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

Ling Chuanche picked up his teacup and took a sip, trying to soothe the turmoil in his heart with the warm tea.

However, his peripheral vision involuntarily glanced at the corner of the table, where a familiar picture book lay quietly.

Tamayo keenly caught his gaze, chuckled softly, and toyed with the sketchbook in her hand: "This sketchbook has somehow become popular recently, and I find it quite interesting. Mr. Tetsu... have you seen it?"

Ling Chuanche's hand tightened slightly on the teacup, his throat went dry, and he forced a denial: "No."

"Oh?" Tamayo looked at him with a half-smile, her eyes revealing a clear understanding of everything. "Really not, Mr. Tetsu?"

Under the gaze of those eyes that seemed to see right through people, Ling Chuanche sighed helplessly and simply gave up struggling: "Fine, I've seen it."

Tamayo's smile deepened: "It seems that Mr. Tetsu was also moved by the relationship between the master and disciple in this picture book? What does Mr. Tetsu think of this ending?"

Chapter 103 Being Seen Through

"...Hmm, it's alright." Ling Chuanche lowered his eyes, gently swirling the teacup in his hand, trying to use this momentary pause to conceal the turmoil in his heart.

He took a deep breath, his tone regaining its usual calm and profound tone, "Life is inevitably full of regrets. Perhaps, it is the regrets that define life."

Tamayo shook her head, disagreeing with this pessimistic view. Looking at the illustrations in the book, she said firmly, "I think it's just that the master was too cowardly. If he had expressed his feelings to his disciple earlier, perhaps they wouldn't have ended up with such a tragic fate."

Ling Chuanche raised his head, glanced at Zhu Shi quietly, and retorted softly, "Perhaps he has his reasons? He may not want to hurt his disciple, and he is worried that once this feeling is expressed, it will ruin her originally peaceful life."

“But his disciple clearly likes him so much.” Tamayo pouted, her tone tinged with regret and confusion. “She hinted at it so many times, how could he not see it? I think he’s just a coward, even if he did see it, he just didn’t dare to admit it. This so-called ‘protection’ has only hurt his disciple’s heart in the end.”

Listening to Tamayo's straightforward analysis, Ayakawa Tetsu felt as if something had gently bumped into his chest.

He sighed helplessly and half-jokingly changed the subject: "Miss Tamayo, do you have a lot of resentment towards the male owner of this picture book? How about I ask someone to find out who the author is and help you change the ending?"

"Never mind." Tamayo smiled and waved her hand. "The ending is already predetermined, and the inevitable ending is just another cover-up."

It's not that I harbor any resentment; it's just that after living for hundreds of years, this is the first time I've seen these little gadgets meant for young people, and I find them quite interesting. If Mr. Che thinks I'm being long-winded, then I apologize for it here.

"You're being too serious." Ling Chuanche put down his teacup and stood up. "I have other things to attend to, so I'll head back now."

"Mr. Che, won't you stay a little longer?"

"No." Ling Chuanche practically fled, leaving Tamayo's residence in a hurry as if he were running away.

Tamayo watched Lingchuan Tetsu's slightly hurried departure, a knowing smile flashing in her eyes.

At that moment, Yushiro walked over from the side.

"What is Lady Tamayo holding in her hand?" Yushiro asked curiously.

Zhu Shi replied without changing her expression, "It's something children shouldn't see."

Yushiro's face immediately turned red, and he protested loudly, "Who's a child! Besides, I've already seen this before!"

Tamayo glanced at him, a half-smile on her face: "Oh? Yushiro has seen it?"

"Hmm..." Yushiro pouted, muttering somewhat guiltily, "It's really boring. I don't know what's so interesting about it, but it's been all over the news lately."

In fact, Yushiro just thought that everyone there was incredibly boring, dragging out such a small matter for so long.

He had absolutely no interest in the romance between the male and female protagonists. The only reason he secretly got his hands on a copy was because he had accidentally discovered that Lady Tamayo was reading it a few days ago, and he thought he should read it too so that he could have something in common with Lady Tamayo.

"It seems that Mr. Kagaya couldn't hold back any longer." Tamayo looked at Yushiro and sighed softly.

Yushiro blinked in confusion: "Kakuya? What does this have to do with that lord?"

Tamayo chuckled softly, her tone carrying a hint of deeper meaning: "The ability to make something spread throughout the entire Demon Slayer Corps in an instant—besides that one person, who else in the Demon Slayer Corps has that ability?"

Ling Chuanche arrived at the lord's residence.

Perhaps he was upset and wanted to talk to his old friend.

Kagaya Ubuyashiki is reading a book.

Upon hearing that Ling Chuanche had arrived outside, they immediately had someone welcome him in.

Lingchuan Tetsu sat down opposite Ubuyashiki Kagaya, his gaze falling on the book in Ubuyashiki Kagaya's hand. Looking at the familiar cover, he couldn't help but feel a headache: "Why are you reading this too?"

"What, is that not allowed?"

Kagaya Ubuyashiki's lips curled up.

What a joke! This stuff originated from him, how could he not have seen it?

Ling Chuanche suddenly seemed to realize something and asked, "Do you know this author?"

Kagaya Ubuyashiki calmly asked, "Don't you know me? What's wrong?"

Lingchuan Tetsu stared at Ubuyashiki Kagaya's face for one second, two seconds...

Kagaya Ubuyashiki said helplessly, "Just say what's on your mind, why are you staring at me like that?"

"It's nothing, I just really want to meet the author."

Ling Chuanche's heart had never been as chaotic as it had been in the past few days.

