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

Kanae's mask is pink, while Shinobu's is purple.

This was something that Sakonji Urokodaki worked on day and night for the past two nights without sleeping.

The old man, with large dark circles under his eyes behind his mask, crossed his arms and coldly bid them farewell.

Shinobu and Kanae waved goodbye to Urokodaki Sakonji.

On the hillside, Yi Yong's eyes reddened again.

Although they only spent two days together, it's rare for a child his age to have two friends, and he's very reluctant to part with them now.

Upon seeing this, Shinobu burst into laughter: "Goodbye, you crybaby!"

"I'm not a crybaby!" Yi Yong immediately stopped crying and retorted loudly.

Sabito, standing to the side, looked at Shinobu and Kanae down at the foot of the mountain and smiled, "See you next year! Giyu and I will come find you after we join the Demon Slayer Corps!"

The group made a promise for the future, and Ling Chuanche, along with his two disciples, embarked on their return journey.

……

A few days later, a crisp firecracker exploded in the air, announcing the arrival of the New Year.

Happy Chinese New Year!

Wearing a snow-white down jacket and a purple scarf around her neck, Shinobu Kocho burst out of the house like a happy little cannonball.

Red lanterns had already been hung in the courtyard, casting a warm red glow on the snow.

Kanae followed with a smile.

"Master, look! There are fireworks outside!" Ren pointed at the dazzling fireworks in the sky and jumped up excitedly.

Ling Chuanche sat in the house, looking through the paper window at the two little ones chasing and playing in the snow outside.

Shinobu's little face was red from the cold, but her smile was brighter than fireworks; Kanae gently helped her straighten her scarf that had been ruffled by the wind, her eyes full of laughter.

The stove inside was burning brightly, and the teapot was bubbling away, releasing steam.

Ling Chuanche picked up his teacup, looked at the warm scene outside the window, and a gentle smile unconsciously appeared on his lips.

This New Year, he was no longer alone in his loneliness.

Chapter 18: Triumph

In the summer of Meiji 1908, cicadas chirped loudly, and the heat was oppressive.

Lingchuan Tetsu's life continued as usual. He was busy with missions every day, and when he had no missions, he would return home and carefully teach Kanae and Shinobu.

That year, Kanae's strength improved by leaps and bounds. Lingchuan Tetsu, who originally planned to let her settle down for another year, quietly brought forward her final assessment time after witnessing her current swordsmanship.

At the same time, the Demon Slayer Corps also welcomed a highly anticipated newcomer, Tengen Uzui.

This young man, who joined the Demon Slayer Corps in 1907, came from a secluded ninja village.

Unable to endure the village's cruel rules of survival, he resolutely fled and was later taken in by Kagaya Ubuyashiki.

In less than a year, he rose to the rank of "Pillar" with his amazing talent and strength, becoming the third Pillar after Toru Ryukawa and Gyomei Himejima—the Sound Pillar.

Ling Chuanche had met this sixteen-year-old boy a few times.

The other party was full of energy, even with a flamboyant and glamorous air.

Lingchuan Tetsu believed that Uzui Tengen's talent was superior to his own. It took him three whole years to wear the haori of the pillar, while the other only took one year.

However, with the addition of the sound pillar, the burden on Lingchuan Tetsu's shoulders has been greatly reduced.

He finally had more time to spend with and teach Shinobu and Kanae, while never stopping his search for the demon who killed his sister.

Before we knew it, the day of the final summer selection was fast approaching.

There are seven days left until the assessment.

Saagiri Mountain.

Urokodaki Sakonji was giving Sabito and Giyu their final words of advice as they embarked on their journey.

"Don't be careless, be careful in everything..."

Sabito looked confident, having long regarded Lord Cangzhu as his lifelong goal, and didn't take this level of assessment seriously at all.

On the other hand, Yi Yong looked nervous, filled with apprehension about the unknown road ahead.

Just as Sabito was about to leave, a steady knock came from outside the door.

Sabito opened the door and saw a tall man wearing a strange fire-man mask standing outside.

"Who are you?" Qin Tu asked warily.

The man outside the door spoke, his voice surprisingly gentle: "I have come to visit Mr. Urokodaki Sakonji on behalf of Lord Cangzhu."

Inside the room, upon hearing that familiar voice, Urokodaki Sakonji abruptly stood up: "Renzo-sensei?"

He hurried out to greet them and introduced them to his two disciples: "Qiantu, Yiyong, come and meet Master Tiepu Lianzang. He is a swordsmith who specializes in forging weapons for your senior brother."

Sabito and Giyu were taken aback, staring in surprise at the burly, muscular man before them.

With that physique, he's actually a blacksmith?

They actually believe him when he says he's a swordsman from the Demon Slayer Corps!

"Why did you come in person?" Urokodaki Sakonji welcomed Tetsuura Renzo into the house, and asked in confusion, "Tetsu isn't here with me."

Tiepu Lianzang sat down cross-legged and took out two exquisite long sword cases from behind him: "I know he's not here. I came here specifically to find you."

