Butterfly Shinobu’s eyes instantly became sharp little brushes, sweeping over Shi Hanfeng with unconcealed suspicion and scrutiny.
When she noticed the long blade at his waist, so different from a Nichirin Blade, her brows knitted, her doubts almost palpable.
“Sea-Roaming Swordsman? Never heard of it. He doesn’t have a Nichirin Blade either. Can he really kill demons?”
Her tone brimmed with distrust, suspicion toward outsiders nearly overflowing.
“Nee-san! Be careful around someone with an unclear background!”
Shi Hanfeng found it amusing, looking at the little cat bristling with fur, hissing in warning—a perfect image of a kitten defending her big sister.
So this was Butterfly Shinobu when her sister was still alive?
Such open emotion, her thoughts nearly visible, all her worry and doubt clear on her face.
Compared to the future Insect Hashira who hid deadly poison behind a sweet smile, forging herself into a blade against demons, it was a vivid, poignant contrast.
Your expression control is still immature, little sister.
Watching her vibrant, lively form now and thinking of the perfect mask she would wear in the future, it wasn’t hard to imagine the effort she spent imitating her gentle sister, and the heavy burdens she bore.
Maybe it was his curious, amused gaze, or perhaps Shinobu’s protective instincts for her sister overwhelmed all reason.
Suddenly, she stepped forward, head held high despite her petite frame, stubbornly challenging Shi Hanfeng.
“Hey! You say you can kill demons? Or did you just claim a Demon Slayer Corps member’s victory? Let me test your skills! If you can’t even beat me, don’t boast here and deceive my sister!”
Kanae’s lips moved, as if to stop her, but the slight motion paused and she said nothing, simply gazing at Shi Hanfeng with deep purple eyes, waiting for his response.
The brief silence was itself tacit approval.
She, too, needed to confirm the strength and intent of this mysterious outsider.
Shi Hanfeng sighed.
Fine, he took back his earlier thoughts.
He really didn’t like impulsive kids.
To test an ally after agreeing to work together felt too petty.
Did this Flower Hashira think he was so easy-going she could let her little sister test him?
“This… Miss Butterfly’s worries are understandable, and her courage is admirable.”
His tone remained light, like an adult placating a sulking child, but in the next moment, his words turned sharp as a drawn blade, his gaze skipping past the bristling Shinobu to lock on Kanae.
The playfulness faded, replaced by keen understanding.
“However–“
“Rather than sparring with a sister rattled by worry, why not have the Flower Hashira herself try me? I’ve heard the Hashira are the strongest of the Demon Slayer Corps, and the Flower Breathing’s swordsmanship is unparalleled. Am I fortunate enough to witness it myself?”
He could understand their caution.
The Demon Slayer Corps had suffered grave betrayals.
Kanae bringing him directly into Chouya was already a great risk.
But endless probing was too tiresome.
He was not some pushover.
He had made his position clear—perhaps it was time for a more straightforward exchange.
The air in the courtyard froze at his words.
All the subtle probing vanished beneath his blunt, steely challenge.
He had directly exposed Kanae’s intent to test him through her sister, and perhaps her desire to gauge his strength.
He was here to fulfill his mission, not play spy games.
Further testing would be pointless.
Better to be open and lay everything on the table.
Cooperation with the Demon Slayer Corps should be negotiated with their leader.
His goal was clear—the Flower Breathing of the Flower Hashira.
Butterfly Shinobu’s eyes widened in shock, not expecting him to bypass her and challenge her sister, a Hashira.
She was momentarily speechless.
That’s a Hashira!
Kanae met Shi Hanfeng’s penetrating gaze and paused.
Then, rather than diminishing, her gentle smile deepened, as if releasing an invisible burden.
The caution and observation in her eyes shifted into pure, earnest battle spirit.
Though her intentions had been seen through, she showed no embarrassment—instead, a kind of liberated calm.
She stepped forward, subtly shielding Shinobu behind her.
“Mr. Jingyuan truly sees through everything. Such probing is my own discourtesy. Since you are interested in a spar, I shall not decline…”
“Please, instruct me.”
Shi Hanfeng’s gaze flicked to nearby Yin members passing by.
Though their spot was somewhat secluded, there were still many watching eyes.
Just as Kanae was about to take her stance, he spoke quietly, only loud enough for her and Shinobu to hear.
“Here?”
His tone was calm, but the underlying meaning was clear to Kanae.
There were too many people.
His power was utterly different from the Demon Slayer Corps’ Breathing Techniques, and Kanae herself was one of their strongest.
Their duel, regardless of outcome, was not for all eyes.
“I was careless,”
She instantly relaxed from her starting stance, as if merely adjusting her position.
She gave Shinobu a wordless look, then turned, leading the way toward the quiet courtyard behind the residence, shrouded in deeper night.
Shi Hanfeng followed at a natural pace.
Shinobu hesitated, then, worry and curiosity overcoming other feelings, hurried after them like a kitten—both wary and unable to resist getting close to a beast.
The tension in the courtyard faded as the three left, replaced once more by the quiet scent of herbs and the calm of night.
Behind Chouya, a more private training ground was encircled by bamboo fences and dense trees, the moonlight falling in patches, far more hidden than the front yard.
Kanae stopped here and turned to face Shi Hanfeng.
Shinobu stepped automatically into the shadow of an old tree at the edge of the field, hands clasped at her chest, violet eyes unblinking on the pair, breath held.
She became the sole observer and witness.
No extra words were needed.
Kanae’s slender, powerful fingers gripped her Nichirin Blade.
The unique butterfly pattern gleamed quietly in the broken moonlight.
Her breathing subtly changed, growing deeper, longer, in harmony with the courtyard’s plants.
The aura around her condensed and settled, calm as a still well, sharp as a hunting hawk.
It was as if she had merged with the moonlit courtyard and the flowing night wind.
On the other side, Shi Hanfeng’s hand rested casually on his Zanpakutō.
A completely different presence from the Breathing Techniques, like a slumbering beast, began to awaken around him.
At this moment, he was no longer the man who joked easily.
All knew Jingyuan for his wisdom and strategy, but at his core, he was a warrior.
Especially in wartime, wisdom alone would not ensure survival.
He was a legend who rose from the blood and iron of the Xianzhou Luofu, surviving the tidal wave of Cloud Knights to earn his name!
One of the future Cloud Five Heroes! The sole direct disciple of the Swordmaster Mirrorstream!
The Demon Slayer Corps’ Breathing Techniques, at their heart, were created by a genius of this era to dig out human potential to the utmost, drawing on the energy of this world.
They were fierce and passionate, bound to the user’s emotions and will, strong enough to kill demons.
Yet, they were ultimately for mortal bodies—their limits could not reach the stars beyond.
Shi Hanfeng’s current form had been forged by the star sea, existing as both value and mechanism.
In the next instant—
Kanae moved!
Her figure flashed like a flower petal caught in a sudden night breeze, weightless yet tearing through the air at speed.
The Nichirin Blade in her hand became a brilliant and deadly arc, targeting Shi Hanfeng’s throat.
Almost at the same moment, Shi Hanfeng’s hand tightened on his blade.
“Clang—!”
A blade’s cry tore through the silence of the hidden courtyard.
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