Chapter Thirty-Eight
Spider silk wrapped the group up tightly, binding them into white cocoons, leaving only their heads sticking out to breathe, creating a rather comical scene.
The white-haired boy took a roll of handwritten notes and tapped them on the head one by one. Despite his demonic appearance, his voice was the one they knew all too well—Chika's voice.
"Wake up, all of you!"
Tanjiro and the others then realized that they were participating in training.
They had been undergoing this training for half a month. Each training session took place in their dreams, and in those dreams, they would forget they were dreaming unless Chika reminded them.
And upon waking, the content of the dream will be erased.
It is said to be to prevent them from confusing dreams with reality.
Just like now, even though they've been through this battle many times, even though they've fought against Chika in her Lower Moon form many times, they still make mistakes.
"How are you guys playing? You've been ignoring everything I say, haven't you? Where's your focus? Where's your attack rhythm? You're just yelling for damage?"
As Qianxia spoke, she tapped each of them on the head with her paper fan, her voice filled with exasperation. "Do you think my hits don't hurt? Or do you think you're incredibly lucky?"
As soon as their memories returned, Tanjiro and the others immediately shrank back, looking aggrieved. Zenitsu, on the other hand, burst into tears, "Chinatsu is so mean!! You were the one who erased our memories every time we trained, we don't remember anything like this..."
"How dare you talk back!"
Qianxia smacked him on the head a few more times. "You're the one who deserves the most criticism. If you're going to hit me, just hit me! Why did you have to yell about breathing and take so long to charge up? You could have died a million times in that time! What's the point of hitting me? You should just go home and farm!"
The paper fan hitting your head doesn't hurt, but it's incredibly humiliating. Except for Inosuke wearing a pig head mask.
He sat obediently on the ground, contrary to his usual behavior, letting Qianxia lead him. When he heard her instructions, he nodded seriously in response to her words.
For some reason, Tanjiro couldn't help but want to look at this scene a few more times.
"Amnesia is no excuse for your incompetence! Bodily memory, instinct, and subconsciousness are all part of the fight! If you haven't activated them, it means you haven't trained enough!"
Chika stood with her hands on her hips in front of the group, exuding an imposing aura.
"Listen carefully, this is the last time today. This time I will bring more teammates. You need to make good use of your abilities and learn to trust your teammates."
“Lower Moon Five, named Rei! He looks just like me! Don’t mistake me for someone else,” Chika pointed to her face as she walked past the group. “Don’t mistake him for a mini-boss, or you’ll die without even knowing how you died.”
The people trapped by the spider silk nodded obediently, and then they saw several ghosts of different shapes walk out from behind Qianxia.
Qianxia pointed to them one by one and explained, "The others that look like this are all ghosts he created. They are not very strong, but they should not be underestimated."
"The 'Mother' possesses the ability to manipulate others into killing each other using spider silk, so be especially careful. If a teammate attacks your own, focus on cutting the spider silk binding them immediately."
"The older brother and sister are of average ability; they're quick and decisive, if they can get it over with, they won't drag it out. The father is very strong and ugly; he's more troublesome, but not too bad."
"at last!"
Qianxia's voice turned serious, her gaze sharp. "Whether it's this time or the future, when you encounter Crescent Moon Demon, stay calm. Don't get carried away and rush in with your sword the moment you see a demon! Learn to assess the situation and learn to protect yourself! It's best to postpone the battle until the latter half of the night. If you can't win, stall until dawn!"
"Alright, final drill, get ready to begin."
With a wave of her hand, the spider silk that had trapped the people and the ghost beside her scattered.
"This time, I will restore your memories at the appropriate time. Who failed, who didn't do as I said...?"
"Run 100 laps around the mountain as punishment! No food for three days! Do you hear me?"
"I heard you! Miss Chika!"
The group straightened their backs in unison, their voices booming as if trying to shake the dreamer awake.
With eyes closed and open.
"Oh, you guys are awake?"
Murata, one of their teammates, was bending down, looking at them with a curious expression.
"You guys slept for so long! I wonder what you were dreaming about, screaming and yelling like that, hahaha..."
The full moon hangs high in the sky, and they are lying at the foot of the mountain, surrounded by groups of teammates who are preparing.
Tanjiro scratched his head. He felt like he had forgotten something very important, but he couldn't remember it for a moment.
"It's like I had a nightmare, but I can't remember the details..."
"Nani, nan, are we leaving yet? What time is it?" Zenitsu stretched and sat up, then nudged Inosuke beside him. "Awoo~ Inosuke~~ You're awake~~"
The pig-shaped headgear, leaning against a tree, trembled violently, and a jumbled sound escaped from it: "Aaaaaah... one hundred laps... one hundred laps... one hundred laps of failure... no food!"
