Chapter 35: Tamayo's Misunderstanding

"I really don't know how the swordsmiths of the Swordsmith Village hammered Gyomei Himejima's weapon, hammer by hammer... Wait! Hammer by hammer..." Zero seemed to have thought of something.

A three-dimensional image suddenly appeared in his mind: iron colliding with iron with great force would spark, and even cause a slight rise in temperature.

So, using a hammer to smelt steel would also cause the steel's temperature to gradually climb, making it hot and scalding!

And since Nichirin steel absorbs sunlight, repeated hammering would also make it hot and scalding! By extension, if Nichirin swords already forged from Nichirin steel were to collide with each other, wouldn't they produce a similar effect?

If it were truly possible, would it require less strength? In battles against evil demons, would this prevent him from becoming exhausted and passive just to activate the Bright Red Blade?

This idea was still just Zero's speculation, but now, looking at Gyomei Himejima's weapon, perhaps it was worth a try. If this really worked, it would mean that there was more than one way to activate the Bright Red Blade besides grip strength.

"Himejima, perhaps I have a way to make your weapon activate the Bright Red Blade! But it's only a possibility. Are you willing to try?"

Hearing this, everyone looked at Zero with astonishment.

"Amitabha. Since that is the case, I will leave it to you!"

"Good. Then do as I say. Try striking your flail and axe against each other; perhaps you will succeed!"

Hearing this, everyone stepped back to make room so Gyomei Himejima could follow Zero's instructions.

Clatter!

Gyomei Himejima grabbed the axe and flail connected by iron chains in each hand and began to spin them rapidly.

With a forceful jolt from both hands, the axe and flail collided.

Clang!

A deafening sound of steel colliding caused sparks to fly from the axe and flail. Gradually, everyone noticed that Gyomei Himejima's weapon began to change!

The axe and flail turned incredibly red, radiating heat, almost identical to the Bright Red Blade from before.

"It actually succeeded?!!" Seeing that the method Zero mentioned was effective, Sanemi Shinazugawa immediately had another thought: could his own Nichirin sword turn into a Bright Red Blade if it collided with another weapon?

He silently looked at Giyu Tomioka standing not far away. Obanai Iguro seemed to have a telepathic connection with Sanemi Shinazugawa, as he appeared to have the same thought.

Seeing that his hypothesized method worked, Zero wondered if other weapons could produce the same effect through mutual collision.

If this were true, it would mean that at least there would be no need to use a method like "hurting the enemy by a thousand while damaging oneself by eight hundred" through grip strength to activate the Bright Red Blade.

Having made up his mind, just as he was about to speak his thoughts, Sanemi Shinazugawa spoke first: "Giyu Tomioka, shall we two try?"

Giyu Tomioka: "?"

Sanemi Shinazugawa held his Nichirin sword, staring intently at Giyu Tomioka as he spoke.

Similarly, Obanai Iguro silently drew his serpent-shaped double-edged blade and said to Giyu Tomioka, who was behind Zero: "I want to try too!"

Giyu Tomioka: "??"

"Er..." Zero held his forehead with one hand, speechless and somewhat regretting what he had just said. He should have waited until after the Hashira Meeting to find Gyomei Himejima alone to suggest this method...

Looking at the stance of Sanemi Shinazugawa and Obanai Iguro, was it certain they didn't have ulterior motives for using this method to trouble Giyu Tomioka?

One after another, they were truly "acting bravely for righteousness"...

For some reason, a very strange image suddenly appeared in Zero's mind.

If one had to describe this image, it could only be summed up in six words: Subway, old man, mobile phone.

He didn't understand why this strange image would appear in his mind...

Helpless, Zero could only take his scythe and retreat silently, saying: "Ahem, that... stop at the right moment..."

Sanemi Shinazugawa: "Tch, I know that without you telling me!"

Obanai Iguro: "Mm."

In fact, this was indeed Sanemi Shinazugawa's selfish motive; he had long wanted to fight Giyu Tomioka to teach him a lesson.

He was always expressionless and always liked to say, "I am different from you all," as if he looked down on everyone.

Now, he was actually very grateful to Zero. If it weren't for him suggesting this method, he really wouldn't have a way to "spar" with Giyu Tomioka.

After all, the Demon Slayer Corps had rules: teammates were not allowed to draw swords against each other or fight!

"Let's go!"

Giyu Tomioka: "???"

Sanemi Shinazugawa and Obanai Iguro simultaneously charged at Giyu Tomioka with their Nichirin swords.

