[{"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-76":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},2336002,4566,"Chapter 76: The Pillars","this-pillar-in-demon-slayer-is-extremely-strong--chapter-76",76,"\u003Cp>Along the way, Zero carried Hu Die Ren back to the Demon Slayer Corps headquarters, walking as if on flat ground, without a single jolt.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Perhaps it was the sense of security from Zero’s back and that faint body scent that fascinated Hu Die Ren.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gradually, she fell asleep, curled against his back.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zero did not wake her.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In her dream, Hu Die Ren saw her sister punishing Zero, and she couldn’t help but smirk.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then, Kanae instructed Zero to bring a basin of foot-washing water, as punishment, to wash his sister’s feet.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Hehehe~ Stinky brother-in-law, you’ve finally gotten what’s coming to you~! Served you right for bullying me!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zero heard the voice behind him and his eyelid twitched slightly—what the hell had she dreamed about?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They returned to the Demon Slayer Corps headquarters.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Pillar swordsmen, including former Flame Pillar Rengoku Makomo, had gathered here.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ikkyu Shobun was perched on a tree.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Tomioka Giyuu stood beside a small pond, keeping his distance from the others.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But Murakumo Jiro was nowhere to be seen.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Zero, you’ve worked hard,” Kanae said as she approached Zero.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then she woke Hu Die Ren: “Little Ren, wake up!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Half-asleep, Hu Die Ren rubbed her eyes, even a strand of drool visible trailing from her lips onto Zero’s back.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Stinky brother-in-law, what are you waiting for? Get my feet washed right now!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Pillars: !!!!!!!!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The air fell instantly silent; Hu Die Ren sensed something was wrong.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She turned her head and saw everyone staring at her with strange expressions.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Their bodies trembled slightly, as if barely holding back laughter!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Instantly, Hu Die Ren’s face turned bright red!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>How to put it? Total social death…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Her hand still felt damp on Zero’s back—no need to guess, it was definitely her saliva…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She couldn’t get down, yet couldn’t stay on either.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Little Ren, aren’t you getting down?” Zero said, his tone laced with mild teasing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Helplessly, Hu Die Ren silently slid off Zero’s back.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Once her feet touched the ground, she dashed to Kanae’s side, head bowed low.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Not long after, members of the Hidden Division carried the unconscious Tanjiro before the group and laid him on the stony ground.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Pillar Lords!” the Hidden Division member bowed deeply, showing respect.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zero recognized this Hidden Division member—his name was Gotou.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gotou then woke the unconscious Tanjiro.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Hey, wake up! Wake up, damn it!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Come on, wake up already!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Hey!!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“How long are you going to keep sleeping?! Wake the hell up!!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Tanjiro jolted awake at the shouting.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He opened his eyes and looked up to see a crowd of people standing before him!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Big Brother Zero!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Hey, pay attention to the atmosphere! The people standing in front of you are Pillars!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Pillars!?”, Tanjiro had heard of them from his trainer.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Besides, Zero himself was a Pillar, so he wasn’t overly surprised.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But seeing so many Pillars at once still shook him deeply.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hu Die Ren: “This is the Demon Slayer Corps headquarters. You are to be judged, Tanjiro Kamado.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Rengoku Makomo: “No need for judgment! Sheltering a demon violates the Corps’ rules! Let us handle it—any demon, decapitate!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Uzui Tengen: “Let me splendidly chop off his head! I’ll make his blood splash splendidly everywhere! Extremely splendid!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hinokami Gyomei: “What a pitiful child—his very birth was a tragedy~ Amitabha!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Mitsuri Kanroji: “Wait, really kill him? Shouldn’t we wait for the Master’s decision?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Shinobu Muichiro: What shape is that cloud in the sky?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The group debated loudly, insisting they themselves should execute Tanjiro Kamado.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Among them, only Zero, Kanae, and Mitsuri, along with Tomioka Giyuu standing nearby, remained silent.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Speaking of which, what about Tomioka Giyuu? He broke the rules too!” Ikkyu Shobun pointed at Tomioka Giyuu standing at a distance.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Why isn’t he tied up? This is such a headache—how should we handle him?