Murata shuddered. "What's wrong with him?"
Tanjiro shook his head; he could never guess what Inosuke was thinking.
He stood up and looked at the moon overhead. "What time is it? When do we set off?"
As his memories returned, Tanjiro suddenly remembered that he had been notified today to come to Mount Natagumo. It was said that there were evil spirits lurking in these mountains.
Murata glanced at his watch. "We're relatively weak, so it's best to leave at 3 AM. That way, even if we can't win, we can stall until dawn..."
Zenitsu Gasai stepped forward, trembling, "We're weaker? Who said that?"
Murata paused for a moment, "Huh? I don't remember. Anyway, he must have been a very scary person..."
"Why?" Zenitsu Gasai sniffed.
Murata pointed to his leg, "It starts shaking as soon as the thought of leaving early pops into my head..."
Tanjiro: "..."
My wife Zenitsu: "..."
Inosuke: "One hundred laps... one hundred laps..."
Under the inexplicable and powerful psychological shadow, everyone sat down again for a short rest.
Finally, just as I was drifting off to sleep, the time came.
Everyone got up, took a deep breath, and set off together into the depths of Natagumo Mountain, shrouded in spider webs and darkness.
At this moment, thick fog shrouded Mount Natagumo like a curtain, and the light in the forest was fragmented and cut off by the twisted branches and leaves.
"Oh, this is so scary~~~ Can we not go~~~"
Zenitsu Agatsuma clung to Tanjiro Kamado's sleeve, trembling slightly. Despite saying this, he didn't stop moving forward for a moment.
Hashibira Inosuke skipped and hopped along the way, sometimes jumping up a tree to look into the distance, and sometimes lying on the ground sniffing frantically.
Genmi maintained his "qi" around his body, his hand resting on the scabbard, ready to strike.
None of them knew why they did it, but that's what they did anyway.
As they climbed upwards, reaching the halfway point of the mountain, Tanjiro's keen sense of smell detected the stench of demons and the distinctive scent of spider silk permeating the air.
Without thinking, he warned everyone, "Watch your step and your head!"
But as soon as he said that, he froze.
Huh?
Why should he worry about what's above and below everyone's heads?
What's under your feet and above your head?
However, the instant he shouted this warning, several teammates in front of them shakily raised their Nichirin Blades and faced them.
Then, they charged at us, swords in hand!
"Waaaaah—!"
Zenitsu screamed, but his body instinctively rolled away, leaving a deep gash where he had been standing.
This teammate was clearly serious; he really wanted to kill him.
"Ahhh, Nani, Nani, are we going to fight?"
Inosuke, his face full of excitement, was about to draw his sword and charge, but the moment his fingertips touched the hilt, his calf trembled and an uncontrollable fear shot straight to the top of his head.
"Don't hurt your teammates! We have to run a hundred laps! And there's no food yet..."
He gripped the knife and muttered to himself, standing still.
Tanjiro felt like his head was about to explode; why were these two all so abnormal?
Among the group, the most reliable one was actually Genmi.
"Concentration" – the fundamental skill of mental ability, involves attaching "qi" to the eyes, allowing one to see things that ordinary people cannot.
In an instant, he caught sight of the almost transparent, yet subtly crimson, delicate thread.
"They've been controlled by the threads! I'll handle it, you guys keep going!"
Xuanmi leaped up and swept his sword horizontally.
"Crack! Crack!" Several crisp snapping sounds rang out, the silk threads broke, and the controlled team members instantly returned to normal.
Wow! Thank you, Genmi! You're amazing!
The team members, now free, expressed their gratitude, then, holding their knives, they split up in pairs, back to back, forming a line.
"These threads are manipulating them; we must find the person behind them!"
Xuanmi shouted loudly to the people behind him, "Everyone else, be careful not to touch those little spiders on the ground, or those strange threads."
But as soon as he finished speaking, he looked surprised.
No, how could he know so much about it, be so skilled at it?
"Ohhhhhh!! So that's how it is! I knew it!" Inosuke roared, charging out with a howl, "Watch this!"
He turned around and plunged the knife into the ground. "Beast Breathing, Seventh Form, Spatial Awareness."
The crowd stood obediently in place, waiting for him to make his move, and inexplicably felt a sense of trust in him for being able to find the person behind the scenes.
Sure enough, the next second...
"Found it!"
Immediately afterwards, Tanjiro, Zenitsu, and Inosuke rushed forward like arrows released from a bow, leaving behind only one sentence.
"Xuanmi, I'm leaving this place to you!! We're leaving now!"
