"Dong~!"
Another crisp, melodious strum of a biwa string echoed.
Deep within the lowest level of the Infinity Castle.
The moment Muzan released his shockwave, he forcefully controlled Nakime, making her disregard the attacks she was enduring and teleport him away.
Elsewhere, a Kunai plunged into the ground, and Qingshui shimmered into view.
Muzan had escaped.
This caused Qingshui to frown slightly.
If Muzan truly got away, there was no telling if he'd ever be found and caught again.
Just then, a Kasugai Crow wobbled over.
"Uesugi Qingshui! Uesugi Qingshui! Don't resist the teleportation, don't resist the teleportation!"
What does that mean?
Qingshui was slightly taken aback.
Outside, in the Entertainment District.
The bright moon was setting in the west, and the bustling Entertainment District was still a hive of activity.
It was a lavish city that never slept.
"Thud!"
Muzan fell to the ground, panting heavily.
Hiding here, Uesugi Qingshui shouldn't be able to catch up, right?
That person has the ability to teleport, so the Infinity Castle definitely couldn't trap him and the Demon Slayer Corps members.
For the next few decades, I'll probably have to hide just like I did from Tsugikuni Yoriichi three hundred years ago, until he dies of old age, before I can reappear.
Right, next I should have Nakime bring out all the Twelve Kizuki, so I won't be short-handed. Hiding from Uesugi Qingshui for the next few decades, I'll need people to bring me blood food.
This Entertainment District has a large population, so I can greatly replenish my supply here first.
Muzan calmed himself slightly, about to connect his consciousness to Nakime, then paused.
...
At the very bottom of the Infinity Castle.
Thanks to Muzan's actions, Nakime became vulnerable, allowing Kanroji Mitsuri to break through to her, creating an opportunity.
An opportunity for Yushiro and Tamayo to act.
As soon as it was discovered that Nakime was the key to controlling the Infinity Castle, Amane had Yushiro, who possessed bewitching abilities, and Tamayo lie in wait, biding their time.
She had originally planned for Uzui Tengen to rush over to assist immediately after killing the Lower Rank Five.
However, Muzan's actions had unexpectedly created an opportunity for the three of them.
"Blood Demon Art: Eye Concealment!"
Yushiro placed a paper charm on Nakime's forehead, covering the eye that read "Six," and spread both hands, pressing them against the temples on either side of Nakime's head.
Beside him, Tamayo extended a slender finger, using a sharp nail to cut her pale skin, and a mist of blood drifted out.
"Bewitching Blood: Illusory Demonic Scent."
The blood mist, like an intoxicating fragrance, was inhaled by Nakime.
"Yushiro, send all of us to Muzan's side."
"Yes, Lady Tamayo!"
The perspective shifted back to Qingshui.
"Uesugi Qingshui, Uesugi Qingshui, don't resist the teleportation, don't resist the teleportation!"
The Kasugai Crow flapped erratically in the sky, shouting.
The next moment, Qingshui suddenly looked down and saw an open portal appear beneath his feet.
In an instant, the world spun.
The night lights illuminated Muzan's face, highlighting his bewildered expression.
Qingshui suddenly appeared before him.
Around them, Demon Slayer Corps swordsmen, each holding a Red Blade and a Fluorescent Lamp Flashlight, were fighting the Demons who had been teleported with them.
The Entertainment District plunged into chaos at that moment.
Blood-stained swordsmen, ferocious Demons, and terrifying lethality caused people to scream in fear.
"All Demon Slayer Corps swordsmen, prioritize protecting civilians! Hashira, stop the Twelve Kizuki! Leave Muzan to me!"
Qingshui gripped his Nichirin Blade, his gaze fixed on Muzan, and shouted loudly.
Muzan also reacted, his body instantly erupting with countless thorny blood tendrils formed from congealed blood, growing rapidly like branches and thrusting outwards.
He needed to consume more blood to replenish his depleted strength.
Doing so would also distract Qingshui and the Demon Slayer Corps. While they were busy rescuing civilians, he might find an opportunity to escape.
Muzan's plan was sound, but his current strength was significantly weaker than when he first began.
Tamayo's poison had persisted for so long that even though Muzan had managed to decompose the human-transforming drug and the aging drug over time, he had still lost a massive amount of life force. His once raven black hair had turned pale.
Not to mention, he had just used a large amount of stored energy within his body to escape, making it incredibly easy for Qingshui to handle him.
Several spatial Kunai, engraved with the character "kill," were thrown. Qingshui's figure flickered repeatedly in the air, swinging the long sword in his hand.
"Separation Breathing, Fourth Form: Separation Drizzle Fall."
Arcs of bright blue plasma sword energy crisscrossed, cutting through the blood thorns shot by Muzan as if slicing vegetables, and even deflecting the bone whips and tentacles.
Muzan's face grew even more distorted.
This time, it seemed even more perilous than four hundred years ago.
Tsugikuni Yoriichi was stronger, but back then, it was an accidental encounter between one man and one demon. Now, Uesugi Qingshui was using Ubuyashiki as bait to set a trap for him.
Moreover, that red-haired man didn't have as many tricks, and Tamayo hadn't betrayed him yet, creating so many poisons specifically targeting him.
Any creature, when facing the brink of death, will unleash all its power in search of a sliver of hope.
Muzan was no exception.
"Uesugi Qingshui—!"
Muzan roared, charging at Qingshui. The flesh on his body constantly writhed and stretched, transforming into a monster with countless gaping mouths.
"Muzan—!"
Qingshui also replied with passion, but he had no intention of directly confronting Muzan's attack. Instead, he decisively teleported to the side to launch a sneak attack.
Who would get caught up in a desperate fight when they could just play dirty?
Muzan's burst of strength had recovered somewhat, but in Qingshui's eyes, this was merely the struggle of a cornered beast before its demise.
Even if he couldn't directly kill Muzan now, Qingshui only needed to stall.
Anyway, it wasn't far from dawn now.
Once the sun rose, both Muzan and all the Demons present were doomed.
...
...
The commotion from Qingshui and Muzan's battle was the greatest.
Without Hashira-level strength, one couldn't even withstand the aftermath of their fight, let alone intervene.
The area where Qingshui and Muzan were fighting quickly became a vacuum.
And the commotion from the other Upper Rank Demons' battles was by no means small either.
"Moon Breathing, Fourteenth Form: Fierce Transformation: Tenman Slender Moon!"
"Stone Breathing, Third Form: Stone Body Skin!"
A heavy mallet and a broad axe spun and danced, colliding with arcs of slender moon sword energy.
The resulting air currents from the collision destroyed everything around them.
"Iguro, are you alright!"
"I'm fine, it won't affect the fight."
Iguro Obanai tore off a corner of his sleeve and bandaged his injured shoulder, his eyes calm.
"A very good swordsman. Your Stone Breathing has surpassed the swordsman who created this Breathing Style. Even four hundred years ago, you would have ranked among the top Hashira."
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