The Aoki Dojo was vast, with exquisite and luxurious buildings, appearing quite grand.
Logically, it should have been a very prosperous dojo.
However, upon entering, Aoki found this to be far from the truth.
There were very few people in the dojo, and everyone he saw wore expressions of worry, fear, anxiety, and absent-mindedness; a suffocating atmosphere permeated the air.
Even the honest and simple-minded young man, Akiyama Keisuke, looked somewhat embarrassed, lowering his head and avoiding Aoki's gaze.
"Interesting,"
Aoki thought, not paying much attention, and hurriedly followed him into the dojo.
But halfway there, they were stopped by a square-faced, dignified middle-aged man.
"Keisuke, who is this?"
Akiyama Keisuke quickly replied, "Master, this is Aomura, who is preparing to join our dojo. Aomura, this is my master, and also the head of the Aoki Dojo, Mizuno Kengo."
To avoid trouble, Aoki used the alias Aomura.
Mizuno Kengo's expression was serious: "Have you clearly explained the issues with our dojo?"
Aoki's spirits lifted; was the main event about to begin?
Keisuke Akiyama stammered, unable to speak.
Kengo Mizuno didn't reprimand him, but sighed and turned to Aoki: "Recently, two girls have gone missing from the dojo, and the incidents were very bizarre. There are rumors that they were taken by demons.
You must think carefully before deciding whether to join the dojo."
"Demons?"
Aoki was taken aback, then suddenly understood.
No wonder everyone in Aoki's dojo looked fearful and uneasy.
No wonder such a luxurious dojo was so deserted.
So this was the truth.
"I don't care about such things," Aoki stated directly.
Keisuke Akiyama exclaimed excitedly, "That's nonsense! Aomura, come with me, I'll take you to your lodgings!"
Kengo Mizuno naturally said nothing more, turning and walking in another direction, his back view appearing somewhat desolate.
On the road,
Keisuke Akiyama explained in a low voice, "Aomura, I didn't mean to hide it, but actually, young girls go missing in town every year, and recently the number has been particularly high.
It's not just our dojo; it happens in many places."
"People go missing every year? And recently the number has been particularly high?"
Aoki frowned slightly.
This demon is arrogant.
Or is there more than one demon here?
What about the Demon Slayer Corps? Have they received no news at all all these years?
Keisuke Akiyama's expression darkened: "Actually, one of the two missing girls is my master's daughter. This was a huge blow to my master.
If my master's other life's work, the Aoki Dojo, also collapses, I really can't imagine what the consequences would be."
Aoki said, "Is this why you went out to recruit people?"
"I had no other choice. Actually, you're the only one willing to join the dojo." At this point, a grateful expression appeared on Keisuke Akiyama's face.
Aoki suddenly asked again, "What is your relationship with your master's daughter?"
Akiyama Keisuke paused, fell silent, and after a long while said, "We're engaged."
As expected.
Aoki wasn't surprised.
Akiyama Keisuke's words and attitude were fundamentally from the perspective of the dojo's protagonist; how could an ordinary disciple act this way?
Akiyama Keisuke led Aoki to his lodgings and then hurriedly left.
Aoki took off his sun hat and looked around his home for the next few days.
It was a shady house, so even during the day, he didn't have to worry about sunlight.
The room was new and spotlessly clean, with all the basic furniture—in terms of facilities alone, it was better than the one he stayed in on the mountain!
After tidying up a bit, Aoki sat down in a chair, lost in thought.
For him, encountering a demon was a good thing.
Although he planned to keep a low profile, he certainly wouldn't refuse an extra meal.
Even if the demon was strong and he couldn't defeat it, he had mastered "space teleportation" and could escape at any time.
However, he worried that the news of a large number of missing persons would attract the Demon Slayer Corps.
Exposing his identity was a minor matter; if he were accused of eating humans, he would be furious!
Aoki quickly made a plan: "It seems I need to find and eliminate the demon as soon as possible!"
Besides the demon, there was another problem.
He was out of money!
For most demons, money was meaningless.
They didn't have anything to buy, and because of their appearance, they couldn't even appear openly in front of humans.
But Aoki was different.
He didn't want to hide in the remote mountains and forests; to survive in human society, money was indispensable.
He didn't lack ways to earn money.
If he wanted to make a lot of money, he could use his vision and knowledge ahead of his time to start a company and run a business. If he wanted a stable income, he was still an excellent hunter.
However, for a demon, these ordinary jobs weren't very suitable.
"I didn't expect that even after becoming a demon, I would still have to worry about making money. If all else fails, I'll have to become a chivalrous thief. Hmm, this can be done simultaneously with investigating the demon's whereabouts." Aoki's thoughts gradually became clear. He acted
on his idea.
Aoki put on his sun hat and went out again.
He first checked the dojo, but found no trace of the demon, so he prepared to expand the scope of his investigation.
Just as he stepped out, a familiar figure approached.
A girl with her hands behind her back, her steps were light and cheerful, her cherry-blossom braids swaying with her steps, walking beside a refined middle-aged man, looking extremely happy.
"Does she live nearby?" Aoki wondered.
Kanroji Mitsuri felt a strange sensation and subconsciously turned her head to look. A figure wearing a straw hat came into view.
Aoki nodded slightly to her and walked in another direction.
"Do you know him, Mitsuri?" The refined man looked at Aoki.
Kanroji Mitsuri blinked. "I met this gentleman this morning when I went to buy sake for my father."
"He came from the Aoki Dojo, probably planning to learn martial arts. The Aoki Dojo is indeed excellent, and Master Mizuno is also a very outstanding martial artist, it's a pity."
The refined man shook his head regretfully, adding, "Mitsuri, these days, you must not go out alone at night."
"I understand, Father!"
Kanroji Mitsuri nodded, unable to resist glancing at Aoki again.
For some reason, she always felt this gentleman was somewhat different.
Late at night.
Aoki sat cross-legged, a low table in front of him, on which sat a blue-and-white porcelain bowl.
He picked up the gourd of demon sake, opened the lid, and the smell of alcohol wafted out.
After filling it with sake, it must be sealed for at least 12 hours for ordinary sake to become demon sake.
*Splash.
* Aoki filled the porcelain bowl with sake, picked it up, and took
a small sip.
A soft, delicate touch combined with the pungent kick of alcohol flooded his mind.
Aoki's expression was momentarily dazed.
Read 15+ updated chapters ahead at p4treon..
[email protected]/Horizons685
Due to my delay, this is an extra chapter.
(End of Chapter)