Footsteps echoed, and everyone who had been waiting for a long time looked towards the sound.
A man covered in scars with a ferocious appearance, and another with a bandaged nose below the bridge and a white snake coiled around his neck, approached.
These were the last two Hashira: the Wind Pillar, Sanemi Shinazugawa, and the Serpent Pillar, Iguro Obanai.
"We're actually the last ones to arrive? I thought we'd be the first," Sanemi Shinazugawa muttered, clicking his tongue when he saw everyone present. His eyes widened as he looked at Yaozai Ubuyashiki: "Master, your illness…"
Before he could finish, Yaozai Ubuyashiki raised his hand and spoke gently: "Yes, Sanemi, I am no longer tormented by illness. I will explain everything shortly. Please, take a seat."
Seeing that Master had spoken, Sanemi Shinazugawa, despite having many questions, could only suppress them for now and walked to his seat.
Iguro Obanai also knelt properly in his spot: "My apologies, Master, for keeping you waiting." After speaking, his heterochromatic eyes glanced around, finally settling on Shinobu Kocho, who was seated in the main position just like Master. He frowned, thinking, 'What happened? Why is the Insect Pillar sitting there?'
All nine Hashira of the Demon Slayer Corps were now present.
Yaozai Ubuyashiki looked at everyone gathered and said sincerely, "You've all worked hard on your missions."
"I sincerely thank you all here." Saying this, Yaozai Ubuyashiki placed his hands on the floor mat and bowed sincerely in gratitude.
"Thank you for your contributions to the Demon Slayer Corps. The Ubuyashiki clan will never forget."
After this, the entire Demon Slayer Corps and the Ubuyashiki clan might face a massive turning point in their destiny, and their relationships with each other would also change.
Therefore, he had to sincerely and wholeheartedly thank the swordsmen who had sacrificed their lives before that.
The Hashira were stunned by Yaozai Ubuyashiki's actions, some even at a loss for words.
The Hashira recovered, and collectively placed their hands on the floor mats, bowing their heads.
Sanemi Shinazugawa quickly said, "Master, what are you saying? It should be us thanking you, Master. If not for you, how would we have the strength we do now to slay demons?"
Iguro Obanai continued, "Sanemi is right. Master, you don't need to thank us. Slaying demons is our will to avenge ourselves against them."
Kyojuro Rengoku clapped his chest cheerfully and declared loudly with full spirit, "Exactly! Slaying demons that harm humans is an act of justice. Since we have inherited the Breathing Technique, become Hashira, and possess great power, then protecting ordinary people from demons is our rightful duty."
"Therefore, Master, you absolutely do not need to thank us."
"Moreover, Master, you have provided us with food, shelter, and all the logistics for our training. We are already so grateful to you."
Uzui Tengen nodded in strong agreement: "The Flame Pillar is right. Gorgeously using the Breathing Technique to slay demons is what we want to do, and it's where our value lies."
Giyu Tomioka nodded expressionlessly: "My thoughts are the same as everyone else's."
Mitsuri Kanroji, seeing how eloquent everyone was, couldn't help but glance around nervously, her hands unsure where to rest, and beads of sweat appearing on her forehead.
"Wow! Everyone has spoken! Is it my turn? Do I have to speak too? What should I say? My mind is blank, I don't know what to say!"
"Master suddenly thanking everyone! I completely don't understand what happened!"
"M-my thoughts are the same as everyone else's!" Mitsuri Kanroji's body reacted faster than her mind, and she quickly raised her hand and blurted out.
Everyone looked at Mitsuri Kanroji, who suddenly panicked. She couldn't help but cover her face with her hands, her entire face turning red. 'Ahhh! Did I say something wrong? I wish I could just disappear into the ground.'
"Mr. Tomioka's expressionless gaze must be saying, why did she have to say the same thing as him!"
Everyone's attention was simply drawn by Mitsuri Kanroji's sudden raised hand.
Muichiro Tokito looked bewildered. What was everyone doing? He hadn't remembered just now.
Sanemi Shinazugawa, confused, spoke directly: "Master suddenly summoned us, and now he's thanking us. Did something monumental happen? Or have they found Kibutsuji Muzan's whereabouts, and we're going to have the final decisive battle to subjugate Kibutsuji Muzan! Is he saying his final farewells to us?"
Upon hearing Sanemi Shinazugawa's words, tears instantly welled up in Gyomei Himejima's white eyes as he rubbed his prayer beads: "Master, all the Hashira are now present. Could you please explain the reason for this Hashira Meeting now?"
All the Hashira fell silent, their eyes fixed intently on Yaozai Ubuyashiki.
Yaozai Ubuyashiki nodded solemnly: "My apologies for causing unnecessary misunderstandings."
"I did gather you all because something monumental has occurred, something so great that it will soon overturn the destiny of everyone in the Demon Slayer Corps—no, perhaps not just the destiny of the Demon Slayer Corps."
"Something monumental that will overturn the destiny of everyone in the Demon Slayer Corps!" All the Hashira were invigorated, their backs involuntarily straightening, and their eyes widened.
Kyojuro Rengoku, somewhat impatient, said, "Master, please tell us directly, what is this monumental event?"
Yaozai Ubuyashiki's expression became very solemn, and the atmosphere in the room grew heavy, so much so that even breathing could be heard clearly.
"God has appeared."
"Huh?" The Hashira were all stunned. Sanemi Shinazugawa even thought his ears were malfunctioning and he hadn't heard properly, as he poked his ear canal with his finger.
"I didn't mishear, did I? God has appeared?" Uzui Tengen looked at Kyojuro Rengoku beside him.
Kyojuro Rengoku nodded seriously: "Yes, Master just said that God has appeared."
Iguro Obanai frowned: "God has appeared?"
Mitsuri Kanroji blinked: "God?"
Yaozai Ubuyashiki raised his hand, signaling for silence, and the Hashira quieted down.
"Yes, God has appeared. The true God from the heavens has descended into the human world."
"Last night, the Insect Pillar entered God's divine domain, was summoned, and received God's Blessing, becoming His shrine maiden. And my body's recovery was also due to the power of the Blessing bestowed upon the Insect Pillar by God, which healed me."
"This is also the reason I gathered you all for this Hashira Meeting."
"The Insect Pillar will now explain everything in detail."
To avoid unnecessary explanations, he did not refer to Shinobu Kocho as 'Lady' at this moment.
"Oh, Wisteria of Healing, I pray here."
Everyone's gaze instantly shifted to Shinobu Kocho and they were stunned. They saw a faint purple light emanating from Shinobu Kocho, and petals of wisteria made of light appeared out of thin air.
Everyone watched this scene dumbfounded. Mitsuri Kanroji's mouth hung open, and she couldn't help but rub her eyes.
Shinobu Kocho directly recited the magic incantation, which consumed one-third of her magic power to heal Yaozai Ubuyashiki. With her current magic power, she could cast magic three times a day.
To make everyone believe and listen carefully to her explanation, and to prevent anyone from questioning Lord Xia Wei's identity and speaking blasphemous words, she decided to first perform some magic to heal everyone's hidden injuries from training.
No matter how many times she spoke or explained, nothing would be as effective as letting everyone experience it for themselves.