A few days later, Kyojuro Rengoku's bandages were almost entirely removed, with only faint traces of ointment remaining.
His booming voice and infectious laugh became even more robust, clearly indicating that his injuries were no longer a concern.
Early this morning, he was helping Tanjirou adjust his Breathing Technique rhythm.
A Kasugai Crow fluttered down, bringing new mission orders.
Kyojuro Rengoku carefully read the letter and solemnly put it away.
He turned to face Mr. Cheng Mo and Kochou Shinobu, who were watching Tanjirou train from the veranda, and Himura Ruri, who was sitting in a wheelchair.
"Mr. Cheng Mo, Kochou, it seems it's time to say goodbye!"
Kyoujurou's voice took on a formal tone.
"New mission orders from headquarters have arrived; I must depart."
Upon hearing this, Cheng Mo merely nodded slightly, acknowledging the information.
Kochou Shinobu smiled and said, "Oh my, how busy you are. Mr. Kyoujurou, please be very careful."
Kyojuro Rengoku strode over to Cheng Mo and suddenly bowed deeply.
The movement was so grand that his flame-like hair tips swayed with it.
"Mr. Cheng Mo, thank you again for saving my life! And for your generous teaching of the Qi Refining Technique!"
He looked up, his eyes burning with sincere gratitude and fighting spirit.
"This kindness, Kyojuro Rengoku will never forget! I will strive to promote the Qi Refining Technique to more Demon Slayers so that everyone can become stronger and reduce casualties!"
Cheng Mo looked at him, calmly accepting his thanks, and said lightly, "Hmm, take care."
Kyojuro Rengoku looked up, a brilliant smile once again blooming on his face.
He turned to Tanjirou and Himura Ruri.
Tanjirou had already stopped practicing and ran over.
His face was full of reluctance: "Mr. Kyoujurou, are you really leaving now?"
"That's right! Boy!"
Kyoujurou clapped Tanjirou on the shoulder with force, making him stumble.
"I've seen your progress these past few days! Maintain this momentum and continue to burn your heart's fire! And young Ruri…"
He looked at the girl in the wheelchair, his voice softening slightly: "You must also eat well and work hard to recover! Your father is still waiting for you!"
"Mr. Kyoujurou…" Ruri's eyes reddened slightly, her hands gripping the thin blanket on her lap.
This passionate Flame Pillar was her savior, and their time together, his hearty laughter and warm encouragement, had given her immense comfort.
"Thank you… Please, you must, absolutely be safe."
"Hahaha! Don't worry!"
Kyojuro Rengoku burst into laughter, his voice so loud that the wind chimes on the veranda seemed to gently respond.
"Once I complete my mission, you are welcome to visit my jurisdiction! I'll take you to try the local specialty dishes then!"
He then looked at Cheng Mo and Kochou Shinobu, cupped his fist, and said, "Everyone, take care!"
"Be careful on your way," Kochou Shinobu gently instructed.
"Stay safe, Mr. Kyoujurou," Tanjirou said loudly, excitedly adding, "Thank you so much for guiding me with the Breathing Technique these past few days! I will work even harder!"
Kyojuro Rengoku waved goodbye to everyone one last time, then turned and strode away.
His flame-patterned haori flapped in the morning breeze, his silhouette tall and resolute, and he soon disappeared into the wisteria shadows at the Butterfly Mansion entrance.
The courtyard fell silent for a moment, as if even the sunlight had dimmed a little.
Himura Ruri looked in the direction he disappeared and softly said to Tanjirou, "Mr. Kyoujurou… is truly a very good person. May his journey be smooth and safe."
Tanjirou nodded vigorously, his eyes incredibly serious: "Yes, Mr. Kyoujurou is so strong and so gentle. I must strive to become a person like him too…"
Cheng Mo looked at Tanjirou's side profile, filled with longing and determination, but an untimely fragment of memory from another world flashed through his mind—
That endless train, that fierce battle, and… the Flame Pillar's demise.
He was silent for a moment, then spoke: "Instead of praying for his safety, it's better to cultivate to the point where you can fight alongside him as soon as possible. That would be the best response to him."
His voice remained calm and unruffled, yet it carried a subtle, imperceptible depth of meaning.
