Recaps

Su Chen met Akaza aboard the train and listened as Akaza recalled his human life as Hakuji. Akaza’s memories reached the start of his relationship with Koyuki, but his account was still unfinished.

• Su Chen waited aboard the train and welcomed Akaza when he arrived, knowing Akaza was coming.
• Akaza told Su Chen that he had recovered his memories from when he was human.
• Akaza recalled stealing to buy medicine for his ill father and learning martial arts at Keizo’s dojo.
• Akaza described meeting Koyuki, protecting her from the Kendo Dojo’s master’s son, and agreeing to marry her.
• Akaza asked Su Chen if he had ever dated a girl, then continued by recalling taking Koyuki to see fireworks.

Akaza told Su Chen how Hakuji had lost Koyuki and his master, and Su Chen revealed that Akaza was free of Muzan’s curse and offered him a chance to atone. Akaza agreed to help locate Muzan, kill Doma, and drive out the demons, though Su Chen warned him not to act alone.

• Akaza recounted how the kendo dojo poisoned the well at the Soryu dojo, killing Koyuki and his master, and how he slaughtered the dojo in revenge.
• Su Chen listened to Akaza’s story and told him he would not kill him.
• Akaza discovered that Muzan’s curse had vanished, and the falling snow reminded him of Koyuki.
• Su Chen told Akaza that he had to atone by providing places where Muzan appeared, luring Doma out, and cooperating with the Demon Slayer Corps to drive out the demons.
• Akaza eagerly agreed, and Su Chen instructed him to follow a plan and not act alone.

Su Chen and Akaza agreed to work together against Doma, with Su Chen refusing to let Akaza deliver the final blow. When Akaza’s hunger became unbearable, Su Chen gave him some of his blood, only to discover that his Marechi blood made Akaza drunk and might test his resolve not to eat people.

• Su Chen told Akaza he was speaking to Hakuji, and Akaza agreed to cooperate with him.
• Akaza asked to kill Doma himself, but Su Chen refused and said he would finish Doma off.
• Akaza shared information about Doma and Muzan before hunger overwhelmed him.
• Su Chen told Akaza to eat animals and seek help from Tamayo, then used the Transparent World to transfuse a small amount of blood into his stomach.
• Su Chen realized his Marechi blood had made Akaza drunk and could intensify his hunger.

After Akaza stopped receiving marechi blood, he thanked Su Chen and promised to stop eating people and seek out Tamayo. Su Chen absorbed changes from Akaza’s blood, gained a deeper understanding of Destructive Death, and left Akaza stunned by copying his techniques and developing new ones.

• Akaza thanked Su Chen, promised to stop eating people, and agreed to find Tamayo; Su Chen warned him not to eat people and suggested he eat wild game on the road.
• Akaza asked Su Chen to call him Hakuji, but changed his mind when Su Chen reminded him that Koyuki would be left a widow.
• After Su Chen stopped supplying blood, the blood he had absorbed from Akaza began changing his body and strengthening his demon power and Blood Demon Art mastery.
• Su Chen unconsciously unleashed Destructive Death techniques, including Blue Silver Chaotic Afterglow, leaving Akaza convinced Su Chen had learned them from him.
• Su Chen’s insights combined Destructive Death with Breathing Styles, producing the Destructive Asura sword style and the techniques Destructive Death: Compass Needle and Perception Compass Needle.

Su Chen evolved Destructive Death into the Destructive Asura Sword Style and improved his Perception Compass Needle. After ordering Akaza to seek Tamayo’s cooperation, Su Chen began searching his memories for Doma’s Mimicry in hopes of learning the Blood Demon Art himself.

• Su Chen awakened to his upgraded Perception Compass Needle and Destructive Asura Sword Style after receiving Akaza’s blood, and he felt his body growing stronger.
• Su Chen stopped Akaza from jumping off the moving train and instructed him to drive it back to the station, then find Tamayo and seek her cooperation.
• Akaza admitted that he had never learned Mimicry, so Su Chen abandoned the plan for him to imitate the encounter that had led Tanjiro to Tamayo.
• Su Chen had Akaza drive toward the Butterfly Mansion while he activated the Transparent World, Reversion State, and Memory Palace to search for Doma’s Mimicry and consider learning it himself.

