Zongyan reached out and lightly touched a petal with his fingertip, then spoke to Uchiha Toru behind him.
"Toru, dig up these flowers for me, soil and all. We need to take them back to the clan."
Hearing this, Uchiha Toru immediately replied.
"Yes, young master Zongyan!"
Tsunade leaned against a nearby tree trunk, watching Uchiha Toru dig carefully, her brow furrowing even more.
Tanjiro stood a short distance away, his gaze moving from the lone grave to the other side of the slope.
Several low gravestones stood there, with a few bunches of long-withered wildflowers placed before them.
His steps slowed, and his grip on Nezuko's hand unconsciously tightened.
Nezuko looked up at her brother's tense profile without saying a word, merely squeezing his hand in return.
Tanjiro hurried over and stopped before the largest gravestone.
He crouched down, reached out to move the withered wildflowers aside, and replaced them with fresh flowers.
Nezuko crouched down beside him, pressed her palms together, and closed her eyes.
Zongyan stood a few steps behind them, watching quietly without a word.
Uchiha Toru approached with the wooden box holding the dug-up Blue Spider Lilies and spoke softly.
"Young master Zongyan, all the flowers have been packed away."
Zongyan nodded, his gaze settling on Tanjiro's back.
The boy knelt before the grave, his shoulders trembling slightly as he murmured something, probably greeting his father and younger siblings.
Nezuko knelt quietly beside him, tears sliding down her cheeks and dripping onto the soil.
Tsunade leaned against the tree trunk and watched just as silently.
Only after a long while did Tanjiro stand, wipe his face with his sleeve, and turn to give Zongyan a strained smile.
"Mr. Zongyan, sorry for the wait."
Zongyan looked at him and, after a moment of silence, spoke.
"Tanjiro,