Return to the Village and a Conversation

When Moyu, Mitsuri Kanroji, and Muichiro Tokito returned to the entrance of the Swordsmith Village, the eastern sky was just beginning to lighten. The night had not yet completely faded, and the Valley was filled with the chill and tranquility before dawn.

At the village entrance, Tecchin Tecchikawahara, the village chief, was anxiously waiting with several village elders and the leader of the "Hidden" unit. Although they had evacuated most of the villagers to a more secluded shelter in advance, as instructed by Moyu, the faint rumbling and explosions coming from the depths of the Mountain Forest and the terrifying burst of ghostly energy had made their hearts leap into their throats.

Seeing the three figures emerge from the morning mist, Tetsuchi Kawara immediately hurried to meet them. When he saw that the one walking in front was Sumiha, whose breathing was steady and whose Haori hem was stained with a little dust and scorch Moyu, and behind him were Mitsuri, who looked slightly tired but was still in good spirits, and Muichiro, whose arm was wrapped in bandages and whose face was somewhat pale, the old man's tense face finally showed a relieved expression.

"Lord Moyu! Lord Kanroji! Lord Tokito! Are you... alright?" Tetsuchi Kawara's voice trembled slightly as his gaze swept anxiously over the three, lingering particularly long on Moyu. He couldn't fathom what terrifying enemy required three Pillar-level fighters to join forces against.

"Mr. Tetsuchi Kawara, we're alright." Moyu stopped and spoke calmly, his voice exceptionally clear in the quiet dawn. "The attacking demons have been slain. The evacuated villagers can return."

"Slayed... slain?!" Ironfield River and the others behind him gasped simultaneously, their faces filled with disbelief and shock. Although they had a premonition, hearing the confirmation with their own ears still made them feel dizzy. A demon that could make the three Pillars treat them so seriously must be at least a strong Lower Rank demon, and not just one, but possibly... They dared not think any further.

"Really... really? That's wonderful! That's wonderful!" An elder was so excited that tears streamed down his face. "Thank you, sirs! You've saved the lives of hundreds of people in the Swordsmith Village!"

The members of the stealth unit bowed deeply, their eyes filled with awe and gratitude.

"It's my duty." Moyu nodded slightly, showing no intention of taking credit. "I'd appreciate it if the village chief could arrange for the hidden forces in the village to clean up the battlefield near the northern cliff and the western woodland. There are some signs of battle that need to be dealt with to avoid disturbing the villagers."

"Yes! Yes! I understand! I'll do it right away!" Tie Diheyuan replied repeatedly, his eyes filled with gratitude and admiration as he looked at Moyu. He turned around and gave a few instructions to the people behind him, and immediately someone took the order and went to organize people to clean up the battlefield and inform the villagers in the shelter that they could return.

"You three have worked hard, please go back inside and rest! I have already had hot water, clean clothes and food prepared!" Tie Diheyuan said solicitously, leading the way.

Back at their temporary lodgings, Mitsuri and Muichiro first tended to their injuries and washed up. Mitsuri was simply exhausted and weak, but otherwise fine. The numbness in Muichiro's arm had also been mostly relieved thanks to Hidden's treatment; he just needed to rest for a day or two.

Moyu quickly washed up, changed into a clean black team uniform, and sat down under the veranda in the courtyard. Sunlight streamed into the courtyard, bringing a touch of warmth.

After a while, Mitsuri Kanroji, having finished washing up and changed into a light pink casual outfit, came over carrying two cups of hot tea. Her long, wet, light green hair draped over her shoulders, and her face had a rosy glow from her bath, making her look much more refreshed.

"Mr. Moyu, please have a cup of tea." Mitsuri gently placed a cup of tea on the low table next to Moyu, then sat down beside him, holding the teacup in both hands. Her large, light green eyes stared intently at Moyu, filled with curiosity and... a hint of undisguised admiration.

"Thank you." Moyu opened her eyes and took the teacup.

The courtyard fell silent for a moment, with only the early birds chirping crisply in the branches.

"Um... Mr. Moyu..." Mitsuri hesitated for a moment, but couldn't help speaking, her voice soft and tentative, "You... are really amazing..."

Moyu paused, holding the teacup, and looked at her.

