Chapter 93 Chapter 93 Chapter 93

This was indeed a grand wedding.

On the altar, the groom, dressed in a formal suit, smiled and turned his head slightly to look at his gentle and obedient bride beside him.

All eyes were on the newlyweds, because they looked so well-matched.

Then, the petite figure, dressed in a magnificent white kimono, was led by a tall and imposing man to participate in a cup-crossing ceremony witnessed by a priest.

Even from this distance, even with the white hat obscuring his face, even with layers of clothing blurring his figure, Yoriichi Tsugikuni would never mistake him.

Ah Zhi.

This is the wedding of my brother and Azhi.

The sound of the taiko drums echoed through the courtyards, each beat like a blow to Yoriichi Tsugikuni's heart. He opened his mouth, but no sound came out; in the end, only his Adam's apple bobbed laboriously.

Unbeknownst to him, were A-Zhi and her brother... mutually in love?

The Demon Slayer Corps had been short-handed for a long time, and after receiving intelligence about unusual activity in the west, Yoriichi Tsugikuni immediately set off for the area.

This mission was surprisingly simple, yet quite complex, requiring travel to different locations.

Amidst his weary journey, Yoriichi Tsugikuni received news of Iwakatsu Tsugikuni's upcoming marriage. Naturally, he was overjoyed and quickened his pace in carrying out his mission.

The only thing he didn't expect was that it was A-Zhi who married his brother.

Yoriichi Tsugikuni placed one hand on his aching chest. He felt he was sick, but his innate clarity told him that the meridians in his chest were no different than before.

Those feelings that I haven't yet told Azhi will be buried deep in my heart from this moment on.

He stood there, like a silent shadow, watching the ceremony complete and watching Azhi walk step by step toward the distant bridal chamber.

He is the only one who doesn't fit in here; he should leave.

………

Are you sure you want to do it?

"There's no going back now."

"But……"

"If you go back on your word, I'll kill you first!"

“…”

Perhaps feeling that the previous threat was too serious, the person fell silent for a moment, then whispered his advice again.

“We are all thinking of the city lord. How can a lowly woman with only beauty be worthy of being the city lord's wife? The lord refuses to listen to advice and insists on his own way, which is why we must rid him of this scourge. Besides, don't you want to…”

"Don't worry, those bandits won't leave the city alive. I've already found a scapegoat. Even if this matter is suspicious, it won't be traced back to us."

"Understood, everything is arranged."

In a secluded and hidden place, a conversation filled with cold malice drifted into his ears. Although the conversation was deliberately kept in a low voice, Yoriichi Tsugikuni still caught it.

This was an assassination attempt targeting A-Zhi.

The confusion and bitterness in my heart vanished in an instant.

Yoriichi Tsugikuni immediately stopped in his tracks, his body acting before his mind, and knocked the two of them unconscious before heading to where Aori was.

………

The ronin bandits stealthily moved under the cover of night, nimbly scaling the courtyard wall, knives in hand, their murky eyes filled with ferocity.

Before he could even get close to the courtyard where the new house was located, he was struck hard, his eyes rolled back, and he crashed heavily to the ground, completely losing his ability to resist.

Yoriichi Tsugikuni didn't spare a glance for the fallen robber; he continued towards the bridal chamber, eager to check on the girl's condition.

Meanwhile, Ah Zhi slept soundly in the bridal chamber, completely unaware of the struggle taking place in the darkness.

At first, she sat quite properly, but after a while, her drunkenness intensified, and she unconsciously lay down on the couch and fell asleep.

The pure white wedding dress spread out like a blooming lotus flower, and because of her lying position, the white hat on the girl's head became slightly crooked.

A few strands of her dark hair fell down, clinging to her sweaty cheeks, which were flushed. Her lips parted slightly involuntarily, and her breath smelled of alcohol.

Perhaps it was a bit hot, because she unconsciously pulled open the collar of her white kimono a little, revealing a patch of fair, jade-like skin that shone alluringly in the candlelight.

As soon as Yoriichi entered the new house, he immediately located Aori's position and naturally saw her current state clearly.

His breath caught in his throat, and after a moment he looked away, his expression revealing a disappointment he himself didn't realize: "A-Zhi, wake up."

Yoriichi Tsugikuni has a very good memory. He had participated in the city council meetings and recognized the faces of the two people who had just plotted to assassinate Aori.

They held important positions in the city.

Yoriichi Tsugikuni was unsure whether the "we" these two mentioned included other people, or whether they had any other tricks up their sleeves.

It's not safe here; we need to leave as soon as possible.

Azhi was completely unable to regain her senses.

She felt as if she were floating on a cloud, her whole body limp and powerless, yet she still tried her best to respond to the muffled call.

“Yan, Yan Sheng…”

They mistook me for someone else.

Because she didn't open her eyes at all.

The image in Azhi's mind was still that of Tsugikuni Iwakatsu, and she spoke entirely based on her last remaining impression.

This vague, dreamlike murmur caused Yoriichi Tsugikuni's fingertips to hover in mid-air.

He realized once again that Azhi had become his brother's wife, and that beautiful white kimono was the cold boundary between them.

He and Azhi had to keep their distance and could no longer get along like before.

A strong smell of kerosene filled the air.

Yoriichi Tsugikuni abruptly ripped off his coat and wrapped it around the girl, his arms encircling her back and the back of her legs, without lingering.

