Ji Hao, who calls himself a stranger, is invited by Beimingyu Xingming and the Butterfly Sisters.
Naturally, he also followed them back to the Demon Slayer Corps headquarters as a guest and Kanae Kocho's savior.
The location of the Demon Slayer Corps' headquarters is quite secretive.
To some extent, this was also to avoid Muzan Kibutsuji's revenge, so as to prevent Muzan Kibutsuji from finding them and destroying their stronghold.
Therefore, the Demon Slayer Corps' headquarters is located deep in the hidden mountains.
Those winding roads are so steep that only those with inside knowledge of the routes can find the true location of the Demon Slayer Corps headquarters.
This hidden mountain range blocked Muzan Kibutsuji's path for over a thousand years.
"Lord Ji Hao, the patriarch has extended an invitation."
A young female attendant, dressed in a proper kimono, respectfully approached Ji Hao and bowed. Then, in a slightly immature voice, she spoke, revealing her purpose.
"Alright, then I'll trouble you to lead the way."
Ji Hao smiled and didn't ask any further questions, but responded gently.
After passing through a long wooden corridor, led by a maid, Ji Hao soon arrived at a small courtyard in the style of a Japanese dry landscape garden.
At this moment, there were already six figures of different heights and builds standing here.
Judging from their appearance, Ji Hao quickly determined their identities.
They are Yan Zhu and Beiming Yu Xingming, who are spinning their prayer beads and chanting Buddhist mantras with a compassionate expression.
Tall and muscular, with a cheerful smile, and carrying two twin swords on his back, is the sound pillar, Yu Sui Tengen.
He appeared taciturn, clutching his Nichirin Blade, his eyes deep in thought, silently observing Ji Hao's water pillar—Tomioka Giyuu.
The fiery-looking, reddish-yellow-haired Flame Pillar, Rengoku Makijuro.
With white hair, three long scars on his face, and a rough and unruly expression, he is the Wind Pillar, Sanemi Shinazugawa.
And then there's Hanazono Kanae, who was saved by Ji Hao and is now looking at him tenderly.
Before the main storyline begins, this is pretty much all of the Demon Slayer Corps' high-level combat power.
And now that they've gathered together, it's probably to hold what's known as the "Pillar Conference."
"You've arrived, Lord Ji Hao."
Seeing Ji Hao arrive, Kocho Kanae gently stepped forward, looking at him with a tender smile and speaking softly.
"Since the host has invited me, I should naturally show up; I cannot disobey the host's good intentions."
Ji Hao smiled faintly and spoke calmly.
As descendants of Yan and Huang, we should naturally maintain a polite and courteous demeanor towards others.
Furthermore, the two sides are not exactly enemies. Ji Hao has always been very kind and polite to those who are not enemies.
But...
Suddenly, a fierce gaze fell upon Ji Hao. What was going on?
Ji Hao glanced at the fierce-looking white-haired boy and couldn't help but chuckle to himself.
He naturally knew that the Wind Pillar, Sanemi Shinazugawa, had a crush on Kanae Kocho.
But what do you mean by acting like this just because I was talking to her?
Although he harbored no ill will toward the members of the Demon Slayer Corps, an organization that had maintained its thousand-year-old ambition, he was not so much someone who was being glared at menacingly without him showing any reaction.
so...
He chatted even more happily with Kanae Butterfly.
Ji Hao, who comes from modern society, can casually tell all sorts of jokes, making Kocho Kanae smile.
Seeing this, Sanemi Shinazugawa's expression grew increasingly grim...
Sanemi Shinazugawa was a hot-tempered kid who was always extremely rude to outsiders and a man who would do anything without hesitation.
If he hadn't been afraid of suddenly attacking and offending Kanae Butterfly.
He probably wanted to find something for Ji Hao to do a long time ago.
As for the others present, since the Rock Pillar couldn't see them, they naturally didn't know what had happened.
Yoshiyuki Tomioka, the Water Pillar, was not interested in this matter and naturally did not offer any opinion.
Uzui Tengen and Rengoku Makijuro, who remained, exchanged a glance.
One has to sigh at the relationship between these three people; it seems like a powder keg, ready to explode at any moment...
As colleagues, they naturally knew something about Sanemi Shinazugawa's thoughts.
The problem is, while Kanae Kocho is gentle to everyone, she's gentle to everyone...
Even towards evil spirits, she believed they had their own compelling reasons, and what she needed to do was to help them escape their suffering.
Such a gentle person naturally doesn't know how to refuse, which leads to Shinazugawa Sanemi falling deeper and deeper into the trap...
"They won't fight, will they...?"
Uzui Tengen spoke with some concern. In any case, he did not want Ji Hao and Shinazugawa Sanemi to clash.
"..."
Rengoku Makijuro did not reply to this, but instead walked up to Ji Hao with a hearty laugh.
"Hahahaha! I heard from the intelligence that a valiant young man saved the Flower Pillar, and now that I see him, he truly is a man of imposing stature!"
With an overly friendly demeanor, Rengoku Makijuro laughed heartily, patting Himeko on the shoulder and showering her with compliments.
"You flatter me, my name is Ji Hao."
Ji Hao responded with a faint smile. Although this guy had a lot of strength, it was still a bit too light for Ji Hao.
He also knew why Rengoku Makijuro had come up to him; one reason was to make friends.
Secondly, it was to make Shinazugawa Sanemi feel better and prevent him from continuing to chat and laugh with Kocho Kanae.
After all, with so much attention being paid to him, it's hard to guarantee that Sanemi Shiogawa won't do something rash.
"Ah, sorry, sorry, I'm the Flame Hashira of the Demon Slayer Corps, my name is Rengoku Makijuro!"
Rengoku Makijuro's voice was still incredibly loud.
Well, that's probably something they inherited in their family.
After all, his son has quite a loud voice too.
"Water Pillar, Giyu Tomioka, thank you for your contribution to slaying demons."
At this moment, Giyu Tomioka also stepped forward, his words carrying a hint of sincerity, but he quickly reverted to his previous indifferent demeanor.
"Indeed, it's a real pity that I didn't witness your magnificent figure as you slay the Upper Moon Two!"
At this moment, Yu Sui Tianyuan also came over.
Hmm, this is a very flamboyant person who talks a lot about being flamboyant.
Apart from the Stone Pillar whom we've already met but who hasn't come forward yet, only the rough and awkward Shinazugawa Sanemi remains, standing there with a cold expression.
However, Rengoku Makijuro and Uzui Tengen's goal was to prevent him from clashing with Himeko.
If he doesn't want to come up, then he doesn't have to.
If you're not compatible, don't force yourselves to be together!
"The Master of the Household has arrived!"
As a crisp sound rang out, the expressions of all the pillars present changed slightly.
After apologizing to Ji Hao, all the pillars stood in a row on their own initiative.
As the sliding door in front of the courtyard was suddenly opened, three figures, one large and two small, slowly walked out.
The leader's upper face was more than half disfigured, and his body looked weak and lacking in energy.
But Ji Hao knew his true identity.
Kagaya Ubuyashiki, the current head of the Ubuyashiki family of the Demon Slayer Corps.
The Ubuyashiki family were the creators of the Demon Slayer Corps, and Kagaya Ubuyashiki is the one who inherits that thousand-year-old wish in this generation of the Ubuyashiki family.
As soon as Kagaya Ubuyashiki appeared, all the Pillars knelt down on one knee and shouted.
"Greetings, Master!"