Tengen gave a bitter laugh, a hint of helplessness in his eyes.
"Yeah, I know. I can feel that corrosive pain in my veins." Tengen gazed at the sky above. "Even if the poison can be cured, I'm afraid this eye and this hand are beyond saving. Looks like it's time for me, the flamboyant Sound Hashira, to retire."
Hearing this, Hinatsuru and the other two cried even harder. They clung tightly to Tengen, as though afraid he might disappear at any moment.
"As long as you live! It doesn't matter if you're not a Hashira anymore!" Suma sobbed loudly.
Rokuya watched them acting as though they were parting forever, scratched his head, and felt a little irritated. He wasn't good at handling scenes like this and was about to say something to change the subject.
Just then, a petite figure tottered out from behind Tanjiro.
Nezuko blinked her pink eyes, her gaze fixed on Tengen Uzui as he lay on the ground. Taking tiny steps, she walked straight to his side.
Everyone's eyes fell on the little girl with the bamboo tube between her teeth.
Hinatsuru watched Nezuko warily and instinctively stepped in front of Tengen. But Tanjiro hurriedly called out, "Don't be afraid! Nezuko won't hurt anyone!"
Nezuko ignored everyone else's reactions. She reached out with her small, soft white hand and grabbed Tengen Uzui's poisoned arm, which had turned a purplish black.
The next second, Nezuko's gaze grew focused.
Boom!
Without warning, pink flames erupted from Nezuko's palm, instantly engulfing Tengen Uzui's entire body!
The flames soared, dazzlingly bright in the dim pit.
Time seemed to freeze at that moment.
"Aaaaaah!" Zenitsu was the first to react. His eyes went wide, and he let out a scream even more agonized than when he had been injured earlier.