Demon Slayer: Muzan, will you dance too?

A look of astonishment appeared on the girl's face, the usual curve of her lips suddenly froze, her slightly raised brows were like a taut string, and a slight blush spread from her ears to the side of her neck.

She didn't realize for a moment that the person was talking about her.

They still thought it was someone else.

"Isn't calling someone 'Mom' a bit too impolite, Mr. Kiyokawa Izumi?"

Although she was of legal marriage age, she was still an unmarried girl and a demon-slaying swordswoman with a special profession. It's easy to imagine the shame and anger she felt when a bastard who was not much younger than her called her mother.

She hadn't lost her elegant demeanor; she just looked at Kiyokawa Izumi quietly, as if hoping he would give her an explanation.

Seeing Shinobu's mother's slightly agitated mood, Kiyokawa Izumi looked up at the sky and couldn't help but sigh.

"The weather is really nice!"

The next second, the figure vanished from the spot.

Kiyokawa Izumi's choice is—Dark Breathing: Full Focus!

He took off running, so decisively and so suddenly.

It was as if some ferocious beast was chasing him.

Run!

Dead leg, move!

Watching Kiyokawa Izumi disappear from sight in the blink of an eye, Kocho Shinobu chuckled lightly without expression.

"If this continues, I'll end up being disliked just like Mr. Giyu."

The two figures moved swiftly through the jungle, while Kiyokawa Izumi ran aimlessly on the ground.

Turning his head, he seemed to see a butterfly fluttering lightly, gently leaping up and landing steadily on a branch several meters high. Its lifeless, dull purple eyes stared silently at him.

Kiyokawa Izumi was quickly overtaken, not because his legs were weak, nor because he deliberately slowed down.

It's simply that I can't outrun this guy.

"Is this what a body weighing thirty-seven kilograms is like?"

The fault was not in the war, and it was certainly not because I was too heavy-handed.

Her petite body moved as lightly as a swallow, and Kiyokawa Izumi couldn't help but feel regretful at this moment—not because she felt sorry for her thoughtless words, but purely because she regretted not running away on the spot.

He stood there foolishly, waiting until she came to her senses before he started to run away.

This is absolutely unacceptable!

"Mr. Kiyokawa Izumi, why are you running so fast?"

With a slight pressure, he placed his right hand on Kiyokawa Izumi's left shoulder, and the girl appeared beside him.

"Insect Pillar, I have to criticize you here. When team members need our help, please straighten your attitude and be more serious!"

Kiyokawa Izumi said seriously.

His frank expression and righteous words were truly enough to make Sister Ren lose her temper.

Kiyokawa Izumi is adept at turning the tables and making unreasonable arguments.

The right hand that was gripping his shoulder involuntarily tightened.

"Did you hear anything? Like the sound of teeth chattering... Could there be a mouse nearby?"

Kiyokawa Izumi looked around with a hint of suspicion—when he was using his breathing technique at full power, he could hear the faintest sounds nearby, and his senses were also more acute.

Of course, it's impossible to achieve the same level as a pig.

The pig's spatial perception is incredibly advanced in his eyes.

How can you find evil spirits at a distance just by closing your eyes?

Kiyokawa Izumi couldn't do that anyway, so all she could hear was the soft tapping of teeth nearby.

"Did you know that a certain medicine book mentioned that frequently tapping your teeth can prevent cavities and bone loss, so I can understand that?"

It has absolutely nothing to do with emotions.

This is the secret to the Insect Pillar's strength!

"Boom!"

A crisp and distinct sound rang out, and Kiyokawa Izumi covered his forehead and stepped back—was this woman really that vengeful, tapping him on the head?

I just saw you were in a bad mood and offered you a little comforting. Is it really necessary to hold a grudge like this?

Regardless of whether the way of comforting is right or wrong, isn't the intention what matters?

But this person didn't appreciate it at all and even used her breathing technique to chase after him!

Beneath her wide sleeves, Shinobu Kocho gently rubbed her index finger, but her expression remained unchanged—why is this guy so stubborn?

She felt a slight pain, but she didn't show it.

"Let's go check on the team members who were injured."

They tacitly changed the subject. Shinobu Kocho, unable to smile, had a slight tremor at the corner of her mouth and could only speak calmly.

Sometimes, I just can't help but want to draw my sword.

Unfortunately, the Demon Slayer Corps' discipline forbids members from drawing their swords on each other.

"receive!"

Kiyokawa Izumi gently rubbed her forehead—she wasn't very strong to begin with, and she could feel obvious pain. And since force is reciprocal, her fingers must also be throbbing slightly at this moment.

Tsk.

No, why are you running so fast?

Wait for me!

Kiyokawa Izumi watched Shinobu Kocho disappear into the distance and fell silent—he really couldn't catch up with her, and in despair, he could only offer a word of comfort in his heart.

It's okay, she just doesn't have much stamina!

……

In less than an hour, following the raven's guidance, they arrived at the foot of an unnamed mountain after a brisk journey.

At this moment, a disheveled team member was squatting by the roadside. Upon seeing them, he was both excited and fearful—two Pillar-level swordsmen had come to support him. Wasn't this a bit of an exaggeration?

Will I face severe criticism afterwards?

But there really are monsters in this mountain!