Yoshiwara—a name that, in the folklore and customs of Japan, always carries a hint of mystery and temptation.
The streets here are a tapestry of diverse charms sedimented through the long river of history.
At dawn, the cherry blossom trees lining the streets have not yet fully awakened. A gentle breeze brushes past the branches, carrying away a few petals that drift lightly onto the blue cobblestones, appearing like fragments of the tourists' dreams from the night before.
The entire street is silent, devoid of its nocturnal clamor. Only the light from an early-opening teahouse is faintly visible, where curling cooking smoke intertwines with the morning mist, looking like a passage to another world.
The lanterns in front of the teahouse sway gently with the breeze, making a soft rustling sound as if whispering the past tales of Yoshiwara.
In the distance, the shadows of the mountains gradually become clear as a great sun slowly rises. Warm sunlight spills across the streets of Yoshiwara, illuminating the profile of a man sitting in front of the teahouse.
He drinks a cup of fresh tea against the sunlight, exhaling a white dragon of vapor from his mouth, dispelling the chill of a spring morning.
"Young man, you're up quite early. It's rare to see a guest in our parts rise at such an hour," the teahouse owner remarked while tidying up the shop, striking up a conversation with this strange guest.
"I've just traveled here. I've long heard of Yoshiwara's prosperity, so I came to see it for myself," Lu Li explained with a smile. "Does the boss know which is the best establishment on this street?"
Having just arrived in Yoshiwara, and considering the influence of other Explorers, Lu Li wasn't certain if Upper Moon Six was still here. Inquiring with a teahouse owner familiar with the area was a solid choice.
"Haha, young man, looking at your attire, you must come from a wealthy family. I naturally have to recommend the best shop in Yoshiwara."
The teahouse owner raised an eyebrow, giving Lu Li a knowing look. "Go to the Kyogokuya. That is where you will find the Oiran of Yoshiwara, Warabihime."
The corners of Lu Li's mouth curled up. He thought to himself that these Explorers were quite inefficient; Upper Moon Six hadn't just stayed in the area, she hadn't even changed shops.
However, he might be failing to consider their difficulties. Although the Muzan Faction was powerful, it had glaring weaknesses.
Namely, Muzan was the epitome of a "garbage boss." He never listened to his employees' suggestions and was notoriously fickle. To persuade Muzan required an incredibly high level of sycophancy and linguistic skill.
Furthermore, the Upper Moons were all distinct personalities. Persuading them to move their territory was a tall order. Combined with the fear of triggering Muzan's suspicions, it wasn't easy for Explorers in the Muzan Faction to gather their forces into a "team."
At least, it wasn't something that could be achieved in the opening days of the mission. Any Explorer who had received the Demon Bloodline had to produce actual results to get Muzan to take them even slightly seriously.
"That is a fine suggestion," Lu Li said as he stood up, tossing down a small gold bean. This was something he had exchanged for in the Terminus Space for daily expenses within the world.
In the Space, precious metals that could be used as currency in conventional worlds were very cheap; 100 Terminus Coins could be exchanged for a hundred kilograms of gold, which could be shaped into bars or beans according to his request.
The world was currently in the Taisho era, and the Yen was already in use. When the Yen was first issued during the Meiji period, one Yen was equivalent to roughly 1500 milligrams of gold. Inflation wasn't severe yet, so the Yen's purchasing power remained very high.
Ordinary civilians used paper Yen, of course, but in Yoshiwara, there was no shortage of wealthy patrons spending extravagantly. Thus, Lu Li's method of paying with gold didn't confuse the teahouse owner; it only brought joy.
"Thank you, milord!"
The owner bowed repeatedly behind Lu Li's back, the smile on his face brighter than the rising sun.
Lu Li didn't turn around. He simply strolled toward the morning sun and waved his hand. "If you don't want to die, pack your things and leave Yoshiwara."
Yoshiwara was a long way from Mt. Fujikasane, and transportation in this era of Japan wasn't particularly developed. Fortunately, he had a pair of powerful legs and had reached Yoshiwara in a single night.
He didn't have the "Vegeta habit" of waiting for the enemy to reach full power. He had no interest in waiting until nightfall for the enemy to reach their peak before starting the slaughter.
In this mission world, he was in the disadvantaged Demon Slayer Faction, while the opposition had thirty-three Explorers. If he were to mess around, it would be purely suicidal.
