Chapter 45: Purifying the Curse

On the other side, Yun Xi stared intently at the notification from the Reincarnation Paradise, her expression changing drastically, as if dark clouds were pressing down upon her.

She immediately understood the current situation—Lin Yi and Old Wolf's group had chosen the Demon Slayer Corps, while they had been ruthlessly thrown into Muzan Kibutsuji's camp by the Reincarnation Paradise.

"Damn it!" Yun Xi cursed inwardly, her anger so intense that her eyes almost seemed to spit flames.

This derivative world mission was nothing short of a nightmare.

Although they had a big boss like Muzan Kibutsuji on their side, he was by no means a benevolent figure.

Moreover, Muzan's temperament was unpredictable; who knew if he might take a sudden whim and casually wipe out a group of newcomers like them?

Yun Xi took a deep breath, forcing down the rage and panic in her heart.

She knew she had to calm down now.

"Since there is no way to change the current situation, we have no choice but to bite the bullet," Yun Xi said, her voice revealing determination and resolve as she clenched her teeth. "First, we must find Muzan and explain the stakes to him. We must make him understand that a powerful enemy has appeared on the side of the Demon Slayer Corps. If we don't prepare and devise strategies in advance, nothing but failure awaits us."

Despite her deep internal resistance and repulsion toward joining the demon faction, the grim reality left her no room for hesitation or choice.

Only one faction could obtain the qualification to return, which meant they had to stand out in this competition.

Yun Xi knew well that if they could fully utilize the power and resources of these demons, they might just have the strength to contend with Lin Yi and the others.

The key to surviving this confrontation and achieving ultimate victory lay in how they utilized Muzan Kibutsuji's power.

Only by pulling this powerful boss into the fray early and using his strength to combat the members of the Demon Slayer Corps could they hope to secure victory and claim the right to return.

Upon receiving the notification from the Reincarnation Paradise, the excitement on the faces of Old Wolf and his companions was hard to hide.

Joining the Demon Slayer Corps while having Lin Yi as a powerful patron meant that their success in this derivative world's faction mission was practically a foregone conclusion.

Just as Kagaya Ubuyashiki was about to have a servant bring out the Demon Slayer uniforms, Lin Yi suddenly stood up and walked toward him.

This unexpected move was like a heavy bomb dropped into a calm lake, instantly stirring up massive waves.

"Halt!" A stern shout, like a clap of thunder in a clear sky, instantly shattered the silence in the room.

The Hashira in the room reacted as if their most sensitive nerves had been touched; almost reflexively, they drew their Nichirin Swords from their waists.

With a flash of movement, several of them stepped in front of Kagaya Ubuyashiki, assuming a tight defensive formation.

Standing before Lin Yi at this moment, they finally felt an unprecedented sense of pressure.

It was a feeling akin to standing on a small boat in a violent storm, liable to be swallowed by a giant wave at any moment; or like confronting a ferocious beast from the abyss, where a single mistake could mean death.

However, just as the tension reached its peak, Kagaya Ubuyashiki gently waved his hand, signaling everyone not to be nervous.

His voice was gentle yet did not lack seriousness, carrying an unquestionable authority.

"It is fine, please step back, everyone. Mr. Lin bears no ill will," Kagaya's voice echoed through the air, instantly diffusing the tension.

Hearing their master's words, the Hashira were reluctant, but they still loyally obeyed the command.

They sheathed their Nichirin Swords and returned to their original positions, but their eyes remained locked onto Lin Yi.

Should Lin Yi make any move detrimental to their master, even if it meant defying the master's orders, they would not hesitate to draw their blades once more.

Lin Yi's movements were slow and steady. His right hand gently lifted Kagaya Ubuyashiki's thick, waterfall-like hair.

As the strands were moved aside, the part of Kagaya's face that had been obscured was gradually revealed to everyone, like a mystery being unveiled.

The skin there had lost its original color, turning into a deep shade of purple.

This purple was like the gloom of a dark night or the demonic aura of an abyss, emitting an indescribable stench of decay.

The scent permeated the air like invisible tentacles, tightly winding around everyone's hearts and inducing a strange sense of oppression and unease.

At the same time, Lin Yi keenly noticed that Kagaya Ubuyashiki's eyes, which should have been bright and spirited, were now hollow and deep.

He extended his palm and waved it gently in front of Kagaya's eyes, but the man's pupils showed no reaction, appearing like two pools of stagnant water, undisturbed.

This sight caused Lin Yi to frown.

As a martial artist, he had a deep understanding and research into various human ailments, but the symptoms Kagaya Ubuyashiki was exhibiting now felt troublesome.

"A strange ailment. How interesting," Lin Yi muttered to himself.

As a battle-hardened martial artist, Lin Yi had conducted in-depth studies of various physiological abnormalities.

Facing Kagaya Ubuyashiki's condition, he couldn't help but knit his brows.

"The Master is not sick; he is cursed," the voice of the Insect Hashira, Shinobu Kocho, suddenly rang out, breaking the silence of the room.

As a physician with extremely high medical expertise within the Demon Slayer Corps, Shinobu had deep knowledge of various diseases.

However, faced with the curse afflicting Kagaya Ubuyashiki, she felt utterly helpless.

This curse was different from ordinary illnesses; it contained a certain evil and powerful energy that could not be cured by conventional medical means.

"A curse?" Hearing this word, a strange light flashed in Lin Yi's eyes.

His heart stirred, and he immediately thought of a skill in his skill bar—Purify.

Lin Yi pondered privately: if the curse on Kagaya Ubuyashiki could be regarded as an abnormal status, then perhaps his Purify skill could be of use.

He decided to try, so he reached out his right hand and placed it gently on Kagaya Ubuyashiki's decaying skin.

When his fingers touched that strange skin, Lin Yi's brow twitched involuntarily.

The sensation was like pressing against a piece of lifeless, rotten flesh—slimy and unpleasant.

He could clearly feel that the tissue beneath the skin had completely decomposed.

Yet, Kagaya Ubuyashiki's expression remained as calm as still water, as if he had long since grown accustomed to such pain.

"Bear with it," Lin Yi said softly, and then activated the Purify skill.

(End of Chapter)