Seeing this, Giyu Tomioka immediately raised his Nichirin sword horizontally in front of him to block.

Clang! Clang!

The Nichirin swords of the two collided with Giyu Tomioka's, producing sparks, and the weapons of all three began to gradually heat up and turn red.

"This method really works!" Sanemi Shinazugawa looked at the red Nichirin sword in his hand, feeling somewhat unsatisfied.

Giyu Tomioka remained expressionless, but seeing them happy, he thought to himself: I really wasn't hated!

"That's enough, children. Let's stop here." Seeing that the situation was about right, Kagaya Ubuyashiki spoke up to mediate.

Hearing Kagaya Ubuyashiki's words, everyone put away their weapons and stood in a row.

"Zero, thank you for sharing such important information with the Demon Slayer Corps."

"You're welcome. This is my responsibility as a Hashira of the Demon Slayer Corps."

Immediately, Kagaya Ubuyashiki looked at Sanemi Shinazugawa and Obanai Iguro and said: "Sanemi, Obanai, let this not happen again."

Sanemi/Obanai: "Yes, Master!"

How could Kagaya Ubuyashiki not see through their thoughts? But after all, they were all his children, so he didn't blame them too much.

"Then next, it is the Hashira Meeting."

The Hashira and Shinjuro Rengoku moved together to the inner room of the Ubuyashiki estate to begin discussing the next steps.

The meeting lasted until nightfall before it ended.

Zero was the first to rush back to his estate, wanting to see if the Kamado family was accustomed to living here.

Moreover, in a moment, he had to go to Asakusa, Tokyo, to hand Muzan Kibutsuji's blood to Tamayo for research.

"Brother Zero, you're back!" Seeing Zero return, Hanako was the first to rush over and hug him.

"I'm back. How is it? Are you used to living here?"

"Mm-hmm, it's very good here. Sister Xiao Yue has also taught us many things."

"Is that so? That's good!"

"What about you two?" Zero looked at Takeo and Shigeru and asked.

Shigeru: "We are all living very happily here."

Takeo: "We are also very good and living very happily here. Big Brother Zero, is there any news about Big Brother Tanjiro?"

"Rest assured, he should be almost at Mount Sagiri by now. I will go to Mount Sagiri to check in a few days."

"Thank you, Big Brother Zero."

"You're welcome."

"Zero, welcome back!"

"Master, you're back."

Hearing the commotion outside the door, Kie Kamado and Xiao Yue came out together to see.

Seeing Zero in Kie Kamado's arms, Rokuta reached out his hand, seemingly wanting Zero to hold him.

Seeing this, Zero couldn't help but laugh and cry. Rokuta seemed to like hugging him very much. He walked over, picked up Rokuta, and said: "Rokuta, did you miss me?"

"Miss." Rokuta said the word somewhat unclearly, his hands tightly gripping Zero's collar, revealing a pure smile.

"Rokuta seems to like you very much," Kie Kamado said with a smile.

"That's also quite good. I also quite like this little child."

However, Xiao Yue was a bit jealous, pouting and thinking to herself: "That's clearly my spot..."

But then she thought, to her, they were just a group of children; how could she compete with a child?

Mm, indeed, she couldn't compete with a child. Anyway, she was definitely not jealous!

"Alright children, Zero is back, and dinner is ready. Hurry inside and eat."

"Okay~" x3

"Thank you for your hard work, Aunt Kie!"

"It's not hard work. Compared to what you do, these little things are nothing."

At the dinner table, Zero held Rokuta and fed him, while Xiao Yue held a piece of tempura in both hands, gnawing on it while watching Zero, feeling very depressed inside...

After dinner, Zero called Xiao Yue to the courtyard alone.

"Xiao Yue, what's wrong with you tonight?"

"Nothing at all! Hmph~"

"Oh~ could it be... you're jealous? You're actually jealous of a little baby!"

"Not at all! He's just a little baby, I wouldn't be jealous!"

"Alright, alright. At worst, I'll take you out to play later. I'll carry you on my back or in my arms like before. Is that okay?"

"Really?"

"Of course. When we were in the starry sky, didn't I treat you like that too?"

"Hee hee~ I knew Master treats me the best!" Hearing this, Xiao Yue's jealousy completely dissipated, and she hung on Zero's chest, acting like a spoiled child.

"Master, was I... too unreasonable just now? I actually competed with a child..."

"Not at all. After all, to me, you are my little sister and my family. It is only right for family to be considerate of each other. But I only hope you won't be like that again in the future. Aunt Kie and her family are also very kind, so I hope that when I go out on missions, you can take good care of them."

