Chapter 95: You Must Be Wara…hime, Right?

Demon Slayer Corps Headquarters, the Butterfly Mansion.

"Sister, aren't you worried about Brother-in-law?" Hu Die Ren asked Xiang Nai Hui, who was in the middle of compounding medicine.

"Ara, what's there to worry about? Zero just went to help Mr. Uzui carry out a mission together," Xiang Nai Hui said, completely unconcerned.

"But I heard this mission is being carried out in the area under Mr. Uzui's jurisdiction, and that place…"

Hu Die Ren had heard Kanzaki Aoi's report a few days earlier and learned the whole story, so she naturally chose to trust her own brother-in-law and didn't think too much of it.

But then on second thought, the area under Uzui Tengen 's jurisdiction was hardly a nice place — at least, not for women.

Better safe than sorry; better safe than sorry.

What if Brother-in-law got led astray by Uzui Tengen — what would they do then?

So she held it in until now, feeling it was better to tell her sister after all.

"Ara? Now that you mention it, I remember the area under Mr. Uzui's jurisdiction seems to be…" Xiang Nai Hui searched her mind for the name of the area under Uzui Tengen 's jurisdiction.

"I think it was… the Yoshiwara pleasure quarter…"

The moment she recalled that place, a sudden unease stirred inside Xiang Nai Hui, as if something had happened to Zero…

Xiang Nai Hui did trust that Zero wouldn't do such a thing — after all, Zero was a person of clean conduct.

But this time, Xiang Nai Hui's sixth sense told her that after Zero came back, he might have become a little different…

In the end, Xiang Nai Hui still felt a bit uneasy.

She even stopped compounding her medicine, picked up her Nichirin Blade, and set off.

It was already noon by then; if she left now, she should be able to reach there by midnight.

Hu Die Ren rubbed her own forehead in mild helplessness — how had this love-struck sister of hers become so silly?

"Sister, wait for me! I'll go with you!"

Actually, Xiang Nai Hui's little worry wasn't entirely off — Zero really had gone a bit bad now, just that the "bad" was the awakening of some strange attribute.

At nightfall, the Kyogoku House.

Yu Yu Lingzi looked out the window at the sky that had already gone dark and felt the timing was about right.

So she set off in person, walking toward the room where the courtesan Warabihime resided.

Arriving at the door, she slid it open and saw the courtesan Warabihime sitting primly on her knees on the tatami.

As if she had long anticipated Yu Yu Lingzi would come looking for her, a side table held some refreshments and two cups of tea.

With a sunny, smiling face — like a girl-next-door big sister — she looked at Yu Yu Lingzi and said: "Sister Yu Yu Lingzi, it's been a while~ I wonder if you came looking for me because you have something~?"

As the saying goes, one doesn't strike a smiling face; Yu Yu Lingzi responded with a smile of her own: "You must be Wara…hime, right~ I've long admired your great name, so I came specially to take a look and say hello."

Then she sat down beside Warabihime.

Wara…hime?

Why does that sound so strange…

the courtesan Warabihime thought.

That said, looking at Yu Yu Lingzi right beside her — such a rare beauty — Warabihime still forcibly restrained the urge to take her into her sash right then and there.

She replied amiably: "Yes, I am the courtesan Warabihime, but even as a courtesan, I can't compare to you~ You became a courtesan in just a few days; compared to that, big sister here truly concedes defeat~ I'm in awe, utterly and completely~ hehe~"

"Is that so? This Palace doesn't really think of herself as a courtesan — after all, that's just what they assume — but then again…"

"But what?"

Yu Yu Lingzi didn't reply, looking at the courtesan Warabihime with a roguish grin, picked up a fan and tilted Warabihime's chin with it, studying her face closely.

"Tsk tsk tsk~ As expected of the courtesan of the Kyogoku House, this little face — This Palace is very taken with it~ I wonder if the courtesan Warabihime would grace me with her company tonight… for a lovely tryst~?"

After saying that, Yu Yu Lingzi even licked her own lips.

Warabihime was nearly startled by those words and hurriedly rose to put some distance between herself and Yu Yu Lingzi.

Because she saw that strange gleam in Yu Yu Lingzi's eyes, as if she herself had become Yu Yu Lingzi's prey.

"This piece of food — she can't be a yuri, can she…" the courtesan Warabihime thought.

But at the same time, the courtesan Warabihime felt even more excited inside.

If it really was so, then using the same method, she could lure her over with ease and then devour her.

But on the surface she still pretended to be very flustered and said: "Yu… Sister Yu Yu Lingzi, you you… don't be like this… I I… we're not suited to each other, we're both women, there's no way…"

"So what~" Yu Yu Lingzi stood up, continued closing in on the courtesan Warabihime, one arm around her waist, the other pinching her chin.

