Inside a secluded mansion, a woman dressed in a kimono sat quietly in seiza.
Her eyes were gently closed, as if she were meditating.
Suddenly—
She opened them.
Her eyes were bloodshot and filled with dark gloom.
When she spoke, however, the voice that came out was clearly that of a man.
"Xia Feng… he killed another one of my Upper Ranks."
"Does that man really refuse to accept kindness and insist on punishment instead?"
She slowly stood up and slid open the paper door, looking out into the night sky.
After a moment of silence, she spoke calmly.
"Nakime."
As her voice fell—
A paper door suddenly opened beside her.
Inside stood a female demon with long, disheveled hair.
She held a biwa in her arms and respectfully lowered her head.
"Lord Muzan."
The woman in the kimono nodded and stepped through the door.
Yes—
This woman was none other than Muzan Kibutsuji.
Muzan looked at Nakime.
"Bring Kokushibo, Doma… and Akaza."
Nakime nodded.
She lightly plucked the strings of her biwa.
Bwoong—
With the sound of the instrument, a figure suddenly appeared inside the Infinity Castle.
Then the biwa sounded twice more.
Two more figures appeared one after another.
One of them was a young man with light-colored hair and a large hat.
He blinked in surprise before showing a sorrowful expression toward Muzan.
"Lord Muzan, I was just preaching to my followers."
"Couldn't you at least warn me before pulling me over here?"
Muzan looked at him expressionlessly without replying.
Seeing Muzan's reaction, Doma looked slightly surprised.
He immediately realized—
Muzan was in a very bad mood.
Without hesitation, he dropped to one knee.
After Doma finished his theatrics, Kokushibo silently knelt down as well.
"Lord Muzan."
Akaza had already knelt earlier.
Muzan's expression remained unchanged.
"Just now… Upper Rank Six has died."
"Killed by Xia Feng."
Hearing this, all three of them showed surprised expressions.
A shadow crossed Akaza's face.
Xia Feng…
The man who fights without even needing to draw his sword?
If it was him, then Upper Rank Six losing wasn't surprising.
The moment that thought crossed his mind—
Muzan's voice sounded coldly.
"I did not summon you here so you could praise Xia Feng."
Akaza immediately lowered his head, not daring to think further.
Doma tilted his head.
"Gyutaro died, huh…"
"Then I bear some responsibility. After all, I was the one who recommended him to become one of the Twelve Kizuki."
"How should I apologize? Maybe I should gouge out one of my eyes?"
Muzan glanced at him coldly.
"If gouging out your eyes could bring me Xia Feng's head…"
"Then I would gouge them out ten thousand times."
Doma immediately made an injured expression.
Muzan continued speaking.
"During Xia Feng's battle with Gyutaro… he demonstrated a certain ability."
"After Daki and Gyutaro had their hands severed by him, their regeneration completely stopped."
"Their limbs could not regrow."
As he spoke, Muzan shared the memory of the battle with the three of them.
After watching it—
All three showed shocked expressions.
Kokushibo immediately recalled his own battle with Xia Feng.
Back then, Xia Feng clearly did not possess this ability.
If Xia Feng had used it during that battle—
Kokushibo would have suffered a severe disadvantage.
No—
He might have already died.
Muzan glanced at him.
"What is it, Kokushibo? Even you feel fear now?"
Kokushibo paused for a moment before speaking in a deep voice.
"No!"
He raised his head.
"Lord Muzan, allow me to fight Xia Feng again. This time, I will bring back his head."
Akaza glanced at Kokushibo.
He didn't know who was stronger between Kokushibo and Xia Feng.
But one thing was certain—
Both of them were stronger than him.
If anyone among the Twelve Kizuki could kill Xia Feng, it would probably be Kokushibo.
But Muzan shook his head.
"Kokushibo… have you not realized something?"
"The most terrifying thing about Xia Feng is not his strength."
"It is his ability to grow."
"He is only sixteen years old."
"For humans, sixteen is merely the beginning."
"He is still far from his peak."
"If you keep fighting him one after another, you will only help him grow stronger."
"And eventually, the Ubuyashiki family will gain a warrior powerful enough to become uncontrollable."
Muzan's eyes darkened.
"My order to you is simple."
"And it is the exact opposite of your request."
"From today onward, you are forbidden from approaching Xia Feng by any means."
"Especially not fighting him."
He looked at the others.
"Doma. Akaza."
"The same order applies to both of you."
"Xia Feng is only human."
"Since he refuses to accept my blood, his lifespan is limited."
"All we need to do is wait quietly for a few decades."
"He will grow old."
"He will die."
"And when that day comes… we will reclaim every debt from the Demon Slayer Corps with interest."
Hearing this—
All three demons widened their eyes.
Muzan…
had admitted defeat.
They had followed Muzan for centuries.
During those hundreds of years, the hatred between Muzan and the Demon Slayer Corps had filled volumes of history.
Yet despite everything—
Muzan had never backed down.
His only policy toward the Demon Slayer Corps had always been one word:
Kill.
If ordinary demons failed, send the Lower Ranks.
If the Lower Ranks failed, send the Upper Ranks.
But now—
He had chosen to avoid battle.
To retreat from a single Demon Slayer.
After the initial shock, however—
They had to admit something.
Muzan's decision made sense.
None of Xia Feng's previously displayed abilities had truly frightened them.
Not even the terrifying air-sword technique he used against Gyokko.
But the ability that prevented regeneration after being cut—
That was truly terrifying.
Even Upper Rank demons could not withstand it.
If Xia Feng casually cut off a few of their limbs…
What would they fight with afterward?
For the first time in centuries—
They finally understood the pain the Demon Slayer Corps had always faced.
Even so, Muzan's command was difficult to accept.
But Muzan paid no attention to their feelings.
He continued calmly.
"Doma."
"I have a task for you."
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