Chapter Summaries

Gyomei Himejima recounted how a demon killed the children he cared for after one betrayed their shelter, and how the surviving girl accused him of murder despite his protecting her. He was imprisoned until Ubuyashiki saved him, leaving him wary of others and children in particular.

• Gyomei described growing up poor and blind, then finding kindness among the monks who raised him and the orphans he later took in.
• A child who encountered a demon extinguished the temple's wisteria incense and let the demon inside in exchange for his own escape.
• The demon killed four children, while three others fled and were slain; Gyomei fought it barehanded until dawn to protect Sayo, the youngest child.
• After the demon vanished, Sayo pointed to Gyomei as the murderer, and the people who arrived had him imprisoned.
• Ubuyashiki saved Gyomei from execution, and Gyomei explained that the incident left him distrustful despite his kindness.
• Kanae wondered about Xia Xi's past, while Xia Xi thought he recognized the name Sayo.

Xia Xi helped Gyomei confront his fear of learning what Sayo meant when she identified him after the temple massacre. Gyomei began to question his long-held assumptions but asked for more time before deciding whether to see her.

• Shinjuro reminded Xia Xi that Sayo and Yan Zi had visited his home in Tokyo to thank Xia Xi for saving them.
• Gyomei broke down at the news that Sayo was alive and said he did not want to disturb her life.
• Xia Xi suggested Gyomei feared discovering that Sayo was innocent and that his resentment toward other children had been misplaced.
• Gyomei recalled Sayo's kindness and began to question whether she had actually accused him or had been misunderstood.
• Xia Xi told Gyomei he had cured Sayo after she nearly died of a high fever, and Gyomei asked for more time to consider seeing her.

Xia Xi’s medicinal formula left Tengen Uzui unusually energized, prompting a series of late-night spars that drew in several Hashira. As the fighting rumbled outside the estate, Kagaya Ubuyashiki and Amane shared a tender moment, grateful for the changes Xia Xi had brought to their lives.

• Tengen Uzui reacted strongly to the medicinal bath and demanded a spar, so Xia Xi persuaded Shinjuro to give him a punishing lesson.
• Kazetoriin and Kanae, also flushed from the medicine, took Xia Xi away to spar while Gyomei stayed behind.
• The Hashira fought late into the night, and their clashes disturbed Kagaya Ubuyashiki and Amane.
• Amane joked with Kagaya, then silenced him when he tried to credit Xia Xi, and Kagaya thanked her for her years of support.
• Amane reflected that Xia Xi’s restorative prescriptions seemed effective even though he could not remove Kagaya’s curse.

After a grueling battle, Xia Xi resumed drilling the Hashira and unveiled the Combat Puppets, including the Thunder Type Twelve. He let Shinjuro test the puppet, which surprised the Flame Hashira with a dirty stomp.

• Xia Xi trained alone at dawn, then resumed swordsmanship drills with the Hashira as they woke.
• A Kakushi member named Yanyi Taro arrived with three crates containing the Combat Puppets, and the Hashira gathered around to see them.
• Xia Xi handed Yanyi Taro the keys and arranged for Shinjuro to test the Thunder Type Twelve with a Bokken.
• Yanyi Taro activated the puppet and instructed it to attack Shinjuro.
• The Thunder Type Twelve clashed with Shinjuro's Bokken, then stomped on his instep while his attention was on its two arms.

Xia Xi’s Combat Puppet impressed the Hashira with its strength, and several tested themselves against it before departing the Ubuyashiki estate. On the third morning, Kagaya Ubuyashiki approached Xia Xi to ask about the puppet called Yoriichi.

• Shinjuro fought the Combat Puppet, but Xia Xi stopped him before he could damage it, and Kazetoriin took over the sparring.
• Kazetoriin, Kanae, and Tengen Uzui each tested the puppet, while Shinjuro judged it strong enough to threaten most Lower Rank demons when paired with an experienced swordsman.
• Xia Xi told Shinjuro that the puppet fighting Kazetoriin was roughly a LV.2 Pro+ Version and estimated a higher-level version could reach 0.8 to 1.5 Kazetoriins in strength.
• Over the next few days, the Hashira sparred with the puppet and Xia Xi and used medicinal baths; Shinjuro, Tengen Uzui, Kanae, and Kazetoriin then left on their duties.
• Kagaya Ubuyashiki found Xia Xi on the third morning and asked him about the Combat Puppet called Yoriichi.

