Mr. Cheng Mo's expression remained unchanged, not angered by the other party's questioning.
He was about to speak when suddenly, the urgent flapping of wings came from the sky.
"Caw—!"
A black Kasugai Crow swooped down like an arrow, landing precisely on Giyu Tomioka's raised arm, its sharp cry breaking the tense atmosphere that was about to escalate again.
"Urgent message! Giyu Tomioka, heed this command!"
The Kasugai Crow spoke in human language, its voice urgent and clear.
"Emergency confirmation via the Kasugai Crow network! Mr. Cheng Mo is indeed a Demon Slayer Corps VIP and important ally! He has been personally received and acknowledged by the Master! You must treat him with utmost respect and not offend him! And invite Mr. Cheng Mo to come to the headquarters at once! Caw! Repeat, treat with respect, invite to meet! Caw!"
The Kasugai Crow flapped its wings, repeating the instructions twice, then tilted its head, looking at Cheng Mo with its beady black eyes, then at Giyu Tomioka.
Giyu Tomioka was completely stunned.
The Master's personal confirmation? VIP? Ally?
At this moment, the Kasugai Crow seemed to have completed its primary task, then as if suddenly remembering something.
It pecked out a tiny scroll from a small bamboo tube tied to its leg and dropped it to Giyuu.
Giyuu subconsciously caught it and unrolled it.
The handwriting on the scroll was delicate, like that of someone from the Butterfly Mansion, recording simple information: Cheng Mo, introduced by Murata's squad about a year ago, made a deal with the Butterfly Mansion, later met the Master, was specially approved to use scarlet ore sand iron to re-forge his Nichirin Blade, and about a year ago, went to Mount Peach, becoming Kuwajima Jigorō's disciple to train in Thunder Breathing... "A year... ago?"
Giyu Tomioka's gaze fixed on the words "became a disciple about a year ago" and "learned Breathing Technique."
He suddenly looked up, staring at Cheng Mo again, and in his usually unperturbed blue eyes, an immense shock finally emerged uncontrollably.
Only trained for one year?
Even if counted from the start of his apprenticeship, it was at most one year!
And he could possess the aura that had just threatened him?
And he could save people from Muzan and even drive him away?
Although he had not witnessed it himself, Tanjirou's testimony, the traces at the scene, and the Master's confirmation all pointed to this fact.
This... what terrifying talent was this?
All the suspicion and wariness, under this barrage of information, especially the shock of the training duration, finally completely dissipated, transforming into an indescribable complex emotion.
Among them was even a trace of... respect, which he himself had not noticed.
Giyu Tomioka silently put away the scroll, and with a shake of his arm, the Kasugai Crow cawed and flew back into the sky.
He straightened his haori, which was slightly disheveled from his hurried journey, then stepped forward and performed a solemn, formal Demon Slayer Corps bow to Mr. Cheng Mo.
"My apologies, Mr. Cheng Mo."
His voice was still without much fluctuation, but the coldness and doubt in it had disappeared, replaced by a weighty acknowledgment.
"Thank you for your assistance. The Master has invited you to the headquarters; please follow me."
His gaze swept over the tragic scene behind Mr. Cheng Mo and the grieving young man, adding: "This place... also needs to be dealt with quickly."
Cheng Mo looked at the Water Hashira, who had finally let down his guard, and nodded slightly: "Thank you for your trouble."
Just then, Nezuko, in Tanjirou's arms, let out a faint groan, her long eyelashes trembling as she slowly opened her eyes.
"Nezuko!" Tanjirou cried out in surprise, hugging his sister tightly.
Nezuko's eyes were a little dazed, but then, the strong smell of blood in the air, the familiar home that had become a scene of hell, and the tears and despair on her brother's face instantly brought back the terrifying memories from before she fainted!
"W-woo... Brother... Mom... Takeo... Hanako..."
She trembled, her voice broken, large tears rolling down, mixing with Tanjirou's tears.
The siblings embraced tightly, crying inconsolably, their heartbreaking wails echoing through the silent mountain forest.
Cheng Mo and Giyu Tomioka stood silently to the side, not disturbing this heavy sorrow.
Cheng Mo's face was expressionless, he just watched quietly, a faint, complex emotion flashing in the depths of his eyes.
He thought of his sister in the hospital bed; the fear of losing a loved one made him empathize.
Giyu Tomioka, however, remained stern-faced, but his fingers gripping the sword hilt tightened slightly.
His gaze was cast towards the dark forest in the distance, as if the heavy night could swallow this suffocating sorrow.
After an unknown amount of time, the crying gradually became hoarse, leaving only suppressed, intermittent sobs.
After a long while, Tanjirou finally raised his tear-streaked face, the grief in his eyes gradually replaced by something extremely hard, called hatred and determination.
He looked at Giyu Tomioka's uniform, then at the unfathomable Cheng Mo.
"Please tell me... how can I join the Demon Slayer Corps!"
His voice was still hoarse, but it carried an undeniable firmness, "I want to become strong! I want to slay demons! I want to avenge my family!"
Nezuko also struggled to lift her head from her brother's embrace; though weak, a fierce flame burned in her tear-filled eyes as well, and she nodded vigorously, her voice weak but clear: "I also... want to go! With big brother... together!"
Cheng Mo looked at the siblings, nodding inwardly.
The seed of hatred had been sown, and the path to the Demon Slayer Corps had been indicated.
His intervention was pushing the world line in an unknown but potentially greatly rewarding direction.
"The Demon Slayer Corps is no game; death can come at any moment."
Giyu Tomioka's voice was still without much fluctuation.
"I'm not afraid of death!"
Tanjirou immediately shouted, his eyes unwavering.
Giyu Tomioka looked at Cheng Mo again.
Cheng Mo spoke calmly: "I promised to take him for a while and see his resolve."
Hearing this, Giyu Tomioka asked no further questions and nodded: "In that case, let us travel together. We must first meet the Master to explain the situation."
Cheng Mo stepped forward, his voice steady: "Let the deceased rest in peace. The snowy night is cold; the living cannot stay here forever."
The Tanjirou siblings nodded vigorously at his words.
Without many words, Cheng Mo and Giyu Tomioka helped Tanjirou find a sunny clearing near the house and silently began to dig with the tools they could find.
The process was heavy and slow; each shovelful of earth felt like a cut to Tanjirou and Nezuko's hearts.
Finally, all the family members were properly buried, and simple wooden markers were erected.
Tanjirou, holding Nezuko, bowed three times heavily before the graves.
The young man clenched his teeth, tears silently falling again, but in his eyes, besides sorrow, there was a profound determination.
"Let's go," Giyu Tomioka said curtly.
The four walked down the mountain in silence, through the night and the snow.
Nezuko was injured and weak, so Tanjirou carried her on his back, taking one firm step after another.