RNP Chapter 73 Encountering a Ghost! A terrifyingly powerful force! [Short chapter of 10,000 words, begg
Chapter 73 Encountering a Ghost! A terrifyingly powerful force! [Short chapter of 10,000 words, begg
Chapter 73 Encountering a Ghost! A terrifyingly powerful force! [Short chapter of 10,000 words, begging for subscriptions and monthly votes!]
Sunset.
Chu Yang and Kanae walked side by side to a remote town.
The town is called Anji Town, located northeast of Butterfly House.
Five women, aged between fifteen and twenty-five, have recently gone missing in the town.
According to information from the Demon Slayer Corps headquarters, the perpetrator is likely a powerful demon skilled in Blood Demon Arts, which ordinary swordsmen are unable to handle. Therefore, this task fell to Kanae.
In fact, the headquarters was well aware that Kanae was having a hard time managing the Butterfly Mansion, but this time there were no suitable people to handle it, and the incident happened to occur in an area under Kanae's jurisdiction.
This shows that the Demon Slayer Corps' information transmission was somewhat delayed, which is why they didn't take into account Chu Yang, who had just completed his mission.
Upon arriving in Anji Town, the two immediately sensed the town's gloomy atmosphere. Although it should have been a time when smoke was rising from chimneys, the entire town was eerily quiet.
Rumors of ghosts attacking young women at night have spread like wildfire.
"Should we find a guesthouse to rest, or just continue patrolling the area?" Chu Yang looked around. The sky was gradually darkening, and there wasn't even a place to eat nearby.
"Forget it, if we rest tonight, some girls might still be in danger. Let's take a walk around the town; maybe we'll find something." Kanae shook her head, then asked curiously, "What if something unexpected happens if you hide your weapons outside?"
Chu Yang shrugged and said helplessly, "There's nothing I can do. If I bring such a big knife into the town, it will definitely cause panic."
Kanae glared at him, annoyed. "Who told you to choose such an outrageous Nichirin Blade as your weapon? Now you realize it's inconvenient to carry?"
"It's definitely inconvenient, but it's really satisfying to slay ghosts!" Chu Yang gestured in the air, saying excitedly, "Sometimes, I don't even need to aim for their necks; one strike is enough to chop them into mincemeat!"
Just imagining the scene Chu Yang described made Kanae feel nauseous. She was a skill-based swordswoman who focused on exploiting weaknesses and killing with a single blow, and she simply couldn't understand Chu Yang's violent aesthetics.
But looking at Chu Yang's face, which was full of absolute confidence, for some reason, Kanae felt that this big boy could bring unprecedented changes to the Demon Slayer Corps.
The two walked down the empty street, one talking animatedly and with great enthusiasm, the other listening quietly with a smile in his eyes.
"You two are really in high spirits. In such a quiet place, you still have the leisure to stroll around and chat. It makes one envious."
"I actually met the person that Akaza had been searching for for ages, thanks to Nakime."
At the end of the street stood a figure, covering half his face with a fan, emitting a sinister laugh.
"Dressed in a gaudy manner, like a charlatan." Although there was no lighting around, Chu Yang could still clearly see the other person's face, especially the "two" reflected in his pupils.
Upper Moon Two - Doma.
Kanae paused, her hand instinctively resting on the hilt of her Nichirin Blade. "Is it a demon?"
Chu Yang nodded and said, "The stench is everywhere. What else could it be but a ghost? He must be the culprit who made those girls disappear."
"That guy over there really has no manners at all!" Douma said, feigning sadness. "The stench is just too much—I bathe in flower petals every day."
"It's disgusting."
Kanae looked at Doma indifferently, making no attempt to hide her disgust.
"A beautiful girl like you tastes the best." Doma's lips curled up as he greedily eyed Kanae.
Faced with such provocation, how could Kanae possibly remain indifferent?
She drew her Nichirin Blade from her waist, and in an instant, petals rained down, carrying with them boundless killing intent.
"That aura—" Douma's playful smile vanished as he stared at the beautiful girl before him. "She must be a Pillar, right? Tsk tsk tsk, my luck is truly excellent."
