People in Demon Slayer: The Journey That Began with Demon Slayer

With a single palm strike, Butterfly Ninja sent the bald man's hand flying. Just as the bald man was about to retaliate, several terrifying auras descended, making it difficult for him to breathe.

Lianxue gently brushed the dirt off the child's head: "What a pitiful child."

The child's parents, who were nearby, saw this and shouted angrily, "Hey, if you want to take her away, you'll have to pay..."

But before they could finish speaking, Ji's sinister gaze fixed on them, and the scythe that Gyutaro kept tossing around, silenced them.

Kanae looked at Yosuke, who simply nodded gently.

Kanae Kocho smiled and extended a hand to the child, inviting, "Would you like to come with us?"

The child still didn't react, but she reached out and grasped Kanae's hand.

The child returned home with everyone, and Renyuki and Kocho Kanae gave her a bath together.

After being cleaned and dressed in new clothes, the child looked very pretty.

Everyone sat around the child.

Xiaomei raised her hand and suggested, "Let's give her a name!"

Shinobu Kocho also raised her hand: "I second that! It's inconvenient not having a name! What should we call her?"

Osamu also chimed in, "We brought this child back from the bridge, so how about we name him Koi-chō (Love Bridge)?"

Lianxue rolled her eyes: "Zhi, shut up!"

Xiaomei racked her brains but couldn't come up with a good name, so she asked Xiang Youjie, "Lord Youjie, do you have any good ideas?"

Yosuke suggested, "Since this child was brought back by Kanae, let Kanae name the child."

Kanae Butterfly looked at the child with a blank stare in front of her and uttered a name that seemed destined for her.

"Then let's call her Kurihana Kanao."

Chapter 50 Transformation

The arrival of Kanao Tsukihana kept everyone busy.

Especially Kanae Kocho, Shinobu Kocho, Koyuki, and Koume.

Although Kanao Tsuyuri is unable to express her feelings, Kanae and the other three believe that with their careful care, Kanao will definitely return to normal.

As for Osamu and Gyutaro...

After Gyutaro gave Kanao Tsuyuri two scythes as toys, he was ostracized by the four girls.

He's somewhat normal, but his extravagant nature has almost caused Kanao Tsuyuri to get hurt several times.

As night fell, Osamu poked at the firewood in the campfire, grumbling, "Gyutaro, Koyuki and the others are making a big fuss over nothing. Even children aren't that easily hurt, don't you think?"

Gyutaro stared blankly at the two sickles in his hands, which he had originally intended to give to Kanao Tsuyuri: "Is there really anyone who doesn't like sickles? I think they're quite fun."

Yosuke couldn't help but retort, "Gyutaro, you're probably the only one who likes to treat a sickle like a toy."

Osamu was startled by Yosuke's sudden voice: "Eh, Yosuke-sama, what are you doing here?"

Yosuke rolled his eyes: "Isn't this all because of you guys? Now even I've been kicked out, even though I didn't do anything..."

Zhi scratched his head sheepishly: "Should I talk to Lianxue and the others?"

Yosuke said helplessly, "Forget it. Kanao is a treasure to them now. We can't have any factors that might cause Kanao to get hurt. Let's just stay here obediently for now."

Osamu's gaze was fixed on the flames. Thinking of poor Kanao, he murmured, "Lord Yosuke, why would any parents be so cruel as to abuse their own child and even sell them to human traffickers?"

Yosuke sighed and said, "Because of the parents' failed lives, they vented the pressure of survival on their children. They felt that their children were a burden, a hindrance. In their eyes, their children were just a tool for venting their anger."

Kanao's parents were weak and failed individuals who sought to feel powerful by abusing Kanao, who was even weaker.

But they forgot that people are equal in essence, and human dignity is inherent. Everyone has the dignity of being a human being, regardless of their social class.

Respect for the vulnerable is a key difference between human and animal societies. True strength lies in the willingness to accept the boundaries and constraints imposed on oneself by the freedom of the vulnerable.

Zhi fell silent. He thought of his master, Keizo, who had taken him in. Keizo was also a strong man. Despite being a sinner, Keizo did not discriminate against him but chose to take him in, teach him, and even entrust everything to him.

