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

Sanemi Shinazugawa got up and started gnawing on the grilled fish: "Where's Master?"

"They've gone to carry out a mission."

Sanemi Shinazugawa clenched his fists. His master trained with him during the day and went on missions at night; it was truly exhausting.

Compared to him, what are my own hardships?

After finishing the grilled fish, he picked up his Nichirin Blade and stood up again: "Wind Breathing..."

He resumed the tedious training.

It's worth mentioning that he initially learned Water Breathing from Lingchuan Che, but he learned it very slowly, and it didn't suit his crazy, reckless attack style.

Finally, Lingchuan Tetsu took him to visit a trainer who specialized in teaching the Breath of Wind.

Originally, Lingchuan Tetsu had intended to leave Shinazugawa Sanemi there so that the trainer could teach him. However, when he was about to leave, he saw that Shinazugawa Sanemi had the same look in his eyes as Shinobu had back then. It was as if he had been abandoned, as if his master didn't want him anymore.

Ling Chuanche had no choice but to bring him back and train him personally.

"Sanemi!" A shout suddenly came from afar.

Shinazugawa Sanemi turned around and waved enthusiastically: "Kuang Jin!"

Not far away, a boy about the same age as Shinazugawa Sanemi walked towards him.

Sanemi Shinazugawa is now a Rank 1 member of the Demon Slayer Corps and has gone out on several missions. Kamino Masachika is a friend he met during one of these missions.

Kuang Jin came to see him this time to ask to go on a mission together.

Without saying a word, Shinazugawa Sanemi immediately followed him.

It took them three whole days to return from this mission. When they returned to the Demon Slayer Corps, the two of them had already been carried to the hospital by members of the "Kakuna" (Hidden) faction.

In the hospital, upon hearing the name of a new patient, Shinobu Kocho, who was busy at work, suddenly looked up and plunged her Nichirin Blade into the floor with a "whoosh".

"I'll go myself!!" Her voice was icy cold.

Kanae advised worriedly, "Shinobu, he's already injured, so don't do anything more to him."

Shinobu Kocho smiled at her sister, but there was no warmth in that smile: "It's okay, sister, I will take good care of our junior brother!" She emphasized the word "take good care of" when she said it.

On the other side, Kuang Jin and Shinazugawa Sanemi had just been carried onto the hospital bed when a girl with purple hair and a butterfly hair ornament walked in.

The girl glanced at the two of them before finally settling her gaze on Shinazugawa Sanemi, and walked straight over to him.

"Are you the doctor here?" Shinazugawa Sanemi asked in a low voice.

“Yes!” Shinobu Kocho said with a forced smile. “Don’t I look like one?”

"No, no, that's not it." Shinazugawa Sanemi quickly waved his hand. "I meant, could you help me treat my friend first? He's seriously injured."

“Nonsense, your injuries are much more serious than mine, Doctor. Don’t worry about me, treat him first,” Kuang Jin interjected from the side.

Shinobu Kocho maintained her forced smile: "No need to rush, I'll be done soon."

For some reason, when Shinazugawa Sanemi looked at the smile on her face, he felt a chill run down his spine and a sense of dread.

He was probably just scaring himself; how could a doctor be scary? He reassured himself.

"Lift up your clothes, let me see your injury," Shinobu Kocho coldly commanded.

Shinazugawa Sanemi obediently lifted his clothes.

Shinobu's eyelashes suddenly trembled.

Her gaze was fixed on Sanemi Shinazugawa's body, and what she saw was a dense array of wounds, making it difficult to find a single piece of healthy flesh at first glance!

Her gaze moved upwards, landing on Sanemi Shinazugawa's scarred face.

"What's wrong?" Kuang Jin asked anxiously. "What happened to my brother, Doctor? Is he dying?"

"Shut up," Butterfly snapped coldly.

Despite her small size, her imposing presence when she spoke silenced both Shinazugawa Sanemi and Masaki.

Without a word, she began to treat Shinazugawa Sanemi's wounds. Although her movements were still swift, her tone carried a subtle change: "What happened to your injuries? Are you out of your mind?"

Sanemi Shinazugawa was stunned for a moment before realizing that it was the doctor in front of him who was talking to him.

He laughed and said, "These are all wounds I got from fighting evil spirits before. Although they were a bit dangerous, I'm used to them now."

Shinobu Kocho fell silent, her hands pausing for a moment: "What about those on your back?"

Shinazugawa Sanemi suddenly stammered, "Th-that was my teacher who hit me."

"teacher?"

"Yes, my teacher is Mr. Cangzhu." Shinazugawa Sanemi said calmly, without any pride or smugness about his teacher being Lingchuan Tetsu.

Shinobu Kocho gave a soft snort, but her heart softened for some reason: her master still loved her and her sister more. Back then, her master hadn't been willing to hit them so hard.

After treating the injuries of Sanemi and Kōchin, Shinobu Kocho said "All done" and left.