With a flash of light, a swarm of flower petals swept towards Doma, concealing several sharp slashes within them.
Doma let out a "hehe" laugh.
Then, waving his fan, a large number of flower petals appeared around him.
The only difference is that these petals are formed from frost, as thin as a cicada's wing yet incredibly sharp.
White petals and pink petals collide, just like the collision between the dormant winter and the revitalizing spring.
Two completely different forces are clashing!
Where the two-colored petals meet.
Kanae's Nichirin Blade slashed precisely at Doma's neck!
"Brilliant swordsmanship." Doma's eyes flashed with admiration. He raised his fan to block the Nichirin Blade, while another fan, covered in frost and gleaming with a chilling light, slashed towards Kanae's wrist holding the sword.
Kanae, having missed her first attack, quickly retreated, dodging Doma's attack.
Just as she was about to distance herself from the other person.
It's too late.
A sudden frost storm erupted between the two, blinding Kanae. When she came to her senses, Doma was already standing behind her.
Kanae's back collided head-on with the other person.
Doma grabbed Kanae's wrist, the force of which made her wince in pain, and she almost dropped her Nichirin Blade. "Your scent is so irresistible—" Doma lowered his head, his lips getting closer and closer to Kanae's face.
Kanae's face turned deathly pale.
The next second, half of Doma's head exploded!
Blood and filth were splattered all over the ground; at first glance, it looked like a watermelon had exploded.
"You talk too much nonsense." Chu Yang's eyes were icy as he grabbed the remaining half of Tong Mo's head. "Besides bullying women, what other skills do you have?"
Doma opened his remaining half-mouth and let out a silent roar.
Impatient, Chu Yang kicked him away.
"Senior, are you alright?" Chu Yang looked down at the still-shaken Kanae and said, "That guy is Upper Moon Two, which is very different from ordinary demons. He's not easy to kill."
Without a Nichirin Blade made from crimson ore, it would be difficult to suppress the demon's regenerative abilities with bare hands, as Chu Yang had already sensed.
Chu Yang's punch was aimed at smashing Doma's head, but it missed slightly.
But in a very short time, half of the other person's head popped out.
Kanae nodded. She also noticed the unusual number of holes in Doma's eyes, and her heart suddenly felt heavy. This was the first time she had fought against an Upper Moon demon.
On the contrary, Chu Yang actually managed to inflict severe damage on Doma without any weapons, which greatly shocked Kanae.
In the blink of an eye, Tong Mo recovered from his injuries and looked at Chu Yang with apprehension. With his keen senses, he hadn't even noticed the punch he had just received.
"This guy's a bit odd—"
Doma dared not be careless, his eyes fixed on Chu Yang. Compared to him, the threat that Kanae could pose to him was almost negligible.
"I didn't expect the rumors to be true. Your body really is comparable to a demon." A red light flashed in Doma's eyes. He suddenly wanted to know what it would feel like to eat Chu Yang's flesh and blood.
"Comparable?" Chu Yang sneered disdainfully, "You monsters are overestimating yourselves."
As soon as he finished speaking, two streams of white mist shot out from Chu Yang's nostrils. The Breath of the Sun began to operate, and the white mist transformed into a blazing flame in repeated cycles.
Kanae, who was standing to the side, was also surprised. She clearly remembered that Chu Yang was practicing Rock Breathing, so why did the sound of his breathing movements resemble Flame Breathing?
As the Breath of the Sun circulated steadily, Chu Yang's body temperature rapidly increased, and more and more white mist emanated from his body, while the flames shone brilliantly, making him resemble an ancient fire god.
No, it should be called the sun god!
That unusual heat made Doma feel as if he were facing the sun directly.
The threat of death suddenly became crystal clear.
Even from a distance, Tongmo could clearly feel the oppressive aura emanating from Chu Yang, making him feel suffocated.
He had only ever felt this way when his master, Kibu, was enraged by Muzan's wrath.
Chu Yang took a step forward and instantly disappeared from Tong Mo's sight.
Sensing the danger, Doma immediately used his Blood Demon Art, and the surrounding ice crystals quickly condensed, forming two huge ice sculptures of girls that guarded Doma on either side.
