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

They stared in shock at the figure standing between Giyu and Sanemi, their gazes fixed on the hands that were controlling them.

It's important to understand that although Sanemi and Giyu haven't become Pillars yet, they are already Rank 2 members, just one step away from becoming Pillars.

If we're talking about head-to-head battles, even Kanae and Sabito aren't guaranteed to win.

Especially that strike they both delivered simultaneously—either of them would have been unable to withstand it.

But Ling Chuanche didn't use any weapons; he easily controlled them with just his bare hands.

They thought that the gap between them and their master (senior brother) was getting smaller and smaller after becoming the Pillar Queen, but at this moment they suddenly realized that the gap between them seemed to have never changed.

No, that's not right, the gap seems to be even bigger!

Sanemi Shinazugawa swallowed hard, and Giyu's eyes were equally filled with shock.

However, Ling Chuanche's gaze remained calm and composed: "You two brats, you've grown wings and are starting to disobey me?"

After saying that, he threw the two men aside and kicked them both in the buttocks.

Ling Chuanche crossed his arms and said coldly, "If you don't like to eat, then you two will just watch us eat today."

One of them was kicked, but they dared not retaliate. They turned around and looked at Ling Chuanche's slightly imposing figure under the blazing sun.

"Is my senior brother really that strong?!"

"I can't believe it!" said the rabbit, dumbfounded.

Chapter 33 The Girl Led by a Rope

None of the people present had ever seen Ling Chuanche fight seriously.

Shinobu and Kanae's earliest memory of Ayakawa Tetsu's intervention dates back several years to when he saved them.

Sanemi Shinazugawa only caught a fleeting glimpse of his master's thunderous attack when he was rescued.

As for Giyu and Sabito, they had never seen them before.

The most common rumors they heard in the Demon Slayer Corps seemed to be about where the Pillar had recently gone, how many demons he had killed single-handedly, and which troublesome Lower Moon he had slain... But rumors are just rumors, and they had never actually seen with their own eyes the terrifying appearance of this man, who was hailed as the "Strongest Pillar" by the Demon Slayer Corps, when he truly revealed his fangs.

However, the strength he just displayed was merely the tip of the iceberg, yet he effortlessly subdued Shinazugawa Sanemi and Tomioka Giyu, who were fighting at almost their full strength.

Looking at Ling Chuanche, who was eating his meal with a calm expression as if nothing had happened, everyone seemed to see through his calm exterior and glimpse the monstrous waves hidden beneath his unfathomable strength.

The meal was eaten in unusual silence, mainly because everyone was stunned by the absolute strength that Ling Chuanche had just displayed in that fleeting glance.

Especially Sabito. From the day he became Urokodaki's disciple, he always heard Urokodaki talk about how powerful his senior brother, Toru Ayakawa, was.

For so many years, he and Gi-yong have always regarded him as their goal.

Later, he joined the Demon Slayer Corps and became a Pillar, finally standing in the same position as his senior. He thought he had finally caught up with his senior's shadow.

However, now he only feels that he was terribly wrong.

Ling Chuanche made him understand a cruel truth: standing at the same level as others does not mean that he is as strong as that person, but rather that this place is only so high, and he has reached the top, while that person is just standing here with his head down.

"Master," Sanemi finally couldn't hold back any longer, putting down his chopsticks and asking, "Just how strong are you now?"

Everyone immediately perked up their ears, including Ren, who was listening intently to what Ling Chuan Che had to say.

Ling Chuanche calmly swallowed the food in his mouth and said lightly, "I don't know. But don't think I'm so great. My talent is very average. I've gotten to where I am today through hard work. Your talent is all above mine. As long as you are willing to work hard, you will definitely surpass me in the future."

Shinobu and Kanae opened their mouths, but hesitated to speak.

This was the sentence they heard most often from Ling Chuanche.

When they heard Ling Chuanche say that before, they actually believed that what their master said was true.

But now that I've witnessed Ling Chuanche's insurmountable strength, hearing him say those words feels like he's just trying to comfort me.

The other three men had the same thought at that moment.

They stared at the figure eating with a complicated expression.

Is your talent lacking?

If you're low, then what are they anyway?

Can you become stronger just by working hard?

If everyone could strive to become as strong as him, then evil spirits would have been completely eradicated long ago.

Suddenly, Sanemi Shinazugawa started shoveling rice into his bowl and finished it quickly.

He put down his chopsticks, said "I'm going to cultivate," and walked out without looking back.

Sabito and Giyu also finished eating quickly. After saying goodbye to Lingchuan Che, the two hurriedly left, their backs looking somewhat flustered.

"Why are they leaving in such a hurry?" Ling Chuanche asked, looking at their retreating figures with some confusion.

"Maybe it was because of your words, Master, that I was discouraged," Shinobu murmured.

"Why were you attacked?" Ling Chuanche asked, puzzled.

Shinobu and Kanae exchanged a glance, then looked at Toru Ayakawa: "Master, can't you really feel it?"

Ling Chuanche frowned.

