Li Xing watched Hakamata's pained, tearful face and sighed, "Even after becoming a demon and losing your memories, you constantly pursued strength. You had no one left to protect, and you no longer wished to exist in this world without family, yet you repeatedly committed slaughter for hundreds of years. How pathetic, ridiculous, and tiresome."
"For your own sake, and for the sake of the humans you devoured, please depart to the Pure Land!"
Hakamata turned to look at Li Xing, "Li Xing, thank you. Come, send me from this world!"
"Water Breathing, Fifth Form, Calm and Clear Rain!"
Li Xing drew his blade in a flash, gently severing Hakamata's head.
"Such a warm sword technique. Not a hint of pain. Is this your strength?"
"No, this is your strength. Rest in peace." With that, Li Xing left the scene. He glanced back one last time. Good, no regeneration.
"Thank you, sir!"
Suddenly, Li Xing thought he heard a thank you, seemingly a woman's voice.
"A soul? So you were watching him all along!"
...
In a dark place, Hakamata saw his family.
"Father, are you alright? Is your body still in pain?"
"I'm sorry, Father. In the end, I couldn't live as a proper human."
Hakamata knelt forward, crying out in pain. Suddenly, he felt a hand stroking his hair.
"No matter what you become, you are still Father's son, and Master's disciple. Even in death, we will not abandon you. However... I am sorry, we cannot take you to heaven."
"Master?"
Hakamata slowly raised his head and saw Koyuki before him, touching his face with both hands.
"Thank you, Brother Hakamata. You did very well."
Hakamata could no longer hold back. He directly hugged Koyuki's waist and cried out, "I'm sorry, Koyuki! I couldn't protect you. I couldn't be by your side when you needed me most. In the end, I couldn't even keep a single promise. It's all my fault, I'm useless. Please forgive me, please, please forgive me!!"
Koyuki simply hugged Hakamata's head, tears in her eyes, "Seeing Brother Hakamata return to his former self at the end, I am truly relieved. Welcome home, my husband!"
In Koyuki's embrace, Hakamata whispered, "I'm back. Father, Master, Koyuki, I'm back."
Then, Akaza, who had been Upper Rank Three, turned to dust and vanished. In the cycle of reincarnation, a young man named Hakamata appeared and, accompanied by Koyuki, disappeared into the darkness.
...
"Blood Demon Art: Winter Chill Icicles!"
With Kyojuro igniting his Demon Slayer Mark and entering the Transparent World, his strength amplified several levels. He then chopped off one of the Sleeping Lotus Bodhisattva's arms.
Doma, seeing Kyojuro grow much stronger, unleashed his ultimate move. Clearly uninterested in Kyojuro, he then created several ice figures to fight Kanao and Inosuke, while simultaneously conjuring countless icicles to rain down from the sky.
"Flame Breathing, Fifth Form, Blazing Tiger!"
"Sun Breathing, Eleventh Form, Celestial Dragon's Dance!"
In addition to Kyojuro's Blazing Tiger, a dragon appeared beside him and devoured all the icicles.
"It's you again! Young man. I've missed you terribly since we last met!" Doma's smile remained unchanged as he saw who had arrived, speaking calmly and unhurriedly.
"I've finally found you, Doma!"
Li Xing stared at Doma, then reached into the Infinite Domain and grabbed Shinobu, who was within it, pulling her out.
"Miss Shinobu, let's go. It's time for revenge."
"Li Xing? Why?"
But before Shinobu could ask, she caught sight of Doma. The rage within her could no longer be contained.
"Insect Breathing, Bee Sting Dance, Fluttering Dance."
Shinobu launched a rapid stab, piercing directly into Doma's eye.
Meanwhile, Li Xing rushed to Kanao's side. Kanao and Inosuke were already severely injured. Just Doma's ice figures had pushed them to their limits.
"Brother Li Xing, I'm fine! Go quickly and help Miss Shinobu!" Kanao collapsed into Li Xing's arms, still urging him to slay Doma.
"Drink some of my blood. You and Inosuke rest well. I'll handle the rest." Li Xing tended to their wounds and moved them to a safe distance to lie down.
"Doma is at his full strength now, without any poison. It's truly impressive that Kyojuro could last this long and even activate the three skills. What a genius."
Li Xing stood atop the Sleeping Lotus Bodhisattva's head, observing the battle between Shinobu and Doma. Even with Kyojuro's involvement, they were still not gaining the upper hand.
"Insect Breathing, Butterfly Dance, Capricious."
"Flame Breathing, Fourth Form, Rising Scorching Waves."
Both attacked simultaneously, but Doma remained at ease.
"Oh? I think I've seen that haori before. Ah yes, it belonged to that girl who uses Flower Breathing. What is your relationship with her?"
Hearing this, Shinobu became even more enraged, "You are the demon who killed my sister! I am her sister, and I will make you pay with your blood."
"Insect Breathing, Centipede Dance, Many-Legged Serpent."
Shinobu leaped across the wooden bridge towards Doma. Her footwork was erratic and incredibly fast, so fast that even Doma couldn't keep up.
As Doma was about to be struck, he swung the Sleeping Lotus Bodhisattva, spewing a powerful ice mist. The mist instantly froze the water beneath their feet and spread towards Shinobu, intending to freeze her solid.
"Flame Breathing, Final Form, Purgatory!"
Kyojuro, with himself at the center, was surrounded by raging flames that blocked the advance of the ice mist, allowing Shinobu to reach Doma directly and plunge her Nichirin blade in, injecting the full dose of Wisteria poison.
"You don't seem to have the strength to sever a demon's neck, do you? You can only rely on this Wisteria poison to kill demons. But that's useless, you know~" Doma chuckled as he looked at Shinobu, extending his hands to embrace and devour her.
"She might not have the strength, but I do!" A light laugh echoed in Doma's ear as Li Xing threw his Nichirin blade to Shinobu.
"Miss Shinobu, take this blade and swing it at his neck. Leave the rest to me."
Shinobu immediately caught Li Xing's Nichirin blade, a Nichirin blade enhanced with scarlet scarlet scarlet scarlet. She raised it and swung at Doma's neck, but her strength wasn't enough, only cutting in a little.
"Destructive Death: Random Style!"
Li Xing punched the blade in Shinobu's hand. With the immense force of the strike, Shinobu managed to sever Doma's head.
"How could this be? I'm losing my head just like this? I don't want to die. Right, perhaps I can overcome this weakness of the neck like Lord Muzan. I surely can."
Li Xing gave Doma no chance. He conjured his Nebula and flashed forward, slashing at Doma's body.
"Falling Cherry Blossoms!"
A sword that could sever concepts. Li Xing wasn't sure if it could obliterate the soul, but it could at least prevent Doma from entering the Transparent World.
Following that, Li Xing unleashed another Sun Breathing technique, completely incinerating Doma. However, at the very last moment, Li Xing saw a blue light departing. That light gave Li Xing a very gentle feeling. While no one was paying attention, Li Xing instinctively swallowed the light, which then settled within Li Xing's heart, as if it had never existed.
"It's over, Miss Shinobu. Please rest well and take care of Kanao."
With that, Li Xing swiftly departed. He had already sensed Kokushibo's presence, and it seemed he had transformed into a different form.
"Li Xing, return alive! I still have many things to ask you!"
Kyojuro lay on the ground, gasping for breath. He had been using Purgatory to block the Sleeping Lotus Bodhisattva the entire time and was now utterly exhausted. Watching Li Xing's departing back, he was unable to utter a single word.