"Rest assured, Master, I will!"

"You, you're always like a child. I really don't know what to say about you... Let's not talk about this. I still have to set off for Asakusa, Tokyo. I'll leave Aunt Kie and the others to you!"

"Mm-hmm, I know, Master. Go early and return early!"

"Mm."

Asakusa, Tokyo.

Arriving at this bustling small city again, Zero couldn't help but feel some emotion. He had been here once half a year ago, and it was precisely then, by chance, that he met Tamayo and Yushiro. Now, he didn't know how they were doing.

He also didn't know if Yushiro had successfully confessed to Tamayo.

"Forget it, why think so much? I'll know once I meet them..."

Like last time, he walked to that quiet little street, and when no one was paying attention, he walked directly through the wall into the villa's backyard.

Yushiro was helping Tamayo record some notes inside the house. Sensing that his Blood Demon Art had been triggered, he said to Tamayo: "Lady Tamayo, someone has triggered the Blood Demon Art. I will go check it out! Please do not leave this place!"

He immediately turned and left the house to see what was going on.

When he saw who had come to the backyard, he realized the person was not a stranger, but an acquaintance—Zero.

"It's you, you littl..."

Whoosh!

Before Yushiro could finish the word "little," a fragrant breeze drifted by. Zero appeared at Yushiro's side, holding his scythe to his neck.

"What were you just about to say?" Zero asked with a calm expression, revealing a very "kind" smile.

Yushiro then remembered that half a year ago, because he called him a "little brat," he ended up with several "roasted chestnuts" on his head. Moreover, Tamayo had told him that Zero's age was even greater than Muzan Kibutsuji's, so he changed his words: "Why are you here?"

Seeing this, Zero retracted his scythe and said: "I came to see Tamayo to deliver Muzan Kibutsuji's blood, and by the way, to see if you little guy have confessed to Tamayo?"

Mentioning this, Yushiro lowered his head, not daring to speak, his face blushing to his ears.

Seeing him like this, Zero understood what was going on. He sighed helplessly and simply stopped caring.

"Yushiro, who is here?" Seeing that Yushiro hadn't returned for a long time, Tamayo came out to see.

"Lady Tamayo, it is Zero here to deliver blood to you."

Tamayo walked out of the house, saw Zero, and smiled: "Zero, long time no see!"

"Indeed, long time no see."

"Let's talk inside."

"Good."

Arriving inside the house.

Zero sat directly on the sofa, and Tamayo instructed Yushiro to prepare some tea and snacks.

Meow~

Chachamaru appeared at the side, pounced directly, and lay on Zero's lap.

Tamayo: "It seems it also likes you very much."

Zero: "Perhaps."

Tamayo: "I like the red rose you sent before very much. Thank you."

As she spoke, she pointed to the red rose in a small vase on the table nearby.

Yushiro also brought in some tea and snacks at this time, placed them on the table, and then stood behind Tamayo.

Zero looked in the direction Tamayo pointed, feeling curious. Then he looked at Yushiro's embarrassed appearance and seemed to understand.

With Yushiro's personality, he must have said the wrong thing, claiming it was from him, which caused Tamayo to misunderstand.

"You're... you're welcome... hehe..." Zero felt helpless. He really wanted to pry open Yushiro's head to see what was inside!

Tamayo: "Yushiro just said you came to deliver blood. Actually, you could have just had Chachamaru deliver it."

Zero: "If it were ordinary blood, I would have no problem having it deliver it, but this blood is a bit special."

Tamayo: "Special? Could it be the blood of an Upper Rank demon again?"

Zero: "No, it is Muzan Kibutsuji's blood."

Tamayo: "So it is Muzan's blood... Muzan?! This... this... how is this possible?!"

At this moment, Tamayo and Yushiro behind her could no longer remain calm. While panicked, they were also shocked. Muzan Kibutsuji, that cowardly ghost who hid his head and showed his tail, had actually encountered Zero and had his blood collected by him!

"Are... are you... telling the truth?" Tamayo gripped the collar of her kimono tightly, asking in disbelief.

"Of course. I even fought him, but it's a pity he ran away! He is indeed quite strong for your world, but that is limited to your world."

While stroking Chachamaru, Zero spoke in a calm tone, as if to him, Muzan Kibutsuji was just an insignificant thing.

Immediately, he took out a specially made test tube from the 【Nano Space】 and handed it to Tamayo.

