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

Perhaps his intuition sensed something, and there were some things he wanted to say right now.

Chapter 35 Do you like to endure?

"Teru, you should start thinking about settling down." Kagaya Ubuyashiki's voice was gentle, yet it was like a stone thrown into a deep pool, creating ripples. "Is there a woman you admire in the Demon Slayer Corps?"

Seeing that Kagaya Ubuyashiki's topic was going further and further off track, Lingchuan Tetsu frowned slightly and stood up, wanting to end this conversation that made him uneasy: "My lord, if there is nothing else, I will take my leave."

As he was about to leave, Kagaya Ubuyashiki said softly, his tone tinged with a hint of probing, "If it were Shinobu, would you be willing?"

For a moment, it seemed as if the world stood still, and Ling Chuanche abruptly stopped in his tracks.

He didn't know why his lord would suddenly say such a thing.

He gripped the bundle of medicinal herbs tightly in his hand, his knuckles turning slightly white from the force, his voice flat and devoid of any emotion: "What are you saying?"

Kagaya Ubuyashiki smiled, his pale purple eyes seemingly able to see into people's hearts: "If it's Shinobu, I can give the order."

Ling Chuanche closed his eyes slightly, took a deep breath, then turned around and stared at him expressionlessly: "My lord, have you been drinking?"

Kagaya Ubuyashiki paused for a moment, then couldn't help but chuckle: "You know, my body doesn't allow me to be exposed to alcohol."

"Then don't make jokes like that again." Ling Chuanche said expressionlessly, with a hint of stiffness in his voice.

Kagaya Ubuyashiki looked at him and saw that his eyes were as calm as an ancient well. He could only sigh helplessly: "Alright, I'm sorry, I was presumptuous."

Ling Chuanche bowed slightly, concealing the turmoil in his eyes: "Please take good care of yourself."

After saying that, he turned and left quickly, his back view showing a somewhat hurried demeanor.

On his way back, Kagaya Ubuyashiki's words kept echoing in Toru Ayakawa's mind.

"If it's about enduring, are you willing to do it?"

His mind was in turmoil, a complete mess.

If it's about endurance, would he be willing to...?

What is he thinking? Ren is his disciple! He's the child he raised!

What terrified Ling Chuanche even more was that when he actually tried to imagine that scene—the girl who always followed behind him and called him "Master" standing beside him in a wedding dress—he felt no resistance, but rather an indescribable anticipation and excitement!

He instantly snapped out of it and wanted to slap himself twice!

Ling Chuanche! Are you even human?!

That's your disciple! That's taboo, not allowed by the world!

You are the Pillar of the Demon Slayer Corps, a towering figure they look up to, yet you covet your own disciple!

He didn't know how he got back. Many people greeted him along the way, but he didn't react at all, like a lost soul.

When he returned home as if he were fleeing, the moment he opened the door, a petite figure suddenly rushed towards him.

"Master! You're back!"

The girl's fragrance, like the freshest breeze in spring, instantly enveloped his entire body. That familiar scent, carrying a faint herbal aroma, now felt like a fire, instantly igniting the restlessness deep within his heart.

He instinctively caught her, his hands touching her soft body, the warm touch making him stiffen.

"Master, what's wrong? You look so pale." Ren raised her head, her amethyst-like eyes filled with worry, and gently stroked his cheek with her small hand.

Ling Chuanche abruptly took a step back, avoiding her touch, his voice a little hoarse: "It's nothing, I'm just a little tired."

He dared not look at her, dared not look into those clear eyes, for fear that he would lose control.

What was originally a secret hidden deep in his heart has now begun to ignite because of a single sentence from Kagaya Ubuyashiki.

"Are you really alright?" Ren tilted her head, a little doubtful, but still nodded obediently. "Then Master, go and rest. Sister made your favorite dishes."

Ling Chuanche fled into the house, leaned against the door frame, and closed his eyes.

He knew that some things had quietly changed.

And he is walking step by step toward that forbidden abyss.

Ling Chuanche knew he couldn't continue like this.

......

Outside, Ren watched Ling Chuanche's slightly flustered departure, filled with doubts.

At that moment, Kanae came out and, following her gaze, asked with some confusion, "What's wrong, Master? You seem to have something on your mind."

"I don't know." Ren shook his head, his brows furrowing slightly.

"Never mind, the food is ready. Let's go call Kanao to eat first."

At the dinner table, everyone ate quietly, with only the soft clinking of bowls and chopsticks.

Lingchuan Che's gaze kept falling on Kanao.

A year has passed, and Kanao is no longer as timid and hesitant as she was when she was rescued. Although she is still taciturn, there is a sense of peace in her eyes.

"Master, you look terrible today. Are you feeling unwell?" Kanae put down her chopsticks and asked with concern.

"Do I look that bad...?" Ling Chuanche lowered his eyes, concealing the emotions in them, and calmly said, "It's nothing, don't worry about it."

After the meal, everyone returned to their rooms to rest.

