The Ubuyashiki family, or rather, the Ubuyashiki clan, often resides deep in the mountains and forests. The location is remote and highly secretive, designed to prevent attacks.
Ubuyashiki Kagaya, the brain and heart of the Demon Slayer Corps, is constantly under protection. When ordinary swordsmen are granted an audience with the Master, they must be carried here by members of the "Kakushi" in a relay-style manner.
However, Kochou Kanae is "special."
She has not become a Hashira, yet she can walk here on her own.
"Kanae, it's good to see you again."
In the courtyard of the Ubuyashiki estate, where Hashira meetings are held, Ubuyashiki Kagaya sat in his usual spot as always, but today, there was only one person present.
That person was Kochou Kanae.
"Master, today I am here regarding the matter of the 'Sun Hashira,' Li Mo," Kochou Kanae said with a relaxed expression, always wearing a smile.
Ubuyashiki Kagaya, seeing Kochou Kanae's smile, felt his mood lighten as well. He said, "I have already read the report about the incident. Rengoku-san should have come here as well, but he went home to rest first.
As for this battle, I can only say that Li-san did an excellent job. The 'Twelve Kizuki' may seem like a collective, but the 'Upper Moons' and 'Lower Moons' are not on the same level. In historical records, Hashira have been able to kill Lower Moons, but Upper Moons have not been defeated for over a hundred years.
Li Mo has broken the deadlock."
The "Flame Hashira" and the "Sun Hashira" fought together against Upper Moon Three.
The result was that Upper Moon Three was defeated, the Flame Hashira was crippled and retired, and the Sun Hashira went missing.
Rengoku Shinjurou's injuries were not minor. Subsequent examinations revealed that he had overexerted his body during the battle, and being thrown by Upper Moon Three caused damage to his internal organs, especially his lungs, making him unfit for combat. He has retired.
As for the "Sun Hashira," Li Mo...
This outcome is considered an internal announcement within the Demon Slayer Corps. Li Mo's final status is listed as "missing."
Ubuyashiki Kagaya recalled the report he had seen earlier. Both Kochou Kanae and Rengoku Shinjurou stated that Li Mo had disappeared right before their eyes.
One second, he was there, and the next, he was gone.
"Regarding Li Mo... I believe your report, Kanae. He has always been a mysterious person... Do you believe it? According to my intelligence network, he should have entered Japan illegally. His identity cannot be found through official channels.
—Of course, now I am more inclined to believe that he simply appeared out of thin air.
"Kanae, Li Mo left a message for me, didn't he?"
Kochou Kanae replied, "Yes, Li-san left a message for you, Master. His general idea was for you to take care of your health and wait for his return. When he comes back, he will kill Muzan."
Kibutsuji Muzan, the name of the progenitor of demons. Almost every member of the Demon Slayer Corps knows this hated name.
Ubuyashiki Kagaya said, "That sounds like something he would say. Half a year ago, during the Hashira meeting, Li Mo came up to me, patted my shoulder, and told me that I was too short and needed to eat more to gain some nutrition."
Kochou Kanae stifled a laugh, "That does sound like something he would do."
"Then, Kanae, please tell me everything that happened in detail."
"Understood, Master."
The next period of time was spent with Kochou Kanae recounting the events. Ubuyashiki Kagaya listened with a calm expression, taking in every detail.
This included the request to conceal Li Mo's past movements, which he also noted. Once Kochou Kanae finished her account, Ubuyashiki Kagaya nodded gently and informed her that her task was complete.
The courtyard was now empty except for Ubuyashiki Kagaya. He sat there, lost in thought, though the smile on his lips never faded.
"Master, do you truly believe Kochou Kanae's account?"
The speaker was Ubuyashiki Amane, Kagaya's wife. She was well-informed about the "Sun Hashira" and the Demon Slayer Corps. Precisely because she knew, she understood the strength of the Upper Moons.
In the hundreds of years since the Twelve Kizuki appeared, there has never been a record of an Upper Moon being defeated. Every year, many Hashira die or go missing, often at the hands of the Upper Moons.
—The "Sun Hashira" is strong, but he paid a heavy price for killing Upper Moon Three. His entire body was bleeding...
Ubuyashiki Amane couldn't imagine how he endured it. That battle must have been incredibly brutal.
Fighting a demon with one's bare body—just thinking about it is terrifying.
"Amane, you rarely ask me questions like this."
"I still remember the smile he had half a year ago when he held Kiriya. The 'Sun Hashira' gave me a feeling that was completely different from anyone else."
Ubuyashiki Amane recalled the events of half a year ago. That foreigner held the child with such familiarity. He even sang lullabies to put the child to sleep.
He was a good person.
"Is that so? Li Mo is indeed different. Since I became the Master, no one has been so disrespectful to me."
Ubuyashiki Kagaya chuckled.
Half a year ago, during the Hashira meeting... he unexpectedly felt at ease. After the meeting, that foreigner smiled and said to him, "A child in his twenties shouldn't act like an old man all the time, Master. Sometimes, you should relax. Sitting like that looks tiring. Why not try sitting cross-legged? It's very comfortable."
Sitting cross-legged, with legs stretched out and hands on the ground, is considered very impolite.
Li Mo had sat like that at the time.
Later, Ubuyashiki Kagaya tried it in private. Sitting cross-legged was indeed comfortable.
Returning to the present, Ubuyashiki Kagaya said to Ubuyashiki Amane, "Amane, I believe what Kanae told me."
"Why?" Ubuyashiki Amane couldn't help but ask, though she already had an inkling of the answer.
"Because Li Mo respects me as his Master and trusts my leadership. I must respond to that trust. If he says he will return, then he will return."
As expected, that was the answer.
Ubuyashiki Amane's cold expression softened into a smile. Yes, this is my husband.
"Moreover... the second vision has already come true. Amane, I believe that when Li Mo returns, I will see the third vision."
Once, Ubuyashiki Kagaya's illness had worsened overnight. But on that day, he saw three visions.
The first vision was of himself and Li Mo conversing here.
The second vision was of Li Mo using a broken Nichirin Blade to kill a demon covered in tattoos.
During his conversation with Kochou Kanae, Li Mo had specifically asked about the appearance of Upper Moon Three. The child had never seen Upper Moon Three but could relay Rengoku Shinjurou's description.
That was the demon he had seen in the vision.
Now, Ubuyashiki Kagaya believed that those three visions were prophecies. Since two had already come true, the third would surely appear in time.
"Amane, perhaps I should start taking better care of my health."
Ubuyashiki Kagaya said.
He would wait.
The deadlock had been broken, and "change" had arrived. All that was needed was the passage of time and his return. When that happened, the fate of the Ubuyashiki clan would come to an end.
Li Mo, you have done well.