"Tengen-sama!"
Just then, three women stumbled out of the ruins at the other end of the street. They were covered in dust, with tear stains at the corners of their eyes. They were the three wives Tengen had sent to infiltrate the Yoshiwara Red-Light District and who had been captured by Daki—Hinatsuru, Makio, and Suma.
With Daki dead, the ribbons used to trap them naturally disintegrated.
"Hinatsuru! Makio! Suma!"
Tengen immediately put away his dual blades and strode forward to meet them, pulling the three women, who were crying with joy, into his arms.
The Sound Hashira, who had always considered himself flamboyant and tough, felt his eyes redden at this moment.
If Yamada hadn't intervened tonight, with just him and three rookies, facing the Upper Rank Six sibling duo would have definitely been a brutal battle, and might have even cost everyone their lives.
"Damn it! It's this normie again!"
Zenitsu, standing on the side, saw this scene, his back molars almost grinding to pieces with jealousy.
He squatted on the ground, pounding it frantically, cursing, looking exactly like a resentful woman.
[Ding! Detected that the host has killed Upper Rank Six (Daki/Gyutaro)!]
[Perfectly ended the century-long nightmare of the Yoshiwara Red-Light District, significantly changing the tragic fate of the Sound Hashira 'Uzui Tengen' losing an arm, an eye, and retiring!]
[Congratulations to the host for obtaining Dimension Points: 15,000!]
The system prompt sounded in his mind, and the corner of Yamada's lips curled into a satisfied arc.
Fifteen thousand points.
Sure enough, the more far-reaching the fate change, the more generous the system's rewards.
Although he had just spent 50,000 points to upgrade to Eternal Mangekyo Sharingan, at this rate of income, it wouldn't take long to save it back up.
"Alright, stop hugging and kissing here. I'll leave the cleanup to you, I'm going back to the Butterfly Mansion to catch up on sleep."
Yamada interrupted Tengen's intimacy and turned to walk out of the Yoshiwara Red-Light District.
"Yamada-san!"
Tengen released his wives, bowed deeply to Yamada's back, put away all his frivolity and laziness, and said in a solemn tone, "I will remember this kindness. If there is ever a need in the future, my life is at your disposal."
Yamada waved his hand without looking back, leaving only a lighthearted remark. "Just take care of your three wives. If you come up with such a terrible cross-dressing infiltration plan again, I'll stuff your headscarf into your mouth."
...
The next day, early morning.
When the first ray of sunlight pierced through the clouds and sprinkled onto the Butterfly Mansion of the Demon Slayer Corps headquarters, Yamada pushed open the courtyard gate.
Just as he walked into the front yard, he saw a purple figure standing under the colonnade.
Shinobu was wearing a clean white medical coat today, carrying a tray filled with bottles and jars. Seeing the gate pushed open, her footsteps paused abruptly.
The morning light fell on Yamada's shoulders, and his black haori fluttered gently in the breeze. His steps were steady, his expression was still that lazy and leisurely look, and there was not a speck of blood on him, not even his hair was messy.
Shinobu's nerves, which had been strained all night, finally relaxed at this moment. She placed the tray on the wooden table beside her and walked quickly to Yamada.
After looking him up and down to confirm that there were really no signs of missing arms or legs, she snorted and spoke with feigned composure, "It seems the courtesan of the Yoshiwara Red-Light District wasn't all that great. She didn't manage to hook the soul of a lecher like you, and you were able to roll back in one piece."
Although she was still sharp-tongued, the relief and joy in her eyes could not be hidden.
Yamada looked at this tsundere butterfly and chuckled. He suddenly took a step forward, narrowing the distance between them.
Before Shinobu could react, he lowered his head slightly and rested his chin on her shoulder.
"What... what are you doing! It's broad daylight, Aoi and the others might come out at any time!"
Shinobu's body stiffened, and she subconsciously wanted to push him away, but her hand turned into a light touch on his waist.
"Too tired, borrowing a place to lean for a while." Yamada closed his eyes, his voice carrying a hoarseness from staying up all night.
"The smell of makeup in the Yoshiwara Red-Light District is too heavy, the wisteria flowers here smell more comfortable."
This seemingly casual complaint was like a warm current, hitting the softest part of Shinobu's heart.
Yamada must have gone through a fierce battle unimaginable to ordinary people last night, yet he brushed off the act of slaying an Upper Rank—something that would make even a Hashira risk their life—so lightly.
All her tsundere-ness and cunning vanished at this moment.
Shinobu blushed and gave up struggling. She stood on tiptoe slightly, stretched out her arms, and gently wrapped them around Yamada's back, patting him lightly on the back as if soothing a tired child.
"You've worked hard. The hot water is ready, go take a bath and then get some sleep." Her voice was softer than ever before.
"Will there be food when I wake up?" Yamada asked.
"Yes. I'll make you whatever you want."
"Then I want to eat..." Yamada tilted his head, his lips grazing her rounded earlobe, the hot breath making Shinobu tremble. "You."
"Yamada!"
Shinobu, who had been tender just a second ago, instantly turned into furious. She pushed Yamada away, pulled out the blade at her waist with a flushed face, and glared at him in shame and anger.
"Get to the bath immediately! Otherwise, I'll fill your bathwater with high-concentration paralytic poison!"
Watching Yamada flee in a panic, Shinobu stood in place, stomping her feet in anger.
But soon, she couldn't help covering her mouth, a brilliant smile spreading across her face.
This man who was full of nonsense, arrogant, and domineering. It's really great that he came back safely.