Tanjuro tried to stop him again, but a sharp pain bloomed in his chest. His throat tickled, and he broke into a violent coughing fit.
"Father!" Little Tanjiro Kamado cried out in panic, standing helplessly at his side, unsure how to help.
Hearing Tanjuro's harsh coughing, the oden shop owner hesitated, then turned back. He gently patted Tanjuro on the back. "With a body like yours, you really need to get more rest."
Boom!!!!
The words had barely left his mouth when a thunderous crash erupted from the carpentry shop ahead. The entire building shook violently, startling everyone nearby.
In the next instant, a black shadow was hurled out from inside, landing right at the oden shop owner's feet.
It looked human—yet its body was covered in sharp fangs and claws, its face twisted and ferocious.
The oden shop owner only needed one glance before stumbling backward in terror.
Though it wasn't noon, the lingering glow of the setting sun still struck the demon's body, erupting with terrifying force and instantly igniting it.
"AAAAAAAH!!!"
The demon's agonized shrieks drew many merchants over.
Some people trembled uncontrollably at the sight, fear mixed with confusion and disbelief.
What… was that thing?
Before their eyes, the human-shaped monster was burned to ashes.
Tanjuro had already covered Tanjiro's eyes, yet he himself watched the creature's death from start to finish, his heart pounding.
Everything was real.
"Where… where did that young man go?" Tanjuro asked hoarsely, finally snapping out of it as he looked toward the carpentry shop. Inside, it was pitch-black—nothing could be seen.
"Was that monster thrown out by that guy just now?" The oden shop owner was nearly scared out of his wits, his face deathly pale.
While they were still reeling, Chu Yang had already exited through the shop's back door, reached the forest outside town, and retrieved his zanbatō.
The commotion had been too great. It wasn't convenient for him to remain in town—much less to interact too much with Tanjuro in full view of everyone. That would only complicate things later.
So Chu Yang took advantage of the chaos and slipped away.
He vaulted up into a tree, leaned against the trunk, and waited outside town.
A short while later, Tanjuro finally appeared at the end of the mountain path, holding Tanjiro's hand.
"You took your time," Chu Yang said.
He leapt down from the tree and landed in front of the father and son.
"Thank you for what you did just now," Tanjuro said sincerely, still shaken. "If it weren't for you, I probably would've run straight into that demon."
"No need for thanks. I saved you for a reason," Chu Yang waved it off, then said seriously, "I want to make a deal with you."
Tanjuro was momentarily at a loss. Aside from selling charcoal, he had nothing of value to trade.
Chu Yang got straight to the point. "I want you to teach me the Kagura dance. In return, I'll give you a generous sum of money—enough for you and your family to live better."
"So that's it…" Tanjuro immediately understood. What Chu Yang wanted was his family's inherited Kagura. Thinking about it, that was the only thing of value he possessed.
"But… how did you know about the Kagura?" Tanjuro asked, puzzled.
"Let's talk while we walk," Chu Yang said, bending down to pick up the drowsy Tanjiro and heading forward on his own. Tanjuro froze for a moment, then quickly followed.
Along the way, Chu Yang explained the origins of demons, the history of the Demon Slayer Corps, and the friendship between Yoriichi Tsugikuni and Sumiyoshi Kamado.
For a man whose life was already nearing its end, there was no need to hide these truths. With Tanjuro's character, he wouldn't spread such secrets either.
By the time Chu Yang finished speaking, they were nearly at Tanjuro's home in the mountains.
After learning everything, Tanjuro felt a deep, indescribable emotion in his heart. He never imagined that Sun Breathing would be passed down in such a way.
"Then… even my short life had meaning," Tanjuro said with a gentle smile, his eyes shining with a light they'd never held before.
"Even without Sun Breathing, you're an excellent father," Chu Yang replied earnestly. "The meaning of your life wasn't given by Sun Breathing—it comes from your children."
At the mention of his children, Tanjuro felt at peace. No matter what, he had to leave something behind, so that his wife and children could live more easily in the future.
He had no reason to refuse Chu Yang's deal—and the young man didn't seem like a bad person.
In the end, Tanjuro performed the Kagura dance once for Chu Yang at the doorway of his home. His movements were fluid and agile, completely unlike those of a sick man.
After finishing once, Tanjuro prepared to dance a second time—but Chu Yang stopped him. With Chu Yang's talent, seeing it once was more than enough to grasp the essence.
If Tanjuro performed it twice in a row, his body would be severely overtaxed.
As agreed, Chu Yang left behind a sum of money, ensuring that after Tanjuro's death, the family he left behind would be able to live comfortably.
That money happened to come from the demon in the carpentry shop.
That demon had lurked among humans for years, preying on them and collecting valuables from the dead as trophies. Over time, the wealth it carried had grown considerable.
Chu Yang had little interest in money. No amount of wealth could ever be worth Sun Breathing.
Beyond that, Chu Yang also used Wood Release chakra to restore some of Tanjuro's vitality. Though it couldn't cure his illness, it could extend his life by several years—enough time to watch Tanjiro grow up.
Interestingly, the sleeping Tanjiro seemed to sense something.
He clutched Chu Yang's clothes tightly, refusing to let go. Chu Yang had to spend quite some effort before finally freeing himself.
After bidding farewell to Tanjuro's family, Chu Yang's solitary figure vanished once more into the darkness.
Tanjuro stood by the doorway, gazing at Chu Yang's retreating back.
Under the night sky, he looked up and offered a sincere prayer in his heart.
"May the gods bless you."
…
After leaving Tanjuro's home, Chu Yang retraced his steps. When he passed through the town again, it was in an uproar.
The carpentry shop was splattered with blood.
The shop owner's family had been gnawed beyond recognition. A crime scene that horrific was bound to cause a sensation—especially since many merchants had witnessed the demon's death firsthand.
Just as Chu Yang was wondering what to do—
He spotted members of the Kakushi around the outskirts of town.
Clearly, they had been dispatched by the Demon Slayer Corps to handle the aftermath.
The town's remote location worked in their favor. News and rumors wouldn't spread easily, making the situation relatively simple to contain.
The truly troublesome incidents were battles near Kyoto—those were hard to conceal, often forcing the Ubuyashiki family to use official connections.
In small places like this, as long as money was spent, even major issues could be suppressed—and money was the one thing the Ubuyashiki family never lacked.
Leave professional matters to professionals. Chu Yang had no intention of interfering further. He planned to return to the temple and cultivate Sun Breathing—if missions came, he'd go kill demons.
As for the Butterfly Mansion, once Urokodaki Sakonji found peace in his heart, he would naturally go see Makomo. That wasn't something Chu Yang could interfere with.
After joining the Demon Slayer Corps, Chu Yang's life settled into a simple routine—training and killing demons, back and forth.
In the pirate world and the ninja world, the other Chu Yangs lived much the same way.
Meanwhile, in the Harry Potter world, Chu Yang was about to experience the first Halloween of his Hogwarts student life.
(End of Chapter)