The little boy, Rui, looked at “Mother” expressionlessly.
“Then hurry up.”
He turned and walked into the shadows.
After Rui left, “Mother” trembled all over in fear, unable to stop shaking.
She had turned into a demon at the age of nine and was chased by members of the Demon Slayer Corps all the way to Natagumo Mountain.
Saved by Rui, who was also a demon, she thought she was rescued, but she never expected that what awaited her was hell.
As one of the Twelve Kizuki, Rui desperately craved the love of a family, so she was assigned the role of “Mother” in a game of playing house.
A nine-year-old girl’s body obviously couldn’t play a mother, so her face was ripped off, her limbs were stretched out, and by exploiting a demon’s immortality, she was remodeled into the appearance of a mature woman.
Playing house like this would have been somewhat bearable, but the demon playing “Father” was extremely violent, beating her almost every day over trivial matters.
Meanwhile, several unrelated family members harbored their own hidden agendas, always intentionally trying to find ways to get “Father” to beat her.
A demon’s immortality made domestic violence terrifying.
As long as the head wasn’t crushed, no matter how severe the injury, they would slowly recover.
Consequently, the domestic violence became increasingly brutal and reckless, often resulting in rivers of blood.
Thus, whenever she heard the word “Father,” “Mother” would tremble with fear.
While “Mother” was paralyzed with fear, Tanjiro finally thought of a good solution.
He threw the controlled Demon Slayer Corps Members onto the trees, using the branches to hang these already severely injured members in the air, temporarily restraining them.
“Mother,” who had been controlling the situation all along, felt anger rise from her heart as malice surged within her.
With a hideous expression, she waved the spider threads from her fingertips, intending to snap the necks of these puppets in her hands.
Suddenly, thunder rumbled, and a golden flash of a blade swept from afar, swiftly slicing through “Mother’s” neck.
Thunder Breathing — First Form: Thunderclap and Flash.
“Mother’s” head fell to the ground.
Her previously hideous face returned to a peaceful state, her youthful face wearing a look of relief at finally being set free.
Reflected in her pupils was the figure of a swordsman standing with his back to her, holding a blade.
“Mother’s” lips quivered, her voice childish and timid.
“Thank you.
Be careful of the Twelve Kizuki.”
“Mother” turned into ashes and dissipated into the air.
Before she died, she seemed to see a woman who looked like her own mother.
It felt so warm, but unfortunately, she couldn’t see her face clearly.
[Killed Evil Demon (Elite), Influence Points +300]
[Killed Evil Demon (Elite), Influence Points +300]
[Current Influence Points: 2450]
Where did this double reward come from?
Uchiha Bing sheathed his blade, scratching his head in confusion.
He had clearly only killed one demon, so why did he receive rewards for two?
And both were elites.
“Bing?”
Tanjiro suddenly ran out of the nearby woods with Inosuke.
He looked delighted upon seeing Uchiha Bing.
“How did you get here?”
Seeing Tanjiro, a smile also curved on Uchiha Bing’s lips.
“I came to support after receiving the Kasugai Crow’s emergency mobilization message.
I should be the first to arrive, and a large force will be coming to reinforce us later.”
“By the way, don’t let your guard down.
I just decapitated a demon holding silk threads.
Before she died, she said there is one of the Twelve Kizuki here.”
At the mention of the Twelve Kizuki, Uchiha Bing’s expression turned serious.
Given his current strength, he wasn’t sure if he could handle one of the Twelve Kizuki.
He could only say that he would do his best and leave the rest to fate.
“Hey, hey, hey!
I found that demon first!
You stole my prey, let’s duel!”
The Boar-headed Boy, Inosuke, suddenly launched an attack on Uchiha Bing, but Tanjiro quickly grabbed him.
“Stop it, Inosuke.
Now is not the time to fight.
The Twelve Kizuki are very strong.”
Strangely enough, Tanjiro had only pulled him gently without using much strength, yet Inosuke gave Tanjiro a lot of face and stopped causing a fuss after just a simple word.
Uchiha Bing looked at the two of them with a smile.
“Stay sharp, everyone.
I’m afraid a tough battle lies ahead.”
The three of them met up and continued deeper along the forest path.
As they passed by a stream, the three of them came face-to-face with a female demon on the opposite bank.
This was the demon playing the role of “Sister” in Rui’s family.
She hadn’t originally been the sister, but the younger sister.
However, during “Father’s” daily domestic abuse of “Mother,” the older sister developed the desire to escape this family.
She shared her innermost thoughts with the younger sister, the only one she acknowledged in this family, and the two demons agreed to escape together.
However, as the older sister took the younger sister and fled while the Twelve Kizuki were having a gathering, Rui appeared silently, and the younger sister naturally stood by Rui’s side.
A shameful informant.
The older sister could have escaped on her own, but unfortunately, playing the role of family for so long had caused her to place an unearned trust in her younger sister.
Consequently, after suffering endless torture, the older sister was tied to the roof to watch the sunrise.
She shed tears before her death, perhaps regretting that she had trusted the wrong demon.
If “Mother’s” killings could be considered somewhat excusable—after all, how bad could a nine-year-old girl be—then this younger sister was a purebred villain.
This kind of person, selfish yet thinking themselves highly intelligent, could sit at the same table as Kaigaku.
The moment he saw this demon, Uchiha Bing suddenly burst forward.
He transformed into a golden flash, crossing the ten-meter-wide stream in an instant, and decapitated the younger sister with thunderous momentum.
Thunder Breathing — First Form: Thunderclap and Flash.
[Killed Evil Demon (Elite), Influence Points +300]
The younger sister’s head tumbled through the air, and she let out a sharp, dying shriek.
“Father!
Why didn’t you protect me?!”
The next moment, a massive figure descended from the sky.
It was indeed the demon playing the role of “Father.”
This demon stood over three meters tall with robust muscles.
His head was an abnormal spider face, with over a dozen eyes lined up side-by-side.
It was densely packed and looked rather disgusting.
His skin radiated a grayish-black luster, appearing highly defensive.
“Don’t hurt my family!”
The demon roared hideously.
The Boar-headed Boy was the first to launch an attack, and Tanjiro immediately followed, raising his hand to execute Water Breathing — Second Form: Water Wheel.
Uchiha Bing did not join the attack immediately.
Taking advantage of the demon being held back by the two, he instantly switched his internal Breathing Style, transitioning from Thunder Breathing to Wind Breathing in a flash.
Uchiha Bing recalled that this demon seemed to have exceptionally high defense and immense strength.
Wind Breathing happened to possess cutting and sharp characteristics.
In terms of pure offensive power, it was stronger than the other two major Breathing Styles, making it perfect for dealing with this thick-skinned fellow.
Sure enough, when Tanjiro’s nichirin blade slashed against it, it only penetrated slightly into the flesh, unable to cut deep at all.
Inosuke followed closely behind, but slashing with his dual blades only left his hands completely numb from the shock.