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

The two sisters sat on the bed, heads bowed, like two abandoned kittens, their eyes looking at Ling Chuanche with pitiful expressions.

"Mr. Che is abandoning me and my sister?"

Ling Chuanche felt a chill run down his spine; who could withstand such a sight?

The two little girls stared at you with such eyes, watching you heartlessly abandon them.

However, Ling Chuanche still told himself that he couldn't be soft-hearted, after all, he had too many things to do and couldn't take care of them at all.

"I have other things to do, but I'll come back to see you when I have time."

After Ling Chuanche finished speaking, he hardened his heart and turned to leave.

“Mr. Tetsu…” Kanae Kocho suddenly spoke, her voice trembling slightly, pleading, “We…we want to become swordsmen…can you teach us?”

Shinobu Kocho also looked up, gazing longingly at the figure about to step out the door.

Ling Chuanche placed his hand on the door frame, paused, and frowned slightly.

He had been speaking to them in a gentle tone, but now his voice turned completely cold: "Swordsman? This is not something you should be thinking about. Forget about it."

His tone was as cold as ice.

After saying that, he walked out without turning around.

With a bang, the door slammed shut.

Kanae and Shinobu turned their heads and watched helplessly as Toru Ayakawa's figure disappeared around the corner of the courtyard.

They didn't understand why Ling Chuanche's attitude had changed so drastically, when all they had done was make a request.

Butterfly pouted, her eyes showing some anger.

Kanae Butterfly lowered her head, her face revealing her disappointment.

"Don't blame him, he's doing this for your own good."

Orange's voice drifted from the side.

The ward fell silent. Kanae turned to look at Tachibana, seemingly sensing her sister's mood. Kanae suppressed her disappointment and tried to change the subject.

"Sister, why did Mr. Lingchuan say that just now?"

Orange lowered her head, looking at the two girls in front of her, her eyes softening: "I don't want you to become swordsmen because I want you to live a good life."

Becoming a swordsman is an extremely dangerous undertaking; the hardships and perils involved are unimaginable to ordinary people.

"He always thought of others and wanted everyone to live happily, but he never left himself any way out."

Orange's eyes were filled with reminiscence: "He is the person I admire most. Since the Demon Slayer Corps was established, he is the Pillar who has killed the most demons."

He's a remarkable person; he's saved countless people over the years, including me...

He said that because he wanted you to live a good life and didn't want you to suffer. You should understand his good intentions.

"We are not afraid of hardship or danger!" Kanae Kocho's gentle voice was full of determination: "Sister, we want to become swordsmen! We want to save those who are harmed by evil spirits!"

"Yes!" Shinobu Kocho nodded.

"Sister, we want to become Master Lingchuan's disciples! Can you help us?"

"Ah, this..." Orange's brain went blank for a moment, then she said with a wry smile, "I can't make that decision... Besides, it seems that Lord Cangzhu hasn't taken on any disciples all these years."

"Then, sister, could you tell us where Mr. Lingchuan lives?"

"This……"

Shinobu Kocho gently tugged at her sleeve, her big eyes blinking: "Please, sister."

Orange couldn't hold back either: "Uh, okay, but don't say I told you."

……

Lingchuan Tetsu's residence is located on the outermost perimeter of the Demon Slayer Corps headquarters.

It was a large mansion, the courtyard was empty and quiet, and fallen leaves covered the ground, as if it had been uninhabited for a long time.

Ling Chuanche hasn't been back for a long time.

This residence was given to him by his lord, but he was often away on missions. Usually, once a mission was over, he would immediately head to the next place, and his rest was only a brief stop along the way.

If he hadn't brought the Butterfly Sisters back this time, he probably wouldn't have set foot here.

"Caw—King Che, the lord wants you to rest for a bit before you go over." The raven landed on a branch and cawed, tilting its head.

Its name is Jixiang, and it has been with Ling Chuanche ever since he joined the team.

"it is good."

After a quick wash, Ling Chuanche changed into a clean team uniform and headed to the lord's residence.

As the absolute core of the Demon Slayer Corps, the Master's residence is a top secret.

However, there were not many soldiers guarding the area; only some hidden members patrolled the perimeter.

The journey was smooth and unimpeded, and the hidden members along the way all bowed and greeted Ling Chuanche.

Pushing open the courtyard gate, Ling Chuanche immediately saw a young man standing under the huge wisteria tree in the courtyard.

