Demon Slayer: Starting with the Kingdom

He still feels regret to this day.

Unfortunately, it wasn't Yoriichi who encountered him that night at Osaka Castle more than forty years ago, but Mitsuha.

It is a pity that I never had the chance to fight Yoriichi again before he passed away.

Yes, Yoriichi is dead.

He did not die in a swordsmanship contest, but rather perished due to his own sister's meticulous scheming.

This man, the son of God, died a miserable and ordinary death.

He didn't even have a chance to show him his true power one last time, or to demonstrate his divine swordsmanship...

If the goal he pursued his whole life was so easily lost, what is the point of him still studying swordsmanship so diligently to this day?

My elder brother is just making things difficult for himself.

If it were Mitsuha, she would definitely laugh at him like that, right?

Yan Sheng thought to himself.

This is also what his sister has always wanted to tell him.

It's unclear when it started, but Mikatsu's pursuit of Yoriichi gradually turned into a struggle against himself.

Even though no one compares the two brothers anymore, even though no one cares about their merits or demerits anymore, even though Yoriichi has been gone for over forty years...

Yet, day after day, year after year, he still regarded Yoriichi as the goal he had to surpass, and he did his best to catch up...

Yes, what happens after we catch up?

What should he do then?

Should he go and find another target to chase?

How pitiful, elder brother.

Only now has Yan Shengcai truly understood the real meaning behind Mitsuha's mockery of him.

They have no true self inside, and they can't live without chasing after something...

How pitiful, Konoe no Katsumi.

"Brother Yan Sheng! See you tomorrow!"

Goodbye, brother-in-law!

"Ah, see you tomorrow..."

As evening fell, Yan Sheng sat upright in the dojo, watching one child after another wave goodbye to him.

[Is it about being myself...?]

Yan Sheng lowered his head in deep thought.

But what exactly is the true self?

Life is like a long walk in the fog. Those who are in it can never see what lies ahead and can only focus on the small step they take.

So when you feel lost and can't see the direction, you might as well try to stop for a while.

Listen carefully to your inner voice and let it guide you forward; perhaps you'll discover something unexpected, won't you?

Before anyone knew it, the centenarian in the courtyard, leaning on his cane, walked shakily to Yan Sheng.

He sat down next to Yan Sheng, his wise eyes seeming to see through Yan Sheng's inner confusion.

"senior……"

"Of course, not the directions that will make you feel pain, but the directions that will make you feel relaxed and comfortable."

Raising his withered hand, he pointed to Yan Sheng's chest and said with a chuckle:

"After all, you still have a long time. Occasionally, you can put aside the path you've come from and try to embark on a path that is completely different from the past. It's not too late, is it?"

These words struck Yan Sheng like a thunderbolt. He stared into the wise eyes of the old man before him and stood there stunned for a moment.

After a long while, he straightened his posture, bowed deeply to the old man in front of him.

"Thank you, senior, for your guidance."

"It's that time of year again for the fireworks festival..."

As night falls, the colorful lanterns hanging on both sides of the street resemble luminous streams, illuminating the bustling crowds below.

Having finally donned a kimono, Mitsuha walked along the bustling, noisy streets, shaking the rattle in her hand and sighing with downcast eyes.

"It gets so noisy every year on this day..."

Beside her, Violet, who had also changed into a butterfly-print kimono, covered her mouth and laughed upon hearing this:

"But I clearly remember that when you first came to this town, Mitsuha, you really loved the fireworks festival..."

"Even the best things can get boring if you play them too many times... Speaking of which, what about Keizo's family?"

Didn't we agree to meet around here?

You definitely can't come to a fireworks festival alone.

If you are a couple, you should come with your partner. If not, you should invite your friends and family to come with you.

Mitsuba belongs to the latter category.

Mitsuha and Violet are two of the town's most well-known "leftover women." In previous years, Mitsuha and Violet would always come together for the fireworks festival.

Since Keizo, who lost his wife two years ago, moved to this small town, the three of them, who also had no partners or relatives, tacitly formed a "singles alliance" and came to watch the fireworks festival together.

This year is no exception.

(As we all know, once the fireworks festival starts, it means the turning point has arrived, meow~)

Chapter 86 The Agreement at the Fireworks Festival

"Ah, I see it, Mitsuha, Mr. Keizo is over there."

Following the direction pointed out by Violet, Mitsuha's gaze pierced through the crowd in front of her and precisely locked onto Keizo, who was standing alone on the riverbank with his hands on his hips.

"Really, it's no wonder he's been in this town for so long and still hasn't found a new wife, still wearing his training clothes at a time like this..."

After making a lighthearted joke, Mitsuba quickly walked over with Violet, calling out as she did so:

"Mr. Keizo, why are you standing here all alone? You look so pitiful."

"Oh! It's Miss Mitsuha and Dr. Butterfly!"

Completely ignoring Mitsuha's harmless teasing, Keizo turned around upon hearing the voice. He first greeted them with a smile, then looked in confusion at the empty space behind them.

