71: Extermination Operation

" Amazing, amazing... " Furuhashi Fumino looked at the answer sheet she had just completed, her voice filled with disbelief.

The clear and rigorous problem-solving steps on the paper, along with that perfect score symbolizing perfection, had actually come from her own hand.

Her eyes sparkled with excitement, and she almost blurted out: " Lin Luo's 'hypnosis' is amazing! If it could be like this every time... "

" If you intend to rely on me to pass the upcoming joint tests and win Teacher Kirisu's approval, " Lin Luo saw through her budding wishful thinking at a glance and mercilessly poured cold water on it, " I advise you to give up that idea as soon as possible. "

His tone was flat, yet every word was clear, like a sharp scalpel precisely hitting the vital point: " This state is an exception, not the norm. If your head wasn't filled with bizarre thoughts blocking your normal thinking pathways, I wouldn't have used this method at all. "

He tapped the perfect answer sheet and looked at Furuhashi Fumino with a sharp gaze: " This proves you have the ability to understand it; it is your 'thinking' that is resisting it. External force can only temporarily clear the way; true mastery depends on you building logical pathways that won't collapse at any moment. Do you understand? "

The flicker of hope that had just ignited seemed to waver as if blown by a cold wind. Furuhashi Fumino's shoulders slumped, and she muttered softly: " ...Understood. "

Looking at the young girl before him, who was discouraged but not truly disheartened, Lin Luo felt a slight sense of relief.

Regardless, this was a good start.

Although these two people were one with thoughts as drifting as clouds and the other as stubborn as stone, at least they were obedient enough and willing to accept guidance.

Being able to be "trained" meant that there was still hope for everything.

In the following days, Lin Luo, as always, assisted the two Genius students with their imbalanced subjects every day.

The progress was slow, like a snail crawling, but it was moving forward nonetheless.

Of course, all sorts of bizarre and interesting events happened every day during this period, especially with Furuhashi Fumino, who could always, in various unimaginable angles and ways of understanding, Heaven-Defyingly infuriate Lin Luo to the point where he wanted to dig a grave himself and bury her to end it all.

It is worth mentioning that in this grand "imbalanced subject correction war," Kato Megumi, who had always quietly stayed by his side, perhaps due to the infection of the learning atmosphere, or perhaps because she had consolidated her own knowledge while explaining the subjects that Fumino and Rizu were good at, her coursework in all subjects had actually shown a steady and obvious improvement.

In this strange study group composed of these three, the one who gained the most was actually that "ordinary" girl who was initially the most inconspicuous and just studied silently.

This could probably be considered an unexpected reward.

After finishing today's after-school tutoring, the four parted ways at the crossroads as usual.

" See you tomorrow. " Kato Megumi said softly, turning to walk the path home.

Lin Luo followed her footsteps naturally, the two maintaining just the right distance, casting two parallel shadows under the setting sun.

" Megumi's study state has been very good recently. " Lin Luo said casually, his gaze falling on the girl's hair tips gently brushed by the evening breeze.

" Yes, thanks to Mr. Lin Luo's guidance. " Kato Megumi tilted her head slightly, her voice still calm, but there was a hint of softness in the corners of her eyes.

Just then, the phone in Lin Luo's pocket vibrated silently.

He took out his phone, and when he saw the name displayed on the screen, a trace of imperceptible surprise flashed in his eyes—Kochou Kanae.

Lin Luo swiped open the message, and the concise and solemn text came into view:

" Mr. Lin Luo, recently our Demon Slayer Corps plans to gather strength to conduct a large-scale encirclement and extermination operation against the remaining demons. The Master would like to ask if you are interested in participating in this operation? "

The afterglow of the setting sun spilled onto the phone screen, forming a subtle contrast with the bloody atmosphere revealed between the lines of text.

Lin Luo looked up at the young girl standing quietly beside him; she was gazing at the swaying cherry blossom tree by the roadside, as if completely immersed in the tranquility of the spring evening.

He put away his phone calmly, as if the message from another world had never appeared, and then said with a smile in the most natural tone: " Megumi, you've been too indulgent with Fat Wave recently. "

Kato Megumi withdrew her gaze from the cherry blossoms, her tone peaceful: " It seems safe recently. Fat Wave told me that the guards who had been keeping watch near the house have all been withdrawn. "

" This Fat Cat... " Lin Luo's voice carried a hint of danger, " The more such a situation, the more it should be by your side. In the next two days, make it clear to Fat Wave that if I see it not staying by your side again, it can prepare to— "

He paused, and Kato Megumi softly continued at the right moment: " Prepare for what? "

Lin Luo revealed a smile that could be called gentle but made a certain drunken Fat Cat in the distance suddenly shiver: " Dig itself a grave, so it at least has a place to be buried. "

Kato Megumi pursed her lips and chuckled, a trace of realization flashing in her eyes: " Then Fat Wave is probably going to be scared to death. "

Meanwhile, at the Butterfly Mansion.

Shinobu gently hugged her sister, who was organizing potions, from behind, resting her chin affectionately on Kanae's shoulder, and asked softly with a bit of curiosity and anticipation: " How is it, did he agree? "

Under the warm light, Kanae stopped the movement in her hands, turned her head slightly, and a gentle and confident smile appeared on her face.

She nodded, her voice soft but firm: " Yes. Mr. Lin Luo will join us in the operation. "

The night was heavy, and even the moonlight was reluctant to spill onto this remote village located in the folds of the mountains.

This place was so isolated that it was hard to find even on online maps; by day it might be called a paradise, but after nightfall, only suffocating silence remained.

Because it was completely insulated from nightlife, the villagers still maintained the ancient rhythm of working at sunrise and resting at sunset, and electricity was the only connection between here and the outside world.

