"Haha, let's not talk about that for now."
Kochou Shinobu waved her hand with a sweet, knowing smile. She was signaling that she would definitely settle scores with Kanao later, but with outsiders present, it wasn't the appropriate time. Her smile remained perfectly in place, but her gaze shifted, landing squarely on the Wind Hashira.
"Shinazugawa-san, do you still think asking Su Chen-san for help is such a shameful thing?" she chimed, her voice light and teasing. "Everyone is here now, so you should hurry up and ask! If everyone else starts lining up to look for Su Chen-san later, you might not get your chance~"
Shinazugawa's deep frown returned instantly. Why is this suddenly about me again! he raged internally. I, Shinazugawa Sanemi! When did I ever say I wanted to ask that guy for anything?! He shot a dark look at Shinobu. This woman's heart is even blacker than her Nichirin blade!
But that was a thought he would never dare say out loud. Instead, he scanned the crowd with his sharp, scarred eyes, his expression shifting to one of feigned seriousness. "I think Su Chen's talent is good, I'll admit that," he said gruffly. "But good talent doesn't mean he's a good teacher!"
He crossed his arms, leaning back. "Look at Tokito! His talent was amazing, wasn't it? But the teaching effect was... underwhelming. So Su Chen still needs to hone himself properly! Only a Hashira can teach a Hashira. Anything else is overstepping the rules!"
Shinazugawa's intention was perfectly clear: he was not going to ask Su Chen for help. His tone was sharp and final. Coupled with his aggressive reputation, no one present dared to refute him. He was the Wind Hashira. What would it look like for him to ask a newcomer—someone who hadn't even officially joined the Demon Slayer Corps —for advice? He had to find a way to make a graceful exit, and hiding behind the rules was the easiest way.
But Kochou Shinobu, as always, couldn't resist poking him. "My, my, Shinazugawa-san... you're probably just afraid you won't be able to understand the lesson, isn't that it?"
"What nonsense!" Shinazugawa shot up, looking as flustered and angry as a plucked Kasugai Crow. "I'm just emphasizing the rules of the Demon Slayer Corps! Only a Hashira can teach Hashira-level content! If Su Chen's teaching can really have an effect on a Hashira... then fine! I'll go ask!"
Hearing this, Kochou Shinobu's smile became even more meaningful. Oh, this is too easy, she thought. One moment he says he'll ask if it's effective, the next he says only a Hashira can teach another Hashira. How is that any different from just screaming, "I'm too proud and I'm not going to ask!"?
"Hehe." Kochou Shinobu gently, almost condescendingly, patted Shinazugawa's shoulder. Her eyes curved into crescents. "Well, since Shinazugawa-san can't do it, then I guess there's nothing that can be done, is there!" She sighed dramatically. "What a pity. Oh well, no way, no way, no way~"
After that final tease, Shinobu fell silent, letting her words hang in the air.
Shinazugawa instantly turned a furious shade of red. The veins on his temples and forehead popped out, throbbing with his agitation. He opened his mouth, ready to burst into a string of curses.
Suddenly, a new voice cut through the tension.
"That makes sense! I think what Shinazugawa said makes a lot of sense!"
The voice was loud and full of unstoppable vigor, the kind that could only belong to someone with profound strength. Everyone in the courtyard immediately turned to look for the source.
Shinazugawa whipped his head around, his anger replaced by excited surprise. Su Chen recognized the person instantly and walked over enthusiastically.
"Flame Hashira?" "Rengoku-san?" "Rengoku Big Brother!"
In everyone's sight, standing there with his signature wide, bright smile, was Kyojuro Rengoku. The Flame Hashira had appeared as if from nowhere. His presence was like the sun breaking through clouds, and everyone offered a warm greeting.
Su Chen stepped forward and greeted him warmly. "Rengoku Big Brother, when did you get here?"
Shinazugawa immediately leaned in, pushing past the others. "Rengoku, what did you just say?"
Facing both questions at once, Kyojuro blinked his wide, intense eyes. He then chose to answer Su Chen first, turning his bright smile on him.
"Hahaha, Su Chen-san! I arrived a little while ago! I saw the end of everyone's sparring just now!" he boomed. "When I saw your movements, I knew it right away! Su Chen-san, you've improved again!"