Tamayo took the test tube. Unlike the Upper Rank demon blood Zero gave last time, she felt the thick aura of Muzan Kibutsuji in the blood in the test tube, confirming that this was indeed Muzan Kibutsuji's blood.

"That's right, this is Muzan Kibutsuji's blood! Zero, thank you very much. I believe it won't be long before I can accelerate my current research speed."

"That's good, but don't forget the two conditions I mentioned before."

Mentioning this, Tamayo's cheeks flushed again, remembering the time she misunderstood Zero's conditions, thinking it was that...

"Rest assured, I will not forget."

"Then, I will take my leave now and not disturb you further."

"Are you leaving so soon?"

"Mm, after all, there are still missions."

"Alright then, you must also be careful. Since Muzan Kibutsuji has encountered you, with his personality, he will definitely try every possible way to find you."

"Rest assured, I will be careful."

"Yushiro, see Zero out."

"Yes, Lady Tamayo!"

Putting down Chachamaru, he followed Yushiro out of the living room.

Watching Zero's departing back disappear, Tamayo looked at the blood in the test tube in her hand. All of this seemed like a fantasy in her eyes.

"Zero... who exactly are you?!"

Yushiro led Zero to the main gate and said: "Next time you can just come in through the main gate; there's no need to always walk through walls!"

"Good, I know. However..."

"However what?"

"How exactly did you say the wrong thing back then? Didn't I tell you to say it was from yourself? How did it become from me?"

"You... how did you know?"

"Guessed."

"I..." Yushiro felt a headache. He didn't expect Zero's mind to be so sharp; he guessed what was going on just by looking.

Zero sighed helplessly, took out a packaged hairpin from the 【Nano Space】, and handed it to Yushiro.

"This is the last time I will help you. If you still don't succeed, then don't blame me for... prying open your head to see what's inside... Hehehe..."

Seeing Zero's yandere-like evil smile, Yushiro got goosebumps all over.

Zero: "I'm off. Wish you success in your confession!"

Yushiro: "Zero..."

Zero: "Anything else?"

Yushiro: "Stay alive, don't die..."

When he heard about Zero encountering Muzan Kibutsuji, he didn't know why, but he didn't want him to die.

Perhaps it was because Zero helped Tamayo, or perhaps because Zero helped him... and various other reasons.

Seeing Yushiro still the same, with a sharp tongue but a soft heart, Zero smiled and passed it off: "I'm off!"

Until Zero's figure gradually disappeared into the crowd, Yushiro closed the main gate and returned to the house.

"Yushiro, has Zero left?"

"Yes, Lady Tamayo, he has already left."

"What are you holding in your hand?"

"This... this is what Zero gave you..." Yushiro then realized he had said the wrong thing again...

"He gave it to me again?" Taking the packaging box and opening it, she found a beautiful hairpin inside.

"It really is beautiful."

Yushiro only felt that the next time he saw Zero, it might be his own "doomsday"...

"Achoo!" On the way back, Zero sneezed for no reason and felt that something strange had happened again. He thought to himself: "Could it be that Muzan Kibutsuji is cursing me again? No, could it be that Yushiro guy said the wrong thing again...?"

Thinking about it, he stopped thinking and cleared a wave of evil demons he encountered on the way back.

Time returns to a few days ago.

After Tanjiro said goodbye to Zero and his family, he took Nezuko and headed towards Mount Sagiri.

After walking for a day, it was already night.

He put down the tightly wrapped bamboo basket and let Nezuko come out to get some air.

Nezuko crawled out of the bamboo basket, her body restored to its original size. Then Tanjiro carried the bamboo basket on his back and held Nezuko's hand to continue forward.

"Let's go, Nezuko."

Passing by a small path in a forest, he discovered a small Buddhist temple not far ahead, and there was a faint light inside, indicating that someone was inside.

"Ah, there is a small Buddhist temple here, and there is some light coming out. Someone should be living there. Let's go, Nezuko, let's go over and see if we can rest for a while."

As he held Nezuko and prepared to approach the small house, Tanjiro smelled the scent of blood coming from inside.

"This is... the smell of blood?!! Could it be that someone is injured?!! Quick, Nezuko, let's go over and see together!"

The closer he got to the small house, the heavier the smell of blood became.

"The mountain road here is steep and hard to walk, so someone must be injured?!" Tanjiro thought to himself.

Arriving at the door of the house, he opened the door and shouted to the people inside: "Is someone injured!? Do you need help...!!!"

The scene inside the house was not as Tanjiro had imagined, but was full of bloodstains everywhere.

