Cheng Mo's heart sank abruptly, but years of pressure and life-or-death experiences allowed him to perfectly control his facial muscles.
There was no fluctuation on his face, not even the slightest change in his eyes; he merely adhered to the most basic social etiquette.
He gave an extremely subtle nod, his gaze deep and calm as he looked at the other party, as if he were merely looking at a stranger he had just met for the first time.
Muzan—President Tsukihiko's perfect smile, upon seeing Cheng Mo clearly, also showed an extremely subtle, almost imperceptible stiffness.
It was him!
That young man who possessed strange lightning power, ruined his plans, and even made him feel a hint of threat!
The vast qi and blood in his body, tempered in a peculiar way, the faint aura of that nichirin blade he so detested... there was no mistaking it!
How could he be here?!
And he had transformed into a "doctor from Jianji Hall"?
And seemed to have a close relationship with Mitsui Hiroki?
Countless questions and a sudden burst of violent killing intent churned within him, almost breaking through the carefully maintained gentleman's facade.
But he had lived too long; his disguise was already etched into his bones.
That trace of stiffness was only fleeting, immediately replaced by a thicker, impeccably businesslike smile. His light red eyes curved slightly, and he extended his hand, his voice gentle and pleasant, as if carrying sincere admiration:
"Mr. Cheng Mo? You are truly young and accomplished. I hear your medical skills are outstanding, and to be able to represent Jianji Hall in this cooperation, you must possess true ability."
His choice of words was impeccable, and his tone was just right.
However, Cheng Mo clearly saw that in the deepest part of those smiling, jewel-like eyes, there was an utterly cold, chilling scrutiny and cruelty.
That gaze was like a viper's tongue, silently licking his throat.
Cheng Mo did not extend his hand; he merely nodded slightly again, his voice steady without a ripple, betraying no emotion: "President Tsukihiko, it's a pleasure. The path of medicine is endless learning; I dare not claim to be outstanding."
His refusal to shake hands seemed somewhat impolite, but combined with his aloof and distant demeanor, it appeared reasonable—a scholar absorbed in medicine, unaccustomed to socializing.
Mitsui Hiroki, standing by, laughed and smoothed things over: "Haha, Mr. Cheng has the demeanor of a scholar, President Tsukihiko, please don't take offense. You are both young talents, and there might be opportunities for cooperation in the future. You two chat; I still need to greet other distinguished guests."
With that, he turned and left, completely oblivious to the fact that the gazes of the two behind him had already begun to clash.
"May I ask where Mr. Cheng was primarily employed before? London? Or Berlin? I have a few friends in the medical community there as well."
Muzan's smile remained unchanged, his tone sounding like pure curiosity, but his questions precisely targeted potential loopholes.
"I spent some time mainly in research institutes and academies in Switzerland."
Cheng Mo responded with ease, casually naming several real institutions that focused on theory and cutting-edge exploration, making it difficult to verify specific personnel movements.
"The environment there is quiet, suitable for immersing oneself in fundamental theories, such as abnormal energy metabolism at the cellular level, or gene expression in certain hereditary blood diseases... Does President Tsukihiko also have an interest in these fields?"
He deftly tossed the topic back, bringing up several terms that were both professional and cutting-edge.
It subtly hinted at certain essential characteristics of demons, more like a silent probe and provocation.
In the deepest part of Muzan's eyes, an extremely subtle flicker of annoyance passed.
He naturally understood these modern medical terms, even far more proficiently than this human before him.
But this reminded him of the key to breaking sunlight that he had painstakingly sought for centuries but failed to obtain, and this feeling made him extremely displeased.
However, the smile on his face remained perfect: "Hehe, the field Mr. Cheng researches is truly profound. I am merely an ordinary businessman; I know nothing about these intricate theories. I'm just more interested in products that bring health."
He skillfully avoided a deep discussion, instead steering the conversation towards the business realm, hinting at his identity as a "normal businessman."
Just then, Cheng Mo seemed to notice something.
His gaze lingered on Muzan's face for half a second, carrying a just-right, medical professional's scrutiny: "President Tsukihiko is joking, but your complexion is truly... astonishingly healthy, and your skin condition far surpasses that of your peers. It's almost as if time has stopped for you. Do you have a special beauty secret? Perhaps it could benefit the public."
These words sounded like flattery, but to an informed listener, they were nothing short of a direct exposure.
The perfect curve of Muzan's smile stiffened imperceptibly for a thousandth of a second.
He could feel that some of the ladies around him seemed drawn to the topic, looking over curiously.
Killing intent seethed in his heart; he wished he could immediately tear apart that seemingly calm but every-word-a-thorn mouth.
But he restrained himself, instead letting out a light chuckle.
He raised his hand and elegantly adjusted his cuff, revealing an expensive wristwatch: "Mr. Cheng is truly humorous. There's no secret; it's just about maintaining a cheerful mood, paying attention to diet and sleep, and doing some simple exercises regularly."
