Chapter 51: Half-Dog? Half-Dead Dog? Half-Licking Dog?

【Analyzing… Analysis successful】

【Name: Hantiangou — Split Spirit】

【Rank: Upper Moon Four of the Twelve Moons】

【Superior: Kibutsuji Muzan】

【Age: 150 years】

【Ability: Manifested Splitting】

【Splits: Kūki, Sēnu, Aijue, Kēlè, Zēng Pòtiān】

【Blood Demon Art: Accumulated Tears Thrust, Thunder Kill, Strong Wind, Wild Roar, Infinite Karma Tree】

【Note: Severing all splits will not kill it. Only by slaying the original Hantiangou can the splits vanish and turn to ash! Also, when the four splits merge, they become a far stronger demon — Zēng Pòtiān!】

【Personal Information: …】

“So that’s why, last time, I beheaded all four Upper Moon Fours and still couldn’t eliminate them!”

And that demon holding the drumstick—his name is Zeng Potian. He’s the merged form of the four splits, which is why he appeared!

“That means Upper Moon Four really is a troublesome opponent — though only in this world!”

Zero had witnessed Upper Moon Four’s strength in the Infinite Castle before.

Though his power wasn’t impressive, his Blood Demon Arts were a nuisance — diverse and wide-ranging!

With the current Hashira of the Demon Slayer Corps, if they couldn’t find his original body, he could simply stall them until they collapsed from exhaustion, then devour them.

Besides, Hantiangou would surely hide himself while letting his splits fight. Even if found, beheading him wouldn’t be easy.

If he buried himself underground and protected his body, digging three feet deep would take a long time!

Moreover, Zēng Pòtiān could use his Blood Demon Art to create wooden dragons, hide the original body inside them, and burrow underground — it’s entirely possible!

But for Zero, there was a simple, effective solution: hold off the four splits.

If he kept them separated and at a distance, preventing their merger, he could send others to find and behead the original — and still kill him.

“Hah… What good is hiding? As long as your four splits can’t merge, I’ll find your original body — and you’ll die anyway!”

“Hantiangou? Hah… I should draft a dog-beating plan. Hantiangou? Next time I see you, I’ll beat you into a half-dead dog!”

Having made up his mind, Zero continued reviewing Hantiangou’s information.

【Personal Information: In his human life, Hantiangou was a petty thief who constantly did evil deeds yet always believed himself a virtuous victim.】

Once, after a failed theft, fearing arrest, he killed the informant who reported him with a knife.

The day before his execution, Kibutsuji Muzan gave him blood and turned him into a demon. He then killed the magistrate and began serving Muzan…】

After reading the first half of Upper Moon Four’s profile, Zero’s eyelid twitched. “Ugh… Why do I suddenly want to find Hantiangou and beat him into a half-dead dog?”

“This half-dead dog is truly despicable! Such a twisted, negative mindset… Hah… Disgusting! Just like that pisspot!”

（Upper Moon Five Yuhu: I * * * * * *）

After venting a bit, Zero kept reading… the half-dead dog’s…

No, Hantiangou’s information.

【He usually appears as an old man with countless numbers in his eyes, a swollen forehead, two horns on his head, and a face like a demoness.】

When his neck is severed in this form, he splits into four entities: Kūki, Sēnu, Aijue, Kēlè.

His tongue bears characters corresponding to each split’s emotion.

The original body shrinks to the size of a rat, yet its neck is so hard it can chip or break a Nichirin Blade.

On the original’s tongue is written the character 【Fear】.

Hantiangou’s emotions are chaotic. His original 【Fear】 is cowardly, negative, and fixated on one belief: he has never done anything wrong.

Even when committing evil acts, he insists he was forced or had no choice — as long as he avoids facing his crimes, he doesn’t care.

When in danger, his four primal emotions — Joy, Anger, Sorrow, Pleasure — manifest as splits to fight, but they despise each other and cooperate only to protect the original.

When merged, they become Zēng Pòtiān, the embodiment of his hatred. 【Hate】 believes anyone who harms 【Fear】 is evil.

