Chapter 62: Illusion Technique

"Do you want to protect your family?"

Madara's words struck directly at the deepest desire in Tanjiro's heart, like a heavy hammer ruthlessly striking his heart.

The moment Madara's words fell, Tanjiro's gaze instantly became determined. He tightly gripped the blueprint in his hand, meeting Madara's gaze: "I... I want to protect my family!"

"Then, look carefully at that blueprint. It may be the key to realizing your wish."

Tanjiro lowered his head and intently studied the contents on the blueprint; time passed minute by second, and sweat gradually beaded on his forehead.

Following the instructions on the blueprint, he strove to mobilize the energy within his body, but no matter how he tried, he could not sense any change.

Frustration and doubt welled up in his heart; Tanjiro opened his eyes and looked up at Madara. "Mr. Madara, I"

Before he could finish speaking, Madara Uchiha was already standing before him, a thoughtful look flashing through his eyes. He slowly placed his palm on Tanjiro's shoulder.

"Don't move." Madara said in a low voice.

Tanjiro felt a warm energy transmit from Madara's palm, slowly flowing into his body. This energy wandered through his body like a tiny stream.

Madara closed his eyes, carefully sensing the situation inside Tanjiro's body. A moment later, he opened his eyes, his brows slightly furrowed.

The human body structure of this world was vastly different from what he knew. The energy inside Tanjiro could not be easily manipulated like chakra; spiritual energy and physical energy seemed unable to naturally combine together.

Madara's voice was calm and firm, "No, you cannot cultivate."

These words were like a basin of cold water poured over Tanjiro's head. His shoulders sank slightly, a trace of disappointment flashing in his eyes.

His fingers unconsciously stroked that complex blueprint, as if still striving to understand the content on it.

However, this emotion lasted only an instant.

Then Tanjiro took a deep breath, raised his head, and stared straight into Madara's eyes. His gaze was determined; his voice, though light, was full of power: "Even so, I will strive to protect my family," Tanjiro's voice was firm and powerful, "Even without special power, I will use my two hands, my everything, to guard them!"

Madara Uchiha quietly watched Tanjiro, pondering for a moment in his heart. A hard-to-detect fluctuation flashed in his gaze, as if he had made some decision.

Madara Uchiha slowly spoke: "Although you cannot cultivate, I can teach you something else."

Before Tanjiro could react, he saw three strange magatama patterns suddenly emerge in Madara's eyes. This pattern rapidly rotated, as if wanting to suck a person's soul into it.

Tanjiro's eyes widened, wanting to look away, yet discovering his body completely unable to move. He felt a bout of dizziness, his consciousness gradually blurring. — Tanjiro abruptly opened his eyes, his heart pounding violently. He panted heavily, fine beads of sweat emerging on his forehead.

All around was pitch black, only the faint moonlight seeping in from outside the window outlining the room's contours.

He quickly scanned his surroundings, realizing he was currently lying in the guest room at Grandpa Saburo's house in town.

Tanjiro slowly sat up, his hands unconsciously clutching the bedding. He murmured in a low voice: "Was that a dream just now?"

Tanjiro carefully recalled the previous events: Grandpa Madara, the paper note... but these memories grew increasingly blurry, as if they would soon be impossible to remember clearly.

Suddenly, an inexplicable feeling of discomfort welled up in his heart, causing Tanjiro's brows to slightly furrow. This feeling was both unfamiliar and familiar, as if feeling that something important had been lost.

He quietly put on his clothes, then left a paper note and walked toward the room door; the wooden floor let out a faint creak.

Just as he was about to pull open the door, Grandpa Saburo's hoarse voice suddenly rang out: "Kid, it's so late, where are you going?" Tanjiro turned, looking toward the other end of the room by the faint moonlight. He hesitated a moment, then replied: "Grandpa Saburo, I... I keep feeling something happened at home, I have to go back and check."

Grandpa Saburo's voice turned serious: "Nonsense! The mountain is dangerous at night, and there might be demons roaming about."

These words stunned Tanjiro. He opened his mouth, wanting to say something, yet not knowing how to begin; at this moment, that inexplicable sense of urgency in his heart grew ever stronger.

He was just about to speak when Grandpa Saburo's voice broke the silence a step ahead.

"Since you're this determined to go, kid, this old man will accompany you a stretch. I know the mountain paths, can avoid some dangers."

In the end Tanjiro still could not dissuade Grandpa Saburo; the two walked toward home together.

The unease in Tanjiro's heart grew continuously as they neared home. He sped up his pace from time to time; Grandpa Saburo silently kept up.

Just when there was still a distance from home, a breeze brushed past; Tanjiro suddenly halted. His body instantly tensed, his expression shifting from anxiety to shock.

"What's wrong, kid?" Grandpa Saburo noticed Tanjiro's abnormality and asked.

Tanjiro did not answer. His nose twitched slightly, brows tightly knit. A heavy scent of blood rushed into his nasal cavity, causing his heart to violently contract.

"Blood... it's the smell of blood." Tanjiro murmured to himself, his voice carrying fear he could not conceal.

Before Grandpa Saburo could react, Tanjiro had already bolted toward the direction of home.

"Hey! Kid! Don't run recklessly!" Grandpa Saburo shouted from behind, but Tanjiro could no longer bother to respond.

The scent of blood grew thicker and thicker; Tanjiro's heartbeat grew faster and faster. Fear surged like a tide, but he dared not stop his steps.

His heart pounded violently; only the sound of blood rushing remained in his ears. Tanjiro prayed incessantly in his heart: "It'll be fine, it'll be fine."

Tanjiro rushed to the front of his house and shoved open the main door. In an instant, his world seemed to freeze.

In the living room, his mother Aoi lay in a pool of blood, tightly embracing the youngest brother in her arms. Her eyes were slightly open, as if still striving to protect the child.

On his mother's back was a massive wound, as if pierced through together by some sharp object; bloodstains spread out from beneath her, dyeing a large area of the floor red.

Tanjiro's gaze trembled as it swept across the interior; he saw the figures of his other family members. They lay in different positions, as if in the final moment they were still trying to escape.

"No... impossible." Tanjiro murmured, his voice hoarse to the point of near inaudibility.

Tanjiro abruptly embraced his mother and younger brother's corpses, burying his face against his mother's shoulder. His body trembled violently; a heart-rending wail tore from his throat.

"Aaaah!!!"

Tears uncontrollably welled from Tanjiro's eyes, rolling down his cheeks, falling onto his mother's already cold corpse.

(Chapter End)