Bai Cangshu’s Deal

You killed Hirano Chūni and gained 5 Dimensional Points.

Milestone: Killer Demon (Rare) progress updated. Current: 1/1000.

"Ah! Run!"

Several farmers armed with muskets saw Bai Cangshu slowly pull his leg, which had been completely stomped through Hirano Chūni’s chest, back out. Terrified, they fled in panic.

Bai Cangshu did not pursue them. He merely wanted to tell them one thing: if you shot at me, then you had better be prepared to be killed by me. This was not something that could be settled with a casual "I made a mistake, sorry" and a bow.

When Bai Cangshu returned to Kyoto, the "riot" there had already been quelled. The powerful clans that had cultivated their influence in Kyoto for centuries found it effortless to take control of the city.

Bai Cangshu was immediately treated and bandaged by physicians.

However, Bai Cangshu’s right hand had suffered devastating damage. The bones had been twisted and shattered, and a considerable amount of flesh had been torn away. This was not an injury they could handle.

Even Bai Cangshu himself did not use his healing medicine or his remaining Medical Ninjutsu Scroll on an injury that was fundamentally impossible to heal.

During that time, the Professor and Liu Qi returned once and informed Bai Cangshu that the entire Demon Slayer Corps had been mobilized. They were prepared to turn the ground upside down around Kyoto to find any trace of Kibutsuji Muzan.

They had also joined forces with prestigious families such as the Tsuchimikado clan to strictly screen household registrations. For the next several nights, every household had to keep its lights burning brightly.

They would not give Kibutsuji Muzan a chance to eat people, replenish his strength, and recover from his injuries.

Bai Cangshu had no objections. That very afternoon, he saw Himejima Gyomei and several other Hashira-level Swordsmen.

With the cooperation of the local powerful clans, these formidable Demon Slayer Swordsmen began searching house by house.

Quite a few hidden Man-eating Demons were slain.

Yet Bai Cangshu did not cooperate with them. On the contrary, he remained distinctly detached. Not only did he refuse Kocho Kanae’s offer to help treat his injuries, but he also declined Himejima Gyomei’s invitation to act together.

Bai Cangshu sat in an exquisite residence. Its owner had been an official under Hirohito and had already died in that morning’s riot.

Sitting in the courtyard and watching everyone feverishly search for Kibutsuji Muzan, Bai Cangshu indifferently closed the courtyard gates.

This action made the other Reincarnators, who had been secretly observing Bai Cangshu, breathe sighs of relief.

In truth, ever since "Mercenary Tao" returned to Kyoto, Elizabeth and the Professor had remained on edge. They had been operating near the Demon Slayer Corps, ostensibly to hunt down Kibutsuji Muzan.

But in reality, they were… avoiding danger.

And the source of that danger was obvious: their formerly strongest teammate—"Mercenary Tao" himself.

After the battle against Kibutsuji Muzan and several Upper Ranks, they all knew that "Mercenary Tao" had relied on the advantage of the terrain and the daylight. Moreover, Hamon was practically one of the most suppressive abilities against Man-eating Demons.

Under those circumstances, a paper-level Reincarnator, driven by sufficient courage, did indeed have the ability to kill a Bing-level Man-eating Demon above his rank.

But…

If a paper-level Reincarnator had to face the world BOSS Kibutsuji Muzan and several of the highest-ranking Upper Ranks at the same time, it was basically a dead end.

The sight of "Mercenary Tao" appearing alone with the heads of the two strongest Upper Ranks in hand had truly chilled them to the bone.

Because they had all heard what Hunter had shouted before dying.

"Mercenary Tao is a Special Reincarnator." This information had already become the consensus within this temporary alliance.

And the identity of a Special Reincarnator was information far more important than the origins of a Reincarnator’s abilities.

This left the atmosphere within the temporary team extremely awkward.

They were all afraid that "Mercenary Tao" would assassinate them during the remaining time. The Professor even knew that "Mercenary Tao" was likely a Special Reincarnator of the Great Sin System, which made her even more uneasy.

She had even considered settling the Main Mission early and leaving this world.

But this mission was his Special Trial, and he did not want his completion rate to be too low. He could only invite the Demon Slayer Corps over, hoping to use the Plot Characters to restrain the injured "Mercenary Tao."

"By the way, where is Vincent?"

Seeing Bai Cangshu shut the courtyard gates, clearly with no intention of communicating with them, the Professor finally relaxed enough to notice that Vincent, who had previously remained with the Demon Slayer Corps, had not arrived with their main force.

For this operation, someone needed to monitor whether the Upper Ranks had been lured away that night. Therefore, Elizabeth and Vincent, who possessed Team Space, decided to split up.

Then they would use the convenience of Team Space to communicate remotely.

At the Professor’s words, Elizabeth frowned as well.

"Vincent said he triggered a solo mission and needed to stay over there to finish it."

Elizabeth was somewhat puzzled. Their side could be said to have reaped a full harvest, even obtaining several Singularities, yet Vincent was not tempted at all.

What kind of Hidden Mission could make him give up a possible Singularity reward…

In fact, Kocho Kanae had told her that Vincent had only found them on the first night. After that, he had barely stayed in contact with the Demon Slayer Corps.

She hid her doubts and merely said, "It doesn’t matter if he doesn’t come. The remaining cleanup is just a few small tasks. We only need to cooperate with the Demon Slayer Corps and suppress Muzan’s room to maneuver."

"Even if we can’t kill Muzan, as long as he can’t come out and cause trouble again, our Main Mission completion rate will definitely be high."

As if she had not noticed the gloom on Elizabeth’s face, the Professor turned and left.

Their high-pressure search policy continued for an entire day and would continue over the next several weeks.

Knowing that Nakime, who could teleport through space, was dead, they all firmly believed that Kibutsuji Muzan could only escape through the cover of night or with Hantengu’s abilities.

As night fell, the Demon Slayer Corps began replacing the Onmyoji who had lost their ability to cast spells, patrolling all across Kyoto. Everyone carried special fireworks that would be set off the moment they encountered a Man-eating Demon.

Kyoto enforced a curfew that night, and its usual prosperity instantly turned into silence.

Everyone waited for the screams that might ring out.

But the night passed without anything happening.

For two consecutive weeks, it remained the same. Just as the Demon Slayer Corps began to lean toward the belief that Kibutsuji Muzan had escaped Kyoto by some means…

Under the night sky, Bai Cangshu sat beside the pit beneath the silver moon. From this pit, where Bai Cangshu had once fought several Upper Ranks to the death, a faint killing intent drifted out.

"Kibutsuji Muzan, just how afraid are you? You’ve lingered here for so many days, yet you still don’t dare come up and meet me?"

"My deal still stands. Give me Miss Nakime’s ability, and I can grant you the thing you’ve always dreamed of."

Bai Cangshu looked down into the pit, a wild smile on his face.