tiger ghost

The sky had darkened, and a chill filled the air.

Sakuragi Rukawa had once made a living as a hunter for a time and learned tracking skills. After joining the Demon Slayer Corps, he was able to apply those skills to demons as well.

He had been searching in this Tiger Head Mountain for many days, and he finally found a trace of something inhuman in this high forest.

Looking at the tree trunk before him, which was as thick as a man's embrace and had been violently snapped, Sakuragi Rukawa knew he had found the right place.

This was definitely not something achievable by human strength or wild beasts.

Checking carefully, he could still smell a faint stench. He was all too familiar with this scent; it was the bloodlust of man-eating common to all demons.

Following the guidance of these traces, Sakuragi Rukawa continued deeper into the forest, leaning on his wooden staff.

The aura of the demon grew increasingly dense.

Sakuragi Rukawa found several footprints on the grass. Judging by these, the form of the demon dwelling in this forest was becoming increasingly inhuman, more akin to some kind of wild beast.

Ordinary demons have a limit to their growth.

This was predestined from the beginning.

However, by consuming large quantities of humans, some demons can break this limit. In exchange, their bodies begin to undergo transformations; these types of demons are commonly known as Mutant Demons.

This specifically manifests as extraordinary physical limbs.

Although they are not as treacherous and dangerous as Blood Demon Art users who wield supernatural powers, they are still considered extremely dangerous to most members of the Demon Slayer Corps.

More importantly, as these demons continue to mutate, their appetites grow larger. If not slain now, it won't be long before it targets the nearby villages.

Soon, following the tracks, Sakuragi Rukawa found a hidden cave in a mountain stream.

This had been a tiger's den a long time ago.

It was also the origin of the name Tiger Head Mountain. Later, however, Sakuragi Rukawa had skinned the fierce tiger here to use as a betrothal gift to marry the woman he loved.

Since then, the sound of tiger roars had never been heard again on Tiger Head Mountain.

Sakuragi Rukawa hadn't expected to revisit this old place one day; this demon really knew how to find a hiding spot.

Staring into the pitch-black tiger's den, Sakuragi Rukawa couldn't help but hesitate. The environment inside was unfavorable for combat; entering would be a near-certain death sentence.

Sakuragi Rukawa was no longer alone now. Although his nichirin blade had been well-maintained to this day, it hadn't seen demon blood in many years.

However, before Sakuragi Rukawa could make a decision, a gust of foul wind suddenly lunged at the back of his head.

His body's instinctive reaction saved Sakuragi Rukawa's life. He rolled forward, barely dodging the fatal blow, while simultaneously drawing his nichirin blade and slashing upward.

With a 'whoosh' sound.

It was the auditory hallucination of rising flames.

The blade turned red all over, as if it had been tempered by fire.

“A nichirin blade? The Demon Slayer Corps?”

A low, hoarse voice was exhaled along with the foul-smelling wind.

With the help of the moonlight, Sakuragi Rukawa could see the attacker's figure. It was a demon tiger as large as a water buffalo—no, it should be called a demon.

It was just that its crouching posture on all fours was exactly like a fierce tiger about to pounce.

“The Demon Slayer Corps sent an old man like you to kill me?”

The Tiger Demon slowly straightened its body, standing nearly three meters tall. Large, bulging muscles built its physique into a wall of flesh, full of oppressive pressure.

Bloodshot, inhuman pupils sized up Sakuragi Rukawa with a hint of playfulness, as if looking at a piece of meat on a chopping block, its words tinged with a faint disdain.

It preferred the flesh and blood of young people; it had more of a bite to it.

Sakuragi Rukawa did not respond. Things had come to this; there was no need for further thought. Whether he lived or died depended entirely on himself.

“Huff... Puff...”

Heavy sounds of breathing rang out. His aging heart and lungs, under the influx of massive amounts of oxygen, radiated a long-lost vitality and power.

“Flame Breathing, First Form: Unknowing Fire!”

Sakuragi Rukawa took the initiative to attack. The nichirin blade seemed to ignite suddenly, appearing as if it were burning fiercely under the reflection of the moonlight.

This technique, coordinated with the breathing, produced a powerful burst of force, carrying him forward in a thrust.

Sakuragi Rukawa knew clearly that his current body could no longer support him in a long battle. He had to seize these few opportunities for explosive power to try and slay the enemy.

The Tiger Demon's eyes clearly reflected the fiery red edge of the nichirin blade. A ring of thick, stiff fur around its neck instantly flared up as it felt the fatal threat firsthand.

