Chapter Summaries

Hinatsuru told Makio and Suma about Su Chen, the Dragon Hashira, and his recent victory over an Upper Rank Demon. As the women investigated a suspicious death at a Kyogoku House, a sudden zither note interrupted them.

• Hinatsuru explained that Su Chen had slain an Upper Rank Demon and described his unusual visit to Kyogoku House.
• Makio and Suma learned that Su Chen had hurried back because he was thinking of Lady Kocho, but Hinatsuru said she had not asked him to stay because he was injured and needed rest.
• Makio reported that an oiran at a Kyogoku House behaved strangely and that the madam had been found dead with half her body missing.
• Hinatsuru, Makio, and Suma speculated that a powerful, picky demon had attacked the madam and might be an Upper Rank Demon.
• A zither note suddenly rang out.

Hinatsuru, Makio, and Suma encountered Daki, an Upper Rank Six demon, and were quickly overwhelmed by her attacks. A mysterious boy rescued Suma with Dragon Breathing, and Hinatsuru recognized him as Lord Dragon Hashira.

• Hinatsuru, Makio, and Suma investigated a zither note and found Daki waiting in a hole in the alley wall.
• Daki revealed herself as Upper Rank Six and attacked the three kunoichi with her sashes.
• Hinatsuru ordered Makio and Suma to scatter and fired shuriken at Daki, but Daki blocked them and sent a sash toward Suma.
• A boy used Dragon Breathing to sever the sash and carry Suma to a rooftop.
• Hinatsuru recognized the boy and called out, "Lord Dragon Hashira!!!"

Su Chen arrived to protect the three female ninjas and confronted Daki, whom he recognized as Upper Rank Six. After analyzing the scene and noticing Daki react to his mention of two zither notes, he realized they were in danger and ordered the women to flee.

• Su Chen rescued Suma and the women recognized him as the Dragon Hashira.
• Su Chen recalled how Hinatsuru's letter and his reconnaissance had led him to the Entertainment District to find the missing ninjas.
• Daki recognized Su Chen and taunted him despite being much weaker, making him suspect she had a reason not to flee.
• Su Chen used Reversion State to retrace details of the scene and identified two zither notes as a crucial clue.
• Su Chen shouted for Hinatsuru to take Makio and Suma away, and Hinatsuru immediately led Makio off as Suma followed in alarm.

Su Chen decapitated Daki to buy time and escaped with Hinatsuru, Makio, and Suma, while Hantengu stayed hidden and Gyutaro remained inside Daki. At the Butterfly Mansion, Shinobu and Kanao continued refusing food as Shinobu buried herself in demon-poison research and mourned Su Chen.

• Suma ran ahead as Su Chen led Hinatsuru and Makio away, wary of the two Upper Ranks signaled by the instrument.
• Daki attacked the fleeing women with her sashes, but Su Chen intercepted her and used Dragon Breathing to overpower her.
• Su Chen cut off Daki's head, then fled before Gyutaro could emerge; Gyutaro stayed hidden and reassured Daki as she cried.
• Daki discovered Hantengu hiding nearby and berated him for failing to help.
• At the Butterfly Mansion, Kiyo urged Shinobu Kocho to eat after three days without food, but Shinobu pushed the rice balls toward Kanao, who was also refusing to eat.

News that Su Chen had appeared in the Entertainment District reached the Demon Slayer Corps, prompting Shinobu Kocho and Sanemi Shinazugawa to set out while Kagaya Ubuyashiki’s condition worsened. Lady Amane took charge of the Corps’ affairs and ordered more Hashira to go after Su Chen, only to learn Shinobu had already left.

• Aoi Kanzaki told Shinobu Kocho that Su Chen’s whereabouts were known, and Shinobu hurried off after hearing Kanao had started eating.
• Kagaya Ubuyashiki told Lady Amane he might not survive much longer and entrusted her with the Corps’ affairs and the effort to retrieve Su Chen.
• Murata reported that a message from Tengen Uzui’s home placed Su Chen in the Entertainment District, and Lady Amane agreed to send available Hashira after him.
• Lady Amane learned that Sanemi Shinazugawa had already departed and ordered other available Hashira to follow as soon as possible.
• Murata revealed that Shinobu Kocho had already left too, after Lady Amane had asked him not to tell her about Su Chen.

