Under Mitsuri's gaze, Xia Feng leaped high into the air.
He kicked off a tree trunk and jumped again, flying deeper into the mountain.
Mitsuri hurried after him.
She crouched slightly, shouted "Hup!", and launched herself like a cannonball.
She was actually faster than Xia Feng.
Feeling the wind rushing from behind, Xia Feng grinned.
This girl's strength was seriously impressive—even he felt pressured.
The two of them moved quickly through the trees like ninja from Konoha.
Along the way they saw many candidates sleeping wherever sunlight reached the ground.
Demons were active at night, so the safest time to sleep was during the day.
Before long, Xia Feng spotted Tanjiro.
Tanjiro leaned against a tree with his Nichirin blade in his arms, seizing the chance to sleep.
Xia Feng glanced briefly before continuing forward.
Mitsuri spoke.
"Mr. Xia Feng, that boy is someone you know, right? Shouldn't we check on him?"
Xia Feng shook his head seriously.
"I'm an examiner. How could I interfere with the candidates' test?"
Mitsuri looked at him with admiration.
Not long after, they found Zenitsu.
The blond boy was sleeping too.
He was lying on a tree branch in such an awkward position that he looked like he might fall any second.
Seeing that, Xia Feng made a strange expression.
Mitsuri blinked.
"This boy… is someone you know too, right? Shouldn't you help him? If he falls, he might get badly hurt."
Xia Feng shook his head again.
"I'm an examiner. I can't interfere with the candidates' test."
Mitsuri sighed inwardly.
When Xia Feng said things like that, he looked incredibly cool.
A little later, they saw Kanao.
She was sleeping curled up on a rock, wearing a kimono patterned with cherry blossoms.
Her body was curled up like a little kitten.
"So cute…" Mitsuri couldn't help saying.
She turned her head to share the moment with Xia Feng.
And saw him lightly jump down beside Kanao.
Then Xia Feng placed the food and water he had brought beside her.
He even set down a pair of new shoes so she could change them if needed.
Mitsuri: "???"
Wasn't he just saying examiners couldn't interfere?
This was blatant cheating!
When Xia Feng jumped back up, she quickly asked,
"Mr. Xia Feng, what you just did—"
"Hm? What's wrong?" Xia Feng looked at her.
His completely natural expression almost made Mitsuri wonder if she was the strange one.
She laughed helplessly.
"Didn't you say you can't interfere with candidates?"
Xia Feng looked surprised.
"Kanao is so cute. How could she be lumped together with the other candidates?"
Mitsuri: "..."
She opened her mouth, but couldn't find anything to say.
The two continued patrolling along the treetops.
But until noon, they found nothing unusual.
They eventually landed in an empty area to rest.
Mitsuri looked at Xia Feng.
"I think demons probably won't come here… Mount Fujikasane isn't that important, and it's surrounded by wisteria flowers. Demons can't enter."
Xia Feng nodded.
Based on the current situation, Mitsuri's guess was reasonable.
But at that exact moment—
A strange feeling suddenly appeared in Xia Feng's mind.
Danger.
A coming sense of danger.
Xia Feng paused.
Spider Sense?
His Spider Sense was warning him that danger would occur here.
It wouldn't happen immediately, but it wasn't far away either.
Judging by demon behavior…
The danger would most likely occur tonight.
He looked at Mitsuri.
"We can't relax. Something will happen tonight."
Mitsuri froze for a moment.
Although Xia Feng had no evidence, his certainty made her instinctively nod.
"Okay."
As evening approached, the candidates woke up and prepared for battle again.
Tanjiro opened his eyes and immediately headed toward the eastern side of the mountain with his Nichirin blade.
Zenitsu lay beneath a tree, confused.
When he had fallen asleep, he had been lying on a branch.
So why was he now on the ground?
Did he fall?
But if he had fallen from that height, he should've been injured.
Yet he felt perfectly fine.
After scratching his head for a moment, he decided…
If he couldn't figure it out, he simply wouldn't think about it.
Kanao woke up and noticed the items beside her.
She froze slightly.
Then she smiled beautifully.
After packing away the things Xia Feng left, she continued moving forward.
But after walking only a short distance, she suddenly stopped.
Ahead of her—
A corpse lay on the ground.
It was another swordsman who had come for the Final Selection.
Kanao placed a hand on her sword hilt and approached cautiously, using trees as cover.
When she reached the body, she quickly assessed it.
This person hadn't been killed by a demon.
There was only one fatal wound.
His throat had been slit with a single strike.
Fast.
Precise.
Just like how Demon Slayers killed demons.
Realizing this, Kanao's expression grew serious.
This candidate had been killed by another swordsman.
What was going on?
Were candidates killing each other?
No.
If it were candidates fighting each other, it wouldn't be such a one-sided kill.
Someone who hadn't even joined the Corps yet shouldn't be capable of decapitating someone so easily.
Judging from the body, the death hadn't happened long ago.
To kill someone so silently this close to her…
The enemy must be terrifying.
Thinking that, Kanao decided she needed to notify Xia Feng.
Just as she was about to leave—
A voice sounded behind her.
"Not bad. Judging from your reaction, you've received proper training."
"You should know where Xia Feng is, right?"
Hearing the voice, Kanao's pupils shrank.
The enemy was right here.
And she hadn't noticed at all.
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