To Zēng Pòtiān, harming the original is monstrous and unforgivable — yet he ignores his own countless murders! He is utterly loyal to Muzan.】

After reading all the information, Zero was speechless. Hantiangou was, in fact, a “licking” dog — utterly devoted to Kibutsuji Muzan.

“Hantiangou? Half-dead dog? Half-licking dog? Forget it — just call him Dead Licking Dog!”

Though he kept mocking the Dead Licking Dog — damn it, Hantiangou — his hands never stopped working.

On another blank sheet, he wrote down the Dead Licking Dog… Hantiangou’s details, noting only the most critical points.

He also used the 【Analysis Glasses】 to analyze Hantiangou’s Blood Demon Arts and recorded them.

Scene shift — to the Infinite Castle.

At this moment, Upper Moon Four — the Dead Licking Dog — damn it, Hantiangou — was being beaten.

The demon beating him was Inosuke.

Why?

Because he was eating people — and worse, women!

Though he hadn’t succeeded.

After the battle in the Infinite Castle, Hantiangou had drained his strength, so on the next night he went out to hunt.

Passing a village, he disguised himself as a pitiful old beggar at the village gate.

A woman returning home happened upon him and felt pity.

She set down her small bag, knelt, and reached inside to take out food for him.

Hantiangou extended his sharp claws, intending to kill her then drag her away to devour her.

Before he could strike, a gust of wind passed — and Hantiangou vanished.

The woman stood up and saw the old man gone. Thinking she’d encountered a demon, she snatched her bag and ran home in terror.

Inosuke, after training in the Infinite Castle by day, hunted for clues to the Blue Bianhua at night.

He also hoped to meet Zero again and fight him — he’d never miss a chance to battle a strong opponent!

If Zero would just return to the Infinite Castle, he’d find a way to turn him into a demon and fight him forever!

As he thought this, fate intervened — he spotted Hantiangou about to harm the woman. He dashed forward and yanked Hantiangou away.

He took him to a desolate place and beat him senseless.

And that beating lasted all night.

Thus, the innocent villager woman was saved.

Inosuke was a demon — but he never ate women.

On the contrary, if he encountered a lone woman walking at night, he politely escorted her safely home.

At sunrise, the two demons were teleported back to the Infinite Castle — but even there, the half-dog… damn it, Hantiangou, was still being beaten.

If Hantiangou had eaten men or evil men, Inosuke wouldn’t have cared. But catching him eating women? That was another matter.

Hantiangou dared not resist, muttering, “I’m just a weakling…”

Inosuke was Upper Moon Three; Hantiangou was only Upper Moon Four. Not just rank — power — was a chasm between them.

So Hantiangou could only endure the beating, hoping Inosuke would tire and spare him.

Meiyo didn’t care. She was quietly playing her shamisen, repairing the damaged Infinite Castle.

After a full day and night, she’d repaired only about half.

Even now, thinking of Zero, she felt uncontrollable fear.

He’d shattered her Infinite Castle, blown her up multiple times.

She was certain that demon slayer was targeting her on purpose!

Scene returns to Zero.

After recording all information on Upper Moon Four and confirming nothing critical was missed, Zero relaxed.

He turned to the sibling demons — Upper Moon Six.

【Analyzing… Analysis successful】

【Name: Jifutai Lang — Twin Demons】

【Gender: Male】

【Rank: Upper Moon Six of the Twelve Moons】

【Superior: Kibutsuji Muzan】

【Sister: Duoji】

【Age: Over 140 years】

【Weapon: Crimson Twin Scythes】

【Ability: Superior Senses, Twin Unity】

【Blood Demon Art: Flying Blood Scythes, Reckless Rampage, Circular Slash Revolve】

【Note 1: “Jifutai Lang ” and “Duoji” are twin bodies. Even if one is beheaded, neither dies — their principle is identical to overcoming decapitation! Both must be beheaded to kill them!】

【Note 2: Jifutai Lang ’s Blood Demon Arts and attacks carry his own blood, which contains massive toxins! Also, after death, his body generates an enhanced Circular Slash Revolve — extremely powerful. Proceed with caution.】

【Personal Information: …】

“Hmm? This is…” Seeing Upper Moon Six Jifutai Lang ’s profile, Zero realized the sibling demons were no ordinary foes.

