A Blade to Punish Evil, A Blade to Pacify Souls! (Part 2)

The obese woman, holding a bone-cleaver and preparing to carve up the "meat," stared at Kujo Tachibana, who had suddenly appeared in the doorway wielding a long sword with clear hostile intent.

She barked a loud reprimand:

"Who are you? How dare you meddle in the affairs of our Tajima Clan!"

"Someone, come here!"

The fat woman's cry shattered the tranquility of the Tajima Clan estate.

Kujo Tachibana made no move to stop her; he wanted to see if there was anyone innocent left in this filthy family.

Before long, the "remnants" of the Tajima Clan gathered, all of them armed.

They crowded along the corridor of the pavilion, pinning Kujo Tachibana firmly at the entrance to the "kitchen."

A withered, gaunt old man, surrounded by the others, stepped forward to stand before Kujo Tachibana.

This man was none other than the current head of the Tajima Clan, the sixty-three-year-old Tajima Hisashi, whose days were numbered!

He was also the one among this group most desperate to transform into a demon!

"Boy, how did you find this place?" Tajima Hisashi asked, glaring at Kujo Tachibana with a gloomy expression.

Kujo Tachibana did not answer his question, asking only in a flat tone:

"Why do this?"

Hearing Kujo Tachibana's words, Tajima Hisashi couldn't help but think to himself:

Another samurai with an excess of justice and a penchant for meddling. These people will never understand the power of "demons."

In truth, Kujo Tachibana was not the first to discover the Tajima family's secret; those who came before had long since been buried in the soil of the courtyard.

The Tajima Clan, possessing the power of "demons," was invincible!

Tajima Hisashi let out a cold snort!

Pointing toward the kitchen at the young female corpses hanging there, stored as food, he said:

"Hmph! These people are nothing more than low-born commoners!"

"It is their honor to help us become long-lived 'demons'!"

Hearing this, Kujo Tachibana nodded; he understood.

The desires humans generate in order to cling to a long life are no less intense than those of "demons."

Even if it means letting "them" feast on human flesh!

Kujo Tachibana felt that those consumed by such desires were more terrifying than the demons themselves!

Kujo Tachibana then looked at Tajima Hisashi with an expressionless face and asked:

"Oh, is that so? Let me ask you one more question: have all your people arrived?"

Upon hearing this, Tajima Hisashi suddenly sensed that something was wrong!

Kujo Tachibana's demeanor was far too composed!

When things are abnormal, there must be a demon at play. Tajima Hisashi, old and cunning, retreated a few steps without a trace and waved his hand, signaling the others to attack.

Kujo Tachibana looked with cold eyes at the group before him—demons with hideous faces and bodies reeking of blood!

He fully activated the perception of Sword Heart Clarity...

Fortunately, the result was exactly as Kujo Tachibana had expected.

At this moment, aside from one creature still emitting a cold, evil aura, there were no other living people left in the Tajima estate.

Kujo Tachibana slowly raised the long sword in his hand and swung it out without mercy!

Today, he would bury this living hell once and for all!

"Shatter the darkness with thunder!"

"Thunder Breathing - Sixth Form - Thunderclap Roar Modified!"

"BOOM!!!"

After a roar like a heavenly thunderbolt descending upon the world, the demon family of the Tajima Clan was reduced to nothing but ruins!

The dust and smoke gradually dispersed.

Standing atop the ruins, Kujo Tachibana whispered softly:

"Since you want to be demons so badly!"

"Then I shall grant your wish!"

This was Kujo Tachibana's first time "killing people," yet even having slain over twenty at once, he felt no guilt or similar emotions.

Because deep down, Tachibana felt that these "people" were not human at all!

"Cling..."

Gently sliding his long sword back into its scabbard, Tachibana reached out and drew the Nichirin Sword at his waist!

A crisp "clink" rang out, the ringing of the Nichirin Sword lingering in the air!

Kujo Tachibana looked at the Nichirin Sword in his hand, engraved with the four characters "Destroyer of Demons," and whispered:

"Don't be impatient, your turn is coming soon."

Having said that, Kujo Tachibana turned his gaze toward the distance, where Tajima An was currently fleeing in a frantic panic!

"I'm going to die, I'm going to die!"

"That terrifying human swordsman is about to catch up!"

"Faster! I need to go faster!"

Tajima An babbled in terror, his legs moving tirelessly as he sprinted toward the forest ahead, desperate to escape!

Kujo Tachibana's previous strike had completely shattered the courage of this "small-fry" demon, Tajima An!

Without a second of hesitation, Tajima An had bolted!

Behind him, Kujo Tachibana followed at a steady distance, trailing the demon as they headed into the woods.

The only reason Kujo Tachibana allowed the demon to run so far was to ensure the safety of the people back in Black Mountain Township.

Although this battle would, in all likelihood, be a total stomp...

Kujo Tachibana could not guarantee that this demon didn't possess some strange Blood Demon Art.

Better safe than sorry; it was best to stay away from the crowd!

Once Tajima An's figure was completely clear of Black Mountain Township, Kujo Tachibana abruptly stopped and slid his Nichirin Sword back into its scabbard.

He bowed his waist slightly, stepped back with his left leg, and rested his right palm lightly on the hilt.

He assumed the starting stance for an Iaijutsu strike.

(Trivia: Every time Zenitsu Agatsuma uses Thunderclap and Flash, he also uses an Iaijutsu draw.)

"Inhale..."

Air was instantly drawn in, and Kujo Tachibana's lungs swelled.

He controlled the total dilation of his blood vessels, rapidly extracting oxygen from the air into his bloodstream, where it fused instantly with the red blood cells...

A golden radiance ignited from his lungs, spreading through his veins to his entire body in a heartbeat.

Simultaneously, he commanded his muscle fibers to channel an endless surge of energy into his feet!

In an instant!

Electricity overflowed, and thunder began to roar!

"Thunder Breathing - First Form - Thunderclap and Flash!"

The technique was perfect; Kujo Tachibana saw no need to change it.

In the blink of an eye, Kujo Tachibana transformed into a streak of yellow and blue lightning.

He crossed a hundred meters in a heartbeat!

"Swish..."

The Nichirin Sword was drawn and sheathed in a blur, appearing like a phantom.

The kinetic energy from his high-speed sprint sheared Tajima An's head from his neck, and the demon's perspective began to flip...

Until, with a "thud," the demon's head hit the ground!

The headless body continued to sprint for dozens of meters before collapsing and dissolving into ash.

Kujo Tachibana had no interest in hearing Tajima An's final words; he stood coldly to the side, thinking only of his next meal!

Only after watching Tajima An's sinful head dissolve completely into ash did Kujo Tachibana turn and dash back toward Black Mountain Township!

Kujo Tachibana was truly starving now!

He already had a massive appetite, and this body was currently fifteen years old—right in the middle of a growth spurt!

Damn it, he was burning through energy so fast!

He had spent ten hours traveling during the day and was already famished, and then he had gone and unleashed a major technique on top of that.

Kujo Tachibana was reaching his limit; if he didn't eat soon, he feared he might become the first Pillar to die of starvation.

Tonight, Kujo Tachibana was destined to become the Rice Pillar!

High in the sky, the Kasugai Crow named "Zhong Kui" followed Kujo Tachibana the entire way, only turning to fly in another direction with the news of his victory once he had returned to Black Mountain Township.