Su Chen entered the Memory Palace to study Doma’s mimicry, but his disgust at Doma’s face led him to divert his attention into practicing his Breathing Styles. He awakened two new Dragon Breathing forms and then gained new insights into Total Concentration Breathing.

• Su Chen explored the expanded Sea of the Mind and used the Memory Palace to revisit his memories of meeting and fighting Doma.
• Su Chen tried to study Doma’s face for clues about his mimicry, but the sight made him nauseous and he struggled to keep watching.
• Su Chen shifted his attention to practicing his Breathing Styles and deduced new forms from Thunder, Dragon, Destructive Death, Flame, Wind, and Thunder Breathing.
• Su Chen awakened Wind Dragon Form and Flame Dragon Form, causing the sky above the Memory Palace to divide into four domains with dragons representing his Breathing Styles.
• Su Chen gained new insights into Total Concentration Breathing and began tempering his cells by controlling oxygen throughout his body.

Su Chen developed Total Concentration-Thousand-Machine and used it to reconstruct Doma’s Mimicry, briefly changing his face into Doma’s. Akaza mistook him for Doma, and Su Chen later failed to teach Akaza how to mimic faces before their train reached the station.

• Su Chen pushed his cells to their limits, discovered the vitality of the surviving cells, and gained Total Concentration-Thousand-Machine.
• Using the new technique, Su Chen studied Doma’s face and reconstructed Mimicry in his Memory Palace.
• Su Chen changed his face into Doma’s while riding the train, and Akaza nearly attacked him after mistaking him for Doma.
• Su Chen demonstrated Mimicry to Akaza and tried to teach him, but Akaza could not learn it.
• Akaza explained that Muzan had recruited him, and Su Chen lamented Akaza’s lack of aptitude as the train neared the station.

Su Chen helped Akaza reshape his face and urged him to find Tamayo and follow their plan. In the Infinity Castle, Muzan reviewed Akaza’s memories, recognized Su Chen’s dangerous swordsmanship, and discovered that Akaza had regenerated after being decapitated.

• Su Chen taught Akaza to control his regeneration and helped him form a presentable face before dawn.
• Su Chen parted from Akaza, telling him to find Tamayo, follow their plan, and atone for his sins.
• Muzan questioned Nakime when Akaza failed to answer her summons, then examined Akaza’s memories.
• Muzan saw Su Chen decapitate Akaza with a Nichirin Blade and noticed his flowing movements and tangible flames.
• Muzan feared Su Chen might resemble Yoriichi Tsugikuni, then discovered Akaza had regenerated his head after being decapitated.

Muzan learned that Akaza had escaped his control and ordered Nakime to summon Doma and Kokushibo. Su Chen returned to the Butterfly Mansion, where Kanao Tsuyuri helped him escape a crowd of eager Corps members.

• Muzan realized Akaza had betrayed him over Koyuki and ordered Nakime to summon Doma and Kokushibo.
• Su Chen arrived at the Butterfly Mansion and checked that he had not brought his backpack back.
• Kiyo opened the door and announced Su Chen's return, drawing a crowd of Corps members who had come hoping to see him.
• Su Chen tried to flee the excited crowd, but Kanao Tsuyuri took his hand and led him away.
• The crowd realized Su Chen was gone and returned to the Butterfly Mansion in frustration.

After returning, Su Chen reunited with Kanao, who cried with relief and took him to the Ubuyashiki Residence. Lady Amane told him Kagaya was unwell and announced a special Hashira Meeting in a few days, excusing Su Chen if he needed to rest.

• Su Chen stopped Kanao in the grove and reassured her that he had returned safely.
• Kanao confessed how much she had missed Su Chen, then embraced him and cried.
• Kanao told Su Chen that her master had instructed her to bring him to Oyakata-sama, and she led him to the Ubuyashiki Residence.
• Lady Amane explained that Kagaya was unwell and praised Su Chen for the Demon Slayer Corps' historic victory.
• Lady Amane announced a special Hashira Meeting and told Su Chen he could skip it if he needed to rest.

Su Chen returned to the Butterfly Mansion and hid the backpack Tanjiro had brought back before anyone could discover its revealing contents. Shinobu Kocho and Shinazugawa waited in the cold for a delayed train, and Shinobu spotted one approaching.

