114: palpitations

Doma looked at the beautiful, unconscious swordswoman at his feet, the compassionate smile on his face finally revealing a hint of genuine pleasure. He leaned down, his pale fingers brushing aside the soft black hair scattered across the side of Kanae's neck, revealing the fair, fragile skin beneath. He could feel the pulse of the warm Bloodline under her skin; the powerful life force and pure Aura it contained were a supreme delicacy to him, far surpassing that of an ordinary person.

"So beautiful, and so strong... your blood will surely be sweet and mellow," he whispered, like a lover's murmur.

He opened his mouth, and the sharp fangs of a non-human monster glinted coldly under the light. Toward that defenseless, slender neck, he bit down gently, yet decisively—

"Sizzle—!"

The expected sensation of sharp teeth cutting into flesh did not come; instead, it felt as if he had bitten into the hardest alloy!

A dazzling golden light erupted from Kanae's neck without warning! That light was not mere brightness; it seemed to flow with countless fine and complex runes, condensing into an indestructible barrier. It not only completely blocked Doma's fangs but also contained a burning recoil force!

"Ugh!"

Caught off guard, Doma was violently repelled by this force, and a scorched smell, as if from being burned by flames, even spread in his mouth. He stumbled back a few steps, a look of disbelief appearing in his rainbow-colored eyes for the first time. The effortless smile that always hung on his face froze instantly, turning into a flicker of shock and offended annoyance.

He looked closely and saw that on the skin of Kanae's neck, where there had been nothing before, a complex, pale-gold mark was now emerging. The shape of the mark vaguely resembled a blooming lotus, slowly emitting a warm and majestic Aura, protecting the unconscious girl within.

"This is...?!" Doma narrowed his eyes, and the interest in them, far from diminishing, grew even more intense. "I didn't expect that besides wisteria flowers, you would have such an interesting 'amulet' on you." This was by no means a common technique of the Demon Slayer Corps; this was the power of those Cultivators.

He stuck out his tongue and licked his somewhat numb lips. Feeling the residual burning pain, his smile reappeared, but it was colder and more filled with investigative desire than before.

"It seems that to taste you, I'll need to put in a bit more effort." He straightened up and looked around his secret room filled with "collectibles." His gaze finally landed on a sealed display case made of special reinforced glass in a corner of the room, used to display his most precious items.

"It's alright, I have plenty of time," he said softly, as if comforting himself or perhaps speaking to the unconscious Kanae. "I'll wait until this unpleasant light fades, or... until I find a way to break it. You will eventually become one of my most perfect collections."

Far away in the apartment, Lin Luo sat on the sofa, holding a cup of hot tea, listening to Kirisu Mafuyu talk about interesting things at school.

"...So the students in the class have been working very hard lately, and their midterm exam results are better than expected." Kirisu Mafuyu's tone carried a hint of gratification. Although her expression remained cold, her eyes softened slightly.

"That's natural; after all, it's because of your excellent guidance as their teacher," Lin Luo responded with a smile, trying to focus his attention on the conversation. However, an indescribable sense of anxiety was quietly entwining his heart like tiny vines. He gently swirled his teacup, attempting to dispel this inexplicable unease.

Had something happened to Kanae? He hadn't been acting with her recently, only knowing that she seemed to be performing a secret investigation mission. Mr. Himejima Gyomei, the Stone Hashira, was also providing support, so logically there shouldn't be any problems... But this palpitation, as if he were about to lose something important, was something he, having cultivated until now, knew very well was by no means groundless.

Just then, an appetizing aroma of food drifted from the open kitchen. Yukino Mifuyu was skillfully cutting side dishes with elegant and precise movements, while Shiina Mahiru was nearby helping with the sauce. The two were communicating softly, creating a warm atmosphere.

On the other side, Tohru was wearing a cute apron, her tail wagging excitedly. She was happily preparing her signature "Special Tail Meat Roast," humming an unknown tune.