Severed limbs, blood everywhere, and the thick smell of blood was nauseating.

This scene made Tanjiro's scalp tingle, the bamboo basket behind him fell to the ground, and he also saw a "person" gnawing on a woman's arm, and he was suddenly filled with panic.

"It's... it's a man-eating demon!!" Tanjiro thought to himself.

Seeing the scene inside the house, and with the smell of blood stimulating her nerves, Nezuko, who was standing behind Tanjiro, triggered the desire deep in her heart. Saliva flowed out from her mouth, and she struggled repeatedly in her heart.

"Hm? What is it? Hey! This is my territory. If you want to destroy my cafeteria, I won't spare you!" Seeing Tanjiro and Nezuko behind him, the Temple Demon issued a warning.

But when he saw Nezuko behind Tanjiro, he had a subtle feeling, as if he had met one of his own kind!

The Temple Demon licked the blood on his hands, as if he were enjoying it.

"Hm? Why does it feel so strange?! Are you human?"

Seeing Tanjiro standing there unmoved, the Temple Demon stood up and stared at the two of them.

Suddenly, he charged over and knocked Tanjiro flying.

He stretched out his hand, preparing to kill Tanjiro.

Tanjiro also reacted in this instant, quickly took out the axe hanging from his waist, swung it in a half-circle towards the Temple Demon's neck, and repelled the Temple Demon, gaining time to breathe.

The Temple Demon touched the wound on his neck that had been split by the axe, feeling a bit surprised.

"Haha, an axe! You really have some skills!"

The seemingly terrifying wound on the Temple Demon's neck healed rapidly in front of Tanjiro in just a few breaths, as if what had just happened was a trivial matter.

"Look, the blood has stopped, and even the wound you just caused me is gone. Hehehe..."

Cold sweat slid down Tanjiro's forehead, and he panted continuously.

Just as he was about to raise the axe to take the next step, the Temple Demon's figure disappeared instantly from his position with a "whoosh" and appeared in front of Tanjiro.

He pressed him to the ground, one hand tightly strangling Tanjiro's neck, and the other hand grabbing the hand Tanjiro was holding the axe with!

"So fast! And so strong!" Tanjiro wanted to resist, but facing the incredibly strong Temple Demon, he was quickly defeated.

"Hehehehe... I won't fall for the same trick a second time! I'm going to twist your neck!"

He increased the force of strangling Tanjiro's neck, and a feeling of suffocation struck, making Tanjiro unable to breathe.

Nezuko looked at the corpses in the house, saliva constantly flowing out, and her eyes seemed to be becoming unfocused.

"Ah!!!"

Tanjiro's scream came from behind Nezuko, awakening Nezuko, whose consciousness was about to become unfocused. She turned around and quickly ran towards Tanjiro's position.

Kuchi!

The Temple Demon's head was kicked off by Nezuko, hit a tree, fell to the ground, and rolled a few times before stopping.

The Temple Demon, having lost its head, also lost control of its body at this moment. Tanjiro was so scared that he hurriedly pushed the headless body of the evil demon aside, panting heavily while calming his agitated emotions.

"Killed... killed it...!? No, the opponent is an evil demon!" He looked up at his sister, still feeling lingering fear from what had just happened.

"Ne... Nezuko..." Tanjiro called his sister's name, completely unaware that the headless evil demon's body beside him was stretching out its hands to approach him.

Boom!

The evil demon's body was kicked away by Nezuko again and hit a tree. Tanjiro, who hadn't reacted yet, saw that the evil demon's body could still move even without a head! This made him really unable to understand what was going on?!

"Unbelievable! Even though the head is gone, the body can still move!" Tanjiro thought in disbelief.

But it wasn't over yet. The Temple Demon's head, which had just been kicked away by Nezuko, also spoke: "Hey! You two bastards! One of you is indeed a demon! No wonder there was such a strange aura just now. Why would a demon be mixed with humans!!?"

The Temple Demon's head had an expression of incomprehension, and at the same time, it was very angry. It didn't understand why that girl, who was clearly also a demon, would act together with a human.

"It... it spoke!" Tanjiro was shocked again, and for a moment, he didn't know how to face it.

But things were not over yet. The Temple Demon's headless body could still launch attacks even after losing its head.

He saw the Temple Demon's headless body running over quickly again, targeting Nezuko.

The headless body jumped up and kicked over, but Nezuko dodged it, and it kicked the ground, stirring up a cloud of dust.

Before Nezuko could react, the headless body attacked again and knocked Nezuko to the ground.

"Stop it!!! Er ahhhh!!!"