The next moment, Chu Yang suddenly appeared in front of Tong Mo Mian, swung his fist at him, flames spread everywhere, reflecting on his right fist, blooming with a dazzling red light.
The ice sculptures of young girls on either side of Doma crossed in front of him, exhaling icy mist, and the surrounding temperature instantly dropped by tens of degrees.
But the icy mist evaporated the moment it touched the flames, and the two ice sculptures of girls standing in front of the children's mill were shattered by that indestructible fist.
Chu Yang's punch, its momentum undiminished, grew even more ferocious as it slammed into Tong Mo's face.
Doma knew that if he took the punch head-on, he would most likely be smashed to pieces by the boy in front of him, so he could only try to avoid it.
For the first time in a battle against humans, the proud and arrogant Doma chose to retreat.
Although he was reluctant to admit it, Doma truly felt humiliated at that moment.
Tong Mo tried to retreat, but was pressed down by Chu Yang's fist, unable to move his legs. He felt as if he were sinking into a quagmire, and the indescribable pressure distorted his face.
His hair and clothes became disheveled and messy under the pressure, making him look quite disheveled.
"Damn it!" Tongma gritted his teeth and raised his arms to block, deciding to take the blow with his body. He didn't believe that Chu Yang could really kill him with his fists.
However, the moment Chu Yang's fist actually touched Tong Mo's arms, his arms suddenly deflated, and the bones made a teeth-grinding sound.
Once again, Doumo overestimated himself and underestimated Chu Yang, and was about to pay a terrible price. Between the two...
Suddenly, another figure appeared.
An uninvited guest struck Chu Yang's arm from the side, causing most of Chu Yang's force to miss.
Chu Yang twisted his body, drawing a semi-circle, and swung his fist like a sledgehammer, smashing it hard at the guy who had helped Tong Mo out of trouble.
The uninvited guest was hit head-on by Chu Yang's punch and was sent flying.
It slammed solidly into Tong Mo, and both of them were sent flying by Chu Yang, crashing into and destroying many buildings along the way.
As the dust settled, Chu Yang was able to see clearly who the newcomer was.
Beside Doma, Akaza's arm twisted and contorted, clearly indicating a very strong impact, but he himself seemed unconcerned, with a kind of eager excitement in his eyes.
"At first, I didn't believe that humans could possess such strong bodies, until I just personally experienced your power." Akaza trembled with excitement. "You should choose to evolve like us, instead of continuing to waste your talent."
"Excuse me, my biggest hobby is sunbathing." Chu Yang said calmly, but his eyes were filled with murderous intent, and flames burned brighter and brighter all over his body.
"Upper Moon Two plus Upper Moon Three, not bad. I wonder if Muzan will feel bad about killing you all."
Akaza cracked all over as his bones returned to their original shape, and he laughed provocatively:
"Don't worry, you won't have that chance."
Douma whispered, "You hold him off, I'll kill that woman and then come back to meet you."
Akaza sneered, "Meet up? There's no need! I'll just kill him directly."
Upon hearing this, Doma ignored the brute and kept his eyes glued to Kanae.
On the other side, Kanae keenly sensed the killing intent. Judging from the situation on the field, she had undoubtedly become a burden to Chu Yang, and she immediately realized this.
"No matter which one of them comes to kill me, I will do my best to hold them off." Kanae whispered in Chu Yang's ear, "Concentrate on fighting, don't worry about me, and don't get distracted."
"There's no need," Chu Yang shook his head and said, "I'll kill those two. You take care of yourself."
Kanae stared at him in astonishment. The absolute confidence Chu Yang exuded made Kanae feel that he really could take on two opponents at once.
At that moment, both Doma and Akaza moved; one rushed towards Chu Yang, and the other towards Kanae.
Chu Yang's eyes were icy cold as his figure vanished abruptly.
When he reappeared, he was already between Akaza and Doma!
Chu Yang pressed down hard on Tong Mo with one hand and Yiwo Zuo with the other.
Rumble—!
The earth cracked open, tearing a gash that swallowed the two ghosts.
Akaza, who had just been spouting nonsense, was completely suppressed by a terrifying force. He was very dissatisfied and grabbed Chu Yang's forearm with both hands, his veins bulging all over his body, using all his strength.
