Chapter Twenty-One
Chika had never seen Shinobu Kocho like this before.
In her memory, Shinobu Kocho had always been gentle and considerate. Even when she was angry or upset, she would only slightly curl the corners of her lips and stare intently, never losing her composure.
But now, held tightly by Yi Yong, she was like a wild beast, her emotions surging uncontrollably, even her lips were twitching.
“That fan… is exactly the same as it was back then. I saw it with my own eyes and I would never be mistaken.”
fan?
Following her gaze, Qianxia looked at the golden iron fan she was holding.
The fan ribs are heavy and feel substantial. When the fan is unfolded, the blade is sharp, and shimmering light floats among the intricate patterns.
It is a fine fan.
Chika's heart sank.
And Shinobu Kocho recognizes this fan?
This fan belongs to Doma. Does that mean Shinobu Kocho knew Doma?
She instinctively turned her head and looked into the depths of the crowd.
In the vast crowd, the tall man stood out. He wore a fox mask and was staring at me from afar, his gaze deep and unfathomable, revealing no emotion whatsoever.
Chika was silent for a moment, then turned back to look at Shinobu and the others, deliberately lowering her voice, "Excuse me, I don't know you."
The voice was deliberately concealed, but it was still clearly a woman's voice. Shinobu Kocho's brows furrowed suddenly.
Back then, my sister fought a demon wielding two fans until dawn.
By the time she arrived, her sister was already poisoned and on the verge of death. If it weren't for a young girl who happened to help her, her sister would probably have lost her life.
And next to her sister was a fan like this.
Over the years, she has kept the image of this fan etched in her mind day and night, never daring to forget it for a moment.
Therefore, she would never admit her mistake!
But at the same time, she also remembered it very clearly.
That evil spirit was male.
"Where did you get that fan?"
Butterfly bit her lower lip, her gaze fixed on the girl opposite her, her tone full of venomous questioning.
To Chika, the tone sounded like a wife questioning a third party, making her inexplicably feel like she'd been cuckolded.
"It belongs to my friend."
She emphasized the word "friend" when she spoke of it.
Shinobu Kocho narrowed her eyes slightly: "Your friend is a demon?"
Now it was Chika's turn to squint her eyes.
Shinobu Kocho really does know Doma, and it seems like it's not just a simple acquaintance.
She turned her head again to look behind her.
Douma had disappeared from the crowd, but a guard blowing a whistle was approaching quickly in the distance.
Did he run away because he felt guilty after running into his ex-girlfriend?
"Damn it!" Qianxia couldn't help but curse under her breath, her anger rising. "You two-timing scumbag."
These words startled everyone present, even Shinobu Kocho was stunned and didn't know how to react.
Having two relationships at the same time?
Scumbag?
Does she know what she's saying?
Is this person dating a ghost?
Regardless of whether she actually knew the evil spirit that harmed her sister, the fact that her friend was a ghost is already unbelievable enough.
"No, I think you've misunderstood."
Butterfly couldn't bear being misunderstood like this; she didn't want to have anything to do with ghosts.
"Between him and me lies a sea of blood..."
Yi Yong reached out and covered her mouth, his expression serious.
“That’s right! Your friend is two-timing you. I suggest you take us with you to confront him.”
Everyone stared at Giyu with expressions of utter disbelief, with Genya's expression being the most complex. He stared intently at Chika, wishing he could see through her mask to confirm that he hadn't mistaken her for someone else.
He simply couldn't believe that not only did Chika have a boyfriend, but he was also their nemesis—the Demon!
But as soon as Yi Yong started speaking, he immediately turned to look at Yi Yong with an incredulous expression.
Eh? Is that a water column? Is it possessed by an evil spirit?
"No need."
Chika rejected Giyuu's suggestion without hesitation, raised her hand to put away the iron fan, and said with gritted teeth and anger, "If such a thing really happens, I will handle it myself."
Upon hearing this, Shinobu Kocho instantly guessed Giyuu's thoughts. She forced herself to calm down and looked at Chinatsu with a deep gaze.
"He's dangerous. You'd better take us to him."
"No!"
Chika refused decisively.
"You're from the Demon Slayer Corps, but I don't believe you."
She paused, then added, "I will verify what you're saying myself. If it's true, I will not let him off the hook, without you having to lift a finger."
Giyu and Shinobu exchanged a glance, then looked at Sanemi and Obanai Iguro.
The group of men simultaneously drew their swords.
The first to be dispatched was Sanemi.
"If you can't understand polite words, then I'll take you to see someone!"
His eyes narrowed, and he drew his sword, charging straight at the person opposite him.
