Who are you calling a stable boy?!

"call!"

The wind suddenly rushed past his ears. Akaza didn't have time to think. He shrank his neck, lowered his body, and hid behind Zheng Jing, dodging the right fist that was enough to blow half of his body into blood and smoke. At the same time, he raised his leg and kicked a series of afterimages at Zheng Jing's back!

An outstanding martial artist can use his feet as flexibly as his hands, unleashing a variety of kicking techniques.

Clearly, Akaza never slacked off in his study of martial arts over the centuries.

In just two breaths, he had already used a variety of techniques on Zheng Jing's back, including kicking, stomping, foot slashing, and tiger toe spear. Each strike had the ruthless power to slice through flesh and break bones of a well-trained Demon Slayer Corps swordsman.

But all that fierce attacks could produce were muffled thuds that Akaza couldn't understand.

Seeing Zheng Jing turn around as if he couldn't feel the attack at all, he could only retreat quickly, while simultaneously throwing punches in the air with both fists, unleashing waves of invisible pressure in an attempt to stop Zheng Jing from catching up.

"Bang bang bang..."

Seeing that Zheng Jing showed no intention of pursuing him, but simply stood there, letting the powerful punches that could have blown a Lower Moon demon to its death fall on him as if he were enjoying a gentle spring breeze, Akaza finally couldn't hold back any longer.

"you--"

He stared at Zheng Jing and asked in a deep voice.

"What exactly are you?!"

"Bah!"

Zheng Jingyi frowned.

"Open your colored contact lenses and take a good look! What about your Grandpa Zheng is not human?"

Akaza gritted his teeth, thinking that Zheng Jing was just trying to play a trick on him. He was immediately enraged, clenched his fists, and launched another attack.

Now he had to admit that Zheng Jing's power surpassed his... far surpassed his.

Moreover, the resilience of Zheng Jing's body was something he could hardly comprehend.

But that doesn't mean he has no chance of winning!

Zheng Jing possessed unparalleled strength, but he also had unmatched speed!

Zheng Jing's body may be indestructible, but as the third Upper Moon, he is also immortal!

Isn't this perfect?

Isn't this perfect!

Regardless of what this Optimus Prime is, when the two sides fight, what matters is their martial arts skills!

Upon realizing this, Akaza unconsciously put on an excited smile again.

When two opponents are evenly matched, no further words are needed.

war!

"Bang bang bang bang bang bang—"

In an instant, Akaza transformed into a murderous, blood-sucking hurricane, engulfing Zheng Jing entirely.

Zheng Jing is like a majestic mountain, standing firm and unshakable no matter which way the wind blows.

The interplay of movement and stillness seemed to set the tense tone for this battle, where victory or defeat was uncertain for the time being.

"Uh!"

But at that moment, a muffled groan came from the battlefield.

Immediately afterwards, a chilling sound of flesh and blood exploding rang out!

—It is Zheng Jing.

Zheng Jing actually caught Akaza, who boasted of his unparalleled speed, and swung his arm, cutting him in half at the waist!

"you......"

Akaza supported himself with his hands, which were almost numb, his forehead veins bulging, his eyes wide with disbelief, and he could only utter a single hoarse syllable from his throat.

Just now, when his kick landed on Zheng Jing, for some reason, a burning pain suddenly surged up the sole of his foot.

If it were ordinary pain, he wouldn't even flinch.

But the burning pain actually made his legs lose control for a moment!

In a battle between masters, a single moment can determine the difference between superiority and inferiority, life and death...

Zheng Jing grabbed Yiwo's upper body, poured his masculine internal energy into it, sealing off Yiwo's remaining mobility, and casually tossed him into the air.

Immediately afterward, he leaped up and, several feet above the ground, grabbed Akaza's mangled body again, turning him upside down with his head facing down.

"Hurry up—"

"--boom!!!"

The earth shook and dust flew everywhere.

"I almost got caught out by your stupidity, but luckily I'm a step ahead."

Standing up, Zheng Jing dusted off his bottom and muttered something under his breath. He put his hands on his hips and looked at Akaza, who was practically turned into a puddle.

"..."

"..."

Suddenly, the puddles began to wriggle.

Despite the fact that Zheng Jing's masculine internal energy still remained in his flesh and blood, he was still repairing his body at a speed visible to the naked eye!

Strangely, Zheng Jing did not stop him.

He just watched Akaza regenerate.

In less than a minute, neither long nor short, it was enough for Zheng Jing to burn Yiwozuo's flesh and blood to nothing, using all his strength.