Mitsuri's face flushed slightly, a little embarrassed, but her eyes remained bright. "I... Muichiro and I were struggling to deal with that demon called Gyokko... But when you came, it seemed like you didn't exert much effort at all... And, that... dark red... sphere you used at the end? It looked so scary, but also so powerful! It instantly... Mr. Moyu, you've been a Pillar for a shorter time than us, haven't you? Why are you so much stronger?" She asked in one breath the question that had been on her mind, a question shared by everyone who had witnessed the battle.

At that moment, Muichiro Tokito also quietly walked over and sat down by the pillar. He had changed into a clean team uniform, and the bandage on his arm was particularly conspicuous. He did not look at Moyu, but stared at the trees in the courtyard that had just sprouted new buds, but the corner of his eye in his empty mint green eyes clearly showed that he was also listening attentively.

Moyu remained silent for a moment, his Azure pupils reflecting the morning light, revealing no emotion. He took a small sip of the slightly hot tea before slowly speaking, his voice flat and even. "A special physique, plus a tiny bit of talent, I suppose."

The answer was extremely brief, almost perfunctory. But combined with his mysterious and unfathomable Azure eyes, and the previously displayed, completely illogical speed of his power increase, it gave people a sense of "I see." After all, there are always some geniuses and anomalies in this world that cannot be explained by common sense.

"Physique and talent..." Mitsuri murmured, a hint of envy on her face, but it quickly turned into determination. "They're really amazing! But this makes me even more worried..." Her tone lowered. "Even Upper Rank Five is so difficult to deal with, and even Muichiro and I joined forces, we couldn't kill him... So what about the higher-ranking Upper Rank, like Upper Rank Three, which you encountered before, Mr. Moyu, and Upper Rank One and Two, who have never shown themselves... Can we really defeat them?"

Her words revealed deep worry. As a Pillar, she was acutely aware of the vast power gap between the Demon Slayer Corps and demons. In the past, it was already difficult for Pillar-level fighters to deal with Lower Rank, let alone Upper Rank, where the odds were even against them. Now, although she had new techniques like the Red Nichirin Blade, the strength of the Upper Rank Five still made her feel suffocated. The road ahead seemed bleak.

Although Muichiro did not speak, his arms, which were wrapped around his knees, tightened slightly, and a faint ripple passed through his empty eyes.

Moyu looked at the genuine worry in Mitsuri's eyes, then glanced at the silent Muichiro. He knew that this sense of powerlessness in the face of an absolute power gap was a mountain weighing on the hearts of all Demon Slayer Corps members. In the original story, they only gained the power to briefly contend with the Upper Rank by activating their "Demon Slayer Marks," a method that overdraws their life potential, at a heavy price.

He absolutely did not want to see his companions go down that path. The side effects of the Demon Slayer Mark were too great; it was like drinking poison to quench thirst.

"Actually... there is a way." Moyu put down his teacup, gazing at the gradually brightening sky. His voice remained calm, yet carried a convincing power. "But the price will be high."

Mitsuri and Muichiro both looked at him at the same time.

"The price?" Mitsuri pressed.

"Yes, a forbidden method that overdraws one's life essence in exchange for a brief, explosive boost." Moyu didn't explicitly mention the Demon Slayer Mark, but he revealed the essence. "Once used, the user is almost certainly destined not to live past twenty-five."

"Not even twenty-five?!" Mitsuri covered her mouth, her light green eyes filled with shock and fear. Muichiro's body also trembled almost imperceptibly.

"This... this is too cruel..." Mitsuri's voice choked with sobs, "Isn't there... any other way?"

Moyu didn't answer immediately. He closed his eyes, his mind immersing itself in the system interface in his mind. The Coins section displayed the number [134900]. He quickly browsed the exchange list, searching for a way to potentially replace the Demon Slayer Mark and safely improve his overall physical fitness.

His gaze swept over various bloodlines, gene serums, and rare treasures, finally settling on one option:

[Dragon Elephant Prajna Skill (Adapted Version)]: An external martial arts technique originating from the world of high-level martial arts, adapted to the rules of this world. It consists of thirteen levels, progressively tempering the body, stimulating potential, and greatly enhancing strength, speed, endurance, defense, and life essence, with no side effects. Exchange price: 50,000 Coins.

Effects: Upon reaching a high level, one can possess the strength of a dragon and an elephant, with an extremely powerful physical body and blood and qi as strong as a furnace. This greatly benefits Breathing Style, injury recovery, and resistance to toxins and abnormal conditions. Note: This skill requires persistent practice and a solid foundation to reach its full potential.

