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

Ling Chuanche closed his eyes slightly, deliberately slowed his breathing, and soon emitted a deep and long sound.

Ren quietly gazed at Ling Chuanche's sleeping face.

After confirming that he was truly asleep, she carefully reached out, her fingertips trembling slightly, and gently stroked his cheek.

She moved very quietly, afraid of disturbing the sleeping person.

Her fingertips slid down his cheek, across his nose and lips, and finally stopped by his ear.

A soft smile unconsciously appeared on her lips, her eyes filled with an unyielding longing.

"It's so good...you're back..."

Her murmurs were barely audible, and her eyelids grew heavy. She sat there and slowly fell asleep.

Ling Chuanche, who was lying in bed, was not actually asleep.

He could clearly feel the delicate, jade-like hand beside his ear, and the faint fragrance emanating from her body lingered around his nose. It was no longer the milky scent of a child that he remembered, but a sweet and tender fragrance unique to a young girl.

His breathing became erratic and heavy.

He slowly turned his head and enveloped the warm hand in his own palm.

By the dim moonlight filtering through the window, he gazed greedily at the girl before him.

One second, two seconds... it was as if he wanted to etch her features inch by inch into the depths of his soul.

After a long while, Ling Chuanche slowly sat up and got out of bed. He gently picked up Shinobu and carefully placed her on the bed.

Perhaps because Ling Chuanche's warmth and scent still lingered on the bed, Ren curled up her slender body in her sleep and instinctively hugged the blanket tightly.

Ling Chuanche stood by the window, quietly watching the sleeping girl.

He lowered his head, glanced at his hand, hesitated for a moment, and finally reached out.

He mimicked her earlier gesture, gently touching her cheek with his fingertips.

The moment he touched that soft, delicate skin, he jerked his hand back as if he had been electrocuted.

Ling Chuanche bit his lower lip hard, his chest heaving violently.

'It was just once... just touching her.'

He found an excuse for himself in his heart, as if he had grasped the last straw, and mustered up the courage to reach out again.

My fingertips brushed across her cheek, so soft, so warm, then to the tip of her nose, and finally to her slightly parted red lips…

His heart was pounding faster and faster, almost bursting out of his chest.

What am I doing?

As a master, how could he do such an outrageous thing while his disciple was fast asleep!

Is this really something a teacher should do?

He swallowed hard, terrified that Ren would suddenly open her eyes and question him about what he was doing.

But deep down, she secretly hoped that if she really opened her eyes and saw her actions, what would she say?

Ling Chuanche abruptly withdrew his hand, overwhelmed by a wave of intense guilt.

'Ling Chuanche, you are truly a beast! Taking advantage of your disciple's complete lack of vigilance, you did this while she was asleep! If people find out, how can you continue to bear the name of Cangzhu!'

But then, another voice echoed softly in my mind:

"It's alright, Ling Chuanche. You're a dying man anyway, you're just reluctant to part with your disciple, what else can you do?"

'Bullshit! A beast is a beast, no amount of excuses can change that! You're just taking advantage of her feelings for you to try and possess her!'

'It's only natural for a master to love their disciple; how can that be called possessiveness! We've relied on each other for so many years, our bond is deep, so why would it be considered possessiveness!'

'You're shameless! You're unworthy of being a teacher!'

'But she's the child I raised!'

'Precisely because you raised her, you shouldn't have such filthy thoughts about her!'

Ling Chuanche clenched his fists tightly, veins bulging on his neck, and squeezed out two words through gritted teeth: "Enough!"

The argument in my mind came to an abrupt halt, and the surroundings returned to deathly silence.

He took a deep breath and looked at the girl on the bed again.

She curled up slightly, her sleeping face serene.

In a daze, he saw again the little girl who had once been covered in mud and trembling as she ran into his arms.

In the blink of an eye, she has grown into a graceful young woman.

She was completely unguarded and regarded him as the closest and most trusted person in the world.

How could he, as her teacher, taint her pure affection with such filthy thoughts?

Ling Chuanche closed his eyes in anguish, locking away the budding emotions that had been cruelly extinguished, along with those shameful desires, into the darkest abyss of his heart.

Chapter 67 A Fluttering Heart

"My lord, Hanahashi Kanae requests an audience."

Night had fallen, and Kagaya Ubuyashiki was hunched over his desk, perusing the yellowed ancient books and notes.

Upon hearing the report, he looked up, a hint of surprise flashing in his eyes: "Kanae? Didn't she just go back with Tetsu?"

Tianyin, who was standing to the side, asked softly, "Should I leave?"

Kagaya Ubuyashiki pondered for a moment, then shook his head: "No need, let Kanae in."

