While the two were talking, night had completely fallen.
The white-haired little girl carried over a lantern and stood on tiptoe to hand it to Xia Feng.
"Thank you," Xia Feng said, taking it.
He glanced around.
By now, almost everyone who was supposed to arrive had gathered.
Some swordsmen were adjusting their breathing, preparing themselves for battle.
Some were quietly talking to each other.
Others looked terrified, staring past the blooming wisteria flowers toward the mountain in the distance.
Xia Feng scanned the crowd and quickly spotted two people.
One was a shirtless boy wearing a boar mask.
Inosuke Hashibira.
Xia Feng actually admired him quite a bit. Growing up alone in the mountains and still managing to develop his own breathing style and sword techniques…
Calling him a genius would not be an exaggeration.
But the person Xia Feng was looking for wasn't him.
Instead, it was a boy sitting beneath a tree not far away with his eyes closed.
He looked somewhat thin, had a pompadour hairstyle, and his eyes were fierce and cold.
Genya Shinazugawa.
The younger brother of Sanemi Shinazugawa.
Earlier, Xia Feng had promised Sanemi that he would check on his brother's condition.
This was the perfect opportunity.
He slowly walked toward Genya.
When Xia Feng moved, many candidates' gazes followed him.
Sensing Xia Feng's presence, Genya opened his eyes.
He looked surprised.
Then he stood up.
"Y-You're looking for me?"
Xia Feng nodded.
"Someone asked me to check on your condition."
As he spoke, he placed a hand on Genya's shoulder.
Genya felt nervous and instinctively tried to dodge.
But the moment he moved, Xia Feng's hand had already shifted to the exact spot he was moving toward.
Instead of avoiding it, it looked as though Genya had deliberately delivered his shoulder into Xia Feng's hand.
The almost supernatural movement shocked Genya.
Using his healing ability, Xia Feng examined Genya's condition.
There were no injuries inside his body.
Just as Xia Feng had suspected before, Genya's constitution was innate. It had nothing to do with trauma or stimulation.
Since it was an inborn trait, Xia Feng had no way to remove it.
Well…
There was technically one way.
Kill the person and let them reincarnate.
That would solve any disease perfectly.
He withdrew his hand and smiled slightly.
"You're fine. Good luck."
Under everyone's watchful eyes, Xia Feng walked back to the entrance of Mount Fujikasane.
He glanced at Mitsuri Kanroji.
At the moment, she was looking at the young swordsmen.
And as she watched them…
For some reason, her face gradually turned red.
Xia Feng: "..."
Hold it right there, Mitsuri.
If you keep going like this, this novel is going to turn into a completely different genre.
He coughed lightly and spoke.
"Everyone, my name is Xia Feng. Special Advisor of the Demon Slayer Corps and examiner for this Final Selection."
"The person beside me is Mitsuri Kanroji, the Love Hashira. She will also serve as an examiner."
"Although we are called examiners, we will not interfere with the selection."
"Our job is simple—prevent outside forces from interfering with the exam."
"So don't think that just because a Hashira is present, you're safe."
"If you die, we will not rescue you."
He even ended with a gentle smile.
Seeing that smile, Mitsuri nearly burst into tears.
Mr. Xia Feng's smile… is terrifying…
After Xia Feng finished speaking, the black-and-white twins stepped forward.
"The rules are simple."
"Enter the mountain and survive for seven days."
"At sunrise on the seventh day, those who remain alive will pass the exam."
"Now please begin."
"May fortune favor you."
After speaking, the twins stepped aside, opening the path into the mountain.
The young swordsmen began entering the forest one after another.
Kanao looked toward Xia Feng.
He gave her a thumbs-up.
Kanao smiled faintly and walked into the mountain.
Before entering, Tanjiro and Zenitsu also greeted Xia Feng.
Once everyone had gone inside, the twins looked at him.
"Lord Xia Feng, we will take our leave. We will return in seven days."
Xia Feng nodded.
The twins walked away gracefully but quickly, disappearing not long after.
Now only Xia Feng and Mitsuri remained.
Xia Feng found a tree and sat down against it.
The trees here bloomed with purple wisteria flowers all year round, making the scenery incredibly romantic.
Sleeping under such a tree made Xia Feng feel like he had a bit of that wandering swordsman aura.
Meanwhile, Mitsuri suddenly became nervous.
A man and a woman alone in an empty mountain…
Wasn't that a little too exciting?
She let out a soft sound and nervously pinched the hem of her clothes.
After thinking for a moment, Mitsuri also sat beneath a tree, hugging her knees and resting her face on them.
From that position, she quietly watched Xia Feng.
Xia Feng had already closed his eyes.
His breathing was long and steady, as if he had fallen asleep.
Mitsuri felt like crying.
Unlike Xia Feng, she hated loneliness.
Especially in such a remote mountain—it felt very scary.
She really wanted to start a conversation with him.
But thinking about Xia Feng's slightly intimidating presence, she gave up.
When the sun rose the next morning, Xia Feng opened his eyes.
Although he appeared to be sleeping all night, he had actually been listening carefully to the surroundings.
But he hadn't detected anything unusual.
Maybe Kagaya had simply been overly cautious?
After thinking about it, Xia Feng decided to check on the candidates.
He stood up.
Startled by the noise, Mitsuri suddenly woke up as well.
"What happened? What happened?" she asked in surprise.
Xia Feng looked at her.
"I'm going to check on the participants. Want to wait here?"
Mitsuri shook her head immediately.
Finally having a chance to talk with someone, how could she miss it?
"I'll come with you!"
Xia Feng nodded.
In his mind, Mitsuri was still a Hashira—she shouldn't hold him back.
But in Mitsuri's mind…
Xia Feng's attitude was clearly the classic tsundere personality!
He must have been worried she'd feel lonely staying here alone, so he decided to bring her along.
Thinking that, she looked at Xia Feng with even more happiness in her eyes.
🌟 The story is already written… waiting to be unleashed.
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