Merely overcoming decapitation alone put them ahead of other Upper Moons.

If one demon was beheaded, the other could simply hide — and survive.

In other words, if Jifutai Lang wounded an opponent with his toxic blood, he could just flee with his sister and wait for the poison to kill them.

Zero was glad he’d been cautious enough.

A few days ago in Infinite Castle, had I not been cautious enough, one hit from Upper Rank Six would have changed everything: I’d be dead—or worse, turned into a demon!

“I need to think of a way—maybe I should return to Asakusa in Tokyo and see if Yuze has a solution. And…”

Thinking of this, Zero took out two specially made miniature syringes from the [Nanospace], each filled with the blood of an Upper Rank demon.

That day in Infinite Castle, while fighting the Upper Rank demon in my [Dark Alloy Battle Armor], their blood splattered onto the armor’s surface.

When I infused [Energy Crystals] into the [Dark Alloy Battle Armor] at Taoshan to trigger automatic repair, I discovered the blood had not yet solidified into clumps!

Not just the [Dark Alloy Battle Armor], but even the palms and feet of the [Giant Dark Alloy Battle Mech] bore traces of that blood.

So I carefully sucked it all down with my specially made miniature syringes.

Surprisingly, even after so much time had passed, the blood remained liquid—not dried at all.

That day at Taoshan, Isayama Zenitsu and Sangdao Ciwu Lang were both terrified by the mech; only after I explained did the grandfather and grandson recover from their shock.

I returned the miniature syringes to the [Nanospace] and turned my gaze back to the projection screen’s information on Kyuutaro.

[Personal History: During his human life, Kyuutaro was born into the lowest strata of the Yoshiwara district, constantly discriminated against and insulted.

Forced by hunger, he ate poisonous insects and snakes; his only toy was a sickle dropped by a client.

After enduring countless misfortunes and mockery, he gradually developed the belief that if harmed, he must retaliate; if unlucky, he must steal others’ happiness.

This mindset also influenced his young sister, Mei, shaping her own worldview.

He lived with his sister, working as a debt collector.

When his sister was thirteen, she stabbed out a samurai’s eye and was burned alive by him.

Desperate and with his dying sister in his arms, Kyuutaro encountered Upper Rank Six, Dojima, who turned the siblings into demons. After becoming a demon, Kyuutaro kept his name.

Later, Dojima ascended to Upper Rank Two through blood battle; Kyuutaro and Daki became the new Upper Rank Six.]

“I never expected Kyuutaro and his sister’s past to be so tragic—poor little children. But… no matter how pitiful your human lives were, once you became demons and began harming humans, you should have prepared to be exterminated!”

“It was inevitable. It was only a matter of time.”

Though I saw the human history of Kyuutaro and his sister, my heart would not soften or pity them.

It was merely fate’s cruelty—they were born in a terrible era!

I selected some key details about Upper Rank Six Kyuutaro and recorded them on another sheet of white paper.

After confirming them, I turned to the final demon—the female demon sibling.

[Analyzing… Analysis complete.]

[Name: Daki—Twin Demon]

[Human Name: Mei]

[Gender: Female]

[Title: Upper Rank Six of the Twelve Moons (Pseudo)]

[Superior: Muzan Kibutsuji]

[Brother: Kyuutaro]

[Age: Over 140 years]

[Weapon: Belt]

[Ability: Sensory Sharing, Two-in-One]

[Blood Demon Art: Eightfold Belt Slash]

[Note: The entity “Daki” possesses strength between Lower Rank and Upper Rank demons—classified as a pseudo Upper Rank Six.]

[Note 1: The entity “Kyuutaro” is normally fused onto Daki’s back. If Daki is defeated, Kyuutaro emerges.]

