The mountain path was rugged and difficult to traverse.
Especially when carrying a bone larger than a person.
The Hiraikotsu was not light; it pressed heavily on his back. The chilling sensation from the material, fused and cast from the bones of multiple demons, seeped down his spine, as if he were carrying a block of thousand-year-old ice.
Kanbe Hikaru didn't mind.
For the physique of an Oni Samurai, this level of weight was merely equivalent to a small amount of weight training.
The key was that he had to build affinity while walking.
[Hiraikotsu: Affinity +1]
[Current Affinity: 5 (Slightly pleasing)]
[It thinks your technique for wiping off its dust just now was passable, but that was expected. It still doesn't want to talk to you.]
This thing really has a big temper.
Kanbe Hikaru reached out and patted the wide surface of the bone blade; it was smooth and hard.
"We'll be at your home soon, give me some face."
The Hiraikotsu did not react.
Kikyo in front stopped.
This was a hilly area, with cliffs on both sides like they had been carved, leaving only a narrow path in the middle.
The wind blew out from the canyon, carrying a peculiar smell.
It was the smell of sulfur and herbs used for insect repellent by people living in the wild for a long time, along with a hint of blood.
This was a smell that only places dealing with demon corpses would have.
The Demon Slayer Village.
They had arrived.
"Wait."
Kikyo raised her hand, her white sleeves fluttering in the wind.
Kanbe Hikaru stood still.
"What is it?"
"A Barrier."
Kikyo looked at the empty mountain pass ahead: "Someone set up a Barrier outside the village. It is not the work of a Demon Slayer."
In this world, this country, and this era.
The professions among humans were distinct; Demon Slayers were different from monks and mikos.
Demon Slayers specialized in physical exorcism; whether it was the Hiraikotsu or the sickle and chain, their main approach was physical exorcism.
Spiritual power Barriers were the specialty of monks or mikos.
Kanbe Hikaru activated the [Spirit Vision] he could obtain through his mental connection with the shikon no tama: naohi.
Sure enough, a layer of light film was floating in his field of vision, sealing the entire mountain pass tightly.
The spiritual power flowing on the light film was very pure; although not as good as Kikyo's, it was definitely considered high-level among humans.
"It seems there are already guests inside."
Kanbe Hikaru lifted the Hiraikotsu on his back: "And the uninvited kind."
Kikyo didn't speak and stepped forward.
The moment she approached, that layer of Barrier melted open a large hole silently, like snow meeting a raging fire.
In front of stronger spiritual power, the spiritual power was crushed directly.
The two passed through the mountain pass.
Their view suddenly opened up.
A village built against the mountain appeared before them.
The wooden fence was a zhang high, sharpened and painted with black lacquer, and decorated with the skulls of various demons.
Rather than a village, it was more like a military fortress.
At this moment, the gate was tightly closed, and several men in leather armor stood on the watchtower, their spears pointed downwards.
"Stop!"
The person on the watchtower shouted: "Who goes there!"
Kanbe Hikaru looked up.
Those men were full of tension, their hands gripping the spears turning white.
Their state could be seen at a glance.
Like a bird startled by a bow.
The village chief had left with the Shikon Jewel and the Hiraikotsu; the village was leaderless, and it was indeed a time of panic.
"Kaede Village, Kikyo."
The miko's voice was not loud, but its penetrating power was extremely strong.
The person on the watchtower was stunned for a moment.
Then there was a commotion.
"Lady Kikyo?"
"It really is Lady Kikyo!"
"That figure... it's correct!"
The tense atmosphere dissipated by more than half instantly; the heavy wooden gate creaked open, and a dozen Demon Slayers rushed out.
The leader was a middle-aged burly man, but his eyes were a bit red at the moment.
He saw Kikyo.
He also saw the gray-clothed man behind Kikyo carrying the huge bone.
His gaze froze.
"Hiraikotsu..."
The burly man's voice trembled: "That is the village chief's Hiraikotsu!"
He rushed over, wanting to touch it but not daring to, and finally knelt on the ground with a thud.
"...Then, where is the village chief?"
The villagers behind also surrounded them.
Kanbe Hikaru put the Hiraikotsu down and propped it on the ground.
Thud.
The ground shook.
"He didn't come back."
Kanbe Hikaru said directly: "I only brought back this, and his ashes."
-------------------------
If you enjoy this story, you can read 70+ advanced chapters on Patreon!
Webnovel will keep getting 1 new chapter every day but Patreon readers can stay far ahead.
Maybe it's not a big deal now… maybe it will be later.
[email protected]/Rexlent
"And If you're enjoying it, drop a Power Stone for me!"