Starting out on Mount Natagumo!

The world of Demon Slayer, Mount Natagumo.

In a remote stretch of wilderness.

Quiet moonlight spilled over the ground, the full moon hanging high and illuminating a boy's bewilderment in the woods.

"Did I transmigrate?"

A handsome young man whose looks were second only to the reader's slowly opened his eyes.

At that moment, Su Chen's eyes were filled with confusion.

The thick stench of blood in the air, the cold wind around him, the corpses of Demon Slayer Corps members littering the ground, and the cries rising and falling nearby.

All of it reminded him of the fact that he had transmigrated.

Then a soft, clear chime rang out in his mind.

[Ding! You have been detected transmigrating into the world of Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba. To support transmigrator survival rates, you have been awarded heaven-defying comprehension!]

In an instant, Su Chen's mind cleared.

Everything before him suddenly became crystal clear, and Su Chen's brain began working at high speed.

His senses were so sharp that he could even pick out minute details in his surroundings.

Putting that together with the notification just now, Su Chen had already deduced where he was.

Mount Natagumo!

The territory of Lower Rank Five, Rui!

"This isn't good!"

Su Chen's heart instantly tightened.

His cheat ability had growth potential, but he had only just arrived and had no skills or equipment!

If any random demon showed up now, he would probably die here!

Su Chen prayed silently.

Just let me walk out of here quietly.

Yeah, I'm trash. They can't see trash.

Having made his decision, Su Chen tried to move.

But the moment he turned around, a "heh heh heh" came from the shadows behind him.

Su Chen's eyes widened. "I can't be that unlucky, can I?"

Something writhed in the shadows.

Though Su Chen desperately refused to believe it, the hideous face gradually emerging still sent his heart plummeting.

Yes, Su Chen had encountered a demon.

The demon was brawny and hideous, its gaze fixed on Su Chen as though looking at a delicious meal.

Foul-smelling drool spilled from his wide mouth. "Hungry... ugh... you smell so good!"

The sight was utterly grotesque, yet Su Chen saw something different shining in the demon.

[You observed the demon's teeth, your eyes lit up, and you comprehended Crooked-Mouth Smile.]

[Your heartbeat accelerated, and you felt a little nervous. You learned the High-Frequency Heartbeat Technique. Your body temperature rose, and you are about to awaken a demon slayer mark.]

[You felt the other's enthusiasm and gained inspiration, creating a breathing method that heats up your body: Heat Breathing!]

Holy shit! Su Chen was instantly dumbstruck.

The inspiration in his mind had poured out unconsciously just now, and he had accidentally come up with so much.

And he had even created a unique breathing technique?!

So this is heaven-defying comprehension?

Su Chen felt a surge of joy.

But the next moment, a wave of dizziness washed through his head.

Looks like this little brain of mine still can't handle prolonged deep thought. It's barely been any time at all.

I feel like I've jerked off too hard. Even my blood sugar's dropped quite a bit.

While Su Chen was thinking, the vicious demon could no longer restrain its desire.

It aimed its mouth at Su Chen's neck and lunged at him in wild delight!

Seeing this, Su Chen instinctively crooked his mouth and easily dodged the demon's attack.

As his body temperature rose excessively, Su Chen unexpectedly discovered that his body had not weakened.

Instead, he felt stronger than usual!

Just then, a figure leaped down as lightly as a butterfly from the treetops above Su Chen.

An exquisitely patterned Nichirin Blade hung at her waist, and a colorful butterfly-wing haori draped loosely behind her.

Her long black hair, tipped with purple, was neatly pinned up with an exquisite butterfly hair clip.

Slender and graceful, she looked like a celestial maiden descended from the heavens.

The newcomer was none other than one of the Demon Slayer Corps' current Hashira.

Shinobu Kocho!

Shinobu Kocho was a Hashira-level fighter whose speed ranked among the best of the Hashira. In the space of a breath, she was already standing before Su Chen.

She drew her sword and swung, her swift, clean blade movements dazzling to behold!

Yet Su Chen saw every bit of it clearly.

[You observed Shinobu Kocho's flowing swordsmanship and were deeply awed. Your thoughts became clear, and you successfully comprehended Swordsmanship Mastery.]

"Insect Breathing: Butterfly Dance, Teasing!"

Shinobu Kocho danced through the air like a butterfly, rapidly thrusting her poisoned blade at the demon beside Su Chen.

Poison entered the demon's body, and the demon that had been so full of vigor instantly wilted.

After defeating him, Shinobu Kocho landed gracefully.

Her colorful butterfly-wing haori floated gently like wings, wafting a sweet fragrance.

She came to Su Chen's side.

Shinobu Kocho narrowed her eyes and gave him a sweet smile.

"Hello there. Are you all right?"

"I'm fine," Su Chen answered.

It's just that I comprehended Swordsmanship Mastery, and now my brain's a little tired. I can't help wanting a nap.

Su Chen's focus slipped for a moment, and his vision gradually blurred from overusing his brain.

But just then, Shinobu Kocho brought her face right up to his!

A smile like a spring breeze bloomed on her face, her beautiful violet eyes staring straight at him.

She was so close that Su Chen could even smell the sweet wisteria fragrance coming from her.

Shinobu Kocho blinked, her beautiful eyes gradually turning toward Su Chen's neck.

Her gaze moved downward.

Until she saw a patch of black markings on Su Chen's chest.

"A demon slayer mark?!"

Shinobu Kocho's purple eyes instantly widened, and even her smile disappeared for a moment in surprise.

She had happened across records of demon slayer marks while studying pharmacology, but she did not remember them very clearly.

Shinobu Kocho only knew that awakening these so-called markings greatly enhanced physical functions, increasing combat ability to at least several times its normal level.

But the man before her was not wearing a Demon Slayer Corps uniform. He was clearly an ordinary person.

Yet he had awakened a demon slayer mark. What did that mean?

This person had the potential to become a Hashira!

Shinobu Kocho did not dare make a hasty judgment, so she decided to take him back for Oyakata-sama to have a look.

The next moment, Shinobu Kocho's usual smile returned.

"Oh my, my~ What is your name, you adorable gentleman?"

"Su Chen."

"All right, Mr. Su Chen, where are you planning to go next? Are you going home?"

Su Chen paused. "I don't have a home. I'm an orphan."

Shinobu Kocho's expression brightened. "Is that so? What a shame. Most members of the Demon Slayer Corps are orphans. Why don't you come with me?"

Su Chen lowered his head in thought.

His heaven-defying comprehension needed to be combined with Breathing Styles or Blood Demon Arts to be developed and put to use, but he was still very weak and needed time to grow.

There were too many uncertainties on the demons' side, and their values were seriously incompatible with his.

But things were different with the Demon Slayer Corps.

Not only would he have opportunities to observe the various Hashira's Breathing Styles, he could also show off and flirt with pretty girls in his spare time. Wouldn't that be great?

So Su Chen chose to join the Demon Slayer Corps.

Upon hearing Su Chen's answer, Shinobu Kocho smiled happily.

"Then come back to the Butterfly Mansion with me first, Su Chen. I can examine you. You must be exhausted after fighting that demon."

Su Chen nodded, but as soon as he rose, a wave of dizziness swept through his head.

The prolonged, intense comprehension had overloaded Su Chen's brain. He staggered and fainted straight into Shinobu Kocho's arms.