Only then did it realize it had underestimated this old man. He was capable of threatening its life, and it immediately changed its attitude.

Judging by the physical mutation of this Mutant Demon, the direction of its transformation was undoubtedly toward beastification.

The reason for this was unknown for now, but it was obvious that this Tiger Demon had awakened an animal-like intuition, possessing a sharper physical reaction to danger.

Without its brain even processing it, it made the correct response.

While retreating to dodge, it raised its arms to block.

The sound of a sharp blade entering bone rang out simultaneously.

“Haha... Old man, your strength is a bit too weak.”

Looking at the nichirin blade stuck in its arm, the Tiger Demon couldn't help but let out a triumphant, shrill laugh.

However, only it knew the relief and lingering fear in its heart.

If this old fellow were even a dozen years younger, the Tiger Demon wouldn't have been able to block that strike just now.

Sakuragi Rukawa's expression was grim, not only because he failed to slay the Tiger Demon, but also because his body could no longer withstand the backlash of the Breathing Style.

To put it bluntly, Breathing Styles are a way of squeezing the body dry.

This was not some health-preserving skill; it had very high requirements for the user's physical constitution. Let alone an elderly person like Sakuragi Rukawa, most people cannot adapt to Breathing Styles.

The Tiger Demon grabbed Sakuragi Rukawa by the throat, lifting him directly in front of its face, grinning to reveal a row of sharp teeth.

“Old man, that strike of yours really hurt. How should I repay you...”

Before the Tiger Demon could finish speaking, it suddenly felt a chill coming from its back. Its body tensed instinctively, but before it could look back, its peripheral vision caught a glimpse of a figure, and its vision suddenly went black.

With a 'crack' sound.

It was the crisp sound of a neck snapping.

The Tiger Demon was then sent flying like a cannonball, snapping a dozen trees in a row.

“Cough, cough... Nuo?!”

Sakuragi Rukawa looked at Chen Nuo in front of him in disbelief. Then, looking at the momentum he had caused, he couldn't help but wonder.

When did his own grandson stop being human? How did he not know?

“Are you alright, Grandfather?”

“Wait, that's a demon. You can't kill it like that. You need to use my nichirin blade...”

Sakuragi Rukawa knew now was not the time to dwell on these details; the most important thing was to deal with that Tiger Demon. Halfway through his sentence, he suddenly remembered that his nichirin blade was still stuck in the Tiger Demon's arm.

“This old fellow is right, you can't kill me!”

The Tiger Demon's roar came through, sounding a bit airy. That was because its head had almost been kicked off its neck by Chen Nuo; it hadn't fully healed yet, and a chunk of its head was caved in.

All demons possess immortality.

Unless exposed to direct sunlight or decapitated by a nichirin blade, they can survive even if their heads are moved.

But if the main torso is severely damaged, it will also affect the demon's strength.

Immortality is one thing, but it doesn't mean flesh can regenerate infinitely.

Chen Nuo didn't reply. He shook his wrists, warming up his muscles and bones.

That kick just now had allowed him to recognize the Tiger Demon's strength. It was not just a little bit inferior to him, and since it had no Blood Demon Art, dealing with it wouldn't be difficult.

Seeing Chen Nuo approaching, the Tiger Demon's heart suddenly tightened, and its body began to fear instinctively. This was a warning for survival.

“Damn it! How could I be afraid of an ordinary person like you?”

The Tiger Demon roared as it pulled the nichirin blade out of its arm. At the same time, the wound was healing at a visible rate. It looked like it was preparing for an outburst.

However, before its words had even faded, the Tiger Demon turned around, took the nichirin blade, and prepared to flee on all fours.

No matter how much the Tiger Demon couldn't accept it in its heart, it chose to believe its intuition, which had saved it many times before.

“Once I've eaten my fill, I'll come back to settle the score with you...”

The Tiger Demon sprinted on all fours like a wild beast, whispering consolations to itself.

Seeking benefit and avoiding harm is also the nature of a beast.

Having just exhausted all its reserves to become a Mutant Demon, it was indeed at a low point in its strength and needed to consume a large amount of food to reach its peak.

The Tiger Demon had somewhat overestimated its speed. It had barely run a hundred meters when Chen Nuo leaped out from the side, a mid-air kick sending it rolling across the ground.

It wasn't that its intuition hadn't warned it, but this time its body didn't even have time to react.

Before the Tiger Demon could stand up, Chen Nuo was already riding on its back, pinning its neck with one hand and pressing the Tiger Demon firmly to the ground, making it difficult to move.

