Chapter 113: The Times Have Changed

I don’t know how much longer I can hold on. If one day I stop updating, it means I may no longer be here. Thank you all for your unwavering support… truly, I hate to leave you all behind…

Zero’s mansion.

The two were alone in a room, talking.

Zero sat on the edge of the bed, while Luo Li brought a chair and sat facing him, smiling calmly as she gazed at him.

Zero felt uneasy under her stare and couldn’t meet her eyes.

Still, he told Luo Li everything—every detail of the past three years spent stranded in another world.

In truth, Luo Li had long since forgiven him, but she still pretended to be upset.

Seeing Bai Yue truly change, she was glad for him.

Several hours later.

Zero had told Luo Li everything.

Luo Li sighed softly, rose, walked to Bai Yue’s side, cupped his face, and kissed his lips. “All these years… you’ve suffered so much.”

“To see you again… I really… really…” This time, Zero could no longer hold back—he embraced Luo Li and wept.

“It’s over now. We’ve come to take you home.”

The two held each other for a while, then let go.

“Can you go get Kanae and Mitsuri up? I want to talk to them.”

As Luo Li spoke, Zero opened his mouth to reply, but she pressed a finger to his lips.

“Don’t worry—I won’t do anything. It’s just a girl-to-girl talk.”

“Yes, I trust you.”

Then Luo Li kissed Zero once more, and only then did he leave the room to tell Kanae and Mitsuri downstairs what had happened.

The two girls hesitated not at all and immediately agreed, heading upstairs to speak with Luo Li.

Zero stayed downstairs, chatting with his sister and comrades, while Kiyoharu prepared snacks with Shinobu.

Inside the room.

Kanae and Mitsuri sat on the edge of the bed, nervously watching Luo Li.

Their hands rubbed together, unsure where to place them.

There was no help for it—Luo Li’s aura was simply too overwhelming.

Finally, Luo Li spoke first: “Don’t be nervous. I just want to talk to you about Bai Yue… Zero.”

“You… you want us to leave Zero?”

Kanae looked heartbroken.

“No.”

“Then why did you call us up…?”

“I just want to ask you—do you truly love Zero?”

“Of course!” Mitsuri answered first. “I love Zero. For him, I’d give up everything—even my… my… my body—I’d give it to him…”

Her voice grew quieter as she spoke.

Yet her gaze remained unwavering—she would never regret it if she could stay with Zero.

Kanae said nothing, but her heart felt exactly as Mitsuri’s did.

Seeing this, Luo Li smiled.

“Then I’m relieved. Thank you both for taking care of him these past three years—and for changing him.”

“Then what do you mean…?”

“If you two are willing, I’ll take you both with me when we leave.”

In just a few short sentences, Luo Li had made her intentions clear.

“Can I call you Sister Luo Li?” Mitsuri asked.

“Of course.”

“Yay! This is great, Kanae!”

The two girls stepped forward and embraced Luo Li together.

Luo Li looked at the two young girls and smiled helplessly.

All in all, it was quite good.

Night fell.

Zero, still worried, went upstairs to check.

Hearing the girls’ laughter from inside the room, he knew they were getting along well.

His worries had been unnecessary.

So he abandoned the idea of entering.

Now, it was time to consider another matter.

How to lure Muzan Kibutsuji out—and destroy him completely.

Most of the Twelve Kizuki had already been eliminated; only Muzan Kibutsuji and the Demoness, along with scattered minor demons across the regions, remained.

Once Muzan Kibutsuji was destroyed, the minor demons would vanish naturally.

But the Demoness must be dealt with first.

As long as she lived, Muzan could always escape quickly.

So they must first locate the Infinite Castle, find a way to enter, kill the Demoness, and cut off Muzan’s hiding place.

“By the way—Nirvana!”

Zero found Luo Zhanyun and explained the situation.

Luo Zhanyun said it was possible.

“If you have the data on the Infinite Castle, Nirvana can scan a wide area and locate the target.”

“Does Nirvana currently carry any offensive weapons?”

“Yes. To prevent accidents, Xiao Yun equipped Nirvana with the Supernova. It’s more than enough to deal with the Demoness.”

Zero looked at Bai Yun and smiled. “Didn’t expect you to be so thoughtful.”

“Heh, you taught me to always prepare for everything!” Bai Yun lifted his head proudly.

“Then let’s discuss our next plan together.”

The group went to the Ubuyashiki mansion to meet Ubuyashiki Kagaya and plan.

