"So we staked out the area and sure enough, we caught quite a few."
Nodding, Ayu understood the whole story.
"The Demon Slayer Corps is really a bunch of idiots."
He stepped forward and kicked the swordsman.
"You think you can rescue your relatives from my army?"
"Kill me or torture me, it's up to you!"
The bound swordsman rolled on the ground, his face full of anger, and said...
"I would rather die than surrender!"
"Yeah?"
With a cold laugh, A-Yu beckoned someone over and whispered something in their ear.
Before long, the soldier ran down the mountain.
When he reappeared, he was followed by a large group of people.
Apart from the soldiers in charge of guarding them, the rest were all the swordsmen's relatives.
"Look, see if any of your relatives are inside."
Stepping on the swordsman's head, Ayu pressed down harder with his foot, grinning maliciously.
"Weren't you so arrogant just now? Now go ahead and bark, keep barking!"
The swordsman remained silent, only glancing at the crowd with one eye.
A woman in the crowd covered her mouth and shed tears.
That was his mother.
The other swordsmen cried out upon discovering their relatives.
"Dad!"
"Mayumi!"
"Little brother, don't be afraid, I'm alright!"
Upon hearing the swordsmen's shouts, the relatives, who had been barely holding on, burst into tears.
Even more extreme, some knelt down before Ayu, begging him to release the swordsmen.
When the swordsmen saw their loved ones begging for mercy, they all started cursing at Ayu.
Cries, pleas for mercy, and curses filled the air.
Ayu squinted, a faint smile on his face.
He enjoyed the feeling.
The enemy, who was just moments ago so arrogant, now had to defer to his every whim.
He took a deep breath, raised his foot, and then kicked the swordsman hard in the stomach.
"Gui!"
Seeing her son being treated this way, the mother let out a piercing scream.
His eyes rolled back, and he fainted.
"Mother!"
Gui quickly got up and struggled to run towards her mother.
But he had only taken two steps when he was kicked over by Ayu.
"So, do you want to save your mother?"
With his foot planted on Gui's chest, Ayu waved his hand, signaling his men to bring the mother over.
Immediately afterwards, the soldier drew his knife and pointed the blade at the woman's neck.
"I'm giving you a choice now: surrender or tell me the secrets you know."
"If you can satisfy me, perhaps both of you can live."
"But I must warn you, I don't have much patience."
After saying that, Ayu told the soldier to raise his knife.
"I'll talk, I'll talk!"
As her mother was about to die in front of her, Gui's eyes were completely bloodshot.
With a wail, he spoke with all his might.
"Whatever you ask, I'll tell you!"
"Very good."
Ayu rubbed his foot against Gui's face and then asked.
"What's the name of that superhuman ability?"
"That's called Breathing Technique, and it's said to have originated in the Warring States period..."
With Katsura's explanation, Yu quickly gained a completely new understanding of the Demon Slayer Corps and demons.
The other swordsmen could only watch helplessly as this unfolded, powerless to stop it.
They do not hate Gui.
After all, if they were in their shoes, they might have made the same choice.
They only hated their own incompetence, only hated that they didn't have enough power.
"Anyone will do, please save us quickly!"
Before long, after asking all his questions, Ayu continued walking up the mountain.
As for Gui and the other swordsmen, along with their relatives, they were taken back down the mountain.
There are professional interrogators waiting for them.
The closer you get to the mountaintop, the fewer swordsmen are captured.
Correspondingly, the stronger these swordsmen are.
Near the summit, Ayu even saw a swordsman forcefully break free of his ropes.
He grabbed the Nichirin Blade at his feet and charged at the surrounding soldiers with a roar.
But after he killed more than a dozen people, he was riddled with bullets.
A large amount of blood flowed out of his body and gathered on the ground to form a small stream.
With a thud, he fell to the ground and became a corpse.
"Humans are so fragile. No matter how strong a swordsman is, he is nothing in front of a musket."
After glancing at it, Ayu looked away.
The bodies of these swordsmen will be collected by professionals for dissection and research.
The Nichirin Blade in his hand will also go through a similar process, being copied by a professional blacksmith found by Ayu.
Even if they can't replicate it, they will remelt and forge it to create a suitable weapon.
The Demon Slayer Corps is gradually heading towards its demise.
"Your Highness, we are almost at the top of the mountain."
A soldier spoke, then pointed to the mansion hidden among the trees not far away.
"Based on our deduction, the Pillars and the remaining members of the Demon Slayer Corps are hiding there."
"How is the search force doing?"
"The mansion is surrounded; we will not allow anyone to escape."
With a hint of excitement on his face, Ayu then walked towards the mansion.
Inside the mansion, the group, led by Stone Hashira, were observing their surroundings.
Everyone's face was filled with anxiety, wary of any slightest disturbance.
They didn't know how Ito died, but they knew it wasn't the time to consider the reasons.
Most of the Demon Slayer Corps swordsmen have been captured, and now only a handful of twenty-odd people remain.
"Damn it, let's charge out and fight to the death!"
Sanemi clenched his fists and gritted his teeth as he spoke.
"If we stay here any longer, we'll only end up dead."
They are the backbone of the Demon Slayer Corps, and no matter what, they cannot surrender to Yu.
Even if it costs me my life.
"Those sinners inside, you must be feeling terrible right now."
At this moment, Ayu appeared from a distance, laughing loudly.
"Come out and confess your crimes right now, or my soldiers will storm in."
"Don't even think about it!"
With a loud roar, Sanemi leaned over the window and said angrily.
"If you want war, then let's fight! Who's afraid of you!"
Even from a distance of several dozen meters, Ayu could feel the anger in his words.
"Very well, once you're in my hands, I'll torture you until you wish you were dead."
Having already decided that Sanemi to die, Ayu wanted to order an attack.
"Your Highness, Your Highness!"
Suddenly, a soldier rushed to Ayu's side, his face anxious and filled with panic.
Judging from his expression, it was as if he had learned something incredibly terrifying.
"What's the panic? Tell me what happened."
"Something terrible has happened, Your Highness."
The soldier's lips moved, and he tried several times before he could finally utter the rest of his words.
"His Majesty the Emperor is dead."
Chapter 582 The Scribe's Rescue
"What?!"
Upon hearing those words, Ayu's legs went weak, and he collapsed to the ground.
"How could this happen? How could Father suddenly die?"
Looking at Ayu muttering to himself, the soldier felt an immense pang of heartache.
"Please accept my condolences, Your Highness. You will still be leading us in the future."
"Tell me, tell me how my father died."
With one hand gripping the soldier's arm, A-Yu kept his head down, making it impossible to see the expression on his face.
He didn't want anyone to see the slight upturn of his lips.
"The brain-drying food is quite good, very efficient."
Even though he knew beforehand that the Emperor would die, Ayu still had to pretend to be surprised.
If he is too calm, it will inevitably arouse suspicion.
"Was it the Demon Slayer Corps? Did the Demon Slayer Corps send someone to do it?!"
Looking up suddenly, Ayu's face was filled with anger.