“What kind of person are you...”

Feeling the unshakeable power coming from its neck, the Tiger Demon couldn't help but shout in horror.

A 'thud' interrupted the Tiger Demon's words as its entire head exploded on the spot, turning into a pile of mush.

Chen Nuo shook the blood off his hand and stared at the Tiger Demon's remaining carcass. He wanted to see how it would be resurrected without a head.

One must know that souls do indeed exist in this world, and there is a place for the dead.

Does a person's consciousness rely on the soul, or is it in the brain?

Without a brain, how would this demon think? Would it regrow a head, or would its consciousness be carried by another organ in the body?

If this demon were placed in other technology-dominated worlds, it would definitely be a rare treasure. Forget about slicing it up; even a single strand of hair could make Tony and other doctors fight until their noses bled.

Chen Nuo did indeed have the intention to study this demon, but he also knew that products under such idealistic rules could basically not be placed in other worlds.

But at least for now, he would satisfy his curiosity a little.

The corners of Chen Nuo's mouth curled up slightly, as if he had seen a novel toy.

“You can't kill a demon this way. You need to use a nichirin blade to cut off its neck.”

Sakuragi Rukawa walked over slowly, looking at Chen Nuo who seemed dazed. Thinking he was troubled by this, he reminded him once more.

“Can it only be the neck? Can't other parts be cut?”

Chen Nuo picked up the nichirin blade from the ground and gestured toward the Tiger Demon's headless body.

“This is the result of the practice of countless predecessors.”

Sakuragi Rukawa nodded, unaware of Chen Nuo's thoughts. Chen Nuo didn't just want to know the 'what,' but also the 'why.'

While the two were talking, the wound on the Tiger Demon's neck was healing. Judging by the situation, it didn't seem like a new head was going to grow. It appeared that this level of injury had exceeded the demon's self-healing limit.

At least for the Tiger Demon, this was the case.

Those Upper Rank demons were not in the same league as other demons.

The Tiger Demon indeed hadn't died from this. Its heart was still beating, and the remaining main torso was still alive, even able to react to Chen Nuo's stimulation.

If the Tiger Demon were allowed to continue like this, given its immortal nature, perhaps the remaining body could continuously adapt and change, growing new organs to replace the functions of the brain.

Unfortunately, Chen Nuo wouldn't get to see that scene. Seeing Sakuragi Rukawa's urgent look, if he didn't act now, the old man would probably do it himself.

Helplessly, Chen Nuo could only grip the nichirin blade and give the Tiger Demon one vertical slash and one horizontal slash.

The absence of a head didn't mean the demon's weakness didn't exist; it had simply moved to other parts of the body. By slicing it finely enough, the connection between the soul and the body could always be severed, sending its soul back to hell.

After the Tiger Demon died, everything about it vanished into thin air.

“You brat, why did you come looking for me?”

Only now did Sakuragi Rukawa have the heart to question Chen Nuo.

“If I hadn't come looking, you'd probably be a pile of mush by now.”

Chen Nuo said irritably. Just as he was about to return the nichirin blade, he suddenly sensed something. His movement paused as he gripped the hilt tightly again and turned his head to look behind him.

“What's wrong?”

Seeing this, Sakuragi Rukawa's heart, which had just settled, hung in suspense again.

After witnessing Chen Nuo's posture while slaying the Tiger Demon, the old man had unconsciously begun to treat him as the backbone.

“Something is rushing this way.”

“Is it human or demon?”

Just as Chen Nuo was about to answer, he saw a figure as fast as a raging fire rush out from the forest. His steps were so heavy they seemed to shake the ground. This aura, like fire and a rainbow, captured one's heart and soul.

“This haori... this hair color... are you from the Rengoku family?”

Sakuragi Rukawa said, somewhat losing his voice.

Chen Nuo looked at the youth of his own age who had suddenly appeared before him. Looking at his fiery red long hair, thick dark eyebrows, and bright, piercing eyes, he felt quite surprised.

How did he bump into this person here?

“I didn't expect the Demon Slayer Corps to send you!”

Sakuragi Rukawa answered the doubt in Chen Nuo's heart.

So it was the old man who had summoned this young man with the thick eyebrows and big eyes.

“Senior Sakuragi, long time no see. I hope I'm not too late.”

Rengoku Kijuro carefully sized up the two of them. After confirming they didn't have any injuries, he visibly breathed a sigh of relief, and his firm, upright body seemed to relax a bit.

This rush all the way here was no small drain on him. Fortunately, he hadn't encountered the worst outcome.