Chapter 168 Righteousness and the Jade Rabbit

Iwakatsu couldn't figure it out. He stared at the test tube in his hand, only remembering that Tamayo mainly created two kinds of potions in the original work: a potion to restore humans and a secret medicine to deal with Muzan.

He pondered to himself, this liquid probably wasn't the secret medicine to defeat Muzan; there was no point in him receiving it. Therefore, this liquid was likely the potion to restore him to human form. Was Tamayo forcing him to make a choice?

Yan Sheng shook his head and carefully put the test tube away. He couldn't possibly drink the potion now; if Muzan discovered anything, he might just abandon Nezuko and hide. At that point, not only would the plot collapse and the world be in chaos, but in a few hundred years, people could buy spider lilies online.

He thought for a moment. If this potion really was real, then Tamayo should be with the Demon Slayer Corps now. He remembered her final choice in the original story, remained silent for a long time, and then turned around and went back into the house.

——

Giyuu stood on the wooden bridge, a gentle breeze carrying a hint of coolness, yet it couldn't dispel the unease in his heart. Tanjiro followed closely behind him, like a shadow, for the past four days.

"I didn't pass the final selection," Giyu finally spoke, his voice low and heavy. He didn't turn around, but just sighed deeply, trying to release all the pent-up frustration in his heart.

Tanjiro was somewhat surprised to hear this; he hadn't expected Giyu to bring up this topic so suddenly. "Eh? Does the Final Selection refer to the one at Fujikayama?" he asked, a little confused.

Giyuu nodded, his eyes darkening as he fell into deep recollection. "Yes," he said slowly, "Sabito and I, a boy whose family was also killed by demons, participated in the selection. That year, no one died."

Sabito was a very righteous and kind-hearted boy. We, who were thirteen years old and had no relatives, quickly became good friends. That year, he defeated almost all the demons in the mountain, and everyone passed the selection.

I was injured by the demons that attacked me at the beginning, and it was he who saved me. After handing me over to someone else, he went to the others who were crying for help. When I woke up, I learned that I had passed the selection, but he was forever stuck at that stage. He could not advance any further, and his muscles, organs, and even his lungs were damaged.

I am not worthy to be a water column.

Tanjiro watched Giyu's retreating figure, his heart filled with complex emotions. He understood Giyu's guilt and pain, and he remembered the man who had helped him and given him pleasant moments on Mount Kyoki. He had heard that Giyu was the youngest trainer.

Is that so? Oh, I see.

Tanjiro watched Giyu's retreating figure, then raised his leg, wanting to step forward and stop Giyu, knowing that the other must have been in great pain.

Tanjiro wanted to tell him that he was willing to listen to his feelings, and that Sabito certainly didn't want the other to feel the same way. However, Tanjiro found himself unable to open his mouth no matter what he did, as if an invisible force was stopping him. He could only watch silently until a familiar figure appeared on the other side.

"Snap—".

The figure rushed over, moving so fast that Yiyong didn't even have time to react. The instant Yiyong looked up, his face was slapped hard to the side. He covered his face, staring blankly at the person in front of him, his eyes filled with disbelief.

The newcomer was none other than Qian Tu. He was panting heavily, his hand raised, his flesh-colored hair fluttering in the wind, and the scar on the corner of his mouth could not hide his handsome face. His eyes were filled with anger and disappointment.

"What do you mean you're not worthy to be a water column? What are you talking about?" Sabito's voice was hoarse and trembling, clearly he was extremely angry. "Have you forgotten what I told you? Or do you really want to break off our friendship?"

Giyuu was stunned. He hadn't expected Sabito to appear so suddenly, much less to accuse him so angrily. He opened his mouth, wanting to explain, but found himself speechless.

"Mr. Qintu!"

Tanjiro ran up to him. He was surprised and relieved that the other party would suddenly appear. The one who tied the knot must untie it.

It hurts so much, just like I remember.

Yi Yong looked at him, his eyes flashing with complex emotions. He hadn't seen him in a long time, and the other person's hair had grown quite a bit longer. Because of his inner pain and guilt, he had been subconsciously avoiding him.

Sabito shouted, his voice hoarse and weary. His words were like a sharp knife, piercing through Giyu's defenses.

"I tolerated you before because you deliberately avoided me. I thought you hadn't thought things through and were too tired. I didn't want to hold you back. You became the water column yourself, I didn't send you up. Since you've been entrusted with the future, walk it well!"

The breath of the hurried journey had not yet caught up with him, making him feel a little short of breath. He had received a letter from his lord two days ago and rushed here without stopping, because this was the headquarters, and the process was extremely complicated.

Yiyong watched, tears streaming down his face, his cheeks burning with pain. He had forgotten that he had been trapped in a vortex of suffering, never having a proper conversation with the other person. He realized that compared to Sabito, who was always moving forward, he was still stuck in the same place, stagnant and immature.

"I'm sorry... I'm sorry," Yi Yong repeated softly, his voice filled with deep regret and self-reproach. He lowered his head, tears silently streaming down his face, dripping onto the ground and splashing into tiny droplets.

Sabito looked at Giyuu, who had his head down, and went up to hug him, feeling his tears soaking his shoulder.

Tanjiro stood to the side, watching this scene, a sense of panic rising within him. Fine beads of sweat appeared on his forehead; he didn't know whether he should stay where he was or disappear immediately. Just as Tanjiro was hesitating, he looked up and saw Sabito's lips curl into a smile, and he opened his mouth to speak silently to him.

'Thank you for your hard work, Tanjiro.'

Tanjiro paused for a second, then couldn't help but smile. He felt he hadn't been of much help, but seeing Giyu resolve his inner conflict was a good thing.

Finally, he bid farewell to the two, watching Giyuu and Sabito walk away side by side, his heart filled with emotion.

-the next day-

"Well, so Mr. Tomioka has also decided to join the Hashira team!"

Tanjiro looked at Ichiro, who was bringing him snacks, and spoke to him with great interest, expressing his strong desire to participate in the training.

"Really? That's great, Tanjiro." Yuichiro put down the food box, took out the sweets inside and placed them on the table. Unlike the other Jinchūriki, he didn't need to patrol or be on guard.

"Hey, Yuichiro, you participated too, right? How was it? Weren't all the training sessions great?"

Tanjiro looked at the other person and couldn't help but ask, causing Ichiro's mind to freeze for a second. He came back to his senses and realized that the other person didn't seem to know that he had become an instructor.

"Of course! It was great, everyone worked very hard," Ichiro said, lowering his head and speaking in a cheerful tone, trying his best to hide the upturned corners of his mouth.

"That's great." Tanjiro didn't see the other's contorted expression, but he felt as if he could smell a foul odor.

Just as the two were having a pleasant conversation, Yukiko flew in, carrying a letter in her paw.

"Yochiro, Yochiro, Yushin."