[{"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-24":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},2335950,4566,"Chapter 24","this-pillar-in-demon-slayer-is-extremely-strong--chapter-24",24,"\u003Cp>Rengoku Sazan knelt on a cushion, gazing at the small memorial tablet before him, inscribed with the name [Rengoku Ruka], clearly that of his deceased wife.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A few days ago, he drank with Zero and poured out many of his inner sorrows to him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He had expected Zero to comfort him like others would, but that was not the case.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He could not and would not say things like, “Don’t preach kindness to others unless you’ve suffered as they have.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Moreover, Zero told Makishima Rokujuro that he had become this way because [9] The day he returned, Makishima Rokujuro had already regained consciousness and had been staying constantly before the small grave marker of Ruka Makishima. [13] After preparing lunch, Makishima Chisaburo went to his mother’s room and called out to Makishima Rokujuro to come eat. [19] But Makishima Chisaburo did not know that nearby, Makishima Rokujuro was holding a bottle of alcohol, watching him and hearing every word. [20] Makishima Rokujuro gazed at Chisaburo practicing swordsmanship in the backyard, a bitter feeling rising within him. [23] Those words echoed in Makishima Rokujuro’s mind.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>because he loved his wife so deeply, to the very core of his being, and could never forget her.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>So there is no right or wrong in this matter…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Huilaidediertian ， Lianyudianshoulangbianyiqingxing ， Zhexieriziyizhishouzailianyuliuhuodexiaomupaiqian 。\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He wanted to say something, but didn’t know how to begin; he picked up the white liquor Zero had given him, raised it to his lips, then stopped.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After a moment of thought, he finally sealed the bottle and did not drink.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Father, lunch is ready—I’ve placed it on the table!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lianyuqianshoulangzuohaowufanhou ， Laidaomuqindefangjian ， Jiaolianyudianshoulangquchifan 。\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>These days, he had seen his father remain beside his mother’s memorial tablet, never leaving except to eat, and even when he bought him alcohol, he rarely drank it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Rengoku Senjurō noticed all these changes but did not ask; he guessed Zero must have said something to his father to cause this.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing his father still sitting motionless, he closed the door and left the room.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He went to the backyard, picked up a wooden sword, and continued practicing his swings.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“If only I could be as strong as my older brother or Zero…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Danlianyuqianshoulangbuzhidaodeshi ， Buyuanchu ， Lianyudianshoulangshouwojiuping ， Zhengkanzhuta ， Suoyouhuadoutingjianle 。\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lianyudianshoulangwangzhuhouyuanhuidaodeqianshoulang ， Xinzhongyongqiyizhenkuse 。\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>For years, since his wife’s death, he had stepped down from his duties, drowned his sorrows in alcohol, and neglected his family—entirely sustained by Senjurō and his elder son.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Mr. Rengoku, since you love your wife so deeply, I believe she is with you always, even where you cannot see her.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhejuhuazailianyudianshoulangnaozhonghuixiang 。\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Ruka… maybe he’s right… I never thought I’d be outdone by a young man like Zero—I’ve truly grown old…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But that wasn’t true! If he knew Zero was a human who had lived over two thousand years, he wouldn’t think that.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even if Zero told them, they wouldn’t believe it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In this world, besides evil spirits, no human has ever lived longer than the Demon King, Kibutsuji Muzan?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If that were true, wouldn’t Muzan Kibutsuji be his grandson or great-grandson?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He gave one final look at Rengoku Senjurō, returned inside, and ate every last bite of the lunch Senjurō had prepared for him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>…………\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Time flowed like sand through an hourglass; on a certain night two weeks later, thunder cracked and rain poured relentlessly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Boom!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>On this storm-lashed night, Zero leapt between treetops, one hand gripping his scythe.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In flashes of lightning, his figure flickered in and out of view—a reaper of the night, ready to claim a soul.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Before him stood an evil spirit, with sharp fangs and a twisted little horn growing from its forehead, its power reaching just below that of the Lower Tiers.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At this moment, the demon was fleeing in panic, not daring to slacken for a second.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As he ran, he kept glancing back; seeing the demon slayer still pursuing, his fear surged, forcing him to run faster.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Thud!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zero leapt forward and landed directly before the demon, who stopped dead, staring in terror at the hunter, his body trembling uncontrollably!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Rain dripped from the brim of Zero’s cloak; the cold gleam of his scythe’s blade reflected on the demon’s face.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Damn it! I’ll fight you to the death!!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Blood Demon Art—Entanglement!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The demon planted his hands on the ground, and suddenly, several vines erupted from the earth, lashing toward Zero.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zero spun his scythe in place, slicing through multiple circles, severing every vine that approached.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing his Blood Demon Art had no effect, the demon felt his hope plunge into the abyss.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He had always assumed the stories he’d heard from other demons were mere rumors—he sneered at them, never believing them.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He thought they were just too weak, which is why they were captured and killed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Now, facing it himself, he had no choice but to believe.