"Not at all, it was just luck," Su Chen replied, waving his hand humbly. "Rengoku Big Brother, are you here this time to completely cure your leg problem?"
As he spoke, Su Chen subconsciously glanced down at Kyojuro's leg. He noted that after yesterday's corrective treatment, the deterioration had clearly stopped. The leg looked much more stable. Su Chen gestured toward the Butterfly Mansion. "Rengoku Big Brother, I'll take you inside right now and we can get started."
"Wait a moment!" Shinazugawa barked, unable to hold back any longer. He got right in front of Kyojuro, his expression intense. "Rengoku, you just said you agreed with my point, right?"
"Yes!" Kyojuro declared, his eyes wide and earnest. He then paused for a moment in thought before adding loudly, "But not entirely!"
Shinazugawa was completely confused. "What do you mean, 'not entirely'?"
At that moment, Inosuke, still grumbling, was being supported by Kanzaki Aoi as he limped over to the group. Just as he joined the circle, he heard Kyojuro say, "I think what you said about the rules is right! But I also believe that Su Chen already has the strength of a Hashira and is qualified to teach!"
Everyone froze. A dead silence fell over the courtyard. Coming from the mouth of any Hashira, this was a shocking statement. But coming from Rengoku Kyojuro, who was known for his blunt honesty, it carried an immense amount of weight.
Inosuke's boar mask tilted, as if he'd had a sudden realization. "Oh! No wonder I lost! So Su Geng is a Hashira!" Immediately after, he threw his head back and started laughing loudly. "Hahaha! Since that's the case, then Lord Inosuke will just be the second strongest! That's fine by me!"
"Rengoku, how can you say something like that!" Shinazugawa shouted. He stared at Kyojuro with wide, disbelieving eyes. He absolutely could not believe that the Flame Hashira would give Su Chen such a high evaluation. To directly say Su Chen had the strength of a Hashira... wasn't that the same as saying he, Shinazugawa, was blind for not seeing it?
"I don't agree!" Sanemi snarled. "I still stand by what I said: unless Su Chen can gain my approval, it's impossible for him to become a Hashira of the Demon Slayer Corps!"
Kochou Shinobu couldn't help but laugh lightly. "Ara, ara~ It seems Shinazugawa-san's disagreement doesn't really matter, since the final decision is made by Oyakata-sama~"
Inosuke pointed a finger at the Wind Hashira. "Who is this guy! He's so arrogant! The great Lord Inosuke really wants to beat you up!"
Even Kyojuro nodded repeatedly, his expression serious. "Shinazugawa, I agree. I think you're being a bit biased against Su Chen-san."
Hearing all of this, Shinazugawa's eyebrows furrowed into a tight knot. He hadn't even heard Inosuke's shouted threat; he simply dismissed it. He also automatically filtered out Kochou Shinobu's teasing, as he always did. But what Shinazugawa couldn't understand, what truly bothered him, was why Kyojuro was also starting to favor Su Chen.
He turned on the Flame Hashira and said grumpily, "Rengoku, what exactly are you even here for? Looking at you, you don't look injured at all! Just hurry back to your patrol!"
Immediately after, Shinazugawa quickly leaned into Kyojuro's ear. He mumbled a few sentences very quickly, his voice low and urgent. "Give me a break this one time, Rengoku. I'll help you take on more missions next time, I swear!"
Kyojuro nodded, showing he'd heard. Then, he straightened up and said with his usual full vigor, "I understand! But I am not here for treatment! Shinazugawa, I'm afraid I can't give you this favor!"
Kyojuro, in his straightforward honesty, didn't seem to notice the mortified and angry change in Shinazugawa's expression at all. He then turned back to everyone else, his voice booming across the courtyard.
"Actually, I am here today to seek knowledge!"
The scene instantly fell silent again. Everyone, from the Kakushi to the Hashira, showed expressions of pure shock.
Seek knowledge? From whom?
They looked around. Could he mean Kochou Shinobu? She was a master of poison, but their fields were very different. There were only three Hashira present. Who here would be qualified to teach the great Flame Hashira?
Wait!
As one, everyone suddenly realized the only other possibility. All eyes in the courtyard slowly turned and focused on Su Chen.
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