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

Urokodaki Sakonji looked at his disciple and sighed, "Have you made up your mind?"

"......Um."

Ling Chuanche turned around. "I'm sorry, Master, I can't leave here."

Chapter 78 You're not dead!

“I can’t bear to watch others fight while I live a life of ignominy. Everyone here was prepared to sacrifice themselves the day they joined the Demon Slayer Corps.”

Ling Chuanche lowered his eyes, his voice so deep it seemed to blend into the night: "I am no different from them. The only difference is that God has given me another chance."

He bowed his head deeply: "I'm sorry, teacher."

Urokodaki Sakonji remained silent for a long time. The night breeze blew by, ruffling his graying temples.

Finally, the old man reached out and patted Ling Chuanche on the shoulder.

"Who knows about this now?" he asked, referring to the price of the markings.

"Only our lord knows."

Urokodaki Sakonji sighed deeply: "Then how are you going to explain this to Kanae and Shinobu?"

Ling Chuanche fell into a long silence.

After a long silence, he finally spoke: "I haven't decided yet... I might as well not tell them. Telling them would only make them sad for nothing. It's not too late to let them know when that day really comes."

"Wouldn't that prevent them from being sad?"

Urokodaki Sakonji shook his head, his gaze towards Ryukawa Tetsu becoming incredibly complex.

He gazed at his most prized disciple and said softly, "Teru, there are some things I shouldn't say, but haven't you noticed that the way you and Shinobu interact is not like that of an ordinary master and disciple?"

Ling Chuanche's heart sank, a wave of panic washing over him. Had his master discovered something?

He suppressed the turmoil in his heart and pretended to be calm, saying, "Really? I didn't notice anything."

Urokodaki Sakonji sighed meaningfully, "Shinobu has an extraordinary attachment to you."

“Rin grew up by my side since she was little, so it’s normal for her to be attached to me,” Ling Chuan Che said stubbornly.

Urokodaki Sakonji gave him a deep look, but didn't press the issue further.

“You have your own reasons, so I don’t need to say anything more.” The old man’s voice was filled with deep weariness. He sat there, and his back seemed to have aged decades in that moment. “Since you’re not coming with me, I will return to Mount Sagiri tomorrow.”

Ling Chuanche was stunned, and hurriedly looked up: "Are you in such a hurry to leave?"

"We'll all leave eventually, so what difference does it make whether we leave early or late?" Urokodaki Sakonji's gaze softened and became kind again as he looked steadily at his disciple. "You are different, Tetsu. Of all the disciples I've taught, you are the most unique."

Despite having the least suitable physique for practicing breathing techniques, you've somehow managed to stand at the forefront of everyone else.

"I'm not saying this to praise how strong you are. I'm telling you that no matter what, you should never give up. A miracle has already happened to you, and I believe you will create many more miracles!"

Ling Chuanche's eyes welled up slightly. He nodded forcefully, swallowing all the bitterness in his eyes: "I will, teacher."

The next morning, Urokodaki Sakonji set off on his journey home alone without disturbing anyone.

Just as he arrived silently, no one saw him off when he left.

He returned to the misty, cloud-shrouded mountain, continuing to be the breeder wearing the Tengu mask, steadfastly holding his post for ten years.

When Shinobu and Kanae woke up and learned that the master had left, their reactions were different.

Shinobu simply thought she would visit the old man at Mount Sagiri again in the future and didn't think much of it; but Kanae looked at the silent Ayakawa Tetsu outside the window and had a vague feeling that this might be the last time her master and her advisor met.

"Master, are we going to training again today?" Ren asked curiously while biting his chopsticks during the meal.

Ling Chuanche shook his head: "I'm not going today."

Kagaya Ubuyashiki announced this morning that today's training session has been cancelled.

After witnessing Lingchuan Tetsu's terrifying strength yesterday, the Pillars realized how weak they were.

Sanemi, Sabito, and the others, having learned their lesson, went out early in the morning to carry out a mission. They wanted to experience true despair in a life-or-death struggle with demons in order to hone themselves.

"Ah... does that mean I can't stay with Master today?" Ren picked up her chopsticks and stirred the porridge in her bowl listlessly, her little face falling.

Ling Chuanche glanced at her and said indifferently, "I heard that many injured people have come to the Butterfly Mansion recently. If you have a lot of free time, you can go and help them out."

Ren snorted and pouted, "There are medicines left by my sister and me there. It won't be a big deal if we don't go."

Kanae, who was standing to the side, keenly sensed another meaning in Ayakawa Tetsu's words and asked softly, "Does Master have other plans for today?"

"Yes, Miss Tamayo should arrive at the Demon Slayer Corps tonight."

Upon hearing this name, Kanae's eyes lit up instantly.

Miss Tamayo has arrived. Does that mean there's news about Master's health?

"Is Miss Tamayo, who saved Master and Sister, arriving today?" Shinobu asked excitedly to her sister. "Then let's hurry up and prepare some gifts for Miss Tamayo! After all, she saved Master and Sister, so we should thank her properly on our first meeting."

Kanae wholeheartedly agreed. Tamayo had been secretly helping her master all along, and now that she had joined the Demon Slayer Corps, she would be a comrade-in-arms. It was certainly inappropriate for her to arrive empty-handed on her first visit.

“Okay, we’ll go shopping after we finish eating.” The two sisters made the decision happily, completely forgetting about Ling Chuanche.

