So The Demon Slayer Corps is an Illegal Armed Organization

Finally, under the sisters' resolute determination, Gyomei Himejima agreed to the two young girls' request. At the same time, Yu Luo finally learned the sisters' names: the gentle one was the elder sister, named Kanae Kocho, and the younger sister was Shinobu Kocho.

"Say your final goodbyes to your parents," Yu Luo said, sitting on the corridor as he addressed the Kocho sisters. "They were good people, a pity."

Looking at the two mangled corpses lying in the courtyard, the sisters' grief overwhelmed them. Just half a day ago, their entire family was enjoying a happy reunion, but now they were separated by death.

"Waaah... Father... Mother..." The two sisters sobbed uncontrollably as they lay on the broken bodies, tears streaming down their faces. Yu Luo's heart felt heavy. If only he were stronger, if only he could have found the Oni's tracks sooner, perhaps this tragedy could have been avoided.

Gyomei Himejima lowered his head, his right hand fiddling with his prayer beads, chanting words as if to guide the couple's souls. Tears also streamed down his face. By the time the moon was high in the sky, the sisters' cries had turned into hoarse sobs. Yu Luo couldn't bear to watch any longer and patted Kanae Kocho's shoulder.

"Crying any longer will harm your bodies. Let's bury your parents first."

"Th... Thank you..." Kanae Kocho, still sobbing, thanked Yu Luo. She wiped the tears from her face with her sleeve and, with red eyes, pulled up her sister, Shinobu Kocho.

"Waaah... Waaah..." Shinobu Kocho also stood up, sobbing. Tears shimmered in her pale purple eyes as she quietly said to Yu Luo, "I... I'm sorry, I take back... what I said before. You're a... good person."

Upon hearing this, Yu Luo smiled gently at Shinobu Kocho. While they were crying, Yu Luo and Gyomei Himejima had already dug two deep pits in the courtyard and carefully placed the couple's mangled bodies inside. The sisters, still weeping, buried their parents with their own hands.

"How does it feel to get the 'good person' card from little girls?" the System chimed in unseasonably, teasing Yu Luo. Unfortunately, Yu Luo was in a somber mood and had no desire to engage with the System. The System, finding itself rebuffed, disappeared once more.

The couple's bodies were gradually buried by the soil, leaving two small mounds standing in the dilapidated courtyard. Stones were placed around the mounds, and two wooden tombstones stood in front of the graves. Crooked handwriting adorned them, written by the sisters themselves, conveying their feelings.

"Alright, gather anything else you need to bring. I'll take you to a Trainer," Gyomei Himejima said, placing his right palm over his chest and addressing the sisters kneeling before the graves.

"A Trainer? Aren't you sending them directly to the Demon Slayer Corps?" Yu Luo asked curiously.

Gyomei Himejima, whether explaining to the Kocho sisters or Yu Luo, said, "Trainers are people who specialize in cultivating demon-slaying swordsmen. Only those recognized by a Trainer can participate in the Demon Slayer Corps' selection process. Passing the selection means truly joining the Demon Slayer Corps."

"So troublesome..." Yu Luo muttered with a hint of disdain. However, Gyomei Himejima didn't seem offended, or rather, he didn't pay Yu Luo's words much mind. He simply explained calmly:

"These are all to minimize losses to the greatest extent possible. These rules were set by the current Master of the Demon Slayer Corps."

He then looked at the Kocho sisters and repeated, "Is there anything you need to take with you?"

Kanae Kocho and Shinobu Kocho exchanged a glance before shaking their heads. "We don't have anything to pack."

"Then let's depart."

"Hey, monk, how much further is it?" In the fields, two adults and two children walked along a dirt path. Golden grain fields stretched on both sides, and a gentle breeze stirred waves of gold. Yu Luo's Raikiri, with its futuristic hilt, was strapped to his waist, attracting considerable attention, though the three accompanying him were already accustomed to it.

