"Wow! Su Chen is so dashing! That move was too cool!"
"He's not just touching his chin; he's touching my heart!"
"Amazing! His aura is even more captivating than Lord Tengen's! Wow, I'm going to die from Su Chen's charm!"
"He can heal, he's gentle, he's strong, and he's so handsome!"
"Su Chen-gege~, do another pose! Su Chen-gege~"
"My husband! My husband! My husband!"
Su Chen noticed that the female Demon Slayer Corps members crowding in front of him seemed even crazier. Their eyes were completely filled with his figure. They couldn't see anything else.
This made Shinobu, who was trying to block them, feel a strange sense of crisis.
She let out a cry. Her small body tried its best to stand in front of Su Chen. But despite her strength, her hair was already damp with sweat. She couldn't hold back the enthusiastic female Corps members.
The Insect Hashira looked flustered and cried out, "Alright! Everyone, don't crowd anymore! Mr. Su Chen can only choose five people! You can also go to Shinazugawa's side! I'm telling you, do you even have me, the Insect Hashira, in your eyes?! Stop pushing! Stop pushing! What you're doing violates the Corps rules! Oh dear... Kanao, hurry up and help me~!"
Kanao, who had been sitting on a bench by the door, stood up. She looked toward her master's direction with some uncertainty.
Was I just called? she wondered. I must have misheard. It's so noisy, it's normal to mishear things. Maybe I should just quietly admire Su Chen's profile. It's not the first time I've secretly looked anyway.
Kanao sat down again.
"Kanao, if you don't come now, Su Chen will be snatched away!" Shinobu shouted again.
Boom!
In an instant, Kanao moved. A slender, white figure shot into the crowd like a cannonball. Suddenly, a figure exuding a full sense of security was standing right in front of Shinobu.
Kanao looked at the women expressionlessly. Then, her expression turned fierce. "No one can snatch Mr. Su Chen away!"
She took a deep breath. "Flower Breathing, Second Form: Overlord's Plum Blossom!"
A large amount of oxygen rushed into the girl's lungs. The immense force from her technique instantly pushed everyone back. Illusory plum blossom petals seemed to fill the air. The momentary illusion left the Slayers, who had been focused on Su Chen, unable to get up for a moment.
Su Chen was stunned. He hadn't expected Kanao's Flower Breathing to have a wide-area effect. He made a mental note. From now on, he would try to develop Flower Breathing variations that focused on area damage.
Shinobu stared at her disciple, Kanao, with a little fear. In that moment, Kanao looked like a complete stranger. That reassuring back, that strength... Shinobu almost envied it. Was this still the same little girl who used to need guidance just to eat?
Shinobu suddenly felt a pang of jealousy. She had heard it. Kanao used a Flower Breathing technique!
This Su Chen! she thought angrily. When he wanted my Insect Breathing, he called me 'Shinobu-jie jie.' Now that he doesn't need me, he just calls me 'Kochou Shinobu'! And he taught Kanao Flower Breathing, but not me!
It infuriated her.
Shinobu glared fiercely at Su Chen. The chill in her gaze made him feel a shiver down his spine. He guiltily turned his head, pretending not to see.
With Kanao now helping, order was finally maintained in that part of the Butterfly Mansion.
On the other side, Kyoujurou had quickly selected his five patients and was already making his training plan.
As for Shinazugawa... he was still trying to pick targets from the edge of 'Su Chen's crowd.' He planned to choose a few men. His training was too intense, and he didn't feel right being that hard on women. He'd just pick a few men and work them to death.
As Shinazugawa was scanning the crowd, his expression suddenly changed. Thanks to his excellent hearing, he had heard every word the Demon Slayer Corps members were whispering.
Shinazugawa just stood there, speechless.
He felt as if his world had collapsed. He was a dignified Wind Hashira! And he was being reduced to this—having no one to choose, and being ridiculed. From their words, it was clear the Corps members had a lot of opinions about him.
Shinazugawa completely broke down inside. He looked at the people in front of Su Chen. They were joyful, friendly, like a family. And him? He was completely alone. A lonely Wind Hashira.
Am I really that unpopular?!
Shinazugawa's gaze sharpened. He decided to take the initiative.
He pointed directly at four men at the very back of Su Chen's line and roared, "You! You! You! And you! Come here!"
Hearing this, the four men looked at each other. They pointed at one another uncertainly. "You?"
Finally, one of them patted the shoulder of the female Corps member in front of him. "Hey, um... didn't you just say the Wind Hashira was your husband? Look, your husband is calling you!"
The female Corps member spun around and glared at him. "He's your husband!" she snapped, before turning her head away and ignoring him.
Shinazugawa was speechless again.
He took a deep breath. He was so angry he almost wanted to use his Wind Breathing to hit someone.
But the four men just pretended they hadn't heard. "He must have called the wrong person, right? Yeah! It's so noisy, it's normal to call the wrong four people. It's fine, we'll just keep queuing. That must have been an illusion."
Shinazugawa's fists clenched. They really clenched.
"Wind Breathing, No-Sword Form: Gale - Tengu!"
Boom!
A strong gust of wind rushed past them. Suddenly, a face that would make children cry appeared right in front of them.
Shinazugawa's nightmarish voice rang out right in their ears. "Hey! Can't you hear me calling you?!"
His tone was sharp, and a strong sense of oppression washed over the four men.
They all nodded nervously. "We hear you! We hear you!"
"Oh? Then do I need to repeat myself?"
"No need! No need!"
"Very good!"
Shinazugawa's expression returned to normal. "You all look a bit familiar. Did you join the Demon Slayer Corps at the same time as Genya?"
"Yes, Wind Hashira-sama! We even slayed demons with Genya a while ago!" the Corps member closest to him said, trembling. "It's just... Genya's personality is a bit strange. He always violates team discipline and acts alone. He's very peculiar!"
Smack!
Another one of the drafted Corps members suddenly looked very serious. He decisively slapped the speaker on the butt.
The Slayer who had been talking turned his head, confused. He saw beads of cold sweat already forming on his partner's forehead.
The one who did the slapping felt like cursing.
What an idiot! he thought. This is the Wind Hashira-sama! He's Genya Shinazugawa's older brother! You could at least give us a way out with your words!