Li Xing won the eating contest against Mitsuri. Mitsuri was surprised, as she had never met anyone with a larger appetite than herself. Though she had heard of such people at the Butterfly Mansion, seeing it firsthand was still astonishing.
"Mr. Li Xing, you won. You're amazing!"
Li Xing was so tired from eating that he waved his hand, lying on the ground. "You flatter me. It's because Mitsuri looked so cute while eating that it whetted my appetite."
"Ah, Mr. Li Xing, you call me cute again! I can't stand it!" Mitsuri covered her face, too shy to speak.
Kanao poured Li Xing a cup of water, helping him calm his body, looking very much like a virtuous wife.
"Kanao is also very cute. I like her very much."
This sudden declaration of affection made Kanao a bit shy. She had been wondering if Big Brother Li Xing would like her, and now he had said it directly.
Despite being in a haven of gentleness, Li Xing did not relax for a moment. He continuously used Enmu's blood demon art clone to patrol the outskirts of the village, anticipating that Hantengu and Gyokko would arrive soon.
...
A few days later, Rengoku and Mitsuri's Nichirin blades were sharpened. Tanjiro also received his Nichirin blade, the one once used by Yoriichi Tsugikuni.
"Mr. Li Xing, and everyone, we will be leaving the village late tonight. Although we don't know if we'll meet again alive, let's all do our best!" Mitsuri and Rengoku, having received their blades, were ready to depart. They did not have permission from the Master to linger for extended periods.
Li Xing knew that the Upper Moons would arrive soon and devised a plan to keep them here. If they left, they would be short-handed, and the villagers could be killed.
"Mitsuri, can you stay here with me for one more day? I can't bear to part with you! And Brother Rengoku, I can't bear to part with you either." Li Xing put on a pitiful act, hoping Mitsuri and Rengoku would stay.
Rengoku considered it. One day should be fine, but longer would not. So, he agreed.
Mitsuri was still in a state of shyness. Li Xing's request to stay with him for a day seemed a bit ambiguous!
"Mr. Li Xing wants me to stay with him for a day. Is it a date? Or a proposal? Ah! I can't stand it! Mr. Li Xing is so strong and handsome, he'll surely treat me well, right? I'll definitely be a good wife!" In just a short sentence, Mitsuri had already envisioned marriage. She didn't even know that Rengoku had agreed on her behalf.
"Okay! Star-kun, I am willing to stay and accompany you!"
"Star-kun? Uh, what's going on?" Li Xing was confused by the sudden address. Mitsuri's thought process was rather peculiar, so Li Xing decided not to dwell on it.
Zenitsu exclaimed in admiration. Big Brother was indeed Big Brother, casually uttering words that sounded like a confession. He realized he needed to learn more.
Kanao, for some reason, felt a twinge of nervousness. She didn't know why, but she gently held Li Xing's hand.
...
A day passed quickly. Li Xing, Kanao, and Mitsuri walked around the village. As evening fell, Mitsuri prepared to leave.
"Star-kun, we are leaving tonight. Please take care. You should also return early and don't worry Shinobu."
"Alright, you too. Let's both do our best!" Although Li Xing didn't want Mitsuri to leave, he had no reason to keep her. He could only bid her farewell.
Shortly after Mitsuri left, Li Xing's clone detected a pot. Li Xing knew the Upper Moon had arrived.
"Kanao, quickly go inform Tanjiro. Demons have come. Prepare yourselves and head outside the village. You must protect the villagers."
Without time for further explanation, Li Xing soared into the sky, clearing the houses and leaving the village. He absolutely would not let any demons enter.
Kanao didn't know how Li Xing knew about the demons, but she obediently went to inform Tanjiro and the others. Muichiro Tokito, the Mist Pillar, was also present.
Outside the village, Li Xing drew his Nichirin blade and slashed at the pot on the ground. Before Gyokko could swallow Li Xing, the pot was instantly shattered.
"Damn demon slayer, you actually broke my pot!"
Li Xing felt something was wrong. Why was there only one Gyokko?
"Not good! They're acting separately. There are two more demons. It must be the Seven Deadly Sins."
Without a second thought, Li Xing charged towards Gyokko.
"Snow Breathing, Second Form, Snow Dance!"
Gyokko didn't have time to use his blood demon art. With a single move, Li Xing severed his head.
"Impossible! How can there be such a powerful swordsman in this world? I've been beheaded? I'm going to die?"
Li Xing had no time to waste with Gyokko. It was impossible not to instantly kill such a weak demon.
Just as he was about to return to the village to help, a red light flashed, and Gyokko was instantly consumed.
"Long time no see, Li Xing-kun!" There was a hint of anger in his voice. It was the demon of jealousy, Kanshi Hi.
"Alas, it had to be you. You are the last person I want to see right now." Li Xing sighed when he saw Kanshi Hi. He didn't want to face a demon that specialized in group combat.
"Blood Demon Art, Infinite Domain!"
To prevent Kanshi Hi from unleashing his sky-high arrow barrage, Li Xing had to forcibly drag him into the Infinite Domain to fight. However, it probably wouldn't take much time, and since no one else was around to see, Li Xing could use it with confidence.
On the other side, Tanjiro and Muichiro Tokito encountered Hantengu. Muichiro Tokito reacted extremely quickly, beheading Hantengu in the blink of an eye.
However, the decapitated Hantengu instantly split into four demon clones: Zennoku, Karaku, Aizetsu, and Urogi, corresponding to the human emotions of joy, anger, sorrow, and happiness.
The moment Karaku appeared, he swung his fan, and a powerful gust of wind blew Muichiro Tokito away, creating a large hole in the house.
Now, only Tanjiro, Zenitsu, Inosuke, Nezuko, and Kanao remained.
However, Hantengu was not the only demon in the village. Anger and Laziness had also come.
At this moment, Anger transformed into a giant demon, at least three to four stories tall, rampaging through the village.
Laziness lay on the ground, holding a masked human head in his hand, surrounded by many black petals.
Muichiro Tokito was blown directly in front of Anger. Anger didn't care who it was and punched directly at Muichiro.
Muichiro knew he couldn't meet the punch head-on and could only dodge.
Anger's fist smashed into the ground, creating a large crater. The entire village trembled. Anger's strength was too immense.
"Is it an earthquake? No, it must be demons. There are other demons." Tanjiro clearly felt the ground shaking and houses swaying.
"Nezuko, you and Kanao go to other areas for support. Leave this to us!" Since Li Xing was not here, Tanjiro took charge.
"Sun Breathing, Seventh Form, Radiant Smile!"
"Thunder Breathing, First Form, Thunder Flash!"
"Beast Breathing, Sixth Fang, Fangs Ravage!"
The three attacked simultaneously, each cutting towards a clone.
Kanao also took Nezuko towards Laziness. Since there was fighting activity in Anger's direction, this was the only direction left unprotected.
Genya Shinazugawa also appeared beside Tanjiro, firing a gun at the airborne Urogi.