely wiped out by Moyu, this was the first time in over a hundred years that the Demon Slayer Corps had slain an Upper Rank demon, making it exceptionally significant. He looked at Moyu: "Eye Hashira, want to come along?"

Moyu shook his head. "You can explain the details. I'll take them back to the Butterfly Mansion first." He knew that as the leader of this mission, it was Tengen Uzui's duty to report, but he preferred to reduce unnecessary and cumbersome procedures.

Tengen Uzui didn't press the matter, grinning, "Alright! I'm off then! This mission was all thanks to you, otherwise those Upper Rank Demons might have caused even bigger trouble. Thanks!" He patted Moyu's shoulder forcefully, waved to Tanjiro and the other two, and strode towards the Oyakata-sama's residence, the golden chains jingling.

Tanjiro and the other two bowed to Tengen Uzui's retreating figure in farewell. Zenitsu breathed a sigh of relief, "Finally, I can go back... I want to take a bath, I want to sleep, I want to eat Aoi- san's cooking..."

"I'm hungry!" Inosuke cried out, rubbing his stomach.

Tanjiro then looked at Moyu, his eyes clear. "Mr. Moyu, let's go back."

"Um."

When the four returned to the Butterfly Mansion, it was already afternoon. The Butterfly Mansion was still filled with a faint herbal fragrance, peaceful and serene. Their return immediately caused a small commotion.

"Tanjiro! Zenitsu! Inosuke! And Mr. Moyu! You're back!" Aoi Kanzaki was the first to run out, her face still stern, but her eyes showed concern. "Are you hurt? Let me see!"

"Miss Aoi! Waaah! I missed you so much!" Zenitsu immediately tried to pounce on her, but Aoi nimbly dodged and gave him a sharp look.

"Stop making such a racket, Zenitsu! You're yelling as soon as you get back!" Aoi scolded, but her hands didn't stop as she began checking on Tanjiro and Inosuke.

"We're alright, Aoi," Tanjiro with a gentle smile.

"Hmph! I'm very strong!" Inosuke swung his arms proudly.

Moyu nodded to Kanao Tsuyuri, who came out to greet him, and Kanao Tsuyuri nodded slightly in response. Her pink eyes quietly swept over everyone, lingering on Tanjiro for a moment longer.

"Oh dear, you're all back safely." Shinobu Kocho's gentle voice came from inside. She emerged from the inner room carrying a tray of medicine, her purple eyes smiling. Her gaze first fell on Moyu, scrutinizing him carefully— his Haori neat, his breathing steady, almost unchanged from when he set out. Indeed, as he had said, he was unharmed. The slight worry in her eyes vanished, and her smile deepened. "It seems the mission went smoothly."

"Miss Shinobu!" Tanjiro and the other two greeted her in unison.

"Hmm, not bad, the opponent's strength was within expectations," Moyu replied, walking to his usual spot on the corridor and sitting down. The familiar scent of herbs and the tranquil atmosphere allowed his tense nerves, strained from the battle, to completely relax.

Shinobu Kocho handed the medicine tray to Kanao Tsuyuri, gesturing for her to help, then sat down next to Moyu and poured him a cup of tea. "Where's Mr. Uzui? Did he go to report?"

"Yes, after all, he's the leader of this mission." Moyu took the teacup; the water was at the perfect temperature.

"Is this really the 'Upper Rank'?" Shinobu lowered her voice, her purple eyes looking at Moyu.

Moyu took a sip of tea and nodded. "Upper Rank Six, a brother and sister demon. Their complementary abilities are a bit troublesome, but they're much weaker than Akaza." He had no need to hide anything; Shinobu was a Pillar and had the right to know this information.

"Brother and sister... Upper Rank Six..." Shinobu repeated softly, a thoughtful glint in her eyes, which quickly turned into a cold, sharp glint, but was soon masked by her usual smile. "It's good that it's resolved."