Tanjiro picked up the axe and rushed over, wanting to help Nezuko, but two arms grew out from under the Temple Demon's head's neck and rushed over, biting the axe, and the two arms tightly grabbed Tanjiro's shoulders.

And the headless body punched and kicked Nezuko, who was lying on the ground, grabbed Nezuko's clothes with one hand, and threw her into the forest, and the headless body followed her into the forest.

"Nezuko!!"

Tanjiro wanted to help Nezuko, but how could the Temple Demon's head let him have his way? Its mouth bit the axe tightly, and its arms also tightly grabbed Tanjiro, making him unable to move an inch.

"What's wrong with this guy?! He actually grew two hands from his head! I must go save Nezuko!"

Suddenly, the Temple Demon's head's hair grew longer and wrapped around the axe. Its idea was simple: take away Tanjiro's axe and make him lose his weapon.

"Give it to me! Get away!!"

Thump!!!

Boom!!!

He used a headbutt against the Temple Demon's head, and the impact even went through to the back, and a large red bump swelled on the Temple Demon's head's forehead!

"Damn it... this guy's head... is so hard!"

The Temple Demon's head was dizzy. This wasn't over yet. Tanjiro stretched out his hands to grab the Temple Demon's head and gave it another headbutt, hitting it so hard it was about to get a concussion!

Then, taking advantage of the Temple Demon's head not reacting, he grabbed the handle of the axe and swung it out.

The Temple Demon's head never expected that it would court death by wrapping its hair around the axe and tying it into a knot, making it impossible to break free.

It spun dozens of times in mid-air, became dizzy, and finally got stuck on a tree trunk, and its arms were also tightly stuck, unable to move.

Taking this opportunity, Tanjiro hurriedly rushed to the depths of the forest to help his sister.

"Damn it, I wanted to take his axe, but the hair is knotted and I can't break free! Damn it!" The Temple Demon's head roared unwillingly.

"Nezuko! Where are you?! Nezuko!" While shouting Nezuko's name loudly, he searched for her tracks.

Suddenly, he discovered Nezuko's voice not far ahead. Tanjiro immediately ran over and saw the headless body constantly punching and kicking Nezuko.

"Stop it!" Regardless of the danger ahead, Tanjiro directly hugged the headless body and jumped off the cliff.

At the critical moment, Nezuko grabbed the back collar of Tanjiro's clothes and saved Tanjiro, while the headless body fell directly off the cliff and hit a rock, losing its life.

The Temple Demon's head, which was struggling to break free from the axe, felt that its body had lost contact with it and fell into a coma.

After being saved by Nezuko, Tanjiro, who had survived the disaster, sat on the ground and panted heavily. He still felt lingering fear from what had just happened.

"Nezuko, are you hurt?"

Nezuko shook her head, indicating that she was fine.

Seeing that Nezuko was fine, Tanjiro felt relieved and held her hand to the Temple Demon's head.

Looking at the Temple Demon's head stuck on the tree trunk by the axe, he took out a small knife from his bosom, drew the blade, but hesitated.

"There should be many kinds of demons, right? It's different from the scent left at home, and Big Brother Zero didn't tell me who that demon was..." Tanjiro thought to himself, wanting to give the evil demon in front of him a final blow, but his hand was trembling.

"If I don't give him a final blow, he will hurt others again... so... I must do it!"

He kept advising himself in his heart that he must act quickly, and finally made up his mind, raised the small blade in his hand, and prepared to stab down.

Just then, a hand rested on Tanjiro's shoulder. Tanjiro, who was startled, turned his head and took a look, discovering it was an old man wrapped in white cloth with a red tengu mask on his face.

"That kind of thing cannot give a final blow!" The old man made an aged sound, as if he had experienced many vicissitudes.

"Tengu mask... but walking without making a sound..." But Tanjiro understood that now was not the time to think about these things, so he hurriedly asked: "Then... then what should I do to kill him!"

"Don't ask others this question, use your own brain to think!"

Hearing this, Tanjiro fell into deep thought: Since the blade doesn't work, then he can only destroy the head!

He looked at the large stone beside the tree below, walked over, picked it up, and prepared to smash it down, but hesitated again: "If I want to destroy the head with a stone, I have to smash it several times! But he will definitely be very painful, right!? Is there anything that can kill with one blow..."

The old man with the tengu mask behind him smelled the gentle yet hesitant scent on Tanjiro and thought to himself: "This child is not good... too considerate of others, unable to make a decision! Even for an evil demon, the gentle scent has not dissipated, and he even has sympathy for the evil demon! Giyu... this child is not good."

