Chapter 65

Chu Yang was still debating whether to pretend to be a customer and buy some oden, then take the opportunity to greet Tanjuro so the man wouldn't be suspicious.

Suddenly, a peculiar stench wafted through the air, interrupting Chu Yang's train of thought.

He followed the scent and looked over; it was a carpentry shop across the street.

The little boy beside Tanjuro seemed to smell it too, pulling a face of disgust and aversion, though he was too young to understand what that smell signified.

Chu Yang thought for a moment and decided to deal with the demon hiding in the carpentry shop first before going to find Tanjuro.

"Ah, I remember now. Before we left, Nezuko told me she wanted a toy. Tanjiro, how about we go buy a toy for your sister?" After unloading all the charcoal, Tanjuro coughed a few times, then bent down to discuss it with the little boy.

"Okay! Let's go buy a toy for Nezuko." Young Tanjiro looked excited.

The toys Tanjuro spoke of were actually just some inexpensive little wooden trinkets, which were sold at the very carpentry shop across from them.

But today, the carpentry shop, which should have opened early, had its doors tightly shut. Tanjuro prepared to knock; if the owner was home, he would ask them to sell him a few toys.

Given Tanjuro's personality, if he hadn't promised Nezuko before leaving, he would never have caused trouble for anyone else.

The father and son walked hand in hand toward the carpentry shop.

Little Tanjiro excitedly tugged on his father's hand, skipping along the road.

"Be careful, Tanjiro." Tanjuro lowered his head to gently remind his son, completely unaware that a tall figure was blocking his path ahead.

"This shop is closed. Come back next time."

Hearing the voice, Tanjuro looked up and saw Chu Yang standing between them and the carpentry shop. Tanjuro frowned slightly, but he still explained very politely: "I'm sorry, but I'm in a real hurry to have something custom-made. If I've caused the owner any inconvenience, I apologize."

Having said that, he upheld the principle that it was better to avoid trouble than to invite it.

Tanjuro took his son's hand, walked around Chu Yang, and continued toward the carpentry shop.

Chu Yang sighed; honest people were truly difficult to deal with when they were stubborn, so he followed them.

Tanjuro, who had practiced the Dance of the Fire God—also known as Sun Breathing—for years, had senses far sharper than an ordinary person's despite his severe illness. He could sense Chu Yang trailing behind him, and a flash of worry crossed his eyes.

From the young man's aura, Tanjuro could judge that he was by no means an ordinary person. He knew his own physical condition well; if the other party had ill intentions and a fight really broke out, he wouldn't be able to bear the consequences, regardless of who won.

Tanjuro subconsciously quickened his pace, thinking of buying some toys from the shop and leaving as soon as possible.

Little Tanjiro sensed his father's inner anxiety and stopped acting up, following his father's footsteps very nervously.

He didn't know why his father was so flustered. Could it be because of the big brother behind them? But the big brother didn't seem like a bad person, because there wasn't a hint of a bad person's smell on him...

Before they knew it, Tanjuro reached the front of the carpentry shop and reached out to knock on the door.

Suddenly, a powerful hand grabbed his wrist.

"Don't go too far, sir!" Tanjuro glared, still hesitating whether to fight back.

Chu Yang performed an action that surprised Tanjuro: he placed his index finger to his lips, signaling Tanjuro to be quiet.

Tanjuro was stunned; the other party didn't look like he was looking for a fight.

Just then, little Tanjiro showed a terrified expression, tugged his father's hand in a panic, and pointed at the carpentry shop, saying: "Father, there's the smell of blood in here, so much blood..." Tanjuro's expression changed abruptly. He knew how exceptional Tanjiro's sense of smell was; it was absolutely impossible for him to be wrong. That meant there really was a lot of blood inside the shop.

Coupled with the fact that the carpentry shop, which should have opened long ago, had been silent, Tanjuro instantly realized that the shop owner might have already been murdered.

The question was, how did this young man know? Tanjuro looked at Chu Yang, his face full of confusion.

Chu Yang whispered a word in his ear. Tanjuro looked at Chu Yang with shock and uncertainty; he had always thought that kind of creature only existed in legends.

Demon! "Don't you believe me?" Chu Yang had already anticipated Tanjuro's reaction. He pressed his hand against the door and said softly: "That demon is right behind this door..."

Tanjuro pulled his son back repeatedly. Although he didn't quite believe it, he still felt a lingering fear.

"You won't have any problems as long as you stand in the sunlight." Chu Yang grabbed the handle, preparing to open the door. The reason he came to this small town was to eliminate this demon.

Daring to linger in a town during the day was undoubtedly courting death; demons should be like street rats, hiding in dark sewers.

"Wait a moment." Tanjuro said nervously: "If it really is a demon, what do you plan to do?"

"What do I plan to do?" Chu Yang chuckled, "Kill it, of course. I'm a Demon Slayer."

"A Demon Slayer?" Tanjuro suddenly remembered some legends about Demon Slayers his parents had told him when he was a child. It seemed there was some kind of connection between his family and the Demon Slayers.

The Dance of the Fire God...

Tanjuro subconsciously thought of this special family technique.

Little Tanjiro tilted his head; he didn't quite understand what his father and the big brother were saying.

But he could feel that the big brother seemed to be about to do something dangerous.

"If you're scared, leave quickly. Once I've dealt with this demon, I'll come visit you." Chu Yang gave Tanjuro one last warning to leave.

But Tanjuro asked: "Is it true that as long as one stands in the sunlight, nothing will happen?"

Chu Yang felt that this guy seemed very eager to confirm the existence of the demon. Without saying anything more, he violently ripped the door open, attracting the attention of nearby vendors.

"Hey! Why are you destroying someone else's shop! Tanjuro, hurry and stop that guy!" The oden shop owner across the street shouted to stop him.

Tanjuro did not follow the oden shop owner's words.

Instead, after Chu Yang ripped the door open, he quickly took Tanjiro and retreated backward.

Chu Yang walked into the dim shop all by himself.

It was pitch black inside, without a glimmer of light, and since it was already dusk outside, the sunlight couldn't illuminate the interior of the carpentry shop.

"Seriously, what on earth are you doing!" Seeing Chu Yang destroy the door and walk in so brazenly, the oden shop owner walked over angrily.

"Just stand here, don't go any closer!" Tanjuro anxiously grabbed the oden shop owner's clothes, terrified that the man would foolishly rush inside.

"What's wrong with you today, Tanjuro? You're not like yourself at all!" The oden shop owner looked at Tanjuro in surprise, suddenly feeling an indescribable sense of strangeness. He frowned, shook off Tanjuro's hand, and stubbornly walked toward the carpentry shop.

(End of chapter)