From what Su Mu knew of Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba, if he remembered correctly, the Blue Spider Lily grew near Tanjiro Kamado's home. Nezuko had eaten the Blue Spider Lily as a child, which was why she had been different from other demons even after becoming one herself. In the end, she had become the first demon who could stand in sunlight, something even Muzan Kibutsuji could not do.
The reason Nezuko had been able to achieve all of this was the Blue Spider Lily.
For Su Mu, who had now become a demon, finding and eating the Blue Spider Lily would be enough to overcome his weaknesses.
Then he would no longer have to endure the craving for flesh and blood every day.
After all, it was a demon's instinct. His craving for flesh and blood grew stronger with each passing day, battering his resolve again and again. The torment was almost unbearable.
Only by eating the Blue Spider Lily could he free himself from that torment completely. Not only that, he could also escape Muzan Kibutsuji's control and even become the most perfect being in this world.
But to find the Blue Spider Lily, he first needed to find Tanjiro's home. He was unfamiliar with the area. From what he remembered, Tanjiro's family lived deep in the mountains and had made charcoal for generations. Beyond that, his only other clue was that their home lay some distance from Mount Sagiri, where the Water Hashira, Sakonji Urokodaki, lived in seclusion. He could not clearly remember the precise direction.
At the thought, Su Mu's brows drew into a tight frown.
The demon beside him had been watching him all along. It had no idea that Su Mu was thinking about how to find the Blue Spider Lily. After all, Muzan Kibutsuji had searched for it for a thousand years without success. Over the years, Muzan Kibutsuji had also ordered the demons to search for it, but most of them believed that this medicinal herb did not exist. Otherwise, he would not have spent a thousand years searching without finding a single trace of it.
Previously, it had rather looked down on Su Mu as a fellow demon. After all, Su Mu was only an ordinary demon of unremarkable strength, and he would not even eat flesh and blood.
A demon who refused to eat flesh and blood would find it difficult to grow stronger. Most demons' strength was tied to their consumption of human flesh and blood. Until they reached their own limits, the more they ate, the stronger they generally became.
An ordinary demon who was weak and unlikely to become stronger could hardly earn the respect of demons who revered strength.
But today, seeing Su Mu actually dare to touch the sunlight that could destroy him, it had been secretly startled by his madness. That brought its recent discovery to mind. After a moment's hesitation, it spoke.
"I recently found signs of Demon Slayer Corps activity nearby. Interested in hunting them?"
On its own, it would have trouble dealing with those few demon slayers. With Su Mu's help, however, it felt reasonably confident that it could kill them all. Previously, it had never considered asking Su Mu, mainly because he did not even dare eat humans. To its mind, he was far too timid, and working with him might only hold it back.
But after witnessing Su Mu's mad willingness to touch sunlight today, it felt that if he could turn even a little of that madness on the demon slayers, then with its own strength added to his, dealing with a few of them would be easy.
Su Mu, who had been pondering the Blue Spider Lily, came back to his senses at its words.
The Demon Slayer Corps made it their duty to eradicate demons and protect humanity. They were the sworn enemies of every demon.
Although these demon slayers had frail bodies that could not compare to those of demons, they all practiced Breathing Styles. Through their Breathing Styles, they could briefly attain physical abilities on par with demons. Combined with their demon-slaying techniques, Nichirin Blades capable of killing demons, teamwork, and fearless courage, they had slain many demons.
But just as demon slayers killed demons, the swordsmen of the Demon Slayer Corps were also prey to the demons.
"Well? Interested in hunting together? With your help, I guarantee we can kill every last demon slayer in that little squad I found."
At that, the demon licked its lips, its eyes brimming with greed. "Those Demon Slayer Corps members have well-trained bodies. Their flesh and blood are more nourishing, and tastier too."
"Not interested."
Su Mu shook his head. He had no interest in taking on an organization whose members had no fear of death.
"Even if you don't attack them, they'll definitely attack us. Do you want them to cut your head off with a Nichirin Blade?"
The demon was furious. "Remember, you're a demon."
Su Mu merely glanced at it, then silently sat cross-legged on the ground. After his brief contact with sunlight, his instinctive fear of it had firmly suppressed his craving for flesh and blood. Even now, the hunger coming from his body was faint, allowing his constantly strained nerves a little relief. All he wanted now was a good rest.
Unwilling to give up, the demon kept trying to persuade him for a long time. But when Su Mu remained unmoved, it could only abandon the effort.
"When a demon slayer cuts your head off with a Nichirin Blade, don't regret this."
The demon left him with those cold words. Seeing that Su Mu did not even open his eyes, it turned and walked away.
In a wide clearing.
A gentle breeze blew, sending a black haori fluttering.
A young swordsman trained in the clearing with a Nichirin Blade in hand. His breathing flowed, scorching as fire, while his keen blade flashed coldly in the sunlight.
After some time, the boy stopped, sheathed his blade, and panted lightly.
"Not bad."
A voice as warm and bright as sunshine came from behind him.
The boy turned. At the sight of the newcomer, delight crossed his face. Seemingly embarrassed by the praise, he scratched his head. "I'm still a long way from your level, Lord Kyojuro."
As he spoke, the boy gazed at the newcomer with eyes full of admiration.
The man had yellow hair, thick black brows shaped like swords, and bright, piercing eyes. He wore a brown Demon Slayer Corps uniform beneath a haori with a flame pattern along its hem.
He was one of the pillars of the Demon Slayer Corps, the Flame Hashira, Kyojuro Rengoku.
Kyojuro Rengoku stepped forward and gave the boy a firm pat on the shoulder. "Hiroshi Furukawa, you're already doing very well. I know you've killed three demons so far."
Hearing that, the young Hiroshi Furukawa unconsciously puffed out his chest and looked at Kyojuro Rengoku with admiration. "I hope
one day I'll be able to slay one of the Twelve Kizuki myself, just like you, Lord Kyojuro."
"You will."
Kyojuro Rengoku patted Hiroshi Furukawa's shoulder encouragingly. Although the boy was still weak and had a long way to go before he could slay one of the Twelve Kizuki, he thought highly of this junior.
Seemingly remembering something, Kyojuro Rengoku asked with a smile,
"Oh, right. I heard you're about to head out on a new mission?"
"Yes. Signs of a demon were recently discovered in a small town. Our squad is going there to investigate."
"Then I wish you good fortune in battle and a victorious return."
Kyojuro Rengoku patted the boy's shoulder.
"Yes."
Hiroshi Furukawa nodded.
By then, several Demon Slayer Corps swordsmen were already waiting not far from the clearing, so Hiroshi Furukawa had to say goodbye and leave.
Kyojuro Rengoku stayed where he was, watching Hiroshi Furukawa walk away. Seeing these young "sprouts" thriving filled him, as a senior member of the Demon Slayer Corps, with satisfaction.
Just then, Hiroshi Furukawa suddenly turned back. "Lord Kyojuro, when I get back from slaying this demon, I'll treat you to a meal! Salt-grilled sea bream and sweet potato rice!"
With that, the boy left with his companions.
Kyojuro Rengoku paused, mildly surprised. He had not expected the boy to know those were his favorite foods. A warm smile spread across his face.