Passing through the valley protected by the wisteria flower sea once again, Cheng Mo's state of mind was completely different from his first visit.
There was less cautious probing and more of a steady sense of power.
The Ubuyashiki Estate remained serene and peaceful.
Guided by an 'Invisible', Cheng Mo stepped into the hall.
Kagaya Ubuyashiki knelt in the main seat, his complexion seemingly worse than when they last met, the curse marks on his forehead a deeper color, but the smile on his face remained gentle and forgiving.
Kochou Shinobu was also present, kneeling quietly to one side. Seeing Cheng Mo enter, her amethyst-like eyes curved, revealing her characteristic gentle smile.
"Mr. Cheng Mo, long time no see," Kagaya Ubuyashiki's voice was still soothing, but carried a hint of imperceptible weakness.
"Master, Lady Kocho," Cheng Mo greeted them respectfully.
Kagaya Ubuyashiki's gentle smile seemed even more genuine than last time.
Even with his failing eyesight, he could sense the restrained yet immense power emanating from Cheng Mo.
"Mr. Cheng Mo, it seems your training in Mount Momoyama has greatly benefited you."
Kagaya Ubuyashiki's voice carried a sense of relief.
"It is all thanks to Teacher Kuwajima's meticulous guidance and the opportunity provided by the Master."
Cheng Mo bowed slightly, his tone calm.
Kochou Shinobu's gaze quickly swept over Cheng Mo, her smile becoming even brighter, "With your talent, Mr. Cheng Mo, you must have made rapid progress in Mount Momoyama! Old Man Jigoro praised you to the heavens in his letter!"
Just then, a middle-aged man dressed in a swordsmith's uniform, with a lean face and eyes as sharp as tempered steel, was guided in by an 'Invisible' member. He held a narrow object carefully placed in a zitan wooden box, and walked in respectfully.
He first bowed to Kagaya Ubuyashiki and Kochou Shinobu, then his gaze fixed intently on Cheng Mo.
"This must be Mr. Cheng Mo?"
The swordsmith's voice was resonant, with a metallic quality.
"I am En Tetsu Kanzou, and I have come at the command of my senior brother, Hotaru Haganezuka, and the Master, to deliver your reforged nichirin blade today!"
When his gaze fell on Cheng Mo, it was filled with undisguised admiration and scrutiny, as if he were looking at a rare treasure.
Cheng Mo's heart beat a little faster, his gaze fixed on the wooden box.
Kanzou carefully placed the wooden box on a table covered with a white cloth and unlatched it.
Inside, lined with dark velvet, a sheathed long nichirin blade lay quietly.
The scabbard was still the same simple black nanmu wood covered with cowhide, but it seemed to have been meticulously maintained, exuding a restrained luster.
However, when Cheng Mo's fingers touched the familiar hilt, a bloodline-like tremor instantly surged through him.
He slowly drew the nichirin blade.
Clang—
The clear, dragon-like sound of the nichirin blade being drawn echoed in the room, even crisper and more prolonged than before.
The nichirin blade remained straight and narrow, but its original cold gleam seemed much more subdued, flowing with a faint, almost living, pale golden aura.
Near the tsuba, the originally intricate pine needle patterns seemed to have become deeper and more complex, subtly forming an indescribable network imbued with a sense of thunderous power.
Sunlight shone through the window onto the nichirin blade, and it seemed as if tiny electric arcs were leaping and flashing on it!
"What a nichirin blade!" Kochou Shinobu couldn't help but exclaim softly. She could feel the immense power contained within the nichirin blade, subtly resonating with Cheng Mo's breathing.
En Tetsu Kanzou's face was flushed with excitement. He stared intently at the nichirin blade, his voice filled with an almost reverent fervor.
"Mr. Cheng Mo! Forgive my presumption... when we reforged this nichirin blade, we discovered that its material purity and forging craftsmanship completely surpassed our understanding, far beyond what any contemporary school could achieve!"
"Divine craftsmanship... truly divine craftsmanship!" En Tetsu Kanzou gazed at the nichirin blade in fascination, his voice hoarse with excitement.
"I have forged nichirin blades my entire life and have never seen such... such perfect material! Its toughness, its purity, its fusion with scarlet crimson sand iron and scarlet crimson ore... far exceeded imagination!"