Xia Xi discussed producing a limited number of elite Combat Puppets for the Demon Slayer Corps, and Ubuyashiki asked him to protect the Corps if he died. Xia Xi promised to defeat Muzan Kibutsuji and clear the game.

• Xia Xi told Ubuyashiki that he could build Combat Puppets in small batches, but not mass-produce them.
• Xia Xi proposed making elite puppets modeled on the Breathing Styles and equipping them with support weapons, while Ubuyashiki planned to assign them to Hashira and important strongholds.
• Ubuyashiki reflected on how much Xia Xi had strengthened the Demon Slayer Corps and admitted he wished he could have made him family.
• Ubuyashiki thanked Xia Xi for giving everyone hope and asked him to protect the Demon Slayer Corps if he was no longer alive.
• Xia Xi reassured Ubuyashiki and promised to defeat Muzan Kibutsuji.

Xia Xi and Gyomei set off for the Northern Borderlands together, planning to stop in Tokyo, while Kyojuro refined his New Breathing Style and encouraged Senjuro to practice. The chapter ended with Xia Xi arriving at the Rengoku estate.

• Gyomei asked the Kakushi to take him with Xia Xi to the Northern Borderlands so he could train, and Xia Xi teased him about secretly wanting to visit Tokyo.
• Xia Xi agreed to stop in Tokyo to see his little brother, and Gyomei acknowledged that he had heard about Shinjuro's eldest son.
• Kyojuro practiced Total Concentration with his New Breathing Style and used its Second Form to cut through falling leaves without disturbing those outside his path.
• Senjuro praised Kyojuro and imitated his sword movements, so Kyojuro patiently corrected his posture and resolved to help him learn.
• Xia Xi called from outside the Rengoku estate's gate, and Kyojuro and Senjuro recognized his voice.

Xia Xi and Gyomei arrived unannounced at the Rengoku estate, where Xia Xi reunited with Ruka and the boys. He tested Kyojuro’s advanced Blazing Breathing in a spar, and the chapter ended with Kyojuro pressing his attack while Xia Xi evaded him.

• Xia Xi and Gyomei visited the Rengoku estate, and Xia Xi greeted Kyojuro, Senjuro, and Ruka.
• Ruka said Shinjuro had left on a mission, while Xia Xi explained that he and Gyomei were heading to the Northern Borderlands and planned to stay briefly.
• Xia Xi learned that Kyojuro had not yet taken Final Selection because Shinjuro wanted him to master Total Concentration: Constant first.
• Xia Xi agreed to test Kyojuro’s training and sparred with him barehanded as Kyojuro attacked with Total Concentration.
• Kyojuro used Blazing Breathing’s First Form, Warm Sun, but Xia Xi shifted aside and avoided the sweeping strike.

Kyojuro showed Xia Xi his self-developed Shikai, a blazing sequence of twenty-seven slashes, but Xia Xi effortlessly countered it and praised his swordsmanship. When Kyojuro asked Xia Xi to guide Senjuro, Xia Xi reassured the boys and offered to teach Senjuro Mocha Breathing with a Colt 1903.

• Kyojuro unleashed his Shikai, A Thousand Suns Ablaze, with twenty-seven rapid slashes aimed at Xia Xi.
• Xia Xi stopped Kyojuro's attack with Flowing Water Controls the Empty Circle and praised the boy's swordsmanship.
• Xia Xi told Kyojuro to become a Swordsman and suggested he learn from Gyomei while Xia Xi was away.
• Kyojuro asked Xia Xi to guide Senjuro, who worried that he lacked the talent to become a Swordsman.
• Xia Xi fired his Colt 1903 into a cherry tree and offered to teach Senjuro Mocha Breathing.

Xia Xi visited the Rengoku estate, where Gyomei grew close to Kyojuro and Senjuro, then took him into Tokyo’s slums to search for Sayo. Using the System’s map, Xia Xi found her, and the chapter ended with Gyomei recognizing her.

• Xia Xi let Senjuro try a gun and promised to give him one when he was old enough for Final Selection.
• Gyomei spent two days with Kyojuro and Senjuro, grew fond of the brothers, and offered to teach Senjuro the shakuhachi instead of letting Xia Xi teach him to shoot.
• Xia Xi and Gyomei entered Tokyo’s slums, where Gyomei grieved over the suffering and asked whether Xia Xi could fix it if he ruled the country.
• Xia Xi and Gyomei found Sayo’s old hut deserted, so Xia Xi used the System’s Unscrupulous Map to track her down.
• Xia Xi and Gyomei reached a shack where Nobuko recognized Xia Xi as her savior, and Gyomei recognized the little girl with her as Sayo.

