Impending Farewell

Shinobu Kocho was ready. If Han Zhiqi couldn't hold back, she would save Aoi Kanzaki at the crucial moment. But it seemed unnecessary.

Han Zhiqi also sensed the change in Aoi Kanzaki's mental state. Since she had lost her will to fight, there was no longer any point in continuing.

He dispersed the cold air from his body, angled his wooden sword away from Aoi Kanzaki's tip, and let it fall to the ground.

Han Zhiqi stood up and walked towards the corridor without looking back.

Aoi Kanzaki watched Han Zhiqi's retreating back, her eyes stinging. She dropped her wooden sword and ran away. She couldn't articulate her feelings at that moment, whether it was grievance or something else.

She had lost. Not to the young man before her, but to herself. She had never won before, and it was the same now.

The three from the Butterfly Mansion watching from the corridor didn't understand what had happened. They were fighting so well, why did they stop? Who won? And why did Aoi run off by herself?

"Aoi..."

The three put down their snacks and tried to chase after her, but Shinobu Kocho stopped them.

"Alright, you three don't need to go. Let her be alone for a while."

Hearing this, the three exchanged glances. They vaguely guessed that the young man before them had likely won the duel, and they couldn't help but look at Han Zhiqi again, their previous condescension gone.

Han Zhiqi handed the wooden sword to Shinobu Kocho.

Shinobu Kocho took the wooden sword and then handed it to Kiyo beside her.

"You three tidy up, and then you can go rest."

"Yes, Miss Shinobu."

One person ran to the center of the yard to pick up the wooden sword Aoi had dropped, while the other two began cleaning up the trash in the corridor.

Shinobu Kocho gently stroked her sister Kanao Tsuyuri's hair. "Kanao, help Kiyo and the others tidy up, and then go rest too."

Kanao Tsuyuri turned to look at her sister, picked up the fruit plate from the floor, and ran into the house.

"Han Zhiqi, come with me."

Shinobu Kocho led Han Zhiqi back to the medical room in the backyard and put on a white coat.

"Take off your shirt."

"What?" Han Zhiqi thought he had misheard.

Shinobu Kocho turned around and smiled at the wary Han Zhiqi, thinking to herself that he was indeed just a child.

"What are you thinking, kid? You have a few wounds that have reopened. I need to re-bandage them for you."

Oh... so that's what it is. Following the pain in his body, he saw that the white bandages on his right arm were indeed soaked with bright red blood.

Han Zhiqi relaxed and lowered his head to unbutton his patient gown.

Suddenly, Shinobu Kocho leaned down, her delicate face close to Han Zhiqi.

Han Zhiqi was startled and instinctively leaned back, but he accidentally bumped into the hospital bed behind him, making a "creak" sound.

Meeting those captivating purple eyes, Han Zhiqi's mind went blank. Everything before him was occupied by this strange purple light. He felt as if he were being drawn into it.

"What's there to be shy about? When you first arrived, there wasn't a single good spot on your body, and I personally bandaged them all for you. Kid, are you feeling shy now?" As she spoke, Shinobu Kocho lifted Han Zhiqi's chin with her slender fingers and turned to prepare the medicine.

"Take it off and sit on the bed. Do you need anesthesia?"

The purple light receded, and Han Zhiqi seemed to come back to his senses, breathing again, his pale face flushed red.

"N-no, thank you."

"You're a brave child. I suspect you won't need it either."

Han Zhiqi took off his patient gown and obediently sat on the edge of the bed.

His body was wrapped in bandages, and his shoulders were stained red with blood. He had been in a fighting state all along and hadn't noticed anything unusual. Now that he relaxed, his whole body was filled with indescribable fatigue and pain.

Shinobu Kocho stood in front of Han Zhiqi, found the knot she had tied earlier, and began to unwrap the bandages circle by circle.

Han Zhiqi's body was like a doll pieced together from scraps of cloth, covered in wounds. Now, the sutures in some places had broken open, and blood was flowing out from the wounds. The situation was particularly severe on his right arm, the one he used to wield his sword.

"This... it's this serious?"

Seeing Han Zhiqi's physical condition, Shinobu Kocho was genuinely startled. A trace of guilt welled up inside her. "This is all my fault. I was so eager to see your breathing technique that I overlooked your physical condition for a moment. Your body is like this, don't you feel any pain? It was just a spar, why did you push yourself so hard?"

Shinobu Kocho said this while cleaning Han Zhiqi's wounds.

The two were very close, and Han Zhiqi could even feel Shinobu Kocho's warm breath.

The scent of wisteria was so familiar. He remembered his sister. Whenever he got hurt, his sister would bandage his wounds with a mixture of concern and scolding.

"I wasn't pushing myself. If I were truly pushing myself, I wouldn't have given her any chances."

Shinobu Kocho looked up and glared at him, flicked his forehead, and smiled without saying anything.

Han Zhiqi didn't understand the meaning of her action, but he didn't care.

"Are you going to take me to see that Stone Hashira tomorrow?"

"Why the rush? What, you don't want to stay here? Did I offend you? Or did Aoi and the others offend you?"

Shinobu Kocho leaned her face closer again.

Han Zhiqi nervously averted his gaze and stammered, "N-no, it's not that. Didn't we agree that after you saw my strength, you'd take me to see the Stone Hashira tomorrow?"

Shinobu Kocho chuckled, finishing cleaning his wound. She picked up bandages from the table. "Lift your arm."

Han Zhiqi obediently raised his arm.

Shinobu Kocho began wrapping the new bandages around him in an embrace-like manner.

Han Zhiqi's cheeks couldn't help but flush.

"With your current condition, even if Mr. Himejima were willing to take you, could you immediately start training? Moreover, to become Mr. Himejima's disciple, you first need to become a member of the Demon Slayer Corps. If you don't even qualify to be a member, how can you expect anyone to take you as a disciple? Before that, you still need to undergo training with a cultivator and complete the trial on Mount Fujikasane to become a true member of the Demon Slayer Corps."

"Then... won't that take a very long time?" Han Zhiqi wasn't in the mood to take things step by step. He just wanted to get stronger quickly so he could save his sister.

"I know you want to rescue your sister quickly, but this is something you truly can't rush. Besides, you can't save your sister with your own strength alone. Stay here for a few days and let your injuries heal. I'll arrange the training for you. You don't understand anything right now; what will you use to save your sister? But you can rest assured, I've already distributed your sister's photo to Demon Slayer Corps members in various locations. They will notify us immediately if there's any news."

Han Zhiqi thought about it and realized that was the only way. With their help, it was better than him running around blindly like a headless chicken. Moreover, he really needed more systematic training, like the breathing techniques they mentioned.

By the time the bandages were changed, it was late at night. After bidding farewell to Shinobu Kocho, Han Zhiqi returned to his room alone.

For the next three days, Han Zhiqi had nothing to do. Shinobu Kocho lent him several books about demons and breathing techniques.

Through reading, he gained a basic understanding of the journey he was about to embark on.

On the night of the third day, Han Zhiqi received a notification from Shinobu Kocho. The next morning, he was to pack his belongings and she would take him somewhere to receive guidance from a cultivator.