Qianxia lightly touched the ground with her toes, leaped into the air, and with a "whoosh," the iron fan fully unfolded at her side. She then gave a deep, soft shout.
"Lightning! Summon it!"
The "qi" around him erupted, spreading out from his fingertips and along the iron fan, transforming into a blue-silver dragon-shaped phantom that rose and hovered in mid-air.
Wherever his finger touched, everyone fell to the ground uncontrollably, unable to move.
This included Genya, as well as the guards who had just arrived at Chika's side and were raising their sticks, ready to strike.
Sanemi, who had leaped into the air, landed on the ground, feeling the tingling sensation in her fingers and her complete lack of strength. She looked at Chinatsu with disbelief.
Who exactly are you?
A terrifying power; I didn't even see how she made her move.
Who exactly is this person? Is he a friend or foe?
Chika didn't answer his question. She glanced at the people lying motionless on the ground and Genmi, who was completely bewildered and had no idea what had happened, and then turned to leave.
She knew very well that her success this time was entirely due to surprise; no one knew what "ki" was, nor could they see the Nen ability she was using.
Xuanmi is currently still in the "refining" stage, so naturally he cannot see it.
She touched the mask that was firmly attached to her face, and continued walking.
"Don't leave!"
A cold, sharp rebuke rang out, accompanied by a flash of pink light, startling Qianxia.
She looked at the girl so close to her in disbelief, her pupils suddenly contracting.
Ganlu Temple actually withstood the paralysis from the electric current and charged towards her with his sword!
Holy crap! What kind of incredible physical abilities are these?
Chika instinctively waved her fan to block.
"bite--"
The blade struck the iron fan with a crisp, clear sound.
Qianxia felt a tingling sensation in her hand, and the impact spread along her arm, making her arm tremble with pain.
What shocked her even more was that the knife at Ganlu Temple was actually soft!
She used her fan to block half of the blade, but the curved tip circled behind her and hurtled straight at her with a whooshing sound.
"You coward who dares not show his true face! You injured my comrade, unforgivable!"
The powerful voice made Qianxia inwardly scream: I'm doomed!
"bite--"
Another crisp sound.
The blade behind him didn't land on him, but was caught steadily by another fan, and the falling mask was also firmly placed on his face.
Ganroji, who was brandishing his sword, quickly jumped back and looked at the person who had suddenly appeared with a wary expression.
It was so close, so very close.
Who is this person?
In complete darkness, Chika felt a tight grip on her waist. She raised her hand to steady her mask and looked up through the eye holes.
Her black hair danced lightly, her face was fair, and her smiling eyes were just as they always were.
Black hair?
Qianxia blinked, checking repeatedly before she dared to believe she hadn't misread it.
"Do...Domo?"
"It's me."
Doma nodded in agreement, then looked with a smile at the group of people on the ground who were unable to move.
"Oh my gosh~ Why is everyone lying down? Is it because the fireworks are so beautiful?"
"Hmm~ I just heard that someone really likes my fan."
Doma held Chinatsu with one arm and took out a fan with the other, tapping it lightly against his lips.
"If you like, I can tell you where to buy it."
The Buddhist prayer beads on his wrist slid straight down his arm to his elbow, burning into his flesh, but he showed no discomfort on his face.
"Eeya eeya, don't be so polite, we're all good friends~"
After saying that, he tilted his head and looked at Chinatsu, "Right? Darling~?"
Chika: "..." He must be itching for a beating.
Sanemi: "......" What is that?
Shinobu Kocho: "......"
Black hair, a faint ghostly aura, an unfamiliar face, and no distinctive writing in the eyes.
Shinobu Kocho suddenly realized that she had most likely mistaken someone for someone else. She half-closed her eyes, her tense body abruptly relaxed, and then she slumped limply into Giyuu's arms.
The disappointment was so obvious that Chika sensed her emotional change almost instantly.
It must be a misunderstanding.
Qianxia felt much better and smiled, "Miss, it seems you've mistaken me for someone else."
Shinobu Kocho didn't speak, but her gaze remained fixed on the fan.
Chinatsu licked her lips, and after making sure they were alright, she grabbed Doma's hand, turned around, and ran off, saying, "If there's nothing else, we'll be going!"
The distance wasn't too close, nor too far, enough for everyone present to recognize that the man in front of them was a ghost.
And this ghost is being led away by someone, about to leave.
"Hey! He's a ghost!"
Sitting on the ground, Kanroji shouted at her, "Even if he's not the evil spirit we're looking for, he's still a spirit!!"
Chinatsu responded loudly without turning her head, "I know, thank you for reminding me, Love Pillar-sama~"
Does she know I'm Lianzhu?
