Hinokami Kagura

Tanjuro wanted to stop him, but his chest began to ache. His throat tickled, and he broke into a violent coughing fit.

"Father!" Little Tanjiro stood beside him in a panic, wanting to help but not knowing what to do.

Hearing Tanjuro’s violent coughing, the oden vendor hesitated before turning back. He gently patted Tanjuro’s back. "With your body like this, you really need to rest properly."

BOOM!!!!

The moment he finished speaking, a tremendous crash came from the carpenter’s shop ahead. The entire shop shook violently, startling everyone nearby.

The next second, a Black Shadow flew out from inside and landed right at the oden vendor’s feet.

It looked like a human, yet it was covered in sharp fangs and claws, its face grotesque and vicious.

The oden vendor took one look before backing away in terror.

Though it was not yet noon, the lingering glow of the setting sun struck the demon’s body and erupted with astonishing force, instantly setting its entire body ablaze.

"AAAAAHHHH!!!!"

The demon’s agonized wails drew the attention of many vendors.

Some trembled from head to toe at the sight, their overwhelming fear mixed with confusion and bewilderment.

What was that thing?

Everyone watched helplessly as the human-like monster burned into ashes.

Tanjuro had already covered little Tanjiro’s eyes. He himself watched the monster’s death from beginning to end, his heart pounding in shock.

It was all real.

"Where is that young man?" Once Tanjuro came back to his senses, he looked toward the carpenter’s shop. It was pitch-black inside, and he could see nothing.

"Did that young man throw this monster out just now?" The oden vendor was nearly scared out of his wits, his face deathly pale.

While the two were still confused, Chu Yang had already left the shop through the back door and reached the forest outside the city, where he took out his Horse-Cutting Blade.

The commotion just now had been too great. It was inconvenient for Chu Yang to remain in town, and even more inconvenient for him to have too much contact with Tanjuro in full view of everyone. It would not be good for Tanjuro’s future life.

So Chu Yang simply slipped away amid the chaos.

He climbed a tree, leaned against the trunk, and dozed while waiting for Tanjuro outside.

After a while, Tanjuro finally appeared at the end of the mountain path, slowly leading little Tanjiro by the hand.

"You took your time."

Chu Yang leaped down from the tree and landed in front of the father and son.

"Thank you for what you did just now. If it weren’t for you, I probably would have run into that demon." Remembering what had happened, Tanjuro still felt lingering fear and was deeply grateful.

"No need to thank me. I saved you for a reason." Chu Yang waved his hand, then said seriously, "I want to make a deal with you."

Tanjuro was immediately confused. Aside from selling charcoal, he had nothing worth trading.

Chu Yang got straight to the point. "I want you to teach me the Kagura Dance. In exchange, I’ll give you a considerable sum of money, enough for you and your family to live better lives."

"So that’s it." Tanjuro immediately understood. What Chu Yang wanted was actually his family’s inherited Kagura Dance. Thinking about it, it made sense. The Kagura Dance was the only thing he possessed that had any value.

"But… how did you know about the Kagura Dance?" Tanjuro asked in confusion.

"We can talk as we walk." Chu Yang bent down and picked up the bleary-eyed Tanjiro, then walked ahead on his own. Tanjuro froze for a moment before hurriedly following.

After that, Chu Yang told Tanjuro all about the origins of demons, the history of the Demon Slayer Corps, and the friendship between Yoriichi Tsugikuni and Sumiyoshi.

There was no need for Chu Yang to hide anything from a man whose life was nearing its end. With Tanjuro’s character, he would not spread these secrets around either.

As they spoke, they were already close to Tanjuro’s home in the mountains.

After learning everything, Tanjuro felt an indescribable emotion in his heart. He had never expected Sun Breathing to be passed down in such a way in the end.

"Then it seems my short life has had meaning after all." Tanjuro smiled, his eyes shining with a light they had never held before.

"Even without Sun Breathing, you are an excellent father. The meaning of your life was not given to you by Sun Breathing. It comes from your children," Chu Yang replied sincerely.

At the mention of his children, Tanjuro felt relieved. No matter what, he had to leave something behind so that his wife and children could have an easier life in the future.

He had no reason to refuse Chu Yang’s offer, and the other man did not seem like a bad person.

In the end, Tanjuro performed the Kagura Dance for Chu Yang at the entrance to his home. His movements were smooth and nimble, nothing like those of a sick man.

After finishing once, Tanjuro prepared to dance it a second time, but Chu Yang stopped him. With Chu Yang’s talent, one viewing was more than enough for him to remember the essentials.

If Tanjuro danced the Kagura Dance twice in a row, his body would be severely drained.

As agreed, Chu Yang left behind a sum of money, ensuring that after Tanjuro’s death, the widow and children he left behind could live well.

That money had come from the demon in the carpenter’s shop.

That demon had spent years mingling among humans and hunting them. It enjoyed scavenging the possessions of the dead, and as its trophies accumulated over time, it had gathered more and more valuable items.

Chu Yang had little interest in wealth. No amount of money could be exchanged for Sun Breathing.

Besides the money, Chu Yang had deliberately used Wood Release Chakra to restore some of Tanjuro’s vitality. While it could not completely cure his illness, it could extend his life by several years, giving him a chance to watch Tanjiro grow into an adult.

Interestingly, the sleeping Tanjiro seemed to sense something.

He clutched Chu Yang’s clothes tightly and refused to let him leave. Chu Yang had to spend quite some effort before finally breaking free.

After bidding farewell to Tanjuro’s family, Chu Yang’s solitary figure disappeared into the darkness once more.

Tanjuro remained by the doorway, watching Chu Yang’s retreating back.

In the darkness, he raised his head toward the heavens and silently offered a heartfelt prayer.

"May the gods bless you!"

After leaving Tanjuro’s home, Chu Yang returned by the same route. When he passed through the town again, it was unusually lively.

The carpenter’s shop was covered in blood.

The bodies of the shop owner’s family had been gnawed beyond recognition by the demon. How could such a horrifying murder scene not cause a sensation?

More importantly, many vendors had witnessed the demon’s death with their own eyes.

Just as Chu Yang was wondering what to do, he spotted members of the Kakushi around the town.

Clearly, they had been sent by the Demon Slayer Corps to handle the aftermath.

The town was rather remotely located.

Rumors and news would not spread easily, so the impact would be limited and relatively easy to deal with.

The truly troublesome matter was the battle that had broken out near Kyoto. It would be difficult to conceal, and the Ubuyashiki Clan even had to make use of their official connections.

In a small place like this, as long as enough money was paid, even the greatest matter could be suppressed. And the Ubuyashiki Clan lacked nothing more than money.

Professional matters should be left to professionals. Chu Yang had no intention of getting in the way. Instead, he planned to return to the temple and train in Sun Breathing. If a mission came, then he would go kill demons.

As for the Butterfly Mansion, Sakonji Urokodaki would naturally go see Makomo once he had worked things out. That was not something Chu Yang could interfere with.

After joining the Demon Slayer Corps, Chu Yang began living a routine life of demon slaying and training, going back and forth between the two.

The Chu Yangs in the One Piece world and Naruto world were more or less in the same situation.

Meanwhile, in the Harry Potter world, Chu Yang welcomed the first Halloween of his time studying at Hogwarts.