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

"Kanae took Kanao to the Butterfly Mansion this morning." Hearing footsteps, Lingchuan Tetsu didn't turn around, his voice carrying a hint of barely perceptible stiffness.

"Hmm..." Ren responded softly, lowered his head, and unconsciously pursed his lips.

Ling Chuanche looked up at the sky, equally unwilling to turn his head to face the girl.

Yesterday's desperate gamble seemed to have exhausted both of them.

Now that the passion has faded and the calm of reality has settled in, the two innocent young people, who have never been in a relationship, are suddenly at a loss as to how to face each other.

"What did your sister say to you yesterday?" Shinobu broke the suffocating silence first.

"She didn't say anything. What about you? Did Kanae say anything to you?"

No, not at all.

"Oh."

Then... the air fell silent again.

She pouted, unable to bear the atmosphere any longer, where even breathing seemed to require extreme caution.

Ultimately, she lost her patience and decided to give up entirely.

"I'm hungry," she said sullenly.

There is food inside.

"No, I want to eat what you made for me."

Ling Chuanche turned his head in confusion, looked at the girl, and asked seriously, "Are you sure... you want to eat what I make?"

Seeing the man's solemn expression, as if he were about to go to war, Ren silently swallowed back what she had just said and compromised, "Fine, let's go out to eat together."

"it is good."

The two walked out of the Butterfly House together.

Although they were walking side by side, they no longer held hands tightly like they had yesterday.

The two of them looked to the left and the right, not daring to even glance at each other out of the corner of their eyes, for fear that if their eyes met, they would be reminded of the burning kiss from the previous night.

"What do you want to eat?" Ling Chuanche asked dryly, like a dutiful guard.

I want to eat ramen.

"it is good."

Ren was getting a little angry. Couldn't this blockhead say something more?

She stopped and glared at him angrily: "Can't you say something more?"

Ling Chuanche scratched his head, looking somewhat at a loss: "Oh, okay. So... what are we going to do after dinner?"

Shinobu Kocho sighed deeply: "I haven't decided yet, let's eat first."

"Never mind," she thought to herself helplessly.

She knew her master's personality best; asking him to initiate conversation would be difficult for him, and also difficult for herself.

The two arrived at a familiar ramen shop. Ling Chuanche skillfully ordered two bowls of noodles.

Once the noodles arrived, a steaming aroma instantly filled the air.

Ling Chuanche picked up his chopsticks, but instead of eating, he naturally reached out and picked up the largest and tenderest piece of char siu from his own bowl, placing it steadily into Ren's bowl.

Ren paused for a moment, looked at the piece of meat in the bowl, and then looked up at Ling Chuanche.

The man kept his eyes fixed ahead, but a suspicious blush rose to his ears. His voice was deep and gentle: "Eat more, you're too thin."

Ren couldn't help but smile wildly. She picked up her chopsticks, took a bite of the meat, and deliberately dragged out the sound: "Mmm...so sweet."

Ling Chuanche glanced at her helplessly: "It's the soup base that's sweet."

“Oh,” she said with a sly smile, leaning closer and whispering, “but I ate the meat you picked out for me.”

Ling Chuanche's breath hitched, and the blush from his ears instantly spread to his neck.

He quickly picked up the bowl of noodles, using the act of drinking soup to mask his panic.

Seeing the man's helpless expression, Ren's smile deepened.

She reached out and, hidden by the tablecloth, gently hooked her little finger around Ling Chuanche's.

Ling Chuanche froze, but did not dodge.

Chapter 110 Straightforward

Ren felt extremely happy as she looked at the embarrassed man in front of her.

"Hehe." She couldn't help but laugh out loud.

She chuckled, then suddenly looked up at the man in front of her with a serious expression.

"Ahem, Master."

"how?"

Hearing the girl address him as such, Ling Chuanche raised an eyebrow.

Has something happened again? Otherwise, the girl's attitude wouldn't have changed for no reason.

"I think our relationship is good enough right now, so let's not let anyone else know." Shinobu lowered her head, swirled the noodles in her bowl with her chopsticks, and spoke in a voice so soft it sounded like a sigh.