• Su Chen found that Tanjiro had brought his backpack back from the train and stopped Kiyo from opening it.
• Su Chen claimed the backpack held dirty clothes, then hid it in his room after Kiyo and Kanao Tsuyuri insisted he should not throw it away.
• Su Chen learned that Shinobu Kocho had gone looking for him and wondered where she had gone.
• Shinazugawa waited at the station for two days for a delayed train, hoping to return to the Demon Slayer Corps and question Su Chen.
• Shinobu Kocho joined Shinazugawa at the station, and the two waited together in the cold.
• Shinobu Kocho spotted a dark shape and smoke in the distance and said the train was coming.

Shinazugawa and Shinobu Kocho encountered a powerful, tattooed demon near the train, which fled before they could identify it. After boarding the Mugen Train, they discovered it had returned without a driver, reported the strange events to the Corps, and waited as the train staff assigned a replacement driver.

• Shinazugawa leaped onto the arriving train and confronted a demon near its front, but it escaped.
• Shinazugawa told Shinobu Kocho the humanoid, tattooed demon had seemed stronger than him, though it bore no numbers in its eyes.
• Shinazugawa and Shinobu Kocho boarded the train and realized it had no driver or passengers when they first entered.
• Shinobu Kocho learned the train was the Mugen Train and sent the news to Corps headquarters with a Dish Crow.
• A passenger reported the missing driver, and the person in charge assigned a new one.

Akaza avoided Shinazugawa and entered the Entertainment District in disguise, while Su Chen cleared the Butterfly Mansion of patients and received the girls’ admiration. Shinobu Kocho returned to find the entrance unanswered, heard that Su Chen was inside, and tried to sneak into her own home from the back so he would not see her disheveled.

• Akaza fled when he saw Shinazugawa, then changed his face and walked into the Entertainment District.
• Su Chen used his voice-acting skill to persuade the patients at the Butterfly Mansion to leave and train instead of waiting for him.
• Kiyo, Sumi, Xiao Caihui, Aoi Kanzaki, and Kanao Tsuyuri praised Su Chen for solving the congestion problem.
• Shinobu Kocho returned to the Butterfly Mansion in a bedraggled state and found that nobody answered the door.
• After hearing the girls praise Su Chen inside, Shinobu Kocho worried about being seen in her current state and crept toward the back entrance.
• Su Chen gave Kanao Tsuyuri a few pointers and sent her back to sword practice.

Su Chen sensed Shinobu Kocho sneaking into the Butterfly Mansion and caught her after she failed to climb the backyard wall. He put the exhausted Shinobu to sleep and prepared to massage her, while Aoi Kanzaki, Kiyo, Sumi, and Xiao Caihui helped care for her.

• Su Chen used his Perception Compass Needle and Transparent World to discover someone climbing the backyard wall and recognized Shinobu Kocho.
• Shinobu Kocho, exhausted from running back from the mountains, tried several times to climb into the Butterfly Mansion without being seen.
• As Shinobu Kocho fell from the wall, Su Chen caught her and carried her inside.
• Su Chen used his massage techniques to put Shinobu Kocho to sleep, then took her to her room.
• Aoi Kanzaki, Kiyo, Sumi, and Xiao Caihui changed and bathed Shinobu Kocho, while Su Chen prepared to massage her.

Su Chen massaged Shinobu Kocho after rescuing her when she collapsed from exhaustion, using his Demon Hand Massage and Transparent World to warm her cold body. Shinobu woke that evening feeling unusually warm, then learned from Kiyo that Su Chen had brought her back and worried that he knew she had tried to sneak in over the wall.

• Kiyo, Sumi, and Xiao Caihui asked Su Chen to teach them massage, but he reminded them they had massaged him before and refused.
• Su Chen removed Shinobu Kocho's shoes and socks, found her feet extremely cold and blistered, and suspected the wisteria toxins in her body were responsible.
• Su Chen entered the Transparent World and began using Demon Hand Massage on Shinobu Kocho.
• Shinobu dreamed that Su Chen was massaging her, then woke in her room feeling warm and rested.
• Kiyo told Shinobu that she had fainted outside the Butterfly Mansion and Su Chen had rescued her; Shinobu recalled trying to climb over the wall and feared he knew about it.

