Patience... still need patience... still need patience....
If I could be patient and keep them for a few more years, helping them perfect the Breathing Technique and further hone their skills... maybe things wouldn't have come to this.
Urokodaki Sakonji wore a striped haori of white clouds on a blue base as he walked in front...
Roy followed leisurely behind, with Tanjiro and a group of observing souls trailing behind them, creating an indescribably eerie atmosphere.
"Slurp~" Makomo seized the chance as Tanjiro passed by her, sticking out her small tongue to lick Sabito, naturally, she licked nothing.
"I've never hated being a ghost more than I do today." Sabito seemed to hear her thoughts, giving her a helpless glance, he moved in step with Roy.
The young man's frame was unusually tall for his age, carrying a basket, each step appeared meticulously measured, advances and retreats in order, clearly... not an ordinary person.
'He must have undergone rigorous training, even... judging by his speed just now, his physical condition far exceeds mine, nearing Giyu's level....'
Amateurs watch for fun, experts watch for the way, what Sabito could discern, Urokodaki Sakonji sees even more deeply.
"Master is intrigued." Makomo, unable to take a bite, was not disappointed, instead, she happily said, "Master has company now."
"We also have company now...."
Sabito, back to the towering Sagiri yama, held the tachi at his waist, reminding, "Don't get too happy too soon, they still need to pass the test."
Whether it's a mule or a horse, it always needs to be taken out for a walk, and those traps hidden deep in Sagiri yama are certainly not just for show, relying solely on speed... there's absolutely no way to pass.
"Creak~" The wooden door opened, Urokodaki Sakonji placed the carving knife in his hand on the shelf beside him, brushing off the snowdrops as he walked in.
Roy and Tanjiro stomped their feet, followed, and unloaded the basket, handing the rabbit to him with ease.
An accomplished swordsman doesn't necessarily make a good cook, but one will definitely be a deft knife user... the half-roasted rabbit fell into Urokodaki Sakonji's hands, swiftly divided into even small pieces, with sake added to eliminate the gamey taste, and stir-fried with sauces and green vegetables used as a base, quickly creating a rustic version of "Braised Rabbit."
Next, open the bed board, set the brazier to simmer slowly for a while, then it's ready to eat.
"Sniff...sniff..." Makomo inhaled through her nose, itching to move.
She knelt beside Urokodaki Sakonji, with Roy and Tanjiro sitting on the opposite side of the brazier.
Sabito and those souls squeezed in from outside the walls, sprawling on the spot, momentarily filling the small cabin to the brim with a unique atmosphere of warmth.
"Bubble bubble..." the fire burned the pot, releasing bubbles.
After finishing all this, Urokodaki Sakonji carefully examined Roy and Tanjiro.
The Kamado Brothers bore a three-point resemblance, but there was a clear difference in their physiques.
Maybe because Roy inherited Life Energy from Minamino Guangzhi, he appeared more robust than before, sitting cross-legged by the furnace, exuding an aura of immovable mountain calmness.
In contrast, the innocent Tanjiro seemed a bit immature.
He mimicked Roy's posture, pretending to be an adult.
"He can't." After a moment of silence, Urokodaki Sakonji glanced at Tanjiro and bluntly said, "Too young to endure the intensity; return home for three years of nurturing."
"I'm not young!" Tanjiro, seeming to be separated from Roy, unconvincingly flexed his bicep: "I can help brother kill ghosts!"
What?!
Instantly the eyes inside the room focused on him, invisibly making Tanjiro's scalp tingle, even though he couldn't see Sabito, Makomo, and the other souls.
"Have you already encountered ghosts?" Shinsuke, lazily lying in the corner, upon hearing this, let out a surprised cry, flying directly to Tanjiro's head, circling him.
A gust of cold wind blew past, chilling Tanjiro's spine.
The foolish Mamen Beans barely noticed Urokodaki Sakonji momentarily lock his gaze on him, swallowing hard, grittingly said, "I didn't contribute to the one in the mountain, but the one we met in the shrine last night, I did help..."
'I didn't just help, almost got smashed by Nii-san for hesitating...'
Tanjiro added in his heart, now thinking back, his right cheek still faintly ached.
Urokodaki Sakonji remained silent, staring deeply at him... turning his head, followed by a group of disciples focusing on Roy.
Tanjiro seemed to have said everything, yet nothing at all... what's with "I didn't contribute to the one we met in the mountain"?
Shinsuke and Fukuda felt like grabbing his ears, demanding a clear explanation... after all, this was no joke; if he wasn't lying, it means—
This silent boy sitting across from Master, alone, killed an Evil Ghost!
And that's without having learned the "Breathing Technique"!
"Oh~ He seems better than you, Sabito." Makomo's eyes sparkled, finally willing to pull her gaze away from the pot.
'Even better than Giyu.' Sabito admired Roy unreservedly, silently adding in his heart...
Roy patted Tanjiro on the back, indicating no need to rush, clasped his hands together, looking sincerely at Urokodaki Sakonji, "Ghosts eat people first, then people kill ghosts."
"My little brother is a straightforward person, sorry to make Master Urokodaki laugh."
Urokodaki Sakonji still said nothing, taking another good look at Roy, he had already ascertained through a few words that this child was completely different from Sabito and Giyu...
Too calm... too composed... too patient, exhibiting a maturity far beyond his age, astonishing!
"Though I loathe admitting it..."
"There's no denying, you're a very talented child."
"Perhaps you really can kill it...."
Urokodaki Sakonji sighed softly after a long pause.....
Roy glanced at Sabito, knowing well that the so-called "it" was nothing more than the "Hand Ghost" imprisoned at Mount Fujikasane by the Demon Slayer Corps, which had devoured all of Urokodaki Sakonji's disciples, including Sabito and Makomo!
That "Hand Ghost" was Urokodaki Sakonji's captive, also the root cause of his long-standing despondency.
Urokodaki Sakonji stirred the rabbit meat with a wooden spoon to prevent it from sticking.
He spoke to himself, "You have patience, talent, and know when to advance and retreat, if it were any other Cultivator here, they'd have taken you in already, but I am different..."
He covered the pot, raised his head, looking directly into Roy's eyes, trying to see through his heart, ensuring not a single lie would slip past his notice.
Solemnly said, "Please tell me your resolve, what sustains you, choosing to slay ghosts..."
Roy smiled...
The young man unafraid of eye contact, boldly replied: "Honestly, I think you asked a stupid question..."
"Since the ghost chose to eat people, then it's on a path to its demise."
"I'm justified in killing it."
"Oh~" Makomo's eyes twinkled, she turned to Sabito: "This guy, he's even more handsome than you..."
Sabito's pink hair draped over his shoulders, eyes hidden under a fox mask suddenly lit with two flames of Divine Fire, shining brightly!