Osamu looked at Koyuki, who was busy taking care of Kanao Tsuyuri inside the house, and smiled: "I always hear Yosuke-sama's heartwarming words, and I always feel that I benefit a lot from them."

Yang Jie smiled slightly: "Some things, you'll understand after experiencing them a lot. I used to be a weak person, but with the guidance of those around me, I gradually became stronger. Compared to strength, the strength of one's own soul is more important."

The firelight illuminated Osamu and Gyutaro's faces. Their lives had been completely transformed; they would no longer be cruel and ruthless butchers, but strong individuals who had learned to protect.

As the days went by, Kanao Tsuyuri's scars had mostly healed under Shinobu Kocho's careful treatment, with only some old scars remaining that had not yet fully recovered.

Koyuki and Kocho Kanae, carrying a sumptuous meal, called out, "Kanao, time to eat!"

However, Kanao Tsuyuri did not react; she just stared blankly at Koyuki and Kanae.

Kanao Tsukihana's stomach was growling with hunger, but she didn't know whether she should eat or not, and whether she would get a beating if she did.

Past psychological trauma has left Kanao Tsuyukiro unable to make her own decisions.

Shinobu Kocho said helplessly, "Sister, it's been so many days, and this child hasn't responded at all except when we give her orders."

Kanae Kocho took out a copper coin: "Since one person can't make a decision, let's flip a coin."

"This is way too hasty!" Shinobu Kocho couldn't help but complain.

Renyuki, however, agreed with Kanae's approach: "I think this method is pretty good. When faced with a problem that is difficult to decide, flipping a coin is the best choice. It's not because the coin can help you decide anything, but because the answer will appear in your mind the moment the coin is flipped."

Kanae gently patted Kanao's head: "That's right, and I believe that if Kanao ever finds someone she likes, she will change too."

"Sister Lianxue, why are you doing this too... Never mind, I don't care anymore!" Butterfly turned her head away angrily.

"Don't think of it so seriously. I like Shinobu's smiling face." Kanae Kocho used both hands to gently pull at the corners of Shinobu Kocho's pouting lips.

Kanae placed the coin in Kanao's hand: "Try it. Toss this coin. Heads or tails doesn't matter. The decision you make when you toss it is what matters most."

Kurihana Kanao stared blankly at the copper coin in her hand, and tossed it up in the air amidst the expectant gazes of Kocho Kanae and Koyuki.

The copper coin fell from the air back into Kanao's hand, showing heads. Kanao picked up the food in front of her and began to eat it in large mouthfuls.

Shinobu Kocho watched Kanao wolf down her food and still felt it was too hasty: "Leaving the decision to chance still seems very unreliable to me."

"No, Kanao has improved a lot." Yosuke leaned against the door frame and smiled faintly. "You guys probably didn't tell Kanao whether it's front or back when you eat, right?"

Shinobu Kocho looked at Kanae Kocho and Koyuki, and the two of them shook their heads at the same time, indicating that they had not said anything about the meaning of positive or negative.

"In other words, when the coin was tossed, Kanao had already made a decision, and this decision was not influenced by the coin itself. Under your care, Kanao has begun to change, and this change is moving in a positive direction."

Realizing what had happened, Shinobu looked at Kanao, who was happily devouring her food, with delight: "It actually worked?!"

Chapter 51 The New Generation of Pillars

With everyone's careful care, Kanao Tsuyuri is almost no different from an ordinary person, but she still has a habit of flipping a coin to decide everything.

One night, Osamu, Gyutaro, Koyuki, and Koume found Yosuke.

Yosuke was somewhat surprised: "Are you leaving? Why so suddenly?"

Over time, the Butterfly sisters had developed a deep friendship with Zhi and the others, and the sudden farewell left them somewhat at a loss.

Butterfly asked reluctantly, "Sister Lianxue, are you leaving?"

Lianxue smiled gently: "We also have our own responsibilities that haven't been completed yet, so now is not the time for us to enjoy ourselves."

With a firm gaze, Zhi said, "In that battle with the Eternal Bliss Sect, we deeply realized our shortcomings. We need more experience to make up for them, and now it's time for us to leave."

Kome, who was the least willing to leave Yosuke, reluctantly tugged at Yosuke's sleeve and said, "Although I really don't want to leave Yosuke-sama's side, I don't want to become a burden to everyone."