He abruptly looked at Cheng Mo, his eyes blazing: "Sir, the skill of the one who forged this nichirin blade blank is god-like! May I ask..."
Cheng Mo calmly interrupted him: "It is an ancient family heirloom, and the method of its forging has long been lost."
He naturally wouldn't reveal the essence of this high-quality steel from another industrial era.
Kanzou's face showed an expression of extreme regret and longing, but he still couldn't help but praise: "Reforging this nichirin blade is the honor of my life! It almost guided the power of the scarlet crimson mineral sand to integrate into it on its own... now, it is a true nichirin blade!"
Cheng Mo listened quietly, his fingers gently brushing the cold nichirin blade.
He could clearly feel the contained power resonating joyfully with the Thunder Breathing in his body.
The perception brought by the Myriad Realms Physique made him understand that this excellent nichirin blade from the modern era, after being reforged with mysterious ore and nourished by his own power in this world, had been completely transformed.
It had become a truly "living" nichirin blade.
"jingzhe (awakening of insects)."
Cheng Mo whispered a word.
"What?" Kanzou didn't hear clearly.
"This nichirin blade shall be named 'jingzhe (awakening of insects)'," Cheng Mo looked up, his gaze calm.
Spring thunder awakens all insects, and all things begin anew.
This name signifies the beginning of his newfound power in this world, and also alludes to the might of thunder.
He sheathed the nichirin blade, its imposing aura instantly restrained, yet it was like a hidden dragon in the abyss, ready to roar forth at any moment.
"A good name," Kagaya Ubuyashiki smiled gently, "A treasure nichirin blade for a hero, it couldn't be more fitting."
After all this, Cheng Mo looked at Kagaya Ubuyashiki and Kochou Shinobu and said, "Master, Lady Kocho, I came here this time for two reasons: one is to retrieve my nichirin blade, and the second is... to bid farewell."
"Bid farewell?"
Kochou Shinobu's smile stiffened slightly, and a hint of surprise and reluctance flashed in her purple eyes, "Where is Mr. Cheng Mo going? Has the Demon Slayer Corps been remiss in its hospitality?"
"Not at all," Cheng Mo shook his head, "I have been trading here for a long time and need to return to my homeland to handle important matters. I specifically came today to bid you both farewell and to thank you for your care and trust over the past days."
Kochou Shinobu's smile faded: "I was still hoping to consult you on medical skills after your return from training. Everyone at the Butterfly Mansion will miss you very much."
Kagaya Ubuyashiki was silent for a moment, then slowly said, "It seems Mr. Cheng Mo's mind is made up. All good things must come to an end. We will never forget your kindness to the Demon Slayer Corps. May your path ahead be safe, and may the nichirin blade in your hand always strike down evil."
His blessing was sincere and heavy.
"Thank you, Master," Cheng Mo bowed, "And thank you, Lady Kocho, for your continued care. Everyone, take care."
He said no more, turning decisively, gripping the nichirin blade named "jingzhe (awakening of insects)," and striding out of the Ubuyashiki Estate.
Kochou Shinobu watched his back disappear at the end of the wisteria path, and sighed softly: "He truly is... a gentlemen who is hard to fathom."
Kagaya Ubuyashiki slowly closed his eyes, a faint smile playing on his lips: "But what he brought was a ray of hope, and that is enough."
After leaving the Ubuyashiki Estate, Cheng Mo walked alone in the mountains and wilderness, far from human habitation.
The setting sun cast his shadow long.
In his mind, the compass countdown was about to reach zero.
He looked back one last time, gazing in the direction of Mount Momoyama, then looked at the heavy bag filled with gold in his hand and the reborn "jingzhe (awakening of insects)."
His sister's smile seemed to be right before his eyes.
As the last ray of daylight disappeared below the horizon and the starry sky began to emerge.
In a silent, uninhabited mountain hollow, Cheng Mo's figure began to blur.
As if he was enveloped in a faint, wave-like glow.
His body gradually transformed into countless tiny specks of light, drifting upwards like fireflies, eventually completely merging beneath the brilliant starry sky and disappearing.
As if he had never appeared.
Only the breeze blew through the mountains, carrying the scent from afar.