Ordinarily, Lin Luo might have looked forward to dinner with a smile, but at this moment, the throbbing in his chest grew stronger and stronger. He even faintly felt that the Protective Curse Seal he had secretly left on Kanae, which contained his Origin power, was becoming weak and unstable! At such a great distance, the sensation should have been blurred, but the speed at which this power was decaying was clearly due to a powerful and continuous impact!

He couldn't wait any longer!

He suddenly stood up from the sofa, his movement so abrupt that Kirisu Mafuyu stopped speaking and looked at him with some confusion.

"Tohru!" Lin Luo's voice carried an unquestionable urgency. Before he even had time to explain in detail, he rushed to the kitchen and grabbed Tohru, who was still gesturing toward her tail meat. "Stop preparing dinner! Take me somewhere, now, it's very urgent!"

Tohru was stunned by his rare seriousness and urgency, but seeing the anxiety almost overflowing from his eyes, she immediately dropped what she was holding. "Okay! Where to?"

"Follow the direction I perceive!" Lin Luo didn't even have time to explain further to the startled Kirisu Mafuyu, Yukino Mifuyu, and Shiina Mahiru. He only hurriedly left a sentence, "I'm going out for a bit!" before pulling Tohru and rushing straight for the door.

"Lin Luo?" Kirisu Mafuyu stood up.

"Lin Luo-kun, what's wrong?" Shiina Mahiru asked worriedly.

When Kirisu Mafuyu and Shiina Mahiru ran to the door, they only saw a strong current of air kicking up dust in the courtyard. Vaguely, a huge Dragon Phantom flickering with Magic Radiance seemed to flash by, disappearing into the darkening sky in an instant with the sound of breaking through the air.

Only Yukino Mifuyu, who was a step behind but had sharper perception, clearly saw that point of dragon-shaped light turning into a shooting star, as well as the residual anxiety belonging to Lin Luo in the air and the shockwaves brought by the forced tearing of space. She leaned against the doorframe, looking at the sky, her ice-blue eyes filled with worry.

"Just... what happened?"

The thick layers of clouds seemed to be sliced open by an invisible blade, revealing the solitary moon hanging high in the pitch-black sky. Tohru's dragon wings flapped gently, yet they caused thunder to crash across the entire sky, and Sonic Boom Clouds blossomed layer by layer around the dragon's shadow.

"Right below!" Lin Luo stared intently at the brightly lit Prime Minister's Residence below, his gaze as sharp as a blade.

Tohru understood and fully released her Dragon Might. An ancient and majestic Dragon Roar shook heaven and earth, and the guards around the residence collapsed to the ground one after another under this pressure.

"Hold on tight!" Tohru dove, plummeting toward the West Wing Rooftop at a speed that tore through space.

Under Doma's continuous ice crystal erosion and power depletion, that pale-gold Protective Lotus Seal finally flickered a few times like a candle in the wind before completely darkening and dissipating. Having lost its final barrier, Kanae's fragile neck was exposed to the predator without reservation.

A satisfied curve hooked the corner of Doma's mouth. No longer hesitating, his sharp fangs instantly pierced that warm skin. Sweet blood, full of life force, flooded into his throat, nourishing his eternal thirst. This Blood of a Hashira, at the peak of the Demon Slayer Corps, was indeed far superior to any prey he had tasted in the past!

However, at this sacrilegious moment—

An unimaginable majesty and rage, like the collapse of the Nine Heavens, came crashing down!

Doma's expression changed drastically, his rainbow-colored pupils shrinking suddenly, before he could even make any reaction—

"BOOM!!!"

The entire outer wall where he was, along with the reinforced structure, shattered and collapsed as if made of paper! Amidst the mixture of moonlight and dust, a figure smashed into the ground like a meteor, sending gravel flying.

Lin Luo's figure clearly appeared in the pervasive dust. His gaze was like lightning, instantly piercing through the chaotic scene and accurately locking onto Kanae lying on the ground, as well as... that White-haired Demon crouching over her, fangs deep in her neck!

