"Orders, orders! Orders from Headquarters!" Suddenly, a hurried shout came, accompanied by the flapping of wings and bird calls. "Immediately apprehend Tanjiro and Nezuko, and bring them back to Headquarters."
Following that were the characteristics of Tanjiro and Nezuko: Tanjiro was wearing a haori with an ichimatsu pattern and had a scar on his forehead, while Nezuko was a young demon girl with a bamboo muzzle…
Fang Hao expressed his opinion: a young demon girl? They should at least add "beautiful," Nezuko is a beautiful young girl, isn't she?
Tanjiro also smiled helplessly. Since the Kasugai Crow had delivered the orders from Headquarters, there was nothing that could be done. As a member of the Demon Slayer Corps, how could Tanjiro not understand the Corps' intelligence and the determination of its members to complete their missions?
Fang Hao thought the same. Although Insect Pillar Shinobu Kocho seemed to have been completely overwhelmed by him just now, he would not underestimate the strength of a Pillar because of it. After all, most of Insect Pillar's strength lay in her poison. As for Insect Pillar's sword skills, well, let's not mock Shinobu Kocho anymore…
"Miss Shinobu Kocho, I have captured Tanjiro and Nezuko. Let's head back to Headquarters." Fang Hao began to act playfully, completely disregarding the fact that he had offended Insect Pillar earlier. "By the way, how are those people who were poisoned by the spider demon? And there was a blond boy among them, is he alright?"
Although Shinobu Kocho had put away her nichirin blade, hearing Fang Hao's words, she inexplicably felt the urge to draw her nichirin blade again. He hadn't said a single word earlier that hadn't angered her, so how could he act as if nothing had happened now!
"I originally thought Mr. Giyu Tomioka was annoying enough, but if you go to Headquarters, even Mr. Giyu Tomioka will become well-liked by everyone." Shinobu Kocho began to speak sarcastically to Fang Hao, but her voice remained gentle and amiable. If one didn't pay attention to what she was saying and only listened to her voice and saw the smile on her face, they would think she was praising Fang Hao.
However, she eventually answered Fang Hao's question: "The Demon Slayer Corps members who turned into spiders earlier have had their injuries treated, including the blond boy you mentioned."
"That's good. I'm Fang Hao, he's Tanjiro, Kamado Tanjiro, and she's Nezuko." Fang Hao introduced them one by one to Shinobu Kocho, then looked at Shinobu Kocho and raised an eyebrow.
"I am the Demon Slayer Corps' Insect Pillar, Shinobu Kocho. It's a pleasure to meet you."
…
As the sky gradually brightened, the entire Spider Mountain had been thoroughly explored.
Fang Hao had slain the Spider Demon Father, the Spider Demon Mother, the Spider Demon Sister, and Rui of the Twelve Kizuki. Zenitsu had also killed one. By this point, Spider Mountain had been completely cleared.
The injuries of Tanjiro, Zenitsu, Inosuke, and the Demon Slayer Corps members who had previously turned into spiders had also been treated. The injured were all bandaged and lying on stretchers. With Fang Hao carrying Nezuko (Tanjiro was lying down), the group set off majestically towards the Demon Slayer Corps Headquarters.
When Tanjiro woke up, the day was already bright, and the sun hung high overhead, radiating light and heat.
As soon as Tanjiro opened his eyes, he saw, well, the sun, and then a neat courtyard came into view. The ground, paved with white gravel, looked very clean, and not far away was a large tree several meters tall, adding a touch of vitality to the courtyard.
Whoever bandaged Tanjiro was a mystery; although most of his injuries were scrapes, his entire body was wrapped in bandages, even his forehead, making him look like a white silkworm cocoon from afar.
"Tanjiro, you're awake?" Hearing the familiar voice, Tanjiro, in his unfamiliar surroundings, felt much more relaxed. "Fang Jun, where is this?" He struggled to lift his head and looked around with effort.
"This is the Demon Slayer Corps Headquarters, of course."
Fang Hao, Tanjiro, and Nezuko, who was in the box next to Tanjiro's stretcher, were currently in a very delicate position. Surrounding them were:
A man with long red and yellow hair, wearing a flame-patterned haori, who looked very cheerful – Flame Pillar Kyojuro Rengoku;
A burly man dressed as a monk, blind and weeping, holding prayer beads, and softly chanting "Amitābha" – Stone Pillar Gyomei Himejima;
A beautiful young girl with a pink braided pigtail, wearing an open-chested uniform, and lively light green eyes darting around (her muscle density was eight times that of a normal person) – Love Pillar Mitsuri Kanroji;
A black-haired young man with a calm, even cold, expression, wearing a haori with two different patterns on each side – Water Pillar Giyu Tomioka;
And Insect Pillar Shinobu Kocho.
Fang Hao introduced each of the Pillars to Tanjiro and informed him of the current situation. "The Demon Slayer Corps' Master is preparing to hold a Pillar Meeting. It seems he intends to discuss your and Nezuko's matter in front of all the Pillars…"
"But why are you here, Fang Jun?"
"Didn't I capture you two? Besides, although I haven't been officially promoted yet, I am qualified to become a Pillar after slaying a member of the Twelve Kizuki."
"Slaying a member of the Twelve Kizuki? How flamboyant." At this moment, two people walked in from outside the house. One of them, around twenty years old, spoke of flamboyance, had exceptionally prominent muscles, and wore a dazzling, physically radiant headscarf adorned with many diamonds.
On his back were two crossed nichirin blades – Sound Pillar Tengen Uzui.
The other person, appearing to be about thirteen or fourteen years old, had a slender frame that contrasted sharply with the Sound Pillar beside him. He had long black hair and a calm, even blank, face – Mist Pillar Muichiro Tokito.
Although he seemed unremarkable, he became a Pillar just two months after picking up a nichirin blade, at the age of only eleven, earning him the reputation of a genius within the Demon Slayer Corps.
"Hmm, the Twelve Kizuki are alright." Fang Hao responded nonchalantly to Tengen Uzui's words.
"Ha, what an arrogant fellow." Before Tengen Uzui could speak, a cold voice came from the large tree. "After all, can anything you say be trusted when you're consorting with a demon? Slaying a member of the Twelve Kizuki, you? Isn't this just an act?"
Coiled like a snake on a tree branch, with golden-green heterochromatic eyes, was Snake Pillar Obanai Iguro, now coldly glaring at Fang Hao and Tanjiro. Harboring a demon? There has never been such an example in the Demon Slayer Corps!
"Do swordsmen fight with their mouths now?" Fang Hao had no intention of indulging Obanai Iguro, and his first words were mockery. Do we know each other? You start with mockery right away, do you think you're my unlucky roommate? Hilarious!
"Bastard!" Obanai Iguro immediately became enraged upon hearing Fang Hao's words. In his opinion, simply colluding with a demon was enough reason to execute them on the spot.
Tengen Uzui, standing nearby, was also very displeased with Fang Hao's attitude. In his view, even if Fang Hao had truly slain a member of the Twelve Kizuki, he was currently just an ordinary Demon Slayer Corps member, and the Demon Slayer Corps had a very strict hierarchy. Of course, some Pillars didn't care about such things, but Tengen Uzui, having been a ninja, valued hierarchy greatly.
"You're not even a Pillar, yet you speak to a Pillar like that. Kid, you lack basic respect for the Pillars." Tengen Uzui's eyes narrowed slightly, a dangerous smile on his face.