In the aftermath of the great battle, the massive tumor and Haku's "Water Lily Bodhisattva" had been shattered one after another, leaving the air thick with a blood-scented, chilling mist. Even though the fighting had long ceased, this pale red mist lingered, blending with the morning fog and obstructing visibility.
At that moment, a figure emerged through the crimson mist, walking toward Shinji and Ryūhei Ubuyashiki.
Upon seeing the figure, Shinji froze, unable to immediately place their identity, though they seemed vaguely familiar.
Ryūhei Ubuyashiki, however, lost his usual composure. His voice rose in panic as he shouted, "Yorichi Tsugikuni, how—how could you still be alive!?"
"Yorichi Tsugikuni?"
Shinji was taken aback but quickly pieced it together.
The figure's Warring States-era samurai attire, the flame-like Mark on their forehead, and the talisman earrings dangling from their ears matched the characteristics of Yorichi Tsugikuni, the founder of the Breathing Techniques. This was why Shinji had felt a sense of familiarity at first glance.
But soon, Shinji shared Ryūhei's shock: "How is he still alive?"
With steady, unhurried steps, Yorichi Tsugikuni approached.
One hand rested on his sword, his eyes half-closed, his expression calm as if he were merely taking an evening stroll.
Ryūhei seemed to realize something and exclaimed, "No, no! You're not Yorichi Tsugikuni!"
Shinji's heart jolted.
The scene before him was far too eerie.
Yorichi Tsugikuni, the founder of the Breathing Techniques, should have been dead for centuries. So, it wasn't just Shinji who was stunned—Ryūhei, a native of the Demon Slayer world, was equally baffled.
Yet, Ryūhei seemed to have guessed the figure's true identity.
But instead of calming down, Ryūhei's realization only intensified his fear. His voice trembled, his terror palpable to the core!
Yorichi Tsugikuni appeared not to hear Ryūhei's panicked shouts, continuing his slow, steady approach without the slightest change in stride.
"Damn it! Quick, release me!"
Ryūhei struggled violently, his face filled with dread and unease.
Even if Shinji had the ability to undo Shion's sealing jutsu, he wouldn't have freed Ryūhei. After all, releasing a tiger is easy, but capturing one is hard!
And with this eerie Yorichi Tsugikuni approaching, Shinji hesitated only briefly before leaping back to a safe distance.
He needed to confirm whether this figure was targeting him or Ryūhei.
As the mysterious Yorichi drew closer through the mist, Ryūhei's reactions grew more frantic. He thrashed against his restraints while hurling curses, completely losing his composure!
Finally, Yorichi Tsugikuni stood before Ryūhei.
He stopped and drew his sword.
The motion was fluid, seamless, and the flames that erupted from his blade were so intense that even Shinji, standing dozens of meters away, felt a searing heat!
"This is impossible!"
Shinji's heart sank.
His understanding of Breathing Techniques was on par with the Hashira of the Demon Slayer Corps.
Breathing Techniques had their limits. Even Yorichi Tsugikuni, their creator, shouldn't theoretically be capable of unleashing a single slash that could make someone dozens of meters away feel genuine heat!
Ordinary people might not distinguish between the illusions created by Breathing Technique sword forms and real physical sensations, but Shinji—armed with his Eternal Mangekyō Sharingan and wielding a pair of Rinnegan through his Susanoo Tomoshibi—could easily tell the difference.
The blazing flames instantly engulfed Ryūhei, who was bound by the sealing jutsu.
However, perhaps due to Shion's sealing jutsu, the fiery blaze was momentarily halted by the glowing rings binding Ryūhei. In the end, the flames dissipated, and the rings restraining Ryūhei shattered!
"What!?"
Shinji's expression hardened.
Shion, the priestess of the Land of Demons, wielded sealing jutsu that wasn't easily broken. Yet this figure had shattered her seals with a single slash, a feat significant enough to make Shinji wary.
Freed from his restraints, Ryūhei abruptly sprang into action. His arms spread wide, and he swung massive bone blades glinting with cold light toward the eerie Yorichi Tsugikuni.
Swish.
With another slash, Yorichi cleanly severed both of Ryūhei's arms, his movements so swift they were almost unbelievable!
Ryūhei, now armless, froze in shock, his face filled with disbelief.
He quickly retreated, putting distance between himself and the eerie Yorichi.
Shinji glanced at Ryūhei's severed arms, his expression darkening.
Despite being afflicted by Shinji's Type-4 aging agent, which suppressed his blood and flesh powers, Ryūhei was still a Demon King far stronger than the Upper Rank Two. His regenerative abilities were formidable. Yet the arms severed by Yorichi showed no signs of recovery, as if Ryūhei had been reduced to a mere mortal.
At the same time, Shinji confirmed that this eerie "Yorichi Tsugikuni" wasn't targeting him but had set its sights on Ryūhei!
Whoosh.
Realizing his demonic regeneration was completely suppressed, Ryūhei, the Demon King, lost all courage to face Yorichi and fled without looking back.
Yorichi didn't linger. With a single leap, he gave chase.
Watching the two figures rapidly disappear, Shinji fell into deep thought.
From start to finish, Yorichi's expression never changed. But upon reflection, Shinji realized it wasn't disdain that caused his indifference—it was more like the emotionless demeanor of a puppet, devoid of feelings entirely!
"What the hell is that thing?! Ryūhei seems to have figured out its identity? So it's not Yorichi Tsugikuni…"
After weighing his options, Shinji decided to follow from a distance.
This was mainly because he still had questions about the "Lampbearer" that he needed to interrogate Ryūhei about. Though Ryūhei was an utterly despicable person, Shinji had to admit that, as a "Lampbearer" who had traversed many worlds, Ryūhei had some commendable qualities.
Not daring to follow too closely, Shinji deliberately slowed his pace.
When he found Ryūhei again in a forest, Ryūhei was leaning against a tree, his body reduced to a charred half.
In that brief moment, the eerie "Yorichi Tsugikuni" had not only caught up to Ryūhei but had wounded him to this extent—an almost unthinkable feat.
Shinji reflected that even if he went all out, he likely couldn't achieve such a result.