Ganlu Temple was stunned for a moment, then got up to continue the chase. Just as he lifted his foot, a blinding flash of light suddenly burst out.
The electric arc crackled and popped, and Kanroji paused in his steps. The next moment, he was lifted up by Obanai Iguro and jumped away from where he stood.
In the blink of an eye, the figures of the man and the ghost had already quietly disappeared.
As they ran, Doma still held Chinatsu tightly with his left hand, but slowly turned his head back.
In the blink of an eye, the gentle smile on his face vanished without a trace, replaced by an almost cruel indifference.
Those eyes, which were originally filled with warmth, were now like a frozen pool that had been tempered with ice for thousands of years, so cold that they had no warmth at all.
As if deliberately letting them see clearly, in front of everyone, the pretense in his eyes faded, and the words "Upper Moon Two" suddenly appeared clearly.
The handwriting, reflecting the iridescent colors of their eyes, gleamed with a cold, eerie light in the dim illumination, as if issuing a silent provocation to them.
A moment later, he withdrew his gaze and turned back to Qianxia, his face returning to its gentle and smiling expression. The coldness in his eyes vanished without a trace, as if the sinister-looking, murderous demon had never existed.
Genya, who was shielding Sanemi behind him, saw this brief but shocking scene clearly.
He felt a chill run from the soles of his feet to the top of his head, his jaw began to tremble uncontrollably, and even his breathing became rapid.
"Chi... Natsu..."
He managed to squeeze out those two words, his mind filled with panic.
He could no longer cover for Chika; Upper Moon Two was with her. If things continued like this, something bad would happen sooner or later, and they might even be dragged into irreversible danger!
Just as he was struggling with this internal conflict, a surprised exclamation, tinged with doubt, came from behind him.
"Are you all alright? Hey, hey, hey, why are you all lying on the ground like this?"
As the sound faded, the paralyzing electric current that had been binding everyone dissipated rapidly like a tide, and their bodies finally regained their mobility.
Xuanmi suddenly sat up and looked up toward the source of the sound.
A familiar face came into view.
Chinatsu, dressed in a light pink kimono, stood a short distance away, carrying several bulging paper bags in her hands and even holding an unfinished popsicle in her mouth. Her eyes were full of pure confusion, as if she had no idea what had just happened.
Xuan Mi: "???"
He stared blankly at Qianxia in front of him, then subconsciously looked back in the direction where the two had disappeared, his mind a complete mess.
—
Chinatsu practically dragged Doma along, turned a corner, took off her mask, and prepared to run away.
Doma grabbed her, looking puzzled. "Where are you going?"
"I almost gave myself away just now. I need to think of a way to show myself and clear my name."
Chinatsu took her hair down and casually combed it with her hand.
"Isn't it better not to go back?" Douma tilted his head and looked at her.
"No, no, I need a job, I need income. Joining the Demon Slayer Corps is the best job I can find right now."
She spoke her mind without any hesitation, straightening her slightly wrinkled kimono as she turned to him and said this.
"Come on, help me tie this bow."
The pillow-shaped backpack behind her was loose, and Chinatsu simply ripped it off and stuffed the long ribbon into Doma's hand.
"I could make a bigger bow, just a different style than before. I'll go buy some more things later, pretending to be shopping..."
He couldn't hear her rambling words anymore. He stared at her long, unguarded nape, where he could vaguely see the veins throbbing beneath her skin.
Saliva dripped down his throat and into his abdomen. A thought inexplicably popped into his head—
I wonder if the blood here is as fresh as she was.
"What are you daydreaming about?" Chika patted her back. "Hurry up."
Doma obediently took the ribbon from her hand, but instead of tying it tightly as she wished, he grabbed her from behind and pinned her against the wall.
"So, you still want to go back?"
Turning his head, he saw a figure flash by in the deep alley.
"Let everyone sleep"
The boy with the character "下弦一" (Xia Xian Yi) stood in the dark alley, a slight smile playing on his lips. He nodded to him and then slowly disappeared.
Chika was completely unaware; her attention was entirely focused on what was behind her.
The person behind her held her tightly, one hand wrapped around her waist in front of her, while the other hand gently loosened her ribbon.
As the ribbon loosened, the kimono opened slightly. Chika felt a chill run down her spine and instinctively hugged her chest, clutching the hem to prevent it from slipping down.
You should know that the only way to make a kimono fit snugly is to wear nothing underneath.
What are you doing?
Qianxia turned her head and glared behind her, her tone tinged with anger, "I have important things to do right now, can't you be serious for once?"
"No matter what we talk about, you always have that smiling face. It's fine normally, but why are you still like that at a time like this?"
Doma found her reproach amusing and looked down at her.
