Chapter 33 Reward — Special Nichirin Kitchen Knife

Upon seeing the system’s rating, Li Yang was somewhat surprised, yet it felt justified. This was because, after activating the golden patterns, the powerful golden flame energy infused with the “Explosive Flame” technique allowed him to reach a peak level of cooking mastery in making the Golden Fried Rice. Even now, Li Yang’s mind was still reliving that state of “forgetting both the self and the world.”

It was completely different from the time he accidentally made the super-perfect Golden Fried Rice, a rare opportunity when his mind and body reached a harmonious state.

Li Yang was confident that if he activated the golden patterns again and combined it with the “Explosive Flame” technique, he could once again make the super-perfect Golden Fried Rice!

Meanwhile, others, having experienced the spiritual enlightenment brought on by the super-perfect Golden Fried Rice, found their bodies and minds purified.

The four Hashira and Tanjiro all realized the inspiration behind unlocking the patterns. They also vaguely sensed that the burden on their bodies after activating the patterns wouldn’t be too much!

All of this was thanks to Li Yang’s miraculous golden patterns. Li Yang’s golden patterns merged with the light of the super-perfect Golden Fried Rice, and this light represented the purest form of sunlight. This sunlight held both the power of purification and the power of enhancement. After all, everything grows because of the sun!

For anything evil or negative, sunlight is like a scorching flame that burns it to nothingness. But for everything bright and positive, sunlight is the source of energy, helping it to grow ever upward!

The four Hashira of the Demon Slayer Corps and Tanjiro, with their hearts filled with light, are those who walk in the light, killing demons and saving lives. Therefore, under the illumination of this light, which resembles sunlight, their patterns received an energy boost. Naturally, when they truly activated their patterns, it reduced the consumption of their life force.

The person who reacted most strongly to the light of the super-perfect Golden Fried Rice was none other than Oyakata-sama (Ubuyashiki Yoriya). His face, marked with scars from the curse, started to itch faintly under the golden light, as if the wounds were beginning to heal.

The curse of the Ubuyashiki family was a punishment by the world’s will because of the birth of the ancient demon, Muzan Kibutsuji. This curse was irreversible unless, under the leadership of the Ubuyashiki family, the Demon Slayer Corps could completely eliminate Muzan Kibutsuji, stopping him from causing any more harm and preventing the birth of new demons.

However, under the illumination of the cooking light, Oyakata-sama felt an unprecedented sense of comfort in his body, a sensation he hadn’t experienced since he was sixteen when the curse began to invade him. He felt as if his consciousness had regained control of his body. Every movement of his little finger, every breath, was now dictated by his own will. Even his blind eyes faintly saw a golden glow.

Without hesitation, Oyakata-sama grabbed a spoon, scooped up a full serving of the Golden Fried Rice, and placed it in his mouth. In that instant, the rich aroma of eggs exploded in his mouth. As his teeth chewed, the rice grains, wrapped in egg skin, began to release their flavor. The sweet rice combined with the fragrant eggs, and at that moment, Oyakata-sama felt his consciousness leave his body, break through the thick clouds, and enter the boundless vastness of space. Before him was a majestic sun!

Tears streamed down Oyakata-sama’s face, overwhelmed with emotion. He knew he was in an illusion, but this mighty sun felt so real, so magnificent.

Suddenly, he was shocked to see the sun erupt with a powerful flare, and then a stream of solar fire broke free from the sun’s surface, rushing directly toward him. But he was unafraid and calmly accepted the fire.

In the distance, Oyakata-sama heard the voice of a god.

“Oyakata-sama, use this power well to destroy evil!”

Oyakata-sama quickly accepted, though not fully understanding, assuming it was merely a figment of his imagination. However, the others in the tea room were shocked to find that the scars on his forehead were slowly fading, and a brilliant golden pattern rapidly spread across his body. Soon, the golden pattern reached his eyes, eventually merging entirely into them.

At the same time, a grayish-white aura began to rise from his body, and this phenomenon extended to his eldest daughter, Oyakata Hime, and even to his other children—Oyakata Natsu, Oyakata Kiyori, and his youngest daughters, Oyakata Kanae and Oyakata Kanata—who all shared the same grayish aura.

