Blood Manipulation! Convergence-Piercing Blood!

Was an Upper Rank demon someone he could handle?

Tanjiro thought his chances were slim, but since Lu You said he could try, there had to be no problem.

"Then I'm going in!"

The black Nichirin Blade at his waist slid free with a ringing sound. Tanjiro breathed deeply, like boiling steam escaping a furnace, and the piercing whistle made Gyokko narrow his single eye.

"This brat is so weak. And he's the one Lord Muzan mentioned before, isn't he?

"If I kill him, Lord Muzan won't blame me even if I run away now. Hehehe."

Thinking of that scene, he flushed with excitement. Ah, how wonderful.

His writhing arm took the shape of a pot's mouth, and an ugly goldfish emerged from it. It instantly opened its bloody maw, shooting out streaks of light that shrieked sharply through the air.

Thousand Needle Fish Kill!

Fine needles kept flying toward him. Tanjiro's gaze sharpened. So fast!

"Hinokami Kagura-Fourth Form: Mirage Sun Rainbow!"

His body flickered like flames and vanished from where he stood. When he reappeared, he was already behind Gyokko. Gritting his teeth, he slashed his Nichirin Blade down with all his might!

Cut down hard!

If he couldn't even sever an Upper Rank's neck, then there was no hope of taking on Muzan Kibutsuji.

Whoosh!

The flame-wreathed blade swept past in an instant, but met nothing at all. Tanjiro's heart tightened.

The demon had vanished, leaving only a pot behind.

"So slow. So slow I'm about to fall asleep. Ehehehe, you're this weak, yet you dare fight an Upper Rank?"

On the roof of the abandoned fishing hut, a pot that had appeared out of nowhere rocked, and Gyokko's body emerged from it.

Slash! Cold steel flashed.

Blood splattered, and half a head flew into the air. Unfortunately, Gyokko's body vanished again, leaving only another pot, this time beneath the house's eaves.

Lu You gave his long blade two light shakes, inwardly muttering that this fellow's teleportation mechanics were rather unfair.

"That was close!"

His neck had nearly been cut off. Cold sweat poured down Gyokko's back as flesh wriggled along the smooth cut across his head, restoring it completely.

He had almost forgotten that the most troublesome person had been beside them all along, looking for an opening. That speed was worlds apart from the red-haired brat's.

If his reflexes hadn't been fast enough, his head would probably have been cut off already...

"Big Brother You!"

Tanjiro tightened his grip on his sword, his spirits lifting.

That was right. He wasn't fighting alone. The slightest carelessness would let Lu You behead his opponent.

"How frightening... I'm done playing with you. Ehehehe, come to think of it, aren't you going to run?"

The ugly fishman swayed like aquatic weeds, letting out a perverse laugh.

"Why would we run?"

Tanjiro held his Nichirin Blade tightly, pointing it at Gyokko.

"Now that they know you're here, the other Upper Ranks are all coming. If you don't leave now, you won't be able to."

Gyokko sneered. He wasn't offering a kind warning; he simply wanted to see panic on Lu You's face.

Unfortunately, Lu You still watched him indifferently.

"How boring."

With that, he slipped into the pot and fell completely silent. He had evidently fled far away.

Gyokko had two forms: a half-human form attached to his pot, and a fishman form detached from it. The former had strong defensive abilities, while the latter had strong offensive abilities.

While attached to his pot, he could teleport into any pot. When detached from it, he possessed a powerful Blood Demon Art that killed with a touch.

"Big Brother You, it looks like he ran away..."

Tanjiro found it strange. This was his first time seeing a demon flee. Didn't they usually attack Demon Slayers like wild beasts?

"He can run, but he can't take his hideout with him."

Lu You smiled faintly. Gyokko's teleportation had a limited range. As it was his opponent's most troublesome ability, the best way to catch him was to feign weakness, then kill him in one strike.

Just like Muichiro Tokito in the original story.

Let his opponent think he could win, then suddenly unleash his strength and take his head with one slash.

