"Hehe, let's leave that aside for now."
Shinobu Kocho waved a hand, signaling that she would settle the score later.
After all, there were outsiders here, so saying too much would be inappropriate.
Shinobu Kocho looked at Shinazugawa beside her.
"Mr. Shinazugawa, do you still think asking Mr. Su Chen for advice is embarrassing?"
"Everyone's here now, so hurry up and ask! If everyone goes to Mr. Su Chen later, you won't get a chance~"
Shinazugawa frowned.
Why was she dragging me into this out of nowhere again?!
I, Shinazugawa.
When! When did I ever say I wanted to ask Su Chen anything?!
This woman's heart was even blacker than my Nichirin Blade!
But while that was what he thought,
Shinazugawa did not dare say anything reckless.
He glanced around at everyone and said with a deliberately serious air, "Well, I think this kid Su Chen certainly has talent, but being talented doesn't mean he's good at teaching!"
"Look at Tokito. Wasn't he astonishingly talented back then too? But the results of his teaching left something to be desired."
"So this kid Su Chen still needs to hone himself properly!"
"Only a Hashira can teach a Hashira. Otherwise, that's overstepping your rank!"
Shinazugawa's intentions were perfectly clear: he simply did not want to ask Su Chen for advice.
Coupled with his sharp tone, not a single person present dared argue with him.
Come on, he was the Wind Hashira.
How could he possibly ask a rookie who hadn't even joined the Demon Slayer Corps for advice?!
So he had to phrase things a little more tactfully.
That way, he could gracefully back out.
But Shinobu Kocho just had to undermine him from the sidelines. "Are you afraid you won't understand, Mr. Shinazugawa?"
"What are you talking about?!" Shinazugawa jumped up like a crow that had been plucked bare.
"I'm merely emphasizing the rules of the Demon Slayer Corps! Only a Hashira can teach a Hashira!"
"If Su Chen's teaching really can help a Hashira, I'll ask him!"
Hearing this, Shinobu Kocho gave a meaningful smile.
One moment he said he'd ask if it worked, and the next he said only a Hashira could teach a Hashira.
How was that any different from outright saying, "I'm too proud to admit it, so I won't ask!"?
You clever little thing, you really knew how to work the rules.
"Hehe." Shinobu Kocho gently patted Shinazugawa on the shoulder.
Then, her eyes curving into crescents, she said, "Well, if you can't do it, Mr. Shinazugawa, there's simply nothing we can do!"
"What a shame. Nothing we can do~ Nothing we can do~ Nothing we can do~ Nothing we can do~ Nothing we can do about it~"
With that, Shinobu Kocho fell silent.
Shinazugawa instantly flushed with rage.
The veins on his face bulged one by one in his agitation.
Just as he was about to unleash a torrent of curses,
suddenly,
a rare voice of agreement reached his ears.
"That makes sense! I think Shinazugawa has a very good point!"
The voice was strong and resonant; one could tell just by listening that its owner possessed a deep foundation of strength.
Everyone turned to look.
Shinazugawa whipped his head around excitedly.
Once Su Chen recognized the newcomer, he even walked over enthusiastically.
"Flame Hashira?"
"Mr. Rengoku?"
"Big Brother Rengoku!"
Before everyone's eyes, the Flame Hashira had appeared here from somewhere!
Everyone offered warm greetings at Kyojuro Rengoku's sudden arrival.
Su Chen stepped forward and greeted him amicably. "Big Brother Rengoku, when did you get here?"
Shinazugawa also came over. "Rengoku, what did you just say?"
Faced with their simultaneous questions,
Kyojuro blinked.
Then he chose to answer Su Chen's question first.
"Hahaha, Mr. Su Chen, I arrived a while ago. I also saw everyone sparring just now."
"When I saw your movements, Mr. Su Chen, I knew you'd improved again!"
"Not at all, not at all. It was just luck."
Su Chen waved his hands, looking very modest.
"Big Brother Rengoku, you're here to have the problem with your leg cured for good, right?"
As he spoke, Su Chen instinctively glanced at Kyojuro's leg.
Mm, after yesterday's correction, it was clear that the deterioration had stopped.
Su Chen led Kyojuro toward the house. "Big Brother Rengoku, I'll take you inside now."
"Wait!"
Shinazugawa could no longer hold back.
He looked at Kyojuro and said rapidly, "Rengoku, you agreed with my point just now, didn't you?"
"Yes!" Kyojuro stared wide-eyed, then thought for a moment and added, "But also no."
Shinazugawa was bewildered. "What's that supposed to mean?"
At that moment, Inosuke slowly approached as well, supported by Aoi Kanzaki.
They had only just joined the others when they heard Kyojuro say, "I do think you're right, but I believe Su Chen has the strength of a Hashira and can teach!"
Everyone froze in unison.
Coming from a Hashira, those words carried considerable weight!
A look of realization appeared on Inosuke's face. "No wonder I lost! So Su Geng is a Hashira!"
Then he laughed again. "In that case, I'll just be the second strongest! Heh-gahahaha!"
"Rengoku, how could those words come out of your mouth?!"
It was Shinazugawa who said this.
He stared at Kyojuro with wide eyes.
He could hardly believe that the Flame Hashira would think so highly of Su Chen.
Saying outright that Su Chen had the strength of a Hashira was practically saying he had been blind back then!
"I disagree! I'll say it again: unless Su Chen earns my approval! Otherwise, there's no way he can become a Hashira of the Demon Slayer Corps!"
Shinobu Kocho could not help laughing. "It seems there's nothing you can do even if you disagree, Mr. Shinazugawa. After all, the Master makes that decision~"
Inosuke pointed at Shinazugawa and asked, "Who's this guy?! So full of himself! I really want to beat you up."
Even Kyojuro nodded repeatedly. "Shinazugawa, I think you're targeting Su Chen a little."
At those words, Shinazugawa's eyebrows immediately knitted into a knot.
He had not heard Inosuke's words.
Shinazugawa had automatically filtered out Shinobu Kocho's words as well.
But what Shinazugawa could not understand most was why Kyojuro had also started taking Su Chen's side.
He said irritably, "Rengoku, what exactly did you come here for?"
"You don't look injured at all. Hurry up and go back!"
Then Shinazugawa quietly leaned close to Kyojuro's ear.
He muttered a few words at great speed. "Do me this favor, and I'll handle a few extra missions for you next time!"
Kyojuro nodded, then said in a strong, resonant voice, "Understood! But I'm not here for treatment!"
"Shinazugawa, forgive me, but I can't do you that favor!"
Kyojuro did not notice the change in Shinazugawa's expression at all.
Instead, he turned to everyone and said, "Actually, I came here today to learn!"
The scene instantly fell silent.
Everyone wore a stunned expression.
To learn?
From whom?
Could it be Shinobu Kocho?
After all, there were only three Hashira here. Who was qualified to teach the Flame Hashira?
Wait!
Everyone suddenly caught on and turned to look toward Su Chen.
Before you continue