Chapter 323

Tanjiro blinked: "Huh?"

"I called you and your sister here to prepare for the worst—there's a test we need to conduct."

Ubuyashiki Yoriichi glanced at the member of the Hidden.

The Hidden member nodded, tapped his foot lightly, and landed inside the room with the box, then opened it.

Then, the kneeling Shinobu Shimeji rose to his feet and walked toward them.

A flash of cold light appeared in his hand—a sharp dagger.

Tanjiro's eyes narrowed: "What are you planning?!"

"Didn't the Lord Master say so?"

Shinobu Shimeji, his body scarred and face fearsome, walked past him, slicing his palm with the dagger—blood gushed out.

"Shimeji's blood is rare blood; it has strong allure to demons. If your sister can resist the attraction of Shimeji's blood, it proves she truly retains her reason and won't be driven by demonic instincts to attack humans."

Shinobu explained to Tanjiro: "This is the most critical test for your sister. If she passes, she will become a protected subject of the entire Demon Slayer Corps."

"... Huh?"

Tanjiro looked utterly bewildered.

Tomioka Giyu was also puzzled.

He glanced at the other Pill members; they wore calm, ordinary expressions—as if they'd known all along. Even the Pill members who despised demons the most could accept this...

"Has something happened at headquarters while I was away?"

Tomioka Giyu wondered.

Was he really, as Shinobu had implied, disliked and ostracized by everyone?

This thought rose in Tomioka Giyu's mind, and his mood instantly sank.

In the end, Nezuko resisted the allure of Shinobu Shimeji's rare blood and passed the test.

Ubuyashiki Yoriichi clapped his hands and smiled: "Just as Mr. Luo En said—Nezuko is truly special."

"Mr. Luo En?"

Tanjiro's eyes lit up: "Did Mr. Luo En tell you about me and Nezuko? Is he here now?"

Shinobu shook her head: "Mr. Luo En was still at headquarters recently, but when I returned yesterday, I found he had already left."

"Mr. Luo En left?"

"He left a note saying he had to go out for a few days. He'll probably return in a few days."

"Really!"

Tanjiro's spirits instantly lifted.

Shinobu asked curiously: "You seem eager to meet Mr. Luo En—what do you want to ask him?"

Tanjiro rubbed the back of his head, nodding shyly: "When I fought the demon on Mount Spider and was on the brink of death, I saw a flash of my life—and somehow, I used the Flame God's Dance... I think that might have been the Sun Breathing Mr. Luo En mentioned. So... I want to ask him more about the Sun Breathing."

"I see."

Ikkyu Koyanagi tapped his chin and murmured: "So that was the Sun Breathing..."

He had witnessed it firsthand—he had been about to intervene and save Tanjiro.

Tanjiro, who had been using Water Breathing, suddenly changed his aura—his entire body engulfed in blazing fire, spinning and soaring like a fire dragon, wielding a blade wreathed in flame, charging before the Lower Moon Five, Rui, slashing his blade against its hardened neck, and in coordination with Nezuko's awakened Blood Demon Art—Blood Explosion, one circular dance severed Rui's head.

Witnessing that scene even startled Ikkyu Koyanagi, the Serpent Pill.

Kanao Tsuyuri, beside him, leaned in curiously: "Ikkyu-san, did you see it?"

Ikkyu Koyanagi stared at her close, adorable face, his old face turning red—he turned away shyly and feigned coldness: "Hn... hnn. I happened to see it."

"Eh~ Is the Sun Breathing powerful?"

"I-it's powerful, just... that kid can't yet unleash its full power."

Ikkyu Koyanagi, secretly in love with Kanao Tsuyuri, now spoke with stammering hesitation, his heart pounding fast.

Ubuyashiki Yoriichi smiled at Tanjiro: "Tanjiro, fighting the Twelve Kizuki must have been exhausting, yes?"

Hearing this, Tanjiro snapped back to reality—his body suddenly felt impossibly heavy, every part of him throbbing with pain.

"I was forcing myself to stay upright just now—now every inch of me aches, it's unbearable..."

Tanjiro's face twisted in pain, his body tilting sideways.

The Hidden member reached out and caught him.

Shinobu said: "Take him to Butterfly House."

"Yes, Butterfly Lady!"

The Hidden member nodded, then without hesitation hoisted Tanjiro onto his back and sprinted off in one direction.

Tanjiro blinked, then shouted urgently toward the room: "Nezuko!"

Only when another Hidden member picked up Nezuko—who had retreated back into the box—and walked toward him did Tanjiro relax slightly.

The two Hidden members carried Tanjiro and the box containing Nezuko to Butterfly House.

"Is anyone home?"

"Hello... no one's coming out."

"It's not good to enter without permission—let's walk around the garden first."

The two Hidden members spoke, then entered the garden through the entrance.

In the garden.

Kanao Tsuyuri stood on the grass beside the courtyard, playing with butterflies.

"Ah, someone's here, someone's here."

"That person is... right, that's Butterfly Lady's adopted son—I remember his name is..."

"Kagaya Naho."

Tanjiro, on the back of a Hidden member, spoke up.

The two Hidden members turned to him: "Do you know Lady Naho?"

Tanjiro nodded: "Yes, I've met her before."

Naho turned her head, smiling gently at the group.

"Um… we've come on Lady Butterfly's orders. May we come inside?"

Naho wore a smile.

"May we…?"

Naho still said nothing, only smiled at the group.

"Uh…"

At that moment, a young man's voice, laced with amusement, sounded beside them.

"Let him in."

The group turned to look.

A handsome young man in black attire stepped into the courtyard, his long black hair tied into a high ponytail, his figure tall and straight, a long sword at his waist, and a silver-blue wine flask in his hand, smiling.

Tanjiro's eyes widened in great surprise: "Mr. Luo En?!"

Luo En smiled at him: "Hey, long time no see~"

33, a swordsman who doesn't drink isn't a good swordsman

Tanjiro stared at the Luo En before him, filled with excitement and delight.

"Mr. Luo En, I…"

The moment he moved, a sharp pain shot through his body, forcing him back down.

Luo En chuckled: "Don't force yourself."

"... Alright."

Tanjiro couldn't help but say to Luo En: "Mr. Luo En, when I fought the demon, I remembered the Fire God Dance—just as you said, it really is sword technique. About the Sun…"

Luo En raised a hand to stop him: "I know what you want to ask, but before that, rest well and use this time to reflect on that battle. For a swordsman, the experience of a life-or-death fight brings great gains—don't waste it."

Tanjiro nodded seriously: "I understand."

Luo En turned to the two Hidden members: "Take him inside to rest."

The two Hidden members exchanged glances.

They really wanted to ask.

Who are you?