Chapter 3: Take Good Care of Your Senior Sister

Evening. 

The sky was dim. 

Down at the base of the mountain, Makomo had already prepared dinner, waiting for the two to return. 

Standing by the door, she beamed with joy as she saw them approach and ran to greet them. 

"Master! Junior Brother! You're back!" 

"How was the training?" 

"Have you mastered the basic slashing techniques yet?" 

Since her junior brother's arrival, the usually quiet Makomo had become lively and cheerful. 

At the same time, Makomo hadn't noticed her master's awkwardness at all. 

Seeing her master stammering and struggling to speak, she assumed Zhou Yi's performance had been terrible. Turning to him, she offered words of comfort: 

"It's okay, starting out is always the hardest! Even though I'm a bit clumsy, with dedicated practice, I'll be participating in the Demon Slayer selection in just a week!" 

Makomo was trying to encourage her junior brother with a kind lie—she was, in fact, a true genius. 

But sometimes, even a genius is relative. 

What had happened today on Mount Sagiri was beyond anyone's imagination. 

---

On the other side, hearing about the Final Selection, Zhou Yi's pupils shrank in shock. 

"I actually arrived just at this critical moment!" 

"Damn it, there's a Hand Demon in that trial! A fight to the death—Senior Sister might not survive!" 

In the original story, Makomo was defeated by the Hand Demon's psychological attacks. 

Sighing helplessly, Urokodaki Sakonji finally revealed the truth. 

"Your junior brother has already mastered all the forms of Water Breathing." 

"I demonstrated each one only once, and he learned them all." 

"He even comprehended parts of the breathing techniques on his own." 

"With just a single glance, he grasped Total Concentration Breathing." 

"Makomo, in a few days, you probably won't be his match." 

Makomo covered her mouth in shock, her eyes widening as she stared at her junior brother in disbelief. 

Meanwhile, Zhou Yi was deep in thought about how to save Makomo, his expression serious as he nodded in acknowledgment of his master's words. 

"Junior Brother is way too strong!" 

"I still have so much to learn—it's just a small bit of talent," Zhou Yi humbly replied. 

Humble, composed, and respectful toward his peers—his attitude brought great comfort to Urokodaki, dispelling all his earlier worries. 

"Alright, let's head inside and talk over dinner!" 

"With Zhou Yi's exceptional talent, we must celebrate properly!" 

Hearing her master's suggestion, Makomo raised both hands in agreement!

The meal was delicious, and Zhou Yi had several bowls. 

Makomo watched with a beaming smile. 

---

Outside the house, 

Master and disciple sat together, admiring the moon. 

With decades of experience, Urokodaki Sakonji keenly noticed something was troubling his disciple. 

"You seem to have something on your mind. Why not share it?" 

"Master, I'd like to join the Final Selection alongside Senior Sister," Zhou Yi hesitated for a moment before voicing his thoughts. 

It was unrealistic to dissuade Makomo from participating in the Final Selection. Moreover, her abilities were strong enough for her to fulfill the duties of a Demon Slayer. 

In the original story, if Makomo and Sabito had survived, they would have been no weaker than Giyu Tomioka. 

Thus, Zhou Yi could only make this request to his master. 

Urokodaki's first reaction was to refuse outright! 

"What nonsense is this! You've only been under my tutelage for a single day, and you're already thinking about the Final Selection? Are you joking?" 

But then, he suddenly realized something. 

Perhaps it wasn't impossible after all? 

The strength Zhou Yi displayed today was far beyond what most swordsmen could achieve, even after years of training. 

What's more, the Final Selection was still a week away. With his disciple's exceptional talent, his progress over the next seven days was unpredictable. 

"I need a reason," Urokodaki finally relented slightly. 

Zhou Yi pondered deeply before giving his answer. 

"Last night, I dreamt of countless children wearing masks." 

"They told me there's a Hand Demon on Mount Fujikasane hunting your disciples." 

Mount Fujikasane was the site of the Final Selection. 

"A Hand Demon?" Urokodaki seemed to recall something vaguely. 

"It was just a dream, but I can't help worrying about Senior Sister," Zhou Yi said sincerely, looking at his master with earnest eyes, hoping to gain his approval. 

Urokodaki remained silent in thought for a long time before finally speaking. 

"If you can master Total Concentration Breathing for 24 hours within seven days, I will allow it."

"A promise is a promise!" 

"A promise is a promise." 

