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

They're doing quite well here.

Ling Chuanche thought to himself.

Chapter 8: Teaching

"Breathing techniques?"

Kanae and Shinobu sat attentively in the courtyard, listening to Toru Ayakawa's explanation.

"Demons possess bodies stronger than ours and have the ability to regenerate infinitely, while we humans have nothing. However, a hundred years ago, a sage created the Breathing Technique, which is the only way we can fight demons."

"And the breathing techniques originally consisted of five types: fire breathing, water breathing, thunder breathing, rock breathing, and wind breathing."

Kanae Kocho tilted her head and asked in confusion, "Then what kind of breathing does Mr. Tetsu use?"

Shinobu Kocho was also very curious.

Ling Chuanche smiled and said, "What I use is the Breath of the Azure Sea, which is not among these five breathing techniques. It is a derivative of the Breath of Water. There are derivative breathing techniques in addition to each breathing technique, so I will not give examples one by one."

And today I'm going to teach you the art of water breathing!

Shinobu and Kanae looked excited.

"Let's start with the basics..."

Ling Chuanche's teaching lasted all day.

As the sun was about to set, Kanae and Shinobu sat down on the ground, panting. He said, "Let's call it a day."

"Then I'll go cook!"

Kanae Butterfly stood up and walked into the house.

"You're all so tired, don't bother with all that. I'll go buy some."

"It's alright, Mr. Che. Eating out is never as convenient as eating at home."

"I'll go help."

Shinobu Kocho stood up and followed her sister into the house.

At home.

Ling Chuanche pondered what Kocho Kanae had just said, and a smile unconsciously appeared on his face.

......

"What has Che been up to lately?"

At the Ubuyashiki residence, Kagaya Ubuyashiki, who was holding a notebook and observing recent personnel changes, suddenly looked up in confusion.

"Why haven't I heard from him in so long? Has he been secretly going out on a mission behind my back?"

His brow relaxed: "But he's been resting for over a week now. Given his restless nature, it's normal for him to sneak out."

Ubuyashiki Amane walked gracefully to his side and replaced the tea in front of him, which had gone cold, with hot tea.

"I heard that Mr. Che is still at home recently."

"Oh?"

Ubuyashiki Amane laughed and said, "Those two little girls that Tetsu brought back from outside last time are now living in Tetsu's house. I think I heard that they are learning breathing techniques and swordsmanship from Tetsu."

Kagaya Ubuyashiki was genuinely surprised this time: "Really? What are the names of those two children?"

"The older sister's name is Kanae Kocho, and the younger sister's name is Shinobu Kocho."

"Ha, so you actually managed to get that guy Tetsu to stay home and teach breathing techniques even when he's not on a mission?" Kagaya Ubuyashiki smiled. "Amane, let's go take a look. I'm really curious about these two kids."

Seeing her husband so happy, Ubuyashiki Amane's mood improved as well.

She was worried that her husband was overworking himself, so she thought this would be a good opportunity for him to rest.

"Okay, I'll go get you some clothes."

"Ah."

Just as Ubuyashiki Amane entered the house, a kasuri raven suddenly flew in from the distant sky. The kasuri raven flew so fast that it couldn't even slow down when it reached Ubuyashiki Kagaya.

One of the hidden members jumped up and hugged the raven tightly.

"what happened?"

Kagaya Ubuyashiki came to the kasugata crow.

The Kasugai Crow slumped in the arms of a member of the Hidden Sect, weakly saying, "There... there are swordsmen who have discovered traces of demons in Shinagawa-juku... possibly a Lower Moon..."

Is it the last quarter moon...?

Kagaya Ubuyashiki's expression turned serious.

Where is Xingming now?

"Reporting to my lord, Lord Stone Pillar is currently on a mission outside and will not arrive at the location where the demon was discovered for at least three days."

Three days is too long.

Kagaya Ubuyashiki sighed, "It seems I have no choice but to send Tetsu."

Inside the house, Tianyin had just come out with the clothes when she heard her husband's words, and silently retreated back inside.

......

"Control your breathing! Pay attention to the rhythm!"

