Chiba Yo didn't recognize the Demon Slayer Corps swordsman in front of him and was a bit confused as to why he would seek his guidance. However, he still had to guide Tanjirou and the others, so even if he wanted to agree, he didn't have the time.
Moreover, he was guiding Tanjirou and the others partly because he already knew them, and partly because of Kyoujurou's entrustment. Otherwise, during this free time without missions, he would have chosen to go search for Muzan's whereabouts.
"Sorry, I have other things to do right now," Chiba Yo smiled apologetically at Kaigaku, then continued, "And I'll be very busy later on, with basically no free time. If you want to become stronger, you can seek guidance from other Pillars, like Stone Pillar, Gyomei Himejima. He is the strongest person in the Demon Slayer Corps. They should be returning to the Demon Slayer Corps Headquarters in the next two days."
Seeing Kaigaku bow deeply with such determination, Chiba Yo, despite his lack of time, still revealed some information to him.
Yesterday, in Kyoujurou's hospital room, the Master had already said that he had summoned the other Pillars back to discuss Breath Styles / Marks, and they should be returning in the next few days.
Gyomei Himejima! That blind man will be back in the next two days?
Upon hearing Chiba Yo's words, Kaigaku was startled, like a mouse seeing a cat.
He was extremely familiar with Gyomei Himejima; he was one of the children Gyomei had taken in. He was the child who didn't listen to Gyomei's words and encountered a demon when he returned to the Temple at night.
He was also the one who extinguished the wisteria incense, allowing a demon to enter the Temple, causing the tragic deaths of the children in the Temple, and leading to Gyomei's imprisonment.
After experiencing some more events, he joined the Demon Slayer Corps, and then learned that Gyomei was already the Stone Pillar of the Demon Slayer Corps. Since then, he had been hiding from Gyomei. He only dared to return to the Demon Slayer Corps Headquarters this time because he heard that Gyomei was out on a mission.
Now, Chiba Yo's words scared him badly. Kaigaku didn't dare to stay any longer, and without a word to Chiba Yo, he turned and quickly left.
So urgent? It seems he really wants to become stronger...
Chiba Yo thought as he watched Kaigaku quickly depart.
However, he didn't pay too much attention to it and turned back to walk towards the training ground.
...
Half an hour later, after arranging today's training tasks for Tanjirou and the two others, Chiba Yo arrived at the Master's Ubuyashiki Estate.
Yesterday, due to his concern for Kyoujurou's safety, Chiba Yo even momentarily forgot to report the mission status to the Master. He should still inform the Master about encountering Muzan.
As for the part about Tamayo and Yushiro, Chiba Yo planned to keep it hidden for now.
But Chiba Yo didn't expect that he wouldn't mention this matter; instead, the Master brought it up first.
After explaining the situation of encountering Muzan to the Master, Kagaya looked at Chiba Yo and smiled, saying, "You met Tamayo during this mission, Yo?"
Hearing Kagaya's words, Chiba Yo was startled, and then he suddenly remembered something.
The last time Tanjirou and Nezuko were on trial, when Tanjirou was taken away by a Hidden member at the end, Kagaya said something with an unclear meaning.
...
"Tanjirou, please give my regards to Miss Tamayo."
...
Does Master also know Miss Tamayo? And according to the situation at the time... Tanjirou also knows Miss Tamayo?!
Chiba Yo instantly understood many things. He opened his mouth and asked Kagaya, "Does Master also know Miss Tamayo?"
The current situation definitely couldn't be hidden anymore, so Chiba Yo simply stopped concealing it.
"Yes, I learned of her existence from some records of the Demon Slayer Corps during the Sengoku period in ancient texts. Some time ago, when Tanjirou was on a mission, I learned more about her from Kasugai Crow's report," Kagaya nodded and said.
"Does Master also accept them?" Chiba Yo asked with some curiosity.
Kagaya smiled when he heard this and said, "They have the same goal as us, so why shouldn't we accept them? Moreover, Miss Tamayo, as a doctor, has saved many humans. She can be considered our comrade."
Kagaya told Chiba Yo these things because he knew that Chiba Yo had already accepted Tamayo and them. If it were another Pillar, he wouldn't discuss these things.
"I did indeed meet Miss Tamayo and discussed methods of eliminating Muzan with her. She also told me a lot of information about Muzan." After hearing Kagaya say this, Chiba Yo revealed everything.
"Your choice is correct. If you need to cooperate with Tamayo in the future, I hope you can help me contact her. However, this matter only needs to be known by the two of us within the Demon Slayer Corps for now. Let's keep it from the other Pillars for the time being," Kagaya said to Chiba Yo with a smile.
"Yes, I understand," Chiba Yo nodded and said.
He also understood Kagaya's intention; the other Pillars would most likely not be able to accept cooperating with a demon.
After walking out of the Ubuyashiki Estate, Chiba Yo went back to guide Tanjirou and the two others.
...
At the same time, in the Infinity Castle...
After the last incident, Muzan, who originally wanted to change its identity and continue to disguise itself as a human to search for information on the blue spider lily, abandoned this idea. During this period, it basically never left the Infinity Castle.
Its cautious self had already decided to act freely only after the Twelve Kizuki eliminated Chiba Yo.
Not long after, Akaza entered the Infinity Castle.
"Lord Muzan."
Akaza knelt on one knee and greeted Muzan.
It already knew in its heart that Muzan had summoned it this time to punish it. Not only had it failed to kill the demon slayer wearing the hanafuda earrings, it hadn't even killed any of the four demon slayers there. Muzan would surely be furious upon learning of this.
"Akaza, did you kill that demon slayer wearing the hanafuda earrings?" Muzan asked Akaza calmly, though it already knew the outcome of the matter, it still had to ask.
"No..." Akaza replied.
"Then what about the Pillar who appeared there?" Muzan continued to ask Akaza in a calm voice.
"Not either..."
The veins on Muzan's forehead bulged, already beginning to show signs of anger.
"And what about the demon slayers and humans there?"
This time, without waiting for Akaza to answer, Muzan answered for it.
"Again, none! The mission I gave you was not completed. As an Upper Rank, can you not even defeat a Pillar now?! If you cannot do my bidding, then what is the meaning of your existence?!"
Muzan looked down at Akaza, its voice filled with rage, and at the same time, its right index finger pointed at Akaza.
Bang!
A loud bang suddenly erupted within Akaza's body, and then blood seeped from its body, and its seven orifices also began to bleed.
"Your subordinate was ineffective... I am willing to accept punishment..." Akaza coughed up blood, lowered its head, and said.