Leave. I Don't Take Students of Bad Character

Jigoro Kuwajima gave Hiruma a chop to the head and scolded him irritably:

"Hiruma, stop embarrassing me. There's nothing funny about this!"

"Get lost!"

The old man kicked Hiruma aside. After all, he had no idea what kind of scum Kaigaku was.

"Child, get up!"

"Have you eaten?"

"We'll discuss becoming my disciple later!"

"Thank you, sir!" Kaigaku pretended to be deeply moved and kowtowed several more times. All he could do was pray that this guy had not tattled on him.

What rotten luck. This guy was actually a disciple of Peach Mountain.

Damn it!

Hiruma folded his arms across his chest, his eyes rolling as he thought. The old man might have a sharp tongue but a soft heart, but Hiruma was not so easygoing.

You want to be my junior brother? Dream on.

Let's see how I deal with you.

Kaigaku did not get up. He continued begging desperately.

"Sir, I only ask that you take me as your disciple. Otherwise, I'll keep kneeling here!"

"Please, I want to kill Demons. I want to join the Demon Slayer Corps!"

Bang—

He slammed his forehead heavily against the ground, producing a crisp sound as flesh collided with earth.

When he raised his head again, his forehead was already swollen and red. Blood slowly seeped from the wound and ran down his cheeks.

Yet he seemed unable to feel any pain. He continued staring straight ahead, his blue eyes gleaming with a heart-chilling light. It was hatred and resentment that could not be concealed.

His hatred for "Demons" did not seem feigned at all. After all, when he glanced at Hiruma from the corner of his eye, his enemy was standing right there. His emotions were entirely genuine.

"Ah..." The old man sighed. This child was far too stubborn. It was all those Demons' fault.

"Fine, fine. Come with me. If you want to become my disciple, you must first pass my test. Otherwise, you'll only lose your life before you ever get to fight a Demon."

"Thank you, sir!" Kaigaku was overjoyed, though what filled his heart even more was resentment toward the old man.

Damn old bastard. You made me smash my head open, acting like you give a damn about me.

"Master, I just remembered I have something to do. Bye!"

Hiruma swiftly left the scene and ran down the mountain without looking back. There were some things he could not say outright, or it would seem too targeted. But he still had his gang of little brothers.

Jigoro Kuwajima's trial was simple and brutal: if Kaigaku could touch him even once before sunset, he would be accepted.

He handed Kaigaku a wooden sword, clasped one hand behind his back, and wore a solemn expression.

"Give it everything you have. Come!"

Kaigaku gripped the wooden sword tightly, a trace of barely noticeable disdain flashing through his eyes. A crippled old man, what was he putting on airs for? Watch me break your other leg.

He charged forward with the sword in hand, brimming with confidence. The result of underestimating his opponent was a merciless beating—especially when the old man was in testing mode.

Kaigaku had not even gotten close before he was swept away by a single strike, then slammed heavily onto the ground.

"Ah—"

He felt as though his arm was about to break, and every naive thought in his mind vanished.

What a strong old man. Tch, he was deliberately trying to keep me from passing, wasn't he?

For money, for strength, and for revenge against those who had bullied him, Kaigaku unleashed all his strength.

He shouted and charged at the old man, only to be sent flying again and again. Even covered in wounds, he did not care in the slightest.

The sun slanted westward and would soon sink behind the mountains. The agreed time was nearly up, yet Kaigaku had not touched the old man even once.

Still, the old man was quite satisfied with his relentless determination. He was a promising seedling. If properly trained, he could contribute to the Demon Slayer Corps.

Unfortunately, the old man had no idea how Kaigaku cursed him in his heart, much less knew of the boy's selfish nature.

No matter how the old man trained him, he would ultimately remain an ungrateful wolf.

"Ahhh—"

"I want revenge!"

Kaigaku's face was covered in bruises, and with his furious roar, his features twisted into something barely human.

The old man went easy on him with this strike. He acknowledged Kaigaku's perseverance, and his talent was decent too, though he was still far inferior to his eldest disciple.

The wooden sword brushed past the old man's clothes, and Kaigaku stumbled and fell.

"Kid, your perseverance is good. That's important!"

"You are sui—"

Before the old man could finish, a young child's voice rang out.

"Brothers, that thief is here! Get him!"

Shota led seven or eight half-grown boys up the slope. They were determined to complete the task their boss had given them.

Kaigaku was stunned. He knew that damn redhead must have done this.

Bastard!

Kaigaku's eyes widened with fury as undisguised, icy killing intent pressed down on Shota and the other children.

By chance, the old man saw this scene. He was shocked. Why did Kaigaku have killing intent in his eyes?

And why did these children want to beat him up?

"Stop, stop, stop!" The old man stepped between them. Just standing there was enough to frighten Shota and the others into stillness. "Explain yourselves. Why did you come to my mountain to beat someone up for no reason?"

"Grandpa Jigoro, that guy is a bad person. He stole our money!"

"Yeah, yeah! If we didn't give it to him, he beat us!"

"He even stole money. I saw it myself, but he said he'd kill me if I told anyone!"

"But our boss said we can't cover for evil people. That would be wrong!"

Eight or nine children talked over one another as they listed Kaigaku's crimes.

Hearing this, Jigoro Kuwajima furrowed his brows tightly. He had always acted decisively throughout his life and despised thieves and bullies more than anything.

He turned toward Kaigaku, who was lying on the ground. The killing intent accumulated over decades nearly became tangible as he asked, word by word:

"Kaigaku, is what they said true?"

In an instant, Kaigaku felt as though his heart had stopped. Bone-deep cold wrapped around him, and he trembled all over in fear.

Soon, desire overcame fear. He struggled to his feet, wearing an expression of unyielding defiance as he said:

"I never stole or robbed anything. They're lying!"

"Oh?"

The old man turned to Shota and the others, frightening them so badly that they dared not move.

"Did you lie?"

Under such pressure, especially for children, lying was extremely difficult.

But Shota and the others had no need to lie. Everything they said was the truth.

"Grandpa Jigoro, we didn't lie!"

"Hiruma was the one who helped us get our money back. That guy only came to town a few days ago."

"Our boss hadn't come back then, and he bullied us every day!"

The children were not afraid at all. They directly stood up to the old man.

"Ah..." The old man let out a long sigh. Had he really misjudged him?

Stealing, robbing, and lying—Kaigaku was a child of bad character!

Suddenly, the old man transformed into a streak of golden lightning. By the time Kaigaku reacted, a gleaming blade was already pressed against his throat.

If he could still say that under the threat of death, it would prove that he had not lied.

Now it was Kaigaku's turn to panic. He only wanted money; he did not want to die.

"Say it again. Did you do those things or not?" the old man demanded.

Kaigaku watched helplessly as a drop of blood slid down the cold blade. A sharp pain came from his neck. In the end, his desire could not overcome his fear of death.

"I did it! Kill me, then!" he roared like a hysterical madman.

The old man sheathed his sword. What a waste of that perseverance.

"Leave. I don't take disciples of bad character!"

PS: Thanks to "Jiangshi Battle Position" for the mass-update flowers, and thanks to every brother who supports me. Muah! (*￣3￣)╭?