The master and disciple made their agreement. 

The 24-hour Total Concentration Breathing, also known as Total Concentration Constant, refers to keeping the body in a state of Total Concentration Breathing at all times, even during sleep. 

At this moment, Urokodaki Sakonji's ears twitched slightly. 

"Zhou Yi, ever since you came, Makomo has become much more cheerful. You two should get along well." 

Zhou Yi was somewhat confused. Wasn't his relationship with Senior Sister already fine? 

"I'll protect Senior Sister!" 

After saying this, Zhou Yi took his master aside, asking him to systematically teach him the methods of breathing technique training. 

Inside the house, Makomo leaned against the wooden door, her heart racing wildly, her face flushed a deep red. 

"Really, she's so young but so sly! Hmph!" 

One can know a person's face, but not their heart. 

Now, she had figured out his feelings. 

--- 

Late at night, 

At the Demon Slayer Corps Headquarters, 

A crow delivered a letter. 

It was signed by Urokodaki Sakonji. 

"Oh, it's from Mr. Urokodaki." 

The recipient was the current leader of the Demon Slayer Corps, Kagaya Ubuyashiki. 

He was still a graceful young man, with his curse not yet having manifested, allowing him to handle matters on his own. 

Kagaya Ubuyashiki had the ability to briefly foresee the future and possessed an extraordinarily keen intuition. 

Using these two abilities, he had repeatedly avoided Muzan's pursuit. 

Before even opening the letter, he had a sense that it must be about something monumental. 

He opened the letter and began reading quietly. 

"Dear Master, what I'm about to tell you is quite unbelievable. I hope you're mentally prepared." 

Kagaya Ubuyashiki's interest grew, as Urokodaki Sakonji, a former Water Hashira, was a meticulous person who would never exaggerate. 

He continued reading. 

"Yesterday, I took on a disciple." 

A disciple? Was there something special about this? 

Could this disciple already be at the level of a Hashira? That's impossible! 

Kagaya Ubuyashiki took a sip of tea and continued reading. 

"My disciple is named Zhou Yi. He's 12 years old, and in just one day, he comprehended everything I've learned in my lifetime." 

"I, an old man, have nothing more to teach him, and I am no match for him." 

"He plans to participate in the Final Selection a week from now." 

???  

Pfft!!!

This news struck like a bolt from the blue. 

Even though he had prepared himself, Kagaya Ubuyashiki was still shocked. 

"What?" 

Even with his calm demeanor, Kagaya Ubuyashiki couldn't hold back. 

The tea he had just sipped was now all over the letter! 

Such a thing was happening! 

"Master! What happened?" 

Outside the room, hurried footsteps approached, and the door was pushed open by Gyomei Himejima. 

Gyomei, the Stone Hashira, was currently at the headquarters guarding the master's safety. 

Upon hearing the noise inside, he barged in without hesitation. 

But what puzzled him was that, according to his hearing, there should have been no one else inside! 

Cough cough!

Kagaya Ubuyashiki awkwardly coughed a few times, and when he spoke again, his voice trembled. 

"Gyomei! The fate of the Demon Slayer Corps might end with us!" 

After saying that, he read the contents of the letter aloud to Gyomei. 

After hearing the contents, Gyomei couldn't help but shed a tear. 

"Congratulations, Master!"

"He's only 12 years old now, far from the peak of his strength. Given time, once Zhou Yi grows stronger, it won't be hard for us to defeat Kibutsuji Muzan!"

Far away on Mt. Sagiri, Zhou Yi wouldn't have expected that his name had already been learned by his lord.

Right now, he had other matters to attend to.

...

"Junior Brother! Are you cold?"

"No, Senior Sister, I'm not cold."

"No, you're cold!"

"Two people sleeping together is warmer!"

Before Zhou Yi could refuse, Makomo crawled into the blanket.

"Goodnight…"

Her voice was barely audible.

After speaking, Makomo curled up and fell fast asleep.

It wasn't just because it was too warm; it was also because she was shy.

In Zhou Yi's eyes, Makomo's face and little hands were flushed red.

Looking at her vulnerable sleeping posture, his eyes filled with tenderness.

"Goodnight, Senior Sister."

"I'll protect you!"

The two children embraced as they slept.

Outside the room, their master was drinking alone under the moonlight.

"Young people really are great…"

...

[Inheritance progress updated!]

[Current progress of Sasaki Kojiro's inheritance: 10%.]