Chapter 269: Speechless

Li Mo didn't know how the term "butterfly effect" came into being, but that didn't stop him from liking and using it.

A butterfly flapping its wings in South America could cause a storm over the Pacific. Small changes, after a long period of gestation, could lead to significant events.

Like the story of how a single nail led to the downfall of a kingdom.

His arrival had undoubtedly changed many things.

The future of the **Kamado family** had already been altered. And the present of the **Rengoku family** was no exception.

"Sister Ruka, it's been a while."

Three years ago, **Rengoku Ruka** was a woman full of dignity, solemn and authoritative, the head of the household.

Three years later, she still maintained that demeanor, but she had grown noticeably thinner. With **Tamayo**'s help, her illness had been controlled, but it had inevitably taken a toll on her.

"Yes, it's been a while, Li Mo."

Ruka's eyes were clear, as if they could see far into the future.

In truth, the head of the Rengoku household was the woman before him. The good character of the Rengoku brothers was also thanks to her.

"Sister Ruka, Tamayo said that from now on, your health check-ups will be handled by her."

"I see. She's made that choice, hasn't she?" Ruka asked.

**Kocho Kanae** nodded.

Everyone who was close to Tamayo knew her thoughts. And everyone respected her decision.

After replenishing some of Ruka's vitality, Li Mo left.

Actually, it was only after returning that he learned how Tamayo had changed Kanae.

After opening up to Tamayo, Kanae realized that turning demons back into humans was a noble idea, but it wasn't realistic or necessary. Now, all demons were referred to as evil.

So far, there hadn't been a single demon who wasn't guilty of crimes.

**Nezuko** wouldn't be the only exception anymore. Wait... had he forgotten about **Yushiro**?

Shaking his head, Li Mo left the room and saw **Rengoku Shinjuro** sitting on the porch with a bottle of sake, watching the Rengoku brothers interact in the yard.

"Is Kyojuro teaching Senjuro swordsmanship?"

The Demon Slayer Corps had already disbanded. What was the point of learning this now? Li Mo knew that in the future, the era of individual combat would be over. The age of guns and artillery was coming. And in a hundred years, the information age would bring about long-range strikes, essentially information warfare.

Watching the brothers sparring in the yard with bamboo swords, Li Mo didn't know what to say.

He sat beside Shinjuro for a while, observing. It was clear that Kyojuro was carefully guiding Senjuro, teaching him sword techniques but not breathing styles.

Senjuro didn't have the talent for breathing techniques.

"Are they just playing around?"

"Yeah. Come with me to the fields. Lunch isn't far off, so let's go dig up some vegetables."

"?"

Farm work wasn't unfamiliar to Li Mo. In his previous life, he had grown up in the countryside. Even though he hadn't done much farm work as an adult, he was still familiar with the smell of the earth.

Working in the fields with Shinjuro didn't feel strange. Both of them were somewhat clumsy at it.

"After putting down the Nichirin Blade, becoming a farmer feels awkward. Now that the Demon Slayer Corps has disbanded, there's no need for trainers anymore. I don't know what to do next."

Shinjuro spoke with a sense of迷茫 (uncertainty).

This was the dilemma every Demon Slayer faced. With the demons gone, they looked to the future and found it shrouded in fog.

What should they do? What could they do?

Not every swordsman was like Kanae and Shinobu, who had medical professions. Not everyone could simply join the Butterfly Mansion like Makomo.

"Then just do something, anything. As the pillar of the Rengoku family, you should find something to do. If all else fails, ask Ubuyashiki for guidance."

"The主公 (Master) is busy finding paths for other swordsmen. I shouldn't trouble him further."

"So, you're asking me? Even if you ask me, I don't know either." Li Mo shrugged. "If nothing else, go find work in a factory. I'm sure Ubuyashiki has connections in industry and commerce, right?"

The Demon Slayer Corps' annual expenses weren't small. All the swordsmen were trained full-time, and every aspect required funding, all provided by the Ubuyashiki family.

But it seemed Shinjuro wasn't planning to trouble **Ubuyashiki Kagaya** with this.

That's fine...

They brought fresh vegetables back from the fields. Ruka, who had been feeling better after Li Mo's infusion of vitality, decided to cook for them, especially since they had guests.

After the meal, Ruka sent Kyojuro out to play with his younger brother. It seemed this resilient woman had her own plans for what Kyojuro would do next.

Under Ruka's gaze, Shinjuro left the room. At first, she pulled Li Mo and Kanae into the room for a conversation, asking about their situation. Then she sent Li Mo out, leaving her and Kanae to talk privately.

Outside, Li Mo endured Shinjuro's strange looks.

"Shinjuro, were you eavesdropping?"

"It's not eavesdropping if your voices were too loud."

"Isn't that still eavesdropping?"

In the end, Li Mo didn't press the issue. These things didn't need to be hidden anyway.

His expression was calm, as if to say, "Say what you want, I don't care."

Shinjuro said, "I won't say much about your love life... but young man, take care of your kidneys."

"Got drained dry?"

"Ruka is planning to recuperate."

Li Mo nodded. Tamayo had undoubtedly controlled Ruka's illness. According to Kanae's recent health check, Ruka was basically fine. Now, she just needed to build up her strength.

Then...

Connecting the dots, Li Mo understood what Shinjuro was hinting at. He patted the older man's shoulder and said, "Don't forget to exercise, old man."

"Instead of worrying about me, worry about yourself. Three of them? How did you even manage that?"

"But I'm not human anymore, old man."

Li Mo wasn't human. He was a demon.

Shinjuro thought about this and grew somewhat somber. If he was a demon, then his stamina wouldn't be the same as a human's, right?

Sighing, the middle-aged man changed the subject. "Anyway, let's not talk about that. I have a question. You said you're from another world. So, you're going back, right?"

"Yeah."

"Then... have you left others behind in other worlds too?"

Shouldn't you add "of the opposite sex" to that question?

Sometimes, silence is also an answer. And Shinjuro got his answer from Li Mo's silence.

He simply patted Li Mo's shoulder without another word.