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

Ling Chuanche's gaze swept over the wounded, his tone completely calm, "The fact that you can see them lying here means they are already very lucky. Because there are many more people who don't even have the chance to lie here."

Shinobu Kocho's face turned deathly pale instantly.

Ling Chuanche turned around and looked down at them, "Once you embark on this path, your life and death are no longer in your own hands."

"If you choose to join the Demon Slayer Corps, they might be lying here today, but tomorrow... it could be you."

Seeing the sisters' blank and terrified expressions, Lingchuan Tetsu continued, "They are lying here in great pain. But it was their own choice. From the day they joined the Demon Slayer Corps, they, including me, were prepared to sacrifice themselves at any moment."

If you don't even have this much awareness, how dare you say you want to join the Demon Slayer Corps?

At this point, Lingchuan Tetsu paused, his gaze falling on the pale faces of Kocho Shinobu and Kocho Kanae.

"Now, do you still want to be swordsmen?"

Ling Chuanche didn't look at their reactions and simply turned around and walked away from them.

In the yard, Ju Zi was peeking out, but when she saw Ling Chuanche come out, she immediately pulled her head back and pretended to be nonchalant as she tidied up the clothes that were drying.

"tangerine."

"Oh! Lord Cangzhu! What a coincidence! When did you arrive here?" Seeing that she couldn't avoid it, Ju Zi forced an awkward smile.

Ling Chuanche did not blame her for telling the Butterfly Sisters her address.

He simply stood under the wisteria tree and let out a long sigh.

"You should know how dangerous it is to join our Demon Slayer Corps."

His voice carried a hint of weariness and tenderness that was barely perceptible.

"If they still have these thoughts, please help me persuade them. I couldn't save their parents, and I don't want them to live the same life as us, constantly being killed by evil spirits."

Ju Zi pursed her lips, looked at Ling Chuanche's slightly lonely figure, and nodded solemnly: "I understand, you can go ahead and get back to work."

"Ah."

Ling Chuanche waved his hand, and his figure gradually disappeared on the winding mountain road.

Chapter 6: Talent

Ling Chuanche thought that his entanglement with the Butterfly Sisters had come to an end.

He had thought that the blood and screams that filled the room last night would be enough to scare away the two little girls from their nightmares, and that the Demon Slayer Corps would have to bear a heavy price.

It wasn't until dusk the next day that he returned home and once again pushed open the long-silent courtyard gate.

"Mr. Tetsu! Welcome home!"

Two familiar figures, one tall and one short, stood in front of the door, bathed in the warm golden glow of the setting sun.

They laughed warmly, their smiles so pure they seemed to melt away the chill of late autumn.

Ling Chuanche suddenly felt a little dazed.

The room was still spotless, and the air was filled with the aroma of food, no longer feeling cold and empty.

Hot miso soup and grilled fish were laid out on the table, a taste of "home" that he hadn't felt in a long time.

Ling Chuanche remained silent, changing his shoes and washing his hands, until the two sisters sat at the table, their hands on their knees, obediently waiting for him to start eating.

"Haven't you thought it through yet?" Ling Chuanche asked sternly. They hadn't returned yesterday, and Ling Chuanche had even thought they had given up.

Kanae Kocho straightened her back slightly, her eyes resolute: "We know you want us to back down and see the cruelty of the Demon Slayer Corps. But we are not afraid of danger, much less of death."

“Yes!” Shinobu Kocho added eagerly from the side, her voice tinged with a hint of pleading, “Mr. Tetsu, it’s alright if you don’t agree to let us join the Demon Slayer Corps. But we don’t know anyone here, we’re not familiar with anyone, we only know you…”

She lowered her head, her fingers nervously twisting the hem of her clothes, her voice growing softer and softer: "If you don't want us to join, can you please not kick us out?"

"Let us stay here. We can help you with laundry, cooking, and cleaning the yard... just don't kick us out."

Listening to her pitiful words, Ling Chuanche felt a headache coming on.

These two girls are determined to cling to him.

Knowing that force wouldn't work, they started to pester and pester her relentlessly?

"Do you really want to become swordsmen that much?" Ling Chuan Che put down his chopsticks and scrutinized them with sharp eyes.

Upon hearing that there was hope, the two sisters' eyes lit up, and they shouted in unison, "Yes!!"

"it is good."

Ling Chuanche stood up: "Then come with me."

He took them to the backyard.

In the center of the backyard stood a huge rock, its surface rough and covered with moss, and it was even taller than Ling Chuanche.

Ling Chuanche pointed to the boulder: "If you can move it, then I will agree to teach you swordsmanship and make you swordsmen."

The two sisters looked at the rock and fell silent.