A moment later, Kanae walked lightly into the house, bowed slightly to Kagaya Ubuyashiki, and said apologetically, "I'm sorry, my lord, for disturbing your rest so late."

“Even if you hadn’t come, I wouldn’t have had a break, so there’s no question of disturbing you.” Kagaya Ubuyashiki sighed softly, looking at her gently. “But you, Kanae, came to visit me late at night without telling Toru. Is there something you want to say to me?”

Kanae pursed her lips, her expression gradually becoming serious: "Master must already know that Master has awakened his mark, right?"

Kagaya Ubuyashiki nodded silently.

"Then... you must also know about the fate of the Marked Swordsman who doesn't live past twenty-five." Kocho Kanae murmured softly, as if talking to herself, or as if confirming a fact.

Kagaya Ubuyashiki sighed helplessly: "Toru specifically told me today to keep this a secret from you, but I never expected that you already knew."

“I knew Master would say this.” Kanae’s tone was calm and without any ripples. “He deliberately kept it from me back then, and now he’s making you keep it from us, just because he’s afraid we’ll be sad if we find out.”

Kagaya Ubuyashiki gave a bitter smile to himself.

Che, it's not that I don't want to help you cover it up, but your disciple is even more intelligent and insightful than you imagine.

"So, Kanae, you came to see me tonight because there's something you need my help with, right?" Kagaya Ubuyashiki went straight to the point.

"Yes, my lord." Kanae composed herself, her eyes resolute. "Given Master's character, if he knew he was destined to die, he would rather die in battle than die a pathetic death due to the side effects of the mark."

Therefore, I have come here today with great difficulty to ask you, whatever my master said to you privately today, please do not agree to it.”

She paused for a moment, then continued, "Miss Tamayo is currently conducting research for her master."

Whether the final outcome is good or bad, it would be a great blessing if Master could be safe and sound.

"But if it's the worst possible outcome... I want Master to spend a little more time with Shinobu in his final moments. Master has suffered so much in his life, I don't want him to miss even a little time of peace and rest."

After saying that, she lowered her head deeply: "If there are any tasks that Master needs to carry out during this period, please feel free to give them to me."

There was a brief silence in the room.

Kagaya Ubuyashiki looked quietly at the girl in front of him, his eyes filled with helplessness as well as deep relief.

After a long silence, he sighed and said, "Kanae, you should know your master. With his personality, even if I ordered him to rest, he would never agree."

"It's alright, my lord." Kanae raised her head, her eyes flashing with determination. "I already have a plan!"

……

Ren slept exceptionally soundly that night.

Since that devastating news a year ago, her world seemed to have been drained of all color and warmth.

Countless nights, she lay awake in the darkness, listening to the wind outside the window, her heart filled with an unfillable emptiness and fear.

She hadn't had a good night's sleep in a very, very long time.

But tonight is different.

In a half-dreaming, half-awake state, she felt herself fall into a warm and broad embrace.

That familiar body temperature enveloped her completely, like an unbreakable barrier, keeping all the storms and sorrows of the world at bay.

In this embrace, she didn't have to force herself to pretend to be indifferent, nor did she have to be constantly on edge to guard against danger.

All the anxieties, fears, and sorrows that had been weighing on my heart vanished in that instant.

She curled up in that safe haven that gave her so much peace of mind, her breathing gradually becoming steady and long.

It wasn't until the first rays of morning sunlight shone through the window and gently fell on her face that Ren's eyelashes trembled slightly, and she slowly opened her eyes.

She sat up groggily and rubbed her sleepy eyes.

However, the next second, she suddenly froze, looked down at the bed beneath her, her eyes full of confusion.

Isn't this Master's bed? How did I end up on it?

Wait... where's Master?!

"Master! Master!!"

Shinobu Kocho didn't even bother to put on her shoes before rushing out of the room.

She stopped abruptly and breathed a long sigh of relief when she saw the familiar figure sitting on the steps of the veranda drinking tea.

Thankfully, her master was still there... Just a moment ago, she almost thought that everything last night was just a dream that she could wake up from at any moment.

Hearing the shouts, Ling Chuan Che turned around, his gaze naturally falling on Shinobu.

Then, his gaze involuntarily shifted downwards and settled on her bare little feet on the wooden floor.

The girl must have been in a real hurry; she completely forgot to put on her shoes when she ran out.

Her fair and delicate feet were exposed to the cool morning breeze without any defense. Her ten round and cute toes curled slightly with tension, revealing an undisguised freshness and vitality.

Looking further up, she was clearly more impactful today than when she was sound asleep last night.