Chapter 23: Hashira's Meeting
Upon hearing this, Kamado Tanjuro instinctively looked up.
Under the daylight, in the layers of wisteria forests, he vaguely saw the silhouette of a mansion.
...
Outside the white wall, Tanjuro and the three of them were slowly advancing towards the courtyard along the bluestone road.
Along the way, Tanjuro had a general understanding of the surrounding environment.
There is a river flowing next to the mansion, with a sufficient and stable water source.
The entire mansion is also located in the deep mountains, quite hidden, surrounded by clusters of wisteria flowers, which can effectively resist the invasion of demons.
Tap.
Tomioka Giyu stood at the entrance of the courtyard, he stretched out his hands full of calluses, and slowly knocked on the door of the courtyard:
"Knock Knock."
"Excuse me, I am Tomioka Giyu."
Murata hid behind Tanjuro, he was a bit nervous, peeking around—it was his first time here.
After waiting for a while.
Creak...
A slight sound of wood squeezing came.
The door of the mansion was slowly opened a crack.
Kamado Tanjuro looked up at the sound, standing behind the door was a girl with white shoulder-length hair, with a hair ornament on the left side.
It was Ubuyashiki Kagaya, Oyakata-sama's daughter.
Murata was secretly watching, this one who seemed to be only 8 years old.
The girl peeked at Tomioka Giyu through the crack in the door, then turned her hollow gaze to Kamado Tanjuro, nodding at him.
Then, she opened the door, which was only ajar, wide enough for a few people to pass through.
"Nice to meet you."
The girl's ethereal voice rang out, her tone calm, with a composure not typical of her age. She raised her head and said to Kamado Tanjuro:
"Everyone has arrived."
"Please follow me."
Upon hearing this, Tomioka Giyu remained silent, then followed along with Murata.
Tanjuro followed closely behind, stepping into the courtyard.
...
...
In the courtyard.
"Water Hashira Tomioka Giyu, Kanoe rank member Murata, and Kamado Tanjuro-san, have arrived."
Creak...
The white-haired girl turned around and locked the mansion's front door.
Then, she walked to the other side of the courtyard and entered the mansion.
At the same time.
Step!
Almost the moment Kamado Tanjuro stepped into the courtyard, several pairs of eyes looked over all at once.
"Ah!"
Murata was immediately frightened by this sharp gaze, and quickly shrank behind Tomioka Giyu, shivering.
The Hashira, they're so scary!
Such an astonishing aura!
Kamado Tanjuro looked around, his Transparent World unconsciously opened, and he instinctively wanted to hide his breath.
"Hmm?"
"Is it that guy?"
A muscular and handsome white-haired man with two curved blades on his back turned sideways, looking over with a scrutinizing gaze.
The shiny gemstone ornaments and pendants on the man's forehead swayed slightly with his movement.
After sizing up Tanjuro, his tone seemed to become somewhat disappointed, he slightly raised his head:
"He looks... quite weak."
"And somewhat different from what I imagined."
Saying this, he couldn't help but hum lightly:
"Not glamorous at all."
[Sound Hashira, Uzui Tengen.]
At the same time.
"Hey!!"
A man wearing an open white feather weave, with a black "kill" character on his back, a ferocious expression, and crisscrossing scars on his body, suddenly stood up:
"Is there some kind of mistake?!"
He had a light green Nichirin Sword hanging at his waist, he turned his head, stared fiercely at this side, his tone was not good:
"The Demon Slayer Corps doesn't need weaklings!"
"Last time and this time too!"
Click...
Whoosh!
The man and Tanjuro looked at each other, forcefully drew the Nichirin Sword from his waist, the blade's aura circulated, stayed at the tip of the blade, pointing straight at Tanjuro:
"It's infuriating!"
The hand holding the hilt of the sword was clenched tightly, and the veins bulged along his arm.
[Wind Hashira, Shinazugawa Sanemi.]
"Shinazugawa."
A tall monk wearing a monk's robe, his muscular body filled the team uniform, was holding a string of red coral beads in his hands, praying with his hands together.
He spoke to stop Shinazugawa Sanemi:
"Sheath your sword, don't be rude."
"Oyakata-sama will be here soon."
The monk's eyes were completely white, seemingly completely blind, although he was wearing a monk's robe, he had not been ordained, and there was a ferocious scar on his forehead.
He had a faint look of sorrow on his face, sitting cross-legged, chanting sutras.
[Stone Hashira, Himejima Gyomei]
"Sorry, Himejima-san."
Upon hearing this, Shinazugawa Sanemi, although he said this, his gaze staring at Tanjuro remained unchanged, he just slowly sheathed his sword.
Click.
He snorted coldly, and while he was at it, he gave Tomioka Giyu a fierce glance.
Shinazugawa Sanemi's gaze stayed on Kamado Tanjuro.
At this moment.
A voice came from the pine tree nearby.
"I remember, Urokodaki-san said that Kamado Tanjuro has strength close to a Hashira, right?"
A person with heterochromatic pupils, his lower face wrapped in bandages, a white snake coiled around his neck, and wearing a black and white striped haori, was lying on a tree branch.
He pointed to Kamado Tanjuro at the door with a cold tone:
"I don't know how Urokodaki-san judged it, but I'll assume he really has that strength."
[Snake Hashira·Iguro Obanai]
On the ground.
To the side.
"Tomioka-san."
A head peeked out from between several pillars, she was smiling, her hair tied back with a butterfly-shaped hairpin:
"Tomioka, you're the last one to arrive this time."
She was wearing a reflective special haori, with black threads interwoven in it, just like the wings of a butterfly when folded, very beautiful.
[Insect Hashira·Kocho Shinobu]
At this moment, she was smiling, looking sideways at Tomioka Giyu standing not far away, separated from everyone else, expressionless.
On the other side.
On the ground covered with white pebbles.
A man wearing a regular Demon Slayer Corps uniform was standing there, his face full of excitement and confidence.
His golden hair with red corners shone in the sunlight, under his thick black eyebrows were a pair of bright and spirited big eyes:
"Hmm!"
He turned his head, crossed his arms, his orange eyes full of faith met with Tanjuro, his eyes were bright, his voice was loud:
"You are Kamado-san, right?"
[Kinoe Rank Member·Rengoku Kyojuro]
Tomioka Giyu stood on the side, silent.
Kamado Tanjuro nodded to Rengoku Kyojuro.
Then, as if rooted, he stood there, his gaze slowly moving, ignoring some people's provocations.
"Hey!!"
Shinazugawa Sanemi saw this, his eyebrows raised, veins bulging on his forehead, his eyes full of bloodshot, he was about to continue shouting.
At this moment.
Step, step.
On the platform in the middle of the courtyard.
The girl who had just entered the mansion, and another boy who looked similar to her, even identical, but with black hair, were standing in the platform.
They stood on both sides, ethereal voices overlapping:
"Oyakata-sama, has arrived."
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