Chapter 51: Are You Done Talking?
The two quickly passed through the village and headed straight for the huge house in the very center.
There was almost no sound in the village, only the whimpering of the wind passing through the dilapidated houses.
It was terrifyingly quiet.
Ryuji had already spread out his Observation Haki, and he could sense that there were people in the surrounding houses.
"The surrounding houses are full of people."
He quietly said to Uzui Tengen, "Their Qi varies in strength. It seems they might all be ordinary villagers, or it could be an ambush..."
Uzui Tengen tightened his grip on the twin blades on his back, a gleam flashing in his rose-red eyes: "Oh, then let's have a flamboyant ruckus! Maybe we'll get some special reward!"
He trusted Ryuji's judgment; this perceptive ability had never been wrong so far!
"Special reward?"
Ryuji muttered, then said no more, because the demon's aura was growing stronger!
They had arrived.
Before them was a seemingly tidy courtyard, and the demon's aura was emanating from there.
Instead of a direct assault, the two leaped onto the wall, observing the situation in the courtyard.
After all, there were hostages inside.
As soon as he stood on the wall, Ryuji frowned. A special smell, a mixture of blood and a disgusting stench, assaulted his face, making him want to gag.
But the sight in the courtyard instantly turned that revulsion into rage!
Ryuji could sense that Uzui Tengen beside him was equally furious, even without looking.
In the courtyard, several ruddy-faced, robust villagers were gathered around a large pot, boiling something.
They wore fawning smiles, skillfully cutting the meat on the chopping board into pieces and tossing them into the soup pot.
Under the table was a blood-stained human skeleton.
These guys were cooking human flesh!
"My two friends, why don't you use the front door?"
An old man in a luxurious kimono sat calmly, gently raising his head to look at the two standing on the wall.
He wore glasses, his hair was meticulously combed, his face was thin, and his demeanor was serene, much like a wise and cultivated scholar.
If it weren't for the grayish-green skin beneath his open robe and the four human faces with different expressions on his chest, anyone would think he was just a nobleman living in seclusion here.
The old man seemed unsurprised by their arrival. He slowly took a handful of glistening rice from a rice bag beside him, scattered it casually, and said softly:
"This is for you. Not only that, but there will be even better things for you."
Upon hearing this, the villagers who were boiling the meat immediately scrambled for it, stuffing the dirt-stained rice grains into their mouths, looking enraptured.
But soon, they became dispirited, then began to scratch their bodies, roll on the ground, and even use the soup pot to scald their own skin!
"Isn't it wonderful?"
The old man's mouth curved upwards. After enjoying the spectacle, he turned his gaze back to the two standing in the courtyard, gently pushing up his glasses.
"My apologies, it seems we have guests from the Demon Slayer Corps. Please forgive this old man for not rising to greet you."
His voice was gentle and magnetic, carrying the unique cadence of an old-era nobleman: "Welcome to my humble abode, Swordsmen. I am the master here, Yanagisawa Yoshitomo."
He bowed forward, performing a noble's characteristic 禮 (li).
Ryuji looked at the old demon, then at the villagers who had risen from the ground, narrowing his eyes.
Judging by the villagers' state, it was probably... alas.
He took a deep breath, and then his eyes became incredibly firm.
Uzui Tengen glanced at Ryuji, feeling that this was still a bit too early for him. Without another word, he gripped his nichirin blade and was about to step forward to slay the demon.
Ryuji reached out and stopped Uzui Tengen, saying softly:
"Brother Uzui, this demon is so confident, let me test its mettle first. You can complete the score..."
Uzui Tengen was silent, looking at Ryuji's determined eyes, and sighed.
Have you made up your mind, Ryuji?
Then go!
"Alright, then I'll enjoy your flamboyant performance."
Yanagisawa Yoshitomo heard their conversation, and his mouth curved upwards: "My two guests seem rather angry..."
As soon as he finished speaking, the villagers immediately stood in front of Yanagisawa Yoshitomo with fierce expressions, shielding him completely.
Uzui Tengen's expression darkened.
Ryuji, however, remained unchanged, sighing inwardly. As expected, it was the same as Kojiro's beastly father... not hostages, but accomplices.
"Alas, ill-mannered creatures."
Yanagisawa Yoshitomo sighed, gently pushed aside the servants in front of him, and said apologetically to the two: "My domestic dogs are a bit disobedient, disturbing you two. Please forgive them."
His polite demeanor made him seem truly like a master apologizing for his rude servants.
After speaking, he clapped his hands.
The servants immediately understood, bowed, and retreated, disappearing into the shadows of the backyard.
Ryuji's Observation Haki sensed that these villagers, after leaving the courtyard, sprinted towards the back mountain, he didn't know what they were going to do.
It really seemed like there would be unexpected gains.
As the servants retreated, a line of women in brightly colored kimonos filed out from the rooms in the back.
They varied in age, from teenage girls to women who still retained their charm.
All these women were beautiful and graceful, and like the male servants, they all had rosy complexions and astonishingly good health.
They were completely different from the emaciated children they had seen before entering the village!
They held musical instruments, lined up, and prepared to perform.
"Please sit."
Yanagisawa Yoshitomo pointed to the stone stools in the courtyard: "You've traveled far as guests, first enjoy a song and dance to relieve your fatigue."
Ryuji merely tapped his feet lightly twice and tugged at the gauntlet on his hand.
Seeing that they had no intention of sitting, Yanagisawa Yoshitomo wasn't annoyed. He adjusted his kneeling posture and spoke in a compassionate tone:
"Swordsmen, why are you so full of resentment? My eating humans is just like your eating food, merely an instinct to sustain life."
"Is there anything wrong with that?"
He paused, looking at the silent but rapidly breathing Ryuji, a smirk playing on his lips, and continued: "When humans enjoy pork and beef, do they ever consider the suffering of those livestock?"
"Are humans such hypocritical creatures? Aren't we demons more honest?"
Seeing that Ryuji still said nothing, merely lowered his head and stood there, as if lost in thought.
Yanagisawa Yoshitomo's heart rejoiced.
It worked.
His Blood Demon Art: Voice of Deception, was best at amplifying inner emotions; joy, anger, sorrow, and happiness could all be used as a trigger!
What he had just amplified was the most common 'guilt' in the hearts of Demon Slayer Corps Swordsmen.
Once this emotion was amplified, it would become shackles binding their hands and feet, a tactic that never failed against Demon Slayer Corps Swordsmen!
Yanagisawa Yoshitomo watched the silent Ryuji, narrowing his eyes.
Out of caution, he decided to add fuel to the fire: "You see, I have brought order and joy to this village."
He pointed to the singing girls, then to the direction of the village: "I eat the dregs."
He leaned forward: "I eliminate bad seeds, I am a diligent gardener! I am helping this village weed! I am doing this to make this village better!!"
Ryuji looked up at the self-satisfied demon, at its hypocritical, compassionate face.
He simply said:
"Are you done talking?"
A red light flashed in his eyes.
"If you're done, then hit the road."
Before his words fully fell, Ryuji's right arm was instantly covered in black Armament Haki.
The ground beneath his feet instantly shattered into a spiderweb!
He transformed into a cannonball, his right fist fiercely swinging towards Yanagisawa Yoshitomo's head!
Yanagisawa Yoshitomo's pupils suddenly contracted.
What's going on?
Why was this Demon Slayer Corps Swordsman completely unaffected by him?!
I get it!
He must be faking it!
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