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

More than a decade later, this country transformed into a war machine, wielding its iron hooves and butcher's knives wantonly against neighboring nations, creating scenes of true hell on earth:

Countless prosperous towns were reduced to ashes by artillery fire and bombing, civilians were displaced, and corpses littered the fields.

The cold bayonet pierced the pregnant woman's abdomen, and the baby, impaled on the spearhead, let out a piercing cry before abruptly ceasing.

Inhumane live human experiments involved dissecting, freezing, and injecting pathogens into living people like livestock...

Mountains of heads were indiscriminately hacked down as a game, rivers were stained red with blood, and the earth was shrouded in the spirits of the wronged.

That kind of systematic and unprecedented slaughter, torture, rape, and plunder was not for survival, but for pleasure, for conquest, or for some twisted belief...

That kind of cold-blooded cruelty that treats its fellow human beings as worthless ants, and even regards it as a merit and something to be proud of...

This is not the appetite of a ghost; it is far more terrifying, more "civilized," and more thorough than that of a ghost—the complete depravity of humanity and collective madness!

"Aaaaaaahh ...

Kagaya Ubuyashiki's brain simply could not withstand such a massive and brutal information shock, especially the malice and violence contained within that exceeded the limits of his comprehension.

He suddenly let out a heart-wrenching scream that was inhuman, clutching his head tightly with both hands as if trying to tear those horrific images out of his mind!

He curled up like a wounded beast, pressing his forehead against his cold knees, his body trembling violently, emitting suppressed, desperate, and painful sobs.

Tears and snot flowed uncontrollably; he was no longer the shrewd, gentle, and resolute leader of the Demon Slayer Corps.

Instead, he was an ordinary person utterly crushed by a naked, unimaginable ultimate "evil".

The people standing nearby, including Ubuyashiki Amane, Kocho Kanae, and Rengoku Kyojuro, were unable to see the specific scenes that Ubuyashiki Kagaya was seeing in his mind.

But from his unprecedented, intense reaction, which seemed to tear his soul apart, they sensed a chilling fear that came from his very life instincts!

They vaguely realized what Wang Xuan meant by "disgusting" and what he meant by "worse than a ghost."

It was a kind of... a true hell on earth that even those of them who fought against evil spirits could hardly imagine or bear!

Inside, only Kagaya Ubuyashiki's agonizing moans and the heavy, almost stagnant breathing of the others could be heard.

Wang Xuan stood there quietly, like a stone tablet silently observing the rise and fall of history, without joy or sorrow.

What he presented was not a prophecy, but a bloody "fact" that had already happened.

Chapter 17 Appreciation

Time seemed to freeze amidst Kagaya Ubuyashiki's heart-wrenching wails.

After a long, long time, his violently trembling shoulders gradually calmed down, and his heavy, painful breathing slowly turned into intermittent sobs.

When he finally raised his head, his face, which had regained its radiance due to the healing, was revealed.

At this moment, his face was a mess of snot and tears, his eyes were empty, as if his soul had been completely hollowed out by what he had just seen, leaving only endless confusion and trauma.

"How...how could this be...how could it be...so cruel..."

He muttered to himself absentmindedly, his voice hoarse and broken, each word seeming to be squeezed out with difficulty from his throat, carrying a bloody question.

He wasn't questioning Wang Xuan, but rather fate, humanity, and why the country he was originally willing to give his life to protect had given birth to such unimaginable, systematic atrocities in the future.

The others—Amane, Kanae, Kyojuro, and even the Hidden members standing by who also felt the terrifying atmosphere—felt as if struck by a boulder when they heard Kagaya Ubuyashiki's whisper, which seemed to come from a soul-searching interrogation.

They looked solemnly at their beloved lord, seeing his utterly destroyed appearance, a chill ran down their spines.

They couldn't imagine what kind of hell on earth he had witnessed that would allow someone who was used to the rampage of demons and indifferent to life and death to become the leader of the Demon Slayer Corps.

The collapse has reached such a point that it can be described as "cruel"?

They fight against demons, whose cruelty stems from their appetite and instincts. The "cruelty" mentioned by the lord seems to point to something more terrifying and "man-made."

Wang Xuan seemed to sense the heavy curiosity and unease in their hearts. He didn't say much, but his gaze swept over everyone present again.

The next moment, the massive and chaotic torrent of information that had just impacted Kagaya Ubuyashiki burst forth like a flood.

