Komamura Sajin was already relieved; since he understood that this was all his own misunderstanding, there was no need to continue concealing it.
To be honest, he found his previous actions quite distasteful.
After all…
He had always prided himself on being open and aboveboard, yet he had continuously hidden his true appearance, not daring to show it to others.
If he hadn't encountered Goro, he likely would never have voluntarily removed his mask until his death.
Yoriichi looked at him in his current state and said nothing more.
After calmly extending his right hand and shaking his, he turned around, slowly began to walk, and his steady voice followed:
"Go back. It's getting late, our new Third Seat."
...
...
Just as Yoriichi had expected, after returning to the Ninth Division, the revelation of Komamura Sajin's face did not cause much of a stir.
In the eyes of those Shinigami, no matter what Komamura Sajin looked like, he was still the Third Seat of the Ninth Division.
Moreover, the creatures in Soul Society were diverse and strange, with a reincarnation mechanism, and not only humans resided there.
What was wrong with one more werewolf?
Some Shinigami particularly liked him, simply because his face had a very dignified feel.
Once a criminal was apprehended, he only needed to stand in front of them, casually show his teeth, and glare menacingly.
Even the most ferocious criminals would instantly become docile and obedient, like little lambs.
This directly saved them half of their interrogation time.
What couldn't they do with that half of the time?
The Ninth Division's performance relied on him.
Admittedly, Komamura Sajin was slightly displeased with the act of baring his teeth.
He felt like he had become a tool, deliberately showcasing his wildness.
He had finally become human, and now they wanted him to become a wolf again… those who didn't know might think he had regressed.
But unfortunately, as the Third Seat, he had to both dutifully perform his duties and assist Captain Yoruichi in completing her work.
And when Karakura interrogated criminals, he usually only had one move: hitting them.
Ordinary cases were fine, but when they encountered those with a bit of status…
It was better to let Komamura Sajin handle it, to avoid affecting the Captain.
It was precisely because of this that, seeing the Ninth Division's work efficiency rapidly improve, he felt both troubled and somewhat pleased.
However, on second thought, the time saved could allow the division members and himself to become stronger, so he silently endured it.
Don't you see there's even a honey trap in the Human World?
They certainly didn't have beauties, but they had a wolf-man; the principle was actually the same.
They all involved standing there, getting close, staring, and then the criminal would involuntarily reveal information.
...
...
After a few more days, once Yoriichi had properly handled all recent tasks, the wedding was about to begin.
As the Higashi Shoin was located in Japan, all wedding procedures were conducted according to local customs.
During the time Yoriichi and Uta were preparing for the wedding,
Above Soul Society, in a detached hall of Squad Zero, Ichibei Hyosube looked at a letter in his hand and couldn't help but burst into laughter:
"Interesting, truly interesting!"
"I never thought that in just a few years, the Gotei 13 could bring me such a huge surprise."
"A Shinigami who can control Hell… How was this achieved?"
This letter came from the Kuchiki Clan, and its authenticity was beyond doubt.
It should be known that the Kuchiki Clan was the Five Great Noble Families most closely related to Squad Zero.
Of course, the so-called closeness merely meant being able to exchange letters.
Only when a major event occurred that could affect the Three Realms would they contact Squad Zero.
He vaguely remembered the last time was when Hikifune Kirio developed artificial souls.
Looking back, that was only a hundred years ago.
These hundred years were too brief compared to his million-year life, like a drop in the ocean, unable to even stir a ripple.
Moreover, even when Hikifune Kirio developed artificial souls back then,
Ichibei Hyosube's heart was far less pleased than he outwardly appeared.
People often don't care about ants on the ground, even if those ants develop a "nuclear bomb" that can destroy the anthill.
However, this current event truly made him feel what excitement was.
Not far away, Tenjiro Kirinji was out for a stroll and unintentionally came near Ichibei Hyosube's location.
He had a blade of grass in his mouth, and hearing the laughter, his brows involuntarily furrowed slightly.
Immediately after.
His figure flickered, instantly appearing behind Ichibei Hyosube, and he subconsciously asked:
"Monk, what's making you so happy?"
"Did something big happen in the lower world again? Eh, why did I say 'again'?"