In the courtyard, Shinobu and Kanae were running around the yard. As they ran, obstacles kept appearing on both sides, but they easily dodged them with their nimble bodies. However, while they dodged the obstacles, they couldn't dodge the cold arrow that Ayakawa Tetsu suddenly shot from the side.

Ling Chuanche watched from the side, nodding more and more as he looked.

They've made really fast progress. I started teaching them breathing techniques a few days ago, and now they've basically mastered them.

However, sometimes I get interrupted when I'm trying to avoid obstacles.

At that moment, Ling Chuanche noticed Ji Xiang flying over, and he went over to him.

"A demon has appeared in Shinagawa-juku. Please go there immediately, Takashiro Ryūkawa!"

Kanae and Shinobu stopped and looked at Toru Ayakawa.

Ling Chuanche was taken aback. "They've arrived?"

"Are you going out on a mission?" Kanae Kocho asked.

"Okay." Ling Chuanche nodded: "If things go smoothly, I'll be back in three days, if things go slowly, it might take a week. While I'm gone, you guys train on your own."

Kanae Kocho said with concern, "I wish you peace."

Ling Chuanche smiled and waved his hand: "Don't worry, Xiao Ren is the same. Don't worry about your master."

Shinobu's face was ashen and covered in sweat. Hearing Ayakawa Tetsu's words, she deliberately turned her head to the side and said, "I'm not worried at all."

Ling Chuanche was already used to Xiao Ren's hypocrisy. The little one had a different personality from her sister; she was very stubborn, even though they were biological sisters.

One is gentle enough to cut open people's hearts, the other is as hard as a stone.

Lingchuan Tetsu was quickly packing his luggage when Kocho Kanae suddenly remembered something, hurriedly went into the house, and came out carrying a bundle.

"Teacher, these are rice balls I made. You can take them and eat them on the way."

Ling Chuanche carried the rice ball on his back: "Thank you, thank you for your trouble."

"Are the Lower Moon demons very powerful?" Shinobu asked casually, kicking a pebble with her foot as she lowered her head.

Kanae looked at her with a helpless yet doting gaze.

Xiao Ren is very worried about her teacher's safety.

"Yes, the Lower Moon belongs to the Twelve Demon Moons. Only our Pillars can handle demons of this level."

Lingchuan Tetsu knew Ubuyashiki Kagaya well, and knew that if they hadn't encountered a demon that seemed to be a Lower Moon, he wouldn't have sent him at this time.

Moreover, such news usually means that someone has already died.

"If the teacher goes, there won't be any problem, right?" Kanae Kocho said softly.

"Don't worry."

Lingchuan Tetsu gently patted Kocho Kanae and Kocho Shinobu's heads with his large hands, and said with a smile, "Teacher, I'm very strong, you know."

Without further ado, Ling Chuanche prepared to set off immediately.

Kanae and Shinobu stood at the door, watching Toru Ryukawa leave, hoping he would return home safely.

"Teacher!" Shinobu Kocho suddenly shouted, "Come back safely! We're waiting for you at home!"

Hearing the voice behind him, Ling Chuanche waved his hand but did not turn around, though a smile appeared on his lips.

This was the first time he had ever felt this way.

From joining the Demon Slayer Corps until now

This was the first time someone had been waiting for him at home while he was on a mission.

Not the same.

For some reason, he suddenly wanted to finish the task quickly so he could go home sooner.

Chapter 9: Ending

Shinagawa-juku is a post station.

Travelers and merchants thronged the area, their noise almost lifting the roof off.

However, beneath this bustling surface, an unsettling undercurrent is quietly brewing.

Ling Chuanche arrived at the scene the following morning.

Intelligence indicates that seventeen people have mysteriously disappeared in this area in the past half month, all of whom vanished while walking alone at night.

The Demon Slayer Corps sent a squad of Rank D swordsmen to investigate, but they all disappeared on the third day after their arrival, leaving not a single body behind.

Rank D swordsmen, though not top-tier combatants, are still the backbone of the Demon Slayer Corps. Only the Twelve Demon Moons possess the ability to make them disappear without a trace, leaving no trace whatsoever.

Ling Chuanche walked through the crowd, still wearing that black feather robe.