Chapter 52: One Against Three

Holding a glass box containing a special butterfly, Lin Yi and Shinobu Kocho set out on their pursuit.

In the darkness of the night, the two moved steadily along the streets, the moonlight spilling over them like two ghosts drifting through the silent alleys.

The surrounding scenery gradually blurred, as if shrouded in a layer of mist.

Soon, they left the bustling residential area and, guided by the butterfly, stepped into a field of ruins.

This place had once been the old town of Taigu County; its former prosperity had vanished like smoke and clouds, reduced to nothingness by the devastation of an earthquake.

Now, a desolate atmosphere permeated these ruins, where some impoverished people struggled to survive amidst the wreckage.

Lin Yi carefully opened the glass box, and the butterfly immediately fluttered out, dancing gracefully under the moonlight.

Its wings traced arcs across the night sky, acting like a guiding sprite leading Lin Yi and Shinobu through the labyrinth of ruins.

Following the butterfly's guidance, the two arrived beside a relatively intact mansion.

Having weathered the baptism of time, this mansion still stood tall, maintaining its former majesty.

At this moment, a faint scent of blood drifted into their nostrils, acting as a warning of impending danger.

Lin Yi and Shinobu exchanged a glance; they knew they had found the hiding place of the Lower Rank Demon.

The two approached the main gate on tiptoe, holding their breath and listening intently.

Lin Yi could vaguely hear the sound of arguing coming from within. The Lower Rank demons were shifting blame onto one another, their sharp bickering echoing through the night sky.

"It's all your fault! If it weren't for you, those guys wouldn't have escaped at all," a shrill voice said.

"What does that have to do with me? You were playing around too. Now look, they've gotten away. I'll see how you explain yourself when Lord Muzan asks," another voice responded coldly.

"Stop arguing," a slightly more composed voice interrupted them. "The most urgent matter now is to report Tamayo's appearance here. Lord Muzan has been looking for her for a long time. Since we have her scent, we cannot let her escape this time."

Moonlight poured through the cracks in the door into the room.

Under this faint, silvery-white light, the grim scene inside the room was instantly revealed before Lin Yi's eyes, as if pulling him into a terrifying nightmare.

Three demons sat gathered in the center of the room. At their feet, a female corpse lay quietly, her face still bearing the agony and terror of her final moments.

From the blood still slowly flowing from the corpse, it was evident that this innocent woman had likely just fallen victim to these demons' cruelty.

Upon seeing Lin Yi and Shinobu outside the door, Lower Rank Six, Kamanue, showed a flash of surprise on his face; clearly, he had not expected anyone to break in at such a time.

"A buffet delivering itself to the door? How rare."

Kamanue swallowed a large chunk of thigh in just a few bites, chewing on human flesh and enjoying this bloody feast.

With a sudden wave of his hand, several wooden spikes erupted from the ground, lunging toward Lin Yi's heart with fierce momentum.

In that critical moment, Shinobu Kocho, standing behind Lin Yi, displayed astonishing reaction speed.

She decisively drew her Nichirin Sword, and with a flash of cold light, she instantly severed the incoming wooden spikes.

The collision between the blade and the spikes produced a crisp clatter.

"Mr. Lin, please step back. Leave this to me," Shinobu said, stepping in front of Lin Yi.

Despite facing three Lower Rank demons, no trace of panic appeared on Shinobu's face.

Kamanue sneered, "The Demon Slayer Corps? I was wondering why anyone would dare wander around at this hour; it turns out it's you lot." His eyes betrayed contempt and hatred for the Demon Slayers.

In an instant, the atmosphere became tense, as if the air were thick with gunpowder.

Both sides understood that since they had crossed paths here today, the battle could only end when one side fell.

After realizing there were only Lin Yi and Shinobu, Kamanue's smile became even more hideous, like a predator about to pounce on its prey.

"Be careful, the opponent is a Hashira of the Demon Slayer Corps," Rokuro's tone revealed a hint of caution.

Upon seeing the haori Shinobu wore, he immediately understood her identity and strength, knowing this battle would not be as easy as imagined.

However, Rokuro was not worried.

They had three Lower Ranks on their side, while the opponents only had one Hashira and one ordinary person; in a real fight, they held the advantage.

Lin Yi reached out and pressed his hand against Shinobu, who was preparing to move. His goal for this trip was the Twelve Kizuki; now that he had finally encountered his target, how could he let Shinobu do the work?

The moonlight pierced through the clouds, casting mottled silver patches that gently brushed over every corner of the ruins.

Yet, this faint light struggled to fully dispel the surrounding darkness, as if an invisible barrier stubbornly held it back, causing a silent struggle between light and dark over these ruins.

The staff in Lin Yi's hand gradually dissipated, revealing the blade within.

Shinobu silently sheathed her Nichirin Sword and retreated behind Lin Yi.

With a seemingly casual gait, Lin Yi slowly approached the three demons.

However, as the distance closed, his speed quietly accelerated.

In an instant, his figure raced like the wind, his trajectory nearly impossible for the naked eye to capture, leaving only a blurred afterimage darting through the night.

A flash of sword light sliced through the night sky like a meteor streaking across the heavens, dazzling and breathtaking.

Kamanue's eyes widened in terror, as if he had foreseen his impending fate.

But everything happened too fast; he had no time to react.

In the next second, a head flew into the air.

Blood sprayed into the air like a fountain, intertwining with the moonlight to create a heart-stopping tableau.

Kamanue's headless body fell heavily, crashing into the ground and kicking up a cloud of dust.

That mocking smile was still frozen on his face, though it had now become distorted and eerie, as if mocking his former arrogance and misfortune.

【You have killed a member of the Twelve Kizuki—Lower Rank Six, Kamanue.】

【Kamanue is a key plot character. Obtained 7.3% of the World Source. Total World Source obtained: 14%.】

【Obtained 4,000 Demon Slayer Corps contribution points.】

"Kill him!" Rokuro screamed in terror.

The moment Lin Yi had decapitated Kamanue with a single strike was so fast that he couldn't react; he could only watch helplessly as his comrade died brutally before his eyes.

The remaining two demons now felt an unprecedented threat to their lives.

They knew that if they did not act immediately, they would likely be next.

Dozens of dark red energy attacks shot toward Lin Yi like cannonballs.

These attacks traced eerie arcs through the air, like the scythes of the Grim Reaper, carrying a chilling murderous intent.

(End of Chapter)