Chapter 239: I'm not your attachment

The Butterfly Mansion was always bustling with activity, as injured Demon Slayer swordsmen came here every day.

The battles between swordsmen and demons were relentless. Every night, clashes erupted somewhere. Unlike demons, who could heal rapidly, human swordsmen lacked such abilities.

When humans got injured, they needed doctors.

The Butterfly Mansion was an excellent choice.

The private conversation between the Kocho sisters finally came to an end, thanks to Kanzaki Aoi's request. The two sisters stepped out of the room to attend to various ailments. Both were skilled doctors. If they encountered particularly difficult cases, they would send the patients underground.

There, a doctor with centuries of experience awaited.

The collaboration with Ms. Tamayo was undoubtedly the most beneficial partnership the Demon Slayer Corps had formed in recent years. With her help, the Corps' research on demons had advanced significantly, and her medical expertise could solve many complex conditions.

The Kocho sisters were already highly skilled, but in front of Tamayo, they were still students.

By noon, the sisters finally found some free time. The older sister, Kocho Kanae, brought a lunchbox to Li Mo.

"You've been sitting in this little courtyard with Kanao all morning. Are you worried about her? Here, Li-san, your lunch." Kocho Kanae handed the lunchbox to Li Mo. "Shinobu made this."

"How about arranging a marriage for Kanao?" Li Mo said as he took the lunchbox.

"Huh—? Li-san, isn't your train of thought jumping a bit too far? Kanao is still so young, and as her older sister, I'm not even married yet."

Kocho Kanae was momentarily stunned but quickly responded. This was undoubtedly a gentle refusal.

Li Mo said, "After we deal with Muzan, I'll take you to meet that boy. Trust me, if it's him, he can change Kanao."

Kanao Tsuyuri wasn't in the small courtyard at the moment. She had been called to the cafeteria by Shinobu. In the entire Butterfly Mansion, perhaps only these two were special.

"Do you really think so highly of that boy? Well, we'll see when the time comes."

Kocho Kanae smiled with a hint of indulgence, agreeing to Li Mo's request.

Tanjiro, my dear nephew. As your uncle, I've already gone this far for you. Whether you succeed or not will depend on your own efforts.

I've done all I can as an uncle.

"Li-san, you're going to meet Oyakata-sama next, right?"

"Yes. Is there something you want to say, Kanae?"

"Hmm… I feel like Oyakata-sama might call for an emergency Hashira meeting."

Kocho Kanae's words caught Li Mo's attention.

The Hashira meetings were held twice a year—once in winter and once in summer. It was just past spring, so there was still some time before the summer meeting.

An emergency meeting…

During Li Mo's year as a Hashira, he had never experienced such a meeting.

Kocho Kanae continued, "Li-san, when you meet Oyakata-sama, you'll definitely propose a plan to eliminate Muzan. Oyakata-sama has been waiting for this moment."

"You're right."

Since the decision to take down Muzan Kibutsuji in this generation had been made, the top fighters of the Demon Slayer Corps—the Hashira—would naturally need to clarify their roles.

It seemed his mind had been too preoccupied with exploring the possibilities of combining Sun Breathing and Swallow Reversal. He hadn't even considered such a basic point!

Li Mo shook his head and said, "Compared to three years ago, there are many more Hashira now."

Back then, the Demon Slayer Corps had only three Hashira. Now, including himself, there were eight. Admittedly, that was one less than in the manga.

But he alone was worth several Hashira.

"Kanae-san, is there anything else you want to say?"

"When you leave later, could you not say goodbye to Shinobu?"

"Why?"

"It's my request."

Strange. What did these sisters talk about? I can't even say goodbye to Shinobu?

If it weren't for wanting to say goodbye in person, why would I have waited until now?

Doubt rose in Li Mo's heart. He began to regret not placing a shikigami in the room earlier to eavesdrop on the sisters' conversation.

"I understand."

Li Mo reached out and gently removed a grain of rice from Kocho Kanae's lips.

"Actually, I don't really want to leave."

"Li-san, our relationship can only be considered that of engaged. In Western terms, we're just boyfriend and girlfriend," Kocho Kanae said. "Being this clingy isn't very cool."

"I thought your next line would be 'I'm not interested,' and you'd push me away without hesitation."

"How could I? I can't bear to." Kocho Kanae tilted her head and smiled.

The blue butterfly hairpin in her hair swayed gently.

Li Mo lowered his head, the warmth of her cheek still lingering on his palm as he picked up his chopsticks.

He said, "Yeah, so I can't bear to either."

"Alright, stop teasing me. Li-san, after lunch, you should head out. Oh, and don't forget to leave your thoughts on the meal. Shinobu is really looking forward to it."

Kocho Kanae's voice was as gentle as ever. The girl named Kocho Kanae was the epitome of a Yamato Nadeshiko—gentle, considerate, and capable of handling household affairs with ease. Her body felt as if it were made of water, and the tenderness of their nights together was still vivid in his mind.

If it weren't for the White Fox bloodline flowing through his veins, he might not have been able to keep up.

Li Mo lowered his gaze and said, "I feel like Kanae-san is pushing me away."

"I'm not!"

Regardless of what Kocho Kanae thought, after lunch, he would set off. As a former Hashira, he knew where Oyakata-sama resided and didn't need a Kakushi to guide him.

After leaving a "delicious" review, Li Mo got up and prepared to leave.

Kocho Kanae hummed a tune, seemingly in high spirits as she cleaned up the lunchbox and headed inside. She placed the items in the kitchen, where someone would wash them later.

Then, she went to find her sister.

"Shinobu, Li-san said the food was delicious."

"Oh."

Kocho Shinobu's expression remained blank, as if she didn't care about Li Mo's evaluation. But was that really the case? With her keen observational skills, Kocho Kanae noticed the slight relaxation in her sister's muscles.

She really did care, huh?

Kocho Kanae decided not to tease her sister further and said seriously, "Shinobu, based on the timing, Makomo should arrive at the Butterfly Mansion by evening. When she does, we'll proceed with the plan and hide Li-san's presence, okay?"

At that moment, Kocho Shinobu felt that her sister and Li Mo were truly a match made in heaven—their mischievous tendencies were strikingly similar.

"Sister is doing this for you, Shinobu. This way, you'll have more time to take the initiative!"

"Sister, he's my brother-in-law."

"But isn't a sister-in-law half of her brother-in-law's…?"

Kocho Shinobu's composure broke, and the corner of her mouth twitched, veins seemingly about to pop on her forehead.

This was the third time she'd heard this today, and it still made her unhappy!

I'm not your appendage, sister!