Here's to Working Together

To keep Muzan Kibutsuji and other demons, as well as certain members of the Demon Slayer Corps, from finding them, Tamayo and Yushiro had hidden their home extremely well. They wound through alley after alley until they reached a dead end, where Tamayo formed several hand seals. Only then did her hideout come into view.

"You really went to great lengths to keep this place hidden."

Ye Chen chuckled, understanding why. After all, in the original story, if Muzan Kibutsuji's underlings hadn't followed Tanjiro, who knew how long it would have taken them to find this place?

Ye Chen had taken precautions against that, too. He had just exchanged for a bottle of Farseeing Potion through the system, and he could confirm that there were no other demons within a five-kilometer radius. In other words, he hadn't been followed. He had no desire to face the boss too early.

Come to think of it, Muzan Kibutsuji can share other demons' vision whenever he wants. That means I shouldn't make any big moves unless necessary-unless I can cut down my target with a single slash before the demon even notices.

Ye Chen pondered this silently. Not killing demons was out of the question; he could only avoid drawing too much attention. After all, Muzan Kibutsuji couldn't possibly be sharing other demons' vision all the time, or he wouldn't have taken so long to notice Tanjiro.

"Ye Chen, can we talk now?"

Once they entered the house, Tamayo knelt on a cushion, while Yushiro sat beside her. His gaze remained fixed warily on Ye Chen.

"Hmm. You saw a little of what I'm capable of and still invited me into your hideout. You've got guts."

Ye Chen glanced at Tamayo and sat down opposite her. Xiao Hua also settled adorably beside him.

"I simply saw no malice in your eyes. When you've lived as long as I have, you become a fairly good judge of character."

Tamayo gave a rueful chuckle, then asked, "You mentioned that you had some questions for me. What did you want to ask?"

"Hmm... I have quite a few questions, actually. Mainly about how to deal with certain demons, their characteristics, and the habits of some particularly difficult ones..."

Ye Chen considered for a moment, then continued explaining the purpose of his visit.

"Hey! You brat! Don't get greedy! Don't you think making so many demands at once is going too far? You're never satisfied! Lady Tamayo even speaking to you is already an enormous blessing! This is why people like you are so despicable!"

Before Ye Chen could finish, Yushiro sprang up and launched into a tirade. He held nothing back, pointing straight at Ye Chen's nose as he unleashed a furious stream of abuse.

"Yushiro, you mustn't be so rude to our guest!"

"Yes, Lady Tamayo!"

At Tamayo's words, Yushiro immediately sat back down obediently, as though his tirade against Ye Chen had never happened.

A simp really is a simp. Ye Chen gave Yushiro a strange look. Despite the barrage of insults, he didn't take offense at all. He had a general idea of Yushiro's personality, after all. He wasn't bad at heart; he simply devoted himself entirely to Tamayo-the very definition of an ultimate simp.

"Hey! What's with that look, you brat?!"

"Yushiro!"

"Yes, Lady Tamayo! It won't happen again!"

Ye Chen sighed and turned his attention away from the simp, addressing Tamayo instead. "Of course, I'm not asking for all this without offering anything in return. Earlier, you said you wanted me to help you collect demon blood. While this information is valuable, I'm sure you know that sharing it with people who kill demons won't hurt you. And I doubt the blood you want is from ordinary demons."

"You really are no ordinary person, Ye Chen. To think you deduced all that from so few clues."

Tamayo narrowed her eyes slightly, looking at Ye Chen in surprise.

"It's nothing special. Just a simple deduction."

Ye Chen gave a somewhat mysterious smile. Of course, he was no genius detective. He simply knew quite a lot because he had read the original story.

"Then how do we know you won't take the information and run, without collecting any blood for us?"

Yushiro spoke up again. His behavior was considerably better this time, though his gaze remained distinctly hostile.

"Hmm... True. That is a problem."

Ye Chen thought for a moment, then said, "How about this? I'll throw in some information about Muzan Kibutsuji as well. Information no one else knows!"

"Oh?" Tamayo's gaze flickered, but then she shook her head. "I already have some information about Muzan Kibutsuji. What you know is probably included in it."

After all, Tamayo had spent some time following Muzan Kibutsuji five hundred years ago, so naturally she knew a few things about him.

"Then I assume you know that when Muzan Kibutsuji is in mortal danger, he can split himself into over a thousand pieces and escape?" Ye Chen smiled and dropped a bombshell. Of course, this was only the appetizer, since Tamayo already knew about it.

Tamayo's expression shifted. Very few people knew that Muzan Kibutsuji could split into over a thousand fragments to escape danger. She knew only because, more than four hundred years ago, she had been the sole witness when the Sun Flame Swordsman drove Muzan Kibutsuji into a corner.

"Though I'm surprised you know about that, I already knew it." Tamayo narrowed her eyes slightly, finding the man before her increasingly difficult to read.

"Then do you also know that Muzan Kibutsuji is completely immune to wisteria poison, and that cutting off his head won't kill him?" Unsurprised by her answer, Ye Chen immediately dropped another bombshell.

Tamayo's expression changed dramatically again. This was something she hadn't known. Wisteria poison was practically the bane of demons. Though its effects on high-level demons might be limited, with a sufficient dose, few demons could survive. Yet Muzan Kibutsuji had already become immune to it? As for decapitation not killing him, she had known that. The Sun Flame Swordsman had cut off Muzan's head back then, and he hadn't died on the spot.

"Also, Muzan Kibutsuji can change his appearance and sex at any time. He can reshape his bones and even turn himself into a child, making him almost impossible for others to recognize. Did you know that?"

Ignoring her shocked gaze, Ye Chen dropped another bombshell.

Even the Lower Ranks of the Twelve Kizuki didn't know this. When they gathered, they were astonished to face Muzan Kibutsuji in a female form. Presumably, Tamayo wouldn't know either.

Sure enough, the shock in Tamayo's eyes deepened. No wonder the Demon Slayer Corps had spent years searching desperately without finding any trace of Muzan Kibutsuji. With abilities like those, tracking him down would be all but impossible.

"Is there anything else?"

Tamayo took a deep breath. She was already more than satisfied with these revelations, but no one ever complained about having too much information.

"No. That's about all the secrets I know about Muzan Kibutsuji. The rest isn't particularly important. Of course, if you're willing to answer my questions, I can also tell you some things about the Twelve Kizuki."

Ye Chen grinned. He only knew these things because he had read the original story.

"How did you learn all this? Even the Demon Slayer Corps-no, even those close to Muzan Kibutsuji probably don't know these things." Tamayo narrowed her eyes slightly, regarding Ye Chen with newfound curiosity.

"Hey, don't look at me like that. Do you think I'm trying to swindle you with false information? Forget the demons-I know quite a few secrets about the Demon Slayer Corps, too. As for how I know, please don't ask. And please keep this confidential. I don't want Muzan Kibutsuji coming after me."

Ye Chen spread his hands, then continued, "So, are you willing to make this deal?"

Tamayo looked at Ye Chen, then smiled again.

"Here's to working together."