Chapter 312

"Don't worry."

Luo En took a sip of wine: "Kibutsuji Muzan will never find the Blue Higan Flower in his lifetime."

Everyone froze.

"Huh?!"

Luo En held up the endless wine flask and smiled at them: "Because that flower only blooms for two or three days during the day each year."

Everyone stared at him blankly.

Ubuyashiki Kagaya, usually calm and composed, suddenly burst into laughter—a rare sound: "Hahaha! A drug that lets you fear no sunlight grows under the sun itself; the very thing you crave most is something you'll never see in your life. It seems heaven isn't always on Kibutsuji's side."

The Pillars had never seen Ubuyashiki Kagaya laugh so freely.

"Giggles."

Butterfly Shinobu let out a soft laugh.

Then it was Kanroji Mitsuri.

Next, Rengoku Kokushibo and Uzui Tengen couldn't help but laugh too.

Munenori, Inosuke, Shinobu, and Himejima also relaxed slightly.

This news was indeed good for them.

But then Luo En's next words made everyone tense again.

"However, besides the Blue Higan Flower, there is now another thing in this world that might allow Kibutsuji Muzan to complete his evolution."

"What is it?"

Munenori asked urgently.

"A special demon."

Everyone looked puzzled: "A special demon?"

Luo En took another sip of wine: "More precisely, a demon born from Kibutsuji Muzan's blood experiments, who later escaped his control due to Kibutsuji's negligence—this demon doesn't need to consume human flesh, doesn't attack humans, and can even fight alongside humans against demons… a special demon."

Butterfly Shinobu's eyes widened slightly as she heard him: "Could it be…?"

"Impossible! How could such a demon exist?!"

Munenori looked utterly unconvinced.

Rengoku Kokushibo and the others also regarded Luo En with suspicion.

Butterfly Shinobu was about to speak.

Ubuyashiki Kagaya spoke up: "You mean the demon sister of Kamado Tanjiro—Kamado Nezuko, right?"

The Pillars were stunned.

"My lord, you knew about this?!"

"Yes. A while ago, the former Water Pillar, Tengen Uzui, wrote me a letter mentioning this. Yuki also explained the situation to me."

Ubuyashiki Kagaya turned toward Luo En and said: "But I never imagined Nezuko was this extraordinary."

"If that's the case, she should have been eliminated long ago to prevent future trouble!"

Munenori's killing intent boiled over.

Rengoku Kokushibo said confidently: "Leave it to me—I'll let her pass away without pain."

Himejima clasped his hands together, tears streaming down his face: "Amitabha."

"If you want Kibutsuji Muzan to hide another hundred years, you can do that."

Luo En said calmly: "But if you wish to lure Kibutsuji Muzan out and end the thousand-year grudge in your generation, Kamado Nezuko is necessary."

22, definitely a fool

"Necessary… what do you mean by that?"

Munenori frowned at Luo En.

Ubuyashiki Kagaya understood Luo En's implication and pondered: "Mr. Luo En, you mean to use her as bait to lure Kibutsuji Muzan into revealing himself?"

Luo En nodded: "Exactly. Isn't it far more effective than searching the entire world for Kibutsuji Muzan hiding among humans?"

The others exchanged glances.

"This method, though risky, is worth trying."

Inosuke spoke up: "I agree."

Rengoku Kokushibo added bluntly: "Resting while waiting, defending to attack—it's absolutely worth trying!"

Shinobu nodded expressionlessly.

Butterfly Shinobu looked at Luo En: "Using Nezuko as bait to lure Kibutsuji Muzan out—Tanjiro probably won't agree."

"Why not?"

"Because it's too dangerous."

"Dangerous?"

Luo En smiled at her: "Where could be safer than here?"

Butterfly Shinobu immediately understood, her eyes lighting up: "I see! You mean to use Nezuko as bait, place her at the Demon Slayer Corps headquarters, lure Kibutsuji Muzan in, and then ambush and kill him with all our strength right here!"

"Ambushing Kibutsuji Muzan at the Demon Slayer Corps headquarters…?"

Uzui Tengen's eyes widened slightly.

Indeed!