Genya, holding his sword, replied, "Okay, you guys go ahead, I'll handle things here!!!...Huh?"
=-=Hiss...
What's with this feeling of déjà vu?
Tanjiro and Zenitsu sped along the direction Inosuke sensed, venturing deeper into the forest. The spiderwebs in the forest grew denser, and the fog thickened.
"There's a demonic smell ahead!" Tanjiro whispered.
Just then, a heavy tremor came from the ground.
A gigantic, hideous demon appeared before them, crashing through trees like a runaway chariot.
He let out a deep roar, and his huge fist slammed down with a vicious wind!
"Disperse!" Tanjiro shouted.
The three quickly retreated, leaving a deep crater where they had been standing.
"Such strength..." Tanjiro felt the terrifying power, and a thought flashed through his mind.
He is very strong and a formidable enemy.
"Zenitsu, harass him! Inosuke, we'll launch the main attack!" Tanjiro quickly gave the order.
"I know!" Zenitsu took a deep breath, and lightning flashed around him once more. He didn't try to kill with a single blow, but instead used his extreme speed to weave around the demon, the golden trails interfering with its vision and attacks.
"Damn bugs!" the demon roared, swinging its giant arm but failing to hit the agile blond boy.
"Now!" Tanjiro and Inosuke exchanged a glance and exerted their strength simultaneously.
"Water Breathing - Eighth Form - Takitsubo!"
"Beast Breathing, Fifth Fang, frantically tearing and biting!"
A fierce downward slash, combined with a cross-cutting attack like a beast tearing apart, struck the demon's thick neck!
"Roar—!!!" With a roar of unwillingness, the huge head rolled to the ground, and the body began to dissipate.
The three of them reunited, panting, and each saw excitement in the other's eyes.
They really did it!
The three then continued forward in the direction Inosuke sensed, and soon they saw a slender female ghost wearing a kimono.
At this moment, her fingertips were drawing countless almost invisible threads, clearly indicating that she was the culprit who manipulated her teammates.
"Ray...oi!!"
This time, Zenitsu didn't take long to gather his strength. Almost the instant he saw his target, he transformed into a golden bolt of lightning and shot out!
"What...?!" The demon didn't even have time to react before Zenitsu's blade was already upon her. She frantically pulled at the silk threads to defend herself, but they were no match for real lightning.
The blade flashed, and her head was severed from her body.
"Well done, Zenitsu!" Tanjiro exclaimed in delight.
"Oh, Zenitsu is finally doing something useful." Inosuke's words were sharp, but his actions didn't stop. "Where's the next one? I can't wait!"
As if in response to them, the surrounding air suddenly became cold and viscous.
A pale-skinned boy wearing a striped kimono descended from the sky and stood silently in the center of a giant spider web.
His eyes were empty, carrying an inhuman indifference, and he exuded a chilling sense of oppression that was completely different from the previous ghosts.
He raised his hand, and threads thinner than a hair, yet shimmering with an ominous blood-red light, wrapped around his fingers. "You... ruined my beloved family."
Tanjiro gripped his Nichirin Blade tightly, cold sweat beading on his forehead, but he forced himself to calm down.
In that life-or-death moment, the thin mist that had been shrouding my mind was suddenly torn apart, and the once blurry dream became incredibly clear—
Every detail of the figure pointing to his own cheek and tilting his head to look at them is still vivid in my mind.
"The fifth lower moon, named Rei! He looks just like me! Don't mistake him for someone else... Don't run into him and treat him like a mini-boss, or you'll die without even knowing how you died."
"And then, his ability is roughly... like this..."
"Tanjiro, Zenitsu, Inosuke, fight bravely! The method of fighting lies in..."
In my dream, the sound of handwritten notes hitting my head was very crisp.
Thoughts flashed through their minds like lightning. The men slightly raised their eyes, filled with murderous intent. Almost simultaneously, they bent down, drew their blades, and pointed the tips at the boy in the center of the spider web.
This is not a dream!
This is--
Reality!
......
In a dream I had half a month ago.
Chika stood in front of a map marked with several symbols and looked at everyone.
“Starting today, we will try to force Muzan out. If Muzan doesn’t come looking for us, we will go looking for him.”
"Everyone enter the dream to train and learn how to deal with the Crescent Moon Demon. Reduce their fighting power and force Muzan out!"
"Lower Moon Group: Tanjiro Kamado, Nezuko Kamado, Inosuke Hashibira, Zenitsu Agatsuma, Genya Shinazugawa. Genya will be the group leader. Training will begin tonight, and in two weeks we will begin attacking and defeating the Lower Moons one by one!"
"Upper Moon Group: Starting today, all Pillars will enter your dreams to familiarize themselves with the Upper Moon demons' skills. In two weeks, we will begin attacking and defeating the Upper Moons one by one!"