But the hand pressing on his head didn't move at all.
Akaza then realized just how vast the difference in power between the two sides truly was—
"This is impossible!" Akaza stared at Chu Yang frantically, his body trembling noticeably, whether from anger, fear, or excessive exertion. "Humans could never possess such power!"
"Is that so?" Chu Yang replied indifferently, increasing the force in his hand and forcefully pressing Akaza's head into the ground.
On the other side, Doma was also resisting, trying to freeze Chu Yang's arm.
However, the abnormally high temperature on Chu Yang's body would melt the frost in an instant.
The intense heat relentlessly burned Doma's skin, causing unbearable pain, and Doma began to let out chilling screams.
"Aaaaaaah!"
At that moment, he suddenly remembered a terrible form of punishment from an ancient Eastern country.
The torture of branding with hot irons!
Chu Yang's palm was pressed firmly against Tong Mo's face like a red-hot iron block. If this continued, Tong Mo felt that his face would melt away.
"Damn it!"
Akaza has never experienced such humiliation in all these years.
He was pinned to the ground and couldn't even put up a fight.
"If this is all the two of you are capable of, then today is destined to be two less than the twelve Ghost Months!"
Chu Yang's domineering declaration echoed in Kanae's ears, leaving her with only a shocked expression on her face.
"Is the Upper Moon demon really that weak?"
Kanae couldn't help but have this thought, but Doma's terrifying strength made her quickly dismiss this ridiculous idea. If it weren't for Chu Yang, she would have been injured long ago!
"It's not that they're too weak, it's that guy is too strong—" Kanae stared at Chu Yang with a complicated expression. Chu Yang's strength even made her waver.
Could this guy really not be human?
"No way, if he were really a ghost, how could he move in the sunlight?" Kanae shook her head desperately. Normally, with her temperament, she would never let her imagination run wild like this on the battlefield, but everything in front of her was just too incredible.
Even though it was the dead of night, Chu Yang shone like a little sun, radiating dazzling light!
It dispelled the surrounding darkness and brought a comforting warmth.
However, this warmth brought Akaza and Doma excruciating pain, reminding them both of the first time they were exposed to sunlight.
That burning passion, etched deep in my soul, remains vivid in my memory.
Their intuition told them that if they continued to be suppressed by the flames on Chu Yang's body, they would be burned alive sooner or later!
The will to survive greatly stimulated their potential, causing Doma and Akaza to unleash incredibly powerful abilities simultaneously.
It is beginning to show signs of challenging Chu Yang's dominance.
The will to survive is the core driving force behind the continuous evolution of demons, besides bloodshed. A strong will helps them rebuild their injured bodies and break through the demons' flaws and limits.
"Destruction Kill: Chaos Style!"
Akaza spread his fists, no longer solely on the defensive, and launched an offensive against Chu Yang, ready to fight back even at the cost of his own life, even if it meant having his head crushed by Chu Yang.
But Douma clearly didn't realize this. The terrifying power that constantly loomed over his face made him afraid to go all out. He waited silently, hoping that Akaza's outburst would expose Chu Yang's weakness.
If he gives up resisting and fights back like Akaza, his head will be crushed by Chu Yang in the next second.
Akaza's fists were so fast that they were invisible to the naked eye. The blurry fist shadows were like shooting stars streaking across the night, landing precisely on Chu Yang's chest.
Under normal circumstances, let alone humans, even any of the twelve demons of the Twelve Demon Moons would be unable to withstand such a fierce attack head-on.
But Chu Yang is like a great Buddha sitting idly in the human world.
They remained motionless in the face of the relentless onslaught.
The fists landed on him, producing only the clanging sound of metal striking stone.
Ding ding ding heart~
Chu Yang's lips curled up slightly.
His Armament Haki, even when only covering his upper body, was extremely hard. Akaza's strength was simply insufficient to break through it; only Muzan's personal intervention would offer any hope.
Doma, who was taken in by what he saw, was utterly shocked. Watching the scene from a third-person perspective was truly terrifying for a demon.
He even began to doubt whether he could really survive under this man.