However, tonight's tranquility was broken—a group of outsiders was quietly stepping into this land swallowed by darkness.

" Here... I can't feel the aura of any demons. " Shinobu looked around; only the sound of the wind passed through the abandoned houses.

Kochou Kanae frowned slightly, her gaze sweeping over the sleeping village, and she asked softly to the person beside her: " Mr. Lin Luo, do you have any findings? "

Lin Luo was silent for a moment, his voice sounding exceptionally low in the cold night.

" Perhaps, we need to prepare for the worst. "

Before his voice fell, he raised his hand and applied protection to the accompanying team members one by one.

Then he flicked his finger, and dots of Spiritual Qi suddenly rose into the air, blooming suddenly like flares—

The light dispelled the darkness and illuminated the dense figures on the rooftops.

Countless blood-red eyes opened simultaneously in an instant, and the hideous gazes, like tangible sharp swords, locked onto them completely.

" When did this happen?! " Shinobu exclaimed, " We are completely surrounded! "

Lin Luo stood still, his tone still calm, but carrying the oppressive feeling of a coming storm.

" Perhaps, from the first step we took into the village, we have already been under the gaze of 'them'. "

Almost instantly, the well-trained Demon Slayer Corps members scattered like arrows from a bow, their movements swift and silent, as if they had long since merged into this thick night.

" Clang— "

Amidst a clear metallic ringing, everyone drew the nichirin blades from their waists in unison.

The next moment, a unique rhythmic breathing vibrated in the air—that was not a technique to invoke Heaven and Earth Spiritual Qi, but the ultimate sublimation originating from the human body itself, vibrating the body through specific breathing frequencies, stimulating cells, and finally weaving and bursting forth with majestic life vitality!

As this scorching life energy surged from the hilt into the blade, the originally bright blade suddenly changed drastically, radiating a completely different brilliance:

Some blades ignited with scorching flames, crimson as blood; some blades were wrapped in eerie water vapor, azure as the sea; others had brilliant golden lightning running along the blades, tearing through the darkness...

Almost the moment the blades finished their transformation, the swordsmen in the encirclement bloomed like lotus flowers, and their sword forms burst forth accordingly!

" Water Breathing · First Form · Water Surface Slash! "

The blade drew a straight and smooth arc, like a cold ripple suddenly appearing on a quiet lake, silently slashing at the incoming claws.

On the flank, scorching wind whistled.

" Flame Breathing · Second Form · Rising Scorching Sun! "

The blade of flames violently rolled up from bottom to top, like a counter-current fire tornado, illuminating the dim night sky like daylight, and the demons attempting to dive down were burned to ashes amidst their wails.

" Thunder Breathing · First Form · Thunderclap and Flash! "

Golden light exploded, and the figure was gone. Only a zigzagging thunderbolt could be seen piercing through the battlefield at a speed exceeding vision; wherever it passed, the demons stiffened, and immediately their heads and bodies separated.

" Wind Breathing · First Form · Dust Whirlwind Cutter! "

The violent tornado, carrying countless vacuum blades, swept out like a giant millstone, shredding and tearing the approaching group of demons along with the roof tiles under their feet, clearing a short-lived vacuum zone.

The blade light was awe-inspiring, weaving into a net. The originally surging offensive of the demons was actually halted by this sudden counterattack!

Just as everyone was engaged in a melee with the group of demons, a beautiful figure leaped gracefully from Lin Luo's side.

" Flower Breathing · Third Form · Crimson Hanagoromo. "

Kochou Kanae's voice was soft but clear. She tapped her toes lightly, her figure like a petal lifted by the wind, skimming directly toward the roof ridge above. There, a deformed demon shaped like a lizard, its four limbs hooked onto the tiles, was opening its giant mouth covered in mucus.

The slender nichirin blade drew a perfect arc in her hand. In an instant, four arc-shaped slashes bloomed in all directions, the trajectory precise and elegant, just like a winter plum suddenly blooming in the night sky. Wherever the blade light passed, the demon's hideous expression froze on its face, and then in the next moment, it was cleanly dismembered, turning into fragmented chunks that rolled off the eaves.

Kanae's toes had just touched the ground and she was about to sheath her sword—

Just at this moment, a dazzling golden light swept fiercely past her hair tips!

Behind her, a demon that had quietly reached out its sharp claws from the shadows had its head explode like a ripe fruit.

She turned her head slightly and saw Lin Luo beside her still standing quietly, only his right hand had long since formed a sword finger, pointing directly at the void behind her. The golden electric light lingering on his fingertips was slowly dissipating in the night breeze.

On the other side, Shinobu's figure danced like a real butterfly. The demon she faced was as large as a mountain, every claw swipe carrying a destructive force of wind, yet she was always able to nimbly dodge by a hair's breadth.

She tapped her toes, her figure nimbly leaping onto the demon's thick arm, using it as a temporary bridge. When that giant palm, like a cattail fan, slammed down from above with a fishy wind, she advanced instead of retreating, rushing up along the arm!

" Insect Breathing · Bee Fang Dance: True Pull! "

In the clear shout, the slender nichirin blade in her hand turned into a deadly stinger, breaking the surface with a single point, thrusting violently forward! The spiral force condensed at the tip of the blade was incomparably sharp, instantly piercing through the demon's skull, which was harder than metal and stone.

Shinobu borrowed the force to backflip, landing gracefully like a butterfly, her clothes unstained by dust.

However, completely different from the usual situation—for the demon with an "immortal body," the fatal wound that should have healed instantly was now being suppressed by a strange power. The pierced wound not only did not recover but quickly turned pitch black like ink, and, like a living creature, spread upward, with all the flesh and blood rotting away wherever it passed!