"Strange, isn't the centenarian with you tonight?"

In Keizo's memory, Mitsuha should have brought her centenarian husband to the fireworks festival every year in the past.

"The old man isn't feeling well, so he won't be attending this year's fireworks festival."

"I see... Well, after all, he's over a hundred years old, so he really needs to be more careful... Alright, let's not talk about this anymore, Miss Mitsuha, look ahead."

As Keizo spoke, he pointed to Komaji and Koyuki, who were strolling on the grassy riverbank below.

At that very moment, the first round of fireworks at the fireworks display began to rise.

One after another, brilliant fireworks exploded in the night sky, blooming briefly and then quickly falling.

Amidst the bursting flames, the two young people standing side by side on the riverbank grass also stopped at the same time, gazing at each other and their lips moving slightly.

"Ah, I see..."

Looking down at Komaji and Koyuki, who seemed to be talking to each other, Mitsuha suddenly realized and smiled:

"I was just wondering what the important thing you told me about earlier was, Mr. Keizo. Oh, so this is it..."

"So, your master is finally going to become a father-in-law?"

Fireworks festivals are nights for lovers to confess their love.

Therefore, even without the Transparent World, Mitsuha could guess that Komaji and Koyuki below were talking to each other.

It's nothing more than sweet words of mutual heartfelt confessions and vows of eternal love.

"Boring, boring~ I thought it would be something important~ Turns out it's just two young people being lovey-dovey~ How boring~"

"Hey! Mitsuha-san! This is very important!"

Seeing Mitsuha beside him vigorously shaking the rattle-drum in her hand and deliberately sighing, Keizo immediately said urgently:

"This is a major life event for my daughter and Komaji! Koyuki is getting married soon! I'm about to become a father-in-law!"

Soon that child will be pregnant! Then she and Komaji will have many healthy sons, making me, the father, a grandfather overnight!

"Yes yes yes~"

Seeing Keizo's anxious expression, Mitsuha stopped teasing him and asked with a smile:

"So, has the wedding date been set yet?"

"If nothing unexpected happens, it should be the day after tomorrow."

Upon hearing this, Qingzang scratched his head somewhat embarrassedly.

"After all, we're not a very wealthy family, so we don't need to invite too many guests, just some friends we usually have."

There's no need to choose an auspicious date. Since Komaji's birthday is the day after tomorrow, Komaji and I have decided to set their wedding date on Komaji's birthday as well..."

"Isn't this wonderful? Being able to get married to the person you love on your birthday, Lianxue will definitely be happy for the rest of her life."

"Then, Miss Mitsuha, when the time comes, you..."

"Don't worry! Little Butterfly and I will definitely come! And the old man and my brother too, I'll call them over as well."

"Haha! It's so great that you two, Miss Mitsuha, were willing to come!"

"Speaking of which, Miss Mitsuha, where is your brother? I haven't seen him tonight."

When Keizo suddenly brought this up, Mitsuha's face immediately showed a meaningful smile.

"Who knows? Perhaps my elder brother is also striving to take a new step in his life right now, who knows..."

Meanwhile, on the other side of the town, Yan Sheng and A Ming were walking side by side in the bustling crowd.

"Young Master Yan Sheng, look! The fireworks are going up! How beautiful!"

"Well, indeed..."

"And that rice cake they make looks so delicious, why don't we buy some to take home for Mitsuha?"

"That's fine..."

"Wow~ It's a goldfish scoop! Young Master Yan Sheng, shall we go play it together?"

Time passes slowly.

Despite Ah Ming's efforts to liven up the atmosphere between the two, Yan Sheng seemed distracted and absent-minded tonight for some reason.

She responded to almost all of her suggestions with perfunctory attitudes.

【Miss Aming, I have something important to tell you tonight.】

In her mind, Ah Ming recalled once again the words Yan Sheng had said to her this morning before she set off for the dojo.

What could be the important matter?

Could it be... that Young Master Yan Sheng has finally decided to leave?

“Miss A-Ming, there’s something I’ve kept from you for a long time. I’ve thought about it a lot these days, and I still think I should tell you as soon as possible.”

Reaching a deserted riverbank, Yan Sheng suddenly stopped, turned around, and looked at A-Ming beside him, who was filled with trepidation and unease.

"Yes, yes! Young Master Yan Sheng, please speak..."

[Okay, it's alright, A-Ming, calm down... Young Master Yan Sheng is only temporarily living with you at San Ye's request...]

Now that he wants to leave, isn't that perfectly reasonable?

【It's alright, it's alright, calm down... You've already received a lot of care from Young Master Yan Sheng during this time, so you can't cry and make a fuss anymore. You need to say goodbye properly...】

Seeing Ah Ming's nervous face, and after another brief hesitation, Yan Sheng finally spoke:

"Mitsuha and I were actually born more than a hundred years ago during the Warring States period."