Demon Slayer: Start With Heroic Spirit Legacy System

"Why aren't you saying anything?"

"If you won't speak, I'll just send you on your way!"

Zhou Yi withdrew the blade from Ren Saburo's mouth, finally allowing him to speak.

"Don't kill me! I swear I'll turn over a new leaf! Be a good person—a good demon!"

"It's too late!"

"Wait!"

A sudden voice interrupted everything.

"Master Zhou, I beg you to spare my son."

"He's just a child,"

the one who spoke up to intervene was none other than the abbot, Yabumoto.

He quickly stepped forward, placing himself between Ren Saburo and Zhou Yi.

"Your son?"

Though having a son wasn't unheard of, hearing such words from a monk was certainly shocking.

What's more, Sensō-ji Temple followed the teachings of the Vinaya School, which emphasized strict adherence to the precepts.

Yushiro, upon hearing this, immediately jumped out to question him.

"You're a monk! How could you have a child?"

Yabumoto was silent for a moment, then sighed helplessly.

"It was a mistake of my youth..."

Both Tamayo and Yushiro fell silent at his confession.

"So, Abbot, you really are complicit in all of this!"

Zhou Yi remained unfazed, directly confronting Yabumoto.

"I imagine you wouldn't give up on your own child either..."

Yabumoto continued to defend himself.

"Father! Save me! I don't want to die!"

While the two were locked in a standoff, Ren Saburo's body had just barely managed to reattach itself. He stumbled to his feet and hid behind Yabumoto.

"Don't worry, my child. Even if it costs me my life, I will protect you!"

Yabumoto's old eyes filled with tears as he shielded Ren Saburo even more firmly.

"You stubborn bald fool!"

"Zhou Benefactor, how about this: I offer my own life in exchange for my son's. What do you say?"

Facing the ever-approaching Zhou Yi, Yabumoto had no choice but to make this desperate offer.

Hiding behind him, Ren Saburo poked his head out cautiously, his eyes shifting slyly before a wicked smile crept across his face.

"Father, you said it yourself!"

Pfft!A sharp claw pierced through the chest.

A still-beating heart was ripped out by Ren Saburo, tightly grasped in his hand.

"S-s-son...why..."

"Father, didn't you say you'd trade your life for mine?"

"This is just to make sure you don't go back on your word!"

Yabumoto's eyes widened in disbelief, blood spilling from the corners of his mouth.

He passed away with deep resentment etched across his face.

"I don't want to die! So I had to sacrifice you, Father!"

Ren Saburo, who had just committed patricide, was now nearly hysterical.

Yushiro frowned, visibly disgusted by the scene, even as a demon himself.

Tamayo, on the other hand, seemed calmer. She didn't appear repulsed but rather profoundly melancholic.

"Once someone becomes a demon, they can no longer suppress their desires. Family bonds, love—everything is discarded. Just like this..."

For centuries, she had witnessed countless similar scenarios.

"Tamayo-sama! Please, take care of yourself. Don't let this upset you too much," Yushiro said nervously.

"I'm fine. It's just a passing sentiment," she replied.

...

"Oh? And what makes you so sure I won't kill you now?" Zhou Yi retorted coldly.

"I swear! I'll never harm another human again! This will be the last one!"

As he spoke, Ren Saburo stuffed the heart into his mouth, chewing a few times before swallowing it. His face lit up with pure satisfaction.

"I can be useful to you! Look!"

Before Zhou Yi and the others, Ren Saburo's appearance suddenly transformed. From a young man, he morphed into Yabumoto's appearance.

"What do you think? My ability is quite remarkable, isn't it?"

"I can help you take over this temple! Asakusa Temple is loaded with treasures—I guarantee you an annual income of ten thousand gold pieces!"

Even Ren Saburo's voice now matched Yabumoto's perfectly!

Despite Zhou Yi's sharp eyes, he couldn't discern any flaws in the disguise—apart from the scent emanating from Ren Saburo's body.

A Blood Demon Art!

"A Blood Demon Art that allows him to mimic others so completely?"

"Zhou Yi! This demon could be of significant research value!"

Tamayo instantly recognized the intricacies of the technique and its potential for study.

"Heh heh heh, now you see my worth!"

"As long as you don't kill me, I'll do whatever you say!"

At this moment, Ren Saburo was filled with confidence. He believed the value he had just displayed would undoubtedly save his life.

Zhou Yi, however, didn't act immediately. Instead, a faint look of understanding appeared on his face.

"No wonder the novice monk said he really escorted the guests out!"

"So, this is the reason behind it."

Hearing this, Ren Saburo became even more smug.

"Of course! At first, I thought the old man's suggestion was unnecessary. But later, I realized it did quiet the rumors, so I kept doing it."

As he spoke, he even kicked Yabumoto's corpse with his foot.

"Now, have you decided to spare my life?"

Such filial devotion!

"Indeed, a dutiful son like you should join your father in the afterlife."

"Flame Breathing, Second Form: Rising Scorching Sun!"

"Wha—"

Before he could finish his sentence, Ren Saburo was slashed from bottom to top, split into two halves.

"Miss Tamayo, this shouldn't affect your blood collection, right?" Zhou Yi asked.

Tamayo was not surprised by Ren Saburo's end. After all, the Demon Slayer Corps was the sworn enemy of demons.

Letting him speak his last words before killing him was already the greatest mercy.

The notion that he could survive was downright laughable.

She shook her head to indicate that there was no issue.

"That's fine then. Yushiro, go ahead and collect the blood."

"Understood, Lady Tamayo."

Yushiro pulled a specially crafted blood collection tool from the box on his back—a peculiar device.

He plunged it into Ren Saburo's corpse, and the blood was automatically drawn up.

"This is a tool I designed specifically for blood collection."

"I think I understand the principle—it uses air pressure. Quite a clever design!"

"You figured it out at a glance?"

Yushiro was shocked that Zhou Yi could immediately grasp the mechanism. After all, it had taken him quite a while to design it.

Zhou Yi said nothing more. In his previous life, this was merely basic knowledge. There was no need to flaunt it.

"Lady Tamayo, the blood has been collected. Let's leave this place!"

Yushiro returned to Tamayo with several vials of blood in hand.

"Yes. Zhou Yi, come with us. This isn't the place for further discussion."

Tamayo turned her head slightly and invited Zhou Yi to join them.

Zhou Yi readily accepted.

"No! You can't leave!"