While Tanjiro was still hesitating, the words Zero had said appeared in his mind.

'Don't hesitate when you shouldn't hesitate, you know?'

"Big Brother Zero... can I really do it?" Just as he was thinking about Zero's words, the Temple Demon's head also woke up at this time.

The Temple Demon's head remembered that its body had already died, and its heart was full of unwillingness. It raised its eyes to look at Tanjiro in front of it and roared: "You bastard! I'm going to eat you! Damn it! Hurry up and walk over here and let me eat you! Did you hear me? You bastard, hurry up and walk over here and let me eat you!"

The sun rose in the east, and the warm sunlight illuminated everything around. Only then did Tanjiro know that after dawdling for a long time, the sun had already risen.

The sunlight shone on the Temple Demon's head and it began to burn, turning into ashes in an instant!

Thump!

The stone in his hand fell to the ground, and he looked at the disappearing evil demon's head in disbelief.

"Just by being shone on by the sunlight, it became like this...?! No wonder Nezuko resists! Oh no, Nezuko!" Tanjiro then remembered that Nezuko was also a demon now and could not be shone on by the sunlight.

"Nezuko? Nezuko!"

He discovered that Nezuko was gone, searched everywhere, and only then discovered that Nezuko had already run into the house and hidden in the bamboo basket just as the sun rose.

Seeing this, Tanjiro felt relieved.

"By the way, where is that person?"

Coming to the side of the Buddhist temple, he discovered that the old man with the tengu mask had already buried those who had died and was praying for them with his hands together.

"That..."

"I am Sakonji Urokodaki. You are the person Giyu Tomioka introduced in his letter, right?"

"Ye... Yes, my name is Tanjiro Kamado, and my sister's name is Nezuko Kamado..."

"Tanjiro, if your sister eats a human, what will you do?"

"I..." Tanjiro fell into hesitation again, not knowing how to answer.

Sakonji Urokodaki came to Tanjiro, slapped him, and said: "Your judgment is too slow! Your speed of making judgments is really too slow! You couldn't give the evil demon a final blow until dawn! Why couldn't you answer the question just now immediately?"

"It's because your determination is not firm enough! If your sister eats a human, the only two things you can do are to kill your sister and then commit seppuku to apologize! That is what it means to carry a sister who has become a demon!"

"But you must remember, you must never let this happen! You must never let your sister take the lives of innocent people! Do you understand what I said?"

Tanjiro: "Yes!"

Sakonji Urokodaki: "Then next, let me test whether you are qualified to become a Demon Slayer swordsman. Carry your sister and come with me."

Then, regardless of what Tanjiro thought, he left directly.

Seeing this, Tanjiro immediately went into the house, wrapped the bamboo basket with cloth, carried it on his back, and chased after Sakonji Urokodaki, who was running in front.

While carrying the bamboo basket containing Nezuko on his back, he also had to run wildly behind Sakonji Urokodaki.

This caused Tanjiro's physical strength to be consumed faster and faster.

"Ha... ha... so fast! How old is this person?! And there really is no sound of footsteps when running!"

Looking at Sakonji Urokodaki, who was getting further and further away from him, Tanjiro had to speed up.

"Nezuko, it might be a bit bumpy, but bear with it..."

Memories of the time he and Nezuko were at home appeared in his mind.

'Nezuko, are you sewing the kimono again? It won't do if you don't buy a new one!'

'It's okay, brother, it doesn't matter. I quite like this kimono, and compared to that, wouldn't it be better to let the younger brothers and sisters eat more?!'

"Nezuko, I will definitely find a way to make you human again! Big Brother Zero has also been helping us! One day, I will definitely buy you many, many beautiful kimonos! I will definitely not let Big Brother Zero down, and even less let my family down!"

Thinking of these, his heart began to become incomparably firm, and he sped up his running, following closely behind Sakonji Urokodaki...

Sunset.

Tanjiro ran with Sakonji Urokodaki for a day and finally arrived at the place where Sakonji Urokodaki lived on Mount Sagiri. At this time, Tanjiro was sweating like rain, panting, and knelt on the ground.

Sakonji Urokodaki was still as steady as a mountain, his breath stable, without any signs of being tired, and he walked as if on flat ground.

"Hu... hu... in... in this way... can I get your approval?" Tanjiro asked while panting.

Sakonji Urokodaki did not answer him, but turned around, opened the door, took off the white cloth wrapped around his head, and said: "The test has just begun. Put your sister in the house, and then go up the mountain!"

