Chapter Thirty-Four: The Wheels of Fate Begin to Turn-Paradise of Destiny(The Blessing of the Morning Star)

Butterfly Shinobu arrived at that moment, just in time to witness the demon’s head, marked with crimson lines resembling blood, fading away. With a metallic clang, a golden folding fan engraved with lotus patterns fell from the sky.

Yet, even this object, which should have drawn Shinobu’s attention, paled in comparison to the pillar of fire before her—a force of nature, magnificent and overwhelming. Though she stood a hundred meters away, the searing heat threatened to ignite her, a sensation so intense it could not be ignored.

“You have slain Doma, Upper Rank Two of the Twelve Moons. Reward: 5000 Chosen Coins, one Blue Chest. Delivered to your inventory automatically.”

Side quest [Shinobu’s Destiny] is complete. Rewards will be settled upon return.

[Current Chosen Coin balance: 17650]

Chu Fan listened to the messages from Chosen Paradise, his eyes flickering with a hint of calculation. Killing one Upper Rank earned him 5000 coins? If he were to slay the rest, wouldn’t that mean a haul of 30,000 coins? And if he managed to defeat the Demon King, Muzan Kibutsuji…

The thought stirred anticipation in him. Just how much could he gain?

“Mr. Phantom Feather…”

Butterfly Shinobu gazed at the pale silhouette within the flames, unmoving. Braving the heat, she drew closer, calling out anxiously.

Such a fierce technique surely demanded a terrible price, she thought as she approached, worry writ large in her heart.

Though Phantom Feather had slain the demon she most despised, bringing her relief and joy, if the cost was his life, she would never accept it. The notion of another sacrificing themselves for her vengeance was one she could not abide.

Chu Fan heard her voice and returned to himself. Seeing Shinobu’s concern, he extinguished the flames with a gesture.

“The demon with this folding fan must be the one you’ve always wished to kill,” he said, picking up the fan from the ground and tossing it lightly to Shinobu, stopping her from rushing into his embrace. His expression was indifferent.

Shinobu caught the golden fan. Hearing the detached tone, she sensed a distance between them and halted, eyes filling with disappointment and sorrow.

“Yes… thank you, Mr. Phantom Feather,” she replied softly, recognizing the fan in her hands. Tears welled in her eyes as she nodded.

“This was merely a promise between us,” Chu Fan continued. “You help train those few, and I kill this demon for you. There’s no need for thanks. Besides, he lured me here deliberately, so the people on this mountain may be in grave danger. The investigation is yours now.”

“If you can save them, do so; if not, have someone clean up the battlefield.” Chu Fan spoke slowly, pretending not to notice the look in Shinobu’s eyes. He walked past her; she reached out to stop him, but he anticipated the gesture and vanished before she could touch him, leaving her standing alone with her hand outstretched.

Though Chu Fan hoped to change some outcomes and avert certain deaths, it did not mean he would become deeply entangled. He was keenly aware of his role: he was here only to fulfill a mission, a mere visitor. Whether this world continued after his departure, he did not know. He recalled clearly that Chosen Paradise had mentioned world fluctuation rates and the beginning of corrections.

Even though he had lived here for a while and everything felt intensely real, it was possible that Demon Slayer was simply a recurring, derivative world designed by Chosen Paradise.

Chu Fan set off for his return. The chest would remain unopened for now; he intended to collect several, increasing his chances of success at blade tempering. As for the folding fan dropped by Doma—it was a quest item, forbidden from leaving this world. So he had handed it to Shinobu without hesitation; if it could be exchanged for Chosen Coins, he would merely let her see it before reclaiming it as a trophy.

Meanwhile, as Chu Fan departed, the crows had already sent the battle report back. One after another, crows shattered the quiet night of the Demon Slayer Corps with good news.

“Phantom Feather, the Flame Pillar, alone at Mount Iho, has slain Upper Rank Two.”

Because Phantom Feather had killed Upper Rank Two so swiftly, there had been no time for conversation. Even his own crow did not know the demon’s true name. But the death of Upper Rank Two was news enough.

As word spread, the morale of the Demon Slayer Corps soared.

Tanjiro Kamado, who had recently heard the urgent call for two Pillars to deploy, was worried and unable to sleep.

“Mr. Phantom Feather is truly amazing,” Tanjiro said, smiling with relief when he heard the news.

“Was Upper Rank Two really that strong?” Inosuke Hashibira, though understanding the news was good, had his own unique perspective.

“Idiot, you’ve joined the Demon Slayer Corps—learn the history of the demons!” Zenitsu Agatsuma scolded, giving Inosuke a hard smack on the head. “The Upper Ranks of the Twelve Moons haven’t died in over a hundred years.”

“Now that Upper Rank Two is dead, it means the demons have suffered a major blow,” Zenitsu declared loudly.

The other Pillars heard the news, their hearts stirred.

“Why can’t I ever encounter an Upper Rank?” Sanemi Shinazugawa, the Wind Pillar, complained angrily. He feared no strong foe, but had never met an Upper Rank, let alone slain one.

“Mr. Phantom Feather—though his words are harsh and his temperament unpleasant—his strength is undeniable,” Mitsuri Kanroji, the Love Pillar, said happily. She feared Phantom Feather, but never disliked him; anyone who contributed to the Corps was welcome in her eyes.

“Looks like we need to fight for missions now,” Obanai Iguro, the Serpent Pillar, mused, his competitive spirit ignited. Not a single Pillar lacked the desire to face and slay an Upper Rank.

Despite the Corps’ nine Pillars hunting demons across the land, none had ever met an Upper Rank.

“Remarkable,” Giyu Tomioka, the Water Pillar, murmured, a rare smile in his eyes.

“May all slain demons descend to hell—Amitabha,” Gyomei Himejima, the Stone Pillar, intoned, hands pressed together in prayer.

“Phantom Feather’s style is flamboyant—his dress, his manner, even his strength is dazzling,” Tengen Uzui, the Sound Pillar, said in admiration.

“Hahaha—excellent!” Kyojuro Rengoku, the Flame Pillar, stood with arms crossed, laughing heartily and offering genuine praise. “Phantom Feather truly is an extraordinary man.”

“I must try harder to break that training doll,” Muichiro Tokito, the Mist Pillar, said, his thoughts finally focused.

“The wheels of fate are turning. In our generation, we will surely defeat Muzan. Muzan Kibutsuji is a stain upon our clan and must be cleansed,” declared Kagaya Ubuyashiki, the Corps leader, who, upon hearing the news, grew so excited he coughed blood but paid it no mind.

For years, the situation had remained unchanged. Now, with Phantom Feather’s arrival, everything was finally shifting.