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He had hidden in an extremely secluded cave, devouring the corpse of a human he had just captured, yet he had no idea how this demon slayer found him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Those crimson eyes—too terrifying to meet—filled him with nothing but the urge to flee…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zero slowly approached the evil spirit, holding the scythe in one hand, while the spirit continually retreated backward.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In the next instant, Zero blurred forward; a flash of blade cut through the air, and the demon’s head separated from his body.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Watching the world spin and his body begin to dissolve, the demon could not believe this was real.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“This demon slayer… he’s truly a Pillar…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zero swung his scythe, rain pelting its surface; he glanced back at the dissolving demon, his eyes utterly expressionless.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Over the past half-month, he had marched in a straight line, slaying nearly twenty evil spirits, some of which were nearly at the level of the Lower Tiers.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Watching the demon turn to ash, he turned away without looking back and continued walking…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The next day.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The weather had cleared, and the region where Zero stood enjoyed a brief peace.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He was now resting at a family home adorned with wisteria patterns; last night’s demon hunt had left him drenched from the storm.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After completing his mission, he came to this nearby wisteria-family residence to rest, repair his gear, and wash and dry his clothes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wearing the clothes provided by the wisteria family’s servants, Zero sat by the door and wrote his journal from last night:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>【X\u002FX, early morning, weather: God coughing + severe diarrhea.】\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>【On this stormy night, I hunted a demon whose strength was just below that of a Lower Moon…】\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After a moment, he placed the written journal back into his [nanospace]; behind him, the head of the wisteria family spoke.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Pillar, your clothes have been washed—they’ll be ready to wear tonight!” An elderly woman with white hair knelt beside Zero and said.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Thank you for your hard work!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“It’s nothing. Dinner is being prepared; if you need anything else, please let me know.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Yes, thank you.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After the elderly woman left, Zero didn’t know what to do next, so he called over the messenger crow, Snow, who was grooming his feathers.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Snow, are there still any demon incidents elsewhere?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Master, the area under your jurisdiction now has no evil spirits left—except for a few who fled or hid; most have been cleared by you.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“None?!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zero sighed and slapped his forehead, feeling the demons were disrespecting his current job.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They were demons, yet so lazy—always running or hiding, bringing shame to Muzan Kibutsuji.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If Muzan Kibutsuji knew how “unprofessional” they were, would he personally eliminate them?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With nothing to do and no idea what to do, he decided to wander somewhere else and see if there was anything interesting.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Since joining this world’s Demon Slayer Corps, he’d either been killing demons or heading to kill them—never once truly relaxing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Since there are no demons in his current area, taking some time to unwind isn’t a bad idea.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Snow, what’s the nearest lively place?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Master, forty miles southwest-south lies a city called Asakusa in Tokyo—it’s full of fun spots and very lively.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Really? Then come with me tonight!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Yes, Master!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Having planned his evening, he took his scythe from his [nanospace] and continued practicing in the backyard.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even during rest, training must never be neglected…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Nightfall.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zero dressed himself; the elderly woman from the wisteria family escorted him to the door and pulled out two flint stones from her sleeve.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She struck them together in front of Zero, creating sparks—a ritual to ward off evil and pray for safety.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then, with her watching, he waved goodbye.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Elderly woman: “May fortune favor your blade.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Leaving the wisteria family, following the messenger crow Snow, Zero rode his motorcycle for hours until reaching Asakusa.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Just before arriving, he stored the motorcycle in his [nanospace] and walked the rest of the way.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As he looked around, it was exactly as Snow had described—bright, bustling, alive.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Crowds filled the streets; every shop was decorated with lanterns, glowing brilliantly under the radiant streetlights.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even in the alleyways lit by streetlamps, people were confessing their love to women they admired.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even when passing through quiet alleyways, one could hear sounds emanating from within, stirring lascivious thoughts.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“It’s so lively here! Tonight, I’ll truly relax!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Thinking this, he began wandering—glancing at clothes in shops, then buying sweets from a confectionery as gifts for Xiao Yue.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wandering through Asakusa, hours passed unnoticed; he bought many gifts and treats for Xiao Yue, storing them all in his [nanospace].\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He was about to find a hotel for the night when, passing a quiet alley, he encountered three drunken men.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He ignored them and walked past, but the three, intoxicated and captivated by Zero’s striking features, leered at him with lustful, malicious eyes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>One of them leered at Zero’s back with a lewd grin.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“This little girl really is beautiful!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Yoshi, such a pretty flower girl!