Ever since he developed those feelings for Shinobu without even realizing it...

He was like someone who had done something wrong, desperately trying to hide his feelings, afraid that others would see through them.

But in the past few days, since this sketchbook appeared, I wonder if the content on it is just a coincidence.

It was as if Ling Chuanche's innermost thoughts and feelings were being laid bare and displayed to everyone.

Every time he looked at this sketchbook, it was as if he was looking at himself.

"Actually, none of the people in our team are rigid."

Kagaya Ubuyashiki said softly, "Everyone actually hopes they can have a happy ending. Tetsu, if you were the author, what would you hope their ending would be like?"

Ling Chuanche thought carefully: "I can't figure it out."

He dared not think about it.

As soon as I start thinking about it, I automatically picture myself and Ren.

He felt he was committing a crime and was unworthy to be a teacher.

"Actually, I was the one who made those remarks."

The sudden sound startled Lingchuan Tetsuya, who stared at Ubuyashiki Kagaya in astonishment: "What?"

He thought he had misheard.

Kagaya Ubuyashiki calmly said, "I said, actually, I was the one who released this sketchbook, and the content on it was also drawn by someone I asked."

"..." Ling Chuanche asked with a puzzled look, "What is the reason for this?"

Kagaya Ubuyashiki looked at Toru Ayakawa and sighed helplessly: "Toru, do you really not know what I'm doing this for? Of course, it's for you!"

Your thoughts are written all over your face. Every time you and Shinobu look at each other, the emotion in your eyes is almost overflowing. If I don't help you soon, you'll really end up like the male protagonist in this picture book, with nothing but regret for the rest of your life.

boom!

Ling Chuanche's mind went blank.

He stood up, suddenly wanting to leave.

"look."

Kagaya Ubuyashiki sighed, "As soon as I say something, you want to leave again. Are you going to run away from yourself again?"

Ling Chuanche took a deep breath, forced himself to calm down, and slowly sat back down.

He picked up the teacup and drank it all in one gulp, but still felt his mouth was dry.

"I don't understand what you're saying."

His voice was a little hoarse.

Chapter 104 Speaking it Out

Ling Chuanche lowered his eyes, his tone as calm as a stagnant pool: "I don't quite understand what you mean."

Seeing that Ayakawa Tetsu was still being stubborn, Ubuyashiki Kagaya did not rush to refute him.

He turned his head and looked at the leaves swaying in the wind outside the courtyard, his eyes filled with deep worry and pity.

"Che, your life has been so bitter. If I could, I would wish that you could have true happiness in the second half of your life."

He withdrew his gaze, his voice soft yet powerful: "I'm telling you this today for no other reason than to let you know that whatever decision you make, I will support you, and you don't need to have any concerns. Of course, if you don't want to do that, then just put my words aside."

He chuckled softly, his tone indulgent towards his close friend: "After all, you are yourself, you are the Pillar of our Demon Slayer Corps, and no one can control your will, including me."

Ling Chuanche remained silent for a long time.

Finally, she let out a long sigh: "When did you figure that out?"

Kagaya Ubuyashiki smiled and teased, "Not pretending anymore? Now you don't even use 'you' anymore?"

Ling Chuanche glared at him irritably and said indifferently, "Speak quickly."

"Sigh, Lord Cangzhu has quite a temper. He even dares to tease the Lord. Sigh." Ubuyashiki Kagaya pretended to be deeply hurt, clutching his chest and shaking his head.

Ling Chuanche glanced at him and made a move to get up: "You're not going to talk, are you? If you're not going to talk, I'm leaving."

"Hey, hey, hey!" Kagaya Ubuyashiki called out to him repeatedly, then couldn't help but chuckle softly, "Really, you really don't respect me as your lord anymore!"

Ling Chuanche sat back down in front of him, leaning back in his chair with a defiant air: "If you won't let me pretend anymore, then what am I supposed to pretend for?"

Kagaya Ubuyashiki smiled, showing no anger at Toru Ayakawa's retort; instead, a heartfelt sense of satisfaction appeared in his eyes.

Che finally stopped pretending. He knew clearly that Ling Chuan Che's current unguarded state meant that the hard shell that had protected him had been completely discarded. The person standing before him now was the real, flesh-and-blood Ling Chuan Che.

“Let’s start from the first time I saw that girl,” Kagaya Ubuyashiki said softly. “At that time, I felt that that girl was different, and she treated you differently.”

Ling Chuanche looked at him speechlessly: "First time you met Shinobu? Shinobu was just an eight or nine-year-old girl back then, right? You thought that back then? Are you a pervert?"

Kagaya Ubuyashiki glared at Toru Ayakawa with annoyance.

Only Ling Chuanche could possibly manage to repeatedly break down the facade of his lord, who always presented himself as gentle.

"You are both your disciples, but you treat Kanae and Shinobu Kocho completely differently." Kagaya Ubuyashiki said seriously, "I know about you, Tetsu. You have closed yourself off too much. You need someone like Shinobu to use her unreserved passion to break open your tightly closed heart."

"From the moment she came into your life, everything was already destined. You two are God's arrangement; fate brought you together to redeem each other."

Kagaya Ubuyashiki looked into Toru Ayakawa's eyes and said, word by word, "She once fell into endless darkness, and you gave her support and security; while you once trapped yourself in the cold seabed, and she reached out to you with all her might. You both gave each other the strength to live when you were at your most vulnerable and desperate. So, I understood from the first moment I saw her."

Ling Chuanche listened quietly, and couldn't help but sigh inwardly.