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

Today is the day Shinobu Kocho is going out on a mission.

She has now slain 49 demons. According to the Demon Slayer Corps' rules, one can become a Pillar by killing one of the Twelve Demon Moons or slaying fifty demons.

Now, as long as Shinobu kills the last demon and reaches the required number of fifty demons to be defeated, she can officially become a Pillar.

The entire Cangzhu residence had been preparing for this day for a long time.

The morning sunlight streamed into the room through the paper window. Shinobu sat upright in front of the dressing table, flanked by Kanae and Kanao, who carefully smoothed the wrinkles in her uniform.

Ling Chuanche sat upright at the table, holding a cup of tea in his hand. He appeared calm and composed, even blowing on the tea occasionally and taking a slow sip.

“Master…” Ren looked at his master’s calm and collected appearance in the bronze mirror and couldn’t help but bite his lower lip. “Aren’t you worried about me?”

"What are you worried about?" Ling Chuanche put down his teacup, his tone calm. "With your current strength, you're more than capable of dealing with ordinary evil spirits."

"Relax, just treat it like a morning workout. Becoming a pillar is a piece of cake for Cangzhu's disciples."

Hearing Ling Chuanche's words, Ren smiled smugly.

Ling Chuanche picked up his teacup and silently took a sip. He appeared calm and collected on the surface, but if someone could see into his heart at that moment, they would discover that this Lord Cangzhu was frantically conducting tactical simulations in his mind:

'I've memorized the map of the village where Shinobu went on her mission. There are no large water sources, so the volatilization of the wisteria poison won't be restricted.'

The speed of the ninja's thrust was already at its limit; he had experienced it firsthand, and even if he wanted to block it, it would be very difficult.

Most importantly, he had already personally tested the effects of the latest potion concocted by Miss Tamayo. The test target was a powerful demon, not quite a Lower Moon, but close enough to be deadly—a single, fatal blow would be absolutely guaranteed!

In conclusion, as long as Shinobu doesn't encounter an Upper Moon, there will be absolutely no problem with this mission!

Ling Chuanche went over every detail in his mind hundreds of times, and only after confirming that there were no loopholes did he barely suppress the urge to draw his sword and rush out to help Shinobu.

"Alright, it's almost time." Ling Chuanche stood up and walked to the door.

"It's quite a distance from the village where you're on your mission. If you walk now, you should be able to get there before dark."

If you take a break along the way, remember to light an incense burner with wisteria blossoms. Don't eat anything offered by strangers, and always check your surroundings for any potential dangers before arriving at a new place.

"Don't trust even humans easily, understand?"

Ren sighed helplessly, "Master, isn't this what you told me when my sister and I first joined the Demon Slayer Corps? Why are you saying it again? I've heard it eight hundred times already!"

Ling Chuanche remained calm: "The more minute the details are, the more likely they are to harm you at a crucial moment!"

He lowered his eyes slightly, a barely perceptible hint of heaviness flashing across them.

Having been a member of the Demon Slayer Corps for so many years, he has witnessed too many heartbreaking things.

Sometimes what's truly terrifying isn't evil spirits, but rather humans who, like you, wear human skin.

To deal with evil spirits, you only need to guard against them not harming you; a single cut to the neck will solve the problem. But those who call themselves your compatriots can always stab you in the back when you are least prepared, leaving you defenseless.

Ling Chuanche did not want these things to happen to the people around him.

Over the years, from Kanae and Shinobu, to Sanemi, Giyu, and Sabito, and now to Kyojuro Rengoku, he has repeatedly given these words of advice to each of his disciples.

He wouldn't utter mushy words of concern; he would only use this almost stubborn method to remind them of the danger again and again, just to protect these children he cherished.

Kanae gently took Shinobu's hand, her eyes tender as she softly advised, "Be careful in everything you do. I believe you can do it."

"Yes!" Ren nodded vigorously, his purple eyes shining with unprecedented determination and light.

"Go, big sister!" The young Kanao clenched her little fists, earnestly cheering for Shinobu Kocho.

Shinobu lowered her head, reached out and touched Kanao's soft hair, a warm smile appearing on her face.

Looking at her quiet younger sister, she seemed to see a reflection of her former self.

She had once stood here, watching her sister go to the final selection for the Demon Slayer Corps, cheering her on with anticipation.

At that time, she was determined to become stronger, hoping that one day she could fight alongside her sister.

Later, she finally became a swordsman and joined the Demon Slayer Corps, but her older sister became a Pillar first.

Over the years, her older sister has always walked in front of her, and it was she and her master who shielded her from all the storms.

And now, she's going to become a Pillar! She can finally stand alongside her sister and master, truly fighting side by side!

Thinking of this, she turned around, bowed deeply to Ling Chuanche, and said in a clear and solemn voice, "Master, I'm setting off!"

"Go ahead." Ling Chuanche smiled and waved.

However, hidden beneath his wide sleeves, his hand had already quietly clenched into a fist.

"Don't be too nervous," he told himself.

Forty-nine demons have already been killed; the unexpected event that happened with this last one will definitely not happen to Shinobu.

This is my disciple; I should have faith in her.

Can he really stay by her side and protect her for the rest of his life?