They split into two teams.

One team would use Nirvana to search for the Infinite Castle’s location; the other would go to the Ubuyashiki mansion.

Before leaving, Zero handed Bai Yun another pair of Analytical Glasses. “This contains all the data on Muzan Kibutsuji, the Infinite Castle, and the Demoness.”

“I understand, Brother.”

On the way, they passed the Butterfly House and met Juuetsu.

“Juuetsu, you’re just in time. Let’s discuss how to lure and destroy Muzan Kibutsuji.”

“I understand. I’ll come.”

Arriving at the Ubuyashiki mansion.

Zero suddenly smelled a faint odor of gunpowder in the air.

Having dealt with weapons for years, he was naturally sensitive to it.

After a moment’s thought, he understood the reason.

Muzan Kibutsuji was connected to the Ubuyashiki family.

Destroying Muzan would free their descendants from the curse.

If he guessed right, Ubuyashiki Kagaya had foreseen something.

He planned to use himself as bait to lure out Muzan Kibutsuji.

After all, Muzan also wanted to eliminate the Ubuyashiki family.

Moreover, from the events at the Swordsmith Village, it was clear the Demoness had helped Muzan locate them.

So finding the Ubuyashiki family was merely a matter of time.

“Zero, you’ve come,” Ubuyashiki Kagaya said, standing inside the inner chamber with his wife.

“You’re planning to use yourself as bait—to sacrifice yourself to raise the swordsmen’s morale and destroy Muzan Kibutsuji.”

Ubuyashiki Kagaya kept smiling. “You truly miss nothing. If you were on Muzan’s side, I fear…”

He didn’t finish. Everyone understood.

Zero merely waved his hand. “I’ve already thought of a way to deal with Muzan. You don’t need to sacrifice yourself. Even if you don’t care for yourself, think of your wife and children.”

Beside him, Ubuyashiki Amane showed no fear.

No matter what her husband chose, she would support him.

But if everyone could survive, that would be best of all.

Zero then summoned the Hidden Division and had them remove all hidden explosives.

He gathered the remaining Pillar swordsmen to discuss the next plan.

As for Juuetsu’s presence, everyone had long accepted her, so there was no resistance.

“I have an idea for luring out Muzan Kibutsuji.”

Zero activated the projection mode of the Analytical Glasses, revealing a blue flower.

“This plant is called the Blue Higanbana. We can use it to lure out Muzan Kibutsuji—he’s always wanted it.”

“But we don’t have blue Higanbana flowers,” said Zhu Shi, voicing her thought.

“Not having them doesn’t mean we can’t make them—we can integrate your medicine into them later.”

Upon hearing this idea, everyone felt it was worth a try.

“If so, let me, Xiao Ren, and Zhu Shi handle it together.”

“Thank you, Kanae.”

“It’s nothing—I want to contribute, to eliminate Kibutsuji Muzan as soon as possible.”

Thus, the three women returned early to the Butterfly House to prepare the blue Higanbana flowers and infuse them with the medicine.

Late at night, after further discussion, everyone left the Ubuyashiki residence to prepare for the coming battle.

【Brother, I found the location of Infinity Castle】!

Zero received Bai Yun’s message and replied: 【Understood, coming now】!

Entered the 【Nirvana】 and arrived at the cockpit.

Zero stared at the projection screen—the Infinity Castle was beneath Asakusa in Tokyo!

“If we fight there, we must evacuate the residents in advance…” Zero’s mind raced, calculating countermeasures.

“Xiao Yun, can you eavesdrop on Kibutsuji Muzan’s movements?”

“I can, but it will take some time.”

“Then do it—monitor Kibutsuji Muzan and report back to me.”

“Yes, Brother.”

Then Bai Yun performed a series of operations on the screen, confirmed everything was clear, and pressed a button.

From the 【Nirvana】’s cargo bay, a drone was launched.

Beneath the drone was a device resembling a laser emitter and satellite unit, capable of linking to the 【Nirvana】.

Soon, the drone reached Asakusa in Tokyo and activated its invisibility mode.

Bai Yun remotely fired a laser invisible to the naked eye, carrying a tiny object that penetrated underground.

When the laser reached its target, the tiny object adhered to an inconspicuous corner near Naraku.

Naraku sensed something amiss, but after careful observation, found nothing wrong.

She dismissed it as an illusion.

She continued using her split-eye orbs to search for the Demon Slayer Corps headquarters.