"On the contrary, Mr. Cheng, with such achievements at such a young age, you must have unique insights into health preservation? Perhaps... you use some special 'supplements'?"
He deliberately paused slightly on the word "supplements," his gaze pointedly sweeping over Cheng Mo's well-proportioned and powerfully built body, implying that the other party's strength came from an unusual source, perhaps not entirely legitimate.
Their conversation remained within the framework of social etiquette, their voices neither too high nor too low, and even their faces bore faint smiles.
But the air around them seemed to solidify.
Several gentlemen and ladies chatting nearby stopped simultaneously, instinctively feeling an inexplicable chill and pressure.
It was as if something invisible and extremely dangerous was confronting nearby, sending shivers down their spines, yet they had no idea what was happening.
A sensitive lady even instinctively touched her arm; a layer of goosebumps had appeared.
Cheng Mo could feel that beneath Muzan's seemingly casual gaze was the cold scrutiny and evaluation of a venomous snake.
He knew that the other party was probing his background, assessing his threat level, and searching for any potential flaws.
Similarly, Muzan could clearly sense the rock-solid will beneath Cheng Mo's calm exterior and the energy contained within his body that he found extremely repulsive and vigilant.
This human was unlike any Demon Slayer he had ever killed before.
That calmness, that gaze that seemed to see through everything, reminded him of some difficult opponents from centuries ago, perhaps even... worse.
Act now?
Here?
Unleash all his power instantly to stifle this threat?
Countless thoughts flashed through Muzan's mind, but in the end, they were all suppressed.
The cost was too great.
His identity would be exposed, his years of social networking would be ruined, it would attract the attention of the authorities and even the military, and it would alarm that damnable Ubuyashiki Clan, making them even more vigilant.
More importantly, he wasn't 100% sure he could instantly kill this strange man.
Once a prolonged fight began, the consequences would be unimaginable.
Cheng Mo also suppressed the urge to fight.
Mission first.
The primary goal was to find Tamayo and gain her help, not to engage in an uncertain decisive battle with Muzan here.
Turning hostile now would only alert the enemy, dragging this place and even all of Asakusa into purgatory.
Countless people would die because of him, and centuries of the Demon Slayer Corps' secret operations could also come to naught.
Their gazes clashed in the air once more.
This time, there was no pretense; both clearly saw the undisguised, cold, pure killing intent in the other's eyes.
But they also saw that cold restraint, based on rational calculation.
Like two prehistoric beasts meeting on a narrow path in a human marketplace.
Fangs bared, growling menacingly, a stench of blood in the air, yet both desperately suppressing the instinct to pounce and kill, mindful of the fragile and numerous "flock" around them.
A brief, suffocating silence.
Cheng Mo was the first to bow slightly, breaking the stifling standoff: "President Tsukihiko is joking. There are no supplements; it's just about regular exercise. Please excuse me; I've spotted a senior figure in the medical field, and I happen to have some questions I'd like to ask."
His excuse was reasonable, and his movements were fluid and natural.
Muzan instantly regained his perfect smile of a business elite, nodding in acknowledgment: "Please do. I look forward to our next exchange, Mr. Cheng."
Cheng Mo turned and walked towards an old man talking to someone not far away—one of the patriarchs of the Tokyo Kampo medical community.
He wore the humble smile of a junior seeking guidance from a senior, naturally joining a discussion about the medicinal properties of a rare herb.
In his words, he seemingly inadvertently steered the conversation towards treating certain "rare debilitating blood disorders" and then smoothly brought up "that Ms. Ogata who lives in Wutong Hermitage and has a somewhat eccentric temperament..."
Muzan, meanwhile, stood rooted to the spot, the smile on his face completely vanishing the moment Cheng Mo turned, leaving only a frozen gloom.
He perfunctorily nodded to a council member who approached him, casually saying, "Excuse me, I need to go say hello over there," and then turned to blend into the crowd.
His steps remained elegant, but his fingers, gripping the wine glass, were slightly white from the force.
His heart was already filled with rage and suspicion.
Cheng Mo... Jianji Hall... returned from overseas... fragments of information rapidly assembled in his mind.
He must immediately investigate everything about this man!
What is his relationship with Ubuyashiki?
What is his true purpose for being here?
Is it merely for medical exchange?
Or is he coming for me?
What exactly is the Demon Slayer Corps plotting?
Perhaps, Asakusa, this playground, needs to be cleared out early.
A flicker of extremely cruel light flashed in his eyes, instantly disappearing into the glittering lights.
💎 Power Stone Bonus: Every 100 Power Stones = +1 Extra Chapter
🌟 5-Star Review Bonus: Every 5 (5-Star) Reviews = +2 Extra Chapters
💬 Comment Speed-Up: If any chapter reaches +10 Comments = The Next Chapter Will Be Released Faster!
🔥 Want to Read Ahead? If you want to read advanced chapters, check out my buymeacoffee(.)com/Oyunbozan