Shinobu Kocho realized Su Chen had brought her back rather than betrayed her, then learned he had come to give her another massage. She overcame her embarrassment and agreed, telling Su Chen that no one had ever touched her feet before; he reassured her that tonight would be the first time.

• Shinobu Kocho realized Su Chen had found her and brought her back, and hid her surprise from Kiyo.
• Kiyo told Shinobu Kocho that Su Chen would soon arrive to give her another treatment.
• Su Chen came to Shinobu Kocho's room and explained that he would give her a massage.
• Su Chen sent Kiyo outside after realizing Shinobu Kocho was embarrassed about being seen during the massage.
• Shinobu Kocho agreed to the massage but admitted she was nervous because no one had ever touched her feet.
• Su Chen told Shinobu Kocho that tonight would be the first time, leaving her visibly stunned.

Su Chen massaged Shinobu Kocho's feet and tried to slow the spread of the wisteria poison in her body. Outside her room, Kiyo stopped Murata from barging in, while their overheard conversation left them unsure what was happening.

• Shinobu Kocho blushed and let Su Chen take hold of her foot for a massage.
• Su Chen noticed Shinobu Kocho's ankle was stiff and applied more pressure, easing her discomfort while seeking to slow the spread of her poison.
• Kiyo met Murata outside Shinobu Kocho's room and told him that Su Chen was treating her inside.
• After hearing Shinobu Kocho cry out, Murata feared she was in danger, but Kiyo stopped him from entering.
• Su Chen continued the massage as Shinobu Kocho hid beneath the covers, embarrassed by her reactions.

Su Chen's massage of Shinobu Kocho led him to develop a new skill, Sacred Massage Hand, while Shinobu realized she had fallen for him. The next morning, Su Chen returned to treat her feet, and Shinobu asked why he kept insisting on massaging them.

• Murata decided not to interrupt Su Chen and Shinobu Kocho's massage and left the Butterfly Mansion, while Kiyo remained confused by his remarks.
• Su Chen completed Shinobu Kocho's massage and gained the new skill Sacred Massage Hand.
• After Su Chen left, Shinobu Kocho felt the warmth lingering in her feet and realized she could not sleep because she was excited and drawn to him.
• The next morning, Su Chen returned with Aoi Kanzaki to massage Shinobu Kocho's feet, and the two exchanged a knowing smile after Aoi left.
• Shinobu Kocho asked why Su Chen kept massaging her feet, and he replied that it was because she was sick, which she immediately denied.

Su Chen revealed that Shinobu Kocho’s body was deteriorating from her use of wisteria poison and urged her to accept treatment rather than die seeking revenge on Doma. Shinobu agreed to continue treatment, and Su Chen entered the Transparent World to study the blood flow in her foot.

• Su Chen used Sacred Massage Hand on Shinobu Kocho’s foot, and the pain made her realize how seriously ill she was.
• Shinobu Kocho confessed that she wanted revenge for her sister and admitted she had accepted dying to kill Doma.
• Su Chen told Shinobu Kocho he had already fought Doma and promised that Doma would be his next prey.
• Su Chen reminded Shinobu Kocho of the Butterfly Mansion residents who depended on her, and she asked him to help her.
• Shinobu Kocho checked Su Chen for injuries after learning he had fought Doma, then agreed to receive treatment.
• Su Chen began treating Shinobu Kocho and entered the Transparent World to examine the blood vessels in her foot.

Su Chen treated Shinobu Kocho while Aoi Kanzaki and Murata waited outside, and Shinobu asked him about his visit to Kyogoku House. The chapter ended with Su Chen comforting Shinobu after she became jealous and teary-eyed.

• Su Chen massaged Shinobu Kocho’s injured foot as Aoi Kanzaki listened outside the room.
• Murata arrived hoping to see Su Chen, but left after Aoi told him Su Chen was treating Shinobu.
• Su Chen asked Shinobu whether she had gone looking for him, and she initially avoided answering.
• Shinobu asked Su Chen about his visit to Kyogoku House, and Su Chen admitted he had gone.
• Shinobu became jealous and began to cry, so Su Chen wiped her tears and asked whether she thought he was that kind of man.

