Demon Slayer: After raising Shinobu, I died in front of her.

Kanae Kocho and Shinobu Kocho have never been treated like this before.

In my memory, it seems that my father only held me like this and pinched my cheeks when I was a child.

The courtyard was filled with a cheerful atmosphere.

Meanwhile, in the corridor not far away, Kagaya Ubuyashiki and Amane Ubuyashiki were watching this scene with smiles on their faces, their eyes full of affection.

After settling the two children in, Ling Chuanche stood up and nodded slightly to the couple: "What are you doing here?"

Kagaya Ubuyashiki smiled gently and said, "Amane and I have come here several times these past few days."

Shinobu Kocho tilted her head back, proudly displaying her new clothes, and said in a clear voice, "Master, look! This was bought for us by Sister Amane!"

Ling Chuanche was both amused and exasperated. He gently tapped her head and said, "Ren, don't be rude. This is our lord, and that is our lord's wife, Lady Tianyin."

"what!?"

Shinobu and Kanae gaped open, like two frightened kittens.

The two turned around and looked at Ubuyashiki Kagaya and Ubuyashiki Amane in shock.

These two gentle, spring-like older brothers and sisters are actually the leader and mistress of the Demon Slayer Corps?!

Shinobu's first reaction was, "Wow, my lord is so young!"

Judging from his appearance, he seems to be only a few years older than his sister, right? He became a lord at such a young age and even married a wife!

She felt that her worldview had been slightly shaken.

Kanae is the same.

From the day Ayakawa Tetsu left, Ubuyashiki Kagaya and Amane frequently visited.

The two sisters always thought he was just a friend of their master.

These past few days, they've taken great care of the two sisters, buying them lots of clothes and treats. Especially when they're together, they show no airs of superiority, acting as warm and welcoming as a friendly older brother or sister next door.

"Now that you're back, we'll head back."

Kagaya Ubuyashiki turned around and glanced at Amane. The two looked at each other and couldn't help but smile.

Ling Chuanche didn't understand the deeper meaning behind their smiles, and simply nodded respectfully: "Yes, please take care."

Kagaya Ubuyashiki and Amane Ubuyashiki turned and left.

When he reached Ayakawa Tetsuya's side, Ubuyashiki Kagaya stopped and smiled: "Tetsuya, didn't you say you wouldn't let them become swordsmen?"

Seeing him smirking, Lingchuan Tetsu glared at Ubuyashiki Kagaya with annoyance. This guy really knows how to bring up the most awkward topics.

Kagaya Ubuyashiki could barely contain his smile; it had been a long time since he'd seen Toru Ayakawa look so embarrassed.

so interesting.

Before leaving, Ubuyashiki Amane patted Shinobu Kocho's head gently and said with a smile, "When you're bored in the future, come visit us. Just tell Kakuzu when you're coming."

"Ah."

After learning the true identities of the two people, Shinobu became noticeably more restrained, and obediently remained quiet for two seconds.

Stepping out of the courtyard, Kagaya Ubuyashiki looked at Amane beside him, unable to suppress his smile: "I never thought that our Lord Sosuke would be defeated by two children."

He and Tianyin exchanged a glance and smiled at each other.

In the courtyard, Shinobu Kocho finally breathed a sigh of relief, but her composure crumbled instantly.

"Wow! Are they actually our lords? They look so much younger than you, Master!"

"Yes!" Kanae couldn't help but exclaim, her eyes filled with disbelief. "I thought the leader of the Demon Slayer Corps was someone with seniority, a dignified man in his thirties."

Ling Chuanche smiled, his gaze fixed on the direction his lord had departed, a hint of respect in his eyes.

"Don't let our lord's young age fool you, he is an extremely powerful figure."

Shinobu tilted her head and asked curiously, "As the leader of the Demon Slayer Corps, isn't it natural for you to be strong?"

"Hmm... she is very strong, but not in terms of swordsmanship or physical skills."

Ling Chuanche withdrew his gaze and affectionately patted his two disciples' heads. "That's a different kind of power. You'll understand when you grow up. By the way—"

He abruptly changed the subject, excitedly placing the bundle he was carrying on the ground and untying the rope as if presenting a treasure.

"Look, I bought all of these for you!"

Inside the bundle, colorful windmills, rattles, and dolls rolled all over the floor.

Ling Chuanche looked at the toys.

He wanted these two little ones, who had lost their parents and were far from home, to feel his clumsy but sincere care at this moment.

However, Shinobu and Kanae Kocho looked at the toys on the ground and fell silent for a moment.

The air suddenly became quiet.

