Chapter 26 Water Column

The restaurant was well-managed. For the first time, Iwakatsu was glad that he hadn't casually killed Upper Moon Six as well. It was quite inconvenient not having money, although he didn't think Muzan Kibutsuji could possibly be short of money.

But then he thought about how he was going to manage the red-light district, and Iwakatsu felt immense pressure. He regretted not cutting her down; a mere warning would have sufficed. For the first time, Iwakatsu doubted his own existence.

Muzan Kibutsuji didn't care about Upper Moon One's life or death. Once he got to the private room, he started looking at reports and asked Upper Moon Six to help him purchase good experimental equipment.

Restaurants and brothels were the best information hubs before the internet, illuminating all the secrets and glitz of the night. They were not only cradles of gourmet food and romantic encounters, but also centers of information, where heroes from all walks of life and people from all walks of life gathered to exchange information on the subtle changes in the political situation and the deep and shallow ripples in people's hearts.

Seeing Muzan Kibutsuji asking for this and that, Iwakatsu started to feel sorry for this Upper Moon Six. He looks so small and withdrawn, if you can exploit him, don't exploit me, you scumbag boss.

Standing behind Muzan Kibutsuji, Katsuhiro Iwakatsu could see all the business secrets. Looks like helping with the layoffs left a good impression on that scumbag boss.

Iwakatsu was a top student before, and looking at the scattered reports and data, he could tell that Upper Moon Riku was indeed a good person in charge.

What a wonderful child! Fang Yansheng was at least a manager of a five-star hotel back in his day. He was only a teenager, yet he was so intelligent and talented.

Yan Sheng has always had a good impression of intelligent people (demons), but when he thought about how the other party was Upper Moon Six, he sighed with regret, thinking that he would die sooner or later.

"boom--."

A deafening crash, like thunder, shattered the hustle and bustle of the night market, replacing laughter and cheers with terrified screams. People dropped their goods and food, scattering in all directions, searching for safe haven. Yan Sheng hurriedly went to the window, yanked back the bamboo curtain, and peered through the darkness at the uneven street.

The streets were littered with pieces of wood and rubble, as if a catastrophe had taken place. At the heart of it all, a ferocious demon was being held down by a member of the Demon Slayer Corps. The demon's eyes were filled with terror and resentment. Its body was pierced by a sharp Nichirin Blade, pinning it firmly to the ground, unable to move.

Yan Sheng's gaze fell on the Demon Slayer Corps member, whose movements were agile and decisive. A familiar feeling flashed through Yan Sheng's mind, and he stroked his chin, falling into a brief moment of contemplation.

Just then, the Demon Slayer Corps member suddenly stood up, his Nichirin Blade instantly severing the demon's head. Blood splattered everywhere, and the demon's body collapsed limply to the ground, while the Demon Slayer Corps member calmly sheathed his sword at his waist with fluid movements.

"Lord Water Column—".

Iwakatsu's hearing was acute, and since they weren't particularly far apart, he naturally heard the words. His gaze refocused on the man, who, apart from a fringe that reached his chin on the left side, had his hair tied up high, giving him a dashing appearance. He wore a light blue kimono with cloud patterns, a black horse mount at his waist, and a white and blue Nichirin sword that gleamed coldly in the moonlight.

Akio Kawakami? The founder of Water Breathing.

Yan Sheng frowned. The level of the founders of the breathing method was different from that of other members who knew the breathing method. They truly comprehended and created a breathing method that was completely suitable for themselves, so it was more compatible with their own breathing method than that of other members.

"Tsk, Kokushibo, what's so interesting about a few fleas jumping around like that?"

Muzan Kibutsuji sensed the presence of demons and Demon Slayer Corps members, but he showed no interest in these beings, whom he considered as insignificant as ants. He couldn't understand why Kokushibo would pay attention to such weak lives.

Kawakami Akio seemed to sense something and looked up in Iwakatsu's direction, but because his view was blocked by the bamboo curtain and it was night, he could only vaguely feel that someone was watching them.

It may not necessarily be a person.

Thinking of this possibility, Kawakami Akio pondered to himself, his right hand involuntarily resting on the hilt of the white and blue Nichirin Blade.

“It’s a… pillar.”

Iwakatsu spoke calmly, then turned and returned to behind Muzan Kibutsuji, as if nothing had happened.

"oh?"

Muzan Kibutsuji merely raised an eyebrow, a hint of amusement flashing in his eyes. He continued flipping through the data in his hand with nonchalant indifference, as if all the noise outside was irrelevant to him.

"Lord Muzan, Lord Kokushibo, leave them to me."

The short Upper Moon Six, who had been standing in front of Muzan Kibutsuji's desk, spoke, tightening his grip on the tattered umbrella. Muzan Kibutsuji's red, vertical pupils shifted from the papers in his hand to Upper Moon Six, lingering for only a moment. Upper Moon Six felt the gaze of the Demon King, which made him both nervous and excited.

Muzan Kibutsuji rose slightly and uttered a soft "Hmm" from his superior position. Though the voice was gentle, it carried an undeniable authority. Upper Moon Six breathed a sigh of relief upon hearing this; he knew he had received the Demon King's tacit approval.

Without further hesitation, Upper Moon Riku leaped from the windowsill where Iwakatsu had been looking, his movements as light as a swallow. During his leap, he finally revealed his hand, covered in black lines, from his wide sleeve. Gripping the umbrella handle tightly, he unfurled it with the wind, seemingly enveloping the entire night sky beneath it. The umbrella spread out in the air like a giant paraglider, hurtling towards Kawakami Akio at astonishing speed.

"when."