At this moment, the girl in his arms was babbling and throwing a tantrum, but her body was leaning against the wall without any defenses, exposing her neck to him, letting him take what he wanted.
She could have easily pushed him away...
Doma lowered his head and sniffed lightly.
This little guy is just so incredibly cute...
But... while he was satisfied, he couldn't help but wonder if he could have felt even more pleasure?
But how do we do it?
Following his instincts, he held her tightly in his arms, his chin gently rubbing against the crook of her neck.
Her silky, warm skin pressed against his cheek, and the delicate fragrance of a young girl lingered around his nose.
He then turned his head and gently licked it.
The girl in his arms let out a short scream.
"Ah! What are you doing!"
Qianxia gripped her loosened collar tightly, turned around and glared at him, "Why are you licking me? You bastard, you don't want to eat me, do you?"
A soft gasp snapped Douma back to reality. He gazed at her slightly flushed cheeks, his interest growing stronger. "Because you're so sweet~"
Qianxia frowned and gave a cold "humph," "Glib talker."
"I'm not messing around with you anymore. In a while, I'll be able to join the Demon Slayer Corps. Once I become a Pillar, I'll have a house, a car, and a salary."
She muttered to herself as she pushed him away, then helplessly straightened her clothes.
"When the time comes, stop following Muzan and come work for me. After a while, I'll help you kill Muzan and free you from this misery..."
The girl in front of him was only up to his chest, breathing shallowly, and there were few signs of deliberate cultivation on her body.
Yet this same woman brazenly declared that she would kill Muzan and save him, her words revealing her yearning for the future.
And he is part of that aspiration.
Douma couldn't quite explain how he felt, but for some reason, he felt a strong urge to laugh.
Chinatsu glanced at Doma, who was grinning foolishly, and couldn't help but roll her eyes. Resignedly, she casually straightened her kimono, the long ribbons wrapping around her several times.
Seeing her puffed-up and flustered appearance, Douma couldn't help but chuckle. "That's not how it is."
He reached out and took the ribbon from her hand, smoothing it out layer by layer, and carefully wrapped it around her slender waist, round and round.
"How would I know what it looks like?" Qianxia muttered. "If you knew, you would have done it for me earlier."
Doma raised an eyebrow slightly. "Haven't you ever worn a kimono before?"
Chika shook her head. "Where I'm from, there's no such thing as a kimono, but there are a lot of pretty dresses, or those fluffy Lolita dresses. But what I like best is the soft knitted kind."
As she spoke, her expression was not good, but she obediently opened her arms and let him manipulate her to spin around.
Doma nodded. "Is it similar to the rabbit outfit you wore last time?"
Chinatsu: "Yeah, but it's not real rabbit fur, it's woven fake fur, it's soft to wear."
After tidying up my clothes, it was time to get my hair done.
Domo untangled her messy braids, deftly coiled them into a bun, and inserted a golden hairpin shaped like a seven-colored lotus flower.
After everything was tidied up, Chika turned around, touched her hair, looked down at her neat kimono, and immediately smiled broadly.
"Ah~~ You're so skillful! I'm so happy!"
Tongmo tilted his head and stared at her, feeling that she looked exactly like a carefully dressed doll in a display case.
In that instant, he suddenly understood why some people were willing to spend a lot of money to buy all kinds of luxurious doll clothes.
That's probably what satisfaction feels like.
Chinatsu is his doll~
Thinking about this, Douma felt extremely happy.
But in just a moment of distraction, Chika jumped away in a few steps.
She stood at the alley entrance, waving vigorously at him, "I have to go, bye-bye~"
Behind her, the lights were bright and the crowd was bustling. Brilliant fireworks kept blooming above her head, making her radiant smile exceptionally clear, as if she were standing in the light.
Doma lingered deep in the alley, shadows creeping up from behind him, almost swallowing him whole.
His habitual smile froze slightly, and his fingertips unconsciously rose as if trying to grasp something, only to touch a cold patch of air.
Outside the alley, the world bustles with activity; inside, a silent darkness reigns. Chika's figure gradually blurs in the light, even the sweet scent fading with it.
......
Chika ran along, grabbing a bunch of things and stuffing them into her arms.
Along the way, she thought of many excuses to conceal her identity, and even planned that if she was suspected, she would just lay her cards on the table. After all, she was very strong and the Demon Slayer Corps needed her.
╭(╯^╰)╮Hmph~
However, when she arrived at her destination after making all the preparations, she was slightly taken aback when she saw a group of people sleeping soundly on the ground.
The only conscious boy standing in the middle looked up at her, a satisfied smile playing on his lips.
Everyone's sleeping soundly!
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