Departure Imminent

Shinobu Kocho had already prepared herself. If Han Zhiqi failed to hold back, she would save Aoi Kanzaki at the critical moment, but it seemed that would not be necessary.

Han Zhiqi also sensed the change in Aoi Kanzaki's state of mind. Since she had lost the will to fight, there was no need to continue.

The chill around him dissipated as his wooden sword knocked aside Aoi Kanzaki's blade and struck the ground.

Han Zhiqi rose to his feet and headed beneath the eaves without looking back.

Watching Han Zhiqi's retreating figure, Aoi Kanzaki's eyes suddenly burned. She threw down her wooden sword and ran off. She could not put into words what she was feeling—wronged, perhaps, or something else entirely.

She had lost—not to the boy before her, but to herself. She had never won. Not in the past, nor now.

The Butterfly Mansion trio watching from beneath the eaves did not understand what had happened. They had been fighting so well, so why had they suddenly stopped? Who had won? And why had Sister Xiao Kui run off on her own?

"Sister Xiao Kui..."

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

"Enough, you three. Don't go after her. Let her be alone for a while."

Hearing that, the three exchanged glances. They vaguely guessed that the boy before them had likely won the duel, and they could not help looking at Han Zhiqi a few more times. Their earlier disdain was gone.

Han Zhiqi handed the wooden sword to Shinobu Kocho.

Shinobu Kocho accepted it, then handed it to Xiao Qing beside her.

"You three clean this up, then go get some rest."

"Yes, Miss Shinobu."

One of them ran to the middle of the courtyard to pick up the wooden sword Aoi Kanzaki had discarded, while the other two began clearing away the trash beneath the eaves.

Shinobu Kocho gently stroked her younger sister Kanao Tsuyuri's hair. "Kanao, help Xiao Qing and the others clean up, then go rest as well."

Kanao Tsuyuri glanced at her sister, picked up the fruit platter from the floor, and ran into the room.

"Han Zhiqi, come with me."

Shinobu Kocho led Han Zhiqi back to the medical room in the rear courtyard and changed into a white coat.

"Take off your shirt."

"What?" Han Zhiqi thought he had misheard.

Shinobu Kocho turned around and smiled at the wary-looking Han Zhiqi. He really is still a child.

"What are you thinking, brat? Several of your wounds have opened up. I'm going to bandage them again."

S-So that was it. Looking toward the places where his body hurt, he saw that bright red blood had indeed seeped through the snowy-white bandage on his right arm.

Han Zhiqi relaxed and lowered his head to begin unbuttoning his patient gown.

Suddenly, Shinobu Kocho bent down, her delicate face drawing close to his.

Han Zhiqi jumped in fright and instinctively backed away, only to accidentally bump into the hospital bed behind him. It let out a strange, creaking squeal.

Meeting those bewitching violet eyes, Han Zhiqi's mind went blank. Everything before him was swallowed by that eerie purple glow, and he felt as though he were being drawn into it.

"What's there to be embarrassed about? When you first arrived, there wasn't a single part of you that was in good shape. I bandaged all of you myself, brat. And now you're getting shy?" As she spoke, Shinobu Kocho lifted his chin with a slender finger before turning to prepare the medicine.

"Take it off, then sit on the bed. Do you need anesthetic?"

As the violet glow receded, Han Zhiqi seemed to regain his soul and began breathing again. His pale face had flushed crimson.

"N-No."

"What a brave child. I guessed you wouldn't."

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

His body was wrapped in bandages, and the ones around his shoulders had already been stained red with blood. He had been fighting the entire time and had not noticed anything unusual, but now that he had relaxed, indescribable exhaustion and pain flooded every part of his body.

Standing before him, Shinobu Kocho found the knots she had tied earlier and unwound the bandages layer by layer.

Han Zhiqi's body looked like a doll pieced together from scraps of torn cloth, covered from head to toe in wounds. The stitches in some places had already burst open, blood flowing from them. His sword-wielding right arm was in particularly terrible condition.

"Th-This is so serious?"

Seeing Han Zhiqi's condition, Shinobu Kocho was genuinely startled. A trace of guilt rose within her. "This is all my fault. I wanted so badly to see your Breathing Style that I overlooked your physical condition for a moment. You're injured this badly—can't you feel the pain? It was only a spar. Why did you push yourself so hard?"

As she spoke, Shinobu Kocho cleaned Han Zhiqi's wounds.

They were extremely close, and Han Zhiqi could even feel Shinobu Kocho's warm, moist breath.

The scent of wisteria was so familiar. He thought of his sister. Whenever he had been hurt in the past, she too would bandage his wounds like this, half concerned and half reproachful.

"I wasn't pushing myself. If I had truly gone all out, I wouldn't have given her any chance at all."

Shinobu Kocho raised her head and shot him a glare, then flicked his forehead with a finger and smiled without saying anything.

Han Zhiqi did not understand what that gesture meant, but he did not care either.

"Will you take me to see that Stone Hashira tomorrow?"

"Why are you in such a hurry? What, do you dislike staying here that much? Have I made you dislike me? Or did Aoi and the others make you dislike them?"

Shinobu Kocho leaned her face close again.

Han Zhiqi hurriedly averted his gaze and stammered, "N-No. Didn't we agree that after you saw my strength, you would take me to meet the Stone Hashira tomorrow?"

Shinobu Kocho giggled. After finishing with the wounds, she took bandages from the table. "Raise your arm."

Han Zhiqi obediently raised his arm.

In a posture almost like an embrace, Shinobu Kocho began wrapping fresh bandages around him.

Han Zhiqi's cheeks could not help growing hot.

"With your current condition, even if Mr. Himejima were willing to take you in, could you begin training immediately? Besides, to become Mr. Himejima's disciple, you must first become a member of the Demon Slayer Corps. If you do not even qualify to join the Demon Slayer Corps, how can you ask someone to take you as a disciple? Before that, you still need to undergo training under a cultivator and complete the trial at Mount Fujikasane before becoming a true member of the Demon Slayer Corps."

"Then... wouldn't that take a long time?" Han Zhiqi had no patience for taking things step by step. All he wanted was to become stronger quickly so he could save his sister.

"I know you want to save your sister quickly, but this cannot be rushed. And you cannot save her with your own strength alone. Stay here for a few days and recover from your injuries. I'll arrange your training afterward. You don't understand anything right now—what will you use to save your sister? But don't worry. I've distributed your sister's photograph to Demon Slayer Corps members across the country. The moment there is any news, they will notify us immediately."

Han Zhiqi thought about it and realized this was his only choice. Having their help was better than wandering everywhere like a headless fly on his own. Besides, he truly needed more systematic training, such as the Breathing Styles they kept talking about.

By the time the bandages had been changed, it was already late at night. After saying goodbye to Shinobu Kocho, Han Zhiqi returned to his ward alone.

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

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

On the third night, Han Zhiqi received notice from Shinobu Kocho. He was to pack his things the next morning, and she would take him somewhere to receive instruction from a cultivator.