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

At this point, he raised his head and looked solemnly at Kagaya Ubuyashiki: "My lord, this is the second thing I want to say. Although Lady Tamayo is a demon, she has the same goal as us and has been working hard to eliminate Muzan Kibutsuji for hundreds of years. She not only saved me, but even Kanae would have died at the hands of demons if she hadn't saved her."

He took a deep breath and said in a deep voice, "Therefore, I would like to ask my lord to order that Miss Tamayo be allowed to come to our Demon Slayer Corps and be provided with protection by us."

The moment the words left his mouth, a cold voice shattered the warmth in the room.

"I object."

Chapter 62 A Familiar Feeling

Seeing that everyone's eyes were on him, Uzui Tengen remained calm, but his tone was very firm: "Although that demon named Tamayo saved Sōhashi and Kanae, it is really unacceptable to let a demon come to the Demon Slayer Corps and be protected by us. The Magnificent God does not agree!"

"Namo Amitabha Buddha, that is indeed the case."

With his hands clasped together, tears streaming down his face, Gyomei Himejima spoke in a deep, resonant voice: "We don't know Tamayo. Is it too risky to send an unidentified demon into the heart of our most important Demon Slayer Corps territory?"

"What if she's still under Muzan's control? Wouldn't our actions be tantamount to exposing our whereabouts to Muzan's gaze?"

Himejima Gyomei bowed slightly towards Ayakawa Tetsu: "I am truly happy that you have returned safely. However, please forgive me for not being able to agree to bring this demon into the Demon Slayer Corps."

Ling Chuanche was stunned. He had been rejected?

While they were right—it was indeed hard to accept a demon joining the Demon Slayer Corps—to be honest, Ayakawa Tetsu hadn't expected to be rejected.

He thought there wouldn't be any problems with this.

After all, he had boasted to Tamayo that he was still in charge of the Demon Slayer Corps, but now he's been proven wrong so quickly.

Because in previous meetings, no one had ever objected to any of his questions or proposals, so why...?

He looked at the calm-eyed Yu Sui Tian Yuan and Bei Ming Yu Xing Ming, then at the silent people around him, and suddenly seemed to understand something.

With his eyes closed, he recalled what Kanae had said earlier, and he finally understood what she meant.

He asked her how everyone was doing, but she hesitated and didn't say, saying he would know when he got back. He didn't understand then, but now he does.

In just one year, the Demon Slayer Corps has become a completely different entity.

Previously, it was because the Demon Slayer Corps was short of personnel; there were only a handful of top fighters in the entire Demon Slayer Corps, and he was the most senior and strongest among them.

The others naturally wouldn't question what he said, and even if they did, they probably wouldn't say it.

But now a year has passed, the Demon Slayer Corps has lost the Hashirama, and the remaining members are also improving and growing stronger.

The Demon Slayer Corps survived this year thanks to them; they were the true pillars of the Demon Slayer Corps, yet he disappeared without a trace this year.

They are no longer the rookies who just joined the Demon Slayer Corps, no longer a group that only needed to obey his orders, but each of them has their own independent judgment.

Looking at the familiar yet unfamiliar faces before him, Ling Chuanche felt a mix of emotions.

He realized that he had been away for too long, long enough for the rules, people's hearts, and even the atmosphere to have undergone subtle changes.

He is no longer the absolute core who commands everyone's attention, but a "returnee" who needs to reintegrate and even prove himself again.

This sense of disparity was even more painful for him than facing the blade of Upper Moon One.

He remained silent for a moment, his gaze slowly sweeping over everyone present, finally settling on Kagaya Ubuyashiki.

“My lord,” Lingchuan Tetsu’s voice calmed down, tinged with a barely perceptible weariness, “I understand everyone’s concerns. But please believe me, Lady Tamayo shares a common enemy with us, and she is an indispensable asset in our fight against Muzan.”

He paused, his tone carrying an undeniable firmness: "If you are all worried, I am willing to vouch for Miss Tamayo in the name of Cangzhu. If she makes any unusual moves, I, Lingchuan Che, am willing to bear all the consequences."

