Li Qingming ran as fast as he could along the snowy mountain path outside the village under the dark night.
From his conversation with Juro, he had already confirmed the timeline.
Tonight, Tanjiro Kamado's family would be ruthlessly killed by the Demon King, Muzan Kibutsuji. His sister, Nezuko Kamado, would be turned into a demon.
This was the start of the story, the beginning of Tanjiro's journey as a Demon Slayer.
Li Qingming cared for Nezuko, but he didn't want her to suffer the pain of losing her family.
"To stop Muzan, I must arrive in time!"
He reached the foot of the mountain, where a small wooden cabin stood with faint light flickering through the window.
He remembered this place—Tanjiro would stay here tonight, helped by a kind uncle who would tell him stories about demons.
"I'll let him stay here for now."
Li Qingming glanced at the cabin and quickly ran past.
With Tanjiro's personality, if he knew his family was in danger, he would follow back, possibly resisting Li Qingming's help. But now, Tanjiro was too weak—unable to fight demons alone, let alone face Muzan.
If Muzan saw Tanjiro's earrings in this remote area, he would probably kill him instantly.
"Ah!"
A man's scream rang out behind him.
Li Qingming froze—the scream came from the cabin he just passed!
He quickly turned. The cabin door was open, and the firelight cast a sinister shadow on the snow.
> [Congratulations! Host has achieved "Encounter with the Demon King" achievement! Reward: "Seventh Sense"!]
Li Qingming felt as if the top of his head had been opened—everything around him poured into his mind continuously. Even closing his eyes and holding his breath didn't stop it.
It wasn't painful; instead, it was a sharp clarity, like a super radar, able to detect every detail.
He quickly regained focus, astonished.
"Encounter the Demon King? How can Muzan Kibutsuji be here? Isn't he supposed to be on the mountain?!"
He concentrated on the cabin and sensed a powerful, unfamiliar aura. The oppressive presence made his hairs stand on end, his cells trembling—a clear signal of danger.
He immediately summoned his Nichirin sword and ran toward the cabin.
---
Inside the cabin:
Tanjiro trembled, gripping a hand axe.
"Who are you?! Why are you hurting the uncle?!"
In front of him stood a young man in a black haori, with bloodshot crimson eyes and cat-like pupils, his pale face twisted with a sickly expression.
Pulling his hand from the uncle's chest, Muzan looked at his bloodied palm and smiled.
"Remember my name: Muzan Kibutsuji. I am the one who gives you new life."
"'Muzan Kibutsuji'…"
Tanjiro didn't recognize him, but there was a smell he intensely disliked—a dangerous, malicious aura.
Muzan stepped in front of Tanjiro, his eyes full of demonic desire.
Tanjiro gripped the hand axe, conflicted.
"I'm a person… I can't hurt him, but he's attacking the uncle! I need to subdue him, maybe send him to the local constable."
As he thought, Muzan's pale finger pointed at Tanjiro's forehead.
Tanjiro suddenly grabbed Muzan's arm, pulled down, and leapt, headbutting Muzan's forehead.
Fear flashed in Muzan's eyes; he instinctively stepped back, only to realize his haori had been pinned by the hand axe into the floor.
Losing his balance, he fell heavily.
Tanjiro straddled him, pinning his hands, heart racing with joy.
"Success! I did it!"
Muzan's face twisted in rage, veins bulging from eyes to forehead.
A thick arm tore through his clothing, grabbing Tanjiro's neck.
"What is this?!" Tanjiro exclaimed.
Muzan slowly stood, holding Tanjiro before him.
"Don't worry. Soon, you'll become like me!"
His sharp nails bent, ready to pierce Tanjiro's neck.
Tanjiro struggled, but it was useless.
"I'm going to die?" His mind replayed flashes of his father, mother, brother, sister… "I don't want to die! Someone save me!"
Suddenly, a silver light flashed. The thick arm was severed.
Tanjiro fell to the ground, unconscious.
Muzan jumped back, shocked. Standing between him and Tanjiro was a ragged young boy holding a long sword.
"I didn't sense his presence! Could he be a Pillar? At this age… the Mist Pillar?"
No. The Mist Pillar had long hair. This boy had short, messy hair, and his sword didn't have the demon-slaying engraving.
Muzan's eyes filled with killing intent:
"Who are you?"
> [Congratulations! Host has achieved "Deal Damage to the Demon King" achievement! Reward: "Mark/Pattern"!]
Li Qingming thought: With this mark, I should be able to unlock the Hakkaten (Red Sword) technique. But having the Hakkaten doesn't necessarily mean I can defeat Muzan…
In memory, only the strongest swordsman, Yoriichi Tsugikuni, could single-handedly fight Muzan.
Hundreds of years later, even multiple marked swordsmen could only delay him until sunrise.
Am I at Yoriichi's level yet?
If I can't win, I'll be killed. If I fight but can't finish him, he'll escape and survive for hundreds of years.
Li Qingming stood with his sword, coldly answering:
"I am the one who will kill you!"
"Interesting," Muzan sneered. "You know who I am?"
Li Qingming measured him and said firmly:
"A sickly, sun-fearing man."
Muzan's fear of sunlight and sickly nature were his weaknesses. Being insulted by a small kid, he erupted in rage. Veins on his forehead bulged, and his haori tore as vine-like, spiked appendages shot toward Li Qingming.
"Such speed!"
Water Breathing, Form Eight: Waterfall Basin!