Akaza also looked despairing.
Why can this man withstand all the attacks with his bare body?
Is he really immune to injury? Do people like that really exist in the world?
This is impossible!
Even if it's Lord Muzan, I'm confident I can hurt him!
Ghosts are the greatest life forms, the highest level of evolution, and the only chosen ones!
Humans are nothing but ants that have been eliminated!
Akaza, driven to madness, had bloodshot eyes and an increasingly fierce and ferocious expression. His fighting spirit burned like flames, which actually blocked the sun-like light to some extent.
A glint of light flashed in Doma's eyes; he saw a glimmer of hope for survival!
Finally, I made up my mind to fight alongside Akaza.
The air temperature suddenly dropped, and even the ground behind Doma was covered with a thick layer of frost.
"You two are really troublesome. Just accept your fate and you'll suffer less." Chu Yang felt there was something wrong with that statement.
He shook his head again and said, "You need to be punished, otherwise those lives lost in vain are too pitiful."
"Don't talk to me like that, do you think you're Lord Muzan?" Akaza finally snapped.
Surprisingly, he withstood the terrifying pressure and slowly stood up, gradually displaying an aura that rivaled Chu Yang's.
Chu Yang couldn't help but show an appreciative expression. As a warrior, Akaza was perfect. His fighting spirit and will were both top-notch. Among the Twelve Demon Moons, only he and Kokushibo, who ranked first, could be called strong.
Having suffered greatly, Doma seized the opportunity to escape Chu Yang's clutches and retreated to a safe distance with lingering fear. His earlier idea of joining forces with Akaza to attack Chu Yang gradually dissipated. He wanted to escape, but hesitated, caught in a dilemma.
At this moment, his injuries showed no signs of improvement, and his once handsome face looked like a tattered rag hanging around his neck.
This feeling is exactly the same as being severely scorched by the sun!
"This guy's breathing technique is off."
Realizing this, Doma suddenly had a scene he had never seen before flash through his mind.
In the scene, a man wearing a red haori, red sun earrings, and reddish-black hair stands in front of him. The man stands in the darkness, staring indifferently at him!
The fear hidden deep within the cells suddenly erupted!
Doma suddenly realized that this was not his own memory, but—
Kibu's memories of Muzan!
What kind of man could drive Lord Muzan to such a desperate situation?
When the question popped into his mind, Doma subconsciously looked at Chu Yang, his expression one of astonishment.
Isn't this the man in front of you?
Meanwhile, Akaza was fighting a bloody battle, his blood staining the entire street red, while Chu Yang was clean and tidy, not at all like someone who had just been through a major battle.
Whether Chu Yang broke his arm or his leg, Akaza could recover from his injuries in a few breaths. However, seeing that his attacks couldn't even damage the hem of his opponent's clothes, the resolute Akaza still felt a sense of powerlessness.
At this moment, Kanae, who was watching from the sidelines, noticed the weariness that flashed across Akaza's face. Feeling a surge of satisfaction, she laughed heartily, "Feeling hopeless, aren't you? Now it's finally your turn, you monsters, to experience this kind of despair!"
"But your despair is nothing compared to the despair that ordinary people feel when they encounter demons, and nothing compared to the despair that most Demon Slayer Corps members feel when they fight you!"
"Feel it all! Take this despair and fall into hell!!!"
Kanae's voice was extremely harsh, igniting Akaza's anger and his last remaining courage, prompting him to launch a final, all-out attack.
"Destruction Kill - Final Form!"
Akaza's fighting spirit transformed into countless flying needles, like a torrential downpour falling head-on towards Chu Yang!
Chu Yang slowly walked towards Yiwozuo. With each step he took, the surroundings were bathed in a shower of needles, the floor tiles shattered, and in the blink of an eye, everything turned into ruins.
When Chu Yang stood unharmed in front of Akaza, Douma's mental defenses completely collapsed, and he had no other thought but to escape.
This demon, who sat high above the crescent moon in second place, finally experienced what it felt like to be an ant.
"Akaza, you can rest here peacefully. I will report your bravery to Lord Muzan."
Seemingly feeling guilty, Doma muttered something as he left.
