The lightning suddenly receded, as if it had never appeared.
Cheng Mo remained standing in place, as if everything just now was merely an illusion.
Only the faint scent of ozone lingering in the air and everyone's wildly beating hearts attested to the reality of what had just happened.
He looked at Tamayo, his tone as calm as ever, as if he had only demonstrated a trivial matter: "Madam, do you still need to ask about the source of the sample?"
The inner room fell into a deathly silence.
Tanjirou panted heavily, and Yushiro maintained a highly vigilant posture, cold sweat beading on his forehead.
Tamayo looked deeply at Cheng Mo, the shock in her eyes slowly fading, replaced by an extremely complex emotion.
There was apprehension, assessment, but more than that, a tremor of excitement at seeing a possibility never before imagined.
To be able to obtain Muzan's blood, to be able to kill a Lower Moon, and to possess such unheard-of power of lightning... This man possessed the qualifications to cooperate with her, and perhaps... he might be the greatest variable she had awaited for hundreds of years!
After a long silence, Tamayo slowly spoke.
Her voice returned to its usual coolness, but with an added solemnity: "Mr. Cheng... is truly astonishing."
She did not press further about the source.
Cheng Mo also reined in all his aura, sat down again, as if nothing had happened.
He even took out a beautifully packaged small box from his bag and casually handed it to the still tense Yushiro: "I heard that your painting skills are exquisite. This item is a new top-grade pigment from the West; its colors are brighter and more lasting, which may help you better depict what is in your heart."
Yushiro was startled, subconsciously took the box, and opened it to see neatly arranged tube pigments with indeed pure and vibrant colors.
Very few people knew about his talent for painting... This man... He pursed his lips; although the hostility on his face had not vanished, the tense atmosphere inexplicably eased somewhat.
He gave an awkward snort, said nothing, but clutched the pigment box tightly in his hand.
Tamayo watched this scene, a subtle smile flashing in her eyes.
Finally, she made a decision. She walked to a locked cabinet, took out a small white jade porcelain bottle, and handed it to Cheng Mo: "This medicine is refined by me using special methods and can greatly stimulate the human body's potential, strengthen the physique, and invigorate cell vitality. It may temporarily stabilize your sister's condition and buy her more time."
She paused, then looked at the box of blood samples, "As for a complete cure... please allow me to meticulously study this blood sample. This will take time."
"I am deeply grateful," Cheng Mo solemnly accepted the medicine bottle.
"In return, I will regularly provide summaries of modern medical knowledge similar to those in the catalog just now, as well as specific chemical reagents that you may need and that are difficult to obtain in this era. In the future, if I obtain cell samples of Muzan or his Upper Moons, I will certainly share them with you, Madam."
The two parties reached a preliminary agreement, full of probing but with aligned goals.
Tamayo provided several specific codes for secret contact.
Leaving Qing You Hall and walking back into the bustling back streets of Asakusa, the sunlight was a bit dazzling.
Tanjirou clenched his fists and whispered, "Teacher, you will definitely cure my sister..."
Cheng Mo's steps paused imperceptibly. He turned his head to look at the determined young man and replied faintly, "Mm."
At the same time, inside Qing You Hall's inner room.
Yushiro carefully put away the box of pigments, still with a worried expression: "Lady Tamayo, that man is too dangerous! His power is very strange, and... he's too cunning! Do we really have to cooperate with such a dangerous person?"
Tamayo was carefully placing Cheng Xingtong's blood sample into a specialized instrument.
Hearing this, she sighed softly: "Yushiro, precisely because he is so powerful and cunning, yet chose to cooperate with us through transaction rather than coercion, it shows his sincerity."
She looked up, her gaze profound: "If he truly intended to harm us, with the strength he displayed, he wouldn't need to go to such great lengths."
"Next time we meet, do not easily show hostility again. He... may be our closest chance to hope in the hundreds of years we have waited."
Yushiro lowered his head and grumbled, "...Yes, Lady Tamayo."
But he secretly vowed in his heart to be even more vigilant against the man named Cheng Mo, and absolutely not to let anyone threaten Lady Tamayo's safety!
...Returning to the guest room in the backyard of Jianji Hall, filled with the scent of medicine, Cheng Mo gently closed the door, isolating himself from the outside world's clamor.
He walked to the table and carefully placed the porcelain bottle containing the medicine given by Tamayo into his embrace (actually storing it in the compass space).
A huge stone pressing on his heart seemed to have shifted slightly, allowing him to breathe.
His sister's blood sample had finally been sent out.
It was given to perhaps the most knowledgeable being about blood and cells in this world.
Regardless of the outcome, he had at least secured the greatest glimmer of hope for Xing Tong so far.
Although the road ahead was still long, this was undoubtedly a crucial step.
Next... He looked at Tanjirou, who was silently packing his simple luggage.
The young man's movements were a bit slow, his head down, not as energetic as usual.
His brows were clouded with a faint sense of loss and confusion, unsuited to his age.
Cheng Mo frowned slightly.
This was not the Tanjirou he knew.
"What's wrong?" Cheng Mo asked, his voice seeming a little softer than usual.
"You've been distracted since just now."
Tanjirou's hands paused in packing. He hesitated, then turned around, head bowed, his voice a bit muffled: "Teacher... I... I just feel..."
He clenched his fists, seemingly having made a great decision before looking up, his eyes filled with confusion and a hint of imperceptible frustration: "Teacher, you are so powerful, and you have that... power like a Thunder God... Can I... can I really become as strong as you?"
His voice grew softer as he spoke: "I haven't even fully mastered the Breathing Technique, and the Qi Refining Technique is just getting started... I... I might never catch up to you. But, even you, Teacher... it seems you're not entirely confident you can defeat Muzan..."
He remembered that snowy night when his teacher appeared like thunder, forcing back the monster, but did not choose to fight to the death.
This made him subconsciously realize that, at that time, his teacher might not have been absolutely certain of victory.
If even such a powerful teacher found the enemy difficult, could he truly defeat him?
Could he truly protect Nezuko and avenge his family?
A deep sense of powerlessness seized the young man's heart.
Cheng Mo looked at his disciple, who had fallen into self-doubt, and remained silent for a moment.
He rarely explained anything, and he was not good at comforting people.
But at this moment, looking at Tanjirou, he seemed to see another version of himself, burdened with heavy responsibilities and striving forward desperately.
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