DS Chapter 106: Muzan's Dream of the Ultimate Lifeform!
The moment those words left his mouth, the entire scene fell silent.
Katsuragi Ren clearly saw Gyokko and Zohakuten's bodies tremble at the same time.
Good.
It seemed Muzan's cells were getting excited again. But that also proved Ren's words had worked. At the very least, they no longer dared to act recklessly.
Zohakuten fell into deep thought.
After a long while, he finally raised his head, seemingly having reached a decision.
"As long as you can help us find the Blue Spider Lily, we'll spare your life."
"But!"
Zohakuten's tone suddenly changed.
"You must personally take us to the Spider Lily. Otherwise, I don't mind killing everyone here right now."
Ren wasn't surprised in the slightest.
He knew Muzan Kibutsuji was an extremely cautious man. A few words alone wouldn't be enough to shake his resolve.
That was why Ren needed leverage.
At present, Muzan's bargaining chip was the Butterfly Mansion.
Ren's bargaining chip was the Blue Spider Lily.
Although Ren didn't think this was a fair exchange, he knew Muzan wouldn't give him an opportunity to negotiate. He could only find a compromise.
After all, Muzan himself had never seen the Spider Lily.
So who could say whether all the bizarre stories he had heard about it were true or false?
As long as Muzan believed that the information was in Ren's hands, his life would remain safe.
Without hesitation, Ren said,
"Fine. I'll go with you."
After hearing Ren's answer, Zohakuten and Gyokko exchanged a glance, seemingly communicating some information to each other.
The next moment, Gyokko decisively pulled a fish from his pot and lightly slashed at Ren's arm.
Ren's strength had already been exhausted. He had neither the time nor the intention to dodge.
Because he knew Gyokko wouldn't dare kill him.
A moment later, a wound appeared on Ren's arm.
Purple poison seeped from the fresh cut. As time passed, the venom would slowly corrode Ren's body.
Gyokko grinned.
"Demon Slayer, don't even think about running away. My poison has already entered your body. If I don't give you the antidote in time, you won't live until tomorrow."
Ren merely shrugged.
"Whatever."
He knew this was some sort of control method being used by Gyokko and Zohakuten.
His combat ability had made the two Upper Ranks wary of him, so they had naturally chosen to restrain him in this way.
Thus, Gyokko decisively brought out one of his treasured poisonous fish and presented Ren with a generous gift—
A dose of poison.
What Gyokko didn't know was that the moment the poison entered Ren's body, the seemingly calm Ren had already begun using Hundredfold Total Concentration to purge it.
"Ren... Ren, where are you going?!"
At that moment, Kanao had somehow regained consciousness.
Her entire body was weak, and she could only lie on the ground while staring at Ren.
When she saw Ren covered in blood, seemingly kneeling before the demons, tears instantly welled up in her eyes.
No!
Kanao pushed herself up with both hands.
She absolutely refused to let Ren suffer the same miserable fate as her sister, Kanae.
She had to keep him here.
The young girl squeezed every last bit of strength from her body and actually managed to stand, though she swayed unsteadily on her feet.
Gyokko narrowed his eyes and licked his dry lips, watching Ren with interest.
"What should we do? How about I turn your little girlfriend into a brain-filled pot? Then you can take her with you."
Ren raised his head and looked at him coldly.
"Touch her, and you're finished."
Ren stepped forward and walked straight toward Kanao.
During that time, Gyokko tried to stop him, but Zohakuten blocked his path.
Ren stopped two steps away from Kanao.
Under the moonlight, his voice was unusually gentle.
"Kanao, you've already done very well. Everything will be fine."
"No, Ren. Don't go!"
Kanao was heartbroken, tears almost spilling from her eyes.
This was all her fault.
She had been too weak and too foolish, and because of that, she had dragged Ren into this situation.
If only she had been a little stronger just now...
Perhaps things wouldn't have ended up like this.
But it was too late to say anything now.
Suddenly, Kanao's expression became resolute.
"Ren, I'll go with you!"
"No, Kanao. You stay here. The Butterfly Mansion still needs you."
Ren glanced back at the two Upper Ranks behind him before suddenly asking,
"Kanao, you opened the barrier just now, didn't you?"
Kanao lowered her eyes, as though all the strength had been drained from her body.
"Yes... but, Ren, I couldn't help you."
"No, Kanao. Listen to me."
"You're very talented. That's why you have to keep practicing this sword technique until you've truly mastered it."
"Also, I accidentally made quite a mess here. Remember to have your master clean everything properly. Otherwise, when the wisteria flowers bloom next year, their fragrance won't be as pleasant."
Nearby, Gyokko wore an impatient expression.
"Demon Slayer, when are you finally going to finish? If you keep dragging this out, dawn will arrive. And when that happens, I can't guarantee that I won't lose control!"
"All right, all right. Why are you in such a hurry?"
Ren retorted, then turned around and walked toward Gyokko and Zohakuten.
"If you're really that capable, go find the Spider Lily yourself!"
Kanao called Ren's name several times.
But he didn't dare turn around.
For the sake of the Butterfly Mansion's safety, he had no choice.
Under the dim moonlight, the young man's figure once again disappeared into the Blood Demon Art.
Ren only heard the sound of a biwa string being plucked.
In an instant, everyone vanished from the spot.
In the courtyard before the Butterfly Mansion, Kanao collapsed to her knees, overwhelmed by despair.
She pressed her forehead tightly against the ground and began sobbing uncontrollably.
...
Boom.
Boom.
Boom.
Towering structures twisted and intertwined, spiraling endlessly upward amid the grinding sound of enormous objects shifting around them.
Gyokko and Hantengu were simultaneously transported into the Infinity Castle.
"Dir~"
The sound of the biwa rang through the castle.
The biwa-playing girl moved her slender fingers, and a faint, sinister melody spread through the air.
"Hantengu, well done."
They heard his voice before they saw him.
Muzan's voice weighed heavily upon the hearts of the two Upper Ranks.
A tremor rose from the depths of their souls.
Gyokko and Hantengu almost simultaneously dropped to their knees!
The two demons raised their heads.
A graceful female figure slowly entered their vision.
Today, Lord Muzan was dressed in a black qipao, his expression cold and imposing, the slit of the dress extending all the way up her thigh.
Using his extraordinary ability to imitate appearances, Muzan had transformed into a form that Hantengu and Gyokko had never seen before—
A dignified and elegant woman.
But Hantengu didn't dare admire his master's appearance.
He timidly crawled along the floor, his entire body trembling.
Wisely, he lowered his head.
"Lord Muzan, we've captured Katsuragi Ren, and we've also found the whereabouts of the Blue Spider Lily! Please decide what should be done with him!"
"Oh?"
Muzan looked at Hantengu with disdain.
"Is that really so?"
"Yes!"
Gyokko hurriedly interrupted.
"Katsuragi Ren really seems to know where the Spider Lily is. Lord Muzan, as long as you let me take responsibility for guarding Ren, I guarantee that I'll find the Blue Spider Lily!"
Muzan calmly turned around after hearing this.
The answers from both demons were completely within his expectations.
Because Muzan could see everything his demons saw, he had already witnessed what Hantengu and Gyokko had experienced at the Butterfly Mansion.
And this discovery filled him with overwhelming excitement.
A thousand years of fruitless searching had long since turned Muzan's heart cold as a butcher's blade.
Yet Katsuragi Ren's answer had reignited the demonic heart of Muzan Kibutsuji!
The Blue Spider Lily...
He actually knew where it was!
Eternal life.
Perfection.
The ultimate lifeform.
Could it be that Lord Muzan was finally going to evolve into a god?!