Chapter 164 Meeting

In Tamayo's room, Yushiro told Tamayo about Iwakatsu's situation and Muzan's agitated reaction in detail.

Tamayo frowned upon hearing this, lost in thought. She understood that Nezuko's ability to overcome sunlight was a significant breakthrough for Muzan, but it also meant they had to proceed with greater caution.

"Let's go take a look."

Tamayo stood up, lifted her skirt slightly, and quickened her pace unconsciously, heading straight for Iwakatsu's room. She knocked hesitantly, and after much deliberation, slowly pushed open the tightly closed door.

The door hinges creaked softly as they turned, and when it opened, all that met the eye was emptiness; Yan Sheng had vanished without a trace.

"Lady Tamayo, there is a note."

Yushiro, with his sharp eyes, spotted the folded papers scattered on the table. He carefully picked them up and handed them to Tamayo. Tamayo took them, her fingertips gently stroking the slightly rough surface of the paper before slowly unfolding it. The message left by Iwakatsu on the white paper made her expression grave.

Please leave as soon as possible; this area has been marked.

It's daytime now, and the only thing that can allow Yan Sheng to leave is that wooden door that allows her to travel between locations. She and Yoriichi had also discussed it; it's a blood demon technique from a certain demon, and it's extremely troublesome.

It seems this Blood Demon Art has the ability to mark targets; could it teleport someone to any place known to the target?

"Yushiro, it seems we need to leave quickly. Let's pack up and set off tonight."

Tamayo's words led Yushiro to guess the message left on the white paper, and his expression darkened. His Blood Demon Art could conceal him, but it couldn't change his location; this place was indeed no longer safe.

"But Mr. Yoriichi..."

Yoriichi went to the Demon Slayer Corps because of the Demon Slayer Corps leader, Kagaya Ubuyashiki, two days ago. Tamayo gritted her teeth, recalling the invitation she had received back then.

'I will not harm you, please rest assured. You seem to distrust me, but that is to be expected. It is indeed difficult for us to gain your trust like Lord Tsugikuni and Tanjiro.'

So let me explain our purpose: the Demon Slayer Corps has members who are experts in demon bodies and medicine, and we would like to ask you to join us in investigating issues including Nezuko's transformation.

Could you please help us defeat Muzan Kibu? Please come to the Ubuyashiki residence.

Yushiro stood quietly to the side, his eyes following Tamayo's every subtle movement. He noticed the sudden change in Tamayo after she finished reading the note; her usually calm eyes were now furrowed, her fists clenched, and fine beads of sweat rolled down her forehead.

She was going through an inner storm, every breath felt so heavy. Finally, Tamayo took a deep breath, calmed herself, turned around and walked firmly out of the room, heading straight towards the laboratory.

"Yushiro, are you afraid?"

Tamayo's voice echoed in the empty corridor, trembling slightly but revealing a resolute determination.

Upon hearing this, Yushiro's gaze hardened even more, and he answered without hesitation, "As long as I'm by Tamayo's side, I'll do anything. I'll follow you through thick and thin, even if it means facing mountains of knives and seas of fire."

His voice, though soft, was firm and resonant, echoing in the empty corridor.

Tamayo stopped and turned to look at Yushiro, her eyes flashing with complex emotions. She nodded gently and said calmly, "Then let's make preparations and have Chachamaru contact the Demon Slayer Corps' lord. We agree to go to the Ubuyashiki mansion."

“What…yes, Lady Tamayo.”

——

Inside the Infinite Castle, Iwakatsu was carefully reading the letter that Ichiro had sent him. Although it was delivered by Yukiko, he was personally waiting for Teru at a fixed location. He didn't want to reveal Tamayo's location yet.

Unfortunately, I can't receive it for now, and I don't know when the recipient will receive the letter from the day before yesterday.

Yan Sheng has no immediate plans to leave the Infinity Castle, since Muzan has begun to pay attention to his whereabouts. It's best to stay put until the other party shifts his focus.

He gently picked up a white chess piece, his fingertips caressing its cool texture, but his gaze was fixed on the only unfinished plot point on the task panel—the final battle of the Infinite City.

This was a battle he had long anticipated, a battle in which the Demon Slayer Corps was destined to win. After all, the Demon Slayer Corps now only had four Upper Rank Demons left under his command, while on the Demon Slayer Corps' side, not only had Kyojuro Rengoku miraculously survived, but they also had Yoriichi, a near-invincible bug in the system.

Yoriichi

Thinking of the other party, Yan Sheng felt a stomachache. That scoundrel Boss was definitely thinking of making him stop the other party, but he had no choice but to run away.

Yan Sheng had no choice but to console himself that the other person had also had a hard time, and since he wouldn't live much longer anyway, he should let him go, for the dead are the greatest.

Kokushi didn't reject the task Muzan assigned him, after all, in his eyes, demons and the Demon Slayer Corps were two different factions. And frankly, he was on the demon side; if it weren't for the need to complete the plot, he probably wouldn't have even come into contact with them.

However, without the system, he might have been finished long ago.

Yan Sheng's fingers gently traced the edge of the chessboard, and a black chess piece slowly fell into his hand, making a soft "click" sound, which contrasted sharply with the silence of the dim space. The chess pieces on the board were like his mood at this moment, chaotic and without any discernible pattern.

Meanwhile, Muzan no longer bothered with managing those businesses, spending all his time in the Infinity Castle. He now had only one goal: to obtain Nezuko; everything else seemed so insignificant and trivial in comparison.

Nezuko's Blood Demon Art is the key to his overcoming sunlight and becoming the ultimate being; it is the closest step he has to reach his goal. Once he possesses her, he will be free from his long-standing fear of sunlight and become a truly supreme being, for which he will spare no expense.

The demons fell silent, like the calm before a storm, and the Demon Slayer Corps began their post-battle rest.

The attack on the sword-forging village had minimized the damage, and two Upper Moon demons were killed. To prevent further attacks at night, the villagers began to evacuate overnight. The swordsmen who participated in the battle were also transferred to the Butterfly Mansion for treatment with the help of the Hidden Members.

Deep within the Ubuyashiki mansion, in a simply decorated yet solemn room, Kagaya Ubuyashiki lay quietly on a hospital bed, his body wrapped in bandages, his face pale and haggard, bearing ugly scars.

"Well done, my children."

Hearing the news of victory from the front lines, Yaozai was filled with excitement. Though his voice was weak, it was full of strength. This excitement seemed to affect his body; he coughed violently, and blood gushed out, staining the white bedding. Tianyin quickly stepped forward, gently supporting him and trying to ease his pain.

He was already terminally ill.

With the help of Tenon, Kagaya slowly lay back down on the quilt. His voice revealed a hint of apology as he said to the red figure who had been waiting for a long time, "I'm so sorry, Lord Tsugikuni, this is the only way I can face you. My body no longer allows me to get up and greet you in person."

"It's nothing, sir, but your condition is not good."

Following the direction of the sound, Yoriichi Tsugikuni knelt down. The first rays of morning sunlight streamed through the window, gently bathing him in their warmth.

He had long, black hair with a vibrant red streak at the ends, like a flame in the morning light, both fiery and full of hope. His expression, however, was as calm and profound as the tranquil morning, as if nothing in the world could stir the waves in his heart.