Su Chen used Reversion State and Transparent World to analyze Shinobu Kocho and guess what had happened at Kyogoku House. His investigation let him combine the abilities into the Time Domain, and he began rewinding his memory of entering the house.

• Shinobu Kocho refused to tell Su Chen why Shinazugawa had gone to Kyogoku House, so Su Chen wagered that the loser would obey the winner for several days.
• Su Chen activated Reversion State and Transparent World to examine Shinobu Kocho and trace her recent activity.
• Su Chen reviewed his memories of the Entertainment District and his visit to Kyogoku House, analyzing Hinatsuru and the other people there.
• Su Chen's Reversion State advanced, and he combined it with Transparent World to comprehend the Time Domain and simulate the flow of time in his mind.
• Su Chen rewound his memory of meeting Hinatsuru at Kyogoku House, reversing the movements of the people and the scene itself.

Su Chen used his Time Domain to reconstruct Shinobu Kocho and Shinazugawa’s visit to Kyogoku House, then collapsed from the strain. After waking in Shinobu’s care, he panicked when she produced a familiar black backpack and asked what he was hiding.

• Su Chen sped up and retraced time in his room, reconstructing Shinobu Kocho and Shinazugawa’s conversation at Kyogoku House.
• Su Chen deduced that his hidden stash had not been exposed, but the effort caused a nosebleed and he collapsed onto Shinobu Kocho’s foot.
• Su Chen woke in the evening in Shinobu Kocho’s room and learned that he had fainted after his nose began bleeding.
• Shinobu Kocho questioned Su Chen’s embarrassed reaction, then brought out a black backpack that looked like the one in his room.

Su Chen tried to keep Shinobu Kocho from opening a backpack full of black stockings by claiming it held materials for a new blade. Shinobu agreed to visit the Swordsmith Village with him the next day, while Su Chen hid the backpack again.

• Shinobu Kocho told Su Chen that Aoi Kanzaki had found his backpack while cleaning and brought it to her, believing it contained a surprise for the Butterfly Mansion.
• Su Chen stopped Shinobu Kocho from opening the backpack and claimed it held materials for a blade he planned to have forged for her at the Swordsmith Village.
• Shinobu Kocho accepted Su Chen's explanation and agreed to leave with him the next day.
• After Su Chen left, Shinobu Kocho examined a pair of black pants from the backpack and wondered why he had been so afraid of her wearing them.
• Su Chen hid the backpack in a sealed box, buried it in the courtyard, and returned to his room to meditate.

Su Chen reflected on his new Time Domain ability and remembered that Shinobu Kocho had agreed to follow his instructions after losing their bet. Meanwhile, Shinobu tried to figure out how to wear the black stockings he had given her and finally recognized their intended use.

• Su Chen reviewed his massage skills and criticized himself for nearly exposing his secrets, bleeding from the nose, and fainting in front of Shinobu Kocho.
• Su Chen examined his new Time Domain, realizing it let him revisit memories and slow his perception of the surroundings during combat.
• Su Chen remembered that Shinobu had lost their bet and planned to enjoy her following his instructions.
• Shinobu tried wearing the black stockings on her head, hands, and legs, but could not work out how they were meant to be worn.
• Shinobu decided to change her usual outfit for her trip to the Swordsmith Village and recalled seeing similar stockings on Hinatsuru.
• Shinobu realized the black stockings might be worn on her legs.

Su Chen planned to take Kanao Tsuyuri to the Swordsmith Village and forge Nichirin Blades suited to their strength. When Kanao asked about training, Su Chen offered to correct her Overlord Flower Breathing and teach her another Breathing Style, leaving her surprised but reassured.

• Su Chen met Kiyo, Sumi, Xiao Caihui, and Aoi Kanzaki before finding Kanao Tsuyuri training in the courtyard.
• Su Chen agreed to take Kanao Tsuyuri to the Swordsmith Village and forge a Nichirin Blade for her and one for himself.
• Kanao told Su Chen her Nichirin Blade felt too light, and he concluded her Overlord Flower Breathing had made her stronger.
• Su Chen promised to forge Kanao a blade suited to her strength and offered to correct her movements and teach her a new Breathing Style.
• Kanao doubted she could learn anything besides Flower Breathing, and Su Chen reassured her that she could.