Tanjirou paused, then clenched his fists, his eyes burning with a resolute flame.
He declared loudly, "Yes! Teacher! I will train desperately and reach that level as soon as possible! I will not disappoint you!"
Just then, a young Butterfly Mansion physician rushed over, looking somewhat flustered.
"Lady Kocho, Mr. Cheng Mo, that demon…"
Seeing Himura Ruri present, she paused mid-sentence and rephrased: "…the one in the isolation room… he, his condition has changed!"
Ruri's heart leaped, her voice trembling: "Papa? What happened to my papa?"
Kochou Shinobu and Cheng Mo exchanged glances, both seeing gravity in each other's eyes.
"Let's go see." Cheng Mo was the first to step forward.
The group quickly arrived outside the specially designed isolation room.
Through the observation window, they witnessed a shocking scene.
Himura Senichi, who had previously required powerful restraint devices to subdue, was still fixed in place, but the frenzied, violent aura around him had largely subsided.
His head was bowed, and through his disheveled hair, his eyes, though still demon-red, were no longer purely hollow and hungry, but filled with the exhaustion of a struggle.
And… a trace of human, clear bewilderment!
"Papa!" Himura Ruri cried tears of joy, excitedly wanting to push open the isolation room door and rush over.
"Wait! Miss Ruri!" Tanjirou quickly stopped her wheelchair.
Almost simultaneously, Himura Senichi inside seemed to sense his daughter's arrival.
He struggled to lift his head, his gaze piercing through the glass and landing precisely on Ruri.
His lips moved, producing an extremely hoarse, broken voice:
"Ru…ri… don't, don't come over… not yet… it's not time…"
His voice was filled with pain and restraint, as if he was using all his strength to fight against something.
"I… I can't… fully… control… myself…"
Himura Ruri's tears immediately streamed down her face.
But she clamped her hand over her mouth, nodding vigorously, not daring to take another step forward.
Papa is awake!
Papa has truly regained consciousness!
Immense joy and heartache intertwined, making her tremble all over.
Kochou Shinobu suppressed her instinctive aversion and vigilance towards demons, stepped forward, and opened the voice channel.
Her voice remained as calm and professional as possible: "Mr. Himura… it's wonderful that you've regained consciousness. How do you feel now? Can you tell us what helped you break free from that chaotic state?"
She was indeed surprised.
She and Cheng Mo had estimated that Himura Senichi would eventually regain his sanity, but that would require a longer struggle and continuous medicinal assistance, certainly not so suddenly.
Himura Senichi seemed to be lost in some memory, his crimson eyes unfocused, as he haltingly described: "I… had a very long dream… In the dream… I saw… my ancestor…"
"He… kept demonstrating… swordsmanship for me… over and over…"
"He told me… not to… give up… will… is… the sharp blade… that cuts… shackles…"
Though his words were fragmented, they conveyed crucial information.
"Ancestor?" Kochou Shinobu frowned slightly.
Himura Senichi struggled to recall, his voice slow but clearer now: "He… had… long reddish-brown hair… tied in… a ponytail… a cross-shaped scar… on his left cheek… very… prominent…"
"His eyes… were also reddish-brown… very… gentle… His stature… wasn't tall… His face… looked… even a bit like… a girl's…"
But then, his tone subconsciously took on a hint of awe and shock: "But… when he… drew his sword… that… aura… it was as if… it could… cut through… the world…!"
As he narrated, as if drawn by the swordsmanship in that memory, Himura Senichi's body unconsciously twisted slightly.
He actually managed to partially break free from the suppression of the restraint devices, relying on a suddenly condensed willpower!
Himura Senichi's arm difficultly lifted a few inches, his wrist turning.
He subtly struck an extremely ancient and sharp starting stance!
Buzz—!
Despite the reinforced glass and seals, a faint but incomparably sharp sword intent, as if capable of severing everything, instantly permeated!
Cheng Mo and Kochou Shinobu's pupils suddenly contracted.
This materialized sharpness, though faint, carried the ultimate keenness of something that could cut through anything!
Cheng Mo gazed at that stance.
This is… Hiten Mitsurugi-ryū?