Confessing to Tamayo

Overlapping blade shadows formed a curtain of steel around Lin Guang.

Whether it was the Temari Demon's heavy throws or the Arrow Demon's erratic arrows, Lin Guang's Nichirin Blade deflected them all.

Within that curtain of steel, Lin Guang seemed encased in ancient profound ice. No matter how the Temari Demon and Arrow Demon attacked, they could not so much as touch him.

"Tanjiro! While he's holding off their attacks, you and your sister go take care of that Arrow Demon!" Yushiro shouted to Tanjiro.

"Got it!"

Nichirin Blade in hand, Tanjiro charged toward the Arrow Demon with Nezuko.

Just as Tanjiro and Nezuko prepared to help, Tamayo watched the battle anxiously.

"Lin Guang may be powerful, but his opponents are strong too. I don't know how long he can hold out against these all-out attacks. I have to think of something." Tamayo lifted one sleeve, exposing her fair arm.

Tanjiro and Nezuko had barely rushed out of the house when Lin Guang suddenly turned his wrist, and a pale blue blade gleam cut through every attack.

The next instant, a white flash swept past, sending the Temari Demon's and Arrow Demon's heads flying.

Snowflakes drifted from the sky as the two heads fell to the ground.

"Ice Breathing! Sixth Form! Unbreakable Profound Ice: Snake!"

Lin Guang slowly sheathed his blade. The frost on his body gradually faded as he gazed coldly at the fallen Temari Demon and Arrow Demon.

Susamaru's and Yahaba's eyes were filled with bewilderment. They could not understand how the man they had just been overwhelming had killed them in an instant.

Nor were they alone. Tanjiro, Tamayo, and Yushiro all stared at Lin Guang in disbelief.

"Miss Tamayo, these two demons weren't members of the Twelve Kizuki, but they were still fairly strong. Their blood might be useful to you. You'll have to hurry, though. I'm afraid they'll disappear completely soon," Lin Guang reminded her.

His words brought Tamayo back to her senses. She released her wrist and took out two syringes, drawing a little blood from each demon.

"I hope their blood will provide a clue to developing a cure." Tamayo placed the two syringes in a small box.

Just after Tamayo collected the Temari Demon's and Yahaba's blood, the two demons vanished completely.

At the same time, Lin Guang heard the system's voice.

[Ding! Host has killed Yahaba and Susamaru. Drops: 10 Black Iron Treasure Chests.]

Lin Guang walked over and collected the Treasure Chests, then said to Tamayo, "Miss Tamayo, dawn is almost here. Let's find somewhere out of the sunlight first."

Seeing that Lin Guang had not brought up his earlier condition, Tamayo breathed a sigh of relief. That's right. Mr. Tanjiro stays with his sister because they're related by blood. Apart from that, how could anyone see a demon as human and choose to be with her?

Tamayo nodded. "Yes, please follow me."

Yushiro glared viciously at Lin Guang, but the strength Lin Guang had displayed was so overwhelming that he dared not attack. He could only express his hostility through his glare.

Lin Guang paid no attention to such attacks and followed Tamayo and Yushiro into the house's basement.

Tanjiro followed beside Lin Guang with Nezuko, his head lowered and not a word leaving his lips.

However, Lin Guang did not notice anything unusual about Tanjiro.

Once they reached the basement, Nezuko ran to Tamayo and threw her arms around her.

At the sight, Yushiro instantly lost his composure. "You! Get away from Lady Tamayo! How rude!"

"Stop, Yushiro. It's all right." A single sentence from Tamayo stopped him in his tracks.

Upon hearing her words, Yushiro instantly became obedient.

"Yes! Lady Tamayo!"

But then, to his surprise, Nezuko reached out and patted his head.

Feeling Nezuko's hand on his head, Yushiro went rigid, barely able to speak.

"Stop... that... now!"

Holding Nezuko in her arms, Tamayo asked, "Mr. Tanjiro, what's gotten into Miss Nezuko? Is she all right?"

Seeing this, Tanjiro came back to his senses and smiled softly.

"Don't worry. She's fine. I think Nezuko must see you two as members of our family."

Tamayo looked surprised and puzzled by his words.

"Family? But wasn't Nezuko given the suggestion to see humans as her family? We're demons."

Tanjiro said happily, "But Nezuko has judged you both to be human, which must be why she's acting like this. I wasn't very happy about the suggestion being planted in her before, but now it seems she still has a mind of her own. That's won-"

Before he finished, a tear slipped from the corner of Tamayo's eye.

Seeing Miss Tamayo cry, Tanjiro immediately panicked.

"I'm sorry! Nezuko! Quick... get away from her! You're being rude!"

Tamayo held Nezuko, a smile touching her lips as her tears flowed uncontrollably. "Thank you, Miss Nezuko. Thank you."

"So beautiful," Lin Guang could not help praising her when he saw her smile.

His remark earned him another hostile look from Yushiro, which he ignored outright.

Once Tamayo's emotions settled, Nezuko left her embrace and returned to Tanjiro's side.

At that moment, Lin Guang approached Tamayo and said, "Miss Tamayo, since you took those two demons' blood, may I take that to mean you've agreed to my condition?"

Everyone froze once again at his words.

Yushiro was the first to react and immediately moved to stand in front of Tamayo.

Lin Guang waved his hand, and walls of ice suddenly appeared, trapping Yushiro inside.

The unbelievable sight once again overturned Tanjiro's understanding.

Seeing Yushiro trapped in the ice, Tamayo could not help worrying. "Yushiro..."

"Don't worry. He'll be fine. I just don't want him interrupting us. Besides, for your sake, I wouldn't hurt him," Lin Guang said. "Now, can you give it some proper thought?"

Only after hearing that Yushiro would be unharmed did Tamayo relax. She looked at Lin Guang with a conflicted expression.

"You know I'm a demon."

Lin Guang wrapped an arm around Tamayo's slender waist, bringing their faces so close that they could feel each other's breath.

"I've heard your story. I know about your past, and I even know what burdens you carry."

"But after seeing you, I don't care whether you're a demon. I don't care what your past was like, either. Even if you ate humans while serving under Kibutsuji, I don't care."

"If anyone says you're guilty, I'll bear that guilt for you! If you want revenge on Muzan Kibutsuji, I'll kill him for you! All you need to do is be yourself."

If Nezuko's actions had melted the icy shell around Tamayo's heart, then Lin Guang's commanding yet tender words shattered the defenses she had built over hundreds of years.

Hundreds of years earlier, the terminally ill Tamayo had wanted to live to see her children grow up. Deceived by Muzan Kibutsuji, she had become a demon and killed her husband and children when she lost control of herself.

That had left an indelible scar on Tamayo's heart and made her unable to forgive herself.

Yet today, someone had said he would bear all of it for her. How could Tamayo not be stunned?

But the kindhearted Tamayo did not want Lin Guang to shoulder something he should never have had to bear, so she tried to reject him.

Tamayo raised her head and looked into Lin Guang's eyes, reluctant to hurt him. "Lin Guang, I..."

Before she could finish, Lin Guang lowered his head and kissed her.

At the sight, Tanjiro covered Nezuko's eyes, repeating, "Don't look."

Inside the ice, Yushiro saw what happened and collapsed helplessly to the floor.