As Muzan departed, the tense atmosphere slowly dissipated.
Doma gently wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth, then slowly stood up from the ground.
"Oh dear, it seems that Teiichi has done something to anger Lord Muzan again!" His words were tinged with a hint of teasing, and a barely perceptible smile appeared on his lips.
Akaza glanced at Doma and said coldly, "You can't just call someone ' Teiichi '!"
Doma raised his hand and patted lightly in front of him.
" Akaza, really! I've fought against Teiichi before!"
Come to think of it, I was the first one among us to fight him.
So, if you calculate it that way, I'm the one who knew him the longest!
Upon hearing Doma's words, Akaza's gaze grew even colder.
"Stop acting all pretentious. Nobody here wants to watch your act."
"Oh, oh, I just wanted to make myself more human! But since Akaza doesn't like it, I'll just change it!"
After saying that, Doma's smile vanished instantly, replaced by a cold and indifferent expression.
Sigh, ever since Akaza became Upper Rank Two, these meetings have lost so much of their fun...
Gyokko twisted her body and asked, " Lord Muzan Biwa Woman take us somewhere tonight. Does that mean we'll be able to see the Demon Slayer tonight?"
"No..." A calm voice rang out, carrying an air of authority.
Doma looked in the direction of the voice, "Does Kokushibo have a different opinion?"
Kokushibo replied, "I... Akaza... you... none of the three of us... have encountered this Demon Slayer!"
"Is there a problem with this?" Doma asked, puzzled.
Kokushibo said in a deep voice, "We... were... summoned... at dawn..."
"What does this have to do with the Demon Slayer?" Gyokko asked.
"If it weren't for the Demon Slayer we encountered in the Upper Rank Three, other Demon Slayer would have been killed with a single blow if they had met him!"
Akaza explained with his arms crossed, then glanced at Hantengu, Gyokko, and Daki.
"Even for you, encountering that Demon Slayer would only take a few blows!"
"How... terrible! So terrifying!" Hantengu said, trembling.
The cryptic conversation between the group gave Daki a headache. "You mean, the Demon Slayer deliberately waited until dawn to kill that demon? Why?"
Akaza said, "Why? We're going to go there tonight, so tell me why?"
Daki chuckled awkwardly, realizing now that her question had indeed been somewhat unnecessary.
"If we go there tonight, won't we find him? Why do we still need to go?"
Kokushibo, " Lord Muzan... since... this is the arrangement, we will comply. There's no need to say anything more!"
Swish--!
Doma unfolded his folding fan and gently waved it.
"They're both hiding from us, but we can't even find the Ubuyashiki Family, a family with little ability to resist. How are we supposed to find this Demon Slayer?"
Doma's words caused everyone to fall silent for a moment, as they couldn't think of any good solutions.
Akaza stood at the edge of the platform, gazing at the houses floating in the air below, and spoke:
"If you run into Pillar later, just ask him. He should know something about him!"
Demon Slayer Corps Headquarters.
"Lord Mist Hashira, over here!"
The team members, dressed in stealth uniforms, pointed the way to Muichiro.
Muichiro nodded and followed the Hidden Team members inside.
Almost half a year has passed since they encountered Lower Rank Six.
Although Lower Rank Six ultimately died from sunburn, Teiichi had Kasugai Crow explain the specific reasons when he reported it to the authorities.
After a brief moment of consideration, Kagaya Ubuyashiki decided to promote Muichiro to the rank of Pillar.
However, instead of holding Hashira Meeting to announce this, the notice was first given to the Kasugai Crow.
Then they waited for the Hashira Meeting held every six months, which was this meeting, so that Muichiro could get to know the other Pillars.
After circling the mansion for a while, the hidden team member finally stopped, turned around, and bowed to Muichiro, saying:
"Lord Mist Hashira, this corridor leads to the venue for this Hashira Meeting. You can go through here! The other lords are already there!"
"Okay, thank you!" Muichiro nodded in thanks.
This was also something his master taught him: to thank someone after they have provided him with service.
Although he didn't quite understand the point of doing this, since it was his master's instruction, he should just do as he was told.
After hearing Muichiro's thanks, the hidden member bowed again and said excitedly, "You're too kind, no need, it's what we should do!"
Muichiro nodded.
His mentor didn't tell him how to deal with this situation.
"Then you go ahead, I'll be going now!" the hidden team member said, and then walked back the way he came.
Muichiro watched the departing figures of the Hidden Members, then turned to look at the path they pointed to, and strode forward.
The passageway then came to an end, where a spacious courtyard appeared before Muichiro's eyes.
There were now nine people standing in the arena.
Muichiro looked at them, his gaze lingering slightly on two familiar figures before sweeping over them one by one.
Is this the Nine Pillars that Master mentioned...?
Muichiro's arrival naturally attracted the attention of the Pillars.
Kanae was initially delighted to see Muichiro, but then felt a pang of disappointment when she saw him walking out Muichiro, with no trace of the figure she longed for behind him.
However, he quickly cheered up and waved.
" Muichiro here!"
Muichiro followed the sound.
"Didn't your master come with you?" Shinobu Kocho asked.
The two sisters were almost inseparable at every Hashira Meeting.
She had naturally noticed the subtle change in her sister.
Muichiro shook his head. "No, Master said he's not a Pillar anymore, so it wouldn't be good for him to come along even if there's nothing wrong!"
Upon hearing this, Shinobu Kocho frowned slightly.
What's good or bad?
Everyone treated him like family, right?
He himself values these things too much!
And, you haven't even come to keep your sister company in all this time!
Kanae smiled and said, "Alright! Teiichi is right! He's not even a member of the Hashira Meeting anymore, so it's really not good for him to come!"
Seeing that her sister said the same thing, Shinobu Kocho could only snort.
Muichiro lifted the items in his hand and said, "These are specialties from Kochi Prefecture, Shimanto River eels and chubby eels, which my master asked me to bring."
Joy welled up in Kanae's heart, Kanae lips immediately curved into a smile, as bright as the sunshine.
It's not because of the item itself, but because of the sentiment it embodies.
Shinobu Kocho took it immediately, "That's more like it!"
Kyojuro Rengoku in a clear voice:
"Is this the newly appointed Mist Hashira?"