"Dragon Elephant Prajna Skill..." Moyu's heart stirred. This technique emphasizes foundation, provides comprehensive improvement, and has no side effects, which is exactly what he needs right now. Although 50,000 Coins is not cheap, it is negligible compared to the cost of the Demon Slayer Mark. Moreover, cultivating this technique can not only comprehensively improve one's strength, but the essence of the Breathing Style is also to temper the body. Perhaps the combination will have unexpected effects!

He opened his eyes, looked at Mitsuri and Muichiro who were watching him nervously, and slowly said, "I have some preliminary ideas, but they are not yet mature and need to be verified. When we return to headquarters and hold the Hashira Meeting, I will bring them up for discussion with everyone."

He didn't say it directly, but planned to think about it further. If there were no other options, he would exchange for the cultivation technique. The certainty in his tone rekindled a glimmer of hope in the eyes of Mitsuri and Muichiro.

"Really? That's wonderful!" Mitsuri's face broke into a smile again, though she still looked worried, she was clearly much more relaxed. "I believe in Mr. Moyu! He'll definitely find a way!"

Muichiro nodded slightly, his expression still blank, but his aura seemed to soften a little.

Just then, the sounds of villagers returning home filled the air, a joyful farewell to the disaster. Swordsmith Village welcomed a new day.

Meanwhile, in Infinity Castle.

This is a bizarre space that completely defies the laws of physics. Countless Japanese-style buildings are stacked, upside down, and rotated at all sorts of unbelievable angles. Paper doors open and close, and corridors twist and turn, resembling a huge and disordered maze. The air is filled with a strange smell of decaying wood mixed with blood.

At the far end of the space lies the largest room, yet its decoration is extremely simple, even somewhat desolate—a Japanese-style interior.

Muzan Kibutsuji stood with his back to the doorway, before a huge, blurry screen. He wore an impeccably tailored black suit, his tall, slender figure radiating a suffocating chill and savage cruelty. He had just "watched" through their blood connection the final scene transmitted back by Gyokko before his death—the scene of the blue-eyed swordsman wielding a sword burning with crimson flames, and the final scene of the dark red sphere emanating an aura of Annihilation that even he felt a chill run down his spine, completely obliterating Gyokko.

He also "saw" the earlier slaying of Hantengu and all his clones. The swordsman's swordsmanship, the eerie defensive techniques, the eyes that seemed to see through everything...

"Useless... all of you are useless!" Muzan's voice was low and twisted, filled with extreme anger and killing intent. The air in the room instantly dropped to freezing point, and fine frost condensed on the surrounding paper doors and beams.

Upper Rank Six, Upper Rank Five, Upper Rank Four... In such a short period of time, they have all fallen to the same swordsman from the Demon Slayer Corps! Moreover, each time, that brat named Moyu is stronger than the previous intelligence report indicated! This rate of growth is simply unbelievable!

"Azure eyes... a unique defense... a strange energy sphere... a peculiar Breathing Style..." Muzan slowly turned around, revealing a handsome but bloodless face, his crimson pupils burning with icy flames. "Ubuyashiki... where did you find this monster?"

He felt threatened. Threatened like never before. This Moyu, like that boy with the Hanafuda Earrings, was a hidden danger that had to be eliminated! Perhaps even more dangerous than that boy! Because his abilities were more unpredictable, and his growth rate was faster!

"We can't let this go on any longer..." Muzan walked to the center of the room, where an exquisite Japanese chessboard was placed. He stretched out his pale, slender fingers and gently picked up a chess piece representing "Gyokko". With a slight pressure from his fingertips, the chess piece instantly turned into dust.

"Nakime," he said calmly.

Buzz--

In the shadows of a corner of the room, the space distorted slightly, and a woman holding a biwa, wearing a kimono, with her head bowed and her face obscured, quietly emerged. It was Nakime, the newly appointed Upper Rank Four after Hantengu's death, the controller of the Infinity Castle, Muzan's close attendant.

"Muzan." Nakime's voice was hollow and ethereal.

"Investigate." Muzan's voice was icy cold. "Use every means at your disposal to find Ubuyashiki's hiding place. Also, that Eye Hashira named Moyu —his location, his every move, I need to know."

"Yes," Nakime replied with a bow, a soft note emanating from the biwa in her arms.

Muzan walked to the side, gazing at the bizarre and grotesque scene outside, his crimson pupils flashing with a cold light.