Tour Mission
After completing the regular blood sampling in the Butterfly House, Bai gently pressed the cotton ball on his arm and just walked out of the treatment room, his attention was attracted by an unusual commotion in the courtyard.
Sound Pillar Tengen Uzui, the burly, ornately clad ninja, was seen striding out without ceremony, holding onto Kokui and Naho, the two nurses from the Butterfly House, one on each side. Kanao Kurikara, usually reserved in her expression, now showed a rare look of anxiety. She clutched the back of Kokui's kimono, trying to stop them, but due to the disparity in strength, she was dragged forward.
"Please, please let us go! Lord Tianyuan!" Xiaokui struggled in panic.
"We still have to take care of the wounded!" Naho also shouted anxiously.
"No! This mission requires female infiltration! You're perfect!" Uzui Tengen's voice was loud and unquestionable. "This is for the mission!"
Bai immediately stepped forward and stopped in front of Uzui Tengen, frowning slightly: "Mr. Tengen, what's going on? Why did you forcibly take Xiao Kui and Naho away?"
Uzui Tengen paused and glanced at Bai, still maintaining his elegant demeanor. "Oh, Bai. It's nothing, I just need their assistance in completing an infiltration mission. The location is Yuguo."
"You Guo?"
Those two words were like a key, instantly unlocking a forgotten memory in Shiro's mind. That place... if the information was correct, it was very likely home to Dakimaki, one of the Upper Six. And she, long ago, in those hazy days when she was still a "special being" under Muzan's command, had met that arrogant Upper Six female demon several times, a woman she surprisingly didn't dislike. They could even be considered... friendly.
A strong premonition gripped Shiro. Letting the ordinary team members face the Upper Moon Demons, especially the possible existence of Daki, would be tantamount to suicide.
"Mr. Tianyuan, please allow me to go in their place." Bai spoke without hesitation, his dark eyes filled with seriousness. "I know a little about the Yuguo area... maybe I can help."
Uzui Tengen looked at Shiro and shook his head, giving a direct and sufficient reason: "No. You are the stepson of the Water Pillar, your status is special, and Giyuu will definitely not agree to you participating in such a dangerous mission. What's more..." He paused, his tone holding a hint of no room for negotiation, "This is my mission as the Sound Pillar."
At this moment, three familiar figures ran into the courtyard of the Butterfly House panting. They were Tanjiro Kamado, Zenitsu Agatsuma and Inosuke Hashibira.
"Please wait a moment! Mr. Tengen!" Tanjiro shouted loudly. He obviously also saw Xiao Kui and Naho being held hostage. "If you need female team members... maybe... maybe we have a way!"
Uzui Tengen's gaze swept over Tanjiro, Zenitsu, and Inosuke, his red-shadowed eyes narrowing slightly as if assessing something. Then, as if a brilliant idea had struck him, he suddenly loosened his grip on Aoi and Naho.
"Oh? You three..." Tian Yuan's lips curled up into a gorgeous smile, "You seem to have a lot of 'potential'."
Before Tanjiro and the others could react, Uzui Tengen stretched out his hand, like an eagle catching chicks, and easily grabbed the three little ones who were still in a daze. He turned and walked out with a big laugh: "Okay! It's decided that it's you! Follow me! This is an extremely magnificent mission!"
"Eh?! Wait, wait a minute! Mr. Tianyuan!"
"I don't want to go!!"
"Waaaaaah! Let me go!"
Amid the panicked cries of the three little ones, Uzui Tengen quickly disappeared with them at the door of the Butterfly House.
Shiro stood there, watching them go, her hands unconsciously clenching. She knew that Tanjiro and his companions would be in great danger on this trip. Daki's strength was far beyond the capabilities of ordinary team members.
"Miss Bai..." Xiao Kui and Naho walked up to her in shock, their faces full of worry.
Kanao also looked at Bai quietly. Although she didn't say anything, her eyes were also full of anxiety.
Bai took a deep breath, trying to suppress her anxiety. She knew she couldn't act on her own, especially since she had just been accepted by the lord. She couldn't act rashly and cause trouble for Senior Yiyong. But...
She turned and hurried towards Tomioka's residence. She had to tell Giyuu-senpai about this immediately. No matter what, she couldn't stand by and watch Tanjiro and the others fall into such dire straits. Yugoku and Daki... perhaps her past "relationship" could provide a glimmer of hope at this crucial moment.