She said: "This is nothing~ You're so pretty, This Palace won't give up, you know~ My beloved concubine~"

Gulp~

This time Warabihime's heart really did start to panic a little, thinking, Yu Yu Lingzi can't actually be serious, can she?!

But what was this inexplicable feeling of excitement? Why was she even looking forward to it?!

In that case, would it be better to refuse, or better not to refuse?

She didn't want to do "that" with a piece of food!

Just as she planned to break free of Yu Yu Lingzi's hold, she discovered Yu Yu Lingzi's strength was astonishingly great!

How could this be?

She was Upper Rank Six, and her strength was actually no match for a human!?

Yu Yu Lingzi let out a cold laugh, then seized the courtesan Warabihime's sash and yanked it hard…

Rustle rustle…

The courtesan Warabihime spun around on the spot a few times; her kimono, no longer bound by the sash, revealed a flash of holy light, fully exposed.

Her legs were still clad in a pair of patterned long stockings.

The courtesan Warabihime was so startled she hurriedly pulled her clothes up to cover herself, and inside she was even more furious!!

"This damn piece of food, how dare she treat me like this! I... I... damn it, what is this inexplicable feeling of excitement? Truly disgusting!!"

Just as Warabi-hime was about to summon her 【Baldy】, Yu Yu Lingzi pushed her straight onto the tatami.

Straddling her, gripping her wrists, he said: "My little beauty~ Where do you think you're running to~?"

"Yu... Yu Yu Lingzi... calm down... I... we... are both women, there can be no result!"

"Why must there be a result~? Isn't this better? Haven't you heard a saying?"

"Wh... what saying?"

"Opposite sexes are only for breeding offspring; same-sex love is true love~"

【Uzui Tengen: It's over! Yu Yu Lingzi has broken down! How will I explain this to Kanoe and the others!?】

【The Butterfly Sisters are on their way, swords drawn.】

The moment the words fell, Yu Yu Lingzi leaned down, staring straight into Warabi-hime the Oiran's eyes.

Warabi-hime the Oiran looked at Yu Yu Lingzi, so close, feeling the breath approaching, her breathing grew somewhat rapid.

She attempted to wrench her hands free from Yu Yu Lingzi, but Yu Yu Lingzi's strength was greater than hers, and she could not reveal her identity under such circumstances.

Helpless, her struggles in vain, Warabi-hime the Oiran slowly closed her eyes, giving up resistance as if to say: Go ahead~

Moreover, she felt a charm radiating from Yu Yu Lingzi that she could not resist.

It was no wonder Warabi-hime had such thoughts.

Yu Yu Lingzi (Zero), roaming the starry sky, constantly engaged in warfare, his methods were ruthless and decisive.

Add to that the temperament, wisdom, and talent he possessed even as a child, surpassing his peers.

Over thousands of years, this produced a certain substantive transformation within him.

It gave him an indescribable charm, and a power that made people instinctively submit.

Opposite sexes before him would be drawn in by this temperament and charm.

Of course, Luo Li's favor toward Zero had always been maxed out, so those things on him were negligible to her.

Kanoe and Xiao Xiao Mili loved Zero; while there was a bit of that reason, now, even without those things, the two of them were already devotedly in love with Zero, willing to give everything for him.

Looking at Warabi-hime before him who had given up resistance, Yu Yu Lingzi felt bored.

Leaning close to Warabi-hime's ear, he said: "Rest assured, little beauty~ I will make you remember this night well~ You will not sleep a wink all night~ Hehehe!"

Yu Yu Lingzi's broken laughter made Warabi-hime feel a chill down her spine.

Afterwards, Yu Yu Lingzi climbed off Warabi-hime and left the room.

Warabi-hime straightened her clothes, her brows furrowed tightly.

What was this feeling of anger and loss? What exactly was she expecting?

She waited and waited, and the result was...

And what did her last few words mean?

This feeling was just like on a wedding night, when the bride was all ready, but the groom, having gotten completely drunk, couldn't get up...

In the end, the bride had to do it herself...

"Finally... the hook is taken! Hehehe... Yu Yu Lingzi, you are truly extremely beautiful, but... let's deal with those Demon Slayer Corps people first!"

Immediately, she issued a command to her sash clone in her mind: "Hide those three women in the underground cave and guard them well! Tomorrow night I will eat them, and then I will go deal with those Demon Slayer Corps people!

Also, capture Koyori and Tansu from the Jishin-ya, and Zako and Inoko from the Hagi-ya for me!"

"Yes!" came the sash clone's reply in her mind.

Warabi-hime looked out the window; this time, she too must perform well for Muzan. After all, her brother was still there, so everything would surely proceed smoothly.

"Yu Yu Lingzi, just you wait! I will never forgive you!! I will definitely treat you the same way, and then eat you!"

"And Koyori the Oiran, Tansu from the Jishin-ya; Zako and Inoko from the Hagi-ya, you four are truly beautiful. I must capture you to enjoy properly and eat you all!"

