The night wind howled, sweeping across the open space outside the ruins of the Eternal Paradise Cult.
Giyu Tomioka sat cross-legged on the spot, his Nichirin Blade resting horizontally on his knees.
His eyes were slightly closed, his breathing was long and even, and he was like a perfect sculpture, quietly waiting for the final battle that could destroy the world.
An incense stick has burned out.
Half an hour has passed.
A few stray cat meows occasionally drifted from afar, but nothing else happened.
Giyu slowly opened his deep blue eyes, his brows furrowing almost imperceptibly.
"That shouldn't be the case."
Water Hashira silently reviewed the tactics in his mind:
"I stomped on his favorite henchman's head, instantly killing his Upper Rank Two, and then arrogantly made him wash his neck clean through our cellular connection."
"This isn't just ordinary mockery; it's pointing a finger at him and calling him a coward."
"According to the psychological reaction of normal living beings, he should be leading all the employees of the Twelve Kizuki to tear me to pieces right now."
Giyu touched the hilt of his Nichirin Blade.
He seemed to have overestimated the Demon King's courage.
Meanwhile, in Infinity Castle.
This upside-down world, distorted by spatial distortion, is currently experiencing a terrifying disaster comparable to a magnitude 10 earthquake.
"Boom--!"
A tyrannical aura was rampant in the very heart of the Infinity Castle.
The once sturdy wooden attics, corridors, and even carved paper doors all creaked under the unbearable pressure, then burst into splinters.
The entire space looked as if it had been bombed by a nuclear bomb, a scene of utter devastation.
Nakime clutched her broken Biwa, huddled in a dark corner at the very edge, trembling.
Her fingers were even cramping as she strummed the strings, terrified that her boss might take his anger out on her and tear her to pieces.
"Useless! All of you are useless!"
Kibutsuji Muzan stood in front of the luxurious leather sofa that he had already scratched to pieces, his face contorted with rage.
His crimson vertical pupils were filled with frenzied bloodshot veins, his chest heaved violently, and his seven hearts pounded wildly with extreme anger and some indescribable panic.
Just now, he clearly felt the death of Doma.
Moreover, it wasn't a death after a fierce battle; it was a complete and utter annihilation, leaving no room for resistance!
Not only that, that brat named Giyu Tomioka actually dared to transmit his voice directly into his brain through cell connection!
"Wash your neck clean. I'm right here, waiting to fight you to the death."
These words were like a resounding slap across the face of this thousand-year-old Demon King.
"Unforgivable!"
Muzan kicked the coffee table in front of him, smashing it to pieces.
"That idiot Doma who only knows how to eat! The mighty Upper Rank Two was actually defeated in a second by an ordinary Pillar who hasn't even awakened his Demon Slayer Mark?"
"Who does that Giyu Tomioka think he is? What gives him the right to run wild on my territory? What right does he have to tell me to wash my neck?!"
Muzan roared, veins bulging on his forehead, wishing he could immediately order Nakime to open the portal so he could personally rush to the ruins of the Eternal Paradise Cult and tear that arrogant, expressionless brat to pieces.
But.
Just as he was about to issue the order to march.
Muzan's furious movements froze without warning.
Suddenly, the last scene he had seen through Doma's perspective flashed into his mind.
Giyu Tomioka's expressionless, emotionless face.
That strike was so calm, devoid of any fighting spirit.
What's even more alarming is that after killing the man, he didn't run away; instead, he just sat there casually waiting for him!
This is very unusual.
This was so Muzan that it sent chills down Muzan's spine.
"Etc..."
Muzan suppressed the rage that was about to erupt, his crimson eyes began to dart around wildly, and his imagination instantly sped up to its highest level.
"That kid killed Doma and knew I had received the news, why didn't he run away?"
"Is he sitting there alone, trying to entrap law enforcement?"
Muzan's breathing quickened slightly.
"No! The Demon Slayer Corps are all cunning foxes! For him to dare to provoke me so arrogantly, he must have laid a trap all around!"
"Could it be... that traitor named Tamayo is also nearby? Did she plant tens of thousands of tons of explosives underground, just waiting for me to show my face so she could blow me to bits?"
"Or perhaps, Giyu Tomioka has actually been hiding his true strength all along?"
"Has he secretly mastered the thirteenth form of Sun Breathing, planning to transform into a Sun Pillar from Water Hashira when I arrive, and recreate the tragedy of four hundred years ago on the spot?!"
Just thinking about that man from four hundred years ago who wore Sun Wheel Hanafuda Earrings.
Just thinking about Yoriichi Tsugikuni's equally expressionless face, and the terrifyingly high temperature that could burn away one's soul.
Muzan couldn't help but shudder, the mighty Demon King actually shivering uncontrollably.
