Yoshiwara Red-Light District, the city that never sleeps.
When night truly fell, this prosperous pleasure district finally came alive. Red lanterns hung on both sides of the street, illuminating the entire area as bright as day.
The heavy scent of makeup, the melodic sounds of the shamisen, and the coy laughter of the courtesans soliciting customers intertwined to form a decadent scene.
In a remote corner of the street, a disastrous "human trafficking" scene was unfolding.
Tengen had changed into a slightly flamboyant kimono and had even found a fake mustache to stick on his lip, dressing himself up as a loafer who was part human trafficker and part pimp.
With a wave of his hand, he pushed the three "young girls" behind him, who were wearing extremely garish makeup, in front of several brothel madams.
"Ladies, don't miss this. Look at these three lively girls. Although they look like country bumpkins right now, with a little training, they will definitely be the future cash cows of the Yoshiwara Red-Light District." Tengen boasted wildly, pushing his sales pitch.
The madam of Tokito House frowned, her gaze sweeping over Tanjiro's face, which was covered in white powder with a huge scar on his forehead.
"This child... isn't the scar on the forehead a bit too conspicuous? But she looks like a hardworking, honest person."
The madam sighed, "Forget it, we happen to be short of someone to wash clothes and do chores, so I'll take this girl."
"Thank you, Madam. I will definitely work hard." Upon hearing this, Tanjiro immediately bowed deeply at a ninety-degree angle, his voice booming.
"Alright, alright, don't be so loud." The madam covered her ears and quickly paid the money to take Tanjiro away.
Next was the madam of Ogimotoya.
She looked critically at Inosuke, who was standing in the middle.
"Isn't this girl's frame a bit too sturdy? And why is her standing posture like a bandit's?"
The madam was just about to refuse when her gaze suddenly fell on Inosuke's face, which was plastered with cheap white powder.
She leaned forward and took out a handkerchief, wiping on Inosuke's cheek.
The thick foundation faded, revealing Inosuke's face, which was more exquisite and beautiful than a woman's.
"Oh my!"
The madam's eyes lit up instantly, as if she had discovered a rare treasure.
"This look is amazing. Although a bit rough, as long as she doesn't speak, this face alone could attract a huge crowd of customers. This girl belongs to Ogimotoya."
Inosuke snorted a rough breath from his nostrils and was just about to curse when Tengen quickly pinched the back of his neck from behind, forcing him to hold it back, and the deal was successfully made.
Now, there was only one person left on the scene.
Zenitsu had two crooked topknots on his head, and his thick, blood-red lips were trembling slightly. His eyes, painted with rough eyeliner, were filled with tears.
He watched as his first two companions were successfully bought, while the remaining madams, upon seeing his appearance, retreated one after another as if they had seen a ghost, with some even covering their mouths and almost vomiting.
"This one... is really not good."
"She looks too sorry. we wouldn't take her even if you paid us. She'll scare the customers away."
"Go away, don't be an eyesore here."
Listening to these merciless evaluations, Zenitsu's heart shattered into pieces.
'Why?! Why is it only me that nobody wants? Am I not even as good as that wild boar?! I am a golden-haired, beautiful... girl with rich emotions and a delicate heart! You blind women!'
Zenitsu roared crazily in his heart, his tears washing two deep gullies into the white powder on his face.
Tengen also felt it was a bit tricky. He coughed twice and grabbed the madam of Kyogoku House, who was about to turn and leave.
"Madam, please have some mercy. Although this girl looks a bit shabby, she can play the shamisen. Plus, she has great strength. She'll have no problem dumping night soil or sweeping the floors. I'll give you a ninety percent discount—no, I'll give her to you for free, alright? Just give her some food to eat."
The madam of Kyogoku House looked at Zenitsu, who was hugging her thigh tightly and crying heart-wrenchingly, and curled her lip in disgust. But hearing that it was free, and thinking that the shop was indeed short of a menial laborer for rough work, she nodded reluctantly.
"Fine, I must have had eight lifetimes of bad luck. Hurry up and come with me, don't be an eyesore here."
Zenitsu was dragged away by the staff of Kyogoku House.
Before leaving, he turned his head and glared fiercely at Tengen and Yamada, who was watching the show not far away, with a look full of endless resentment and deep-seated hatred.
'You just wait. I will definitely become the top Oiran of the Yoshiwara Red-Light District. I will make all the men in Japan crazy for me. By then, I will trample you two scum who look down on me under my feet. Ahhhhh!'
Watching Zenitsu's back, full of fighting spirit (resentment), disappear around the corner, Yamada couldn't help but let out a "pfft" of laughter.
"Your tactics for undercover infiltration are truly unique." Yamada shook his head and walked out from the shadows.
"Alright, since they are all in position, let's see how I do next."
Tengen pulled off the fake mustache on his lip and let out a long sigh, "What are you planning to do? Kick the door down and fight a demon?"
"Kick the door down? That doesn't fit my current identity."
Yamada reached into his pocket and took out that thick stack of ten-thousand-yen bills generously sponsored by the Ubuyashiki Family, slapping them in his hand with a crisp sound.
"I heard everything clearly just now. The 'Kyogoku House' where Zenitsu was taken is one of the top high-end brothels in this Yoshiwara Red-Light District. Since it's a high-end place, the demon hiding inside naturally won't have low tastes."
Yamada took off his black haori and threw it to Tengen, wearing only a well-tailored, exquisitely textured dark-patterned yukata, with the Kusanagi Sword hanging at his waist. His whole body instantly exuded the aura of a wealthy young master from a powerful family—unapproachable yet overflowing with riches.
"Go, watch from the outside for me. If you find any rats trying to slip away, just slaughter them."
After dropping these words, Yamada put one hand in his pocket and swaggered towards the front door of Kyogoku House.