Shinobu pursed her lips, her eyes darting around, too embarrassed to tell the truth.

She stopped playing with these toys when she was three years old, as they were already outdated.

"Wow! It's a rattle drum! I love it!"

Seeing the sudden silence, Butterfly forced a smile, picked up the rattle and shook it exaggeratedly twice, trying to appear flattered.

"Sister, look! It's a rattle drum! It's so much fun!"

"..." Ling Chuanche looked at her speechlessly, "I can't tell at all that you like her."

Shinobu Kocho's face instantly fell, and she dropped the act, throwing the rattle drum aside: "Master, do you think my sister and I are just weaned babies? I haven't played with this stuff for five years!"

Kanae Butterfly, standing to the side, smiled awkwardly, wanting to smooth things over but not knowing where to begin.

"……sorry."

Ling Chuanche lowered his head, as if shrouded in shadow, with a dark cloud seemingly floating above his head.

He muttered something under his breath, so softly that Kanae and Shinobu had to lean closer to listen.

"...I see other parents buying these toys for their kids, I didn't know you wouldn't like them. When I was little...I never received these kinds of gifts..."

Upon hearing this, Kanae turned her head sharply and glared at Shinobu.

His eyes were filled with disappointment: Master is so old (crossed out), Master has a heart full of good intentions, it's already good enough that he knows to buy things for us, why are you still not satisfied!

Ren was stunned, standing there helplessly.

No, wait?

Looking at Ling Chuanche, who looked dejected and collapsed like a punctured balloon, Butterfly wished she could travel back in time and slap herself.

I'm so damn stupid!

She immediately rushed forward, grabbed Ling Chuanche's arm, and shook it vigorously: "Master, I'm sorry! I was wrong! I actually really like it! Look at this rattle drum, how crisp the sound is! How fun it is!"

As she spoke, she shook it vigorously twice, making a loud "thump thump thump" sound.

"Right, sister..."

Shinobu Kocho frantically winked at Kanae.

Kanae quickly understood and nodded emphatically, "Yes, Master! These are all wonderful! Shinobu and I love them!"

Do you really like it?

Ling Chuanche raised his head, his eyes, which usually showed no mercy in slaying evil spirits, now cautiously gleaming with anticipation.

"Uh-huh!"

Two innocent little faces came closer, and they nodded earnestly twice.

Ling Chuanche finally breathed a sigh of relief, the gloom dissipated, and a smile returned to his face.

Seeing his finally relieved expression, Shinobu and Kanae exchanged a glance, then looked at the childish toys in their hands and silently lowered their heads.

They sacrificed so much for this family.

Chapter 12: Snowball Fight

Ling Chuanche was genuinely unaware that these toys were already outdated for Shinobu and the others.

His parents died early, and he was raised by his older sister. But when he was a teenager, his sister was also brutally murdered by a demon, and from then on, he joined the Demon Slayer Corps alone.

Looking at Kanae and Shinobu Kocho in front of him, Toru Ayakawa sometimes felt like he was looking at his older sister from the past, and at his helpless self.

He had to admit that he had long considered these two little ones as his own children.

From the moment he rescued them and they threw themselves into his arms and cried; from the first time they stepped into this home, the first time they waited for him to come home for dinner, the first time they timidly yet firmly called him "Master"... he had completely gotten used to this feeling.

They seemed to possess a magical power that held a fatal attraction for Ling Chuanche.

It was probably because he had never felt the warmth of home since his sister was murdered, and now these two little ones had barged into his life.

Even though they had only known each other for a few dozen days, Kanae's gentleness and Shinobu's sharp tongue and stubbornness made this former workaholic thoroughly enjoy sitting in the shade in the afternoon, quietly watching them run around in the yard.

People are most afraid of getting used to things, because once they get used to something, they become afraid of losing it.

Ling Chuanche lowered his eyes slightly.

lose?

No, he didn't want to lose it again.

Now he possesses the power to fight against everything, and he will never let anyone stray from him again.

Since Kanae and Shinobu wanted to become swordsmen, he would impart all his knowledge to them. He wanted to give them the power to fight demons, and also to spare himself the pain of loss…

……

In the blink of an eye, three months have passed.

It snowed that day, so Shinobu and Kanae didn't have any training, and Ayakawa Tetsu also had a rare day off from his mission.

He was woken up early in the morning by the cheerful laughter of two maids in the courtyard.

"Master, come out quickly!"

Not long after, he heard Ren calling him from outside.

Ling Chuanche got up and pushed open the door. As soon as he peeked out, a snowball flew towards him and hit him in the face with a "smack".