By this time, Aoi had finished checking on Tanjiro and Inosuke, confirming that they only had minor scratches and fatigue. She then urged Zenitsu, "Zenitsu! Don't hide! Come and check on them!"

"I'm fine, Aoi! I'm really fine!" Zenitsu shouted as he dodged, but Aoi still grabbed his ear and dragged him away.

Inosuke complained that he was hungry, and the Beady-Eyed Trio jokingly led him to the kitchen to find something to eat.

Tanjiro walked up to Moyu and Shinobu and carefully explained the mission in detail, including how to infiltrate, discover the anomaly, cooperate with Mr. Uzui to rescue people, and eliminate the demons.

Shinobu Kocho, then nodded approvingly. "Well done, Tanjiro. All three of you have grown." Her gaze softened. "Go wash up and rest for a bit."

"Yes! Thank you, Shinobu!" Tanjiro breathed a sigh of relief, gave a warm smile, bowed, and left.

Only Moyu and Shinobu Kocho remained under the eaves. The afternoon sun shone through the Wisteria trellis in the courtyard, casting dappled shadows, and a gentle breeze carried the fresh scent of grass and trees.

"It seems you've gained quite a bit from this mission as well?" Ren looked at Moyu meaningfully. She keenly sensed that Moyu's aura seemed more restrained and solid.

Moyu didn't deny it. He put down his teacup and looked at Kanao Tsuyuri, who was practicing swordsmanship in the courtyard. "It's a way of verifying some of my ideas." He was referring to the practical application of "Kaku" and his further understanding of the Upper Rank's strength.

"Verifying the idea..." Ren repeated softly, without delving deeper, and then said, "Regarding the cultivation of the Red Nichirin Blade, I've recently had some new insights. It seems to be combining better with the 'poison' nature of my Insect Breathing, although it's still far from truly stable." She shared her progress, a subtle exchange of information and trust.

"The fusion of energy properties and techniques requires time to explore," Moyu said. "You're heading in the right direction."

"It's truly an honor to receive the approval of Lord Eye Hashira." Shinobu covered her mouth and chuckled softly, her tone slightly teasing, her purple eyes curving upwards.

Moyu glanced at her, but didn't reply, turning his gaze back to the courtyard. Kanao Tsuyuri's sword swings were precise and steady, her breathing long and even. After washing up, Tanjiro quickly joined the training, meticulously practicing the basics of swordsmanship. After being checked by Aoi, Zenitsu surprisingly didn't slack off, running to a corner to practice the First Form of Thunder Breathing against a wooden stake, muttering, "I need to become more reliable to protect Nezuko." Inosuke, having filled his stomach, was even more energetic, jumping around in the yard, practicing his wild Beast Breathing, shouting and yelling, which drew frequent scoldings from Aoi.

After a brief separation and a thrilling mission, the daily life at the Butterfly Mansion returned to its unique, vibrant, and bustling tranquility.

Shinobu Kocho watched this scene quietly, her smile gentle and genuine. After a moment, she stood up. "I'll go check on the preparation of the medicinal herbs. Moyu- kun, please make yourself at home."

"Um."

After Ren left, Moyu sat alone on the veranda, listening to the sounds in the courtyard and watching the ever-changing Flowing Clouds in the sky. Within his body, the cool sensation brought by the Advanced Mental Strength Meditation Method continued to nourish his sea of consciousness, while the subtle warm current of the Reversal Technique quietly circulated in his meridians, consolidating the slight gains from the previous battle. His experience using the Red Nichirin Blade, the practical data of "Crimson," the analysis of the Upper Rank's fighting style... all this information, with the help of the Six-Eyed One, was sorted out, summarized, and solidified, becoming part of the foundation of his strength.

He knew that the end of the Entertainment District was not the end. Muzan would be enraged Muzan the loss of Upper Rank Six, and then Hantengu and the Urinal would attack the Swordsmith Village, but there was still time.