Murata left the Ubuyashiki Residence to wait for the Hashira and hoped Su Chen would survive. In Gyokko’s house, Doma sent Daki and Hantengu to search for Su Chen while he pursued another mission, and Daki recognized a flower painting as the Blue Spider Lily.

• Murata limped away from the Ubuyashiki Residence to watch the Hashira’s route home and hoped Su Chen would survive.
• Daki complained to Doma about Hantengu’s refusal to help, while Hantengu blamed his weak legs.
• Doma told Daki and Hantengu to search the Entertainment District for Su Chen by looking for the three women, while he guarded the exit.
• Daki watched Doma search Gyokko’s house and retrieve a painting of a pale blue flower.
• Daki’s memories stirred when she saw the painting, and she identified the flower as the Blue Spider Lily.

Daki realized Su Chen’s Blue Spider Lily painting explained why Muzan wanted him captured, while Doma ordered her to continue her mission. At the Kyogoku House, Su Chen reassured Hinatsuru, Makio, and Suma that he would help them confront the demons, then revealed that three Upper Ranks were involved.

• Doma told Daki that Su Chen had painted the Spider Lily, then pressured her to carry out her task after dark.
• Doma studied Su Chen’s drawing after Daki and Hantengu left.
• Hinatsuru offered Su Chen her gold jewelry as thanks for rescuing them, but he refused it.
• Hinatsuru, Makio, and Suma said they would stay in the Entertainment District until Tengen arrived to deal with the Upper Rank.
• Su Chen offered to kill the demons and asked Tengen to teach him ninjutsu afterward.
• Su Chen told the three kunoichi that there were three Upper Ranks, not just one.

Su Chen told Makio, Hinatsuru, and Suma that they would target Upper Rank Six, Daki, in the Entertainment District. Daki confronted the new madam at the Kyogoku House, then Su Chen appeared before her.

• Su Chen said they would focus on killing Daki rather than trying to defeat all three Upper Ranks.
• Daki grabbed and struck a scarred little girl who had come to summon her downstairs.
• The new madam confronted Daki, but Daki grabbed her ear and threatened her before letting her go.
• Gyutaro told Daki to avoid making a scene and said Hantengu had found Su Chen’s whereabouts.
• Su Chen arrived at the Kyogoku House and revealed himself to Daki.

Su Chen probed Daki while posing as a guest at the Kyogoku House, checking whether other demons were nearby before confronting her. Outside, Hinatsuru, Makio, and Suma guarded the house, and the chapter ended with Su Chen asking Daki whether she was still afraid of fire.

• Gyutaro warned Daki to stay calm and maintain her mimicked form, while Su Chen used Clairaudience to identify her as a demon.
• The Kyogoku House’s new madam left after Su Chen asked to speak with Warabihime alone.
• Daki tried to keep Su Chen occupied until Hantengu arrived, but Su Chen monitored the area with Spatial Perception and Clairaudience before entering her room.
• Hinatsuru, Makio, and Suma kept watch outside as Hinatsuru worried about the danger and Makio reassured her that Su Chen would succeed.
• Su Chen asked Daki whether she was still afraid of fire.

Su Chen fought Daki and Gyutaro, repeatedly severing Daki’s head and nearly beheading Gyutaro before Daki reconnected him. As Su Chen pressed his attack, Suma encountered a crying, hunched stranger in an alley.

• Su Chen told Daki he blamed her for accepting Doma’s blood, then cut off her head.
• Gyutaro emerged from Daki and attacked Su Chen, who cut him in half before he regenerated.
• Su Chen baited Gyutaro by continuing to attack Daki, then severed Gyutaro’s neck with Dragon Breathing, Third Form.
• Daki used her ribbon to reconnect Gyutaro’s head, and Su Chen resumed cutting off Daki’s head while attacking her brother.
• Suma met a hunched stranger in a red kasaya, who cried and asked her for protection.

Tengen Uzui rescued Suma from Hantengu and learned that Su Chen was fighting multiple Upper Rank demons at the Kyogoku House. When Su Chen drove Daki, Gyutaro, and Hantengu out of the building, Tengen joined the battle and struck at two demons’ necks.