Kawakami Akio had already sensed the danger. He swiftly drew his Nichirin Blade from his waist and held it to his chest. Upper Moon Six's umbrella struck the Nichirin Blade heavily, sending sparks flying. Through the many holes in the umbrella, Kawakami Akio saw Upper Moon Six's pale face and white eyes. His braided hair slowly fell through the air, and his black kimono paired with a wide black haori made him look like a demon emerging from hell.

Kawakami Akio dared not be careless in the slightest. He suddenly slashed horizontally, throwing the demon off the Nichirin Blade. In that instant, he clearly saw the words "Upper Moon Six" displayed on the demon's white pupils, which startled him.

What does this mean?

Akimi Kawakami's alarm bells rang loudly. He realized that the Upper Moon Sixth before him was unlike any demon he had encountered before, its strength far exceeding his expectations. This oppressive feeling left him no room for complacency, and he focused intently on the battle to come.

Upper Moon Riku clearly didn't want to deal with Kawakami Akio any longer. He quickly flipped the umbrella over, and the ribs and fabric instantly transformed into a strangely shaped hammer. He gripped the handle tightly with both hands and slammed it down on Kawakami Akio. The hammer seemed to contain immense force, and the air was compressed by it, producing a loud crackling sound.

"Water Breathing - Second Form - Waterwheel".

The Nichirin Blade in his hand seemed to come alive, its blade shimmering with elegant water currents. With each swing, it traced a perfect circle, deflecting Upper Moon Six's heavy hammer. However, the power of that hammer was astonishing; even with Kawakami Akimi's full strength, his arm muscles still felt a tingling sensation.

Upper Moon Six's attack missed, and he paused slightly in mid-air, momentarily losing his balance due to the recoil. Kawakami Akio keenly seized this opening, immediately taking advantage of the moment to deliver a follow-up strike. This strike was incredibly fast, aimed directly at Upper Moon Six's vitals.

The Upper Moon Six's black haori was mostly severed by the slash, revealing his pale and emaciated body. At the same time, he felt a sharp pain in his waist, where the flesh had been cut open by Kawakami Akimi's Nichirin Blade, which made him show a look of displeasure.

Shangxian Lu spread his arms, and the umbrella changed again with his movement. The ribs lengthened and the canopy expanded, as if it had become a giant net. The originally straight ribs now spread out, each one gleaming with a cold light, as if they could turn into deadly weapons at any moment.

"Blood Demon Art - Thrust".

"Water Breathing, First Form: Water Surface Slash."

Faced with Upper Moon Six's sudden attack, Akio Kawakami displayed his excellent reaction speed and combat skills. Twenty-four umbrella ribs, like sharp arrows, pierced towards him with a whooshing sound, but he quickly used a fluid move to block most of the ribs and deflect them in all directions.

However, one umbrella rib slipped through the net like a fish, piercing Kawakami Akio's defenses and heading straight for his face. Kawakami Akio dodged the fatal blow, but a long, bloody gash appeared on his thigh.

"Hiss—." A sudden sharp pain almost made Kawakami Akio lose his balance. He looked down at the scratch on his thigh and saw it rapidly turning purple and black, as if some corrosive substance was eroding his pants and skin.

"The Breath of Water, the Form of Five, the Compassionate Rain of the Dry Sky".

Kawakami Akio gritted his teeth, leaped, and swung his sword, the water droplets sparkling like pearls as they slid across the surface. This sudden attack successfully pierced the right side of Upper Moon Six's body, tearing his black robe, haori, and kimono to shreds. The wound was so deep that bone was visible, and blood stained his clothes.

Watching this scene from the side, Iwakatsu secretly lamented the kid's carelessness. He hadn't noticed Kawakami Akio's change of moves and was hit, putting him at a disadvantage from the start.

The two sides exchanged dozens of blows, each clash accompanied by deafening roars and flying sparks, leaving the surrounding buildings and stalls in ruins.

"Bang!"

Akio Kawakami was panting heavily. Although the wounds on his body were small, they were highly corrosive and caused him unbearable pain. He looked at Upper Moon Six, whom he had knocked away, and let out a long breath.

"Splash—".

After being knocked away, Upper Moon Six crashed heavily into the ruins, breaking several ribs and coughing up blood, looking extremely disheveled. However, he did not give up. He struggled to his feet, brushed away the swirling dust, and his wounds began to heal at an astonishing speed.

Upper Moon Six looked at his tattered clothes, his displeasure overwhelming him. He glared at Kawakami Akio, as if he wanted to unleash all his anger on him.

Kawakami Akio knew that demons possessed powerful regenerative abilities, so he remained vigilant. He watched as the ghostly figure, obscured by dust, slowly rose and steadied itself.

"Die!" Upper Moon Six's attack was as fierce as a storm, and Kawakami Akimi raised his sword to parry. The two weapons clashed, producing a violent clang that seemed to make the surrounding air tremble.

Iwakatsu watched the battle from afar, keenly sensing that Upper Moon Six's condition was deteriorating rapidly. If this continued, Upper Moon Six would likely die at the hands of Kawakami Akio.

Sure enough, at the critical moment when Kawakami Akio swung his sword, Iwakatsu swiftly flashed out, his movements agile and decisive, his foot precisely striking the Nichirin Blade. The collision of the wooden clogs and the blade produced a piercing, unpleasant sound, instantly disrupting Kawakami Akio's attack rhythm.

At the same time, a powerful gust of air surged from beneath Iwakatsu's feet, blowing his straw hat off. The hat tumbled through the air a few times before finally landing on the ruins not far away. Iwakatsu's face, indistinguishable from his human form, was thus completely exposed to Kawakami Akimi.

"Yan Sheng?!"