"Aside from the first seven forms of Forest Breathing, there's nothing more this old man can teach you. Over this past year, Shinichi, your progress has far exceeded my expectations."
On the country path, Elder Moriki and Shinichi walked under the moonlight. The old man chattered incessantly along the way, like any ordinary elderly man, repeating over and over how outstanding Shinichi was.
Fortunately, Shinichi was used to it by now, his ears automatically filtering out the elder's rambling.
And so, Elder Moriki talked the entire way, while Shinichi remained passively silent, listening until they arrived at their destination—Butterfly Mansion.
Knock, knock, knock!
The wooden door was gently tapped.
After a brief wait, it creaked open, revealing a petite figure with violet eyes that widened the moment they landed on the two visitors.
The girl immediately turned and dashed back inside.
"Nee-san! Elder Moriki and that cold-faced guy are here again!!" Shinobu Kocho panted as she gestured to her sister.
Kanae Kocho sighed and lightly tapped her sister's forehead with a finger.
"Shinobu, it's rude to call Shinichi-kun like that. Go find Father—I'll greet Elder Moriki and Shinichi-kun."
Soon, the lights in the Butterfly Mansion sitting room flickered on.
On the tatami, Elder Moriki and the Kocho family knelt formally—except for Shinichi, who sat cross-legged without a care.
From her corner, Shinobu glared at him and muttered under her breath.
"Rude, cold-faced man."
Whoosh!
For some reason, Shinichi seemed to have heard her.
His head snapped toward her, peach-red eyes locking onto Shinobu. In a split second unnoticed by the others, his lips parted slightly, his canine teeth seemingly elongating, while his eyes flashed crimson.
For a brief moment, he looked utterly terrifying.
"Eeeek!!" Shinobu shrieked, startled by his sudden transformation.
Her cry interrupted the adults' conversation. Her father frowned and scolded his youngest daughter sternly.
"Shinobu! Such a rude outburst is unacceptable! Kanae, take her to bed."
Shinobu violet eyes widened as she pointed at Shinichi.
"No! It was him! Huh? But he just—!"
Before she could finish, Kanae took her hand and bowed apologetically to Elder Moriki and Shinichi.
"I'm so sorry, Elder Moriki, Shinichi-kun. Shinobu is just being mischievous—she didn't mean any harm. Please don't take it to heart."
With that, she tried to lead Shinobu away.
But Shinobu resisted, still trying to explain what she had seen.
"No! Sister, he really changed just now! You have to believe me..."
Meanwhile, Shinichi sat there, expression unchanged—nothing like the monstrous transformation Shinobu had described.
Watching the sisters leave the room from the corner of his eye, he let out an imperceptible scoff.
He had deliberately scared that stubborn little girl—did she really think he didn't know what she called him behind his back?
Cold-faced man?
But the most unforgivable thing was that this brat had the nerve to say his beloved Shiba Inu, Maru-ni, wasn't cute at all!
Ridiculous.
What did some impolite little brat know?
Over the past year, Shinichi had frequently accompanied Elder Moriki to Butterfly Mansion at night—not for any other reason but to obtain wisteria herbs.
To train Forest Breathing, Shinichi consumed large amounts of Wisteria Tea daily to suppress the powerful demonic transformation within him.
Thanks to the wisteria, Shinichi now looked nothing like a demon.
As Shinobu Kocho had remarked, he simply appeared to be a cold-faced young man.
"Will Yakushin-kun mind us disturbing him so often at night?" Elder Moriki said with a chuckle.
Yakushin also smiled. "Not at all. If anything, I should be thanking you, Elder Moriki. You're one of our most valued patrons. By the way, I've prepared the wisteria pills you mentioned before—though they'll taste quite bitter."
"Is that so? Wonderful! The taste isn't an issue, we don't mind" Elder Moriki replied, casting a glance at Shinichi beside him.
After all, this boy couldn't taste anything beyond sweetness. Bitter or not, it didn't matter—it wasn't like the old man himself had to take them.
"That's good to hear. But Elder Moriki, why are you so fond of wisteria? Truthfully, many other medicines here are more effective and cheaper than wisteria" Yakushin seized the moment to voice his curiosity.
Elder Moriki stroked his graying hair. "Because legend says wisteria is a blessed flower that wards off evil spirits and brings good fortune. It's not just medicinal—it symbolizes protection against demons. That's why I prefer using this flower in medicine."
Yakushin was slightly surprised by this answer.
"Is that so? I hadn't realized you were so traditional, Elder Moriki. I've learned something new."
Though he said this, he didn't take the elder words seriously.
After all, demons? They were just old tales to frighten children.
After receiving the prepared wisteria herbs and the specially made wisteria pills, Elder Moriki and Shinichi prepared to take their leave. Yakushin escorted them out of the mansion with a lantern in hand.
When Yakushinreturned inside, the lights in his daughters' rooms were still on.
Inside, Shinobu Kocho was insisting stubbornly.
"It's true! That cold-faced guy teeth suddenly grew so long and his eyes turned a scary red!!"
Kanae Kocho sighed helplessly at her sister, resorting to a coaxing tone.
"Alright, alright, I believe you, Shinobu. Now, how about going to bed early? We have to wake up tomorrow to help Mother sort the herbs."
"You're treating me like a kid! I'm not lying!!" Shinobu defiant voice persisted.
Outside the room, Yakushin shook his head in equal resignation upon hearing the sisters' exchange.
"Such a stubborn child."
***
On the country path, Elder Moriki and Shinichi, each carrying a large bag, began their journey home.
"Shinichi, did you really scare that child from the Kocho family earlier?"
"What does it matter?"
"Nothing much, but frightening children isn't exactly honorable."
"Heh. I felt like it."
Elder Moriki looked at Shinichi, who was occasionally being stubborn.
It was in moments like these that he could sense the childishness of a teenager in Shinichi.
After all, in Elder Moriki eyes, Shinichi was just a boy in his teens.
"This old man is truly getting old. The future belongs to you young ones."