Kano Qiuichi didn't know that he was being targeted by the Demon Slayer Squad again.
After leaving Tokyo Prefecture, Kano Qiuichi very purposefully went to those relatively remote places that even the Demon Slayers were reluctant to go.
That kind of place is not as developed as the urban area, and communication with the outside world basically relies on writing letters and walking.
Because of his thin-blooded constitution, he always attracts many ghosts along the way, but none of these ghosts can make him fight as hard as Tongmo.
But it's normal. There are only six windings in total. It's bad luck to meet one of them. How could he meet other windings one after another in a short period of time?
Kano Qiuichi had a fairly fulfilling life during this period. After traveling for a while, he would stay in the village or give free clinics to the villagers in the town. After staying for a few days, he would leave for the next place.
It was winter now, the snow was falling heavily, and the roads were not easy to walk. Kano Akimoto was just running around as he pleased, and he didn't know where he went for a while.
But...it's not in a town after all.
It would have been nice if I had taken a rest in the town just now, otherwise I wouldn't be trapped in the mountains due to the heavy snow now.
Kano Qiuichi hid in a narrow cave and looked at the heavy snow outside with some distress.
He is not afraid of snow. He is not afraid of the cold, and he will not freeze to death. However, the cold wind blowing in winter and the snowflakes flying everywhere make it difficult to walk. What makes Kano Qiuichi even more unbearable is that there are snowflakes on his clothes.
It feels sticky to the touch after melting.
The bamboo basket he carried on his back contained the medicinal materials he had come up the mountain to guess today. It was hard to tell whether they could be used after being frozen by the snow.
The sky was getting dark, and Kano Qiu saw that the wind and snow outside were getting heavier and heavier. He really didn't want to wait halfway up the mountain, so he had to hope that there were one or two hunter's huts nearby.
After walking for about ten minutes, Kano Qiuichi finally saw traces of lights near the top of the mountain. Kano Qiuichi walked much faster and finally arrived in front of the house before it completely darkened.
He stepped forward and knocked on the door. The sounds in the room suddenly stopped, followed by the sound of footsteps.
"Who is it?"
"I wanted to go up the mountain to collect some medicinal materials, but I was trapped in the mountain by the wind and snow. I hope I can rest at your house."
There were a few murmurs inside, and soon someone came over to open the door for them.
The person who came to open the door was a very thin-looking man. He was wearing heavy clothes and his cheeks were sunken due to weakness, but his eyes were bright and he did not lose hope because of his illness. He was holding an ax in his hand.
, seems to be preparing for the arrival of outsiders. If there are non-human beings outside... the ax will probably be aimed at Qiu Yi's neck.
Kamado Tanjuro didn't expect that the person who came to his door on a snowy night would be such a gentle and harmless young man. He was wearing thin clothes, and his exposed hands and ankles were turning white and blue due to the cold, and his back was also covered with blood.
Carrying a bamboo basket on his back seemed no different from what he said.
"...Please come in, it's too cold outside."
After Kamado Tanjuro weighed the danger level of the person in front of him, he opened the door that was tightly blocked by him and allowed Kano Akichi to come in.
Kano Qiuichi bowed and thanked him before entering the house.
He took off his shoes at the entrance, and Kamado Tanjuro took his bamboo basket and put it aside, "It's very difficult to be outside in such a cold weather."
"I thought the wind and snow would stop if I wait a little longer, but I didn't expect it to get heavier and heavier." Kano Akichi just stood at the door and did not go inside. Inside the house, besides the woman who might be the hostess, there were four other people.
Children, the oldest one is less than ten years old.
No wonder the male host is so vigilant.
"Please come in, it's too cold over there at the door." The hostess came over to greet her. When she got closer, she saw Kano Qiuichi's face clearly.
Kui Zhi paused, then continued, "It would also be nice to have some hot food."
"No need, I just bothered you rashly."
"Brother, come in!" The eldest boy also came over. His hair and eyes, which were exactly the same as the master's, seemed to have fire hidden in them. Just looking at him made people warm.
Now even the children came to call him, and Kano Qiuichi could no longer refuse, so he had to go deep into the house, and sat down by the fire with the hostess pressing his shoulders.
"Big brother is so handsome." The eldest daughter said in surprise.
"Thank you." Kano Qiuichi smiled, "You are also very cute."
Kamado Tanjuro took his own clothes and handed them to Kano Qiuichi, "I'm sorry, my clothes may be a little old, but it's easy to catch a cold in wet and cold clothes, so you'd better change them."
Their clothes were completely incomparable with the expensive fabrics Kano Qiuichi always wore, but Qiuyi didn't mind. After all, this was someone else's kindness, how could he refuse.
By the time he finished cleaning himself up, the pot in the room was already boiling and the rich aroma of food was spreading.