Gyomei Himejima remained as stoic as ever, unfazed by Yu Luo's impatient words, walking steadily forward. Kanae Kocho, walking behind, kindly advised, "Master Gyomei already said we're almost there. Please be patient."

Yu Luo pouted and glanced at Gyomei Himejima's retreating back, muttering, "He's been saying that for three days, and we're still traveling."

"Life is a form of training," Gyomei Himejima's voice drifted from ahead, reaching Yu Luo's ears. "Traveling can temper the body and mind; it's a suitable form of training for you all."

"Yes!" Kanae Kocho and Shinobu Kocho responded in unison, quickening their steps, which had slowed due to fatigue. Yu Luo helplessly smacked his forehead. "You two are probably being completely fooled by him!"

Despite his words, Yu Luo also picked up his pace, walking beside Gyomei Himejima and striking up a conversation. "By the way, that Trainer you mentioned who's very suitable for me, is he very powerful?"

The night they left, Gyomei Himejima had said he would send the Kocho sisters to a suitable Trainer. Yu Luo took the opportunity to ask about his own Trainer. At the time, Gyomei Himejima had told him, "I've thought about it carefully. There's a senior who's very suitable for you, and he doesn't have any disciples right now. It's also on the way."

"How is he suitable?" Yu Luo's interest was piqued by Gyomei Himejima's words. "Is he very powerful?"

"It's not a question of whether he's powerful. He's truly rare. Most Trainers cultivate disciples from a young age. He, however, emphasizes talent, so he's very suitable for you."

Afterward, the four of them traveled for six or seven days. However, since the Kocho sisters were still children with limited stamina, they couldn't travel for long periods, nor could they take mountain paths. Thus, Gyomei Himejima chose the main roads and always found villages to stay in, taking good care of the two sisters. This made Yu Luo look at him with newfound respect. He hadn't expected that beneath such a muscular physique lay such gentleness towards children.

"We're almost there," Gyomei Himejima said, a phrase Yu Luo had grown tired of hearing. Yu Luo sighed and dejectedly followed behind Gyomei Himejima, heading towards the destination that was supposedly "almost there" but whose actual distance remained unknown.

After an unknown amount of walking, a small town appeared before the four of them. It was a scene of peace and harmony, with people on the streets wearing happy smiles. Vendors called out their wares along the roadside, and passersby occasionally cast curious glances at the strange group. However, Yu Luo had already sheathed Raikiri before entering the town, so no panic ensued.

"The sword ban is really troublesome," Yu Luo said, following behind Gyomei Himejima. "Speaking of which, do Demon Slayer Corps members have any privileges, like being allowed to carry swords?"

"The Demon Slayer Corps is an organization that fights Oni, and it has existed for hundreds of years." The one who answered was not Gyomei Himejima. The voice came from behind them, causing Yu Luo and the Kocho sisters to turn around in surprise.

Standing behind them was a short old man, only about as tall as Shinobu Kocho. A large scar ran across his left cheek, his hair and beard were white, and he leaned on a cane. His right leg was not flesh and blood but a prosthetic.

The old man looked at Yu Luo, who had asked the question, his eyes stern. Yu Luo suddenly felt a little scared and instinctively took a step back.

"Slaying evil Oni is the sole consideration for a demon-slayer swordsman," the old man said meaningfully in a deep voice. Yu Luo immediately understood, and his burning desire to retort overpowered the old man's imposing presence. He directly pierced through the facade, saying, "In other words, the Demon Slayer Corps isn't an officially recognized armed organization, right...?" Yu Luo looked speechless. "How do I feel like you guys are going to fail sooner or later?"

"We will never fail!" the old man shouted angrily, banging his cane hard on the ground. Several white marks appeared on the bluestone slabs. "As long as there are Oni, the Demon Slayer Corps will never perish!"

The old man's fiery words startled Yu Luo into silence. The old man then looked unhappily at Gyomei Himejima and asked impolitely, "Is this annoying brat here with you, Stone Pillar?"