Xia Xi brought Gyomei to meet Sayo and Yan Zi, reuniting the monk with the girl whose mistaken accusation had sent him to prison. Sayo explained that she had never meant to accuse him, and Gyomei listened as she apologized and described how she had tried to find him.

• Xia Xi, Gyomei, Sayo, and Yan Zi gathered in Yan Zi’s shack, where Yan Zi nervously protected Sayo from Gyomei.
• Gyomei struggled to speak to Sayo, and Xia Xi urged him to ask her what he wanted to know.
• Gyomei asked whether Sayo had been well and why she had identified him that night.
• Sayo broke down and apologized, explaining that she had pointed toward the demon beneath Gyomei rather than accusing him.
• Sayo told Gyomei that she had tried to correct the adults and visit him in prison, but learned that someone had taken him away.
• Gyomei listened through his tears and told Sayo that she had suffered.

Gyomei reunited with Sayo and learned that her childhood accusation had come from fear, not malice, allowing them to reconcile. After sharing his past, he explained that he had become an S-class demon-slaying hero, while Xia Xi claimed to be the Corps’ strongest.

• Gyomei told Sayo that he understood she had suffered, and admitted that his own fear and anger had made him doubt her.
• Yan Zi shielded Sayo when Gyomei reached toward her, but Gyomei reassured them that he was not angry and only missed Sayo.
• Gyomei recounted how monks had raised him and how he later cared for orphaned children, then apologized to Sayo for once resenting her.
• Yan Zi let Gyomei approach Sayo, and he gently patted her head as they cried and made up.
• Xia Xi explained that Gyomei had joined the demon-slaying organization and become one of its strongest S-class heroes.
• Xia Xi said he was the Corps’ strongest and suggested Yan Zi spar with Gyomei, but she declined.

Xia Xi agreed to take Sayo and Yan Zi to the Northern Borderlands, where Yan Zi would train to join the Demon Slayer Corps and Sayo could help others. Gyomei offered to fund an orphanage near Xia Xi’s dojo, and his resolve caused his Energy Level to rise sharply.

• Yan Zi asked to join the Demon Slayer Corps so she could earn enough to build a home with Sayo and eventually an orphanage for homeless children.
• Gyomei urged Xia Xi to take Yan Zi and Sayo, offering to fund an orphanage near Xia Xi’s dojo.
• Gyomei explained that Sayo would stay in the Northern Borderlands because his Hashira duties kept him too busy to care for her.
• Xia Xi agreed to train Yan Zi under Persimmon and let Sayo pursue support work while staying near Gyomei.
• Gyomei promised to help run the orphanage after the Corps’ mission, and his Energy Level rose to 602 as his resolve strengthened.

Xia Xi brought Sayo, Yan Zi, and Gyomei to Sendai after a joyful train journey, introducing the girls to his Northern Region home. Yukishiro Seiko welcomed them warmly, and the group settled into the dojo as the girls imagined welcoming Xia Xi home after their own future missions.

• Xia Xi took Sayo and Yan Zi shopping in Ginza, then boarded a Special Train with them and Gyomei for Sendai.
• As they neared Sendai, Sayo and Yan Zi grew nervous, and Gyomei reassured them that no one would bully them there.
• Xia Xi brought the group to the Special Duty Ninth Division · Sendai Kendo Dojo, where the guards greeted him as their Captain.
• Yukishiro Seiko explained the Northern Region's title for Xia Xi, welcomed him home, and invited Sayo and Yan Zi inside to their prepared rooms.
• Yan Zi told Sayo she wanted her to prepare tea for her when she returned from missions, and Sayo agreed to prepare it for everyone.

Xia Xi sparred with Gyomei at the dojo, using their fight to demonstrate how Gyomei could adapt Stone Breathing to his exceptional physical strength. The spar intensified after Gyomei saw Sayo watching, leaving Shizi to worry about damage to the dojo.

• Xia Xi and Gyomei prepared to spar with sharpened Nichirin Blades while Persimmon cleared space and the dojo's students watched.
• Xia Xi used Stone Breathing against Gyomei and pointed out that Gyomei's breathing rhythm was rigid and did not make full use of his strength.
• Xia Xi demonstrated ways for Gyomei to adjust his breathing and increase his power, and Gyomei began adapting his technique.
• Xia Xi urged Gyomei to fight seriously and mentioned Sayo, who had come to watch with the girl from the street.
• Gyomei's resolve made his blade blaze crimson, and he and Xia Xi clashed with renewed force as Shizi anticipated repairs to the dojo.

