Because of Xia Feng's decisive action, Jigoro Kuwajima's wound did not become immediately fatal, even though blood was still pouring from his abdomen in a frightening stream.
Xia Feng tossed the short blade he had taken aside.
Then he sat down on the ground, propping his chin on his hand as he looked at Jigoro.
"If you die like this, it's really not worth it."
"Your disciple becoming a demon isn't your fault."
Jigoro widened his eyes at Xia Feng.
Both of his hands pressed tightly against his wound, trying to slow the bleeding.
But he had no idea what Xia Feng was planning.
If Xia Feng wanted to save him, shouldn't he call for help or at least bring bandages from inside?
And if he didn't want to save him…
Then at least give the knife back.
Xia Feng slowly stood up and dusted off his clothes.
"And what you're doing right now is extremely outdated."
"It doesn't solve the root of the problem at all."
He sighed.
"If you believe the Demon Slayer you trained has turned into a demon, then what you should do isn't kill yourself."
"You should pick up your Nichirin Blade and personally cut him down."
"That's what you should be doing."
"Instead of choosing a quiet night, arranging everything neatly, and committing suicide to apologize."
"After you die, someone will still have to clean up your corpse. What a hassle."
Xia Feng deliberately didn't use his healing technique.
He knew Jigoro's injury wasn't the real problem.
The real issue was his desire to die.
That mindset had to be dealt with first.
Jigoro felt that Xia Feng's words somehow made sense…
But at the same time, something about them felt strange.
So now even suicide is my fault?
At that moment, other members of the Demon Slayer Corps arrived at the training house.
Seeing that Jigoro was still alive, they all let out sighs of relief.
At the front was Shinobu Kocho.
The moment she saw Jigoro, she quickly rushed forward and knelt beside him to treat the wound.
But Jigoro pressed his hand against the injury and stopped her.
Shinobu's expression changed.
"Former Thunder Hashira, your wound is still life-threatening."
"If it's not treated immediately, you could die."
Jigoro smiled faintly.
"I intended to die in atonement anyway."
"If Mr. Xia Feng hadn't stopped me, my goal would already have been achieved."
Shinobu lowered her head, unsure how to comfort him.
At that moment, Xia Feng scoffed.
"I already said it."
"If you want to make up for your mistake, pick up your Nichirin Blade and kill that disciple who became a demon."
Shinobu looked at Xia Feng and suddenly smiled brightly.
"Xia Feng-kun, I believe a Demon Slayer turning traitor has little to do with the trainer."
"It simply means the swordsman failed to maintain their conviction."
Xia Feng waved a hand dismissively.
"Don't give me that noble-sounding nonsense."
"Wrong is wrong."
"If you did something wrong, then fix it."
"Dying to apologize isn't atonement."
"It's escape."
"It's cowardice."
Xia Feng didn't hold back at all.
He even dismissed seppuku as worthless.
But hearing this, Jigoro suddenly understood something.
He nodded slowly.
"Mr. Xia Feng is right."
"Dying to atone is only running away. It's cowardly."
"I've lived so many years yet failed to realize such a simple truth. How shameful."
He looked at Shinobu.
"Please treat my wounds."
"I must recover as quickly as possible."
"I will personally eliminate that sinful disciple."
After taking a deep breath, he added,
"After that… I will consider atonement."
Only then did Shinobu relax.
She quickly began treating and bandaging the wound.
Although Jigoro was elderly, the moment the bandaging was finished he managed to stand up.
His willpower was extraordinary.
Everyone could see he was enduring tremendous pain.
Shinobu smiled gently.
"Former Thunder Hashira, I think it would be better if you rested first."
But Jigoro shook his head firmly.
"My time is limited."
"I can't afford to rest."
"If we find Kaigaku now, I can end this quickly."
"The longer he lives, the more people will die."
His expression was resolute.
He returned to his room and soon emerged with an old Nichirin Blade fastened at his waist.
Xia Feng thought for a moment.
"How about I accompany you?"
"We'll find Kaigaku faster that way."
Jigoro accepted the suggestion.
While he went back inside to prepare, Shinobu walked over to Xia Feng with a gentle expression.
"Xia Feng-kun… you're actually a very kind person."
"Everything you said earlier was just to make the former Thunder Hashira keep living, wasn't it?"
Xia Feng scratched his head.
"I was just saying what I thought was right."
Shinobu's eyes lingered on him thoughtfully.
Xia Feng simply shrugged.
In the end, the journey consisted of only Xia Feng and Jigoro.
Information about Kaigaku's whereabouts would be delivered through crows.
They only needed to head toward the location where Demon Slayer Corps members had last seen him.
The street ahead was an old Japanese night market.
Food stalls lined both sides of the road.
People walked happily through the lively crowd.
Xia Feng pointed toward a corner ahead.
"Kaigaku was spotted just around there."
As the two turned the corner into a dark alley—
The noisy market sounds instantly disappeared.
Though only separated by one corner, it felt like two completely different worlds.
Blood stains covered the ground and splashed across the walls.
Xia Feng crouched beside a corpse.
"Killed by a katana."
"Clean technique. Each of these Demon Slayers died with a single strike."
After examining the body, he looked at Jigoro.
Jigoro's voice trembled.
"That's Thunder Breathing."
"That traitor really committed his crimes here."
His hands shook slightly.
Xia Feng drew his Nichirin Blade.
"But I'm curious."
"If he killed them… why didn't he eat them?"
The answer soon became obvious.
The corpses suddenly rose from the ground.
They had turned into demons.
Their eyes were filled with hunger and madness.
Roaring wildly, they lunged toward Xia Feng and Jigoro.
Xia Feng moved first.
"Water Breathing—Third Form: Flowing Dance!"
Two of the demonized Demon Slayers were easily cut down.
Their bodies rapidly turned to ash.
Xia Feng sheathed his blade with a smile.
"Your job is to kill Kaigaku."
"Leave these small fry to me."
At that moment—
A crow landed on Xia Feng's shoulder.
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