"Aren't you resting so late at night?"

A gentle voice suddenly rang out, and Kiyokawa Izumi appeared silently in the darkness. It wasn't a boast to say that the night was his home turf.

Even though Zenitsu had very keen hearing, he failed to notice Kiyokawa Izumi's presence.

If he hadn't spoken up of his own accord, the senior and junior brothers wouldn't have known he was even there.

The moment Kaigaku saw Kiyokawa Izumi, he suppressed his somewhat excited heart and respectfully greeted him.

Kaigaku, who insisted on calling him 'Lord,' didn't forget to explain his behavior—the reason he wasn't resting late at night was that he felt his daily training was insufficient and he needed to work harder.

Zenitsu, however, didn't say a word. In a state of extreme low self-esteem, he lowered his head slightly, his expression completely hidden.

One was lost in self-doubt, while the other was desperately trying to show off; Kiyokawa Izumi took in this interesting scene.

With the corners of his mouth curling up slightly, he suddenly asked,

"Zenitsu, after you pass the Final Selection, do you want to become my Successor?"

The tone in which he said this was so casual, it was as if he were asking: Don't you think the moon is very round tonight?

Or, what did you have for dinner?

This casual sentence exploded in Kaigaku's mind like a bolt from the blue.

He could barely control his expression.

With his head slightly lowered, he didn't even dare to look up at that moment, afraid to let this person notice the jealousy, anger, and disbelief on his Face.

What he hoped to hear was: Kaigaku, you really work hard and are very talented; do you want to become my Successor? You would become an excellent Sound Hashira!

Why was it like this?

Just why?

Why couldn't this powerful Hashira notice his hard work? Notice his talent?

Damn it!

Why would he take an interest in that kind of trash?

Trying his best to control his changing expression while keeping his head buried low, his hands under his sleeves were already tightly clenched.

This guy, who lacked self-awareness, truly underestimated Kiyokawa Izumi—did he think that by lowering his head, his emotional shifts couldn't be felt?

The subtle body movements, the obviously quickened breathing—everything was telling Kiyokawa Izumi that Kaigaku was on the verge of losing control of his emotions.

'Does it make you indignant that the waste you look down on can actually gain a Hashira's appreciation? Are you angry?'

'But what does that have to do with me?'

Kiyokawa Izumi did it on purpose.

This guy was just that heartless and didn't care at all about what Kaigaku was thinking.

Slander or being looked down upon were things Kaigaku could tolerate given his personality.

Drinking dirty water to survive, living by theft, and not hesitating to cause the deaths of others just to stay alive—with such a selfish character, what couldn't he endure?

Even if he were given a lesson by force, he could still bury his head in the dirt.

What made him break down the most was Kiyokawa Izumi's neglect of him.

He was clearly standing right here, his talent and strength far exceeding the trash in front of him, yet this Hashira turned a blind eye to him.

That casual attitude made him almost lose control of his emotions; his reason told him he couldn't lose his composure in front of this person.

Whether he tried his best to control it or lost his composure on the spot made no difference to Kiyokawa Izumi.

Because he didn't care!

If this guy could turn into a Demon on the spot, Kiyokawa Izumi might even give him a compliment and enthusiastically ask him how he did it.

But such a thing was impossible.

Returning to Zenitsu's side, he hadn't looked up when he was being insulted, nor when Kiyokawa Izumi appeared, perhaps unwilling to let this acquaintance see his current pathetic state.

He originally thought he would leave in disappointment, but what Zenitsu never expected was that he would actually ask if he wanted to be his Successor.

Was he joking?

Was he saying that out of pity?

Mr. Kiyokawa Izumi sometimes liked to joke... compared to his cowardly and courage-lacking self, someone like Senior Brother was more worthy of being his Successor, right?

Grandpa had said countless times to learn from Senior Brother.

Senior Brother was more excellent than him.

"This silent refusal is going to make me lose Face. I'm not any worse than the other Hashira, so do you really need to consider it for so long?

Or do you think I'm joking with you?

Would I joke about something like this?"

"Why? He can't learn anything except the First Form; what right does he have to be your Successor?"

Kaigaku was the first to lose control. Realizing Kiyokawa Izumi wasn't joking, he suddenly looked up and questioned him with a loss of composure.

His remaining reason told him that the person in front of him was a Hashira.

The words he spoke were still somewhat respectful; at least he didn't call Zenitsu trash again.

But he couldn't understand it and desperately needed an explanation!

"Is it important?"

Receiving such an unexpected answer, a look of bewilderment appeared on Kaigaku's Face.

Wasn't this important?

He can't learn any other Moves!

"As long as one can cut off a Demon's neck, there is no essential difference between one Move and countless Moves."

The wooden sword at his waist was suddenly drawn, and an unimaginable speed was presented before their eyes. There was no special technique, just a simple slash.

"How many people can block this strike of mine?"

As the words fell, a tree as thick as a waist was sliced in half. The residual force did not stop, shattering several panes of glass by the window.