Demon Slayer: After raising Shinobu, I died in front of her.

Before she knew it, she had walked back to their home.

Standing here, time seems to flow backward.

In a daze, she saw herself when she first joined the Demon Slayer Corps, still somewhat naive and arrogant, her face beaming with anticipation for the future as she pushed open that door for the first time.

"I am back."

She murmured softly, her voice so soft that only the wind could hear it.

Ren slowly pushed open the door and went inside.

The plants in the yard are still there, and because my sister and she often clean it, the yard is very clean.

I went inside and came to my master's room, silently looking around the whole room.

She walked up the steps.

Sitting in the spot where my master used to sit, drinking the tea he used to drink, just like always, it felt as if nothing had changed and my master would return.

......

Ubuyashiki Residence.

The courtyard was quiet and still, with only the soft rustling of the wind through the grass and trees.

The four Pillars—Gyomei Himejima (Stone Pillar), Tengen Uzui (Sound Pillar), Sabito (Water Pillar), and Kanae Kocho (Flower Pillar)—stood solemnly in the courtyard. In the shadows of a corner of the courtyard, Sanemi Shinazugawa and Giyu Tomioka stood side-by-side. However, unlike usual, Sanemi was unusually quiet; he seemed swallowed by the dense darkness, silently concealed in a place where no light shone.

Accompanied by soft, slow footsteps, Kagaya Ubuyashiki, supported by his wife Amane Ubuyashiki, slowly walked out of the house.

"Ahem... Children, it's been a long time."

His voice remained gentle and clear, yet it carried an undeniable weakness. Led by Gyomei Himejima, the Pillars immediately knelt on one knee and bowed respectfully.

However, when everyone looked up and their eyes fell on their lord's face, the scene instantly fell into a deathly silence.

The reason is simple—the lord's condition has deteriorated significantly since the last time we met.

His once handsome face was now completely covered by hideous purplish-red scars, the mottled lines resembling rotting flesh, a horrifying sight. His right eye was a cloudy, deathly white, devoid of any luster, and he was so thin that he looked as if a gust of wind could blow him over. If it weren't for Madam Tianyin's strenuous support, he wouldn't even be able to stand up.

Beimingyu Xingming clasped his hands together, two streams of tears sliding down his resolute face, his voice low and trembling: "My lord... your health is even worse than last time..."

Kagaya Ubuyashiki said softly, "It's alright, Gyomei."

"Ha, hypocrite."

From the corner, a voice filled with suppressed extreme anger suddenly rang out.

Chapter 46 Questioning

Everyone's eyes instinctively turned to the figure in the corner.

Sanemi Shinazugawa clenched his fists so tightly that his nails almost dug into his flesh, and he glared at Kagaya Ubuyashiki with gritted teeth.

Kagaya Ubuyashiki smiled gently: "Nice to meet you, Sanemi. There's something else I need to announce to you here today."

"Sanemi Shinazugawa and Giyu Tomioka, you two have both met the requirements for promotion to Pillar in the Demon Slayer Corps. Therefore, starting today, you two are officially promoted to Pillars..."

"Shut up!"

Shinazugawa Sanemi's fists clenched so tightly they cracked. Hearing that calm voice, the anger that had been building up inside him finally exploded: "You cold-blooded bastard! My master has only just passed away, and you're already so impatient and making such a big show of your advancement! Who cares about this worthless pillar position!"

With his hands clasped together and his gaze low, Himejima Gyomei spoke: "Shinzogawa, it seems you don't quite know how to talk to people!"

"Shut up too!" Shinazugawa Sanemi suddenly turned his head and looked coldly at the Stone Pillar.

Beiming Island Xingming remained kneeling there, but the veins on his forehead were bulging.

"It's alright, let him speak, Xingming."

Kagaya Ubuyashiki looked at Sanemi Shinazugawa with gentle eyes, without a trace of reproach.

"Stop with your annoying, over-the-top acting! You're clearly treating your teammates like pawns to be used and discarded! How do you even have the nerve to sit in that position?!"

Sanemi Shinazugawa gritted his teeth, his voice trembling with extreme anger: "It seems like you've never practiced martial arts before! How can someone like you, who has never studied swordsmanship, become the leader of the Demon Slayer Corps? It's disgusting, it's laughable!"