But Zheng Jing just watched as Akaza transformed from a pile of rotten flesh back into a perfectly intact human form.

What's even stranger is that Akaza, after being reborn, did not immediately launch a counterattack against Zheng Jing.

He knelt there, his eyes lowered, his hands loosely clasped to his chest, as if trying to hold onto something.

"woke up?"

"..."

"Why are you acting silly again?"

"...Kill me."

Without looking at Zheng Jing, Yiwozu, with his arms hanging limply at his sides, murmured softly.

"What's the rush? You're definitely going to die. With me here, I guarantee no one can save you."

Squatting down, Zheng Jing tilted his head to look at Akaza's face.

"I, Lao Zheng, dislike wasting food the most. I always make sure to eat every single grain of rice in my bowl."

As he spoke, he reached out and grabbed Akaza's chin, forcing Akaza to raise his head.

"After acting as an accomplice to evil for so long, you don't think you can just die and get away with it, do you? Hmm?"

"There's no such thing as a free lunch."

"......"

Zheng Jing's words suddenly brought a sparkle to Akaza's lifeless eyes.

He turned his eyes and looked at Zheng Jing.

"...What do you want to do?"

Chapter Thirty-Seven: Time Is About to Accelerate

"If you're trying to get me to be an inside man, you'd better give up on that idea now."

"I understand, I understand. If we get too close, Boss Zha can even read your minds, right?"

Zheng Jing released Yiwo's chin and gently patted his cheek.

"However, if the distance is far enough, he can at most roughly sense your location, but he can't directly affect you, right?"

"So what?"

"That's enough for you to make the most of your surplus value."

Akaza frowned slightly.

"If you're hoping to get his whereabouts from me, that's impossible. That guy is so cautious he's almost cowardly. Even among the Twelve Demon Moons, probably only Kokushibo and Nakime know his location. Unless he summons us, we have no way to find him on our own."

"I know that too."

Zheng Jing scratched his cheek, tilted his head, and muttered to himself.

"I've been thinking about whether I should put that pot-shaped guy back, otherwise, with two upper-winding weapons gone at once, including you, I'm really afraid he'll just cower in fear! Wait, no, no..."

Zheng Jing shifted his feet, moved closer to Akaza who was kneeling on the ground, and lowered his voice even further, whispering in Akaza's ear, "Dog, I have a question for you."

"..."

Akaza glanced at Zheng Jing silently.

"So, does that scumbag boss really still have any? Like this one—"

Zheng Jing reached out and grabbed nothing.

"A monkey stealing peaches, you know? I heard that old guy, hey, he's lived for a thousand years, and he's transformed into men, women, young and old! Does that mean he's even done transmigration marriage? Wow..."

...How could I lose to someone like that?

Akaza, who had been silently glancing at Zheng Jing, had a slight change in expression as he thought this.

"The last time I saw a plot like this was in Urban Massacre Original ○, I think? Tsk tsk."

Zheng Jing smacked his lips, a look of deep emotion on his face.

"...What exactly do you want?"

"Of course—"

"Old Zheng!"

Tanjiro's voice came from behind, interrupting Zheng Jinggang's words.

"Look, here it is."

Standing up and turning his face, Zheng Jing waved to Tanjiro.

"Charcoal Boy, come here, I was just looking for you!"

Tanjiro was taken aback.

He turned back just before reaching the rear because he smelled an unprecedentedly strong "ghostly scent" and heard the commotion from Zheng Jing and Yiwozu's fight, hoping to see if he could be of any help.

But when they actually arrived, they found that the battle seemed to have already ended...

"Old Zheng, what's this?"

Arriving beside Zheng Jing, Tanjiro was genuinely bewildered by Akaza kneeling on the ground.

"Charcoal Boy, can you get in touch with Ms. Tamayo?"

Upon hearing this, Tanjiro was initially taken aback.

Then, remembering that it was Zheng Jing who had asked the question, he quickly calmed down.

"Yes, but it will take a little time."

"I remember she needs the blood from the upper part of the barrel, right? Here, give me the syringe and blood collection bottle."

"oh oh......"

"How come there's only so little?"

Zheng Jing glared at the syringe and three blood collection bottles that Tanjiro had taken out.

"Who would do research with such a tiny bit? If Muzan sees this, he'll think we can't afford it!"

As he spoke, he suddenly patted Akaza on the shoulder.

"See that? Upper Moon Three is right here. Don't be shy, forget blood collection bottles, just bring a can to fill with blood! One can a day!"

"Uh, that..."