The following morning.
Deep in the mountains where the Demon Slayer Corps Headquarters is located, the morning light, like golden silk, drapes across the forest.
The winding stone steps slowly descend from the mountaintop to the foot of the mountain, flanked by lush, densely growing trees.
At this moment, two figures were walking step by step down the Yamashita on the stone steps.
Kanae wore a light and airy team uniform, with a colorful butterfly-patterned haori draped over it.
The haori shimmered slightly in the sunlight, as dazzling as real butterfly wings, swaying gently with her steps, adding to its graceful movement.
Kanae turned her head, her gentle eyes filled with the image of the boy.
" Teiichi, after you leave this time, I'm afraid we won't see each other again until the Hashira Meeting after the New Year!"
Upon Teiichi, Ding Yi couldn't help but feel a ripple in his heart. He looked up at the distant horizon, where there was a vast and boundless sky.
"Yes!"
"Speaking of the Lunar New Year," Kanae changed the subject, "I remember last year you spent the Lunar New Year with everyone at the Butterfly Mansion. So, does Teiichi have any special plans for this year?"
Teiichi gently shook her head. "No, I don't have any relatives Ueya in this world. I'll probably be spending the New Year alone."
Upon hearing this Kanae nodded, lowered her head in silence for a moment, and then slowly asked.
"Would Teiichi have disliked the atmosphere at the Butterfly Mansion during last year's Lunar New Year?"
Upon hearing Kanae's words, Teiichi quickly replied, "Of course I don't dislike it! I really enjoy the New Year's atmosphere at the Butterfly Mansion!"
Upon hearing Teiichi's words, Kanae lowered her head, patting her chest lightly with one hand, as if trying to muster her courage.
Suddenly, Kanae turned to look at Teiichi and said:
"If, I mean if... if Teiichi doesn't have any missions during the Lunar New Year this year, then you might consider spending the New Year at the Butterfly Mansion!" The voice was soft but unusually firm.
After saying these words, Kanae's cheeks flushed slightly, as delicate and beautiful as a blooming peach blossom.
She quickly turned her head away, not daring to look Teiichi in the eye, her heart pounding like a drum, as if it were about to burst out of her chest.
At this moment, she completely lacked her usual gentle, quiet, and poised demeanor when facing ordinary people; instead, she resembled a shy, innocent, and adorable young girl.
Teiichi turned his head and looked at Kanae's shy expression, and couldn't help but smile.
"Yeah! If I don't have any missions, I'll definitely go! But I'll have to trouble Kanae again!"
"Just..." Upon hearing Teiichi's words, Kanae immediately turned her head, only to meet Teiichi gaze before quickly turning away again. "It won't be troublesome at all! Besides, Shinobu will come to help me!"
Speaking of Shinobu Kocho, Teiichi immediately pictured her vulnerable appearance from a few days ago. Teiichi's thought, he said, "By the way, when I was sparring with Shinobu the other day, she told me about you persuading her to leave the team!"
Upon hearing this, Kanae's gaze narrowed slightly, and she asked softly, " Teiichi- kun think what I did was right or wrong?"
After Teiichi consideration, Dingyi gently replied, "As the older sister, your desire to protect your younger sister is completely understandable; there's no right or wrong in it. Your motivation stems from love, which is beyond reproach."
He paused for a moment, then continued in a softer tone:
"However, this is only from your perspective."
As for Ren, her feelings for you are equally deep. In some situations, she would rather you be safe and sound than just herself.
Your love is mutual and profound, just expressed in different ways. You want her to stay away from danger, while she longs to fight alongside you and share the burden.
Kanae nodded slightly, a complex emotion flashing in her eyes, and whispered:
I know that my sister and I both want to protect each other.
but.
The talent for ninjutsu...
If we encounter Upper Rank in the future, perhaps...
"If you're worried about your talent for endurance, then I think you don't need to think about it so much."
Ren is only weak in strength, but as you know, she is very fast.
However, she has largely made up for her weakness by using Insect Breathing and her unique methods of killing demons.
She has a real talent for speed; I even feel that in a few years, no one in the Demon Slayer Corps except me will be able to match her speed.
Upon hearing this, Kanae's eyes flashed with surprise and relief. "Is Shinobu's talent really that outstanding?"
Teiichi, his expression settling on something.
"Certainly.
As for your concern about the Upper Rank issue...
All I can say is that, compared to other pillars, it is balanced but lacks outstanding talent.
On the contrary, Shinobu, with her exceptionally high speed, has a better chance of fighting Upper Rank.
Are you kidding me?
Kanae looked at Teiichi in disbelief.
She believed it when people said that Shinobu had talent and could become a Pillar in the future.
After all, she knew that her younger sister did indeed have a remarkable talent for speed.
But what Teiichi didn't expect was that...
His own sister had a better chance of taking down the Upper Rank than anyone else.
Teiichi nodded. " The Upper Rank's strength is all-encompassing. Against such an enemy, superior but well-rounded talent is far less advantageous than excelling in one particular area!"
Upon hearing this, Kanae smiled wryly and said, "Powerful in every way...?"
Teiichi and continued, "Just think about it."
One of the pillars, who has practiced Breathing Style and sword forms for decades.
In the end, they may have feared death, succumbed to the temptation of immortality, or been forced to become ghosts.
Even after becoming a demon, he will still use Breathing Style and sword techniques, building upon that foundation.
He also possesses Blood Demon Art and a body that can quickly recover from injuries.
Even more frightening is...
He may have hundreds of years to hone his skills.
If we were facing such an enemy...
Do you think it's something an average genius could catch up to in decades of practice?
Upon hearing Teiichi's words, Kanae felt a wave of fear wash over her, followed by a sense of relief.
"Fortunately, the most talented members of our Demon Slayer Corps are not afraid of death; they are even willing to sacrifice themselves to slay demons."
"..."
Teiichi looked at Kanae silently.
No, one in history became a ghost, and there will be another in the future.
The two chatted as they walked to the foot of the mountain.
Teiichi looked at Kanae and said:
"Oh, by the way, Kanon went on a mission while I was at the Butterfly Mansion. If she comes back later, please give her my regards!"
Kanae nodded.
"Yes, I will!"
The two stood there silently gazing at each other for a while.
Teiichi, "Then I'll be going now. Contact Kasugai Crow!"
Kanae nodded. "Yes! Contact Kasugai Crow."
[Kasugai Crow:???]
Teiichi stood there silently watching Kanae's departing figure until it disappeared from sight before turning and walking towards the nearest city with a train station.