"Hey, kid." Uzui Tengen tilted his head slightly, his eyes full of coldness: "Watch your tone. You don't look glamorous at all right now."

"What, can't stand it anymore?" Shinazugawa Sanemi sneered, his face full of mockery. "Why weren't you so eager to fight the Upper Moons? Are you angry now? Are you going to attack me?"

"Why were you so arrogant towards me when my master was alive? Now that my master is gone, you can't wait to jump out? Is it because Lord Cangzhu is finally gone, and it's finally your turn to lead the Demon Slayer Corps?"

Seeing everyone's silence, Sanemi Shinazugawa's hatred intensified: "Did I hit the nail on the head? So can you explain to me why I sent my master there without any prior warning when Upper Moon One appeared! Why didn't you all rush over there!"

He looked up and glared at Kagaya Ubuyashiki, tears streaming down his face as he shouted, "Why is it that you, the leader of the Demon Slayer Corps, can sit here so comfortably and let everyone risk their lives for you!"

"My master hasn't even left a trace, and you've already called people here for a meeting? And you specifically chose this time to make me a pillar? What? Are you seeing that my master is dead, and there's one less person to serve you, so you're eager to promote someone new to continue being your pawn?"

Uzui Tengen frowned and turned to look at Kocho Kanae, who was kneeling there silently with her head down: "Kanae, don't let him continue saying these things. You should know what's going on."

However, Kanae Kocho ignored Tengen Uzui's advice. She also raised her head, her usually gentle eyes now filled with sorrow, and looked up at Kagaya Ubuyashiki: "My lord, why did we not receive any news when my master encountered the Upper Moon?"

If news had come immediately and nearby pillars had rushed to provide assistance, perhaps Master would not have died.

Everyone was shocked to hear Kanae's words. No one expected that Kanae, who was usually the gentlest, would question Kagaya Ubuyashiki.

Himejima Gyomei sighed, clutching the rosary beads, some of which were missing, tightly in his hand. Uzui Tengen frowned slightly, while Sabito also looked up at Ubuyashiki Kagaya with a complex expression.

Kagaya Ubuyashiki observed all of this reaction.

Ubuyashiki Amane saw this scene and wanted to say something, but was interrupted by Ubuyashiki Kagaya gently raising his hand.

"sorry."

A soft, weak sentence, yet it struck like a thunderbolt, instantly silencing the entire room.

Sanemi Shinazugawa was stunned, seemingly not expecting that the first thing Kagaya Ubuyashiki would say at this moment would be to apologize to him. Shouldn't he have defended himself?

Kagaya Ubuyashiki's gentle voice rang out again, carrying a hint of weariness and sadness that was hard to conceal: "I also tried to swing the sword, but my body is too weak to even swing it ten times."

If I could, I would also like to be like you, a powerful swordsman who can protect the lives of others with my own strength, but I can't.

His voice was warm, yet hoarse as if worn down by wind and sand: "When Tetsu first joined the Demon Slayer Corps, I was only a few years old. Later, I grew up, and he became a Pillar..."

His eyes were filled with reminiscence, as if he were lost in a distant memory. The surroundings were quiet, and everyone seemed to be drawn into that long-forgotten era by his voice.

"He saw my pain because I couldn't wield the knife, and he kept encouraging me."

For decades, no matter what kind of pain and suffering I have endured, no matter what kind of curse my family has been burdened with, as long as I know that Tetsuya is still by my side, and as long as I know that there are so many swordsmen like him who are willing to risk their lives to protect humanity, I have the courage to live on.

Kagaya Ubuyashiki slowly raised his head, his pale purple eyes already brimming with tears that slid down his scarred cheeks: "The Demon Slayer Corps is where it is today because of Toru, and countless swordsmen like him who have followed one after another without regard for their own sacrifices. Toru's sacrifice was my dereliction of duty. It was because I failed to discover that the enemy was Upper Moon One without any intelligence that I sent Toru there."