Warabi-hime thought viciously in her heart, then rose, straightened her clothes, and tidied up that feeling of loss.

Just as Yu Yu Lingzi returned to his own room, Madam Madam Sanjin heard the news and rushed over, saying: "Yu Yu Lingzi, are you alright? I just heard someone say you went to find Warabi-hime the Oiran; she didn't do anything to you, did she?"

Yu Yu Lingzi turned back with a slight smile and said: "It's fine, very good."

Seeing this, Madam Madam Sanjin had nothing more to say, merely gave a few instructions and left.

She hadn't even taken a few steps before turning back, saying: "Yu Yu Lingzi, over a dozen guests have said they want to see you; what do you think..."

"I apologize, my body is somewhat unwell today."

"O... okay, then I'll tell them; you rest well."

"Mm, thank you."

"What polite words? Mother must also think of you, right? After all, you are my favorite good (yáo) daughter (qián) (shù)."

After exchanging a few more polite words, she left Yu Yu Lingzi's room.

"Tonight... everything must end!"

Afterwards, Zero summoned his messenger crow, Xue, instructing it to relay to Uzui Tengen that once the signal sounds, they should prepare to act!

Slay the Upper Rank Six!

"Shall we begin the action in a flashy manner? Hahaha! Truly flashy! Since that is so, I too must prepare!"

Uzui Tengen received the message from the messenger crow Xue and felt his blood boiling throughout his body.

He came to a place with little traffic, blew a special whistle sound, and summoned two muscle rats.

These were ninja rats employed by Uzui Tengen; after special training by Uzui Tengen, they possessed extremely high intelligence and immense strength, with a single rat easily able to lift a sword.

He ordered the two of them to deliver the Nichirin Blades to Tanjiro and the other three.

He pulled a piece of paper from his chest, and according to the location written on the paper, headed toward the central district of the Flower District to await the signal.

"Makio, Hinatsuru, Suma, hold on a little longer; I am coming to save you immediately!"

At the same time, those who received the message were Tanjiro, Utaiko, and Inoko.

After receiving the news, the three of them understood the mission would end that night, so each of them began to make their own preparations.

They waited until it was nearly the middle of the night.

Tanji restored his identity as Tanjiro, put on the Demon Slayer Corps uniform, and carried a wooden box on his back.

Taking advantage of the absence of others, he came to the room of Koi Natsuka, the top courtesan.

"Young Lady Koi Natsuka, pardon the intrusion."

Hearing a familiar voice from behind, Koi Natsuka turned her head and took a look, feeling it was somewhat familiar, similar to Tanji, and asked: "Are you… Tanji's brother?"

"Eh? No, I'm Tanji. Because of special circumstances earlier, I disguised myself as a woman and came to Tokito House to investigate."

"Ah?" Koi Natsuka found it somewhat hard to believe.

"So you really are Tanji. At first, when I heard your voice, I thought you naturally sounded that way. I never expected you really are a boy; your makeup skills are truly amazing."

"All of this was thanks to Big Brother Zero's help."

"Big Brother Zero?"

"Yes, the top courtesan Yu Yu Lingzi of Kyogoku House."

"What?!" Koi Natsuka never expected that the Yu Yu Lingzi top courtesan, who had been the talk of Kyogoku House these past few days, was also a man…

"I never expected Yu Yu Lingzi she… he is also a man. Your outfit is… did something happen?"

"Yes, Young Lady Koi Natsuka, I'll keep it brief. I need to leave Tokito House. Could I trouble you to hand this over to the proprietress and the others for me?"

As he spoke, Tanjiro placed a stack of envelopes in front of Koi Natsuka.

"Inside is money—it's the meal expenses and such for the period I was in your care. Please help me pass it along to them. The mission has been issued, I must leave!"

Seeing this, Koi Natsuka seemed to set her heart at ease, smiled faintly, and said: "It seems you truly are worried about little Suma."

"Yes, Young Lady Koi Natsuka. Rest assured, I will definitely rescue the missing people!"

"…Thank you. Hearing you say that puts my mind at ease~ And as for me, I'll be leaving here in a few days too."

"Really?! That's wonderful!" Hearing that Koi Natsuka was also leaving, Tanjiro felt happy for her as well.

"Yes. I never imagined someone would actually be willing to marry someone like me… I'm truly happy now! But… precisely because of this, I'm also worried about everyone who will remain here.

Even if something suspicious happens, I have no way to investigate it… so… I don't want you to vanish on me either, little Tanji."

Koi Natsuka's sincere concern warmed Tanjiro's heart deeply.

"Yes, Young Lady Koi Natsuka, thank you."

Bidding farewell to Koi Natsuka, Tanjiro quickly departed, heading for the rendezvous point to meet up with the others!

However, when he arrived at the rendezvous point, he received another piece of news:

Zenitsu had gone missing!

………