“I’m willing to vouch for you too!” Kanae said calmly, breaking the brief silence.

“I’m willing too,” Shinobu said quickly, then glanced at Shinazugawa Sanemi without leaving a trace.

The crowd's gazes shifted between the three women before finally settling on Sanemi Shinazugawa.

He lowered his head, biting his lip hard, his nails digging deep into his flesh.

He shouldn't question his master's words, but is it really right to let a demon brazenly join the Demon Slayer Corps?

His gaze secretly fell on Ling Chuanche, who was sitting there. His master's expression remained as calm as ever, as if he did not see the complicated looks from the others.

He clenched his fists, still keeping his head down, his heart in turmoil.

"I'm willing too."

Suddenly, a calm voice rang out.

Everyone looked in surprise toward the source of the sound.

“Yiyong…” Kanae Kocho’s eyes showed some surprise.

Seeing that everyone's eyes were on them, Tomioka Giyuu's gaze remained calm: "I believe in Cangzhu."

“That’s right!” Sabito said with a smile, patting Giyuu on the shoulder. “We, the Water Pillar lineage, naturally have to trust our senior brother unconditionally!”

Seeing that they had all spoken up, Shinazugawa Sanemi gritted his teeth and couldn't help but curse himself inwardly.

Sanemi Shinazugawa, what are you still hesitating for! That's your master!

"Alright." Kagaya Ubuyashiki's gentle voice rang out at the right time, calming everyone down.

Upon hearing his master speak, Shinazugawa Sanemi bit his lip and looked up at Lingchuan Tetsu. He saw Shinobu glaring at him fiercely, while his master remained calm, his gaze never once falling upon him.

Kagaya Ubuyashiki's gaze swept over everyone, finally landing on Toru Ayakawa: "Actually, the previous leaders of the Demon Slayer Corps knew about Tamayo's existence a long time ago."

We didn't launch a full-scale attack on her because we know that Lady Tamayo has never harmed anyone. The Upper Moon demons are powerful, and Muzan Kibutsuji is even more terrifying than them; our strength alone might not be enough to completely defeat him.

"If Tamayo is willing to help and fight Muzan with us, perhaps more team members can avoid sacrifice."

Beimingyu Xingming bowed slightly and put his hands together: "Namo Amitabha Buddha... Since that's the case, then I have no objection."

Uzui Tengen nodded as well: "Since my lord has said so, I have no objection."

“Okay.” Kagaya Ubuyashiki looked at Toru Ayakawa and said gently, “Toru, then please write a letter to Ms. Tamayo, and I will send someone to pick her up.”

"Thank you for your trouble." Ling Chuanche bowed slightly.

"It's what I should do," Kagaya Ubuyashiki said softly.

Compared to what you've done for the Demon Slayer Corps, what has he done?

“There’s something…” Uzui Tengen spoke again, his gaze fixed intently on Lingchuan Tetsu, “Mr. Cangzhu, you just mentioned that during your battle with that Upper Moon demon, you possessed eyes that could see through everything, and a red sword that could prevent the demon from regenerating. Could you please tell us how you did that?”

Upon hearing this, everyone present perked up their ears.

Lingchuan Che had nothing to hide about this.

He calmly recalled, "That was when I was in despair. I was facing Upper Moon One, thinking that I might die, but I couldn't defeat that demon, and then I entered the Transparent World."

It was the same when I saved Kanae. At that time, I was also on the verge of death when facing Upper Moon Two. I thought that I might not be able to save Kanae, and in my extreme despair, I activated that state again.

As for turning the Nichirin Blade red... it should be the same thing.

Ling Chuanche paused, then sighed, "These things always appear whenever I'm in despair. Maybe I'm just too stupid to control them."

"Forehead……"

The people in the room fell into an eerie silence, staring blankly at Ling Chuanche.

I'm back, and that familiar feeling is back.

He might say things like "I'm not talented enough" or "I'm too stupid," but then casually let you see the despairing talent gap between you and him.