"The Muzan Group: Organized by Kanae Kocho, including Tamayo, Yushiro, and all team members who cannot directly participate in the battle, you will take turns harassing Muzan every day, ensuring he has no sleep at night!"
Today, half a month later.
The night was as dark as ink, with only a bright moon in the sky, like a carefully polished silver plate, its clear light flowing and quietly overlooking the world.
Qianxia sat alone atop the high roof, gently resting her chin on her hand, gazing up at the full moon overhead, as if her whole being was bathed in that light. Yet, the occasional trembling of her eyelashes betrayed the anxiety in her heart.
Time passed slowly in silence. A pale light appeared on the edge of the distant mountains, which then turned a faint golden hue. Only then did she snap out of her daze and abruptly stand up.
"It's dawn."
A morning breeze swept by, lifting her long hair.
There was still no sign of ravens on the horizon, and no news came.
Unable to hide her disappointment, Chika jumped off the roof and returned to her room.
Inside, Yushiro and Tamayo had also been awake all night. Upon her return, the light in their eyes dimmed, and the air seemed to freeze.
“It’s dawn, and there’s still no news… I’m afraid…” Tamayo murmured softly, her unfinished words weighing heavily on everyone’s hearts.
"Here it comes!!" Yushiro suddenly sprang up from his spot, his voice trembling slightly with excitement.
Almost simultaneously, a small orange kitten suddenly appeared in the courtyard, with a small cloth bundle tied securely to its back.
It nimbly leaped up the steps and landed lightly at Zhushi's feet.
Tamayo's fingertips trembled slightly as she unwrapped the package, and a letter slipped out.
Chika didn't look at the letter. Instead, she let out a long, deep breath as if a great weight had been lifted from her shoulders, and turned to walk into the inner room.
"Hey! Aren't you going to read the letter?" Yushiro couldn't help but shout at her, his tone filled with his usual impatience. "You woman, you're so cold-hearted!"
Upon hearing this, Qianxia turned around, her smile as bright and dazzling as a spring flower in full bloom.
"Isn't it good news, Yushi-kun~"
Yushiro's face flushed red almost instantly. "You...you...how rude of you to smile at a man so lightly..."
Tamayo was already used to their playful bickering. She quickly opened the letter, read it, and then looked up, a look of satisfaction spreading across her eyes, her voice full of joy.
"She's right, it's good news, it's great news of a resounding victory! Tanjiro's battle against the Lower Moon—"
"Victory was achieved without any casualties!"
......
Since the battle at Mount Natagumo, the Demon Slayer Corps' morale has soared, with all members training day and night, as if an inextinguishable fire were burning in their chests.
What was even more encouraging was the series of good news that followed.
The remaining Lower Moon demons were eliminated one by one, and the ones who accomplished this feat were not the renowned Pillars, but a group of up-and-coming new members.
In this situation, some will be happy while others will be sad.
Inside the Infinity Castle, time and space were distorted in endless silence. Muzan Kibutsuji, who hadn't closed his eyes for many days, sat on a high platform. The low pressure emanating from his body was almost tangible, making the surrounding air heavy and suffocating.
Below the stage, the Upper Moon demons knelt silently, their hands clasped, like frozen statues, awaiting the judgment above their heads.
For some reason, the atmosphere today is unusually stagnant.
At this time of day, a cheerful voice would always ring out, greeting everyone with a smile and easing the tense atmosphere.
He would always use that chanting tone to say things like, "My fellow colleagues, why do you all look so somber today?" or "Lord Muzan is here too, how delightful~" and other such irrelevant remarks.
Those eyes, like seven-colored glass, always held a smile, as if the oppression before them never existed.
However, at this moment, there is only a desolate silence here.
After a long while, a cold voice fell from above.
"I've received a lot of bad news lately. Today, I'd like to hear some good news, one sentence from each person."
"Zheng—"
With a crisp sound of a shamisen, Nakime spoke first.
"I have found the Demon Slayer Corps' headquarters."
The newly appointed Upper Moon Two, Yuuki, also chimed in.
“I know how to deal with that traitorous demon named Chika.”
Muzan heard the words of the two Upper Moons, but that was all he heard.
It was such a coincidence that he almost thought it was a deliberate act by the Demon Slayer Corps.
In that case, the best course of action is—
"Then let's get moving!"
Muzan extended his palm upwards toward the crowd.
"Yuuki, bring me that woman's head! The rest of you, go and wipe out the Demon Slayer Corps!"
"Kill all the Pillars, kill all the Demon Slayer Corps members, and I will give you more blood! To make you stronger!"
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