Leave first; your brother will handle the rest.

◇◇◇◇◇◇

The guests scattered and fled like startled birds and beasts.

The robbers were so engrossed in their frenzied looting that they forgot all about time. Their arms were stuffed with valuables and jewelry, and they were completely unaware that their deaths were imminent.

A sharp, cold light flashed, and before he could even let out a scream, the greed on his face froze instantly.

Ji Guoyan Sheng, knife in hand, stepped over the corpse expressionlessly. Thick blood splattered onto his cheek and tuxedo, leaving a horrifying stain.

The entire new house was engulfed in raging fire, and the towering flames turned half the sky into an eerie blood red. The scorching heat wave hit you in the face, almost knocking you over.

Fire was everywhere.

Blood dripped from the knife tip onto the floor, forming a shocking dark red stain.

Ji Guoyan Sheng threw down his blood-stained sword, his solemn demeanor long gone, the raging sea of ​​fire blinding him: "Where is Madam?"

A crowd of people knelt down all around.

The servant prostrated himself on the ground, his voice trembling uncontrollably, and dared not continue: "Madam... Madam has disappeared without a trace, I'm afraid... I'm afraid..."

The crimson fire serpent, billowing with thick smoke, greedily tried to devour everything, sparks and dust flying everywhere, and everything was reduced to ashes in the fire.

The patriarch, who was always dignified and respectful in front of his retainers, rushed into the flames with bloodshot eyes, as if he had gone mad.

Tonight is their wedding night, how could Ji Guoyansheng allow it!

"No sir!"

"No way!"

Several loyal warriors rushed over, but none of them could stop him.

The burning roof beams, wreathed in flames, crashed down, completely blocking the way and bringing utter despair.

Ji Guoyan Sheng's arm was burned. He staggered backward, panting heavily, but noticed something that shouldn't have been there.

The stone steps outside the bridal chamber were littered with burnt debris and rubble, but amidst the chaos, something was carefully protected by a deliberately piled-up stone slab.

It was a bamboo flute.

A very ordinary yet familiar bamboo flute.

It was a bamboo flute that Tsugikuni Iwakatsu gave to Tsugikuni Yoriichi when he was young, and Tsugikuni Yoriichi has never parted with it since then, but now it appears here.

nausea.

A metallic sweetness surged into his throat, and all of Ji Guoyan's emotions froze at that moment, his bloodshot eyes fixed on the bamboo flute.

The roar of flames, the deafening crash of collapsing houses, the shouts of servants... everything around them was pulled infinitely far away.

It was Yoriichi Tsugikuni who took Aori away.

On his wedding night, when Kokuichi thought he had finally won Aori's heart, the person he hated and could not tolerate most stormed into the bridal chamber and took his wife away.

How shameful!

"Oh……"

A hoarse laugh escaped from Ji Guoyansheng's throat without warning.

Even though tonight is their wedding night, Aori is able to abandon him without any burden and run away with Yoriichi Tsugikuni.

"Hehe...heh..."

The laughter gradually grew louder, carrying a chilling undertone, echoing through the inferno ruins.

This bamboo flute, like a silent slap, struck Jiguo Yansheng hard across the face. It lay there quietly, mocking all his efforts as a joke.

Ji Guoyan bent down, his large, blood-stained hand reaching for the bamboo flute, his eyes surging with hatred.

He turned around, and starting from his left temple, close to his hairline, several hideous and twisted lines appeared as if they were alive, quickly spreading across half of his cheek.

The patterns were crimson red, like a curse that had crawled out of hell, exuding an ominous aura.

The people around watched helplessly, but dared not move or utter a single question.

The firelight illuminated Ji Guoyansheng's profile, revealing a pair of eyes burning with resentment. He clenched his fist, and the bamboo flute shattered instantly.

His relationship with Jiguo was one of irreconcilable conflict, even unto death.

"The remaining bandits inside the manor have all been captured, and a small number have escaped. Moreover, during the search, two adults who were attacked were discovered..."

The search party knelt down and reported.

"Robber?" Jiguo Yansheng looked down at him, his sinister eyes filled with mockery as he repeated the question without any warmth.

On his wedding night, robbers appeared at his mansion.

The poisonous fire of utter betrayal burned fiercely in his heart. Ji Guoyan Sheng looked at the bandits who had been brought over and left alive for interrogation.

Some were still bound, while others had lost the ability to move and could only futilely clutch their severed limbs, letting out heart-wrenching screams.

Under the firelight, those cold-looking eyes were filled with a cruel meaning. Jiguo Yansheng drew the knife from his servant's waist, and the howl stopped abruptly.

The head rolled off, and blood gushed out like a fountain.

The wooden building was still burning fiercely. Amidst the crackling flames, the pungent smell of burning and the strong stench of blood mingled together, almost suffocating the senses.

Those inside would feel the heat, but those who witness it feel as if they are in a frozen wasteland, a chill running through their very being.

Under the scorching heat of the flames, the bloodstains splattered on Jikuni Iwakatsu's face had dried, turning into an even more terrifying dark color, blending with the newly grown lines.

He strode down the steps, his entire being shrouded in an indescribable ferocity: "Leave no one alive!"

He will wash away today's shame.

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Author's Note: Azhi: zzz

Yoriichi: Sadness

Yan Sheng: I'm furious