Old Man Kuwajima gave Tendo a chop on the head and scolded irritably:"Tendo, stop embarrassing me here. This is no laughing matter!"
"Get lost!"
The old man kicked Tendo away, unaware of what a scoundrel Kaigaku truly was.
"Child, get up!"
"Have you eaten?"
"We'll talk about apprenticeship later!"
"Thank you, venerable master!" Kaigaku pretended to be deeply moved, kowtowing several more times while secretly praying this guy wouldn't report him.
What cursed luck—this guy was actually a disciple of Peach Mountain.
Damn it!
Tendo crossed his arms, eyes rolling. The old man might have a sharp tongue but a soft heart, but he wasn't someone to be trifled with.
Dream on if you think you'll become my junior.
Just wait and see how I deal with you.
Kaigaku remained kneeling, continuing his desperate pleas.
"Master, I beg you to take me as your disciple. Otherwise, I'll kneel here forever!"
"I implore you! I want to slay Demons, I want to join the Demon Slayer Corps!"
Thud—
He slammed his forehead against the ground with a resounding crack.
When he raised his head, his forehead was already swollen and bleeding, the crimson trail dripping down his cheeks.
Yet he seemed impervious to the pain, his piercing blue eyes fixed ahead, burning with unmistakable hatred and resentment.
This hatred for "Demons" didn't seem feigned—especially when his sidelong glance at Tendo revealed a genuine, personal vendetta.
"Ah!" The old man sighed. This boy was too stubborn, all because of the damn Demons.
"Fine, fine. Come with me. If you want to be my disciple, you must pass my test. Otherwise, you'll just get yourself killed before ever facing a Demon."
"Thank you, master!" Kaigaku was overjoyed, though his heart seethed with resentment toward the old man.
Damn old fool, making me kowtow until I bled. Who does he think he's fooling with this act of concern?
"Master, I just remembered I have something to do. See ya!"
Tendo bolted from the scene without looking back, sprinting down the mountain. Some things were better left unsaid—it'd look too targeted—but he still had his gang to rely on.
Old Man Kuwajima's trial was simple and brutal: land a single hit on him before sunset, and you'd pass.
He handed Kaigaku a wooden sword, keeping one arm behind his back, his expression solemn and dignified.
"Do your best. Come at me!"
Kaigaku gripped the wooden sword, a faint sneer flashing in his eyes. A crippled old man putting on airs? Just wait till I break your other leg.
Confidently, he charged—only to be brutally beaten for underestimating his opponent, especially the old man in trial mode.
Kaigaku didn't even get close before being sent flying, crashing hard onto the ground.
"Ah—!"
His arm felt like it was about to shatter, his naive illusions vanishing instantly.
This old man is strong. Tch, he must be deliberately trying to fail me.
For money, for power, for revenge against those who'd wronged him, Kaigaku tapped into every ounce of his strength.
He screamed as he charged again and again, only to be knocked back each time, his body battered but his resolve unshaken.
The sun dipped westward, soon to vanish behind the mountains. Time was running out, and Kaigaku still hadn't landed a single hit.However, the old man was quite satisfied with his unyielding determination, seeing him as a promising seedling. If nurtured well, he could contribute to the Demon Slayer Corps.
Unfortunately, the old man had no idea how Kaigaku cursed him in his heart, nor was he aware of the boy's utterly selfish nature.
No matter how much the old man trained him, he would remain nothing but an ungrateful wolf in sheep's clothing.
"Ahhh—"
"I'll get my revenge!"
Kaigaku's face was bruised black and blue, his furious roars twisting his features into something barely human.
The old man had gone easy on him with that last strike. He acknowledged Kaigaku's perseverance, and his talent wasn't bad—though far inferior to that of his eldest disciple.
The wooden sword grazed the old man's sleeve as Kaigaku stumbled and fell.
"Kid, your perseverance is impressive—that's important!"
"You've got—"
Before the old man could finish, a childish voice rang out.
"Brothers! The thief's right here—get him!"
Shota charged up the hillside with seven or eight other boys in tow, determined to complete the mission their leader had assigned.
Kaigaku froze. He knew instantly that damned redhead was behind this.
That bastard!
Kaigaku's eyes blazed with fury, his murderous intent bearing down on Shota and the other children like an icy blade.
Coincidentally, the old man witnessed this scene. His heart lurched in shock—why was there killing intent in Kaigaku's eyes? And why were these children coming after him?
"Stop, stop, stop!" The old man stepped between them, his mere presence freezing Shota and the others in place. "Explain yourselves. Why are you coming to my mountain to attack someone without reason?"
"Gramps Jigoro, that guy's a bad egg! He stole our money!"
"Yeah, yeah! He beat us up when we wouldn't give it to him!"
"And he's a thief! I saw him stealing, but he threatened to kill me if I told!"
"But our leader said we can't protect evil people—that's wrong!"
The eight or nine children piled on accusations against Kaigaku one after another.
Hearing this, old man Kuwajima's brow furrowed deeply. Having lived his life with swift justice, he had zero tolerance for thieves and bullies.
He turned to Kaigaku, who was still sprawled on the ground. Decades of accumulated bloodlust solidified into palpable pressure as he asked, each word deliberate:
"Kaigaku. Is what they're saying true?"
In that instant, Kaigaku felt his heart stop. A bone-chilling cold enveloped him, his entire body trembling in terror.
But soon, desire overpowered fear. Struggling to his feet, he put on a defiant front and declared:
"I never stole or robbed anything! They're lying!"
"Oh?"
The old man turned back to Shota and the others, freezing them under his gaze.
"Are you children lying?"
Under such pressure—especially for kids—lying was nearly impossible.
But Shota and his friends had no need to lie. They were telling the truth.
"Gramps Jigoro, we're not lying!"
"Big Bro Tendo helped us get our money back. That guy showed up in town a few days ago."
"Our leader wasn't back yet, so he kept bullying us every day!"
The kids stood their ground fearlessly, confronting the old man head-on.
"Tch!" The old man sighed deeply. Had he misjudged this boy after all?
Thievery and lies—Kaigaku's heart was truly corrupted!
Suddenly, the old man transformed into a streak of golden lightning. Before Kaigaku could react, the cold glint of a blade was already pressed against his throat.If he could still say that in the face of death, it proved he wasn't lying.
Now it was Kaigaku's turn to panic—he only wanted money, not to die.
"Say it again. Did you do those things or not?" the old man demanded.
Kaigaku watched as a drop of blood slid down the cold blade, the sting at his neck a sharp reminder. In the end, his greed couldn't overcome his fear of death.
"I did it! Kill me, then!" he roared like a hysterical madman.
The old man sheathed his sword, disappointed by the wasted determination.
"Get out. I don't take in those with wicked hearts!"
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