• Hantengu revealed himself as Upper Rank Four and captured Suma, but Makio and Hinatsuru attacked to help her.
• Tengen Uzui arrived, severed Hantengu’s arm, and rescued Suma.
• Hinatsuru and Makio told Tengen that Su Chen was fighting another demon and that as many as three Upper Ranks might be present.
• Hantengu vanished in the smoke, and Makio warned that Su Chen might be in danger as Tengen prepared to fight.
• Su Chen kicked Daki, Gyutaro, and Hantengu out of the Kyogoku House, then Tengen charged in and sliced at two Upper Rank demons’ necks.

Tengen Uzui and Su Chen fought Daki and Hantengu at Kyogoku House while the crowd mistook the battle for an attack on Oiran Warabihime. After Urogi split from Hantengu and attacked a reporter, Su Chen cut off his head and countered his Blood Demon Art, then dodged another strike.

• Gyutaro saw Daki lose her head and furiously charged at Tengen Uzui.
• The crowd gathered outside Kyogoku House and mistook Su Chen’s fight with Daki and Hantengu for an assault on Oiran Warabihime.
• Daki and Hantengu survived as severed heads, frightening the crowd, and Urogi split from Hantengu to attack a reporter.
• Su Chen intercepted Urogi, severed his head, and clamped his mouth shut to stop his Frenzied Pressure Wave.
• Su Chen dodged a fan-shaped attack as his Bullet Domain activated.

Su Chen learned that Doma was absent from Kyogoku House and prepared to face Hantengu’s merged demons. Meanwhile, Hinatsuru, Makio, and Suma restrained Daki, leaving her at the mercy of her human admirers, while Tengen Uzui stopped Gyutaro from reaching her.

• Su Chen realized Doma was not at Kyogoku House, activated his Dragon Demon Slayer Mark, and challenged Hantengu as Sekido commanded the four demons to merge.
• Hinatsuru, Makio, and Suma tied up Daki’s body with her own hair ribbons and pinned it down with a shuriken.
• Daki’s admirers approached her helpless head, frightening her until she cried out for her brother.
• Gyutaro heard Daki’s cries and tried to rush to her, but Tengen Uzui blocked him with Sound Breathing, First Form: Roar.

Tengen Uzui and Gyutaro fought evenly, and their taunts turned into an argument about talent and privilege. Tengen rejected Gyutaro’s envy and drew hope from Su Chen’s rapid rise as the Demon Slayer Corps’ new Dragon Hashira while the battle continued.

• Tengen Uzui attacked Gyutaro with Sound Breathing, Fifth Form, but Gyutaro unleashed his full strength and drove him back.
• Tengen Uzui and Gyutaro traded blows, then taunted each other over their looks and Tengen Uzui’s three wives.
• Gyutaro accused Tengen Uzui of being exceptionally gifted and said he wanted him dead out of envy.
• Tengen Uzui told Gyutaro that some Demon Slayers became Hashira in remarkably little time and rejected the idea that talent explained the Corps’ sacrifices.
• Tengen Uzui looked toward Su Chen’s fight and remembered how Su Chen became the new Dragon Hashira in half a month, renewing his belief that humanity could win.

Tengen Uzui celebrated Su Chen’s survival while Gyutaro taunted him about the strength of the Upper Ranks. Su Chen let Hantengu’s emotions merge into Zohakuten, then unleashed his full power and prepared to confront him.

• Tengen Uzui grew excited at the prospect of Su Chen defeating Hantengu, while Gyutaro insisted that Zohakuten was too powerful to overcome.
• Su Chen allowed Sekido to merge the emotion demons, hoping to learn their abilities and confront Zohakuten directly.
• Su Chen recalled Kanao Tsuyuri’s attempt to save him and resolved to avenge her injuries by killing Hantengu.
• As Zohakuten emerged, he felt an unfamiliar fear in response to Su Chen’s overwhelming aura.
• Su Chen activated his techniques and Demon Slayer Mark, drew his sword, and challenged Hantengu to repay his debt.

Su Chen fought Zohakuten at full strength beneath the moon, steadily adapting to the demon’s attacks and closing the distance. As he unleashed Dragon Breathing, time seemed to slow and the battlefield’s elements formed a moving picture in his mind.