Kagaya Ubuyashiki, the current lord of the Demon Slayer Corps.

"You've come, Tetsu." Kagaya Ubuyashiki turned around, a gentle smile on his handsome face.

Ling Chuanche bowed: "My lord."

Kagaya Ubuyashiki walked quickly to Toru Ayakawa, naturally took his hand and led him into the house: "Don't bother with these formalities. You've come at the perfect time. I had Amane make us some tea. Please have a taste."

Chapter 4: Cangzhu

"You finally managed to come back."

Ling Chuanche was pulled into the house by him.

At this moment, a gentle white-haired woman came out carrying a tea set. When she saw Ling Chuanche, a soft smile appeared on her face.

"Mr. Lingchuan has arrived."

"Lord Tianyin."

"Teru, I already told you, don't be so formal when we're alone." Kagaya Ubuyashiki pulled Teru Ayakawa down to sit, and Amane Ubuyashiki tactfully withdrew after making the tea.

"It's really not easy to see you." Kagaya Ubuyashiki picked up his teacup and gently blew away the foam.

Ling Chuanche smiled and said, "Now that you are the lord, it's just a matter of a word from you if you want to see me."

"You still remember I'm your lord." Kagaya Ubuyashiki gave him a helpless look. "I told you to come back and rest when you were out there, why didn't you come back?"

Ling Chuanche paused slightly as he picked up his teacup: "The Demon Slayer Corps is currently short of manpower, with only Gyomei and I remaining as Pillars. If I rest, I fear even more people will be killed."

"Then you can't neglect your health!" Kagaya Ubuyashiki's voice rose a few decibels.

After saying that, he seemed to realize the topic was a bit serious, and changed the subject with a smile: "Did those two girls come back with you?"

He already knew about Kanae and Shinobu's existence from the letters that Ayakawa Tetsu sent back.

"Yes, I'm still resting."

"And then what? Do you have any plans for them?"

"Let them rest first."

Kagaya Ubuyashiki smiled and said, "But with Tetsu's wealth, raising two children would be more than enough. Have you considered having them join the Demon Slayer Corps?"

Ling Chuanche frowned immediately: "They told me about it today, but I refused. I don't want them to go down this path."

"All right,"

Kagaya Ubuyashiki did not continue on this topic. He picked up his teacup, took a sip without making a sound, and then put the teacup down.

"Now that you're back, take a good rest, Che."

Ling Chuanche frowned slightly, about to speak.

“I know what you’re going to say,” Kagaya Ubuyashiki interrupted him. “We’re indeed short-handed right now, but we’re getting better every day, aren’t we?”

He stood up, walked to Ling Chuanche, placed his hands on his shoulders, and said in a solemn tone: "Che, you are the cornerstone of our Demon Slayer Corps."

"You were the one who helped me stabilize the Demon Slayer Corps; you can't fall. If you fall, who will I be able to rely on?"

Ling Chuanche remained silent.

"Take a break, consider it a vacation. This is my order as your lord," Kagaya Ubuyashiki said with a smile, but his eyes held an undeniable air of authority. "You just said that I, your lord, have personally given the order, so you can't disobey, can you?"

Ling Chuanche smiled helplessly and said, "Since you've said that, what else can I say?"

Kagaya Ubuyashiki immediately smiled smugly, like a child who had gotten away with something.

After sitting for a while, seeing that it was getting late, Ling Chuanche got up to say goodbye.

......

Upon returning to the mansion, he paused abruptly as he opened the door, his eyes widening in surprise as he looked around.

The yard... how come it's suddenly become so clean?

The withered leaves were gone, the weeds were cleared away, and even the stone lanterns were wiped clean.

Is it the Hidden One who has arrived?

But I clearly told them not to clean.

Ling Chuanche walked into the courtyard and had just closed the gate when footsteps suddenly came from inside the house.

"Mr. Che, you're back!"

Ling Chuan Che turned his head and saw Kotori Kanae holding a spatula in her hand, wearing an apron around her waist, standing somewhat awkwardly at the door.

Shinobu Kocho then rushed out of the house and stood beside her sister, looking at him excitedly.

"Mr. Che, welcome home!"

Ling Chuanche looked at them with a bewildered expression, three question marks appearing above his head: "How did you all end up here?"

And why are you in my house?

Kanae Kocho nervously twisted her fingers: "I...we found it by asking around..."