The rock looked to weigh several tons, and it was firmly rooted in the soil. Could it really be something that could be moved by human power?

Even a strong, adult man would probably find it difficult to budge him even slightly.

The two of them silently turned their heads and looked at Ling Chuanche beside them.

Seeing that Lingchuan Che remained expressionless, arms crossed, and didn't seem to be joking, Kocho Shinobu finally couldn't hold back and laughed in exasperation.

"Mr. Che, even if you don't want to teach us, you don't have to make things so difficult for us. No human being could possibly push it!"

Ling Chuanche walked over expressionlessly, and then, under the blank stares of the two little girls, he began to slowly move the boulder. After pushing it a few meters, he stopped and looked back at the two little girls.

Shinobu Kocho gaped, speechless, and said, "Sister, he's definitely not human."

"I don't need you to push it as far as I do, just make it move."

If you can't even move this stone, what will you use to wield your sword when facing evil spirits? Just give up.

After saying that, Ling Chuanche ignored their reactions, turned around, put his hands behind his back, and went straight back into the house, leaving the two sisters bewildered in the wind.

The two sisters stared at the rock formation that resembled a small mountain, their eyes wide with disbelief, while only a few withered leaves drifted sadly down in the wind.

……

The next morning, as dawn broke.

Ling Chuanche then left home.

He felt that after last night's setback, the Butterfly sisters would probably give up and completely abandon their idea of ​​becoming swordsmen.

After all, they couldn't possibly move such heavy rocks.

As luck would have it, I ran into an acquaintance on the road not far from where I had walked.

"Hey, it's Xingming!"

From a distance, Ling Chuanche saw that towering figure walking towards him.

Himejima Gyomei smiled gently and clasped his hands together, saying, "Mr. Tetsu, you're here too."

"Take a walk around and clear your head. What about you?"

"I just got back from a mission."

"So what do you want?"

Himejima Gyoumei tilted his head slightly: "Several children were injured in the previous mission, and their injuries are quite serious. I'm going to check on them. Mr. Tetsu, would you like to come with me?"

"Great, I was just thinking of going to take a look too."

The two strolled side by side toward the Demon Slayer Corps' medical facility.

Upon seeing the arrival of the two Pillar-level lords, Tachibana ran out of the house to greet them.

"Greetings, Lord Pillars."

Beimingyu Xingming bowed gently and said, "No need for formalities, let's come and see the wounded."

"Lord Rock Pillar, Lord Azure Pillar, this way."

Orange led the way, and Ling Chuanche slowed his pace, came to her side, lowered his voice and frowned, and said, "Didn't I ask you to help me persuade them yesterday? Why were they still there when I got back?"

Orange sighed, looking helpless: "Those two kids are really stubborn. I tried to persuade them, I even wore myself out, but I couldn't change their minds. They said... they'd rather die at your doorstep."

Ling Chuanche sighed and rubbed his forehead in exasperation. These two girls were really giving him a headache.

Fortunately, I've already solved the problem myself.

Entering the ward, it was the same room I had visited yesterday with Shinobu and Kanae.

But as soon as he entered, Ling Chuanche keenly noticed that something was wrong.

The heavy smell of blood that had filled the air had faded considerably, replaced by a fresh herbal scent.

The condition of the injured today is much better than it was yesterday.

The heart-wrenching cries of yesterday are no longer heard; in their place, there are only the sounds of calm breathing.

Some of the wounded who were originally unable to lie still are now even leaning against the headboard, able to hold their own bowls and eat, with smiles of relief on their faces.

Upon seeing Ling Chuanche and Beimingyu Xingming enter, the wounded lying on the beds began to greet them frequently, their voices weak yet full of energy.

"Lord Cangzhu and Lord Yanzhu have arrived."

"Lord Cangzhu, Lord Yanzhu..."

Some people tried to struggle to their feet and bow.

"Everyone, lie down and get some rest. No need for formalities," Ling Chuanche quickly said, stopping them from moving.

Himejima Gyoumei walked straight to a bed where a familiar face lay—the swordsman who had been severely injured by a demon during a mission with him.

Just as Beiming Island was showing concern for his subordinates and inquiring about their conditions, Lingchuan Che came to Ju Zi's side. His gaze swept over the rapidly healing wounds, and a hint of surprise flashed in his eyes.

"Have you had any outstanding doctors come here recently?" Ling Chuanche asked in a low voice. "In just one day, they've managed to recover to this extent, even the inflammation has subsided. That's truly amazing."

"You do not know?"

Orange looked at Ling Chuanche with a strange expression.

"Know what?" Ling Chuanche asked, looking puzzled.

"Are those the two girls who came yesterday? I thought you specially arranged for them to help out."