Dan Lei and Shinobu Kocho watched a sunrise together. The two of them successfully grew closer—of course, in the physical sense, by being warmed by the sun.
However, when Shinobu saw that Dan Lei not only wasn't afraid of sunlight but actually enjoyed napping beneath it, her attitude changed completely. After sincerely apologizing once more, she began treating Dan Lei as an honored guest.
The convoy soon arrived at a hillside covered in Wisteria flowers. The main group couldn't go any farther, so aside from Dan Lei and Shinobu, only Giyu Tomioka accompanied them. The others would take a detour to the nearby Butterfly Mansion.
Of course, Tanjiro was still tied up and carried up by Giyu Tomioka.
The next day, Dan Lei and Kojiro Sasaki were invited to a courtyard.
Since they were on the Demon Slayer Corps' territory, it would be difficult to explain if someone suddenly disappeared for a long time. Thus, Dan Lei had Kojiro Sasaki remain visible the entire time and guard the box containing Nezuko.
Although Nezuko hadn't seen Dan Lei or Kojiro Sasaki for nearly two years, she still remembered Dan Lei's presence. As a result, she behaved very well and didn't try to run around.
However, when Dan Lei and Kojiro Sasaki carried Nezuko's box into the courtyard, they discovered that six of the eleven people inside were staring at them as though trying to see through them.
Just like in the original story, all nine Hashira had gathered for Tanjiro's trial. The other two were Tanjiro and the [Hidden] member guarding him.
Dan Lei wasn't nervous in the slightest. After arriving in the courtyard, he nodded to the few people he knew, set down his box, and sat directly on it, waiting for the Demon Slayer Corps' master to arrive.
However, it was obvious that Kagaya Ubuyashiki had deliberately left this time for Dan Lei and the Hashira to get acquainted. Thus, only a few seconds after Dan Lei sat down, the cheerful Kyojuro Rengoku loudly asked,
"You're the mage who killed Lower Rank Three and Lower Rank One within two days? Haha! My name is Kyojuro Rengoku, the Flame Pillar of the Demon Slayer Corps. Since you kill demons, that makes us friends! Come visit the Rengoku Family sometime—I'll give you a proper welcome!"
Dan Lei naturally responded to Kyojuro Rengoku's friendly declaration in kind. After introducing himself, he said that he would certainly pay a visit when he had the chance.
However, the Wind Hashira, Sanemi Shinazugawa, who had stabbed Nezuko several times here in the original story and infuriated the audience, stepped forward and said,
"Whether we're friends remains to be seen. He's protecting a demon, and his abilities are so strange that I don't think he should even know this place exists."
In response to Sanemi Shinazugawa's hostility, Dan Lei acted as though he were "nobody important and not worth bothering with." After all, the other man had clearly shown that he didn't trust him, so why should Dan Lei put on a warm face and try to talk to him?
However, Dan Lei's attitude greatly irritated Sanemi Shinazugawa. In the blink of an eye, he drew his sword and charged at Dan Lei with First Form: Clinging Whirlwind - Slice, roaring,
"You want to be friends? Then hand over the demon!"
However, the one protecting Nezuko was Kojiro Sasaki. Facing Sanemi Shinazugawa's whirlwind-wrapped assault, he stepped forward and drew his sword in one swift motion, slashing Sanemi Shinazugawa out of the whirlwind. Sanemi staggered back seven or eight steps before landing hard on the ground.
The arrogance had vanished from Sanemi Shinazugawa's face, replaced by unwillingness.
Most of the other Hashira felt much the same as they watched the scene unfold. Their thoughts were roughly, "So this is the strength of the Heavenly Human Realm. It truly lives up to its reputation."
However, Mitsuri Kanroji, the Love Pillar, was thinking,
"Wow! So cool! This Kojiro Sasaki is incredibly cool!!"
But Dan Lei had no intention of letting Sanemi Shinazugawa's attack go just like that. His face turning grim, he said,
"By the way, unknown Wind Hashira, that just now counted as an attack on me, didn't it?"