Qiu Yi went to search in his backpack and pulled out a frozen pheasant.
He found this when he was looking for medicinal herbs in the mountains. Maybe it was because it was too cold that he picked it up.
Originally, I wanted to bring back something to eat for myself, but now that I have disturbed this family, I just want to give it to them as a reward.
"I found this today. It's frozen. If you don't mind, please accept it."
Meat is still very precious to the Kamado family.
The father, who is the mainstay, is not in good health and cannot shoulder the burden of the family as before. The eldest son and his mother, who are still young, shoulder the burden of the family. The quality of life is definitely not very good.
"This is too valuable." Kamado Tanjuro refused to accept it, "Please keep it for yourself."
"It's not something valuable, and it doesn't cost much effort. I feel very sorry to disturb you so late."
The two sides pushed each other a few more times, and with Kano Qiuichi's determination, the Kamado family finally took over the pheasant.
It's just that it's cold outside now. Even if I want to kill this chicken to improve the food, it's not convenient. I can only wait until the wind and snow stop tomorrow.
Kano Qiuichi had a warm meal at Kamado's house, which finally made his somewhat stiff body recover a lot.
He is indeed not afraid of the cold, but his body will still become stiff due to the cold. There is nothing that can be done about it. When he fought with Tong Mo, his body also became a little stiff due to Tong Mo's vampire technique.
, but compared to being in the ice and snow for a long time, it is still not enough.
The Zamon family is very lively.
The parents are good people who love their children, and their children are also very lively. The hostess Kui Zhi is pregnant. Judging from the size of her belly, she should be about to give birth. She has difficulty moving, but she still keeps the house in order.
After being nervous at the beginning, the children in the family quickly started playing with the gentle big brothers, rolling around on the quilt-covered floor, while the eldest daughter Nezuko touched Kano Akichi in fascination.
of long black hair.
His long hair is smoother than the best silk after drying, and is black and shiny, making people fall in love with it.
"Brother Qiu Yi, can I braid your hair?"
Qiu Yi rarely takes care of his hair, and at most he ties the ends of his hair with a bow. But Nezuko is a girl, so when she sees such beautiful hair, she can't help but move her hands.
"Nezuko, this is a guest."
"It doesn't matter, just play." Kano Qiuichi agreed, and Nezuko found the beautiful pink hairband that she had treasured for a long time and braided Kano Qiuichi's hair.
Kamado Tanjuro and Aoi Eda were a little helpless, but they were also happy to see the children at home playing with this young man. Kamado Tanjiro, who had always regarded himself as the eldest brother, occasionally showed his childish attitude and would pester his elders to act coquettishly.
.
You must know that Tanjiro originally said that he was the eldest son, so he did not act coquettishly and wanted to set an example for his younger brothers and sisters.
"Kano-san is really popular with children."
"Children are so cute." Kano Akiichi was lying in his arms with Kamado Tanjiro, and behind him was Kamado Nezuko, and two younger ones who were not energetic enough and were already asleep.
There was no such thing as electricity halfway up the mountain, and Kamado's family couldn't afford it. Oil lamps were lit in the house, barely illuminating the space inside.
Kano Qiuichi sat on the bed, patting Tanjiro who was tired from the fuss, and coaxed him to sleep. Nezuko, who was braiding his hair behind him, also moved much slower. The originally thick hair was
Nezuko braided it into a three-strand braid, and after a while, he could feel something pressing against his back.
Nezuko fell asleep.
Qiuichi carefully tucked Tanjiro into the quilt next to him, then gently supported Nezuko, and then tucked her in too.
Probably because they were very sleepy, the two younger ones didn't wake up. It was only then that Kamado Tanjuro smiled at him and said, "Get some rest quickly. It's getting late."
"Good night."
Kui Zhi blew out the oil lamp, and the room was completely plunged into darkness.
Kano Qiuyi opened his eyes in the dark night, stood up quietly, walked around everyone, and opened the paper door.
The second after Kano Akichi left the room, Kamado Tanjuro also opened his eyes.
He followed Kano Akichi out of the house.,
The snow outside had lightened up a lot, and he saw the uninvited guest from last night left the house and came to the open space outside the house.
Outside the clearing, besides Kano Qiuichi, there was another humanoid creature.
It can only be said to be a living thing.
The creature had six hands and eight eyes, and looked at Kano Akichi and drooled.
Is it a ghost?
Kamado Tanjuro picked up the axe, and just as he was about to go out and kill the ghost, he saw Kano Akichi taking out a pen and easily cut off the ghost's neck.
...Not like the people from the Demon Slayer Squad.
Kamado Tanjuro closed the door and lay back in his seat.
After Kano Qiuichi returned to the room, he just glanced at Kamado Tanjuro who seemed to be asleep with his eyes closed, said nothing, and quietly lay down to sleep.