"Y-you, please, spare me! I was forced into this too! He's a devil!"

Seeing that even the cruel and powerful god he believed in had fled, the village chief broke down, tears streaming down his face.

Tanjiro remained expressionless. He smelled a lie. "Big Brother You, he's lying."

"He doesn't realize he was wrong. He realizes he's going to die."

Steel flashed, and a head flew. The old wretch's headless body fell straight to the ground, blood flowing in rivulets.

"Tanjiro, you've improved a lot. You can already exchange a few blows with an Upper Rank."

Lu You looked at the Demon Slayer Mark gradually fading from Tanjiro's forehead and his steady Constant Total Concentration Breathing, feeling somewhat pleased.

"I've only improved thanks to everyone's help. Otherwise, I would have died long ago."

Tanjiro sheathed his sword and scratched his head shyly.

"Staying alive doesn't necessarily make you stronger. You've only made it this far through your own tireless training. There's no need to be modest.

"Let's go. Come with me. Remember the sea cliff we passed during the day? That's Gyokko's lair."

Lu You smiled and pointed at the distant cliff beneath the moonlight, which resembled a giant beast of darkness. The sound of the surging tide crashing against the shore came in waves.

"Huh?? Big Brother You, how did you know? You're amazing! You know everything!"

Tanjiro looked at Lu You admiringly, stars in his eyes.

Just then, a fisherman approached from nearby. His sturdy build and familiar face revealed him to be the very man who had scolded them when they arrived that morning.

The man walked straight up to Lu You, bowed, and said respectfully, "Sir, thank you for your help."

"You know each other?"

Tanjiro spoke in shock.

"How else would I know where that fellow was? Hahaha, Tanjiro, you still have plenty to learn. Let's go. Follow me."

"Yes!"

"Those damned Demon Slayers. What a nuisance."

Although he wasn't worried about losing, Lu You's blade had still sent a chill down his back.

It was too fast, faster than any Hashira he had ever seen!

"I'll wait for the other Upper Ranks to arrive. Good thing it was me. If any other Upper Rank had been caught, they definitely wouldn't have escaped."

Relaxing, Gyokko grinned, secretly pleased with himself.

Not only did he have the greatest artistic skill, but he also had the strongest ability to preserve his life.

Little did he know that fear had already crept into him. After all, he had even started thinking the other Upper Ranks would be no match for Lu You.

The damp cave in the sea cliff was filled with gleaming jade vessels, which covered almost the entire cavern.

Displayed here were all his proudest works, absolutely flawless.

"Unfortunately, nobody else understands art. No one appreciates my works."

Even with Doma, Gyokko felt they merely shared a few things to talk about. When it came to art, that fellow understood the least.

And the way he spoke could be annoying sometimes.

Doma: "The other Upper Ranks don't dislike me."

"Well, well, who will come? Lord Akaza, or Lord Kokushibo?

"After killing those two annoying Demon Slayers, I wonder if they'd be interested in taking a look at my works. Ehehe."

An excited expression appeared on Gyokko's face as he swayed.

Whoosh! A streak of red light instantly pierced his body, splattering blood. His expression changed drastically as a piercing report reached his ears. It was like a laser, incredibly fast.

I was caught from behind! And from so far away that I didn't notice!

But it didn't matter. He could simply withdraw into his pot and relocate. Shaken, Gyokko hurriedly reassured himself.

"Blood Manipulation-Convergence: Piercing Blood!"

An indifferent, low shout came from outside the cave. Lu You pressed his palms together, and a crimson laser stretched like a straight line cleaving through space, crossing dozens of meters to strike Gyokko directly.

"Urgh!" The mouth where his eyes should have been spat out a mouthful of blood. Gyokko discovered in horror that he couldn't control his body.

"Poison!"

Before him, a dazzling flame rapidly approached. The red-haired boy gripped his Nichirin Blade tightly, his eyes bright crimson.

I saw it-your opening thread!

"Hinokami Kagura-First Form: Dance!"

One slash took his head!