Ye Xiao and Kagaya Ubuyashiki sat facing each other.
Looking at the man before him, cursed as he was, Ye Xiao couldn't help but feel admiration from the bottom of his heart.
He was a man who remembered the names and lives of everyone who died slaying demons.
He was a man who prioritized the lives of swordsmen over the removal of his family's curse.
He was a gentle man who wasn't afraid of death, leading the charge himself and boosting his teammates' morale.
Similarly, his wife and daughters were also great people.
As Ye Xiao pondered, Amane, Kagaya Ubuyashiki's wife, brought over the brewed tea with her children.
"Please have some tea."
"Thank you."
Ye Xiao nodded slightly.
Asia, Miko, Xiao Hua, Jing Keai, Liliana, and Erica all received tea.
They, too, expressed their thanks.
Kagaya Ubuyashiki smiled faintly and slowly spoke to Ye Xiao.
"Mr. Xiao, is it alright if I address you as such?"
"Any address is fine, whatever is convenient. Mr. Ubuyashiki, it seems you already knew of my existence."
Although Ye Xiao knew of the man's ability, he still said this.
Hearing Ye Xiao's words, Kagaya Ubuyashiki clarified for him.
"Mr. Xiao, every head of our Ubuyashiki family can see a brief glimpse of the future, and the future observed recently has changed, becoming different."
"I have a premonition that you are the one who will resolve all of this."
Ye Xiao listened to his words without responding.
Kagaya Ubuyashiki's brief premonitions only provided a general idea, but he was indeed correct.
Kibutsuji Muzan had to be killed, and roasted outdoors at that.
However, Ye Xiao also felt as if the current leader of the Demon Slayer Corps knew his identity.
No, it seemed he already knew.
But none of this mattered to Ye Xiao.
It was just that a certain two little butterflies would need some proper discipline tonight.
Looking at this man who had borne everything since childhood, Ye Xiao thought for a moment and blurted out,
"Mr. Ubuyashiki, you must be very tired."
Hearing Ye Xiao's words, Kagaya Ubuyashiki paused slightly.
Tired?
If anyone was tired, it was the swordsmen who revered him.
They trained, killed demons, and saved people.
None of them were not tired.
Even the "Kakushi" and the children in logistics did more than he, the leader, did.
Compared to them, what were his own problems?
Kagaya Ubuyashiki looked at Ye Xiao and said,
"Compared to me, these swordsmen who revere me, and the children in logistics, must be more tired than I am."
"I only wish to end the Ubuyashiki family's grudge with Kibutsuji Muzan in this generation, to bring it to an end with me, for the sake of future generations who will not be harmed by demons."
Listening to Kagaya Ubuyashiki's words, Ye Xiao's admiration for him grew even more.
Kagaya Ubuyashiki and Ye Xiao quietly gazed at each other.
Neither said anything.
Then, Kagaya Ubuyashiki respectfully knelt before him, performing a dogeza.
"Mr. Xiao, I learned of your identity yesterday. I wish to ask you to resolve this millennium-long conflict."
His wife and five children also followed Kagaya Ubuyashiki in performing a dogeza towards Ye Xiao.
Looking at the family before him, Ye Xiao was very calm.
"Then, what can you offer?"
Admiration aside, he was a demon; it was a clear transaction, fair to all.
Let's see what conditions this esteemed family head could propose.
Kagaya Ubuyashiki raised his head, looking at Ye Xiao with his remaining eye, and said,
"Mr. Xiao, I am willing to exchange my broken soul and everything of the Ubuyashiki family for this opportunity to slay Kibutsuji Muzan."
Ye Xiao looked at Kagaya Ubuyashiki and uttered two words, "Not enough."
The scene fell silent, no one dared to speak.
Asia, who was nearby, wanted to say something but was stopped by Erica.
Kagaya Ubuyashiki's wife and children also said,
"Mr. Xiao, we are also willing to offer our souls as a trade."
Ye Xiao remained silent, the scene utterly still.
In his heart, he gained a deeper understanding of this family's resolve.
After a long moment, Ye Xiao slowly said, "Are you sure?"
"As long as Kibutsuji Muzan can be slain, my soul, my body, my family, everything I have is yours."
Kagaya Ubuyashiki said earnestly.
Ye Xiao looked at the family's determined expressions and couldn't help but smile. He was a new generation demon; they could keep their souls.
"Kagaya Ubuyashiki, be my subordinate in this world," Ye Xiao extended an invitation to Kagaya Ubuyashiki.
"Subordinate?"
Kagaya Ubuyashiki was slightly stunned, evidently not expecting Ye Xiao to propose such a condition, but he quickly reacted, a flicker of determination in his eyes. He bowed deeply again.
"I, Kagaya Ubuyashiki, am willing to become your subordinate."
...
...
...
...
On the street, Ye Xiao strolled around alone.
After the Ubuyashiki family became his subordinates, Ye Xiao also asked Kagaya Ubuyashiki to teach his dependents the so-called breathing techniques.
Any increase in strength was an improvement.
Of course, Ye Xiao didn't forget to ask where Kokushibo's grave was, but Kagaya Ubuyashiki didn't know, as there was no record in the family.
Then, only Upper Rank One and Miss Zhu Shi would know.
"Then... next, I'll go find Miss Zhu Shi and see if I can find Yoriichi's grave, to see if his soul is there."
Ye Xiao muttered to himself.
He then closed his eyes, picturing Zhu Shi's appearance.
As a gentle breeze rose.
Information about Zhu Shi was carried by the breeze.
"Found her. Wind, take me to her side."
Ye Xiao stood in place and transformed into a gentle breeze, the people around seemingly unaware.
A small Western-style house with poor lighting in a certain cherry blossom area.
A beautiful woman was conducting an experiment, while a young man beside her looked on happily at her actions.
This was Zhu Shi, and her little follower Yushiro.
"Lady Zhu Shi is the most beautiful."
This was Yushiro's inner thought.
As the breeze swept through, both of them froze simultaneously.
Immediately after, a feeling of dread came over them, a sensation of being observed by a higher-level life form.
Cold sweat beaded on Zhu Shi's forehead.
This feeling was even more terrifying than that scoundrel Kibutsuji Muzan.
"Who!"
Yushiro reacted quickly, immediately shielding Zhu Shi and looking around vigilantly.
As the breeze continued to blow.
"Good evening, Miss Zhu Shi."
A chill ran down both their spines, and they quickly turned their heads.
Ye Xiao was sitting on Zhu Shi's experimental table, shaking a test tube in his hand.
Looking at the man before her, Zhu Shi instinctively felt a sense of fear, a feeling that even Kibutsuji Muzan couldn't evoke.
Zhu Shi swallowed hard.
This guy in front of her was even more troublesome than Muzan.
"Miss Zhu Shi, quickly leave! I'll hold off this gu—"
Yushiro, who was blocking Zhu Shi, didn't finish his sentence before his whole body went limp, his eyes rolled back, and he collapsed to the ground.
"Yushiro!"
"Relax, Miss Zhu Shi, he's fine, just unconscious."
"What do you want?!"
"Simply to ask a few questions."