"Looking for me?" Urokodaki Sakonji was even more puzzled. What could a retired old man like himself possibly have that would warrant this master craftsman making a personal trip?

Tiepu Lianzang patted the sword box beside him and said in a deep voice, "Lord Cangzhu asked me to forge a Nichirin Blade for each of his two junior brothers. I spent three months on it and finally managed to finish it before the assessment began."

Urokodaki Sakonji's expression froze for a moment.

He then vaguely remembered that when Ling Chuan Che left last year, he did mention that he wanted to give Sabito and Giyu a gift.

It had been so long that he had almost forgotten about it. He never expected that Ling Chuanche would have his personal swordsmith forge two Nichirin swords and send them over.

With a "click," the box was opened.

In an instant, everyone felt the temperature in the room drop sharply, and a chilling cold emanated from the box!

"Wow!!!"

The serpent rabbit, as if it had spotted a priceless treasure, rushed over instantly, its eyes gleaming: "Is this really for us?!"

Yi Yong couldn't help but swallow hard, his eyes fixed on the gleaming blade in the box, not blinking.

Tiepu Lianzang smiled slightly: "Yes, you can give it a try."

Sabito eagerly drew his Nichirin Blade and went into the courtyard to begin wielding it.

The strike that would normally require 50% of one's strength to split the rock was now as easy as cutting tofu, thanks to the sword in hand.

Before long, he was already captivated by it.

"Thank you so much for going to all this trouble, making you come all this way."

Urokodaki Sakonji looked at Tetsuura Renzo with gratitude.

As a former water pillar, he knew all too well what a good sword meant to a swordsman.

Tiepu Lianzang is a master craftsman with top-notch skills in the sword-forging village, and is also Cangzhu's exclusive sword-forging master.

The two swords he forged by hand were of extremely high quality. Even if Sabito and Giyu joined the Demon Slayer Corps later, the Nichirin Blades they forged might not be as handy as these two.

It's no exaggeration to say that these two knives greatly increased their chances of passing the final test.

"Not at all," Tiepu Lianzang waved his hand. "Lord Cangzhu was worried that my two junior brothers might be in danger during the assessment, so he specifically asked me for help. Since it was his request, I will naturally do my best."

So Sabito and Giyu, carrying their new swords, embarked on their journey to the assessment.

At this moment, outside the gate of the Demon Slayer Corps' base.

Kanae stopped and turned around, waving vigorously at Ayakawa Tetsu and Shinobu.

"Go back, Master. Ren, go back too. I'll be back soon!"

"Sister, come on!"

Standing in front of the courtyard gate, Shinobu raised his small fists in the air and waved them vigorously, shouting loudly, "Let's shine brightly as 'Disciples of Cangzhu'! Let those evil spirits know how powerful we are!"

Ling Chuanche, standing to the side, silently pursed his lips. Hearing Ren's powerful yet inexplicably arrogant slogan, he felt a strange sense of shame.

Kanae chuckled, amused, and nodded gently, "Don't worry! I'll be back safely!"

As Kanae's figure gradually disappeared at the end of the road, Shinobu's smile vanished instantly, as if the pause button had been pressed.

She turned around and saw several passing Demon Slayer Corps support personnel curiously looking at her.

The once energetic young girl's eyes instantly turned cold, like a kitten whose territory had been invaded, her entire body bristling with quills. She crossed her arms, raised her chin slightly, and said in a hard, icy tone, "What are you looking at? Haven't you ever seen the family of a genius swordsman before?"

The logistics staff were startled by the sudden hostility. They scratched their heads awkwardly and quickly walked away.

Ling Chuan Che sighed helplessly and gently tapped Ren's head: "Why are you always so fierce to others?"

She covered her forehead, pouting with an air of self-righteousness: "They're not my master, nor my sister, why should I smile at them?!"

After saying that, she resumed her aloof demeanor, only turning to look at Ling Chuanche with a hint of dependence and grievance in her eyes: "Master, is my sister really alright?"

"Don't worry," Ling Chuan Che patted her head, his gaze fixed on the direction Kanae had left, his tone firm, "She is Kanae. Even if you don't have faith in your sister, you should have faith in the disciple of 'Lord Cangzhu'."

Ling Chuanche smiled and replied to Ren with the same words Ren had just used.

Ren pouted and muttered softly, "Of course, my sister is the best... but when I grow up, I'll definitely be even better than her!"

Two people, one big and one small, stood at the door. One was full of confidence, while the other, though stubborn, had eyes full of concern. They quietly awaited the triumphant return of the gentle girl.

Chapter 19 The Assessment Begins

Night fell, and a pale, waning moon hung in the sky.

Kanae trekked alone for a long time and finally arrived at the foot of Mount Fujikasake.

"We've finally arrived." She exhaled a long breath, calming her slightly rapid breathing.

Unlike ordinary mountain forests, this mountain is covered with countless ancient wisteria trees from its foot to its halfway point.