In the solitude of his private quarters, a loud thud signaled the arrival of a massive backpack before Tong Gu. He deftly retrieved a canister of hemostatic spray and a vial of specialized antibiotics, setting them aside. Lastly, he carefully extracted a custom silver metal box, about half a meter square, from the depths of the bag.
Handling it with the utmost care, he placed the ultimate weapon gently on the floor.
Even though he knew this devastating device wouldn't be triggered by minor disturbances, the sheer destructive potential of the weapon instilled awe—even in someone like Tong Gu, a genetically enhanced warrior.
Thermobaric explosives. A marvel of human destructive engineering, rich in elements like aluminum, boron, silicon, titanium, magnesium, and zirconium, its explosive power dwarfed that of TNT.
This fearsome weapon was something Tong Gu had acquired through considerable effort from a corrupt neighboring country after obtaining his universal capsule. Since then, it had been securely stored away.
This was Tong Gu's ultimate trump card for hunting an Upper Moon demon.
Yet, the nearly 20 kilograms of thermobaric explosive wasn't selective—it would obliterate friend and foe alike. Mishandling it would turn the entire Yoshiwara Red-Light district into a living inferno.
He needed to find the perfect grave for Daki and Gyutaro.
For days, Tong Gu had wandered through Yoshiwara's Red-Light quarters with his Nichirin blade strapped to his back. To onlookers, he might have appeared to be in high spirits after arranging a meeting with Warabihime, but in truth, he was using Earth Breathing to locate the enormous cavern where Daki had hidden her victims, as depicted in the original story.
Despite days of searching, he had yet to find it. By process of elimination, however, it seemed most likely to be near the Kyogoku House.
Drawing his Nichirin blade partially from its scabbard, the pitch-black blade glimmered coldly, reflecting Tong Gu's furrowed brow.
A vague sense of unease gnawed at him.
What was it?
What had he overlooked?
Could it be Muzan Kibutsuji?
It didn't seem plausible that Muzan would linger in Yoshiwara for long. If he were still there, Daki likely wouldn't have approached Tong Gu at all.
Had Daki sensed something unusual about him?
Given her status as an Upper Moon demon, Daki could detect abnormalities in human blood and physical constitution. If she had noticed the peculiarities of Tong Gu's body, it was possible. However, her arrogance in luring Hashiras to hunt suggested she wouldn't avoid him outright.
Unable to find a concrete answer, Tong Gu exhaled deeply. His measured breathing steeled his muscles, rendering him statuesque. Within a radius of several hundred meters, every sound became vividly perceptible in his mind—like reflections on a mirror.
This clarity brought him a moment of calm.
And then, amidst the night's stillness—tap, tap…
The unhurried footsteps of Daki approached, echoing softly in the dark.
She was alone.
Tong Gu opened his eyes just in time to meet the gaze of the alluring woman entering through the courtyard gate.
Their eyes locked, and within both sets of crimson irises lay a faint but unmistakable killing intent.
So she had noticed.
Daki had come to hunt him.
For her part, Daki glanced at the deserted courtyard. There was no banquet prepared this time. Her suspicions were confirmed—this imposing man had to be a Hashira.
Her head tilted slightly, and the feigned smile disappeared from her face. Her pupils sharpened dangerously, and a rancid aura of malice radiated from her.
"How many of you came this time?"
Daki licked her lips lightly, her eyes brimming with hunger.
Tong Gu reached for the long Nichirin blade behind him, unsheathing it slowly. The inky black blade was a color Daki had never seen before.
"To deal with you? I alone am sufficient."
The dismissive tone of the towering Demon Slayer infuriated Daki. She had always been proud and arrogant; her expression darkened instantly. With a slight tap of her toes—
Whoosh!
The wide sleeves of her courtesan robes whistled through the air as she closed the gap of several meters in an instant. Her concealed right leg slashed through the air, aiming directly for Tong Gu's face.
Tong Gu, planting his sword upright into the ground, didn't dodge. Instead, he raised his left hand, palm outward, to meet her kick head-on.
Demons, with their overwhelming speed and strength, often relied on brute force. For someone like Tong Gu, trained in traditional martial arts, their straightforward attacks were far from insurmountable.
The moment her leg connected with his palm, Tong Gu rotated his body, using her momentum to spin her in the air. Grabbing her ankle mid-spin, he swung her downward in a brutal arc.
Crash!
The courtyard's carefully laid stone floor shattered upon impact. Daki, though unharmed by such superficial damage, was visibly shocked. For the first time, she couldn't comprehend how she had been thrown.
This wasn't pain; it was humiliation.
With a furious shriek, several crimson sashes shot out from her body, tearing through the air.
Rip!
Her ornate kimono shredded into tatters, revealing her transformed form. Tong Gu leapt back, his grip on his sword firm as he flipped midair to evade the attack.
Daki, now standing atop the small villa's roof, looked down on Tong Gu. Her black and crimson sash-like garments clung tightly to her body, accentuating her beauty as well as her lethal intent.
"That skill… You must be a Hashira."
Tong Gu gripped his sword with one hand, its blade glinting faintly in the moonlight. Feigning nonchalance, he replied, "You're mistaken. I'm just a new recruit of the lowest rank."
Daki's face twisted with displeasure—she didn't believe him for a second. The strength he had displayed, even among the Hashiras she had encountered, was extraordinary.
Tong Gu continued, with deliberate emphasis, "But for dealing with a Lower Moon like you, that should suffice."
The words Lower Moon struck a nerve.
Daki's expression darkened further, her icy tone laced with fury as she pointed to the kanji in her left eye.
"Too bad. I'm an Upper Moon."
With those words, six crimson sashes shot from her back, slicing through the air in elegant arcs before plunging toward Tong Gu with deadly precision.
Tong Gu remained rooted, both hands gripping the sword before him, his breathing measured and calm. It was as if he stood on a frozen lake, his demeanor steady and unshaken.
Clang, clang, clang!
Six sharp clangs rang out as the sashes rebounded off his blade. Tong Gu's stance remained unbroken—he hadn't moved an inch.
Daki frowned, directing another barrage of sashes toward him, only to see the swordsman shift his wrist slightly. With each minimal adjustment, his long blade effortlessly deflected her attacks.
Such strength… Such a sturdy blade!
Daki knew her sashes could slice through walls with ease. Yet this man, with nothing but the force of his arm, redirected every strike.
Tong Gu's lips curled into a faint smile. This was a technique he had developed after being inspired by Sanemi Shinazugawa. If his swordsmanship lacked refinement, he would instead maximize his strengths—minimizing unnecessary movement.
Using principles from ancient martial arts to dissipate force, he had crafted this move:
Earth Breathing, Second Form: A Square Foot of Space.
By using the exceptional length of his Nichirin blade, Tong Gu absorbed and dispersed every incoming attack into the ground beneath him.
Daki, accustomed to her enemies fleeing from her relentless assaults, was furious. This time, her opponent stood firm, his blade unwavering.
"No retreat, no advance? Is this some sort of turtle-shell swordsmanship? Do you even know how to attack?"
Her frustration boiled over as she unleashed a tirade of insults.
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