The fear etched into his DNA instantly extinguished all his anger like a bucket of ice water.
To hell with dignity.
Screw revenge.
He only has one life; let whoever wants to deliver food go, he's not going.
"Snort."
Muzan took a deep breath, Muzan restoring his distorted features to their usual arrogant and haughty appearance.
He straightened his slightly disheveled suit jacket and gave a cold laugh.
"What a pointless attempt to provoke."
Muzan began to speak to himself, his voice just loud enough for Nakime in the corner to hear.
"I am an immortal, Perfect Lifeform. That brat was sitting there deliberately, clearly trying to lure me into their carefully laid trap."
"Do you think I'd be like some brainless beast, falling for such a lowly trap? It's utterly ridiculous."
Muzan found a perfect and impeccable excuse for his "following his heart".
He turned his head and looked down at Nakime was still trembling.
"Pass down the order."
Muzan's tone regained its coldness and authority.
"Infinity Castle is now under absolute lockdown! No Upper Rank is permitted to leave without my permission!"
"Let that foolish pillar lie here, huddled in the cold wind, clutching his trap, slowly waiting to die."
After uttering these high-sounding lines, Muzan turned around with Muzan conscience and walked into the deepest darkness of the Infinity Castle without hesitation.
As long as I hide deep enough, no one can make me lose a single hair.
Three days later.
Outside the ruins of the Eternal Paradise Cult in a small southern town.
Giyu Tomioka remained in the same cross-legged sitting position.
A withered yellow leaf twirled slowly in the cold wind, finally landing squarely on Giyu's expressionless, stoic face.
Achoo!
Even the mighty Water Hashira couldn't help but let out a loud sneeze.
He reached out and removed the fallen leaf from his face, then rubbed his nose, which was red from the cold.
It's been three days.
He stood there like a statue waiting for his husband, enduring the southeast wind for three whole days.
Not to mention Muzan Kibutsuji, they didn't even see a single Lower Rank demon passing by.
"He really didn't come."
Giyu slowly stood up, stretched his joints which were stiff from sitting for so long, and a hint of speechlessness and regret flashed in his deep blue eyes.
I wouldn't say I'm extremely disappointed, but I do feel a little regretful.
If that old monster really lost his mind and charged over, he might be able to take advantage of the chaos to cut off a few of his tentacles.
Even if you can't land a hit, it's still a good opportunity to probe the opponent's attack patterns.
"This Demon King is even more timid than a mouse."
Giyu patted the dust off the oddly colored haori and gave Muzan a very objective assessment.
"Never mind."
"Since he's not coming, waiting any longer is just a waste of time. Besides..."
Giyu touched his stomach very carefully.
He had been surviving on just a little water from the kettle for three days, and his stomach had already protested a hundred times over.
By this time, it was already broad daylight.
The townspeople and the city lord's guards finally realized something was wrong.
"Look! That temple is half collapsed!"
"Oh my god, the smell of blood is horrible! What happened inside?"
"I heard that the city lord's guards have already stormed in and found many skeletons in the basement, as well as those missing girls!"
"What a tragedy! That cult leader, who always looked so kind and benevolent, is actually a man-eating demon!"
Large numbers of onlookers and soldiers poured into the scene from all directions.
Seeing the ruins and the rescued hostages, the crowd erupted in gasps and curses.
Some people searched for their loved ones in tears, while others cried out that it must be divine retribution sent down by the gods.
The whole street was in complete chaos.
And in this bustling, vibrant sea of people.
No one noticed the young man wearing the oddly colored haori.
Giyu casually pulled down his straw hat, obscuring his deep blue eyes.
He walked calmly against the crowd of onlookers rushing towards the ruins to a newly set-up breakfast stall on the street.
"Boss, two meat buns, please."
Giyu handed over a few copper coins, his tone indifferent.
"Alright! Here you go, sir! Oh dear, what a mess over there! Do you think a god descended to earth and struck down that wicked monk?"
The owner handed out steamed buns while chatting gossipy.
Maybe.
Giyu took the steaming hot bun and took a big bite without any hesitation.
The rich meat juices spread in his mouth, greatly soothing his stomach, which had been protesting for three days.
He ignored the shopkeeper's nagging and quietly disappeared into the hustle and bustle of the city while eating his steamed bun.
The destruction of the Eternal Paradise Cult was merely a brief interlude.
He kept his achievements and fame hidden, leaving only a dashing figure hurrying on his way to get a meal.
"I wonder if that woman, Kanae, is obediently waiting for me at the Butterfly Mansion."
Giyu swallowed the last bite of the steamed bun and silently muttered a sentence to himself.
Then, his pace quickened involuntarily as he headed back towards the Butterfly Mansion.