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Let’s quietly follow her! Hehehe!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But the three had no idea Zero had heard every word—and slowly, a killing intent stirred within him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Still, there were enough passersby here to make action inconvenient, so he pretended ignorance and deliberately walked toward a narrow alley.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The three drunks immediately followed, blocking Zero’s path from behind, while the front was sealed off by a dead end.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Little sister, this place is dangerous—want big brother to protect you? Hehehe!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Come home with us—it’s safe there!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Yeah, yeah! It’s a bit cramped, but three of us… oh no, four of us can squeeze together just fine!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The three, certain of victory, had no idea disaster was already upon them!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zero turned around, revealing a charming smile—but behind it, murderous intent surged.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yet Zero had no intention of killing them—just a tiny bit of punishment.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing Zero’s smile, they thought she wouldn’t resist and lunged forward…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Thud! Thud! Thud…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Duang! Duang! Duang…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Crack! Crack! Crack…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In the instant they drew near, Zero smashed them without warning—faces swollen, bruised, bloodied.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>One had his jaw shattered, all teeth knocked out, spewing a mouthful of blood.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Another had all four limbs broken, eyes blackened into panda-like bruises, swollen with blood.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The last had fractured ribs, dislocated jaw and limbs, and several large red lumps swelling on his head.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>None were dead—each still clung to half a life.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zero’s blood-red gaze fixed on the three drunken fools lying at his feet, battered by his mere flick of strength. He curled his lips slightly, licked his lips with his tongue, and said: “Thanks for the meal! Slish!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then he raised his foot and stomped hard on the third drunk’s third leg. Seeing their condition, he knew they’d done this sort of thing before—this was just a small lesson.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Aaaah!!!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Aaaah!!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Hm?~”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zero: “!!!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The sound the third drunk made when his third leg snapped… felt weird.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Could this guy be some kind of masochist?! Eww!” The memory of that cry made his skin crawl.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He ignored the three, stepped out of the alley, walked to a nearby trash bin, and calmly pulled a towel from his [Nanospace] to wipe the blood from his hands, then tossed it in.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Finally, he left the place as if nothing had happened.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As for those three—if they were found, good for them.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If not, let them rot.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Every cause has its effect. What they did, they must bear.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As he walked, he reached a quiet street—but Zero felt something off about the surroundings, though he couldn’t say what.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Strange? Why does it feel like something’s wrong here? The street looks normal, yet nothing feels right.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Still, he examined every corner, circling the area, trying to pinpoint that strange, off-kilter feeling.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When he entered a narrow alley, he found it ended in a dead end—no way forward.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As he turned to leave, he noticed something unnatural in a corner.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He crept closer and saw a tiny plant root extending from the corner—barely visible unless you looked closely.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Normally, roots growing from wall corners weren’t strange—but this one was different.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It didn’t emerge from the wall’s surface—it seemed to grow from within the wall itself. No other roots, no cracks, no signs of growth anywhere else.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The more he stared, the stranger it felt. He reached out and touched the wall—his hand passed straight through.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“!!!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zero finally understood the strange feeling—he’d been standing before an illusion, not a real wall.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Without close inspection or touch, it was utterly undetectable.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Could this be… the Demon’s Blood Technique?!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>No more hesitation—he pulled his scythe from his [Nanospace] and stepped through the “wall” to investigate.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“If this is a demon, don’t blame me for being ruthless!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As Zero passed through the “wall,” he found himself in the backyard of a luxurious villa. Before him stood two figures—two ghosts. One male, one female.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The female ghost was a beautiful woman with long black hair parted down the middle, tied into a large, low bun secured by a floral hairpin.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Her eyes were soft, like pale pink mist; her lips were red, sharply contrasting her pale face.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She wore a deep purple kimono adorned with wavy pale purple branches and red flowers, cinched with a beige obi.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The male ghost wore a white shirt and white coat, paired with loose dark blue trousers, and had medium-length green hair.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He stood behind the female ghost, glaring at Zero with murderous intent.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zero didn’t strike immediately—but he didn’t lower his guard. Instead, he activated his [Analytical Glasses] to scan the data of the two ghosts.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>…\u003C\u002Fp>",2411,"2026-06-20T21:22:22.338Z",1,"Qwen3-Next 80B","d39191ee89a37fffd2ba302da96fff88417435af01892a3400f476c2bd611c07","this-pillar-in-demon-slayer-is-extremely-strong--chapter-25","this-pillar-in-demon-slayer-is-extremely-strong--chapter-23",128,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fthis-pillar-in-demon-slayer-is-extremely-strong--cover.jpg"]