Chapter 33: Returning to the Demon Slayer Corps headquarters

Night.

After Kie Kamado comforted the children, she guarded by their side.

The events of last night were still fresh in her memory, and thinking about the consequences made her feel very terrible. If it weren't for Zero, the family might have been separated from the world.

Looking at the children sleeping peacefully, she slowly entered a dream, while Zero guarded the outer inner room.

Just in case, Zero released 20 【Destroyer Small Drones】 from the 【Nano Space】 to patrol the surrounding situation.

He himself sat cross-legged on the tatami, with one hand folded across his chest and the other hand pinching his chin, constantly repeatedly looking at the information about Muzan Kibutsuji on the 【Analysis Glasses】.

Especially Muzan Kibutsuji's weapons: thorn whip and tube whip.

He had experienced these. Not only was the speed so fast that even afterimages couldn't be seen, but even the air was torn apart, producing sonic booms, and the attack range was also very wide.

It even carried highly toxic substances. For such a guy, could the Hashira of the Demon Slayer Corps really deal with him?

Moreover, Muzan Kibutsuji had far more means than these.

If the Hashira of the Demon Slayer Corps really encountered Muzan Kibutsuji, I'm afraid they would be wiped out before they could even get close to Muzan Kibutsuji...

"Sigh... For this world, Muzan Kibutsuji is an existence that is difficult to contend with! Except for Yoriichi Tsugikuni..."

"However, this is also thanks to Muzan Kibutsuji, whose IQ is worrying and has no ambition! Otherwise, he could have directly assassinated the Emperor of this small Japanese country, become the Emperor himself, and then send people to find the Blue Bianhua, wouldn't that be better?!"

Thinking of these, Zero felt that his previous guess that Muzan Kibutsuji's IQ was worrying was 100% correct.

If Muzan Kibutsuji knew, he would probably fall into deep thought, thinking about why he didn't think of this method...

He stopped thinking too much, took out the two 【Dark Alloy Cross Floating Cannons】 that were somewhat damaged, and put in 【Energy Crystals】 to start the automatic repair program.

In the room.

When Nezuko woke up, she found that Zero was not there. She rubbed her sleepy eyes and walked out of the quilt toward the door to the outer room.

Kie Kamado also seemed to be awakened. Seeing Nezuko walk out of the room, she followed quietly out of curiosity.

Rustle rustle.

Zero, who was checking the cross floating cannons, heard the sound of clothes dragging behind him, turned his head, and saw it was Nezuko.

She was now slowly approaching him from behind like a little kitten.

She patted Zero's leg, seemingly hinting at something.

Zero smiled helplessly; Nezuko liked it when he gave her a lap pillow.

He changed his sitting posture, straightening his legs into an L-shape; Nezuko's eyes curved into crescent shapes, and she immediately lay down, resting her head on the base of Zero's thighs.

She lifted her legs and swung them in the air, acting exactly like a little child.

"Nezuko, you can't do that~ Put your legs down, otherwise, you might expose yourself!"

"(*^▃^*)"

This scene caused a very blurry memory to surface in Zero's mind again.

A child lying on a woman's lap, also a lap pillow; the memory was very blurry, but it felt very warm.

"This... when exactly is this memory from? Why can't I remember? What on earth... have I forgotten?" Zero thought to himself.

Aunt Kui Zhi, who saw Nezuko looking for Zero from the corner, also felt relieved and returned to the house to take care of the children.

The next day.

Before dawn, Aunt Kui Zhi and the others, including Tanjiro, had packed their things, ready to set off with Zero.

Tanzhilang had prepared a bamboo basket, re-weaving it with bamboo strips and lining the inside with a layer of thick cloth; this was done so that Nezuko wouldn't be uncomfortable staying inside.

At the same time, it could also prevent sunlight from shining on Nezuko.

He took the bamboo basket to Nezuko, who was hiding in the corner of the room, and said, "Nezuko, can you sit inside here? Big Brother Zero is going to take us all away!"

"I'm going to take you to Mount Xiamu, so can you get inside here?"

He pointed at the bamboo basket, signaling for Nezuko to hide inside it.

Seeming to understand what Tanzhilang wanted her to do, she walked out of the corner and crawled into the bamboo basket, but her body was too big and couldn't fit at all.

"She doesn't fit... That's right, Nezuko has grown up too; she's no longer the way she was when she was little." Tanzhilang thought to himself.

Zero also walked in at this moment and, seeing Nezuko with half her body inside the bamboo basket, asked curiously, "Tanzhilang, what are you doing?"

