Why does the world show a health bar? !

Leaving is always bittersweet. After receiving the **Warding Masks**, Li Mo and Makomo officially departed, setting off for **Mount Fujikasane**. However, as soon as they stepped out, two small figures began trailing behind them.

Giyu and Sabito followed them for a long distance. The entire time, no one spoke a word.

The silence was finally broken when Li Mo stopped walking: "You two, how much longer are you going to follow us? Don't you have training to get back to? Sabito, do you really want to hear me nagging again?"

"Who wants to listen to your nagging?! You jerk of a senior brother, always saying the same things over and over. I'm sick of it!" Sabito retorted, though his tone wasn't as fierce as usual.

Li Mo sighed. "Alright, alright, I'll stop nagging. It seems like you've already remembered what I've said. If you haven't, I'll just keep repeating it when I come back. Change your bad habits, trust your comrades more. Giyu, this kid has a bright future ahead."

"Sabito, take Giyu and go back."

Li Mo spoke earnestly, like a caring older brother.

Sabito and Giyu were complementary in personality. The former was talented but had a worrying sense of justice and responsibility, which made Li Mo fear that it might lead to his death in the future. The latter was slightly less talented but had a more stable personality.

If the two were living normal lives in human society, their personalities would have led to opposite outcomes: Sabito would thrive, while Giyu would struggle.

But… they had chosen the path of the Demon Slayer Corps.

"Senior brother, senior sister. After passing the **Final Selection**, come back and visit us," Sabito said haltingly, clearly uncomfortable.

Li Mo chuckled. "If my dear junior brother wants to get beaten up, who am I to deny him?"

Sabito snorted but, for once, didn't argue back.

Giyu, ever slow to speak, added, "Come back alive, senior brother, senior sister."

Li Mo patted Giyu's head. "Don't worry, I'll definitely bring Makomo back. Alright, you two should head back now. Don't leave Urokodaki-sensei, that lonely old man, waiting too long. Your training load might be reduced today, but it's not canceled, right?"

After much persuasion, Li Mo finally convinced the two to turn back. If they followed any further, they wouldn't make it home until nightfall.

Though both were around thirteen years old, not exactly little kids, in Li Mo's eyes, they were still children.

Watching his juniors leave, Li Mo turned to Makomo, who had been silent. "Alright, Sabito and Giyu are gone. You can turn around now."

"No."

"Then… should I walk behind you?"

"Please."

Li Mo shook his head and fell half a step behind Makomo. This way, he couldn't see her face.

Because he didn't want to see her tears.

Girls are so complicated.

Earlier, Li Mo had noticed Makomo crying. Though her sobs were faint, they were unmistakable. He had deliberately distanced himself from her and the two juniors to keep her tears hidden.

That's why, during the conversation with Sabito and Giyu, Li Mo had done all the talking. He wanted to make sure the two didn't notice Makomo's crying.

She was their senior sister, an adult. Adults shouldn't cry in front of their juniors.

Li Mo understood this sentiment all too well. Not everyone was as shameless as he was.

Understanding was one thing, but Li Mo wasn't sure how to comfort her. To him, Urokodaki was a respected teacher. But to Makomo, Urokodaki was more than that—he was a father, a grandfather, her family.

Saying goodbye to family was hard, and crying was natural.

"Li Mo, why do you think Urokodaki-sensei didn't come to see us off?" Makomo asked, not giving Li Mo a chance to answer. "I think… Urokodaki-sensei has seen too many goodbyes. Senior brothers and sisters have left him to participate in the **Final Selection**, some dying during the selection, others after becoming official Demon Slayers. How many of them have had a peaceful end?"

This question seemed rhetorical. Both Li Mo and Makomo knew the answer.

Because, during their training, no one had ever come to visit Urokodaki.

In the Demon Slayer Corps, a peaceful end was rare. Even the **Pillars**, the strongest fighters, had a high mortality rate. Someone like Urokodaki, who had survived to become a trainer, was an exception.

The Demon Slayer Corps and demons.

The chain of hatred bound them tightly together. The only way to break this chain was the death of **Muzan Kibutsuji**, the progenitor of demons. When Muzan died, all demons would perish with him.

Only then would the chain of hatred be severed.

The destruction of the Demon Slayer Corps wouldn't change this. The Corps was, at its core, a group of people seeking revenge against demons. Even if every current member died, as long as demons continued to prey on humans, a new Demon Slayer Corps would rise.

The only way to truly end the hatred had been the same for a thousand years: make Muzan face the sun.

So… was Makomo worried that she might not return, causing Urokodaki to worry?

"Makomo, if you're worried about this, why don't you take care of Urokodaki-sensei when he can't move anymore?"

"Don't worry about not having the chance. I'll kill all the demons before Urokodaki-sensei becomes immobile."

Li Mo spoke with determination.

If Tanjiro could do it in the future, why couldn't he, someone with cheats, do it now? After a few years of training, even if he didn't reach the level of **Yoriichi Tsugikuni**, being just one step below would be enough.

Yoriichi had nearly killed Muzan in an instant. If Li Mo could just kill him, that would be enough.

"You're that confident?"

"Someone like me, who has mastered **Total Concentration Breathing: Constant** before even participating in the **Final Selection**, is rare, right?" Li Mo said proudly.

His life level was still at "LV2." Once he started killing demons, his level would skyrocket. With increased stats and the ability to unlock the **Bright Red Nichirin Blade**, he could chase Muzan down and cut him to pieces.

"Arrogant."

"It's confidence. After the **Final Selection**, I'll kill a **Lower Moon** and become a **Pillar** to prove it to you."

"Really?" Makomo's tone was full of doubt.

"Don't believe me? Just wait and see."

Li Mo stood behind her, unable to see her expression. But he could see her movements. During their conversation, Makomo had raised her hand to her face.

She was probably wiping away her tears.

He wasn't foolish enough to point it out. Instead, he waited…

After a while, Makomo turned to face Li Mo, a faint smile on her face. "Junior brother, from your words, I get the feeling you think I'm weak. During our sparring sessions, our wins and losses were about even, right?"

"Did I ever say I was going easy on you during sparring?"

"No."

"Ah, how cruel."

"The cruel one is you. By the way, did you make the same promise to those Butterfly sisters?"

Makomo suddenly asked.

Li Mo rubbed his chin. Over the past half year, he had been in contact with Kanae and Shinobu Kocho through letters. Makomo had seen some of these exchanges, so he had no choice but to tell her about the sisters.

"Yes, I did. Why?"

"No reason."

Makomo turned and walked ahead, her attitude suddenly becoming more stubborn.

Li Mo could only shake his head and follow.

Whatever.