“Naraku, take me back to Infinity Castle!”

Clang!

Kibutsuji Muzan appeared beside Naraku and asked: “Naraku, have you found the Demon Slayer Corps?”

“My lord, almost—most of the Demon Slayers’ locations are confirmed; we’ll find them soon.”

“Then don’t act yet. In five days, target Asakusa in Tokyo—I’ll tell you what to do.”

“Yes, My Lord!”

Kibutsuji Muzan did not know that every word he spoke had been overheard by Zero and Bai Yun.

“Five days left?” Zero thought, then said: “Xiao Yun, keep eavesdropping.”

“Mm.”

Then Zero left the 【Nirvana】 and went again to the Ubuyashiki residence.

“Zero, what else do you need?”

“Can you arrange the evacuation of everyone in Asakusa?”

Ubuyashiki Yoriichi thought a moment, then replied: “It’s possible, but it will take time.”

“Evacuate everyone within five days—but without alerting Kibutsuji Muzan. That place will become the battlefield!”

Understanding the gravity, Ubuyashiki Yoriichi immediately summoned his Hashira crows and sent the message to his spies in Asakusa.

Never underestimate the Ubuyashiki clan’s network—in Asakusa, Demon Slayer Corps spies were everywhere.

The Demon Slayer Corps’ survival, undetected by Kibutsuji Muzan, was due not only to the Ubuyashiki clan’s unique abilities, but also their vast connections.

After this, Zero summoned the remaining Pill Swordsmen to his residence.

He told them everything he had overheard.

Thus, Zero revised his plan.

“Xing Ming, Tian Yuan, Shi Mi, Yi Yong, Kyōjūrō, Koyoharu, Muichiro—you seven, in five days I will transport you to Asakusa. If possible, bring Tanjiro and the other three, plus Genya.”

“Also, I’ll send Numbers Four, Six, and Nine with you.”

Fuyui Shiemi didn’t understand why Zero wanted his younger brother to come.

He was about to question it when Zero spoke: “Don’t underestimate your brother—he doesn’t use Breathing Techniques, but he’s an exceptional fighter! His strength has already reached 【C】-level.”

“And if you don’t trust yourself, do you not trust the rest of us?”

More than a month ago, Fuyui Genya had sought out Zero, declaring his desire to grow stronger.

After learning of Genya’s unique physiology—the Demon Eater—he realized Genya couldn’t use Breathing Techniques.

So he changed his approach, focusing on physical enhancement.

He gave Genya his own training regimen.

Fuyui Genya entered hellish training.

The grueling regimen didn’t break him—it only hardened his resolve!

He would prove himself to his elder brother!

Zero also helped the brothers resolve their misunderstandings.

Though minor setbacks occurred, they were insignificant.

After a month of effort, his strength had surged dramatically—his physique was far stronger than before!

After arranging this, Zero turned to the remaining Pill Swordsmen and said: “Makito, Old Master Sangdao, and former Water Pill Old Master Rinjō will also come—you three will stay at the residence to protect the Lord.”

“Mitsuri, you and Kanae, Xiao Ren, and Kanao will bring everyone from Zhu Shi’s Butterfly House to my residence and protect them.”

This was also Zero’s personal motive.

He intended to face Kibutsuji Muzan himself once more!

Zero handed the 【Dark Alloy Gatling】 to Himejima Gyomei.

He gave the 【Dark Alloy Paralysis Gun】 to Fuyui Shiemi.

Tomioka Giyu received the 【Dark Alloy Missile Launcher】; Muichiro Tokito held the 【Quantum Dual Pistols】.

Then Zero handed a large stack of explosives to Uzui Tengen: “Blow things up to your heart’s content.”

For Koyoharu, Zero gave the 【Quantum Shield】.

Finally, he handed the 【Destroyer Mini-Drone】 to Rengoku Kyojuro.

He taught them how to use these weapons.

“These weapons may aid you in Asakusa.”

The seven men, armed, felt an urge to charge—wishing Kibutsuji Muzan would appear right now, so they could open fire from afar!

Seeing this, Zero suddenly recalled a phrase: Kibutsuji Muzan—the times have changed!

“Xiao Yue, I need you to help me with something.”

“Master, I’m ready at any time.”

“I’ll activate your 【Growth Function】—you’ll drive my 【Dark Alloy Armored Vehicle】 and support Asakusa in five days!”

“Yes, Master!”