"Ah, Big Brother Zero, I want Nezuko to hide in here so I can take her with us to Mount Xiamu. I want to travel during the day as well so we can get there faster."

"I see."

Looking at Nezuko, he suddenly remembered that Nezuko could grow larger at that time; conversely, could she also shrink?

"Tanzhilang, leave it to me."

"Okay."

Zero squatted down, patted Nezuko on the back, and said, "Nezuko, can you shrink? Just like yesterday, after growing larger, can you shrink back down?"

Hearing this, Nezuko seemed to understand what to do; gradually, her hands and feet began to shrink, and her body slowly shrank until she was like a child.

"She really got smaller!" Tanzhilang exclaimed, "Amazing, Nezuko is truly amazing!"

"Alright Tanzhilang, take Nezuko. I will escort you for a part of the journey, but the rest of the way you'll have to rely on yourself. Don't worry, though, I will help settle your family down!"

"Yes, thank you, Big Brother Zero!"

Not long after, Zero led the Kamado family through several hours of travel, from Mount Yunxue to the foot of the mountain, and took out the 【Dark Alloy Armored Combat Vehicle】.

With a loud "Boom—", the behemoth that appeared before them startled Tanzhilang and the others.

Nearby residents were also startled by the sound and came out one after another to see what was happening.

They saw this white behemoth sitting quietly there, the whole thing exuding an aura of slaughter that made them afraid to approach.

"Tanzhilang, are you... leaving?" an old man familiar with Tanzhilang shouted.

"Ah, yes, because something came up, we have to leave, but I believe we'll be back before long!"

"I see. Well, be careful on the road, and if there's anything you need help with, you can tell us all."

"That's right, Tanzhilang, you've always helped us; if you really need help, just tell us."

The residents on the street spoke up one after another; they had all received help from Tanzhilang in the past, and now that Tanzhilang had something going on, they all hoped they could provide whatever help they could.

"Yes, thank you everyone!"

He opened the rear door of the vehicle and let the Zao family sit inside.

Tanjiro and the others looked at the decorations inside the carriage and couldn't help but marvel, touching this and looking at that, as if they had discovered a new world.

"You can just sit here. I'll be in the front; if you need anything, just call me, and I'll be able to hear you."

Aunt Kui Zhi: "Thank you, child."

Afterward, once the Zao family entered the rear carriage, he closed the door, went to the driver's seat, started the vehicle, and began the journey to the Demon Slayer Society headquarters.

The surrounding residents began to make way for this behemoth to pass.

Watching the vehicle gradually move away, the residents couldn't help but sigh with emotion.

"It seems the Zao family has met a noble person!"

"Yes, indeed!"

"Sigh, it's a pity the children's father passed away so early; it's hard on these children."

……

After half a day of travel, Zero drove the car to a fork in the road and stopped.

He got out, opened the rear door, and said, "Tanjiro, I can only take you this far. We must part ways here. If you pass that mountain ahead, you should be able to reach Mount Xiamu."

"Thank you, Big Brother Zero, I leave my family in your care!"

"Tanzhilang, although it's impolite to say this, I hope you won't be too kind at times; after all, the evil demons of this world may not sympathize with you! So, don't hesitate when you shouldn't! Do you understand?"

In this world, there is nothing wrong with being kind, but being overly kind can also land one in a dilemma.

Therefore, Zero did not want Tanzhilang to plunge himself into desperation because of his kindness!

"Yes, I understand, Big Brother Zero, thank you!"

"Good, then we shall part ways here! Take good care of Nezuko."

"I will."

"Good."

Tanjiro and the others also stepped out of the rear carriage to say goodbye to Tanjiro one by one.

"Big Brother, be careful on the road!"

"Yes, Big Brother, take care of yourself, and I leave Big Sister in your care!"

"Tanzhilang, if it really doesn't work out, you and Nezuko should come back. Your father is already gone; I don't want to lose any more of you."

…………

After saying goodbye to his family, Tanjiro, standing where he was, waved at the armored vehicle in the distance and prepared to continue his journey to Mount Xiamu.

Zero drove on toward the Demon Slayer Society headquarters, watching Tanzhilang's figure gradually shrink in the rearview mirror; this was his choice, and Zero would not interfere.

Likewise, this was the first step in Tanzhilang's growth! No one is born with a smooth path; only after experiencing some things will one deeply realize how difficult the road ahead will be.

"Tanzhilang, we will meet again! Next time we meet, I hope you have grown into a Demon Slayer swordsman who can stand on his own!" Zero thought to himself.

