Return to the Butterfly Mansion

Han Zhiqi thought to himself, So that old man told her everything.

The mention of it only made Han Zhiqi angrier, but he knew it wasn't Shinobu Kocho's fault. In the end, he'd just overthought things himself.

"Turn around, I need to change clothes."

Han Zhiqi bent down to pick up the coarse linen clothes from the bluestone slab. He looked up at Shinobu Kocho, his tone no longer as cold.

The faint scent of wisteria from Shinobu Kocho's body seemed to possess a magical quality that bewitched him.

"Here, I brought them for you."

Shinobu Kocho produced a bag from behind her and handed it to Han Zhiqi. Inside was the outfit he'd worn when he first arrived on the mountain, including the white haori, now freshly cleaned.

Han Zhiqi paused, looking at the coarse linen clothes in his hand, then at the bag in Shinobu Kocho's hand. He didn't take it, casually remarking, "Were you on the mountain? How did you get these?" He lowered his head, continuing to put on the coarse linen clothes.

"Why are you still wearing these linen clothes?"

"I still have training tonight, it's inconvenient to wear that outfit. What did you come here for? You didn't just come to deliver clothes, did you?"

Han Zhiqi tied his waist with a rope while chatting with Shinobu Kocho. Dressed in the coarse linen clothes, he looked exactly like a farmer from the mountains.

Seeing Han Zhiqi's appearance, Shinobu Kocho couldn't help but chuckle, covering her mouth.

"I must say, you look the part. You truly are Mr. Aoyanagi's disciple, becoming more and more like him. The Fujikasane Mountain selection is the day after tomorrow. I've already spoken with Mr. Aoyanagi. I'll take you back to the Butterfly Mansion tonight. You can rest tomorrow, prepare the items needed for the selection, and I'll also remove the stitches from your wounds."

So that's how it is, Han Zhiqi thought, looking up towards the mountaintop.

During his time training on White Dragon Mountain, he was grateful for the old man's care, especially during the first two weeks when he was weak. The old man had helped him with everything, from eating and drinking to his daily needs.

Now that it was time to part, he felt a pang of reluctance. Even if he had to leave, he should at least have said goodbye. Leaving so quietly made him feel guilty, though he knew the old man wouldn't mind.

"You can go back first. I'll come to the Butterfly Mansion myself later." Han Zhiqi said, then started walking towards the mountaintop.

Shinobu Kocho called out to him from behind, stopping him.

"If you're planning to go up the mountain to say goodbye to Mr. Aoyanagi, there's no need. Mr. Aoyanagi asked me to pass on a message."

Han Zhiqi stopped. "What message?"

Shinobu Kocho cleared her throat, pinched her throat, tilted her head back, and mimicked Lang Beiwèi's manner of speaking. With an arrogant expression, she pointed disdainfully at the ground and said in a gruff voice, "Little Butterfly, go tell that impolite fellow that there's no more rice on the mountain. If you pass the selection, remember to buy a bag of rice and bring it up. If you don't pass, don't bother coming up the mountain and wasting food."

"Pfft, haha." Before she could finish, Shinobu Kocho burst into laughter, doubling over with tears nearly streaming from her eyes. She quickly waved her hand.

"Oh my, you men are so strange. Even words of care have to be spoken so indirectly and subtly. It's utterly baffling."

While Shinobu Kocho was amused, Han Zhiqi was mortified, wishing he could disappear into the ground.

That old geezer, what nonsense!

"Don't you go spouting nonsense here. Who said I was going to say goodbye to him? I was... I was..."

Han Zhiqi stammered, unable to explain himself.

But Shinobu Kocho wouldn't let him off the hook, circling him and persistently questioning him, seemingly intent on seeing him flustered and embarrassed.

"What is it? What is it? I didn't expect our Xiao Qi to be so cold on the outside but warm on the inside."

"Who... who's cold on the outside and warm on the inside? I can't talk to you."

Han Zhiqi quickened his pace downhill, wanting only to get away from this strange woman.

"Oh my, you're even getting shy now."

Laughter and playful shouts echoed from within the woods.

At the mountaintop, Lang Beiwèi stood alone with his hands behind his back in the cold wind. Darkness slowly crept up the sky, eventually enveloping the entire land below.

In the darkness, light is needed as a guide, and he, for Han Zhiqi, was that guiding light.

Trainers were the guiding lights for all newcomers.

It was past midnight when he returned to the Butterfly Mansion. Everyone else was already asleep, which suited Han Zhiqi just fine, as it saved him the awkwardness of meeting them.

Those chattering women didn't like him, and he didn't particularly like them either. However, there was one exception: Kanao Tsuyuri.

Han Zhiqi was now quite curious about how Kanao Tsuyuri was doing. Had she found any other interesting things to occupy herself while he was away?

To avoid the inconvenience of sharing a room with other girls, Shinobu Kocho specifically took Han Zhiqi to the backyard.

The backyard was where she usually conducted her experiments. She lived there alone, and it was relatively quiet.

Han Zhiqi's room was next to Shinobu Kocho's. The room had likely been cleaned earlier in the day, with simple furniture neatly arranged and a set of brand-new toiletries.

Shinobu Kocho placed the bag containing his clothes by the bedside, reminded him to get some rest, and then turned to leave the room.

Sensing everything around him, Han Zhiqi felt an inexplicable surge of emotion. He didn't know if this woman treated him this way, or if she treated all Demon Slayer Corps members the same.

Without the wild mountain winds and the old man's thunderous snoring, Han Zhiqi found himself somewhat unaccustomed to the quiet. He lay on the bed, staring at the ceiling in a daze for a while. Then, he activated his breathing technique and continued practicing "Total Concentration: Constant." Before long, he drifted off to sleep.

The next morning, Han Zhiqi continued his routine from the mountain.

He woke up at five in the morning, put on his coarse linen clothes, and went out for a run. Without any weights, he casually picked up a stone of similar weight from the yard and carried it on his back.

Fortunately, it was still early, and there weren't many people on the road. Even so, his appearance drew stares and whispers from passersby, who thought some village lunatic had escaped.

It wasn't until six-thirty that Han Zhiqi returned to the Butterfly Mansion. As he pushed open the gate, he happened to encounter Xiao Qing, who was sweeping the yard.

At first, Xiao Qing thought he was from the waste disposal company coming to collect garbage. She called out a couple of times, but received no response. Only then did she notice the silver hair, which seemed familiar.

As she stepped forward and got a clear look at Han Zhiqi's flushed, sweat-drenched face and the large stone on his back, Xiao Qing froze on the spot.

Miss Shinobu had said a new resident would be coming to the Butterfly Mansion; could that new resident be him?

Under Xiao Qing's stunned gaze, Han Zhiqi placed the stone on his back back into its original position. Then, as if by habit, he clapped his hands and walked towards the backyard.

This left Xiao Qing alone, broom in hand, bewildered in the wind.

Not long after, two others arrived beside Xiao Qing, each carrying tools.

"What are you spacing out for? Thinking about some handsome guy again?"

"What handsome guy? That person is back."

"That person? Which person?"

"The one who called us scoundrels. I just saw him walk into the yard carrying a big stone on his back, that very stone."

"Carrying a stone? Why would he carry a big stone?"

"Could he really have a problem with his head and be back to recuperate?"

"Is this the time to discuss that? The problem is, he's back!"

"..."

The three of them abandoned their sweeping and began to chatter excitedly amongst themselves.