Witnessing this heart-wrenching scene with his own eyes, boundless rage instantly consumed all of Lin Luo's sanity.

"DIE!"

A roar containing overwhelming killing intent exploded like a thunderclap. Lin Luo didn't even use any complex Move; he simply condensed all his boiling Spiritual Power and wild rage into his fist. His figure vanished from where he stood, and in the next instant, he appeared beside Doma, throwing a punch!

Wherever the fist passed, the air was extremely compressed and then violently exploded, producing a piercing sonic boom! This punch was simple and direct, yet filled with the purest and most violent will of destruction!

At the critical moment, Doma tilted his head to avoid his vitals, but the punch's wind, containing terrifying power, still brushed past his cheek, instantly shattering a Reinforced Steel Glass Display Case behind him into a sky full of dust!

"My, how passionate~" Before his voice could fade, his hands had already moved. Blood Demon Art: Wining Lotus was instantly activated. Countless vines and lotuses covered in frost emerged from the floor and walls like living things, coiling toward Lin Luo as an extreme cold air spread, attempting to freeze him.

"In the way!" Lin Luo shouted lowly. Spiritual Power surged within him as he pointed his fingers like a sword. A blazing golden Spiritual Fire erupted from his fingertips, sweeping out like a sharp blade! Wherever the Spiritual Fire passed, the ice lotuses and vines vaporized one after another, making a "hissing" sound.

But at the moment he dealt with the Blood Demon Art, Doma's figure flashed like a ghost to his flank. The Golden Iron Fans in his hands, carrying a whistle that tore the air, aimed straight for Lin Luo's neck! This strike was ruthless and tricky, seizing the moment Lin Luo was distracted by clearing the Wining Lotus.

"Don't you dare hurt Lin Luo!" A feminine shout descended from the sky as a green dragon shadow dove down at a speed exceeding visual perception! It was Tohru! She directly used her tail, covered in hard Dragon Scales, to lash out violently at Doma.

"BANG—!"

The iron fan and the dragon tail collided, actually producing a loud metallic clang! A shockwave exploded, and Doma was sent sliding several meters back by this immense force, a hint of surprise appearing on his face for the first time. Tohru also felt her tail go numb; the opponent's strength far exceeded her estimation.

"A Dragon? A rare guest indeed..." Before Doma could finish, Lin Luo had already seized the opportunity. A golden chain from a Spirit-Binding Curse shot toward him like a venomous snake. Doma swung his fan to block, and the chain and iron fan collided, erupting with eye-piercing sparks.

"Tohru, suppress him! I'll stabilize Kanae's injuries first!" Lin Luo said urgently. He had to divert a portion of his pure Spiritual Power to remotely infuse it into Kanae's body, protecting her Heart Meridians and slowing the loss of her life force. This prevented him from fighting with his full strength.

"Understood!" Tohru's dragon eyes burned with Battle Intent. Dragon Language Magic was instantly constructed, and countless blazing fireballs smashed toward Doma like a meteor shower. Simultaneously, she herself roared and charged forward, her claws swinging with a momentum that tore through space.

Facing this dual physical and magical assault, Doma finally put away some of his playfulness. His figure became elusive as he tore away his disguised appearance and restored his original form. His iron fans danced wildly as Blood Demon Art: Cold White Princess and Crystalline Divine Child were activated simultaneously. Ice crystal maidens and ice crystal lotuses constantly emerged, clashing frantically with the dragon fire and claws.

"BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!"

The intense battle instantly exceeded the room's bearing capacity. Walls, ceilings, and floors shattered in large areas. The entire west wing building shook violently amidst the rumbling sounds, and finally, in a deafening explosion, the side of the structure near the battlefield completely collapsed! Dust soared into the sky, and broken bricks fell like rain, turning the residence's exquisite garden into a mess.