"Ah..." Tanjiro gasped directly. He didn't expect that running with Sakonji Urokodaki for a day was not the test at all. The so-called test was just beginning now...

Although it was like this, Tanjiro still did as Sakonji Urokodaki said, carried the bamboo basket into the house, took Nezuko out, and placed her on the wooden tatami.

Sakonji Urokodaki: "I will be responsible for taking care of your sister."

Tanjiro: "I'll leave it to you."

Afterwards, Sakonji Urokodaki led Tanjiro to the top of the mountain.

Tanjiro, whose legs were already soft and powerless and whose head was dizzy, walked for a long time behind Sakonji Urokodaki.

Not long after, Sakonji Urokodaki stopped, turned around, and said to Tanjiro: "Your next test is from the house at the foot of the mountain here. This time I won't wait for you until dawn!"

As soon as the words fell, accompanied by a thick fog, Sakonji Urokodaki's figure disappeared from the spot, and next, Tanjiro's test officially began.

"Is that so? Do you think I will get lost in this thick fog? As long as I return to the house before dawn... Simple! My nose is very sensitive, I have already remembered Mr. Urokodaki's scent!"

Thinking of these, Tanjiro felt that this was the simplest thing, and then he began to run from the mountain to the foot of the mountain.

But how could Sakonji Urokodaki not think of what Tanjiro could think of? If the test was so simple, it would be too naive.

Not long after running, Tanjiro's foot was almost tripped by a rope. Unexpectedly, this triggered the mechanism of the trap.

Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!

Several stones flew out from not far away and hit Tanjiro's face, and he felt a pain in his face.

He walked to the side, but triggered the trap again, and fell directly into the pit...

Only then did he understand that it was not so simple to return to the house at the foot of the mountain from here. There were traps everywhere. If you didn't dodge, you would be hit, and then you would definitely not be able to return to the foot of the mountain before dawn.

Understanding what was going on, he immediately climbed out of the pit, but didn't expect his palm to trigger the mechanism again. He immediately climbed up and dodged to the side.

Unexpectedly, the mechanism seemed to know where he would stand, and a huge wooden stake hit him from behind and knocked him flying!

"Not good, not good! If I keep hitting traps like this, I won't be able to get down the mountain before dawn! And this mountain... the air is so thin... breathing is so difficult... dizzy..."

"Calm down! Calm down... adjust your breathing... distinguish the scent of the traps!"

Seeming to feel the scent of traps in the air, he continued to run towards the foot of the mountain. Even if he triggered the traps, he could rely on his sensitive nose to dodge them, but he still hit many traps.

"I must... must persist... I must... return..."

Sakonji Urokodaki settled Nezuko down, covered her with a quilt, and knelt on the side to wait, his eyes looking out the window from time to time.

Clatter~

Just as there was a little time left before dawn, the wooden door was opened. Tanjiro stood at the door covered in mud, panting heavily, with blood flowing from his forehead and the corners of his mouth, obviously caused by dodging those traps.

"Hu~... hu~... Mr. Uro... Urokodaki... I... returned..."

As soon as the words fell, Tanjiro couldn't hold on anymore and fell down.

Sakonji Urokodaki looked at Tanjiro, who had fallen at the door, and recalled the letter that Giyu Tomioka had sent him by Kasugai Crow a few days ago.

【Master Urokodaki, I am sending a young man who wants to become a Demon Slayer swordsman to you. His family was saved by the Zero Hashira of the Demon Slayer Corps, but his sister has become a demon!

I judge that she will not attack humans! I can feel something different from these two, and the young man's nose seems to be as sensitive as yours. Perhaps he can complete the "breakthrough" and "inherit"!

Please cultivate him! I know this is my selfish request, but please forgive me, and please take care of yourself.

Giyu Tomioka_Personal】

Sakonji Urokodaki stood up, came to the door, looked at Tanjiro Kamado, and thought to himself: "I approve of you, Tanjiro Kamado."

His eyes looked towards the sky not far away.

"Zero Hashira of the Demon Slayer Corps... I hope I have the opportunity to meet you. The only person who has encountered Muzan Kibutsuji and fought him!!"

On the night after the Demon Slayer Corps Hashira Meeting ended, Sakonji Urokodaki also received a letter from the Demon Slayer Corps leader Kagaya Ubuyashiki, and also knew about this matter, and it was accompanied by some information about 【Muzan Kibutsuji】 recorded by Zero.

............ ===== CHAPTER 36 =====