The Town's Evil Ghost

"Thank you, young man. If not for you, I would have gone hungry and cold today."

"Don't mention it. I'm the one imposing on you."

"It's nothing, just an extra pair of chopsticks."

Suzuki Mufeng followed the short, elderly man while carrying a large bundle of firewood on his back. As for why he was lugging such a heavy load, it was because he had stumbled upon the old man on the mountain path to town, exhausted from chopping wood and struggling with his mobility.

He had encountered the elderly man, who was physically drained and struggling to walk after his labor, and being a kind-hearted soul, he couldn't just stand by. After taking over the wood-chopping, he even carried the old man for a stretch of the mountain road, eventually arriving at the demon-infested town under his guidance.

Walking through the town, Suzuki Mufeng noticed that there were almost no women on the streets; some houses even stood completely empty, as if the town's vitality had been drained away.

"I don't have much to offer, child. Eat some fruit to tide you over; dinner will be ready soon."

The old man tremblingly tossed sticks into the central bonfire one by one. Unable to watch, Suzuki Mufeng took over the cooking duties himself.

"Sorry for the trouble today, young man. It's a pity—if my granddaughter were still here, I would have introduced you to her."

While stacking the wood, Suzuki Mufeng caught the scent of a demon. "Old man, could you tell me about your granddaughter?"

"That? It's no secret in this town. A week ago, for some reason, young women walking the streets began to vanish. Wherever they disappeared, they would leave behind their tongues. As for my poor granddaughter... sigh, never mind."

The sorrow etched onto the old man's face was profound. To his kin, it was as if she had vanished into thin air, but those discarded tongues were a grim omen that they were likely all dead.

Suzuki Mufeng stroked his chin in thought. No wonder he hadn't seen many women in town; the empty houses were likely left by families who had fled to escape the danger.

Targeting women specifically and leaving only their tongues behind—he could confirm it wasn't a Swamp Demon, but what was the purpose of this demon's ritual?

"Old man, I'm full. I'm going out for a walk. Get some rest early."

"The sky has already darkened, child. The night is dangerous. Remember to come back soon."

The sun had completely set, and the pitch-black night descended upon the town. Devoid of human life, the town felt like a demon's den waiting to devour souls.

Suzuki Mufeng held his Nichirin Sword in both hands, the tip dragging along the ground with a soft, rasping sound.

Ever since I arrived in this town, I've sensed a thick stench of blood. I can confirm it's a newly transformed demon, not one that traveled here from elsewhere. A demon that has consumed many people wouldn't leave so many openings.

Suzuki Mufeng suddenly swung his blade and spun around, slashing horizontally behind him. The figure behind him ducked instantly, the Nichirin Sword slicing through only a few strands of hair. The person huddled on the ground, clutching their head and screaming.

"Don't kill me! Begone, demon! Begone! I haven't even taken a wife yet! Am I going to die? Am I really going to die?"

Looking down, he realized it was Zenitsu Agatsuma, one of the three boys. Having sensed the presence behind him, he had assumed it was a demon. Fortunately, he hadn't actually killed Zenitsu Agatsuma, or he would have caused a major deviation from the original plot.

Zenitsu Agatsuma was currently trembling on the ground, head in his hands, eyes brimming with tears. Given his plain clothes and black hair, he hadn't been taken in as a disciple by Jigoro Kuwajima yet. After this incident, he could take him to begin training in Thunder Breathing early.

"I'm not a demon, kid. What are you doing here so late?"

"A Nichirin Sword... you're a member of the Demon Slayer Corps, right? You must be super strong! You can definitely protect me from the demons, right? Please, protect me!"

Zenitsu Agatsuma lunged forward, clinging tightly to Suzuki Mufeng's leg, begging with snot and tears streaming down his face.

"Get off, you're getting my pants dirty! If you're so scared, why did you come here?"

"I... my fiancée. I gave her all my savings and we signed the marriage registration forms. She promised to meet me today so we could run away and be together forever. Even if there are demons, I had to come. She must still be waiting for me."

Unable to refuse Zenitsu Agatsuma, he helplessly led him toward the woman's house.

Alas, he was destined for disappointment; the woman had likely fled long ago or had already fallen victim to the demon.

"How could this be? Damn it! I'll tear that demon to pieces! Senior, please, you must slay the demon! This is my life's request!"

Seeing the empty house, Zenitsu Agatsuma turned to Suzuki Mufeng in grief and rage, dropping to his knees in a dogeza to plead.

"No need. I can do it right now."

Right now? What does that mean?

Before Zenitsu Agatsuma could react, he was lifted into the air. Suzuki Mufeng tucked him under his arm and leaped onto the roof to dodge.

"A Demon Slayer, and quite fast too. I've only been at this for a few days, and I've already been discovered."

From the spot where they had been standing, a demon with horns emerged from the ground. Its eyes were locked onto the two on the roof, but upon seeing Zenitsu Agatsuma, it seemed to recall something and shouted.

"It's you! So, you're a brother. Demon Slayer, consider yourself lucky. For the sake of my brother, leave now, and I'll spare you."

"Brother? Sigh... is this friend going to explain this to me?"

Sensing Suzuki Mufeng's suspicious gaze and the way his Nichirin Sword glinted in the light, Zenitsu Agatsuma became instantly agitated.

"Who's your brother?! Don't slander me! Senior, I'm innocent! Hurry up and cut it down! Cut off the head of this demon that's slandering me!"

Zenitsu Agatsuma was flailing about in a panic, even wanting to jump down and decapitate the demon himself.

"Brother, you don't know the truth yet? Then let me tell you!"

The demon pulled a stack of bills and some blurry photos from its clothes.

When Zenitsu Agatsuma saw them, he was stunned. "Miori-chan... who is the man beside her?"

"This woman is a con artist. She tricked us into marriage, manipulated the paperwork to rack up usurious debts, drained our assets, and then slipped away. You're just like me—we were both scammed. I was at my wit's end back then. My family sold a cow and some eggs, emptying our life savings, and I didn't regret it because I wanted to be with her. In the end, I was left with nothing. Fortunately, that Lord helped me. That's why I'm going to kill all these scammers, cut out their tongues, and make sure they can never deceive anyone again."

This demon had completely lost its mind; there was no saving it.

Zenitsu Agatsuma fell silent, biting his lip before shouting in fury, "Senior, please help me kill him! Avenge Miori!"

"Water Breathing."

Suzuki Mufeng flashed before the demon, both blades swinging in a horizontal arc.

"First Form: Water Surface Slash."