[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-this-pillar-in-demon-slayer-is-extremely-strong-":3,"chapter-this-pillar-in-demon-slayer-is-extremely-strong--this-pillar-in-demon-slayer-is-extremely-strong--chapter-11":6},{"origin":4,"title":5},"chinese","This Pillar in Demon Slayer Is Extremely Strong but Overly Cautious",{"chapter":7,"nextChapterSlug":19,"prevChapterSlug":20,"totalChapters":21,"novelImage":22},{"id":8,"novel_id":9,"title":10,"slug":11,"index":12,"content":13,"wordcount":14,"created_at":15,"updated_at":15,"volume":16,"translator":17,"content_hash":18},2335937,4566,"Chapter 11: Sun Breathing? Moon Breathing?","this-pillar-in-demon-slayer-is-extremely-strong--chapter-11",11,"\u003Cp>The next morning, Zero arrived early at the Ubuyashiki estate with Xiao Yue.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ubuyashiki Kyojuro and his wife were already waiting for him in a small pavilion in the courtyard.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At Zero’s request, Ubuyashiki Kyojuro had found a portrait of Kyojuro Rengoku from the Sengoku period, but it was damaged—time had blurred its details.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Zero, this is the portrait of Kyojuro Rengoku, the founder of the Original Breathing! But due to its age, it has become worn and faded.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zero glanced at the portrait; though unclear in places, it was enough for him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“My lord, thank you. This is sufficient—I’ll find a way to handle the rest myself.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Then I leave it to you. Also, here is the ordinary Nichirin Blade you requested.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ubuyashiki Kyojuro had his wife hand Zero a standard Nichirin Blade.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zero took the blade, examined it, and smiled: “Good. Thank you for the trouble.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“No trouble at all. We won’t disturb you further.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>No sooner had the words left his mouth than Ubuyashiki Kyojuro, supported by Ubuyashiki Amane, left the courtyard pavilion.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Watching Ubuyashiki Kyojuro depart, Zero began his action.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Master, the portrait is already blurred. Can this even work?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Whether it works or not—we’ll know once we try.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>【Activate Scan!】\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zero activated the scanning mode of his Analysis Glasses and scanned the portrait.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>【Scanning… Scan failed!】\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“So it still won’t work?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Master, perhaps we could try another method to restore the portrait—it might be possible!” Xiao Yue offered her suggestion.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Yes, you’re right! Since the portrait is blurred, we’ll restore it our own way!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zero then retrieved several items from his nanospace: a large sheet of white paper, several brushes, and some pigments.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I don’t know if it’ll succeed, but we can try. If it fails, we’ll find another way later.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zero began tracing the portrait’s outline, meticulously copying every stroke.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Though he knew the odds were low, this was all they could do now—and Xiao Yue stayed beside him…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After two or three hours, the tracing was finally complete.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The figure in the portrait had a high ponytail, long black hair streaked with red, wore Nichirin-flower paper earrings, and bore a deep crimson flame mark on his left forehead.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Finally done. Though I only traced the outline, I’m not sure if it’s identical.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He took a deep breath and reactivated the Analysis Glasses’ scanning mode.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>【Activate Scan!】\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>【Scanning… Scan successful!】\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Excellent! It worked!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He immediately activated the Analysis Glasses’ projection mode, displaying the data for himself and Xiao Yue to view.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>【Name: Kyojuro Rengoku】\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>【Identity: Second son of the Kyojuro family】\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>【Age: 80 (at death)】\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>【Elder brother: Kyojuro Iwaizumi】\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>【Wife: Shi】\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>【Close friend: Kamado Tanjiro】\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>【Era of birth: Sengoku period】\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>【Breathing Style: Original Breathing. Founder of Sun Breathing】\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>【Traits: Innate Mark, Transparent World】\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>【Weapon: Nichirin Blade—hilt and scabbard black, blade a black-and-crimson solar flame edge, a single character “ Mie ” engraved at the base, guard a broad black cross-shaped design.】\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>【Biography: Second son of the Kyojuro family during the Sengoku period, with an identical twin elder brother, Kyojuro Iwaizumi. Due to his father’s coldness, he refused to speak, leading those around him to believe he was born deaf and mute. Yet he sincerely respected and admired his mother and brother, who had always treated him kindly.】