One person: Lu Jin, do I look like your master?

Wang Xuan looked at Tanjiro and his family, who were staring in disbelief with their mouths agape, and spoke with a hint of gentleness that was barely perceptible to him.

"You can think of me as an immortal."

Wang Xuan did indeed have a good impression of Tanjiro, the "little angel" who remained kind, resilient, and gentle throughout the original work, warming others like the sun.

In this cold and cruel world of Demon Slayer, this pure goodness is especially precious.

The gentleness in Wang Xuan's eyes vanished instantly, replaced by a cold sharpness.

Appreciating Tanjiro as an individual does not mean he will turn a blind eye to the profound disaster that is about to befall this nation and country.

A soft popping sound.

Wang Xuan suddenly clenched his five fingers, and the flame that had been moving and changing in his palm, as docile as a pet, was ruthlessly crushed by him!

Sparks flew everywhere, but silently vanished as they approached his body, leaving only a wisp of smoke and the lingering heat in the air as proof that the flames had once existed.

This sudden and impactful action made the Kamado family, who had just relaxed, hold their breath again, and Tanjiro subconsciously gripped the stick even tighter.

Wang Xuan's mind was already churning. He couldn't deny that in the story of "Demon Slayer".

Whether it's the "Pillars" who are willing to give everything to protect the weak and slay demons for their lord Kagaya Ubuyashiki, or the "three little ones" Tanjiro, Zenitsu Agatsuma, and Inosuke Hashibira who are struggling to grow up.

Even the thousands of members of the Demon Slayer Corps who silently sacrificed themselves deserve our respect for their beliefs, courage, and spirit of sacrifice.

They are warriors who hold torches high in the darkness, fighting against inhuman monsters.

But don't forget, the current time is 1907.

Wang Xuan's gaze seemed to pierce through the snow-capped mountains and night, revealing the future not far away.

In another twenty years or so, this seemingly simple country, which still has kind people like the Kamado family, will have its state apparatus completely hijacked by the fanaticism of militarism.

He transformed into the most ruthless invader, wantonly unleashing war and suffering upon neighboring countries, especially the land of China, the root of his soul.

The trauma and grief brought about by that war are indelible marks etched deep into the nation's memory.

Appreciating individuals is not contradictory to being wary of or even disgusted by the collective madness exhibited by their nation during a specific historical period.

Standing in the snow-capped mountains of Japan in 1907, looking at the Kamado family, who remain simple and kind despite being completely unaware of the impending catastrophe.

Wang Xuan's feelings were complicated.

He saw individuals worthy of saving, and also foresaw an unavoidable, enormous shadow originating from the national level.

His arrival in this world was an accident, and perhaps it also contained some kind of variable.

However, he has come here regardless, and Wang Xuan felt some regret in the previous world.

But it seems that heaven saw his regrets and brought him to this world, a world where the timing was just right.

Chapter 3 Advice

Wang Xuan quickly suppressed the turmoil in his heart caused by the historical trajectory and turned his gaze back to the Zaomen family.

They remained tense, especially Tanjiro, who still clutched the ritual staff tightly to his chest, as if it were a shield against all the unknown.

Since the Zao family is still safe and sound, it means that the tragedy has not yet occurred, and Wang Xuan needs to determine the specific time.

He spoke calmly, his voice clear and resonant in everyone's ears:

"Excuse me, what year and month is it now?"

This question surprised the Kamado family; they hadn't expected this mysterious "immortal" to ask such a common question.

Tanjiro, who was protecting his family, hesitated for a moment, but seeing that Wang Xuan seemed to have no ill intentions, he mustered his courage and answered in a voice that was still a little nervous but he tried his best to keep it clear:

"It is now...it is the 40th year of the Meiji era."

"Meiji 40 years..."

Wang Xuan silently recited the dates in his mind, quickly matching them with the historical years he knew.

"Then it must be 1907 now."

He immediately came to a conclusion.

Based on my memory of the original plot, the protagonist Tanjiro Kamado's family was attacked and he embarked on his journey to join the Demon Slayer Corps around 1912.

"I see. So, there should still be five years until the story begins?"

He thought to himself.

Five years is not a short time for ordinary people, but it seems so urgent in the face of the historical tide and the potential shadow of tragedy.

Now that the time has been set, there is nothing else he needs to deal with immediately.

The energy level of this world is low, and apart from the strange drug that can turn people into "ghosts," there is not much that attracts him.

In his view, the so-called "ghost" was nothing more than a deformed product that distorted life forms and depended on devouring the lives of others to exist.

It goes against the path he pursues and is not worth paying attention to at all.

"Young man, thank you for informing me."

Wang Xuan nodded slightly to Tanjiro, his tone remaining calm.

"Then, farewell."

As soon as he finished speaking, without any visible movement, his figure floated up slowly, defying all logic, several feet off the ground, his clothes fluttering without wind, as if he were about to blend into the cool night.

He planned to leave the mountains and forests to find a relatively quiet place to continue his cultivation and enlightenment.

Although the rules of this world are relatively simple, the greatest truths are the simplest, and perhaps we can glimpse some different mysteries within them.

However, just before he was about to transform into a streak of light and disappear, his gaze swept once more over the kitchen family gathered below, their faces a mixture of fear, curiosity, and a hint of simple kindness.

Especially the boy named Tanjiro, whose crimson eyes, besides being wary, also held a deep sense of protectiveness towards his family.

A barely audible sigh echoed in Wang Xuan's heart. Although he felt a chill towards the future of this country, he believed that individual goodness should not be implicated by the sins of the collective.

Moreover, this young man was the first person he had encountered in this world.

In the blink of an eye, Wang Xuan's floating figure paused slightly, then, as if drawn by an invisible force, slowly drifted down and stopped in front of Tanjiro, only a few steps away.