Inside the house, Kanae was somewhat surprised to see her return: "Why are you back so soon?" Then she asked with some concern: "Shinobu, you didn't really do anything, did you?"

"They're all wounded. We should wait until they've recovered before taking action!" Ren snorted.

Chapter 28 Birthday

"Have your injuries been treated?"

Orange pushed open the door and walked in, somewhat surprised to see that Sanemi and Kurokin's wounds had been bandaged.

"Yes, it was that purple-haired lady with the butterfly hair accessory who handled it for us," said Shinazugawa Sanemi.

After hearing this, Ju Zi paused for a moment, then covered her mouth and chuckled: "You're clearly very angry inside, but you still care about your junior brother."

"Junior brother?" Shinazugawa Sanemi and Kujira exchanged a glance, looking puzzled. "What junior brother?"

Orange blinked, realizing she'd said something wrong again.

But since I've already let it slip, I might as well tell you everything.

"Ahem, didn't you know? Kanae and Shinobu here are also disciples of Lord Cangzhu. In fact, they are your senior sisters. It was Shinobu who treated your wounds just now."

Shinazugawa Sanemi looked shocked: "My senior sister?"

After the initial shock, an indescribable joy welled up inside me!

So I have a senior sister!

Kuang Jin stroked his chin and suddenly realized, "No wonder that young lady looked so upset when she came in. She must have been heartbroken to see you injured."

Shinazugawa tilted his head. Is that how it is? Something feels off.

……

"Kanae has hunted down nearly forty demons in the past six months. It is estimated that she will meet the requirements for promotion to Pillar in a while."

Sabito isn't much different; I estimate the time it takes to meet the requirements will be similar to Kanae's.

In the courtyard, Kagaya Ubuyashiki was watering the flowers and plants, a gentle smile on his lips: "Next year, our Demon Slayer Corps will have two more Pillars."

He turned around, intending to share his joy with Ling Chuanche, only to find him sitting there, his eyes glazed over, clearly lost in thought.

Kagaya Ubuyashiki: "...Tetsu?"

"Huh?" Ling Chuanche snapped out of his daze. "What's wrong?"

"What are you thinking?"

"Ren's birthday is coming up soon, and I'm thinking about what gift to pick out for her."

Kagaya Ubuyashiki smiled and suggested, "Do you need my help? Amane is very experienced in this area."

Ling Chuanche pursed his lips and shook his head: "Never mind, I'll do it myself."

Kagaya Ubuyashiki didn't say anything more when he saw that he refused, but casually asked, "I heard that you took Kanae and Shinobu to the hospital?"

Ling Chuanche gave a faint "hmm," and said, "They've grown up and are living with me, which isn't good for their reputation. I'm worried there might be some gossip in the team."

Kagaya Ubuyashiki quietly observed Toru Ayakawa's expression.

He has known Ling Chuanche the longest, ever since Ling Chuanche first joined the Demon Slayer Corps. At that time, he was not yet the master, but he had already met Ling Chuanche.

Because he was present when Lingchuan Che participated in the Fujikasayama selection.

Having spent so many years together, he already knew Ling Chuanche very well.

Therefore, he only needed to look into Ling Chuanche's eyes to know what this veteran of the Demon Slayer Corps was thinking.

Even though she was very unwilling, she insisted on sending them away, and her tone was still sour when she talked about the last rumors.

He wanted to tease Ling Chuanche: "You've already sent your disciples away, why bother buying them birthday gifts?"

Ling Chuanche thought for a moment and said matter-of-factly, "It is only right for Master to give a gift on a disciple's birthday."

But after his disciple left, his master was not at all restless or absent-minded... Ubuyashiki Kagaya thought to himself, but chose not to say it, so as to preserve his dignity as an elder.

"If you're alright, I'll be going now." Seeing that Kagaya Ubuyashiki was alright, Toru Ayakawa prepared to leave, still thinking about what gift to give Shinobu.

Without waiting for Kagaya Ubuyashiki's reply, he lowered his head and walked straight out.

Only he could do something so rude.

Kagaya Ubuyashiki watched his retreating figure with a mixture of amusement and exasperation.

"Mr. Tetsu treats Shinobu quite like a master treats a disciple," Amane said gently as she came out from behind, revealing Tetsu's true feelings.

"He probably didn't even realize it himself," Kagaya Ubuyashiki couldn't help but chuckle and sigh.

What master would be so heartbroken and dejected because of parting with his disciple?

However, he also understood Ling Chuanche.

He lost his family at a very young age and has been alone in the Demon Slayer Corps for many years, sometimes facing demons more often than people.

Shinobu and Kanae are the only people who have truly entered his heart and become close to him over the years.

They were not just his disciples, but also family members who filled the void in his heart.

Unlike Kanae's gentle and inclusive nature, Shinobu has always been straightforward.

Even on ordinary days, she treated Ling Chuanche the same way, without any reservations, relying on him as warmly and frankly as a little sun.

In this cold world, that unreserved trust and closeness has long become the softest and most cherished bond in Ling Chuanche's heart.