The moment Dan Lei said this, Shinobu Kocho, who had the highest emotional intelligence present, immediately cried out inwardly, This is bad. Dan Lei was obviously planning to make an issue of it.
Sure enough, Dan Lei's next sentence was,
"So if I retaliate now, you won't object, will you?"
With that, Dan Lei directly condensed an Ice Sword. He lunged toward Sanemi Shinazugawa, and a Lightning Slash wrapped in electric light swept horizontally across.
Caught off guard by Dan Lei's attack, Sanemi Shinazugawa could only hurriedly raise his sword to block. He was sent flying once again, crashing straight into the surrounding wall.
Compared with Kojiro Sasaki, Dan Lei, as a member of the Sustainer Dragon Clan, was naturally stronger than ordinary people. After undergoing swordsmanship training, the force behind an ordinary longsword in his hand was equivalent to the force behind someone else's heavy sword. That was why he felt the Nichirin Blade was too light.
If Kojiro Sasaki's strike had forced Sanemi Shinazugawa back through technique, then Dan Lei's sword relied mainly on strength.
However, after practicing with the sword for so long, Dan Lei didn't rely on brute force alone. The lightning-wrapped currents of water worked together with the Ice Sword, striking the side of the Nichirin Blade with pinpoint precision. The blow snapped the blade while simultaneously carving a spray of blood across Sanemi Shinazugawa's body.
Dan Lei didn't kill him outright. He had deliberately made the cut shallow.
After all, Sanemi Shinazugawa hadn't truly intended to attack him.
Even so, the current running through the sword made Sanemi Shinazugawa feel as though he had been sent to paradise and back. His entire body went numb.
After delivering the strike, Dan Lei smiled at Sanemi Shinazugawa, who had crashed into the wall and was temporarily unable to move due to full-body paralysis.
"One sword for one sword. Now we're even."
Afterward, Dan Lei returned to his original spot and said sternly to the other Hashira,
"I know you have a deep hatred for demons, and I know you believe demons can't be trusted.
"But I'll protect Nezuko as long as she hasn't harmed anyone. If you disagree, you can step forward and challenge us again.
"Of course, be prepared to be injured—or even killed."
Dan Lei's actions were already bordering on provocation. He had also injured Sanemi Shinazugawa. The Hashira of the Demon Slayer Corps were warriors; even knowing that charging in against Kojiro Sasaki would only mean throwing their lives away, how could they simply stand there without even daring to draw their swords?
However, Tanjiro was also present. He didn't want Dan Lei and the Hashira of the Demon Slayer Corps to start fighting, so he suddenly jumped into the middle despite having both hands bound and shouted,
"Everyone, calm down! Mr. Dan Lei has always been conducting research related to demons, which is why he's protecting Nezuko, who doesn't eat people! Don't slaughter each other over a misunderstanding!"
Dan Lei was speechless. He walked over and punched Tanjiro directly in the head, knocking him into a crouch before grumbling,
"Why do you think I got into a conflict with these people? Show some self-awareness! Standing here like this, do you really think they won't cut you down too?"
Tanjiro didn't dare talk back when faced with Dan Lei's reprimand. He could only lower his head and pretend to be dead without moving aside.
At that moment, the numbness in Sanemi Shinazugawa's body gradually faded. He stood up again and loudly accused Dan Lei,
"Who would believe that a demon hasn't harmed anyone? How can you prove the demon in that box has never hurt anyone? Were you by her side from the moment she became a demon? Her brother could easily give false testimony!"
Faced with this question, Dan Lei looked at Sanemi Shinazugawa with disdain and said,
"Don't use that muscle-bound brain of yours to judge my actions. Whether a demon has eaten anyone can actually be investigated, and I know how Nezuko replenishes her energy.
"As long as the way she replenishes her energy hasn't changed, she hasn't eaten anyone."
Before you continue