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

"Kyojuro Rengoku? That brat from the Rengoku family? Who is he! Does he even deserve to be our teacher's disciple?!"

"She's not younger than you, is it appropriate to call her a brat?" Kanae said helplessly.

"Hmph, the Demon Slayer Corps doesn't care about age, only strength!" Sanemi said defiantly.

“However, it’s the teacher’s business to accept disciples. Sanemi, you’d better not deliberately cause trouble,” Kanae said calmly.

Sanemi gritted his teeth and snorted coldly, "Hmph, I'm going! I'll show that guy that not just anyone can be a disciple of our master!"

......

That's all for today.

Seeing that it was getting late, Lingchuan Tetsu parted ways with Rengoku Kyojuro.

"Okay, teacher." Rengoku Kyojuro looked rather disheveled, with what appeared to be many new injuries. He was tired but still energetic as he said, "Teacher, I'll come again tomorrow."

"Ah."

When Lingchuan Che returned home, he found that Shinobu and Kanae had already returned.

"No tasks today?"

Kanae replied softly, "Some wounded people came to the Butterfly Mansion, but they are all under control. Recently, the lord has not assigned me any tasks, and he has also handed over the patrol work to others."

"I see." Ling Chuanche didn't think much of it and asked Shinobu about the day's events. He learned that Shinobu had witnessed a lot of the research process at Tamayo's place, and her words were full of respect for Tamayo. It seemed that after seeing Miss Tamayo's abilities today, the girl was completely impressed.

"And what about Kanao?" Lingchuan Tetsu asked with a smile, "What did Kanao learn today?"

"I...I..." Kanao stammered. She had just started learning breathing techniques, and because she was still young, Kanae did not intend for her to join the Demon Slayer Corps right now.

Even though she was already twelve years old, only two years younger than Ren.

Kanae seems to have overlooked the fact that she joined the Demon Slayer Corps when she was twelve years old. After all, she was the youngest child in her family, and the youngest child is always loved by everyone and enjoys special treatment.

Ling Chuanche laughed heartily and couldn't resist teasing Kanao for a while, making the little girl extremely embarrassed.

Her personality has improved a lot, especially after Lingchuan Tetsu and Kanae returned safely. She has really changed a lot and become much more cheerful.

However, she still felt a little timid when talking to Ling Chuanche.

what is this?

Ling Chuanche couldn't help but wonder. Was it because he looked too fierce?

Is it because Kanao took her surname and regarded this master as a father figure that she had a strange sense of awe?

This won't do. Lingchuan Che considered himself a very kind person, so why did the little guy become inexplicably timid whenever he saw him? Therefore, he couldn't help but want to tease Kanao.

After dinner, everyone went to sleep.

As night deepened, Kanae quietly opened her eyes, picked up her Nichirin Blade, and slipped out.

This time, however, she didn't notice that after she left, a figure silently followed behind her.

Chapter 84 The Secret is Discovered

The night wind from the back mountain carried a biting chill, swirling up the fallen leaves on the ground.

"call--"

Kanae was panting heavily, her team uniform soaked with sweat that clung tightly to her back.

She gripped her Nichirin Blade and swung it at the massive rock before her again and again.

The blade struck the rock with a dull thud, making her hands go numb and her arms tremble uncontrollably.

We can't stop... We absolutely can't stop!

Her mind kept replaying the battle between herself and Upper Moon Two that day. If it weren't for her master's intervention, she would have had no power to resist Upper Moon Two at all.

But how many more times can Master save her? He's already so tired, so exhausted, even though he just returned to the Demon Slayer Corps and immediately started training again without a break.

She had to become strong enough, because only in this way could she help her master and make things easier for him.

Now, becoming stronger has become an obsession in her heart!

After an unknown amount of time, when the eastern sky finally began to lighten with a faint glimmer of dawn, Kanae stopped what she was doing.

She slumped onto the cold grass, looking at her hands covered in calluses and tiny wounds, and bit her lower lip hard.

"I must become stronger..." she murmured to herself, her eyes revealing an unprecedented stubbornness.

Kanae dragged her extremely tired body home.

It was just dawn, and the house was quiet; everyone was still fast asleep.

She tiptoed to the door, took a deep breath, and pushed it open.

However, the moment the door hinge turned, she froze on the spot.

In the dim morning light, Ling Chuanche was sitting upright at the table.

He didn't light a lamp, but just sat there quietly, as if he had been waiting for a very, very long time.