But a gust of wind blew a petal, which landed right in front of him.
Doma's expression was stiff.
He looked up and saw Kanae's smiling face, which carried a mocking tone.
"I won't let you leave here." Kanae's tone was firm and resolute, carrying with it the hatred she had accumulated over the years for demons.
Doma was furious. In this day and age, who knows what kind of Tom, Dick, or Harry dares to stop him?
His face was grim, a cruel smile playing on his lips. "Who do you think you are? Just because he can kill us doesn't mean you can."
"It's alright. After he kills that demon, it'll be your turn soon," Kanae said indifferently. "The worst-case scenario is that I die at your hands. As long as you don't have a chance to escape, I don't care."
Doma took a deep breath. The woman in front of him had already prepared for the worst, so he definitely wouldn't be able to escape easily.
Akaza stared blankly at Chu Yang, who was only a step away from him, but the man in front of him was like a god sitting in the clouds, making people unconsciously want to look up to him.
However, Akaza had his own god, so Chu Yang's appearance severely shook his beliefs.
For a soldier, a wavering of conviction is more serious than a physical injury; it is an irreparable wound.
Why are you so powerful?
Akaza once again raised his own questions, but what he was questioning was the very belief he had always held firmly.
It turns out that ghosts are not a manifestation of human evolution; humans themselves are capable of being this powerful.
"It's probably because I sunbathe a lot. Sunlight can promote the absorption of calcium and strengthen the body," Chu Yang said seriously, but he was already laughing inside.
What was meant as a joke turned out to be taken seriously by Akaza, who then became deeply suspicious.
Is my lack of strength due to not getting enough sunshine?
Ghosts can't walk in sunlight; that's definitely a fatal flaw.
Akaza closed his eyes.
Chu Yang sighed, then smashed the other man's neck with a punch, a look of regret flashing in his eyes.
Akaza's real name was Komaji. He was a good person. In his youth, he often committed theft to pay for his seriously ill father's medical treatment. Although he went astray, it was understandable. At least, he was a filial son.
Feeling he was a burden to Komaji, his father chose to hang himself. Having lost his only family member, Komaji became extreme and irritable. If he hadn't later met Master Keizo, who taught him martial arts, he might have gone astray.
Komaji was 15 years old that year.
Komaji settled into his master's dojo, but he was the only disciple there, as his master Keizo's wife had just passed away.
They were left with a sick daughter, and the two depended on each other for survival.
Master Keizo did not hold a prejudice against Komaji because of the mistakes he had made before, and even entrusted his sick daughter, Koyuki, to his care, fully demonstrating his trust in him.
And so, Komaji spent a peaceful and warm period of time, during which Koyuki fell in love with this seemingly fierce but actually very gentle child.
Komaji, who had lived a less-than-honorable life, never realized that Koyuki liked him.
When he was 18, Master Keizo planned to hand over the dojo to Komaji and have his daughter be engaged to Komaji. Komaji took Koyuki to see a beautiful fireworks display, and the two confessed their feelings to each other.
Overjoyed, Komaji returned to his hometown to share the good news of his marriage with his deceased father. However, fate played a cruel trick on him, and this brief separation led to Komaji and Koyuki being separated forever.
The kendo dojo next door has always been envious of Master Keizo for having so few disciples yet being able to maintain such a large dojo.
The two sides had harbored deep resentment for a long time, but because they were no match for Master Keizo and Komaji, they kept it hidden.
With Komaji's return to his hometown, this group of scoundrels chose to poison Keizo and Koyuki using their old method of poisoning the well.
Komaji, who thought he could finally find happiness, broke down. He killed 67 people in the kendo dojo with his bare hands, cleared out the entire dojo, and completely severed the lineage.
Then, he met Muzan Kibutsugu and became Akaza.
Over the long years, Akaza forgot all of Komaji's memories, leaving only his obsession with power, because deep in his soul, he always believed that he was not strong enough, which was why he had failed to protect his family.
"If I became as strong as this person, my life might be completely different, right?"
Before his life ended, Akaza's image merged with Chu Yang's in his mind, and his head, which fell to the ground, revealed a relieved smile.