“Could this be the curse of the family, the Ubuyashiki family’s curse?”

“Could it really be gone?”

“My god, this is truly a miracle!”

Oyakata-sama suddenly opened his eyes and looked around. Before he could even rejoice in the fact that his vision had returned, the Demon Slayer Corps members around him exclaimed, “My god, Master, your eyes?”

“They’ve turned gold!”

“Master, are you alright?”

The members of the Demon Slayer Corps looked at Oyakata-sama with concern. He was stunned for a moment until his wife brought him a mirror used for makeup and held it up to his face. There, he saw his golden eyes.

Golden eyes!

In that instant, Oyakata-sama recalled the voice he had heard in the illusion.

“It turns out that was not just an illusion, but the blessing of a god…”

But… was it truly a god?

Faintly, Oyakata-sama felt that the voice of the god seemed familiar. He turned to look at Li Yang, and suddenly, he understood.

“Of course, the voice of the god sounded just like Li Yang-sama’s!”

However, Oyakata-sama would never believe that Li Yang was a god. To him, the experience in the illusion felt more like the world’s will guiding him forward. And Li Yang’s Golden Fried Rice had given him the opportunity to communicate with the world’s will!

At that moment, Oyakata-sama had never felt better. Although his pain was still present, his vitality had been greatly restored, and he now possessed golden eyes that shone like the sun. These golden eyes could weaken the power of demons when they stared at them! The demons’ power would gradually diminish, and over time, their strength would disappear completely!

These golden eyes were practically made to defeat Muzan Kibutsuji. And all of this miraculous power was granted by Li Yang!

Oyakata-sama immediately stood up and performed the most respectful salute the Demon Slayer Corps had ever offered to Li Yang. At that moment, a system notification appeared.

[“Congratulations, Master! The super-perfect Golden Fried Rice you made has conquered Oyakata-sama’s heart and stomach!”

“Reward: Demon Slayer Corps’ special Nichirin Kitchen Knife!”]

Seeing this reward, Li Yang’s eyes lit up. This was exactly what he needed! And it was a special Nichirin Kitchen Knife, combining both the Nichirin blade and a kitchen knife. It was the very tool he had been wishing for.

But… where was it?

Just as Li Yang was wondering how the system would deliver the Nichirin Kitchen Knife to him, Oyakata-sama spoke again.

“Thank you, Li Yang-sama, for lifting the curse of the Ubuyashiki family. I have no way to repay such a great kindness. As the current head of the Ubuyashiki family, I swear to the heavens that our family will repay this favor a hundredfold!”

The surrounding figures, including Tanjirou and Zenitsu, gasped. This was a vow of the highest order, and breaking it would result in divine retribution. Oyakata-sama had bound the Ubuyashiki family, and even the entire Demon Slayer Corps, to Li Yang!

Especially Zhang Haoran, who felt conflicted. He sensed that Li Yang was becoming increasingly entangled with the people of Japan. First, there was Eri, then Fushiko, and now, even the Demon Slayer Corps’ Love Hashira, Mitsuri Kanroji, and Insect Hashira, Shinobu Kocho, were looking at Li Yang with strange eyes. The four women’s gazes towards Li Yang were surprisingly consistent.

“Oh no, it’s the ‘beauty trap’!”

Zhang Haoran was about to quietly advise Li Yang to return to China when Oyakata-sama continued.

“Li Yang-sama, you are a genius-level chef. I wonder if you have found suitable kitchen tools?”

Li Yang’s eyes brightened. Here it comes— the special Nichirin Kitchen Knife from the Demon Slayer Corps!

He immediately shook his head.

“Not yet, I haven’t found a suitable kitchen tool, especially a kitchen knife…”

Oyakata-sama, now in a very good mood, smiled and said, “That’s perfect! In the Demon Slayer Corps’ Swordsmith Village, we have a brilliant swordsmith who once forged a very special Nichirin Blade, but it has yet to find the right owner. Perhaps, you are its true master!”