The mistake Hantengu made this time was similar to Akaza's: both believed they could control the situation.
During the great battle at the Demon Slayer Corps Headquarters, Akaza, eager to earn merit, temporarily concealed the information about the headquarters' location from Muzan, hoping to give Muzan a surprise.
As a result, he, along with two Lower Ranks and hundreds of demons, suffered a crushing defeat at the Demon Slayer Corps Headquarters, and Akaza was severely wounded, causing Muzan to lose face.
Hantengu was in a similar situation now.
He thought that since Horitake wasn't on Mount Taoshan, everything would be fine. He believed he would definitely be able to capture Horitake's teacher alive and thus achieve his goal.
He completely failed to anticipate any other potential accidents.
If Hantengu hadn't been so eager for merit, if he had immediately reported the anomalies on Mount Taoshan to Muzan...
Then Muzan would, in all likelihood, have personally come to Mount Taoshan, kidnapped Jigoro and Zenitsu, making it difficult for Horitake to react.
But Hantengu didn't do that; he chose to act alone.
Cloaked in a black robe, Hantengu ascended Mount Taoshan.
The areas around Mount Taoshan were filled with traps Jigoro had set for defense.
These traps might be effective against ordinary demons, but against a demon of Hantengu's caliber, they were of little use. Hantengu didn't even bother to take these traps seriously.
Hantengu walked up Mount Taoshan as if he were taking a stroll, occasionally stepping, occasionally turning a corner, occasionally circling—all because Hantengu saw the traps and was avoiding them.
Very smoothly, Hantengu passed through the trap zone and reached the middle of Mount Taoshan.
He immediately found Jigoro's house, built halfway up the mountain.
The house wasn't large, but lights were on inside, and upon closer inspection, one could even smell the aroma of food.
It had to be said, having dinner at this hour was quite late.
There was no helping it; Zenitsu's training ran too late, and by the time he finished preparing dinner, the night was already somewhat deep.
Zenitsu, carrying a tray of food, walked out of the kitchen, looking exhausted. He entered the room and called out to Jigoro, who was meditating:
"Grandpa, dinner's ready!"
Jigoro nodded, responding with a warm smile:
"Good, let's eat."
Zenitsu set out the dishes, serving rice for Jigoro while complaining:
"Grandpa, dinner tonight is too late.
If you ask me, we can't do this anymore. Eating dinner so late isn't good for your health.
From now on, we should eat earlier. I think it's best to start cooking shortly after dark."
Jigoro instantly saw through Zenitsu's thoughts:
"Zenitsu, are you trying to escape training?
You want to stop training as soon as it gets dark and go cook.
By the time you finish cooking and eating, it really will be late, and you'll have even more excuses to avoid training, won't you?
Hmph! Do you really think I can't see through your little schemes?
Alright, you don't need to hope; my health is perfectly fine, and eating dinner late is no problem at all!
I've decided. From now on, our dinner will always start at this time, and as for the time before dinner, of course, it will all be used for training!"
Zenitsu had shot himself in the foot. He pleaded with a long face:
"No, Grandpa, I won't be clever anymore, have mercy! You can't train like this; people will die if we keep training like this! Someone will definitely die!"
The master and disciple bickered like this. The dishes were set, the rice was served, and the two sat down, just about to begin their very late dinner.
They had just finished their pre-meal ritual, saying "Itadakimasu," and before they had even truly picked up their chopsticks, there was a knock at the door!
Jigoro, despite his age, was still robust. He immediately sensed something was amiss, looking sternly at the door, sensing the aura there.
There was no aura at the door, but that was precisely what was most unusual!
Zenitsu was much more oblivious. He scratched his head in confusion, wondering:
"Who would come up the mountain this late? Who would come to see us?"
With this question, Zenitsu was about to get up to open the door.
Jigoro's eyes were grave, and he barked in a low voice:
"Zenitsu! Don't!"
"Huh?"
Although Zenitsu looked bewildered, he obediently sat back down and made no further moves.
Jigoro quietly stood up, his hand gripping the Nichirin Blade by his side, and cautiously approached the door.
He knew very well that the area at the foot of Mount Taoshan was covered with his traps. Even during the day, ordinary people couldn't get up, let alone at night.
For someone to be knocking at the door at this time, and for him to sense nothing, was clearly extremely abnormal!
Jigoro, holding his Nichirin Blade, reached the door. He didn't open it immediately but cautiously inquired from inside:
"Who is it? Knocking so late? Is there something you need?"
From outside the door, a pathetic-sounding old man's voice responded, whimpering:
"Wuwuwu... Sir, I am a resident from the town below the mountain. My house caught fire, and it burned down. I truly have nowhere to stay, please let me stay for the night."
Upon hearing this, Jigoro's brows furrowed even deeper.
Zenitsu, clearly unaware of the world's dangers, heard the old and pitiful voice and couldn't help himself. He stood up and walked over to Jigoro, saying:
"Grandpa, he sounds like a very pitiful old man, shouldn't we help him?"
Jigoro gave Zenitsu a stern glare, sighing inwardly:
This child's kindness is not always a good thing.
Thinking of this, it's still my eldest disciple's terrible personality that makes him hard to take advantage of.
Such thoughts flashed through Jigoro's mind in an instant. Jigoro sighed, silently pushed Zenitsu back, hid the Nichirin Blade behind him, and slowly opened the door.
Outside was an old man dressed in black, his figure stooped, his face obscured.
Seeing the man's attire, Zenitsu also felt something was wrong.
Who would dress like this late at night? Unless it was a bandit!
Zenitsu began to grow anxious, feeling that things were not as simple as he had imagined.
And Jigoro's body also tensed up.
He discovered a terrible thing.
That was, even with the door open, he couldn't sense any aura from the person in front of him.
Although he was old now and his strength was less than six-tenths of his prime, it shouldn't be to the extent that he couldn't even sense the aura of the person before him, right!?
This could only mean one thing.
The strength of the person outside the door far exceeded his estimation, perhaps even surpassing his own strength in his prime!
At this moment, a thought flashed through Jigoro's mind:
I might be in trouble today!
But then, another thought emerged:
If I'm in trouble, then so be it! Ever since I joined the Demon Slayer Corps, I've had this resolve!
However, Zenitsu was still too young and couldn't be sacrificed here with him. He needed to make Zenitsu escape first!
Strike first!
Jigoro used his prosthetic leg to kick Zenitsu flying backward, then fiercely drew the Nichirin Blade from behind him, swiftly slashing at the neck of the person in front of him!
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