Ling Chuanche shook his head helplessly: "Then you guys go buy it, I'm going out for a walk."

He had just stood up to go out when a rapid flapping sound suddenly came from the sky.

A raven swooped down like a black lightning bolt, heading straight for his face.

"thorough!!!"

As soon as the raven landed, it let out a heart-wrenching cry.

Ling Chuanche looked closely and felt that the face looked extremely familiar: "Jixiang?!"

"Thank goodness! Che! You're alive! Thank goodness!!" Jixiang buried her face in Lingchuan Che's arms, tears streaming down her face as she burst into tears.

Ling Chuanche blinked and blurted out, "You're still alive, Jixiang."

The auspicious cry abruptly stopped. It paused for a second, then flew into a rage, flapping its wings and pecking fiercely at Ling Chuanche's face: "You bastard! What nonsense are you spouting! You just want me to die so you can go find other young and beautiful little ravens, don't you! You heartless, treacherous bastard!"

"Ouch! I'm so sorry, I'm so sorry..." Ling Chuanche hurriedly dodged the pecks and apologized repeatedly.

Shinobu and Kanae, who heard the commotion inside, ran out and saw their master being chased and beaten by a bird. The two looked at each other and couldn't help but burst into laughter, clutching their stomachs.

……

A moment later, the misunderstanding was finally cleared up.

"So it turns out that Kanae has been taking care of you all this time." Lingchuan Tetsu looked at Jixiang, who was still sulking, and his eyes softened.

Jixiang snorted coldly and turned her head to the side, clearly still holding a grudge.

Ling Chuanche smiled helplessly.

He genuinely believed that Jixiang was dead, after all, he had been back with the Demon Slayer Corps for two days, but no one around him had ever mentioned Jixiang.

He assumed that everyone was deliberately hiding it from him to avoid hurting his feelings, so he accepted the outcome in his heart.

Surprisingly, this guy is not only still alive, but thriving.

Chapter 79 Xing Julang

Kanae and Shinobu went shopping hand in hand, saying they were going to choose a presentable gift for Ms. Tamayo, who would be visiting that evening.

Thus, Ling Chuanche became the only idle person in this huge courtyard.

Since Tamayo is coming today, he naturally has to stay in the barracks to wait and cannot go out to carry out his mission.

With nothing else to do, he was just about to take a stroll in the street to kill time when there was a sudden knock on the door.

Ling Chuanche stepped forward and opened the door. What came into view was a boy who looked very much like an owl.

The boy had long, yellow and red hair, and beneath his thick, dark eyebrows, a pair of bright, piercing eyes were staring intently at him.

"Who are you?" Ling Chuanche was slightly taken aback, feeling that the boy in front of him looked very familiar.

"Hello, Lord Cangzhu! I am Rengoku Kyojuro!" The boy stood straight, his voice as loud as a bell, and a bright and enthusiastic smile bloomed on his face.

Kyojuro Rengoku?

Looking at the energetic young man before him, Lingchuan Tetsu recalled a scene from many years ago: "You are Makijuro's son... Kyojuro? You've grown up so much."

"Lord Cangzhu still remembers me!" Kyojuro's eyes shone even brighter.

Ling Chuan Che stepped aside and said gently, "Come in and let's talk."

Kyojuro visibly breathed a sigh of relief and strode after Ryukawa Tetsu into the courtyard.

"I didn't expect you to have grown so much. When I saw you next to Makijuro before, you were just a little kid running around behind me." Lingchuan Tetsu looked at the boy in front of him and couldn't help but sigh, "Time really flies. In the blink of an eye, the child has grown up to be like this."

As soon as he finished speaking, a bitter feeling welled up in his heart.

Even that little kid from back then has grown up, and he himself must have long since become what others call an old man.

"Lord Cangzhu must be quite familiar with my father, right?" Kyojuro asked curiously.

Ling Chuanche nodded: "After all, he was the previous Flame Pillar. Although he has been semi-retired for many years, we fought side by side back then."

Upon hearing this, Kyojuro looked at Ayakawa Tetsu with excitement: "Lord Cangzhu, I have heard my father tell stories of your deeds over the years! I have always regarded you as my idol!"

"Oh." Ling Chuanche nodded calmly.

As the pillar of the Demon Slayer Corps, he was already used to being idolized and looked up to by countless people.

Kyojuro seemed surprised by Ayakawa Tetsu's calm reaction and scratched his head somewhat awkwardly.

But he quickly regained his enthusiastic demeanor and said loudly, "I heard my father talk about you when I was a child, and I vowed then that I would join the Demon Slayer Corps and become someone like you!"

At this point, he clenched his fist tightly, his eyes flashing with determination: "A year ago, when I heard the news of your murder, I thought to myself, someone as strong as you, who can bring hope to everyone, would never be so easily defeated by evil spirits!"

Looking at the passionate young man before him, Ling Chuanche gently interrupted him: "Xingjulang, you didn't come to see me today just to reminisce, did you? Just say what you need to say. Your father and I are old acquaintances, so there's no need for formalities."

If there's anything I can do for you, as long as it's not excessive, I'll help you.

Kyojuro lowered his head and remained silent for a long time.

When he looked up again, the elation in his eyes had faded, replaced by an unconcealable heaviness and sorrow.

"Lord Cangzhu... My mother passed away not long ago."

Ling Chuanche paused slightly in the hand holding the teacup.