Watching Akaza turn to ashes, Chu Yang felt a pang of regret. After becoming a demon, Akaza never actively hunted ordinary people; most of the civilians who died because of him were caught in the crossfire during battles.
However, this does not mean that Akaza is innocent.
His sins were only less severe than those of the other ghosts, nothing more.
If fate had been kinder to this young man, his life would have been very different.
There's no time to lament Komaji's tragic life.
Chu Yang charged straight at Doma, who was fighting Kanae.
Desperate to escape, Doma was extremely ruthless. Kanae had already sustained numerous injuries, and her beautiful haori was covered in blood.
"Get out of here!!!" Seeing Chu Yang charging towards him menacingly, Douma's expression became even more ferocious.
Even Akaza was powerless to fight back; as Upper Moon Two, he might not be able to withstand more than a few rounds.
Kanae wore a smug expression; the more desperate Doma was, the happier she became.
A massive frost erupted from Tongmo, and a colossal Bodhisattva statue stood before Chu Yang amidst the ice and snow, its hands clasped in prayer, conveying a compassionate and merciful image.
Chu Yang's lips curled into a disdainful smile.
Although both are Buddhas, the bodhisattvas created by Doma are completely different from the bodhisattvas enshrined in the temple by Kyōmei Himejima.
In Chu Yang's eyes, the ice sculpture of the Bodhisattva had no compassion whatsoever; its pretentious act only made it more disgusting.
The Bodhisattva raised his hand knife high and brought it down without hesitation with immense force.
Filled with rage, Chu Yang suddenly pushed off the ground and shot out like a cannonball, dodging the hand chop while smashing a large hole in the Bodhisattva.
He landed directly in front of the tongmo noodles.
The two faced each other, their expressions completely transparent.
Under Tongmo's horrified gaze, Chu Yang reached out and pressed his hand against Tongmo's head.
It was pulled out from the neck like a radish.
Only when his head was severed from his body and Doma's gaze met Chu Yang's cold eyes did he belatedly realize that he was going to die.
Aside from the progenitor Muzan himself, all the demons he created had a fatal weakness: once a demon was beheaded, it always met only one fate—death.
Only an extremely strong will to survive can break through the limits of demons, ignoring decapitation and recreating a physical body.
Achieving this is also known as breaking through the limit.
Over the years, apart from Yoriichi Tsugikuni, no one has been able to bring such terrifying pressure to demons. Naturally, they have no way of touching this supreme realm.
Akaza was overwhelmed by Chu Yang's power and gave up his chance to live, because he knew that no matter how many times he was reborn, he could never defeat the monster-like man in front of him.
Douma, on the other hand, never possessed such a tenacious will. He was exceptionally gifted and had never suffered any hardship. He was a born villain who took pleasure in bullying the weak.
Doma and Akaza led completely different lives and are not comparable at all.
"This guy can actually be afraid—" Kanae, who had lost too much blood, walked unsteadily, but still dragged her tired body to Doma.
After a brief moment of fear, Doma's expression returned to normal. He looked at Kanae indifferently and said regretfully, "It's a real pity that I couldn't bring you to the underworld with me. It should have been quite interesting."
"It's alright. Those you harmed will be waiting for you on the road, until you meet again." Kanae's tone was calm, a hint of pleasure flashing in her eyes. "Go there and receive your punishment!"
Doma chuckled softly, gazing intently at Chu Yang, and said, "I'm really looking forward to the day you meet Lord Muzan. Will it be the end of the era of demons, or will the Demon Slayer Corps be completely wiped out from history? It's such a pity I won't be able to see that day."
"It's none of your business." Chu Yang threw Doma's head away, watching him burn to ashes in the flames of Sun Breathing.
Kanae let out a long sigh of relief, as a wave of exhaustion washed over her instantly.
His body could no longer hold on, and he swayed and fell down.
Chu Yang reacted quickly, putting his arm around her shoulder and letting her lean against him.
"I'm sorry, I wasn't of much help in the fight just now, and I'll have to trouble you to take care of me." The weak Kanae squinted her eyes and mumbled something. If Chu Yang hadn't had good hearing, he wouldn't have been able to hear her at all.
