Xia Feng quickly returned to the doorway and deliberately coughed.
"Sorry, sorry. Kept you waiting, Kanao."
Kanao tilted her head slightly.
"Did something happen inside the room?"
Xia Feng laughed.
"Nothing much. I just thought I smelled something strange in the room, so I went in to check. Turns out Shinobu was just mixing some medicine."
Kanao blinked with a cute, innocent expression and didn't say anything.
The two of them went back upstairs and saw that Shinobu was already kneeling beside the small table, with tea prepared for them.
"Welcome back, Xia Feng-kun, little Kanao."
Her face wore a flawless, gentle smile—beautiful as ever.
"I'm back, Shinobu-sister."
Kanao nodded softly.
She noticed that there was still a faint blush lingering on Shinobu's face.
It seemed that while she had been waiting outside the door, Shinobu hadn't just been preparing medicine.
Kanao felt a little helpless about it, but quickly accepted the situation.
Hearing Kanao call her that, Shinobu felt very happy.
"Come, little Kanao. Sit beside your sister."
At that moment, Shinobu looked like some villain trying to lure a child.
Xia Feng didn't interfere with their interaction. He simply sat across the small table and took a sip of tea.
After everyone settled down, Shinobu looked toward Xia Feng.
"I've already heard the general situation from the crow. This time was really dangerous."
A trace of lingering fear appeared on her face.
Xia Feng smiled.
"Don't worry. I was just unprepared this time. Recently I've been researching a finishing move, and now I've basically figured it out. Next time I meet Upper Rank One, even if I can't win, I can at least retreat safely."
Shinobu nodded.
There was something she didn't say.
She actually wasn't too worried about Xia Feng himself.
She knew he possessed many strange abilities.
What truly worried her… was situations like this one.
With Xia Feng's personality, if someone around him needed protection, he would never run away.
He would choose to stand his ground and fight.
Just thinking about it made her uneasy.
But she couldn't say something like that.
Telling Xia Feng to abandon others and escape first?
Not only would she never say it—even if she did, Xia Feng would never accept it.
After resting for a night, the two of them set off for the Ubuyashiki Estate.
Since it was their second visit, they were already familiar with the route.
Before long, they arrived at their destination.
As soon as Xia Feng stepped into the Ubuyashiki garden, he saw two familiar figures.
They were the twins he had seen at Fujikasane Mountain—the black and white… well, the Ubuyashiki twins.
Xia Feng looked at the black-haired one with an expression full of regret.
The little boy with short black hair tilted his head slightly.
He never quite understood why Lord Xia Feng seemed to dislike him a bit.
The two twins bowed respectfully to Xia Feng.
"Lord Xia Feng, the Master invites you inside for a private discussion."
Then they turned to Shinobu.
"Lady Kocho, please come with us to the reception room and rest for a moment."
Xia Feng and Shinobu exchanged glances and nodded.
Following the route from last time, Xia Feng pushed open the door and entered the room.
Kagaya Ubuyashiki was kneeling calmly before a small table.
Hearing Xia Feng enter, he smiled gently.
"It's been a while, Xia Feng-kun."
"Not really that long."
Xia Feng spoke casually as he sat cross-legged across from him without ceremony.
Kagaya handed him a cup of tea and smiled.
"I feel that my body is much better than before. Please allow me to thank you again for your help, Xia Feng-kun."
Xia Feng shrugged.
"No need to thank me. Just don't resent me in the end. I'm not bragging, but I'm really scared of ghost stories. If you come haunting me at midnight to complain, I won't be able to handle it."
Hearing that, Kagaya couldn't help laughing.
"Apologies… that was rude of me. Ever since I inherited this position, it has been a long time since I could joke with someone like this."
He took a few deep breaths and calmed himself.
Then his expression turned serious.
"Xia Feng-kun, how did you feel about your battle with Upper Rank One?"
Xia Feng clicked his tongue.
"How did it feel? Honestly? It felt like absolute hell. That guy is basically a monster."
He briefly described the information about Upper Rank One.
After hearing it, Kagaya thought for a moment.
"Since ancient times, the Upper Rank demons have been an insurmountable wall for the Demon Slayer Corps. We have made countless efforts, yet the results have always been minimal."
"The Demon Slayer Corps has paid endless blood and sacrifice to reach this point."
"This attack by Upper Rank One was extremely dangerous, but it also revealed something…"
"Muzan is starting to grow restless."
"He feels pressure."
"The current generation of Hashira, in my opinion, is the strongest generation since the Sengoku Era, when the original Breathing users appeared."
"If we can properly use this strength, it's possible that we can end this cycle of hatred within this generation."
Excitement appeared on Kagaya's face.
"Xia Feng-kun, I have a request. I hope you can help me."
Xia Feng looked at him for a moment before speaking slowly.
"Let me guess… You want me to appear even more threatening so that Muzan Kibutsuji will focus more attention on me… forcing him to reveal more of his weaknesses."
Kagaya nodded.
"As expected of Xia Feng-kun. Exactly right."
"I know this is a very rude request. In truth, if there were any other way, I would never ask so shamelessly."
"But my time is running out."
"And the Demon Slayer Corps may not gather such powerful strength again for hundreds of years."
"Please allow me, on behalf of the countless people slaughtered by demons over the past thousand years, and the Demon Slayer Corps members who have died in the past centuries, to earnestly request your help."
As Xia Feng watched in surprise, Kagaya slowly bowed down and performed a deep prostration.
Just before his head touched the ground, Xia Feng reached out and stopped him.
He sighed helplessly.
"You're the leader of a supernatural organization. Don't bow like that all the time."
"Drawing Muzan's attention, right? Honestly, you don't even need to ask so formally."
"With my personality, if someone causes trouble right in front of my face, there's no way I'll pretend not to see it."
"I'll enter this game sooner or later anyway."
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