After a moment of silence, Yang Jie smiled and said, "Since you've made your decision, I won't stop you. Remember, your safety is the most important thing. If anything happens, you can come to me."

Kurihana Kanao, looking blank, tugged at Koyuki's sleeve. She didn't understand why she was making this gesture when she hadn't thrown a coin.

Renyuki affectionately patted Kanao's head: "Kanao, you must listen to what Yosuke-sama, Kanae-neechan and Shinobu-neechan say. We will come back to see you when we have the chance."

With the butterfly sisters' lingering gaze, Zhi and his group embarked on their journey once again.

A few days later, Yosuke, who was resting indoors to avoid the sunlight, sensed a group of people with auras different from ordinary people approaching.

Yosuke muttered to himself, "The Demon Slayer Corps..."

Not far away, nine figures were gradually approaching Yosuke's house.

The nine people arrived at Yosuke's house. A man in a white kimono knocked on the door: "I am Ubuyashiki Kagaya. Is Mr. Yosuke home?"

"Come in."

At Yosuke's instruction, the door was opened.

The man at the head of the group outside was frail, dressed in a white kimono, and had some scars on his face.

The voice was light and pleasant, even making one feel lightheaded, as it came from the man in the white kimono: "It's been a long time, Mr. Yosuke."

"Kagoya Ubuyashiki... Where is your father?"

“My father has passed away, and I am now leading the Demon Slayer Corps. These are the new generation of Pillars of the Demon Slayer Corps,” Kagaya Ubuyashiki introduced to Yosuke.

The Stone Pillar, Gyomei Himejima, is a giant with a monk-like appearance. He has an extremely long scar on his forehead, is completely blind, and wears a brown kasaya with the words "Namu Amida Butsu" written on it over his Demon Slayer Corps uniform.

Sound Hashira, Tengen Uzui, wore a sleeveless Demon Slayer Corps uniform and a headdress adorned with several diamonds. Pale blue chains hung from either side of the headdress, and a prominent ponytail adorned his hair. He was a very handsome man.

Love Pillar? Kanroji Mitsuri, wearing a snow-white haori, an open-chested team uniform and a short skirt, with a pair of light green eyes, rosy cheeks, and a mole under each eye.

The Serpent Pillar? Obanai Iguro, with heterochromatic eyes of green on the left and gold on the right, wears a black and white striped haori, has bandages wrapped around his face, and a white snake coiled around his neck.

The Wind Pillar? Shinazugawa Sanemi has a white spiky hairstyle, three long scars on his face, his uniform is open revealing his muscles, his body is covered in scars, he wears a white haori with the character "kill" on it, and he is glaring fiercely at Yosuke.

Like his father and ancestors, Flame Pillar Kyojuro Rengoku has long yellow hair with red edges, thick black eyebrows, and piercing eyes. He wears a brown Demon Slayer Corps uniform with a haori (a type of kimono) adorned with flame patterns at the end.

The Mist Pillar? Tokito Muichiro is a boy with long black hair and an expressionless face, whose vacant gaze is somewhat similar to Kanao's.

The last water column? Giyu Tomioka, who seemed out of place with the others, kept a distance from them. He wore a haori with different patterns on the left and right sides over his Demon Slayer Corps uniform, and his face was gloomy, giving people an extremely arrogant feeling.

Yosuke sighed silently. Has it come to this? It seems that Tanjiro Kamado, the descendant of Yoriichi's will, will soon join the Demon Slayer Corps.

"What do you want from me? We don't seem to have anything in common," Yosuke asked Ubuyashiki Kagaya.

Kagaya Ubuyashiki replied, "First of all, we are here to thank Mr. Yosuke's disciples, Kanae Kocho and Shinobu Kocho. Thanks to their help, the Demon Slayer Corps members who were poisoned by demons received timely treatment and are out of danger."

Kanae and Shinobu often travel to the surrounding areas to slay demons, and Yosuke is not surprised when they encounter members of the Demon Slayer Corps.

"Since you said 'first,' then there must be a follow-up. And then what?"

Kagaya Ubuyashiki continued, "The Demon Slayer Corps has established a medical facility in the hope of treating children injured in battles with demons, but we have no solution to the demons' deadly poison."