Unreservedly and simultaneously flooded into the minds of Ubuyashiki Amane, Kocho Kanae, Rengoku Kyojuro, and the other hidden members!

"Ah ah ah ah ah--!!!"

A piercing scream instantly erupted in the room, even more chilling than the wailing of Kagaya Ubuyashiki alone before!

Lady Tianyin's gentle face twisted in pain as she covered her ears tightly with both hands, as if that would block out the sounds and images. She curled up and collapsed.

Kanae Butterfly's face, which always carried a gentle smile, was now filled with extreme horror and pain; her beautiful eyes were wide open.

Tears welled up, but no sound came out; only a hoarse, choking gasp escaped his throat.

Kyojuro Rengoku, the Flame Pillar who was always full of passion and energy, was now as if all his flames had been drained away. His knees buckled and he knelt on the ground.

With his hands on the ground, his loud voice turned into an uncontrollable, beast-like growl and sob, and his golden-red hair fell limply.

Those members of the hidden group collapsed to the ground, some even retching uncontrollably, their spirits almost instantly crushed by the incomprehensible terror.

They saw it!

They witnessed a massacre that was even more "efficient" and "cruel" than the slaughter of demons!

I witnessed organized atrocities against unarmed civilians, not for survival, but for conquest, for amusement, and for some twisted belief!

I saw living people being treated like experimental subjects, I saw mountains of children's corpses, I saw women being ravaged to death, I saw rivers stained blood red, and I saw the earth trembling amidst the cries of countless wronged souls!

"Why...can people...be so cruel..."

"Is this... is this still a human being?!"

"They're demons! They're all demons! Even more demonic than the demons under Muzan's command!!!"

Chaotic and desperate murmurs spilled from their mouths. They were indeed fighting and killing demons, but it was to protect the innocent ordinary people behind them, to sever the source of evil.

But everything that appeared in their minds completely overturned their understanding.

That was not the madness of an individual ghost, but the utter, inhuman brutality inflicted upon its own kind by a vast group driven by some kind of fanaticism and ideology!

They understood the cruelty of war and knew that the course of human history was often accompanied by iron and blood.

However, war should not, and must never, be a deliberate and systematic act of taking pleasure in the slaughter and torture of civilians, or even taking pride in it!

This has completely trampled on the bottom line of being a "human being"!

"Ho ho... ho..."

After an unknown amount of time, the suffocating screams and cries in the room gradually subsided, leaving only heavy and painful panting, as if the survivors had escaped a catastrophe.

The group looked as if they had just woken up from the deepest nightmare, their eyes unfocused, their faces still bearing the marks of extreme fear and physical discomfort.

When their scattered gazes refocused, they saw Wang Xuan still sitting there calmly, holding the cup of tea that seemed untouched, taking a small sip, as if the storm that had just swept through everyone's souls had nothing to do with him.

His calmness stood in stark contrast to the disheveled and broken state of everyone else.

Setting down his teacup, Wang Xuan's gaze fell upon them once more. His eyes remained clear, yet carried a cold decisiveness that seemed to emanate from the heavens.

"Now you should understand."

His voice broke the silence, still calm, yet carrying an undeniable weight.

"The actions of this country in the near future have completely deviated from the category of 'humanity'."

The collective evil it has nurtured and unleashed, in its scale, its cruelty, and its trampling of the dignity of life, has far exceeded the limits of what this world can bear and purify.

He paused, looking at the lingering fear and confusion in everyone's eyes, and continued:

"To allow it to continue to exist would be an injustice to countless future victims and a stain on the basic order of this world. Therefore, there is no need for it to continue to exist."

The cold pronouncement sent a chill down everyone's spine, but strangely, this time, no one dared to refute it.

Because they had just personally "experienced" the catastrophe that had not yet happened, but was destined to happen.

"As for you."

Wang Xuan's gaze swept over Kagaya Ubuyashiki, Kanae Kocho, Kyojuro Rengoku, and others, his tone seemingly softening slightly.

"Your thousand-year struggle with Muzan Kibutsuji is both your destined tribulation and proof of your upholding of good intentions."

"Although I utterly loathe the very existence that this country will become in the future."

His words were clear and assertive.

"But I do admire the spirit of your Demon Slayer Corps, who are willing to bear the curse generation after generation, sacrifice themselves to protect ordinary people who are powerless to resist."

