Chapter 240: Children of the Ubuyashiki

The whereabouts of Oyakata-sama have always been kept secret. In the past, there was an incident where a Demon Slayer Corps member fell and became a demon, nearly bringing disaster to the entire Corps. Since then, strict confidentiality measures have been implemented.

Aside from the Hashira, anyone who wishes to meet Oyakata-sama must be guided by members of the "Kakushi." Moreover, the guides are switched at regular intervals. The closer one gets to Oyakata-sama's location, the more trustworthy the Kakushi become.

"Did someone just pass by?"

"No one? Maybe it was just the wind? Just to be safe, let's check if the traps were triggered."

Their vigilance is as high as ever.

Around Oyakata-sama's residence, there are guards, mostly Kakushi. In fact, the Demon Slayer Corps had considered assigning swordsmen to protect Oyakata-sama, but he refused every time.

Every swordsman is a valuable asset, and such resources shouldn't be wasted on protecting him.

However, there have been exceptions.

Li Mo still remembers the first time he met Oyakata-sama. It was on the eve of the "Final Selection," on Mount Fujikasane. At that time, the Stone Hashira, Himejima Gyomei, stood by Oyakata-sama's side.

He didn't think he was causing trouble for the guards. Later, he would notify them on his way out. Among them were many familiar faces. The mortality rate of the Kakushi was far lower than that of the swordsmen. Three years wasn't enough time for a complete turnover of personnel.

That was a good thing.

Oyakata-sama's residence was a traditional Japanese-style estate. What Li Mo loved most was the garden, with its babbling brook flowing into a small pond. The sound of the water alone was enough to bring peace.

Li Mo landed in the garden. Throughout his journey, almost no one had noticed him.

If he couldn't even manage this after transcending humanity, wouldn't that be a waste?

He turned his head and saw five children in the garden. Their gazes were all fixed on him.

And they were all "girls?"

Wait, the youngest one was actually a boy.

In Japanese tradition, there was a custom of disguising boys as girls to prevent the "shinigami" from taking them away. Given the conditions of the era, the infant mortality rate was too high, so people resorted to such superstitious practices.

—In this world, such practices might actually be useful.

The Ubuyashiki family bore the curse brought by Muzan Kibutsuji. Spirits and hell also existed here.

In terms of the activity of the mystical, this world might even surpass that of the Earth in the Nasuverse.

"Li Mo...big brother?" one of the white-haired girls asked hesitantly.

"It's me. I'm back!" Li Mo crouched down and opened his arms.

"Yay!" The two older white-haired girls smiled brightly and immediately surrounded Li Mo.

He had a good relationship with the two older sisters of the family head.

Who wouldn't love cute and well-behaved children?

Seeing that the girls still remembered him, Li Mo called out their names one by one: "Hinaki, Nichika."

Each time he said a name, the corresponding girl's smile grew brighter. Of course, that was as far as it went. The Ubuyashiki family's strict upbringing meant they wouldn't engage in excessive physical activity.

This was because the Ubuyashiki family's curse left each generation physically frail.

Gently patting the girls' heads, Li Mo could feel the "ominous aura" entwined around them.

Finally, he turned to the only black-haired girl.

"Is this Kiriya?"

"Yes."

"You've grown so much in the blink of an eye."

Li Mo still remembered the year he became a Hashira. Ubuyashiki Kiriya had been just a baby, and he had witnessed the child's first steps and crawls.

After a moment, he asked, "Do you want to experience what it's like to be up high?"

Ubuyashiki Kiriya looked at the unfamiliar big brother in front of him.

The name "Li Mo" wasn't unfamiliar to him. He had often heard it from his sisters.

Why did his sisters always talk about this name? He hadn't understood before, but now, he roughly understood.

"Yes."

"Alright."

Li Mo lifted Kiriya onto his shoulders.

Riding on one's father's shoulders was a childhood experience every child should have. Li Mo still remembered his own clumsy father, who had worked away from home for long periods. This was how his father had expressed his love when Li Mo was young.

A child's perspective is low to the ground. Suddenly seeing the world from a higher angle is an extraordinary experience.

Li Mo began to run slowly.

To an ordinary person, it would be running. To him, it was just a leisurely stroll.

But it was enough to excite Kiriya.

Next were the two younger sisters.

They were a year younger than Kiriya. Li Mo remembered that when he had left last time, Lady Amane had already been pregnant with them.

Ubuyashiki Kanata and Ubuyashiki Kuina also experienced the same as Kiriya. They laughed as Li Mo ran.

Then, Ubuyashiki Amane arrived.

"Li-kun, it's been a long time."

"It's been a long time, Lady Amane."

White hair, purple eyes.

Time had left no trace on Ubuyashiki Amane.

The matriarch of the Ubuyashiki family still looked as young as ever.

After setting Nichika down, Li Mo said, "Oyakata-sama wants to see me, right?"

"Yes."

After saying goodbye to the children, Li Mo followed Ubuyashiki Amane deeper into the estate.

This wasn't his first time here.

Time flowed, and the years passed. The familiar surroundings hadn't changed, and memories of the past came alive.

At the end of the corridor, Ubuyashiki Amane opened the door and stepped aside, creating a path. Her demeanor was as respectful as a servant.

Li Mo nodded in thanks. "Thank you, Lady Amane."

Entering the room.

"You've arrived, Li-kun."

The leader of the Demon Slayer Corps, the head of the Ubuyashiki family, sat there. His reaction was quick, and his attention focused on the door as soon as it opened. Then, he saw the familiar figure.

After three years, Ubuyashiki Kagaya still looked the same. His white haori accentuated his scholarly demeanor. His handsome face was marred by the curse that had damaged the upper half, but the lower half still exuded the grace of a gentleman.

"I'm back, Oyakata-sama."

Li Mo sat across from Ubuyashiki Kagaya. The door was closed by Ubuyashiki Amane, leaving only the two of them in the room. His attention was drawn to a map on the table. At a glance, it was a map of all of Japan.

There were many markings on it, seemingly like a child's scribbles at first glance. But upon closer inspection, one could discern valuable information.

Where and when someone had killed a certain demon.

Looking up, Li Mo asked in surprise, "What is this...?"

"As you can see, it's a map.

A map that allows me to know where Muzan Kibutsuji is.

He's in Kyoto."

Ubuyashiki Kagaya's finger pointed to Kyoto on the map.

From his eyes, one could see unwavering certainty.