Kagaya Ubuyashiki looked at Sanemi Shinazugawa: "I am willing to bear all the consequences. However, Sanemi, you just said that the reason why no one else went to provide support at that time was because that location was not near the jurisdiction of any of the Pillars, and the news of the Kasugai Crow could not be transmitted back in time."

I'm not saying this to make excuses or excuses; I just want to say that no one is afraid of evil spirits. From the moment we arrived here, everyone here has already disregarded life and death. This is true for Che, and it is true for each and every one of us..."

Kagaya Ubuyashiki took a deep breath: "As for making you become Pillars at this time, it was because I failed to consider your feelings. I'm sorry."

Kagaya Ubuyashiki didn't say that making Sanemi Shinazugawa and Giyuu into Pillars was actually a promise he made with Tetsu Ryokawa.

Ling Chuanche had approached him last time and told him that they were already strong enough to become Pillars. So they agreed that when Ling Chuanche returned from this mission, they would become Pillars.

He never imagined that the last time he saw Ling Chuanche would be the last time he saw him, and that he would never come back after he left.

He knew, of course, that they would be angry if they were made pillars at this time, but he was only doing it to fulfill a promise to his best friend.

"Sanemi, Kanae, I'm sorry." Kagaya Ubuyashiki bowed deeply to the two of them.

Chapter 47 The Proudest Disciple

Cangzhu Residence.

When she pushed open that familiar door, Kanae Butterfly's steps were heavy.

The courtyard was eerily quiet. The sounds of Master practicing his sword, Sanemi's defiant shouts, and Shinobu's clear laughter all seemed to have vanished with the setting sun that day.

She walked through the empty courtyard and came to the tightly closed door.

She placed her hand on the door frame, paused for a long time, then took a deep breath and gently pushed it open.

The room was dark and suffocating, with no lights on.

Kanae's gaze searched in the darkness, finally settling on the corner of the wall.

There huddled a small shadow, hugging its knees and burying its head deep in its arms.

"Ren," Kanae called out, her voice sounding somewhat faint in the empty room.

The shadow froze for a moment, but did not respond.

Kanae stood still, her fingernails digging deeply into her palms.

She looked at her younger sister, who used to always follow behind her, had a fiery temper, and when she got angry, she wouldn't give anyone a kind look except for her master and the others. Now, she was like a broken doll, shutting herself in a dark shell.

Anger mixed with immense grief surged up within me.

"Are you planning to hide like this forever?" Kanae's voice turned cold, with a slight, almost imperceptible tremor. "Your master's body is barely cold, and you've already locked yourself in this dark room. Is this the kind of disciple Cangzhu taught?"

The person in the corner remained motionless, as if they hadn't heard a thing.

"Speak!" Kanae finally couldn't hold back any longer and raised her voice. She strode over, grabbed Shinobu's shoulder, and forcefully pulled her up from the ground. "Look at me! Shinobu!"

Shinobu staggered as she was forcibly pulled up. Her usually smiling purple eyes were now empty and lifeless, with a lack of focus.

She stared blankly at Kanae for several seconds before she seemed to recognize the person in front of her.

"Sister..." Ren's voice was terribly hoarse, "You've come... I'm alright, sister... I'm waiting for Master to return..."

Kanae felt as if she had been stabbed in the heart, the pain almost making it hard to breathe.

Does this look like everything's alright?!

Kanae stared intently at her, her eyes instantly reddening. "Shinobu, Master is never coming back! He's gone."

"No way..." Ren shook his head gently, his eyes filled with confusion and grievance, like a child who had done something wrong. "Sister, don't joke around. Master is so strong, how could he die?"

As she spoke, her eyes began to wander again: "I'm going to wait for him to come back. I'm going to tell him that I was good, that I ate well, that I didn't cry... If he saw me crying now, he would definitely laugh at me..."

A loud slap echoed through the room.

Kanae's hand froze in mid-air, her palm burning with pain, while Shinobu's face was turned to one side by the slap, and she stood there stunned.

"Wake up, Shinobu!" Kanae's voice was choked with sobs, yet every word was filled with anguish. "Master is dead. Instead of thinking about how to avenge him, you're locking yourself up here. How long are you going to keep deceiving yourself?!"

Ren slowly turned her head, her face bearing a clear red finger mark, her lips trembling violently.