Ling Chuanche sat alone under the eaves, looking up at the cold moonlight, trying to use the night breeze to dispel the heat and turmoil in his heart.

Light footsteps sounded behind him, and Shinobu, dressed in a purple kimono and barefoot, walked up to Lingchuan Tetsu like a kitten.

"Master, would you like some tea?"

She sat obediently beside Ling Chuanche and handed him the freshly brewed hot tea.

For some reason, as he watched her approach, Ling Chuanche suddenly felt an urge to get up and run away, but he managed to suppress it.

He silently took the teacup, took a sip, and tasted a faint sweetness on his tongue, a helpless smile creeping onto his face.

He knew that this was because he was worried that the man was sick or too tired, so he specially added medicine and sugar to it.

Ling Chuanche put down his teacup and took out a heavy bundle he had brought back from the lord that day.

"These are all rare poisonous herbs that I asked my lord to collect from all over the world. Some of them, if mixed with wisteria flowers, will exponentially increase the toxicity of the wisteria flowers."

Ren's eyes lit up as he took the package, a joyful smile spreading across his face. "Thank you, Master! With these, my poison will definitely become even more potent!"

After carefully putting away the poison, she wiggled her fair little feet, turned her head to look at her master's profile in the moonlight, and asked softly, "Master, is something troubling you?"

Ling Chuanche pursed his lips, his Adam's apple bobbing slightly. He couldn't very well tell Ren that his troubles were caused by the things his lord had said today, which had disturbed his peace of mind.

“I’m worried about your future,” he finally said in a low voice.

Our future?

"Ah."

She suppressed a laugh, her smile shining brightly in the moonlight: "We have you, Master, in the future. As long as you're here, what is there to worry about?"

What if... I'm no longer here?

Ling Chuanche thought to himself, and that terrible thought resurfaced, but he didn't say it aloud, only keeping it bitterly hidden in his heart.

"The moon is so round tonight!"

Ling Chuanche looked up at the clear, cold moon, trying to distract himself with this mundane topic, but his voice carried a hint of imperceptible loneliness.

Just then, he heard soft footsteps beside him. Lingchuan Tetsu turned his head and saw Kanao. She was wearing a thin nightgown and standing there quietly.

"Kanao, want to look at the moon together?"

Kanao was taken aback, seemingly not expecting to be spoken to. She stood there, unsure of what to do, and instinctively reached into her pocket, pulling out a copper coin.

Seeing Ling Chuanche's helpless expression, the person sitting next to him couldn't help but cover their mouth and chuckle softly.

Just as Kanao was about to toss the coin, the coin in her hand suddenly disappeared.

She blinked blankly, looking at Ling Chuanche who had suddenly reached out his hand.

Lingchuan Che squatted down, his gaze level with hers, and said gently, "When Kanae first made this suggestion, I thought that since you had just arrived here and suffered so much, it was already very good that there was a way to make you speak and react."

He chuckled softly, holding the coin in his palm: "But since everything can be decided by a coin, from now on, if I flip heads, don't rely on it when making any decisions. Do whatever you feel in your heart, okay?"

Kanao's eyelashes trembled violently, and a hint of panic flashed in her purple eyes.

Shinobu behind him stopped laughing and stood up.

Inside the room, Kanae had quietly emerged and was silently observing the scene.

Ling Chuanche tossed the coin high into the air, where it traced a silver arc in the moonlight.

All four of them stared intently at the spinning coin.

"Snap." The coin fell into his hand, and Ling Chuanche opened his palm—it was tails.

Kanao's eyes dimmed instantly, as if a newly kindled flame had been mercilessly extinguished.

But just then, Ling Chuanche said with a smile, "What a coincidence. I'll toss the coin again. If it lands heads, then this result doesn't count!"

The coin was tossed high into the air again and landed in Ling Chuanche's palm.

This time, it was clearly a head-on confrontation.

Ling Chuan Che looked at the girl in front of him with tender eyes, but his tone was firm and unwavering: "Alright, Kanao, I won. Remember our agreement, and don't use a coin to decide what you want to do again."

Kanao swallowed hard, her hands gripping the hem of her clothes tightly, as if trying to process the "command".

Just then, a pair of hands gently rested on her shoulders. Kanae had walked over unnoticed and leaned down tenderly, saying, "Kanao wouldn't disobey her master, would she?"

"You must listen to Master's words..." Kanao's voice was soft, but trembled slightly.

"It's settled then!" Shinobu walked over and, along with her sister, hugged Kanao on either side, as if to pass on warmth to her. "A disobedient child isn't a good girl! Remember what you said, Kanao!"

“…Yes!” Kanao nodded vigorously, her eyes slightly reddening.

The group sat in a row under the eaves, enjoying the peaceful and beautiful time.

"That's great!"

Kanae said gently, "If only life could continue like this forever."

"Then it's settled! No matter what happens in the future, we'll never be apart, right, Master!!" Shinobu turned her head and looked at Lingchuan Che with expectant eyes.

Looking at the three smiling girls in front of him, Ling Chuanche quietly concealed the deep sadness and determination hidden in his eyes.