Outside the Ubuyashiki Estate, several mid-rank Demon Slayer swordsmen stood guard with full concentration.
Among them… was Murata.
Murata wasn't new to guarding headquarters. Normally he wouldn't feel nervous anymore.
But today was different.
Perched on a tree branch, he watched a figure rapidly approaching.
The Wind Hashira – Sanemi Shinazugawa!
As Sanemi passed beneath the tree, he suddenly looked up at him.
That ferocious gaze nearly made Murata's heart jump out of his chest.
He almost cried.
"As expected… the Wind Hashira is just as terrifying as always…"
On another tree nearby, another swordsman nodded.
"Among all the Hashira, he's probably the scariest one, right?"
As he spoke, he suddenly froze.
His eyes widened, cold sweat pouring down his face.
At some point, a white snake had appeared beside him!
The venomous snake stared at him as if it would bite him the moment he made any sudden move.
Just as he was about to faint, a voice sounded beside him.
"Hm… so it's just a guard. I thought there was an enemy here."
As the voice spoke, the white snake slowly withdrew.
The swordsman turned to look.
A young man stood there.
The lower half of his face was wrapped in bandages, hiding his mouth.
His eyes were two different colors.
The white snake from before was now coiled around his neck, both man and snake staring at him with cold eyes.
"S-Snake… Snake Hashira…"
He trembled as he spoke the title.
The Snake Hashira ignored him completely and walked toward headquarters.
The guard almost burst into tears.
"I take that back! The scariest one isn't the Wind Hashira—it's the Snake Hashira!"
Murata hadn't seen what happened, but he silently mourned for his fellow guard.
As more and more Hashira arrived, the guards stationed around headquarters became increasingly excited.
Such a gathering was not something one could see every day!
Inside the Ubuyashiki Estate courtyard.
One by one, the Hashira gathered and waited there.
Everyone felt a bit excited.
The moment Mitsuri Kanroji arrived, all eyes turned toward her.
The sudden attention startled her.
"Eh? Eh? Why is everyone looking at me? Is something wrong with me today?"
Before she even finished speaking, Sanemi Shinazugawa stepped in front of her.
"Hey, Kanroji. I heard you fought Upper Rank One too!"
Mitsuri froze, then nodded weakly.
"…I didn't really help though…"
Sanemi's eyes lit up, and he showed a fierce grin.
"Good. Tell me quickly—how strong is Upper Rank One really?"
Mitsuri almost cried.
She hadn't been able to fight back at all!
How could she possibly know exactly how strong the enemy was?
Fortunately, at that moment, the black-and-white twins slowly appeared.
"The Master has arrived!"
Hearing this announcement, all the Hashira froze for a moment.
Then they immediately lined up and knelt on one knee!
Under everyone's gaze, a figure slowly approached.
When they saw him clearly, all of them were stunned.
Kagaya Ubuyashiki… was walking on his own!
Over the past two years, Kagaya's condition had visibly deteriorated.
Since two years ago, he had needed someone to support him whenever he walked.
At the very least, someone had to guide him—
Because he had already completely lost his sight.
Yet now…
He had walked here himself!
All the Hashira couldn't help but feel delighted.
"Master! Seeing your health improve truly brings us great joy!"
Kyojuro Rengoku said loudly.
Several other Hashira glanced at him.
Mitsuri puffed out her cheeks slightly—
She had wanted to say that too!
Kagaya smiled gently and nodded.
"All of this is thanks to Mr. Xia Feng."
As he spoke, he turned his head slightly toward the building behind him.
Everyone's eyes followed his gaze.
Inside the house, Xia Feng slowly walked out.
When Mitsuri saw him, she immediately showed a bright smile.
Sanemi also looked toward Xia Feng.
He wanted to ask about his younger brother's situation, but with the Master present, he couldn't speak freely.
Gyomei Himejima bowed his head slightly toward Xia Feng.
Seeing Kagaya's improved health had greatly increased his favorable impression of Xia Feng.
Giyu Tomioka stood there blankly, seemingly lost in thought.
Kagaya nodded and smiled toward Xia Feng.
Then he slowly knelt on the tatami beneath the veranda, facing the Hashira gathered in the courtyard.
Xia Feng walked to Kagaya's side and sat down cross-legged nearby.
Seeing his posture, several Hashira twitched at the corners of their eyes.
That sitting posture was really…
Although they wanted to complain, remembering the Master's attitude toward Xia Feng, they silently chose to ignore it.
Under everyone's watchful eyes, Kagaya began to speak.
"The reason everyone was called here early this time… I believe you already know."
"A few days ago, during the Final Selection at Fujikasane Mountain, Mr. Xia Feng and Mitsuri Kanroji were attacked."
"The attacker was Upper Rank One of the Twelve Kizuki."
The moment the words Upper Rank One were spoken, even though everyone had already prepared themselves mentally, their breathing still grew heavier.
Kagaya continued:
"The specific information regarding Upper Rank One has already been described to me by Mr. Xia Feng, as well as by Kyojuro, Tengen, and Mitsuri. I have recorded it."
He nodded slightly to the side.
The twins stepped forward with a stack of documents and distributed them to each Hashira in the courtyard.
Everyone opened the papers and began reading.
Within seconds, their expressions changed dramatically.
"Upper Rank One… is actually a swordsman!"
"And he uses the original breathing style!"
"Moon Breathing… I've never heard of it!"
"Just his aura alone can immobilize the Love Hashira…"
"Even from a great distance, powerful Hashira like the Flame and Sound Hashira felt pressured by his presence…"
The terrifying power of Upper Rank One became obvious to everyone.
As they continued reading, they couldn't help but glance toward Xia Feng.
The man sitting there lazily with crossed legs…
He had actually fought such a terrifying opponent head-on—
And came out of it unscathed?!
🌟 The story is already written… waiting to be unleashed.
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