[Note 2: The entity “Kyuutaro” can share half his abilities with the entity “Daki” via Sensory Sharing, raising her strength to half-step Upper Rank. He controls Daki’s battle through his third eye.]

[Personal History: …]

Seeing the information on the Upper Rank Six female demon, Zero’s brow furrowed slightly. Somehow, Daki’s status as Upper Rank Six felt… like she wasn’t quite right in the head!

Why did I think that?

Because during the battle in Infinite Castle, Daki actually used her belt to directly challenge the mech!

And she did it twice—both times, she was flung away like a spinning propeller. She didn’t learn!

Was she ignorant or fearless?

Then again, given her strength, if not for her brother’s shadow, she wouldn’t even make Upper Rank—she’d be the first Lower Rank demon killed.

By her own power alone, any Pillar could exterminate her.

The only problem is she has a brother—making her hard to kill.

But for me, there are still many ways.

I turned my gaze to the projection screen’s personal history of Daki.

[Personal History: Born in the slums of Yoshiwara, “Rashomon Riverbank,” she was named “Mei” because her mother died of syphilis during childbirth.

She grew up alongside her brother Kyuutaro. Unlike him, she possessed a beauty that rivaled adults, which Kyuutaro treasured as his pride.

Raised in Yoshiwara’s pleasure district, she became a courtesan.

But her simple, impressionable nature, shaped by her brother’s childhood suffering, led her to adopt a twisted belief: if harmed, retaliate; if deprived, take first; if unlucky, steal others’ happiness.

At thirteen, Mei stabbed out a samurai’s eye with a hairpin after refusing his advances!

She was captured by the samurai and the madam, bound, and burned until barely human, on the brink of death.

When Kyuutaro arrived, he found his sister barely alive and wept uncontrollably, cursing heaven and earth!

He was then ambushed by the samurai and severely wounded.

After killing the samurai and madam, he carried his sister seeking help—but no one offered aid.

Kyuutaro collapsed with his sister on the snow, precisely then encountering Dojima, who was feasting on humans.

Ultimately, the siblings accepted Dojima’s blood and became demons.

After Dojima ascended through blood battle, Kyuutaro’s increased strength elevated Daki’s power through their Two-in-One bond.

The siblings replaced Dojima as Upper Rank Six. Mei then took the name Daki.]

“Yoshiwara pleasure district…” Zero noticed the term, sensing something unusual about it.

“Forget it—for now, I’ll check it out later. Right now, the priority is organizing these reports.”

I recorded Daki’s information as well, confirmed everything, and finally relaxed.

I gathered all the papers, walked to the window, and called for the Hashira crow, Snow.

“Zero-sama.” Snow landed on Zero’s shoulder, as always rubbing against his face.

Since the day Zero vanished, Snow had been heartbroken and devastated!

Yesterday, just as Zero’s funeral began, he discovered his master had returned alive!

He thought it was a dream, yet still flew forward and landed on his shoulder.

Only when he smelled Zero’s familiar body scent did he realize—it was real.

Zero gently stroked Snow’s head and said: “Snow, please inform the Lord that all other Pillar swordsmen should come to my residence—I have important matters to discuss.”

“Yes, Zero-sama.”

Watching Snow depart, Zero went downstairs and asked Kamado Kie to prepare tea and snacks.

Kamado Kie agreed without hesitation.

But downstairs, Zero didn’t see Kanao or Mitsuri. Kamado Kie told him they had gone to bathe after eating.

At that, Zero’s mind flashed back to yesterday’s sensual scene—his body stirred with inexplicable heat!

He shook his head sharply, banishing the images, and the heat faded.

“What’s going on? Why do I feel this way? Could it be…”

“I’m sick?”

After much thought, he still couldn’t figure it out, so he gave up and went upstairs to prepare everything, waiting for the others to arrive.

…

[Two or three more sections remain before Tanjiro’s storyline begins. If anything feels poorly written, please forgive me. Thank you for your continued support and care.]