"When I was at the Butterfly Mansion, you always took care of me, so don't be so polite." Chu Yang said, then slowly channeled Wood Release chakra into Kanae's body to help her restore her life force.
The battle had just taken many people by, who stood in front of their doors and windows to watch. Fortunately, it was late at night, and it was pitch black outside, so they couldn't see much.
Chu Yang's Ji Ya has already relayed the intelligence back to headquarters, and the logistics personnel will arrive soon.
After a short while, Kanae's complexion improved considerably, and she was able to walk with difficulty. So, the two left the town under the cover of night.
If they stay any longer, the townspeople will become restless.
Not long after the two left the town, they encountered the Hidden Ones on a small road outside the town. Kanae's younger sister, Shinobu Kocho, was also in the crowd. Upon seeing Kanae covered in blood, she could no longer hold back and rushed out.
The two sisters hugged each other, and Butterfly burst into tears. It was the first time Chu Yang had ever seen her cry so sadly, and he couldn't help but stand aside and watch with great interest.
Who knew that not long after watching, Chu Yang would get himself into trouble.
"You idiot! Why did you follow Kanae-neechan here? It's because of you that Kanae-neechan got hurt!" Shinobu said angrily. "If it weren't for protecting you, how could Kanae-neechan have been injured by the demon?"
Chu Yang clicked his tongue. He still preferred Shinobu Kocho a few years later. Although she had a sharp tongue and liked to be sarcastic, she was still cuter than the little girl in front of him.
At least it won't wrongly accuse someone.
Some members of the [Hidden] team stayed behind to take care of Kanae, while others went to the town to clean up the mess.
The fierce fighting between the two sides destroyed many public facilities.
But everyone overlooked Chu Yang because he was completely clean, without any blood or even a torn shirt. In other people's eyes, it was Kanae who risked her life to protect Chu Yang.
Kanae tugged at Shinobu's sleeve, pulling the roaring Shinobu back to her side, and said with a wry smile, "Don't embarrass yourself."
"If it weren't for Chu Yang, I would have died long ago. He killed two ghosts all by himself. I couldn't help at all—"
Kanae's voice wasn't loud, but it clearly reached everyone's ears. Everyone paused for a moment before resuming their work.
Shinobu Kocho was also taken aback, instinctively thinking she had misheard, until she saw her sister's serious gaze.
"Wasn't it him who held you back and caused you to get hurt?" Shinobu asked her sister incredulously.
"To be precise, I was the one who held him back. We just encountered the Upper Moon Two and Upper Moon Three of the Twelve Demon Moons, and I was no match for any of them." Kanae frankly recounted her experience, openly admitting that she was no match for the demons.
For a pillar to say such a thing requires great courage.
Quiet!
The scene was eerily quiet!
The fact that Chu Yang single-handedly killed two evil spirits and protected the flower pillar was already shocking, but what was even more shocking was the identity of those two evil spirits!
Upper Moon Two!
Upper Moon Three!
These late-stage personnel were already horrified enough from hearing about the Lower Moon from the wounded; they had never seen a Demon Slayer Corps member alive and recounting information about the Upper Moon.
Because everyone who encountered the Upper Moon is dead, including all the previous Pillar-level swordsmen.
Seeing the horrified expressions on the faces of those around her, Kanae suddenly realized something and asked Chu Yang in surprise, "What kind of information have your Kasugai crows been spreading?"
Chu Yang shrugged and replied, "Tell them you're injured and have them send someone over to treat you immediately."
"Why didn't you report to the lord that you slew the Upper Moon?!" Kanae was so angry she was almost dizzy. She asked, enunciating each word clearly, "You should at least send the most important information!!!"
"I'm only talking about the important things," Chu Yang said matter-of-factly. "You're injured like that, isn't that important?"
Kanae's scolding voice stopped abruptly. She stared blankly at Chu Yang, and then her fair face began to flush red, spreading from her ears all the way to her neck.
Shinobu Kocho didn't have time to figure out how Chu Yang killed the Upper Moon; her gaze kept shifting between the two of them, like a bystander watching a melodrama.
Oh ho ho, something's off about these two—
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