The next day, Sangishima Jigorō woke up early and roused Azuma Zenitsu from his sleep.
After a night of rest, he took the still drowsy and not fully awake Azuma Zenitsu directly to Peach Mountain.
Of course, before leaving, he greeted Tsugikuni Yoriichi.
However…
After he knocked on the door, received no response, and carefully pushed the door open, he suddenly found that Tsugikuni Yoriichi had already disappeared.
—He left without saying goodbye.
That was his thought at the time, and he didn't pay too much attention to it; after all, they had only met by chance.
Subsequently, when he returned to Peach Mountain, settled Azuma Zenitsu, and set the future training plan, a Kasugai Crow suddenly cried out, circling downward.
A secret letter was tied to the Kasugai Crow's leg.
The content of the letter was somewhat shocking.
With just one glance…
The figure in black, with a red haori draped over his shoulders, instantly leaped into Sangishima Jigorō's mind.
"It's him?"
His unfocused eyes slowly sharpened, and Jigorō suddenly looked up at the road down the mountain.
The golden tide of dawn enveloped the entire Peach Mountain, even dyeing the ground with a golden glow.
Beside the road, a black-haired young man was holding a Kenpachi, desperately trying to prove himself.
His clothes were soaked with sweat, and the Kenpachi he wielded forcefully made a clear whooshing sound in the air.
—His eldest disciple, Kaigaku.
However, at this moment, Sangishima Jigorō's attention was completely drawn to the events mentioned in the letter.
He was completely unaware of the young man's performance.
Sitting on the veranda, he composed himself, decisively stood up, tucked the letter into his pocket, picked up his cane, and hurried down the mountain.
His momentum was formidable, and his movements caused even the bluestone ground to tremble, showing no trace of the decrepitude expected of a seventy-year-old man.
"Master, I…"
Seeing his master rushing over, Kaigaku's heart filled with joy, eagerly anticipating some praise.
He had exerted himself to the utmost to perform, hoping to graduate early.
Only by becoming a Demon Slayer Corps swordsman could his status be elevated, could he earn more money, and be respected.
He no longer wanted to return to the miserable days of drinking muddy water and starving.
However, when he saw Sangishima Jigorō's dismissive manner, passing by him without even a glance, Kaigaku's face instantly darkened.
Thump!
His footsteps gradually faded into the distance. With his back to the mountain gate, a strong feeling of jealousy, born from the intense disparity, arose within him.
He looked at his new junior brother, Azuma Zenitsu, who was crying out in panic not far away.
He completely failed to understand why his master would bring such a useless person up the mountain.
This useless person was taking away his master's concern for him.
He was taking away his sense of honor.
And he was taking away his time.
His master told him to look after him…
Why?
One successor to the Thunder Breathing was enough!
Creak…
His tightly clenched fists made a grinding sound as his muscles tensed, and his black eyes, like dense darkness, stared fixedly at Azuma Zenitsu.
The complex emotions of jealousy, anger, and impatience, blended together, almost filled his entire chest.
Until…
"Kaigaku, what are you doing standing here?"
His master's voice came from behind him.
Kaigaku's heart jumped.
He quickly turned around, revealing a gentle smile, and slightly lowered his head: "Nothing, Master."
"I saw that the sunlight here is ample and the air is fresh, very suitable for warming up. I plan to look after my junior brother once I finish my warm-up exercise."
His tone was amiable, as if all the negative emotions he had just felt did not exist.
Sangishima Jigorō nodded: "I see. That's thoughtful of you."
He smiled with relief, "I'll give you the day off today. After Zenitsu finishes his warm-up, you can take him to familiarize himself with the surroundings of Peach Mountain."
"The headquarters has summoned us old folks for something, and we might not be back for a few days. You two must take good care of yourselves."
"Yes, Master," Kaigaku replied respectfully.
Afterward, he watched Sangishima Jigorō leave until his figure disappeared at the end of the road.
Only then did a subtle shadow reappear in his eyes.
"Hmph!"
…
Tokyo.
Deep within the vast mountains.
Yashiki Kagaya, only twenty years old, sat in a courtyard, coughing up blood repeatedly.
The courtyard was filled with birdsong and the scent of flowers, with a gentle breeze, yet even the brightest environment could not conceal the faint desolation and decay lingering in the air.
"Cough, cough…"
His handkerchief stained with blood, Yashiki Kagaya slowly straightened up with the help of his wife, Amane Ubuyashiki.
He looked at the old man kneeling before him—Urokodaki Sakonji, wearing a Tengu mask, now hanging on the side of his head.
On his jade-like face, an expression other than a gentle smile appeared for the first time.
"Sakonji-san, is this true?"
His hands rested on his knees, seemingly trying to maintain his last shred of composure.
Upon hearing this, Urokodaki Sakonji slowly raised his head.
His voice was solemn: "It is true."
After he spoke, he quietly observed Yashiki Kagaya, the current head of the Demon Slayer Corps.
He suddenly noticed a purple scar on his forehead that he hadn't seen two years ago.
Decades ago, Urokodaki Sakonji had seen such marks; they were a sign of a severe illness acting up.
Every head of the Ubuyashiki family, once this mark appeared on their face, would, without exception, die from illness within five years.
Five years…
He was seventy-three this year and had served three heads of the Demon Slayer Corps.
Yashiki Kagaya was the most recent, and probably the last.
"It's true…" Upon hearing this reply, Yashiki Kagaya's inner emotions instantly turned into a tangled mess.
He didn't know how to react to this matter.
Excitement? Or joy?
No, it was more likely shock.
A figure from four hundred years ago was still alive…
If it were anyone else, he would have assumed that person had turned into a demon, after all, only demons could live forever.
But…
He looked deeply at Urokodaki Sakonji, suddenly feeling that Urokodaki was hiding something from him.
Of course, Yashiki Kagaya did not delve deeper.
Regardless of what was hidden, Tsugikuni Yoriichi's resurrection was an undeniable fact.
The immediate priority was to find him, win him over, and determine his stance.
Although Urokodaki Sakonji described his final stance as unchanged for four hundred years, regarding Tsugikuni Yoriichi's identity…
"How did he describe himself?"
Yashiki Kagaya took a deep breath, voicing the doubts in his heart, "Do you know where he has been for the past four hundred years?"
Though his voice was as warm as sunlight, Urokodaki Sakonji could hear deep worry.
Kneeling before Yashiki Kagaya, Urokodaki pondered for a moment, then shook his head softly: "I apologize, Master, his existence is mysterious to us."
"It is precisely because I can't make up my mind that I tried to seek help from headquarters."
"I heard that there is history from four hundred years ago here at headquarters…"
He slowly revealed his purpose.
Yashiki Kagaya nodded.
Amane Ubuyashiki, seeing this, perfectly presented the Demon Slayer Corps Record that had been prepared in advance.
The yellowish-brown book was so striking. Urokodaki Sakonji carefully flipped through it, and various past events appeared before his eyes one by one.
A hint of shock gradually appeared in his eyes as well.