This time, everyone was finally certain that it was really Ling Chuanche and Cangzhu, and there was absolutely no way that it could be someone else impersonating him.

Chapter 63 The Lord's Arrangements

"...Let's stop here for today."

Kagaya Ubuyashiki quietly announced the adjournment of the meeting.

As everyone got up to leave, he called out to Ling Chuanche, who was about to leave, "Che, could you please wait a moment?"

The crowd glanced at Ling Chuanche and their lord with some surprise, then tactfully withdrew.

Ren didn't move, just stood next to Ling Chuanche and watched him.

Ling Chuan Che said helplessly, "Go out with Kanae first. I'm not going to run away."

"Really not...?"

Ren clung tightly to Ling Chuanche's clothes, refusing to let go.

Kanae saw that her master wanted to talk to his master, so she gently walked to Shinobu's side and said, "Let's go out first. Master has already returned. Didn't you see that? This is not a dream. The thing that Master will disappear as soon as you let go will not happen."

Ren looked up at her sister.

Kanae pretended to be angry: "You're so clingy to Master now that he's back, but I've been gone for days with my fate unknown, and you're not clingy to me anymore?"

Seeing her say that, Shinobu let go of Lingchuan Che's hand, lowered her head, walked up to Kanae, and gently hugged her: "No, sister..."

Kanae patted her head and looked up at Lingchuan Tetsu: "We'll go out and wait for you."

"Ah."

Soon, only Lingchuan Tetsu, Ubuyashiki Kagaya, and Lady Amane remained in the spacious room.

Ling Chuanche sat back down and respectfully greeted, "My lord."

"Teru, you've awakened your mark, haven't you?" Kagaya Ubuyashiki asked softly, his tone not questioning.

Ling Chuanche was silent for two seconds, then hummed in agreement.

He knew he couldn't hide it from Kagaya Ubuyashiki. As the leader of the Demon Slayer Corps, this man, whose family had been burdened with a thousand-year curse, knew far more than ordinary people could imagine.

“I knew it.” Kagaya Ubuyashiki murmured, “The Demon Slayer Corps has ancient records that there is an absolute prerequisite for swordsmen who possess the Crimson Blade: they must first possess the Demon Slayer Mark… without exception.”

He raised his head, his eyes, which seemed to see through people's hearts, revealing a complex expression as he quietly gazed at Ling Chuanche.

“My lord,” Ling Chuanche interrupted him, his expression calm and undisturbed, “regarding the fact that those who possess the mark do not live past the age of twenty-five, I would like to ask you and Lady Tianyin to keep this a secret for me. Please do not let Shinobu and Kanae know…”

“I understand.” Kagaya Ubuyashiki had noticed the burning, flame-like markings on Toru Ayakawa’s neck as soon as he stepped into the room.

When Ling Chuanche introduced the Transparent World and the Crimson Blade, but made no mention of the markings, he understood Ling Chuanche's true thoughts.

“Those who possess the markings never live past the age of twenty-five. But for some reason, I haven’t died yet.” Ling Chuan Che pondered for a moment before slowly saying, “Miss Tamayo speculates that it might be because I have the constitution of a ‘Demon Eater,’ which temporarily makes me immune to the physical exhaustion caused by the markings. But this is just speculation; I may not die, but I could die at any time.”

Kagaya Ubuyashiki's eyes revealed a hint of sadness that he could not hide: "Awakening the Demon Slayer Mark on someone with the Demon Eater physique... Throughout history, the Demon Slayer Corps has never seen anyone like you... Did Lady Tamayo say anything else? Is there any way she can help you?"

"She's still researching. I gave her some of my body tissue, and she said it would take at least a while before we could get results."

“Then it seems that bringing Ms. Tamayo back to the Demon Slayer Corps is now urgent…” Kagaya Ubuyashiki murmured twice, then looked firmly at Toru Ayakawa, “Toru, I will arrange for people to bring Ms. Tamayo over as soon as possible.”