After several hours of bumpy travel, he arrived at the outskirts of the Demon Slayer Society headquarters before nightfall.

Although the journey was long, the construction of the armored vehicle meant that the people sitting in the rear carriage did not feel any discomfort.

"Aunt Kui Zhi, we're here, let's get out."

After the group got out, Zero retracted the armored combat vehicle into the 【Nano Space】; from here on, they would have to be guided by the members of the Demon Slayer Society's Hidden Unit.

After several twists and turns, and changing carriages several times under the guidance of the Hidden Unit, they finally reached the headquarters, and Zero then brought Aunt Kui Zhi and her family to his mansion.

"Wow! Big Brother Zero, is this your home? It's so big!" Hanako looked at the layout of the living room, her eyes sparkling with stars.

They also smelled a special fragrance, which allowed their nerves, tense from the day's events, to relax.

"Master, you're back! Who are these people?" Xiao Yue, hearing the sound from downstairs while on the second floor, knew Zero had returned and immediately flew down, only to find he had brought several people back with him.

"Yes, I'm back, Xiao Yue. Aunt Kui Zhi, this is my little sister, Xiao Yue; due to special reasons, I have made her smaller!"

"Xiao Yue, this is Aunt Kui Zhi, and the others are her children. This matter is a bit complicated, I will explain it to you later."

The group was amazed to see such a petite doll, and one that could actually fly.

"Yes, I understand, Master. Oh, by the way, the Master said he hopes you can go see him once you return."

"Alright, I understand."

After settling Aunt Kui Zhi and the others in, Zero headed to the Ubuyashiki mansion to meet Ubuyashiki Yoya.

Originally, Aunt Kui Zhi was unwilling to stay there, fearing she would cause trouble for Zero, and hoped Zero would just find a small house for them to live in.

However, Zero later told her that she would be in charge of managing the mansion from now on, including laundry and cooking, as a form of rent for staying there.

He also hoped that she and the little ones, like Tanjiro, wouldn't be too constrained and should treat it as their own home.

Only then did Aunt Kui Zhi accept.

Before leaving, Zero also asked Xiao Yue to inform Aunt Kui Zhi about everything in the mansion, as well as how to use some of the appliances.

As for the rooms, the master bedroom was left for them to use; it was spacious, so their family wouldn't be crowded sleeping together.

He arrived at the Ubuyashiki mansion.

Ubuyashiki Yoya and his wife had been waiting in the inner room of the courtyard for a long time.

They had even prepared some tea and snacks.

"Zero, welcome back! Please, sit."

"Thank you." He sat opposite Ubuyashiki Yoya and took a small sip of tea.

"Zero, at tomorrow's Pillar Meeting, I hope you can share the news about Muzan."

"Yes, I have the same intention, and there is another matter I wish to discuss; I hope you can keep it confidential for me."

"Yes, please speak."

"This matter concerns Nezuko Zao..."

Afterward, Zero recounted everything about encountering Muzan and Nezuko Zao turning into a demon and breaking free from Muzan's control.

Ubuyashiki Yoya listened carefully, but when he and Ubuyashiki Tianyin heard Zero personally confirm the news about Muzan, they were still shocked.

Furthermore, he was even more surprised that Zero had fought Muzan, not only forcing him back but also remaining unscathed.

"That is the course of events. I can tell you very responsibly that Muzan is very strong! If you don't count me, I fear that even if you sent all the Pillar-level swordsmen of the Demon Slayer Society to fight him, the only result would be a dead end."

"Moreover, according to my speculation, there was an Origin swordsman during the Warring States Period who turned into an evil demon; he is highly likely to be Upper Moon One! And his strength is unfathomable, likely second only to Muzan!"

Ubuyashiki Yoya listened to Zero's report and fell into deep thought.

"Zero, do you have any methods? This time, Muzan has shown his tail for the first time, and I want to catch it."

"Not yet, but I believe Muzan will appear again, so please do not worry."

"Why are you so certain that Muzan will appear again?"

Seeing this, Zero smiled slightly, placed his teacup on the table, and said, "Intuition! Just like your Ubuyashiki clan's ability to foresee the future, isn't it?"

"I understand, Zero. Then I leave tomorrow's Pillar Meeting to you!"

"Yes, then I should go back and prepare as well. However, at tomorrow's Pillar Meeting, I do not intend to mention Nezuko's situation, so..."

"That is fine, everything is up to you to decide!"

"Thank you."

"It is I who should thank you, thank you for making the gears of fate turn once again!"

"Then, I shall take my leave!"

…………