After hearing Gyomei's intelligence, Shinobu Kocho's expression became serious.
Xia Feng didn't even need to think—he knew that Shinobu had probably already assumed the demon mentioned in the report was Doma.
Shinobu knelt quietly, pressing both hands firmly on her knees.
Silently, she began planning.
How could she defeat someone as powerful as Doma?
Just then—
A hand suddenly reached over and rested on top of hers.
Shinobu froze for a moment.
She turned her head and saw Xia Feng smiling at her.
"Don't worry," he said.
"I'm here."
Xia Feng didn't ask what Shinobu was worried about.
He didn't ask whether it was something he could even solve.
He only said that one sentence.
Shinobu was stunned.
Then she felt her nose sting.
Instinctively, she tried to pull her hand away.
As a Hashira.
As someone seeking revenge.
She couldn't afford to show weakness.
Only by growing stronger—by becoming even more resolute—could she kill her enemy and avenge her sister.
But Xia Feng's hand, which normally never bothered using much strength…
Was unexpectedly firm.
"Don't worry."
Still holding her hand, he repeated the words.
Shinobu pressed her lips together and lowered her head.
Across the table, Kagaya Ubuyashiki watched the scene with great interest.
At that moment, he looked less like the leader of the Demon Slayer Corps and more like an enthusiastic neighborhood gossip.
In his opinion, the relationship between Xia Feng and Shinobu was absolutely wonderful.
If it weren't for the fear of meddling too much, he might have already arranged their wedding himself.
After a while, Xia Feng and Shinobu left headquarters and began heading back to the Butterfly Estate.
As they walked, Shinobu suddenly glanced at him with her usual mischievous half-smile.
"Xia Feng, what you said earlier…"
"Should I interpret that as a certain kind of hint?"
Xia Feng blinked.
"Huh?"
Shinobu curled her lips playfully.
"A man saying he'll bear the chains carried by a woman…"
"In my hometown, that's basically a confession."
Hearing that, Xia Feng stopped walking and looked at her with surprise.
Shinobu: "?"
His reaction was so exaggerated that she stopped too.
She had only meant to tease him.
She wanted to see Xia Feng flustered.
But what was this reaction supposed to mean?
Did this guy seriously not realize he'd been flirting with her all this time?
That seemed a bit excessive.
While Shinobu's thoughts raced in every direction, Xia Feng suddenly said in confusion,
"Aren't we already mutual?"
"Why would I need to start chasing you now?"
Shinobu froze for several seconds.
Then—
Her entire face turned bright red at a speed visible to the naked eye.
Xia Feng could almost see steam rising from the top of her head.
Finally regaining her senses, Shinobu stammered,
"Wh-what do you mean mutual?! Since when are we mutual?! Don't joke around!"
She jumped right in front of him.
"You're still chasing me! And I haven't even agreed yet!"
Xia Feng scratched his head.
"Then… should I stop chasing you?"
Shinobu: "???"
She nearly drew her sword on the spot and sliced him in half.
Seeing Xia Feng's utterly confused expression, Shinobu took a deep breath and reached toward the sword at her waist.
Xia Feng immediately raised both hands in surrender.
"Wait wait wait! I'm joking! Just joking!"
Facing someone as terrifying as Shinobu, Xia Feng immediately backed down.
Although he possessed many powerful abilities and could match her in a direct fight—
There was a saying:
A thief can strike for a thousand days, but a guard can't stay vigilant for a thousand days.
If Shinobu suddenly remembered today's conversation someday and stabbed him with a poisoned sword out of annoyance…
That would be a miserable way to die.
Xia Feng had no interest in dying so inexplicably.
He couldn't help but sigh.
Teasing your girlfriend recklessly really wasn't a good idea.
After quite a while, Xia Feng finally managed to calm Shinobu down.
But even after they returned to the Butterfly Estate, Shinobu kept recalling his earlier words.
"Weren't we already mutual?"
Mutual…
Her face shifted between red and slightly red the entire way back.
As they stepped through the estate gate, they saw Aoi Kanzaki and Kanao Tsuyuri chatting together.
"Aoi, Kanao, we're back!" Xia Feng waved at them.
Both girls looked over with delighted expressions.
Aoi immediately ran over with wide eyes.
She stared at Xia Feng from head to toe.
Xia Feng: "?"
Did he suddenly awaken some special charm that attracted women?
While he was still confused, Aoi suddenly exclaimed,
"Xia Feng, you actually became a Hashira!"
Kanao ran over as well and quickly corrected her.
"I told you that's not right! He's a Special Advisor! Even though the rank is similar to a Hashira, the responsibilities are different!"
Aoi waved that off entirely.
"It's basically the same thing! So amazing! So amazing! Now the Butterfly Estate has two Hashira!"
Xia Feng and Shinobu exchanged helpless smiles.
Xia Feng patted Aoi on the shoulder.
"That's right. I've been promoted."
"Why aren't you pouring tea for your superior yet, little girl?"
Aoi fell silent for two seconds.
Then she smiled sweetly.
"Dear newly promoted sir, there's no tea."
"But there are plenty of severely injured patients waiting for you."
Xia Feng: "???"
He stared at her in shock.
Where had the cute, innocent Aoi Kanzaki from before gone?
Why had she turned into this vicious version?
Which bastard taught her to talk like that?!
Still, after Aoi's little outburst, Xia Feng realized something.
His promotion had probably already spread throughout the Demon Slayer Corps.
He couldn't help feeling surprised.
They were just crows…
Yet their information network was ridiculously efficient.
Maybe the real "demons" in this world were actually the crows.
Even though he had just returned to the Butterfly Estate, Xia Feng didn't forget his usual duties.
He headed straight to the treatment room and helped deal with several severely injured patients.
After finishing, he returned to the estate building under the worshipful gazes of the medical staff.
When Shinobu saw him return, she handed him a sheet of paper.
"Xia Feng, take a look at this."
He took it.
The contents were simple.
Since the Final Selection for the Demon Slayer Corps was about to begin, each training house needed personnel from the Butterfly Estate to perform medical examinations for the young candidates.
And no—
Not that kind of examination.
Shinobu continued,
"Earlier, the former Thunder Hashira asked you to examine his disciple, remember?"
"So I was thinking… why don't you lead a team there and conduct the medical examinations for the candidates as well?"
Xia Feng nodded.
It wasn't troublesome at all, so he didn't mind.
But then another thought crossed his mind.
"By the way…"
"Where exactly is the Water Breathing training house located?"
🌟 The story is already written… waiting to be unleashed.
Claim early access on Patreon: patreon.com/c/LuneWriter
🔓 You hold the keys to bonus chapters:
💬 10 reviews ignite 1 bonus chapter
🔷 200 Power Stones summon another
🔥 Your power determines how fast the tale unfolds.