\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>【He possessed extraordinary swordsmanship talent and skill; after demonstrating his astonishing ability, his father changed his mind and named him heir to the Kyojuro family.】\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>【His brother called him “favored by the gods” and “someone who never reveals even the faintest emotional fluctuation,” which stirred jealousy in his brother, who felt inferior.】\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>【After his mother died when he was still a child, he left his family and wandered. Along the way, beside a neat field of crops, he met his beloved—Shi—and lived with her for ten years before marrying her.】\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>【After his wife Shi died in adulthood, he became solemn and silent, his emotions dulled by his transcendence beyond ordinary humanity.】\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>【After becoming close friends with Kamado Tanjiro, Kyojuro Rengoku would sometimes care for Tanjiro’s young daughter, Sumi, while Tanjiro’s wife, Kotoha, slept.】\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>【In his later years, he encountered his brother, now a demon. Instead of killing him immediately, he wept for him and mourned his fate…】\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“My guess yesterday was correct… hmm…” Zero studied the information—it felt incomplete, as if something was missing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He took out a notebook and pen, opened a fresh page, and began recording Kyojuro Rengoku’s details.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After recording, he flipped to the previous page and drew a line beside 【Kyojuro Iwaizumi】, writing 【Became a Demon】.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Indeed, Kyojuro Iwaizumi became a demon. Though my guess yesterday may have been slightly off, at least my reasoning was sound—but I still feel something’s missing…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xiao Yue watched silently as Zero muttered to himself, pen in hand, jotting notes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She was well-behaved, never interrupting—she simply hovered nearby, observing. Of all people, she understood Zero’s nature best, save for Luo Li and his comrades.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Whenever Zero received a mission in the Starry Sky, he always planned meticulously, minimizing risk to prevent accidents.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yet whenever he carried out a mission, he always charged ahead first—even wounded, he never stopped moving forward. This was one of the traits that made him rise swiftly to become Time Patrol Officer Zero.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zero looked at the projection screen, then drew two lines beneath 【Kyojuro Rengoku】: one labeled 【Rengoku’s Wife: Shi】, the other 【Close Friend: Kamado Tanjiro】.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Kyojuro Rengoku’s wife, Shi… and his close friend, Kamado Tanjiro…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He stared at the two names, lost in thought—something still felt absent, yet he couldn’t pinpoint what.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Kyojuro Rengoku’s wife died, but her cause of death isn’t stated…” Zero’s thoughts grew tangled, yet he sat calmly on the tatami, thinking.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As his thoughts grew chaotic, he recalled his earlier conversation with Ubuyashiki Kyojuro about the Demon Slayer Corps.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ubuyashiki Kyojuro had said every member of the Demon Slayer Corps bore an unyielding hatred for demons—each had lost family or siblings to demon attacks.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Thus, joining the Corps wasn’t just for revenge—it was to protect those around them, to eradicate all demons, and restore peace so no one else would suffer.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What if… Kyojuro Rengoku’s wife… was killed by a demon?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zero felt his idea was unlikely—Kyojuro Rengoku was so powerful, arguably the pinnacle of strength in the Sengoku period; protecting his wife should have been effortless.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But what if his wife’s health deteriorated, forcing Kyojuro Rengoku to leave home for a time?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And during his absence, he encountered someone in need, delaying his return…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Demons moved only at night. At that moment, Kyojuro Rengoku, delayed by other matters, had not yet returned home—while his wife waited alone, she encountered a demon hunting for prey and was brutally slain…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When Kyojuro Rengoku returned and found his dead wife, he was consumed by regret and heartbreak—this was why his personality grew even more silent and withdrawn…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“If my guess is right, then what reason compelled Kyojuro Rengoku to leave home in the first place…?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As he pondered, a sudden insight flashed through his mind. He looked again at the projection screen.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Married… Adulthood… Cared for friend’s young daughter…” These three details triggered a realization.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“It’s only a guess—but what if his wife became pregnant, and with childbirth imminent, and no one nearby to assist, Kyojuro Rengoku had to leave to find a midwife?