After a short while, everyone returned together to Urokodaki's house.
Urokodaki was placing bowls on the table. Hearing them return, he looked toward the door.
When he saw the person behind Xia Feng, he let out a small sound of surprise.
"Giyu?"
Giyu Tomioka nodded.
"Master."
"What brings you here all of a sudden?" Urokodaki asked while placing another set of tableware on the table.
Giyu was silent for a few seconds before answering.
"I finished a mission and happened to pass by nearby, so I came up the mountain to take a look."
Seeing Urokodaki's expression, he naturally understood that he had been completely fooled by Xia Feng earlier.
If Xia Feng had truly done something that outrageous, would Urokodaki still be this calm and hospitable?
Under Urokodaki's invitation, everyone gathered around the small table.
Giyu deliberately avoided sitting next to Xia Feng.
Just seeing Xia Feng now made him feel uncomfortable—like he owed the man money.
At that moment, the sliding paper door nearby opened.
Nezuko's little head peeked out.
She looked around the room.
When she saw Xia Feng, her eyes lit up.
Then she squinted happily and walked over to him.
Under Tanjiro's tearful gaze—
Nezuko softly climbed onto Xia Feng's back and clung there.
Urokodaki couldn't help but sigh.
"Nezuko really likes Xia Feng…"
Giyu looked stunned.
Two years ago, he had seen how ferocious Nezuko could be.
That Nezuko—the one who constantly wanted to fight him to the death—was now being so affectionate toward someone other than Tanjiro?
Even Xia Feng didn't know whether to laugh or cry.
He had assumed the Momotaro dumpling had a time limit.
But judging from the current situation…
Wasn't the effect lasting a bit too long?
Could the dumpling actually be permanent?
If he fed a few to Muzan Kibutsuji, could he control the entire demon race?
Just imagining that scenario made Xia Feng feel slightly disgusted.
He turned his head to look at Nezuko resting on his shoulder.
Perhaps because she had become a demon, her skin was extremely pale, giving Xia Feng the strong urge to pat her head.
"Mm?"
Noticing Xia Feng looking at her, Nezuko opened her eyes and made a cute humming sound.
Xia Feng pressed a hand to his chest.
This was bad.
He was going to die from cuteness.
He took out another Momotaro dumpling for Nezuko.
She sniffed it, ate one, and then refused to eat any more.
Xia Feng guessed the dumplings probably contained a considerable amount of energy.
Nezuko likely couldn't digest too much at once, so she didn't eat more.
Since Nezuko wanted to stay on his back, Xia Feng had no objections.
With his physical strength, Nezuko's weight was nothing.
So he simply continued eating while carrying her.
Tanjiro didn't know whether to laugh or cry.
The way Xia Feng and Nezuko looked right now…
Really resembled a couple deeply in love.
Of course, that would only count if Nezuko were acting with a human mind, rather than instinctively being drawn to Xia Feng in her demon state…
As her big brother, Tanjiro absolutely could not allow his sister to get married while she was still a demon!
Tanjiro suddenly felt strangely fired up.
After finishing his meal, Xia Feng wanted to ask Nezuko to get down for a moment.
But when he turned his head, he discovered she had already fallen asleep again.
Shaking his head with a smile, he looked at Tanjiro.
"Tanjiro, help me get Nezuko down. I can't reach behind my back."
Tanjiro hurried over to help.
After "removing" Nezuko from Xia Feng's back and sending her to sleep, Xia Feng went out to the yard and sat under the eaves, enjoying the breeze.
Not far away, under a tree, Kanao was practicing the sword techniques Xia Feng had taught her earlier.
For a moment, Xia Feng felt as if he had returned to the Butterfly Estate.
"Only been out for a short while… and I already want to go back. My shut-in nature really can't be changed."
He squinted slightly and leaned back on his hands.
The cool wind refreshed his mind.
Just then, footsteps approached from behind.
Without even turning around, Xia Feng knew it was Giyu.
Giyu walked over and sat beside him.
Unlike Xia Feng's relaxed posture, Giyu sat properly in seiza.
He sat there quietly, saying nothing.
He wasn't in a hurry.
But Xia Feng was even less in a hurry.
After about two minutes, Giyu suddenly spoke.
"Thank you."
The corner of Xia Feng's mouth lifted slightly, but he said nothing.
Giyu continued.
"You are a good person."
Xia Feng: "???"
He turned his head and looked at Giyu in shock.
What was wrong with this guy?
Opening with such a vicious insult?
Giyu didn't notice Xia Feng's reaction—because he wasn't even looking at him.
Still sitting properly, staring straight ahead, he continued.
"And… I'm sorry. The things I said earlier were foolish."
"You are indeed a wise person, worthy of bearing the position you hold."
Xia Feng's eyelid twitched.
You're wise. Your whole family is wise.
While he was silently complaining, Giyu suddenly stood up, startling him.
Under Xia Feng's surprised gaze, Giyu drew his sword.
Xia Feng wondered if Giyu was about to commit seppuku.
Looking serious, Giyu said,
"Mr. Xia Feng, I never collect wealth, so I have nothing valuable to offer as an apology."
"The only thing I possess is this swordsmanship, which is not particularly strong."
"I have a self-created form—Water Breathing, Eleventh Form: Dead Calm."
"I heard from Master Urokodaki that you study various breathing styles to learn from them. So I would like to teach you this form as a way of apologizing."
Hearing this, Xia Feng's eyes lit up.
If you had brought this up earlier, I wouldn't have been sleepy at all!
He immediately stood up.
"What are we waiting for? Let's go!"
Xia Feng's reaction made Giyu feel a little awkward.
Normally, shouldn't Xia Feng refuse politely a few times before reluctantly accepting?
But this reaction actually relieved Giyu.
Trying to navigate polite back-and-forth conversation would have been torture for him.
He raised his sword and began regulating his breathing.
At that moment, a system notification sounded beside Xia Feng's ear.
[Favorability gained from Giyu Tomioka. Level: Respect. Reward: One Gold Card Draw.]
Xia Feng was slightly surprised.
He hadn't expected Giyu's first "contribution" to be a Gold Card.
As expected, when a straightforward person recognized someone, the level of recognition tended to be high.
But for the same reason—
Gaining the trust of such people was far more difficult.
They didn't play social games.
Their likes and dislikes were clear and direct.
Under Giyu's watchful gaze, Xia Feng immediately drew his blade and attacked.
Only if Xia Feng attacked first could Giyu demonstrate the technique—
Dead Calm.
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