Back on the Demon Slayer Corps' side…
Rengoku's proposal to create a "Xia Feng Protection Plan" had failed once again, leaving him a little disappointed.
Fortunately, he had a big heart and quickly got over it.
After Kagaya Ubuyashiki announced the end of the meeting, Rengoku stood up to leave.
But Xia Feng suddenly called out to him.
"Big Eyes, stay a moment."
Xia Feng raised a hand and waved at him.
Rengoku Kyojuro: "…"
Big Eyes?
What kind of nickname was that?
It sounded extremely malicious!
Even though he felt both amused and helpless, he still stopped.
"What is it, Mr. Xia Feng?"
Xia Feng looked at him.
"I heard from Ubuyashiki that you're going to investigate a train."
Hearing that it was about work, Rengoku immediately became serious and nodded.
"Yes. The train is called the 'Mugen Train.' In a very short time, more than forty people have mysteriously disappeared on it. The swordsmen we sent to investigate also never returned. So the Master has assigned me to look into it."
Xia Feng nodded.
If nothing unexpected happened, this would be Rengoku's final mission.
Xia Feng actually liked Rengoku quite a lot as a character.
If he could save him—
He planned to give it a try.
With that thought, he turned to Kagaya Ubuyashiki.
"For Rengoku's mission, I'll join it too. I'll bring Tanjiro with me."
Kagaya was slightly surprised.
"Did you hear some information?"
Xia Feng shook his head.
"No. Just a feeling."
"My intuition tells me this mission is extremely dangerous. Even a Hashira could end up dying."
If someone else said this, Kagaya might not have taken it too seriously.
But Xia Feng was someone who had already fought two Upper Ranks in direct encounters.
His intuition couldn't be ignored.
After thinking for a moment, Kagaya nodded.
"I understand. If there's anything I can help with, please tell me anytime."
Rengoku blinked.
"If the mission is truly that dangerous, bringing the young Kamado boy might be…"
If Xia Feng considered it dangerous, then an Upper Rank-level enemy might appear.
Rengoku worried that Tanjiro might be caught in the crossfire.
Xia Feng waved his hand.
"Don't worry. Tanjiro is already a Hashira candidate now. He can help."
Since Xia Feng said so, Rengoku simply nodded.
After confirming contact arrangements, Rengoku said goodbye and left.
After he left, Kagaya looked at Xia Feng.
"I'm sorry, Mr. Xia Feng. Because of my stubbornness, even in such a tense situation, you're still bearing so much responsibility alone."
Xia Feng smiled indifferently.
He stood up and stretched lazily.
Then he suddenly thought of something.
"Didn't you say just now that if there's anything you can help with, I should just ask?"
Kagaya was slightly surprised but nodded.
"Yes. Anytime."
Xia Feng grinned.
"In that case, how about giving me some salary or bonuses?"
"I did kill an Upper Rank, after all. That should count as pretty good performance."
Kagaya: "..."
This request was full of points worth complaining about.
Killing an Upper Rank was an unprecedented achievement.
You could even call it legendary.
And for something that huge…
You're just asking for money?
Kagaya couldn't help laughing.
"If you need money, there's no need to justify it like that. The Ubuyashiki family still has many businesses and savings after all these years. Just tell Amane directly."
"Nice. Straightforward."
Xia Feng gave Kagaya a thumbs-up.
A short while later…
Xia Feng walked out of the Ubuyashiki estate carrying a giant sack.
Shinobu: "…"
She had been waiting outside for him.
Seeing Xia Feng like this left her completely confused.
"Xia Feng-kun… what is that?"
Shinobu leaned closer, trying to peek into the sack.
Xia Feng grinned mysteriously and showed her the inside.
Shinobu took one look and immediately felt speechless.
The bag was filled with money.
Xia Feng had actually gone to the Master… to ask for money.
Shinobu laughed helplessly.
"If you needed money, couldn't you just ask me?"
Xia Feng shook his head.
"That wouldn't work. I'm a grown man. How could I ask you for money?"
Shinobu: "..."
Who was the one earlier saying I should protect him?
She resisted the urge to complain and sighed.
"You'll get exhausted carrying such a huge sack all the way back."
Xia Feng blinked.
Then he suddenly ran off with the bag.
"Wait here!"
A few minutes later—
He returned empty-handed.
"All set. I stored it away!"
He said happily.
Shinobu: "!"
This time she was genuinely shocked.
That entire sack of money had disappeared!
She subconsciously glanced at Xia Feng's stomach.
Did he… eat it?
Wouldn't that cause a stomachache?!
Seeing her gaze, Xia Feng immediately knew what she was thinking.
"Don't overthink it. It's a superpower."
Shinobu thought about Xia Feng's long list of bizarre abilities and decided not to ask further.
Everyone had secrets.
Xia Feng just happened to have… a lot more than most.
…Actually, maybe more than "a lot."
She sighed.
No matter how unreliable Xia Feng seemed sometimes—
She had already fallen for him.
Even if she didn't like some parts of him…
What could she do?
Such was the helplessness of life.
Soon after, the two returned to the Butterfly Estate.
From far away, they could already hear loud shouting inside.
Xia Feng's eyelid twitched.
He walked into the treatment room.
As expected—
The one causing the commotion was the blond boy.
Zenitsu Agatsuma.
Zenitsu was staring at Tanjiro with wide eyes as if looking at a monster.
"Y-Y-Y-You actually became Kinoe rank?!"
"And you're even a Hashira candidate?!"
"Is that real?!"
"You've got to be kidding!!!"
Tanjiro looked extremely troubled.
He had expected Zenitsu would react like this.
That's why he hadn't planned to say anything.
But the three girls—Kiyo, Sumi, and Naho—heard the news and ran over to admire the "legendary hero."
And since Zenitsu shared the same ward…
The secret was instantly exposed.
Just as Tanjiro was about to say something—
Two figures entered the room.
One of them was Xia Feng.
Tanjiro's eyes lit up, about to greet him—
But another voice cut him off.
"NO SHOUTING IN THE WARD!!!"
Aoi Kanzaki's voice was so loud that Zenitsu nearly fell off his bed.
Looking at Aoi standing there righteously like a strict class monitor, Xia Feng couldn't help sighing.
Such a cute girl…
How exactly did she end up becoming this little disciplinarian…?
🌟 The story is already written… waiting to be unleashed.
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