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ikkyu Shobun glared at Tomioka Giyuu’s silence and felt a surge of irritation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hu Die Ren: “It’s fine. More importantly, at least he came along, didn’t he? And… my brother-in-law seems to have something to say.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Wait until the Master arrives,” Zero said.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Though he spoke calmly, Rengoku Makomo’s emotions seemed unusually volatile.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He stared at the earrings on Tanjiro’s ears, as if recalling something.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“It… it… is you… You’re the user of the Sun Breathing, aren’t you? Aren’t you?!” Rengoku Makomo roared.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The others were puzzled—they all sensed Rengoku Makomo’s fury and confusion…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gotou knelt halfway, trembling.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He couldn’t help it—the atmosphere here was too bizarre!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Added to that, the overwhelming aura of the Pillars left him too terrified to speak.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing this, Zero waved to Gotou and said: “You may withdraw, Gotou. We’ll handle this. Don’t worry—the Pillars are here, nothing will go wrong.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Yes, thank you, Zero Pillar Lord!” Gotou quickly retreated, hiding in a nearby corner to await orders.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Rengoku Makomo pointed at the earrings on Tanjiro’s ears and growled: “Boy, answer me! Are you the user of the Sun Breathing? Don’t tell me you don’t know what the Sun Breathing is! I recognize those earrings!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Sun Breathing? I don’t know what you’re talking about,” Tanjiro said, confused.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“No, you know! You know perfectly well! The Sun Breathing… yes, it’s all written there! The Sun Breathing is the original, the first breathing technique ever created!!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>All other breathing styles are derivatives of the Sun Breathing—every single one merely imitates the Sun Breathing, a poor, degraded copy! Rock, Water, Flame, Wind, Thunder, and all others—they’re all just pale imitations!!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Everyone present, except Zero, was stunned by Rengoku Makomo’s words.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then, furious, Rengoku Makomo turned and left without another word.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Father!” Rengoku Makomo tried to follow, but Zero raised a hand to stop him. “Makomo, let him cool off alone. About the Sun Breathing… I’ve uncovered some results.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Rengoku Makomo thought for a moment, then decided to obey Zero.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Umu, thank you very much!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The group’s attention returned to Tanjiro, lying on the ground.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Tanjiro opened his mouth to speak, but a sharp pain shot through his jaw.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hu Die Ren pulled a small gourd filled with pain-relieving medicine from her sleeve and handed it to Zero.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zero understood, placed the gourd before Tanjiro, and untied his ropes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Drink. This contains painkillers. Take a sip before you speak.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Tanjiro didn’t care about dignity—he grabbed the gourd and gulped down the entire contents.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The pain in his jaw eased slightly, and he finally spoke: “…My sister became a demon, but she never ate a human. Never before, never now! She would never harm anyone!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Don’t joke around! You’re shielding her because she’s your blood! I won’t believe a single word you say!” Ikkyu Shobun declared.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>For demons, he hated them with every fiber of his being—let alone a demon slayer carrying a demon.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Amitabha! He’s possessed by a demon! Kill him now, let this poor child be freed!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hinokami Gyomei also refused to believe Tanjiro’s words…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Please… please believe me! I will fight alongside my sister! As a Demon Slayer, I fight to protect others!” Tanjiro screamed with all his strength, begging them to believe in his sister.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The atmosphere grew tense again.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Hey hey hey~ This seems to be quite an interesting situation~ Hehehe… So this is the swordsman carrying a demon? How fascinating~”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Murakumo Jiro walked up from nearby, holding a wooden box in his hand.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His face wore a grotesque grin.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Nezuko!” Tanjiro lunged forward to seize the box, but Zero stopped him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Tanjiro, stand aside. I’ll handle what comes next.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“But Nezuko…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Obey.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“...Yes, Big Brother Zero.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Tanjiro obediently stepped back and waited.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Heh, kid, you just said you’d fight alongside your sister as a Demon Slayer to protect humans? Are you… joking with me?!!!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ping!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Murakumo Jiro drew his Nichirin Blade, preparing to stab it into the box.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But before he could move, the box vanished from his hands and appeared in Zero’s.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Zero, are you also going to shelter this demon?” Nishikawa Tengen demanded.