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This idea clung to his mind, as if some unseen force was guiding him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even as a guess, if true, it was unforgivable—two lives lost…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He vaguely recalled having encountered something similar before, though the memory was hazy, the timing unclear.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Thinking of it, he clenched his fist, knuckles cracking.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Huh…” He forced himself to calm down and continued thinking.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“If my guess is correct, then after this, members of the Demon Slayer Corps likely discovered him and comforted him—and perhaps this very event led Kyojuro Rengoku to join the Corps, teaching them his Breathing Style and elevating their strength.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“If so, then it connects perfectly with my guess from yesterday!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His mind cleared instantly. Combined with yesterday’s hypothesis, the fog blocking his path had thinned, revealing a clearer route.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He drew a line beneath 【Rengoku’s Wife: Shi】 and wrote 【Pregnant, Near Delivery】. Then he drew a line beneath 【Kyojuro Rengoku】 and wrote 【Left to Find Midwife】, connecting it to 【Pregnant, Near Delivery】.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Finally, beside 【Rengoku’s Wife: Shi】, he drew a separate line and wrote 【Brutally Killed by a Demon】.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Even so, I still feel something’s missing… What is it…?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His pen paused over the page. Zero sensed this was far more complex than he’d imagined.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After a moment’s thought, he decided to set it aside for now—later, he would search Ubuyashiki Kyojuro’s library for answers.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His gaze settled on 【Close Friend: Kamado Tanjiro】.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“...Close friend... hmm...” The records described Kyojuro Rengoku as taciturn—someone who became a close friend must have been connected by some rare circumstance.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Hmm? Did I overlook something? What is it…? Why do I feel I’ve forgotten something? Wanko? No… What is it?!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Something’s still missing… Forget it. I’ll check Ubuyashiki Kyojuro’s library later—for the Demon Slayer Corps… Demon Slayer Corps? Kyojuro Iwaizumi?!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Just as he was about to set the matter aside, a veil lifted in his mind—he sensed a crucial detail.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He had guessed Kyojuro Rengoku joined the Demon Slayer Corps after his wife’s death—so Kyojuro Iwaizumi must have joined too.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He reorganized yesterday’s gathered information and made another guess: After joining the Demon Slayer Corps, Kyojuro Rengoku encountered his brother, Kyojuro Iwaizumi, during a mission.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing Kyojuro Rengoku’s power, Kyojuro Iwaizumi desired it for himself—and joined the Corps as well, becoming a demon slayer like his brother.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In the Corps, Kyojuro Rengoku taught his Breathing Style, but since Sun Breathing was too powerful for most to master, five derivative styles emerged—yet even these five could not match the strength of Sun Breathing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I wonder what Breathing Style Kyojuro Iwaizumi used… I feel he didn’t use any of the five basic styles!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“The records say Kyojuro Iwaizumi felt jealousy toward Kyojuro Rengoku—he must have sought to master a Breathing Style stronger than Kyojuro Rengoku’s!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“But the records also say no one in the Demon Slayer Corps could master Sun Breathing—so with Kyojuro Iwaizumi’s talent, he certainly couldn’t either!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Then what was his Breathing Style? Not one of the five basic styles—so he must have developed a new one, derived from Sun Breathing, stronger than the five, but just below Sun Breathing itself…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After thinking it over, he still couldn’t figure it out, so he simply lay down on the tatami, right arm resting across his forehead.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Not one of the Five Basic Breathing Methods, yet stronger than all five—only surpassed by Sun Breathing… which one could it be?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing this, Xiao Yue landed directly on Zero’s chest, propped her chin on her hands, swaying her legs as she comforted him: “Master, you don’t need to overthink it—just let things take their course!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Xiao Yue, you should understand why I’m doing this! We came into this dimensional world and are under dimensional suppression—our strength can only manifest at half, or even less than half!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“If this world harbors powerful monsters, our lives could be in danger—like that idiotic Kibutsuji Muzan!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“So I want to gather as much information as possible to prepare for the unknown times ahead, just in case.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Even ancient events from this dimension might become new unknowns in this era!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Preparing early benefits us now and in the future—we don’t belong here, and one day we’ll return!