Kanae sighed helplessly: "Your talent... do you really think your talent is so low?"

“But my talent is really low.” Ling Chuanche said calmly and seriously, “Back then, Master Linlong even thought my talent was too low and was unwilling to accept me.”

Later, I worked hard every day and barely met his requirements. Then, I joined the Demon Slayer Corps. At that time, there were many people stronger than me there. To avoid falling behind, I had no choice but to train relentlessly and constantly fight demons to get to where I am today.

Shinobu and Kanae exchanged another glance and shook their heads helplessly.

Never mind, Master is already so immersed in his own world that he can't get out of it.

Let's not discuss this topic anymore.

……

The New Year passed quickly, and Shinobu and Kanae both started getting busy.

When they have a mission, they go together to carry it out; when they don't have a mission, they return to the Butterfly Mansion to oversee things.

It is worth mentioning that after Kanae was promoted to Flower Pillar, she officially became the owner of the Butterfly Mansion, the medical facility of the Demon Slayer Corps.

After finishing their work at the Butterfly House during the day, the two would rush home in the evening to see if their master was there. Although their days were busy, they were fulfilling and warm.

Everyone is getting stronger every day, working hard towards a common goal, and the Demon Slayer Corps is growing stronger at a visible speed.

On this day, Ling Chuanche was once again free of tasks, a rare occurrence. The Ling Chuanche of today was no longer the workaholic he once was.

Whenever he had free time, he would use his spare time to go home and visit his disciples, ostensibly to "check on their homework."

Those familiar with Ling Chuanche could sense the changes in him over the past year, but everyone tacitly chose not to say it aloud.

"Shopping?" Ling Chuan Tetsu put down his book upon hearing Shinobu and Kanae's words. "Now?"

"Mmm!" Kanae nodded with a smile. "Master's clothes are getting a bit old, let's go buy some more."

Ling Chuanche nodded slightly.

The Demon Slayer Corps has specific uniforms, which are what everyone wears when they go out on missions. However, for some reason, the uniforms worn by the female members of the Demon Slayer Corps appear unusually revealing.

I remember when Kanae became a swordsman, the uniform that the Demon Slayer Corps sent her was seen by Toru Ayakawa, and he threw it away immediately. Then he went to Kagaya Ubuyashiki to mention it once.

It is said that the people who made the uniforms for the Demon Slayer Corps were replaced that time, and they were never seen again.

After that, the female members of the Demon Slayer Corps wore normal uniforms.

"Let's go." When he had nothing else to do, Ling Chuanche would never refuse his disciple's request.

He's come to terms with it now; after all, he's the master, and it's perfectly normal for a master to accompany his disciple.

Girls always love shopping, and Kanae and Shinobu are no exception.

Ling Chuanche followed behind them, watching them chat and laugh. He didn't feel tired at all; he just felt that this time was wonderful.

If possible, it wouldn't be bad to continue like this.

But the good times are destined to be broken.

As she passed a small bridge, a scene in the distance caught Kanae's attention.

In the distance, a little girl, only a few years old and dressed in tattered clothes, was being led away by a rope. Seeing this, Ren's eyebrows shot up: "There are human traffickers!"

"Master, that child is so pitiful!" Kanae turned to look at Ayakawa Tetsu. "Can I go and save her?"

“I’ll go,” Ling Chuanche said calmly. “You’re girls, he’ll probably make things difficult for you if he sees you.”

As Ling Chuan Che spoke, he walked over, and Kanae and Shinobu's eyes lit up with excitement as they followed behind him.

Why is this child being led by a rope?

The trafficker turned around upon hearing the voice, and was immediately startled by Ling Chuanche's extremely oppressive aura.

But then he sneered, "She's so dirty and smelly, of course I'm going to hold her hand."

Ren was about to step forward in anger, but remembering what her master had just said, she suppressed her temper and stared angrily at the human trafficker.

Ling Chuanche said calmly, "This child is ours now."

The trafficker was taken aback, then sneered, "Who are you? Just because you say it's yours doesn't mean it's yours. Did you pay me?"

Kanae then walked up to the girl and asked softly, "What's your name?"

The girl's eyes were vacant, and she didn't speak.

Kanae showed no impatience whatsoever; instead, she asked in an even gentler tone, "Would you like to come home with us?"

The girl's eyelashes trembled, and a light seemed to appear in her empty eyes.

"Who are you? Get out of here!" The trafficker impatiently reached for the rope in his hand.

But the next moment, a flash of cold light appeared, and the rope in his hand snapped instantly.

"What are you doing!" The trafficker angrily tried to grab Ling Chuanche, but Ling Chuanche grabbed his wrist and with just a little force, the trafficker fell to the ground and let out a painful howl.

"Ah! Help! Someone's being hit!" The human trafficker's cries for help drew the attention of those around him.

Ling Chuanche said calmly, "Someone come here!"

Suddenly, several members of the Hidden Sect emerged from the crowd and immediately stood at attention in front of Ling Chuanche: "Lord Cangzhu!"

"I'll leave things here to you," Ling Chuanche said.