Lu Li arrived at the front of the Kyogokuya and placed his hand on the door, forcibly pulling open the locked entrance.
The woman at the front desk responsible for greeting guests was originally slumped over the desk sleeping. She looked up dizzily. "Guest... we aren't open yet..."
Lu Li's nose twitched. He didn't have a nose as sharp as Tanjiro's, but his five senses were equally powerful. He could smell the blood hidden beneath the surface here.
It seemed the teahouse owner hadn't lied; the Oiran Warabihime was indeed still at the Kyogokuya. Lu Li's mood brightened.
Treasure chests, here I come.
"Guest, it's not business hours yet. Why don't you come back tonight?" the woman said apologetically as she stood up, seeing Lu Li walking straight in. She had never seen anyone come for "services" so early in the morning.
Most of the girls here had worked hard all night and were currently in a deep sleep. Where would they find the time to receive guests?
However, this young man in black was quite handsome; the girls would likely be very fond of him...
Lu Li stepped toward the stairs. When the woman from the front desk approached him, he suddenly reached out and grabbed her collar. With a sharp tug, a large expanse of pale skin was revealed.
"Guest, don't be so impatient. How about I go call a few girls over for you to see?"
The woman was startled by Lu Li's actions, but being from a pleasure district, she remained relatively composed. She figured that since Lu Li was tall and handsome, even if he didn't pay, she wouldn't be the one losing out.
However, Lu Li's expression remained serious. He didn't respond to her chatter but exerted force again, tearing the kimono completely off her body. "Heh, so someone has given you pointers."
As he spoke, he threw the bundle of clothing toward the main door behind him. Just as the garments were about to touch the sunlight outside, they suddenly came to life. The sashes acted like limbs, grabbing the door frame and snapping back with force, hiding in the shadows.
The front-desk woman, holding her chest with one hand and covering her lower body with the other, was originally going to voice a coy complaint about him stripping her. But seeing this eerie and horrifying scene, her complaint turned into a scream that pierced the dawn.
The bundle of clothing in the shadows stood up like a praying mantis, confronting Lu Li. Yet, Lu Li didn't even look at the pile of fabric.
At that moment, the sound of rhythmic footsteps came from the stairs above. Soon, a courtesan dressed in white appeared. Her deep purple hair was tied in a ponytail, and a mole sat beneath the corner of her eye on her soft, beautiful face.
Seeing the situation, her eyes first flashed with surprise, then filled with anxiety as she looked at Lu Li. "What is this guest doing? It's not time to receive visitors, yet you are making trouble at our Kyogokuya? I suggest you leave quickly; our boss is not someone to be trifled with."
Her words sounded like a threat, but she was actually trying to persuade him to leave. It was a strange sight, as she seemed to completely ignore the sentient, standing clothing, treating Lu Li as the only troublemaker.
Lu Li looked up at the woman before him, feeling a bit surprised. If he wasn't mistaken, this was Hinatsuru, one of the three wives of the Sound Hashira, Tengen Uzui, who was currently undercover at the Kyogokuya. He hadn't expected her to be investigating Yoshiwara this early.
Hinatsuru was still alive and hadn't been killed by the Muzan Faction Explorers. It seemed the Explorers were planning to fish for bigger game.
Currently, Hinatsuru was frantically winking at Lu Li, signaling him to run. It was daytime; as long as he reached the street outside, he would be safe.
She hadn't seen Lu Li before, but seeing the Demon Slayer uniform beneath his black haori, she knew he was a member of the Corps.
Since she didn't recognize him, it meant Lu Li was neither a Hashira nor a Tsuguko, but an ordinary member or a rookie. His presence here was extremely dangerous.
Based on her husband's previous deductions, a powerful demon was likely lurking here. If it were one of the Twelve Kizuki, killing a rookie Demon Slayer would take only an instant.
Moreover, she had just seen the sentient clothing. With her experience, she could sense it was a powerful Blood Demon Art. The demon here might not even be a Lower Moon!
"Trouble?"
Lu Li chuckled. "I suppose that's true. I am indeed here for the boss of this establishment... the real boss."
"As expected of someone familiar with our abilities."
Footsteps sounded from the left staircase. The newcomer's voice was lazy and relaxed. "A pity, though... that you came alone."
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