Heading to the Swordsmith Village

Kyojuro Rengoku hurried over and could not help asking:

"Mr. Yoriichi, did that demon escape?"

Lin Yoriichi nodded.

"Yes, Upper Rank Four came here just now as well."

"Although I killed three of Upper Rank Four's clones, I still let one of them escape with that fellow."

Kyojuro Rengoku froze for a moment at that, then laughed heartily and openly.

"That's all right. I'll remember him!"

"The next time we meet him, please be sure to let me fight him!"

Looking at Kyojuro Rengoku's smile, still as radiant as the sun, Lin Yoriichi was momentarily dazed.

It seemed he had been overthinking things.

Given Kyojuro Rengoku's personality, although he would feel dejected over a demon escaping, he would never let that hold him back.

He would only keep honing himself and find a way to slay the demon in their next battle.

At that thought, Lin Yoriichi smiled as well.

"You should have heard already that I'll be teaching you Hashira some new techniques at the Swordsmith Village."

"I think once you've learned them, even taking on Upper Rank Three alone won't be difficult."

"When that time comes, I'll look forward to your good news."

At those words, Kyojuro Rengoku's eyes immediately shone even brighter, and he answered loudly:

"Yes! I look forward to your guidance!"

Lin Yoriichi had not said those words merely to encourage Kyojuro Rengoku.

He truly believed that.

In the original story, Kyojuro Rengoku had already been able to trade blows with Akaza before he had truly reached his prime.

And it must not be forgotten that Kyojuro Rengoku had not received the full legacy of the Flame Hashira because the previous Flame Hashira, his father, had given up trying.

He had become the Flame Hashira with nothing but three guidebooks recording Flame Breathing.

He had even grasped Flame Breathing's Esoteric Art: Ninth Form: Rengoku.

That kind of talent and ability was truly powerful to an absurd degree.

Even back then, Lin Yoriichi had been unable to stop himself from wondering.

If Kyojuro Rengoku had mastered a technique like the Bright Red Nichirin Sword when he faced Akaza and prevented his limbs from regenerating...

Then that battle would certainly not have ended with Kyojuro Rengoku's tragic sacrifice.

And if Kyojuro Rengoku could also master the Transparent World, or even the Demon Slayer Mark...

Lin Yoriichi let out a soft breath, his gaze growing animated.

"Let's go back to Headquarters!"

As soon as Lin Yoriichi and Kyojuro Rengoku entered the courtyard at Headquarters, they saw Kagaya Ubuyashiki waiting there.

Despite his frail health, he immediately rose to greet them when he saw them.

He kept looking Lin Yoriichi and Kyojuro Rengoku over with his remaining eye, only letting out a long sigh of relief once he was certain neither had suffered a scratch.

They had encountered Upper Rank Three and Upper Rank Four at the same time!

When he received the news from the Kasugai Crow, Kagaya Ubuyashiki's heart had immediately leaped into his throat.

Although the Kasugai Crow had also informed him that Mr. Yoriichi and Kyojuro Rengoku were both safe and sound.

Kagaya Ubuyashiki could only feel completely at ease after seeing them with his own eyes.

Kyojuro Rengoku said loudly:

"I'm terribly sorry to have worried you so much, Master!"

"It was only thanks to Mr. Lin Yoriichi's help that I could complete the mission you assigned me!"

"When I think about that, I feel utterly ashamed!"

Kagaya Ubuyashiki smiled and gently patted Kyojuro Rengoku on the shoulder.

"Whatever the case, all that matters is that you returned safely."

Then Kagaya Ubuyashiki turned to Lin Yoriichi.

"Mr. Yoriichi, all the Hashira have returned now. We can prepare to leave for the Swordsmith Village at any time."

Lin Yoriichi nodded and asked the question he had been considering on the way back.

"How will the nine Hashira and I travel to the Swordsmith Village at the same time?"

Under the original arrangement, anyone wishing to travel to the Swordsmith Village, whether a Hashira or another member, needed dedicated Kakushi to handle the journey.

To prevent the Swordsmith Village's location from being leaked, everyone traveling there would be blindfolded and have their ears plugged. Those with a keen sense of smell, such as Tanjiro Kamado, would even have their nostrils plugged.

Once these precautions were in place, the Kakushi would carry them on their backs.

Moreover, each Kakushi was responsible for only one stretch of the journey and did not know the complete route to the Swordsmith Village.

They would deliver people to the Swordsmith Village in a relay.

Using this method to transport the nine Hashira plus Lin Yoriichi to the Swordsmith Village would undoubtedly be an extremely troublesome undertaking.

Kagaya Ubuyashiki smiled, having evidently considered this question as well and already found a solution.

"I'll have the Kakushi send you to the Swordsmith Village in separate groups, with your journeys staggered."

"Before you and Kyojuro returned, I already had Gyomei Himejima set off for the Swordsmith Village first."

"If you're ready to leave now, then the child Shinobu Kocho will be next after you."

Lin Yoriichi nodded and saw a Kakushi who was already prepared walk over.

Upon seeing Lin Yoriichi, he immediately bowed and introduced himself.

"Hello, I'm the Kakushi assigned specifically to take you to the Swordsmith Village."

"My sincere apologies, but because travel to the Swordsmith Village must be kept secret, I cannot tell you my name."

As he spoke, Lin Yoriichi took a pair of earplugs from the Kakushi and plugged his ears.

Then he took a strip of cloth from him and tied it over his eyes.

After all that fuss, Lin Yoriichi began his journey to the Swordsmith Village.

To his surprise, he discovered that although the Kakushi carrying him did not know a Breathing Style, his physical fitness was exceptionally impressive.

Even as he ran swiftly with a full-grown person on his back, his breathing only grew slightly heavier, and he did not appear to be struggling much.

Of course, this might also have had something to do with Lin Yoriichi's average build and the fact that he was not particularly heavy.

After changing Kakushi several times, Lin Yoriichi finally arrived at the Swordsmith Village.

The moment he arrived, he smelled a faint trace of sulfur.

Clearly, there was a hot spring in the village.

Lin Yoriichi climbed down from the final Kakushi's back, removed his blindfold and earplugs, and sincerely thanked him.

Yet even after politely returning his thanks, the Kakushi still wore a worried expression.

Lin Yoriichi could hear him muttering quietly:

"That's strange. Our relay bringing Mr. Yoriichi has already arrived."

"Why did the Kasugai Crow's message say that Mr. Gyomei Himejima, who set off first, still hasn't arrived?"

Lin Yoriichi froze for a moment at those words.

His first reaction was that Gyomei Himejima had received another mission at short notice or encountered a demon along the way.

Otherwise, having set off earlier than him, he should not still be absent.

Just then, the sound of running came from nearby...