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xiao Yue understood these words well; she knew that in starlit battles, anything could be uncertain or change unexpectedly—even the smallest detail might turn the tide.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Alright, I understand, Master. But don’t push yourself too hard!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Don’t worry—I won’t.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zero lay on the tatami, eyes closed, a hazy, indistinct fog lingering in his mind—as if the answer was right before him, yet ungraspable.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“The sun is light, illuminating the day, revealing all things in the world! The moon is also light, guiding those who walk through the night!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“The sun rises in the east, the moon in the west. Rest when the sun sets, sleep when the moon rises! The sun has dawn and dusk, day and night; the moon has waxing and waning, full and crescent—sun and moon shine together…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>These words echoed in his mind—and suddenly, he caught a glimmer of the answer.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Sun and moon shine together… Sun and moon shine together!!” Zero’s thoughts sharpened instantly. He shot upright, nearly flinging Xiao Yue off his chest.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He snatched her out of the air with quick reflexes, placing her gently aside. “Sorry, Xiao Yue—I startled you. I think I’ve found the answer.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Though still dazed from the sudden movement, Xiao Yue knew her Master’s nature—finding the answer meant joy, and she was glad for him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Yes! It’s not one of the Five Breathing Methods, yet stronger than them—and only weaker than Sun Breathing! If Sun Breathing is the light of the daytime sun, then the moon must be the light of the night!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At that moment, Zero understood—even if only as a guess. If one dares not even imagine bold guesses, how can one plan for the future?!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Kokushibo is Sun Breathing—then the breathing method used by Kokushibo’s brother, I suspect, must be Moon Breathing! Weaker than Sun Breathing, yet stronger than the Five Breathing Methods!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He drew a line beside the name “Kokushibo” and wrote “Moon Breathing.” Then, on another page beside “Sun Breathing,” he drew double arrows and wrote “Moon Breathing.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sun Breathing? Moon Breathing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Breathing methods derived from Sun Breathing—stronger than the Five, yet weaker than Sun Breathing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“It’s still just a guess, but I believe that if I get the chance later, I’ll prove whether I’m right.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He then gave instructions to his Analysis Glasses:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>【Search: Sun Breathing Techniques】\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>【Searching… No relevant information found】\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>【Search: Moon Breathing Techniques】\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>【Searching… No relevant information found】\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Nothing… but it’s fine. I believe I’ll find it eventually. I just don’t know if the Demon Slayer Corps today still has anyone who uses Sun Breathing or Moon Breathing? I’ll ask Ubuyashiki Kagaya later!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zero had intended to search for techniques of “Sun Breathing” and “Moon Breathing” to study them. Though he found no answers, that didn’t mean he wouldn’t find them later.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Time would reveal everything—though how long would it take? A day? A month? A year? Or longer?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>These weren’t his concern now. He only wanted to forge his own answers and plans for the path full of unknowns.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even if it was all guesswork, it was better than doing nothing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Like danger lurking everywhere—even the safest place will one day become dangerous. The only truly safe place is one’s own strength. The stronger you are, the safer you become.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Moreover, Zero had just reorganized yesterday’s and today’s information and made another guess: Kokushibo’s expulsion from the Demon Slayer Corps might not be as simple as it seemed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If it were only because he failed to kill Kibutsuji Muzan and let a female demon escape, Kokushibo would merely face criticism and punishment.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But if it were also known that his brother, Kokushibo, had become a demon while still a Demon Slayer, then Kokushibo’s expulsion wouldn’t be implausible.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Demon Slayer Corps exists solely to exterminate demons and eliminate Muzan. If one of their own swordsmen became a demon, he was an unforgivable traitor.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Given Nihon’s customs, he wouldn’t just be condemned—he’d be expected to disembowel himself in atonement.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As for why Kokushibo became a demon, Zero already knew the answer yesterday: the “Demon Mark.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Many mysteries still lingered, but Zero firmly believed that if he kept probing, he would dispel the fog and find the answers.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He drew another line beside “Kokushibo” and wrote: “Brother became demon, expelled from Demon Slayer Corps.