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They felt confused and angry at Zero’s actions.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At the same time, they were utterly stunned—how had Zero taken the wooden box from their hands without anyone noticing?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His speed was so fast that not a single person present had seen it!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yet, a wave of disappointment washed over them—Zero’s strength had grown so formidable already…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was utterly beyond reach…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I informed the Lord of this matter long ago…” Zero paused, then continued: “Let’s wait until the Lord arrives.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Just then, two voices echoed from inside the room: “The Lord has arrived.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You’re all here, my beloved swordsmen.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“The weather is truly fine today—the sky is still blue,” Ubuyashiki Kagaya said as he stepped to the door and looked up at the heavens.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Tanjiro felt a lightness spread through his entire body at the sound of that voice.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Before he could react, Nishikawa Tengen grabbed him and shoved him to his knees beside him, pressing his head down.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When he lifted his head, he saw every Pillar in the room—except Zero—bowed low in half-kneeling reverence.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even Nishikawa Tengen, who had been so furious moments ago, did the same!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“To see us all gathered once again for the biannual Pillar Meeting fills me with deep satisfaction.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>No sooner had he spoken than Ubuyashiki Kagaya turned his gaze to Zero and smiled: “I didn’t expect you to attend this Pillar Meeting as well. Thank you.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In previous Pillar Meetings, Zero either could not attend because he was serving as an examiner at Fujin Mountain, or he sent Xiao Yue in his place.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Or else, he would only summon an emergency Pillar Meeting upon acquiring vital intelligence.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zero nodded and smiled in reply: “It seems your health has recovered well. I’m truly glad for you.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Thank you, Zero.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“My Lord, I have a question,” Nishikawa Tengen spoke up: “Forgive my bluntness, but before the Pillar Meeting begins, could you please explain this swordsman—Kamado Tanjiro—who travels with a demon?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I apologize for startling you. This matter was already reported to me by Zero years ago… and I have accepted Tanjiro and Nezuko. I hope you all can accept them too.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>These words instantly ignited outrage among several Pillars.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Amitabha. Even at the Lord’s command, I cannot comply.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I firmly and splendidly oppose! I will never splendidly accept a demon-tainted member of the Demon Slayer Corps!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I will forget whichever side it is, immediately…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“We cannot trust them! Absolutely not! And I hate demons most of all!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Umu. I deeply respect the Lord, but on this matter, I will never accept it! I oppose it fully!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I will follow whatever the Lord decides~”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Only those who slay demons are true Demon Slayers! I urge you to punish Kamado Tanjiro and Tomioka Giyu!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ubuyashiki Kagaya raised one finger to his lips, signaling silence.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Everyone fell instantly quiet.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He then turned to his daughter, Ubuyashiki Hina: “Bring out the letter.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Yes.” Ubuyashiki Hina pulled a letter from her chest and said: “This is a letter from the former Water Pillar, Rengoku Saengenji. Let me read you an excerpt.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Please forgive Tanjiro for traveling with his demon sister. Nezuko still retains a strong will and human reason—even during periods of hunger, she has never once tried to eat a human, and has endured this for two years!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Also, if Nezuko ever attacks a human, then Kamado Tanjiro, Tomioka Giyu, and Rengoku Saengenji will all commit seppuku in apology.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After the letter was read, silence fell over everyone.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zero had not expected Rengoku Saengenji to be so resolute—he couldn’t help but feel admiration.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Tanjiro had not expected Master Rengoku and Master Tomioka to risk their lives for him and Nezuko. His heart swelled with emotion.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Even so, what does it prove?” Nishikawa Tengen still refused to accept it: “What good is seppuku? If you want to die so badly, just die and rot already! That doesn’t guarantee anything!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Rengoku Kyojuro added: “Nishikawa is right—once they’ve eaten a human, there’s no turning back! The dead cannot be brought back!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ubuyashiki Kagaya: “Yes, you’re correct—it cannot guarantee she won’t attack humans. But neither can it prove she will. After all… Nezuko has gone two full years without eating a single human. And someone has even been willing to stake their life on it.”\u003C\u002Fp>",2030,"2026-06-20T21:22:22.338Z",1,"Qwen3-Next 80B","1e3fafba1a17df38850a587ae6f9c2354bcf1c2f08f9d3d8907bc40452f774d3","this-pillar-in-demon-slayer-is-extremely-strong--chapter-77","this-pillar-in-demon-slayer-is-extremely-strong--chapter-75",128,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fthis-pillar-in-demon-slayer-is-extremely-strong--cover.jpg"]