Ling Chuanche gazed calmly at the girl, and after a moment, slowly spoke:

Are you worried about me?

Ren's movements froze.

"Are you saying this because you're worried I'll care about what other people think of me?"

Ren blinked. "Master, how did you figure that out?"

Ling Chuanche was speechless: "I'm not that stupid."

That was indeed her intention.

Now that the master and disciple both know each other's feelings and have broken through the barrier, what's next?

If they make a big fuss about it, it will inevitably damage Ling Chuanche's reputation.

After all, it's not a good thing to talk about being with one's own disciple.

She didn't want to put Ling Chuanche in a difficult position, so she chose to speak up herself.

But to her surprise, Ling Chuanche had guessed her thoughts.

Ling Chuanche reached out and gently patted her head: "Don't worry. I won't agree to what you said."

But from now on, I will never let you suffer any injustice, including in anything. You don't need to worry about anything between us; just be happy. Leave the specifics to me.

Ren couldn't help but smile.

Although her master didn't listen to her, she was secretly delighted.

"Hmm, not bad!" She tilted her head slightly, her cheeks flushed, and struck a bold pose. "What do you want? I'll reward you!"

Ling Chuanche looked at her with amusement. Only she could change the subject so naturally, in such an abrupt way.

"If it's praise, is it okay to confirm anything?" Ling Chuanche asked, stroking his chin.

Ren swallowed hard, a hint of expectation in his eyes: "Mm."

She closed her eyes, and was even ready.

Lingchuan Tetsu: "I heard from Kanae that you've fallen behind in your studies recently and haven't trained in a long time. I haven't seen you go to Tamayo's place either. Well then, I'll supervise your studies and training from now on."

Ren's face immediately fell: "I said I'd give you a reward, not that I wanted you to punish me!"

"Is this punishment?" Ling Chuanche retorted. "If you don't work hard now, how will you protect me in the future?"

Just as Shinobu Kocho knows how to make her master happy, Toru Ayakawa also has a user manual for girls.

Shinobu raised the corners of her mouth slightly and said, "Alright, since you've said so, then from now on, the Insect Pillar will protect you!"

……

Days passed by one by one.

Lingchuan Tetsu accompanied Shinobu, and recently they have been constantly going back and forth between the Butterfly Mansion and Ms. Tamayo's residence.

Perhaps because everyone has been quite busy lately, Sabito and the others haven't been with the Demon Slayer Corps recently, as they've all been on missions. It's been a long time since Ayakawa Tetsu has seen them.

On this day, Ling Chuanche received a message from the hidden lord that a meeting of the Pillars was to be held.

Kagaya Ubuyashiki would gather the Pillars together every now and then to review the recent situation of the Demon Slayer Corps and make overall plans for its future development.

Today, the Pillars of the Demon Slayer Corps are also gathered together, a rare occurrence.

Lingchuan Che was the last to arrive.

Everyone else had already arrived before he did.

Since the lord had not yet arrived, everyone was quite relaxed and stood in their own places.

Kanae and Shinobu stood together whispering, Giyu and Sabito stood in a corner, Shinazugawa Sanemi closed his eyes to rest, Kanroji Mitsuri was talking to Iguro Obanai, and Uzui Tengen leaned against a pillar yawning.

Only when their lord arrived did everyone stand properly.

After the lord arrived, he did not speak, but instead looked towards the door.

There, Lingchuan Che was slowly walking over.

The others looked over.

The only one who could have come after the Lord was Lord Cangzhu.

Ignoring everyone's gaze, Lord Cangzhu walked straight to the spot between Kanae and Shinobu.

At first, it was all very ordinary. It wasn't until Ayakawa Tetsu turned around, reached out, and, in front of everyone, straightened the slightly crooked collar of Kocho Shinobu's haori.

His movements were slow and gentle; his fingertips lingered for a moment at Shinobu's collar, as if confirming something.

Then he turned around and knelt down on one knee.

The entire venue fell silent for a moment.