• Su Chen and Zohakuten clashed fiercely, destroying houses and rubble as Makio, Hinatsuru, and Suma watched from Kyogoku House.
• Su Chen used his techniques and abilities to evade Zohakuten’s attacks while rescuing residents caught in the battle.
• Zohakuten noticed the Demon Slayer Mark on Su Chen and realized Su Chen’s strength had greatly increased since their previous clash.
• Su Chen adapted to the patterns of Zohakuten’s attacks and dodged the demon’s combined Blood Demon Arts, while Zohakuten grew panicked.
• Su Chen drew his blade and used Dragon Breathing, Sixth Form: Twisting Tongue of Flame, as time slowed and he visualized the battlefield’s movements.

Su Chen used Transparent World and Reversion State to defeat Zohakuten and sever his head, while Zohakuten reattached it without attacking again. With dawn approaching, Su Chen turned his attention to Hantengu and activated Reversion State to begin their final confrontation.

• Su Chen used Dragon Breathing, Fifth Form to sweep through Zohakuten’s wooden dragons and charge through the mist.
• Zohakuten attacked with his Blood Demon Arts, but Su Chen read his movements and closed in on him.
• Su Chen used Dragon Breathing, Sixth Form to cut off Zohakuten’s head with his bright red Nichirin Blade.
• Zohakuten reattached his head but did not attack Su Chen again after losing their clash of momentum.
• As dawn neared, Su Chen focused on Hantengu and activated Reversion State.

Su Chen’s body changed as he studied Hantengu’s abilities, and he suspected that Sanemi Shinazugawa’s donated blood and his own unusual constitution were involved. After stopping Zohakuten from escaping, Su Chen used the Transparent World to imitate Hantengu and comprehended Dragon Breathing, Ninth Form: Dragon Shadow Clone.

• Su Chen’s blood boiled and his body grew stronger and taller as he recalled Shinobu Kocho saying that only Sanemi Shinazugawa’s blood had been compatible with him.
• Suma, Makio, and Hinatsuru tried to stop Zohakuten from fleeing and traded insults with him.
• Su Chen revealed that he had captured the Cowardice Demon and told Zohakuten not to describe himself as a bully who picked on the weak.
• Su Chen activated the Transparent World, imitated Hantengu’s abilities, and comprehended Dragon Breathing, Ninth Form: Dragon Shadow Clone.

Su Chen discovered that his strange regenerative powers and shadow clone were tied to the blood Shinazugawa had given him, while Tengen Uzui completed his Musical Score against Gyutaro. Tengen charged to seize victory as Su Chen held Zohakuten at blade-point.

• Zohakuten attacked Su Chen, but Su Chen vanished, reappeared behind him, and healed after being struck by a wooden dragon.
• Su Chen suspected Shinazugawa's blood had given him Blood Demon Art-like powers and produced a shadow clone while testing his sword technique.
• Tengen Uzui and Gyutaro crashed into the area beside Kyogoku House, where Tengen declared that he had analyzed Gyutaro's tune.
• Tengen noticed Su Chen was calmly holding a tiny Hantengu and realized Su Chen's fight appeared to be under control.
• Tengen completed his Musical Score and charged Gyutaro through a barrage of Blood Scythes, rallying the Demon Slayer Corps.
• Su Chen subdued Zohakuten by holding his blade to the demon's neck as Tengen's battle continued.

Su Chen killed Hantengu and Gyutaro as dawn broke, while Tengen Uzui and the others fought in the Entertainment District. After his victory, Su Chen found a small demon hiding nearby and suspected it had been brought by an Upper Rank.

• Su Chen tricked Hantengu into lowering his guard, then cut off his head with a Nichirin Blade.
• As daylight neared, Gyutaro spotted Little Ume surrounded by men and broke away from Tengen Uzui to rush to her.
• Su Chen intercepted Gyutaro and killed him with Dragon Breathing, Second Form: Scorching Breath.
• Su Chen reflected on his resolve to protect what he cared about as the demons disintegrated.
• Su Chen noticed a small demon hiding in the shadows and suspected an Upper Rank had brought it as a subordinate.