Hearing the door open, he slowly raised his head, his deep eyes staring straight at her in the darkness.

"Master?!"

Kanae gasped in shock, her heart skipping a beat.

She stood up almost reflexively, frantically moving her hands, which were hidden behind her back, behind her back, trying to hide the dirt and sweat on her body.

Ling Chuanche asked calmly, "You're back."

"I...I just got up early to go to the kitchen to make breakfast for everyone..." Her voice trembled slightly as she stammered her explanation, her eyes darting around, not daring to look Ling Chuanche in the eye.

Ling Chuanche didn't speak, he just looked at her quietly.

His gaze moved from her wet hair to her trembling legs, and finally settled on her scarred hands, which she was desperately trying to hide.

A deathly silence fell over the air.

Kanae's heart was racing, and she could even feel her eyes starting to burn.

She knew she couldn't hide it from her master, and the feeling of powerlessness at being completely seen through made her feel suffocated.

"...How long has it been?"

After a long silence, Ling Chuanche's deep voice broke the silence.

There was no anger in his tone, but it carried a heavy weight that was impossible to ignore.

Kanae was taken aback. She knew that her master wasn't asking about cooking, but about her secretly going out to train.

She lowered her head, like a child who had done something wrong, and answered softly, "This...this is the second day."

"Why?" Lingchuan Tetsu's tone remained calm, but that calmness made Kanae feel even more uncomfortable.

Kanae took a deep breath, as if she had made up her mind.

She abruptly raised her head, looking directly into Ling Chuanche's eyes, her eyes glistening with tears:

"Because I want to become stronger! I don't want to just stand behind you anymore, watching you face those dangers alone!"

"So you went out alone at night to chop at those rocks!?"

Ling Chuanche's tone hardened slightly, tinged with anger: "Is this training? Look at your hands! Are you out of your mind? You're ruining your future!"

Kanae stood there with her head down, and said softly, "Master, can you please stop talking about me? Shinobu and the others should be awake by now. I'll go and cook for them."

You are not allowed to go anywhere!

Ling Chuanche practically roared it out.

Kanae was stunned. This was the first time her master had spoken to her so loudly since she was rescued by Ryukawa Tetsu.

Suddenly, a wave of grievance welled up inside her. She lowered her head, and tears streamed down her face.

Ling Chuanche's voice was filled with anger: "If I hadn't found out tonight, would you have continued to hide it from me? Is this how you train?"

Didn't I teach you before? You go to the Butterfly Mansion during the day and train at night, don't you get a single day of rest? You've ruined your body now, what will you do in the future? Have you even thought about your future?!

"I'm sorry, Master, I won't do it again."

Kanae said softly, "Please don't be angry."

Looking at her like this, Ling Chuanche's chest heaved, and finally he let out a long sigh.

He looked at her with a mixture of helplessness and heartache: "Kanae, you've always been the one I trust the most."

You are more sensible than Ren and more discreet than Shimi, but I never expected you to act so recklessly.

"What's wrong with you?" He paused, his tone softening. "If you want to become stronger, you can tell your master. Why are you acting recklessly on your own? If I hadn't discovered it today, would you have continued like this, not resting every day, until you ruined your body?"

Upon hearing Ling Chuanche's words, Kanae felt a surge of courage welling up inside her. She raised her head and looked directly into Ling Chuanche's eyes: "Master... I know about that matter."

Her eyes were red, and she clenched her fists: "I know about the 'spots.' I heard it when Miss Tamayo was talking to you that day. I heard everything."

You didn't mention the markings the day you came back because you didn't want Shinobu and me to worry. You also secretly told us about it when Ms. Tamayo came, didn't you? I know all that.

But you never tell us that you always try to arrange everything perfectly, but we are your disciples, you don't need to do that."

Tears finally streamed down her cheeks as Kanae choked out, "If one day... if you're not here tomorrow, then at least I need to be strong enough to share some of your burden today! To make sure you don't have to work so hard today, I want you to be less tired, I want you to have an easier time..."

By the end, she was sobbing uncontrollably, her thin shoulders shaking violently.

Ling Chuanche stood there, stunned.

Kanae knew that?

So during this time...

"you......"

He suddenly couldn't speak.

After a long while, he lowered his head and sighed.

He thought he was hiding it well, but it turns out he knew everything!

Seeing her with tears streaming down her face, Ling Chuanche felt an indescribable emotion welling up inside him.

There is helplessness, there is heartache.

He sighed, stood up, walked to Kanae, raised his hand, and placed it on her head.