Bai almost ran back to the Tomioka residence and told Giyuu, who was wiping the Nichirin Sword in the courtyard, everything about what she saw at the door of the Butterfly House, Uzui Tengen forcibly taking Tanjiro and the other two to Yukaku, and her worries that Upper Moon Rikudaki might be lurking there.
After hearing this, Yiyong paused for a moment as he wiped the blade, a solemn look flashing across his deep blue eyes. He was silent for a moment, not in hesitation, but rather pondering the most reliable solution.
"Uzui is very powerful, but we can't be careless with an Upper Moon Demon." He put down the cloth in his hand and looked at Shiro. "We can't openly disobey his mission arrangements, but we can serve as backup."
He stood up and made a decision: "We will go ahead and hide near Youguo. If the situation changes, we can provide support at any time."
This suggestion was exactly what Bai wanted, so she nodded immediately. But then, Yiyong's next words made her stunned.
"We need to disguise ourselves." Yiyong's tone was calm, as if he was stating a natural fact. "There are all kinds of people in the Guo area, and the identities of a couple are the least noticeable."
A couple...? Shiro's cheeks instantly flushed.
The two men, both highly mobile, quickly packed their simple belongings. Standing in front of an ordinary-looking but clean inn on the outskirts of the tourist area, Shiro felt his heartbeat nearly burst his eardrums as he listened to Giyu calmly say to the owner, "One room, my wife and I."
The hotel room was small, but tidy. The single bed was placed in the center, leaving Bai's gaze somewhat uncertain. Yiyong, however, seemed completely oblivious to her distress. He naturally put down his luggage and checked the window and the surroundings.
"The view here is pretty good, and we can observe what's happening on the main streets." He analyzed calmly.
"Hmm...hmm..." Bai responded absentmindedly, his fingers unconsciously twisting the corners of his clothes.
Night fell quietly, and the sound of loud music and lights could be heard faintly from the direction of the entertainment center. An oil lamp lit in the room, its dim light adding to the ambiguity. After washing up, it was finally time to face the bed.
Giyuu was the first to lie down, occupying the outer side. He then looked at Bai, who was still standing stiffly, and patted the empty space on the inside. "Rest. Stay alert, but conserve your energy."
His tone remained calm, as if sharing a bed was a perfectly normal part of their training. Bai took a deep breath, forced herself to remain calm, and moved to the edge of the bed. She carefully lay down, keeping a clear distance between them and her. She could even feel her own rapid heartbeat vibrating against the tatami mat beneath her.
Yiyong extinguished the oil lamp with a wave of his hand, and the room fell into darkness, with only a faint light from the light outside the window.
Silence spread in the darkness, and the sound of each other's breathing was clearly audible. Bai closed his eyes nervously, his body stiff as wood.
After an unknown amount of time, she felt Yiyong stir beside her. He didn't say anything, but silently and slowly closed the distance between them. With tentative gentleness, his arm crossed the invisible boundary, gently wrapped around her waist, and pulled her closer to him.
Bai's body tensed instantly, her breathing stagnating for a moment. In the darkness, she couldn't see Yiyong's expression, but could only feel the warmth from his chest and the familiar, slightly cold, yet reassuring aura from him.
She did not resist.
This tacit consent seemed like encouragement. Yiyong's arms tightened, allowing her to fit completely into his embrace. Then, he lowered his head, his warm breath brushing against her hair, and finally, a gentle and cherished kiss, as soft as a feather, landed on her lips.
This kiss was unlike her previous impulsive touches; it was slower and more gentle, carrying a sense of immense cherishment and confirmation.
When the kiss ended, Bai's cheeks burned hot, and she buried her head deep in his neck, too embarrassed to look up. She could hear the sound of Yiyong's heartbeat, which seemed a little faster than usual, and his low, satisfied sigh.
He didn't do anything else, just hugged her tightly, his chin gently resting on the top of her head.
"Go to sleep." He whispered in her ear, his voice softer than ever before.
Surrounded by his secure embrace and soothing breath, Bai's tense body gradually relaxed. A strong sense of security and exhaustion washed over her. She gently hugged him back, finding a comfortable position in his arms, and eventually fell into a deep sleep.
Yiyong opened his eyes in the darkness, feeling the steady breathing and the completely trusting embrace of the person in his arms. His deep blue eyes gleamed with tenderness in the dim light. He tightened his arms around her, as if guarding the most precious treasure in the world.
That night, the hustle and bustle of Youguo seemed far away, and in this small hotel room, there were only two people sleeping in each other's arms, and the bond and love that needed no words but was deeply rooted in their bones.
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