The sudden approach made Tanjiro gasp for breath. He instinctively wanted to hold the wooden stick in front of him again, but the aura of calm and dignified indifference emanating from Wang Xuan made him stop in his tracks. He simply watched the other party with even greater vigilance.

Wang Xuan gazed into Tanjiro's clear eyes, his voice not loud, yet carrying a strange, undeniable power that clearly reached the ears of Tanjiro and his family behind him:

"Young man, let me give you some advice."

He paused, making sure every word was heard clearly.

"Leave here with your family within five years. Otherwise, the consequences will be unimaginable."

Upon hearing this, everyone in the Kamado family, including the mother, Aoi, showed expressions of astonishment and confusion.

Leave? Leave the Cloud Pass Mountain where they've lived and depended on for generations? Why?

Wang Xuan did not explain the reason, but continued, as if pointing out a clear path:

"If you don't know where to go, then go to the Demon Slayer Corps."

"Demon Slayer Corps?"

Tanjiro repeated the unfamiliar word in a low voice, his eyes filled with confusion.

"You can find them in the Sagiri Mountains."

Wang Xuan provided the specific location.

He knew that, given Tanjiro's character and destiny, the Demon Slayer Corps was his only and best place to belong.

At least there, he had the opportunity to gain the power to deal with the impending disaster and protect those he wanted to protect.

The message has been conveyed; whether they believe it or take action is their own fate and choice.

Wang Xuanyan's words end here.

Without pausing for a moment, Wang Xuan's figure suddenly became blurry, and the next moment, he disappeared silently from the spot, like a wisp of smoke merging into the night.

He left no trace, only the faint aftershocks of energy in the air, which had not yet fully subsided, as proof of his existence.

The kitchen family was left standing there dumbfounded, unable to recover for a long time.

The campfire had long since been crushed by Wang Xuan, leaving only a pile of dark red embers and wisps of smoke.

With such an inexplicable event occurring, the ritual to worship the fire god could obviously no longer continue.

A chilly night wind blew by, sending a shiver down everyone's spine.

After a long while, Mother Kuizhi was the first to come to her senses. She took a deep breath, suppressing the turmoil in her heart, and said to the children:

"Alright, it's all over now. That... gentleman has already left. Let's tidy up the outside first."

The family silently tidied up the sacrificial utensils, properly disposed of the remaining embers, and then, filled with doubt and unease, filed into their simple yet warm little wooden house.

Closing the door seemed to temporarily isolate the eeriness and unknown of the outside world.

The oil lamp was lit, and its dim yellow light shone on everyone's still-shaken faces.

"elder brother……"

As the eldest child besides Tanjiro, Nezuko spoke first. She gently tugged at Tanjiro's sleeve, her beautiful eyes filled with dependence and inquiry.

"What did that...sage mean? Why do you want us to leave? And what is the Demon Slayer Corps...?"

Tanjiro looked at his sister, then at his younger brothers Takeo, Shigeru, and Hanako who had gathered around him, as well as Rokuta, who was still too young to understand and was being held in his mother's arms. Finally, he turned his gaze to his mother, whose brows were furrowed.

He shook his head, his face full of confusion and heaviness.

"I...I don't know either."

Tanjiro answered honestly.

"He told us to leave within five years, saying there would be terrible consequences if we didn't... He also mentioned an organization called the 'Demon Slayer Corps' in Mount Sagiri."

"Leave? Where can we go?"

"I can't help but ask," said the younger brother, Takeo.

“We have lived here for generations, making a living by selling charcoal. How will we survive if we leave Yunqu Mountain?”

Mother Kuizhi remained silent, recalling the many miraculous things that had happened when Wang Xuan appeared—his ability to control flames and shatter the void was far beyond that of an ordinary person.

Such a being deliberately leaving a warning is by no means unfounded.

But what could be "unthinkable consequences"? Bandits? Natural disasters? Or... something far beyond their imagination?

The name "Demon Slayer Corps" sounds ominous and warlike. What kind of organization is it?

"That gentleman doesn't seem like a bad person."

Hanako said softly, "Children's hearts are often more direct."

"He helped us 'play' with fire."

She was referring to the scene where Wang Xuan manipulated the flames to change their shape.

"But he accidentally popped the flame!"

Mao added, still shaken.

Silence fell over the room. The flame of the oil lamp flickered gently, illuminating the bewildered, uneasy, and worried faces of the family living by the stove.

Wang Xuan's sudden appearance and departure were like a boulder thrown into a calm lake, and the ripples known as "fate" have begun to spread.

The five-year deadline, like an invisible shackle, quietly settled over the heads of this once peaceful charcoal-selling family. Would they heed this warning?

Chapter 4 The Tension of the Kitchen House

Leaving the mountain forest of Zaomen's home, a place filled with the warmth of human life and anxieties about the future, Wang Xuan moved like lightning, his divine sense spreading out like a net, instantly traversing several mountain peaks.

He did not deliberately seek out any auspicious feng shui locations, nor did he have any expectations of the so-called "spiritual veins" of this world.

Finally, he stopped in the middle of a secluded cliff overlooking the sea of ​​clouds to the east. Here, the clouds and mist swirled, the rocks were rugged, and it was far removed from the hustle and bustle of the world.

He pointed his fingers like a sword and casually slashed at the hard rock wall.

Without any flying stone chips or loud noises, the rock seemed to be silently wiped away by an invisible force, indenting and expanding inwards in just a few breaths.

This formed a square and clean cave dwelling.

He slightly concealed the cave entrance with a simple spatial distortion technique. From the outside, it appeared as ordinary rock textures, and would be difficult to detect unless deliberately explored by an entity of the same level.