Xia Xi began group training for Yan Zi and tested which Breathing Style best suited her with mechanical breathing correctors. Yan Zi struggled to breathe through the yellow corrector, suggesting Thunder Breathing was a poor fit.

• Xia Xi observed Himejima's Stone Breathing begin to adapt to his exceptional physique during their sparring and training.
• Xia Xi introduced Yan Zi to group training and told her to choose a Breathing Style based on how well it suited her body.
• Xia Xi brought out five breathing correctors designed to test how well trainees adapted to the fundamental Breathing Styles.
• Yan Zi put on the yellow corrector and nearly suffocated before removing it, and Xia Xi concluded that Thunder Breathing did not suit her.

Xia Xi discovered Yan Zi was best suited to Wind Breathing and considered finding her a place in his master’s lineage. When Kuang Jin returned from a mission, Xia Xi judged that Wind Breathing did not suit him and planned to find a better style for him.

• Xia Xi tested Yan Zi’s swordsmanship and found that her wild, cunning fighting style showed traits suited to Wind Breathing.
• Xia Xi asked Persimmon about Kuang Jin and learned that he was away on missions with Makomo.
• Kuang Jin and Makomo returned from their missions, and Kuang Jin proudly greeted Xia Xi.
• Xia Xi compared Kuang Jin’s and Makomo’s abilities and concluded that Kuang Jin needed a Breathing Style better suited to him.
• Xia Xi told Gyomei he would develop a new style for Kuang Jin and later find another suitable Wind Breathing student for Master Kazami.
• Gyomei praised the Northern Borderlands’ training environment, and Xia Xi joked that he would report the compliment to Gyomei’s mountain master.

Xia Xi’s long-awaited dinner delighted the Demon Slayer Corps and the two sisters from Tokyo, whose older sister decided she wanted to stay at the Dojo. After the meal, Xia Xi called Masachika and Makomo to join him for a walk and promised to help them improve their Breathing Styles.

• Makomo told Sayo and Yan Zi that Xia Xi became a god of food at dusk, while Masachika explained she meant his cooking was divine.
• Xia Xi served a fragrant meal, and Yan Zi and the other diners were overwhelmed by its taste.
• A newly arrived boy said the food reminded him of meals with his late mother, prompting the Swordsmen to eat quietly and reminisce about Xia Xi’s cooking.
• Yan Zi told Sayo she wanted to stay at the Dojo, and Sayo said she understood.
• Xia Xi invited Masachika and Makomo on a walk, offering to train Masachika and help Makomo develop her own Breathing Style.

Xia Xi brought Kuang Jin and Makomo to his private courtyard and showed them the power of Dawn Breathing, explaining that Kuang Jin needed to change his training path. He ended the demonstration by preparing to spar with both children and adjust their Breathing Styles.

• Xia Xi reassured Kuang Jin that his hard work mattered and told him that finding the right path could help him grow into a Hashira.
• Kuang Jin demonstrated Wind Breathing, and Xia Xi told him to stop practicing it because his current approach was holding him back.
• Xia Xi rejected Kuang Jin's guess that he would teach Dawn Breathing, then demonstrated its forms with his Nichirin Blade and gauntlets.
• Kuang Jin praised Xia Xi's skill, while Makomo asked why he had recited poetry for only the first few forms.
• Xia Xi avoided answering Makomo and told the two children to spar with him so he could adjust their Breathing Styles.

Xia Xi tested Kuang Jin and Makomo in a spar and advised them on developing new Breathing Styles. Kuang Jin was directed toward Mist Breathing as a foundation, while Makomo recognized that her own Water Breathing could evolve into Rain Breathing.

• Kuang Jin and Makomo attacked Xia Xi together with real blades, but he effortlessly blocked their coordinated strikes until he called a halt.
• Xia Xi praised Kuang Jin's Wind Breathing progress and advised him to learn Mist Breathing before developing a second-generation derivative of Wind Breathing.
• Xia Xi recognized that Makomo's nimble Water Breathing suited the hazy rain and mist of Mount Sagiri, prompting her to consider Rain Breathing.
• Makomo recited a poem from the Man'yoshu, and Kuang Jin resolved to borrow a copy from Sister Kakiko so he could learn poetry too.