"Master." Kanae turned around and smiled with her eyes crinkling, "There are still things to take care of at the Butterfly Mansion, so Kanae and I will head over there first."

"Hmm." Ling Chuanche nodded calmly.

He stood quietly in place, his gaze gently fixed on the backs of the three sisters.

Ling Chuanche's smile vanished instantly only after their figures completely disappeared around the corner at the village entrance.

He glanced around at the empty mountain path, then his figure flashed, like an invisible breeze, silently disappearing into the shadows of the forest.

……

On the mountain path leading to the target village, Ren walked with light steps.

A Nichirin Blade hung at her waist, and her haori fluttered in the wind, exuding a sharp and confident aura befitting a swordsman.

Having left Ayakawa Tetsu and Kanae, she was no longer the girl with her cunning little apprentice and sister, but had become Shinobu Kocho, a top-ranking member of the Demon Slayer Corps!

However, Shinobu Kocho didn't notice that about three hundred meters away in the treetops, a figure was following her at a leisurely pace.

When she was fast, the figure sped up; when she was slow, the figure slowed down.

He followed her like a shadow.

"Phew...this girl walks quite steadily." Ling Chuanche stood on the branch, muttering to himself, his gaze fixed on the petite figure below.

Just then, a rustling sound suddenly came from the bushes ahead.

Ling Chuanche's eyes instantly sharpened, and his right hand almost reflexively reached for the hilt of his sword. 'They're here?!'

Could it be a demon lurking in the lower realm? Or is it some kind of special blood demon technique?!

Chapter 87: Crazy

He didn't dare to breathe loudly, his right hand gripping the hilt of the knife tightly, ready to strike at any moment.

If that evil spirit dares to harm Shinobu in the slightest, or displays strength beyond her ability to cope, he will immediately transform into lightning and descend to tear that ignorant monster to pieces.

However, the next second, a plump wild rabbit suddenly darted out of the bushes, a carrot dangling from its mouth, and ran away, munching away.

Lingchuan Che: "..."

He silently lowered his hand from the hilt of the knife, took a deep breath, and desperately told himself to stay calm.

This walk took most of the day.

Ren did indeed listen to him very well, strictly following his instructions throughout the journey, doing what he should do and never touching what he shouldn't.

He ate and drank only the dry food and water he carried with him at his waist, and he didn't touch anything from the outside world.

Hiding in the shadows, Ling Chuanche watched this scene with a heart full of satisfaction.

This child is becoming more and more worry-free.

The mountain road continued to extend forward.

Not long after, Ren stopped at a fork in the road.

An old woman carrying a bamboo basket was lying on the roadside. She seemed to have fallen because she was tired from walking, and she was rubbing her ankle and groaning.

Seeing this, Shinobu immediately sheathed her knife, quickly walked over, squatted down, and softly asked, "Grandma, are you alright? Do you need any help?"

Ling Chuanche, who was hiding in the shadows, frowned.

'No! Something's fishy! In this desolate wilderness, an old woman has fallen to the ground without a single footprint. It's highly likely a disguise created by an evil spirit's blood demon magic! A clever and insidious trick to lure the enemy in!'

A chilling killing intent flashed in Ling Chuanche's eyes. He had already calculated in his mind how much force he would need to blast this "demon" to smithereens without affecting the ninja.

In the end, Ren simply took out a piece of dry food from his pocket and handed it to the old woman, then helped her put the scattered herbs back into the bamboo basket, and considerately helped the old woman to the flat road. The old woman thanked him repeatedly and walked away with faltering steps.

No unusual events occurred throughout the entire process.

Ling Chuanche's heart, which had been hanging in mid-air, sank heavily again. He rubbed his temples, feeling that he had used up all the paranoia he had ever had in his life today.

He suddenly realized he was being a bit neurotic. If there was danger, if it were an evil spirit, with Shinobu's current reaction speed and agility, how could he not sense it?

Let alone ordinary demons, even a lower-level demon would probably not be able to get close to her body silently.

Moreover, he had already sent people to investigate this area, and only three people had gone missing in the past month, which he estimated was just an ordinary ghost.

If it were the waning moon, there would be far more than this little noise.

"We can't keep jumping to conclusions over the slightest thing." Ling Chuanche sighed helplessly, his tense nerves finally relaxing a little.

As they got closer to the target village, the air in the mountains became damp and chilly.

"Snap—"

A very faint sound of a twig snapping echoed through the forest.

This time, Ling Chuanche really couldn't hold back anymore.

'This time it's absolutely real! This eerie atmosphere, this faint, fishy stench—it's definitely an evil spirit! And not just any ordinary one!'

Without hesitation, he transformed into a blur, rushing towards Shinobu at a speed three times faster than lightning.

He had already decided that no matter what came, as long as it dared to bare its fangs at him, he would smash it!

Just as he was about to break through the air, the ninja below also noticed the movement.

She stopped and slowly turned her head to look in the direction from which the sound came.

Ling Chuanche's heart leaped into his throat, his fingertips gripping the hilt of his sword tightly.

Ren stared at the bushes for a full five seconds, then... silently walked over and pulled out a stray cat that was entangled in vines and was starving and on the verge of death.