This method could lure out Kibutsuji Muzan, minimize risk, and let every member of the Demon Slayer Corps contribute fully, leveraging complete terrain advantage!

Rengoku Kokushibo, Inosuke, and Munenori all looked excited.

Kanroji Mitsuri still looked worried:

"I hope it works, but will things really go this smoothly? After all, he's Kibutsuji Muzan—the demon ancestor who has lived for a thousand years and taken countless lives…"

Hu Die Ren, Yu Zui Tian Yuan, and Bei Ming Yu Xing Ming bowed their heads slightly, remembering comrades who had once died at the hands of demons.

"Oni no Danjo Muzan is naturally no easy foe; even with this plan, countless unforeseen events and sacrifices are inevitable."

Ubuyashiki Kagaya addressed the Pillars, speaking softly: "But at last, there is hope of killing that creature."

"Every time Oni no Danjo Muzan wishes to hide something, it stirs up chaos to divert our attention. Unless it reveals itself willingly, we cannot find it—this is deeply frustrating, yet precisely what Oni no Danjo Muzan intends. For humans with fleeting lifespans, its infinite life is its greatest weapon."

"My time is short, yet demons in this world have not diminished—they still roam every corner, calmly devouring people, drawing power from Oni no Danjo Muzan and clinging to life. Even for the sake of those who have died, there is only one thing we must do: kill Oni no Danjo Muzan."

The Pillars' expressions hardened.

Ubuyashiki Kagaya faced the Pillars, his voice gentle yet firm: "The Pillars gathered here today, I believe, are the most elite group of swordsmen since the Warring States era's Original Breathing users. It is you who have shown me hope of killing that creature."

"My lord…"

Kanroji Mitsuji gazed at him, her face filled with emotion.

Fushiguro Jiro bowed his head before Ubuyashiki Kagaya, his voice resolute: "My lord, no matter the cost, we will kill Oni no Danjo Muzan!"

Rengoku Kyojuro slammed his fist into his palm, his voice booming: "We will give it everything we have!"

The others all wore determined expressions.

Luo En took a sip of wine and looked at them all: "It seems you've all made your peace with death—but resolve alone is not enough."

All turned to him.

"How much do you know of Oni no Danjo Muzan's power and that of the Twelve Kizuki? Have you ever fought the Upper Moons? Do you know their abilities? As far as I know, even the weakest of the Upper Moons, Upper Six—Daki, has killed seven Pillars over the past century."

Luo En said calmly: "Let me remind you: Oni no Danjo Muzan possesses five brains and seven hearts. His regenerative ability is extreme—he heals instantly upon being wounded, and even if his body is reduced to fragments, he recovers completely."

Upper One—the Demon of the Sword, Kokushibo, was once among the Original Breathing swordsmen.

Upper Two—the Ice Demon, Gyomei Himejima, you should know well how dangerous he is.

Upper Three—the Fighting Demon, Akaza, through relentless training and battle, has nearly reached the limit of a demon's potential; his strength likely surpasses that of the Ice Demon Gyomei Himejima. Should he break through that limit, even having his neck severed by a Nichirin Blade will not kill him."

Hearing his calm words, even Yu Zui Tian Yuan, who had great confidence in his own strength, and Fushiguro Jiro fell silent.

Even Ubuyashiki Kagaya furrowed his brow.

"I said before: if the Demon Slayer Corps now engages in full-scale war against Oni no Danjo Muzan and the Twelve Kizuki, there is a high chance Oni no Danjo Muzan will annihilate us entirely."

Luo En sipped his wine and glanced at them: "I've already given you the method to draw out Oni no Danjo Muzan. Your resolve seems sufficient—but your current strength is not."

"Don't joke!"

Fushiguro Jiro lowered his head, clenched his fists resting on his thighs, and snarled: "So… we have absolutely no chance of killing that creature?! Do you think all of us have trained and fought with our lives on the line until today for nothing?! If we can't kill him, it's all meaningless!"

His entire body trembled, not just his voice.

All fell silent.

Luo En glanced at Fushiguro Jiro: "Are you stupid?"

The words rang out sharply in the silent room.