This "appreciation," coming from the mouth of an "immortal" who transcends this realm and regards all living beings as ants, seems exceptionally precious, and carries a condescending tone, as if evaluating a work of art.

But these few words were like a faint light, shining into the hearts of the Demon Slayer Corps members who had just been swallowed by endless darkness, plunging them into extreme despair and fear of the future of their country.

They grasped at a sliver of melancholic affirmation of their own existence.

Their battles and their sacrifices, at least in the eyes of this supreme being, were not meaningless.

Chapter 18 Emergency Summoning

Wang Xuan casually placed the almost untouched teacup back on the table. The porcelain made a crisp, subtle "tap" sound as it touched the wooden surface, which was particularly clear in the space shrouded in heaviness and pain.

His gaze swept calmly over the people before him, who had just barely recovered from the shock, their faces still bearing the marks of fear and trauma, and he offered them two choices:

"I can help you take care of Muzan Kibutsuji."

His voice was flat, as if he were talking about a trivial matter.

"Also, I can tell you some things that you may not know."

This suggests that it may concern the origins of the demons, Muzan's weaknesses, or other secrets that could potentially turn the tide of the battle.

"It's up to you to choose."

The choice was casually tossed back into the hands of the Demon Slayer Corps.

Kagaya Ubuyashiki took a deep breath, forcing himself to break free from the vision of a future filled with bloodshed and pull his thoughts back to the cruel reality.

He knew perfectly well that, based on the future trajectory to hell shown by Wang Xuan, this country was terminally ill and beyond saving; its fate of destruction had already been predetermined by this immortal with supreme power, and was unchangeable.

However, even if the entire nation is doomed, even if the land beneath their feet is about to crumble, before the final judgment arrives, he and the Demon Slayer Corps he represents still have a thousand-year-old grudge that they must settle themselves!

This is not only a duty and a mission, but also a kind of obsession and dignity imprinted in one's blood and soul.

He struggled, using his still somewhat weak legs to support his body, and then faced Wang Xuan, performing the most solemn and almost prostrating salute, his forehead pressed tightly against the cold tatami mat.

"Your Excellency, Immortal."

Although his voice was hoarse, it carried a resolute determination, as if he had already decided to burn his bridges.

"The feud between us Demon Slayer Corps and Muzan Kibutsuji has lasted for over a thousand years. Countless ancestors have shed their blood and paid with their lives for this cause... This hatred and responsibility have long been ingrained in our blood and marrow."

He raised his head, his eyes burning with a light that was a mixture of grief and determination:

"We... earnestly request the help of the immortals, but we hope even more... to rely on our own strength, the swords of our Demon Slayer Corps, and our own will to bring this thousand-year-long struggle to a final end!"

This is our battle, and it's our destiny that we must complete ourselves!

His words represent the will that the entire Demon Slayer Corps has carried on for a thousand years.

The calamity of national subjugation may be unavoidable, but before that, they must sever their karmic ties with the progenitor of demons as humans!

"Thump," "Thump—"

As Kagaya Ubuyashiki finished speaking, Ubuyashiki Amane, Kanae Kocho, Kyojuro Rengoku, and all the other members of the Kakunobi group present followed him without hesitation.

They bowed deeply to Wang Xuan, expressing the same determination and plea with the most solemn etiquette.

At this moment, individual fears and uncertainty about the future are replaced by a more ancient sense of collective mission and dignity.

Looking at the people kneeling before him, their will unprecedentedly united, a barely perceptible glint flashed in Wang Xuan's eyes.

He admires this kind of perseverance in trying to control one's own destiny and defend one's dignity even in dire circumstances.

He gave a nonchalant reply.

"I can help you. But after you've dealt with Muzan Kibutsuji, you should leave this country."

This additional condition, like the final tolling of a bell, resonated in everyone's hearts.

To receive the help of an immortal and personally fulfill a thousand-year-old wish was undoubtedly a piece of great news, instantly igniting a glimmer of hope in everyone's eyes.

However, the phrase "leaving this country" was like a bucket of cold water, extinguishing some of the joy and bringing a deep sense of loneliness and melancholy.

This is the land where they have lived, fought, and sacrificed for generations, carrying countless memories and emotions, yet they are ultimately forced to leave their homeland...

But this sense of desolation was quickly overshadowed by an even stronger determination. Compared to eliminating Muzan and continuing the organization's flame, leaving their homeland, though painful, became a price they had to accept.

"I am extremely grateful to the immortal for granting my wish!"