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Became a demon… No—Kokushibo became a demon? Then his strength must be immense!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zero seemed to grasp something else: Kokushibo and Kokushibo were both from the Sengoku period. If he became a demon and had centuries of cultivation, his power was self-evident!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“If so, could the Demon Slayer Corps’ Pillars defeat him? With Breathing Methods, Demon Marks, and Transparent World—how powerful would this demon Kokushibo truly be?!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The more he thought, the more unbelievable it seemed. If Kokushibo became a demon and possessed all these abilities, he was undoubtedly an extremely powerful sword-wielding demon.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zero even made a bold, possibly true hypothesis: the demon Kokushibo was powerful enough to slaughter every single Pillar of the Demon Slayer Corps.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He turned to a fresh page, drew a diamond shape, wrote “Kokushibo” above it, “Moon Breathing” on the left, “Demon Mark, Transparent World” on the right, and “Became Demon” at the bottom.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After thinking, he wrote in the center: “Strongest Sword Demon.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He took a deep breath to calm himself, organized his thoughts, and flipped back to the previous page, staring at the name “Close Friend: Kamado Tanjiro.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Kamado Tanjiro… He became close friends with Kokushibo. Probably because Tanjiro’s family was attacked by a demon, and Kokushibo—still a Demon Slayer—saved them, forging their bond…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Let’s try!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>【Search: Kamado Tanjiro】\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>【Searching… No relevant information retrieved】\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Ugh… I’m such an idiot…” A vein throbbed on Zero’s forehead. He struggled, but couldn’t utter a single coherent thought.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It felt like he’d been hunting prey, found the target, but because he was too cautious, he accidentally let out a fart—and scared the prey away.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He didn’t even know if the prey fled from the sound of the fart or its stench.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Ugh—I give up! The records clearly say he’s Kokushibo’s close friend, yet I can’t find anything…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Pfft!” Xiao Yue burst out laughing at Zero’s expression.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Oh, you little brat, you dare laugh at me?! Just wait—I’ll teach you a lesson!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He reached out, snatched Xiao Yue into his palm, and began tickling her.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Giggly-giggly… How dare you laugh at me now!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Hahaha… M-Master… I’m sorry!… Next time… next time… I’ll still… hahaha… so ticklish… Master… stop!… hahaha…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You dare say ‘next time’?!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“No no no… hahaha… please spare me, Master… hahaha… I swear on the lightbulb!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hearing her oath, Zero let her go: “That’s better.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But then he paused, frowning: “Swear on a lightbulb?!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Xiao Yue!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But Xiao Yue had already floated upward—Zero couldn’t reach her. “Nyah-nyah! You can’t catch me! Hehe!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She stuck out her tongue, grinning.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Ugh… forget it. I’m too lazy to deal with you. I can’t think of anyone else who’d teach you this except Luo Li!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He turned away, pretending to ignore her.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing her Master ignore her, Xiao Yue floated down, hovering before him, pouting: “I’m sorry, Master. I know I was wrong.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Ah, you really are a little fool,” Zero said, gently stroking her head. “But it’s fine like this—at least you’re here with me. I’m not so lonely.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Master, I promised I’d stay with you until the end!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You, you… alright. I’ve still got work to do. When I’m done, I’ll take you out to explore and cheer you up.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Mm-hmm!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Their playful interlude ended. Zero picked up the notebook and pen, continuing to record information.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Though I found nothing on Kamado Tanjiro, maybe I can search by the surname ‘Kamado’ later—there must be descendants of his in this era… probably…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He circled the word “Kamado” beside “Close Friend: Kamado Tanjiro,” wrote “descendants” beneath it, and added a question mark.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Having finished recording, he set the pen and notebook aside, then turned his gaze to the ordinary Nichirin Blade lying beside him.\u003C\u002Fp>",3239,"2026-06-20T21:22:22.338Z",1,"Qwen3-Next 80B","584b31cbd9a01cdbd0f2fb5d6a782527efec3539d88ccd7a613bad2bc7708cc1","this-pillar-in-demon-slayer-is-extremely-strong--chapter-12","this-pillar-in-demon-slayer-is-extremely-strong--chapter-10",128,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fthis-pillar-in-demon-slayer-is-extremely-strong--cover.jpg"]