Having been in Squad Zero for too long, even his memory was starting to blur slightly.
Ichibei Hyosube stopped laughing, tilted his head slightly, and glanced at him:
"It's you. Of course, I'm happy, because the threat of Hell has disappeared."
"Even if your time in Squad Zero isn't long, you should understand what this means."
Tenjiro Kirinji had been promoted to Squad Zero for seven hundred years, which seemed long, but in Ichibei Hyosube's eyes, it was merely the flick of a finger.
Upon hearing this, Tenjiro Kirinji's expression changed:
"The threat of Hell has disappeared? Monk, you must be joking."
"How could that thing disappear? I remember even you were powerless against it."
Ichibei Hyosube's ability was bestowed by the Soul King.
He could seize the names of all things and erase all their power.
It seemed insurmountable, seemingly able to suppress Hell, but in reality, there was a major flaw.
That was its inability to affect things outside of Soul Society.
Precisely,
everything in Hell was outside its scope of effect.
Because of this, even though they were immortal and possessed immense power capable of overturning the entire Gotei 13.
Yet, facing Hell, they were still helpless.
At this moment, suddenly hearing this news, Tenjiro Kirinji was more incredulous than shocked.
Because if it truly disappeared…
Didn't this mean that someone in the lower world had abilities far surpassing the Monk's?
The Monk was already the strongest Shinigami.
Even someone as strong as Yamamoto Genryusai, capable of destroying the Three Realms, couldn't withstand a single punch from the Monk…
Stronger than the Monk… Tenjiro Kirinji truly found it hard to imagine such a situation.
Seemingly sensing Tenjiro Kirinji's thoughts at this moment, Ichibei Hyosube gradually put away his smile:
"Just because this old man couldn't solve it doesn't mean others can't."
"At the end of the day, although this old man is ancient, his knowledge of Hell is also very limited."
"Never underestimate the people of the world, Kirinji."
Being lectured by Ichibei Hyosube in such a heartfelt manner, Tenjiro Kirinji's mood was quite complex.
He only questioned it a little, how did it become him underestimating the people of the world?
Slowly exhaling, he asked:
"So, Monk, what do you plan to do next? Just leave it be?"
"No." Ichibei Hyosube shook his head. He looked up at the sky, his eyes as deep as an abyss,
"The Soul King just gave me guidance. Although I don't quite understand the reason, it's clear that the future has already changed."
"Gather the other Divine Generals; it's time for Squad Zero to appear in the world."
"The change in Hell is a premonition…"
"We cannot fall behind those juniors."
At this point, he sighed deeply, then lowered his gaze, muttering in a voice only he could hear:
"Yoriichi Tsugikuni… an outsider, huh, interesting."
"I never thought there were other worlds outside the Three Realms. No wonder the predetermined future could change."
"The one unseen by the Soul King, well, I'll meet you then."
...
Given that Yoriichi's wedding was approaching, Ichibei Hyosube was not an unreasonable person.
So, even though he yearned to meet and converse with Yoriichi Tsugikuni, he did not set the time for now.
Moreover, Squad Zero bore the great responsibility of protecting the Soul King and guarding the Three Realms.
Yoriichi Tsugikuni's appearance had caused the threat of Hell to instantly vanish, restoring balance to the Three Realms…
They were overjoyed by this, so how could they deliberately make things difficult?
The so-called "meeting"
was merely Ichibei Hyosube's desire to personally witness what kind of person Yoriichi Tsugikuni was.
Written descriptions and others' accounts always seemed a bit thin; Ichibei Hyosube always believed in seeing for himself.
He was quite interested in outsiders.
Of course, during the time he waited to meet Yoriichi Tsugikuni, he didn't remain idle.
Because if he remembered correctly, before Hikifune Kirio's promotion to Squad Zero, it was when Yoriichi Tsugikuni was active in Soul Society.
Perhaps Hikifune Kirio had once interacted with him.
So.
He summoned Hikifune Kirio and questioned her.
The final answer he received was that Yoriichi Tsugikuni was a low-key yet powerful individual, and quite righteous…
Righteous?
The definition of this word was actually quite vague.
When Yhwach attempted to destroy the Three Realms back then, he also believed himself to be righteous.
So much so that Ichibei Hyosube had no choice but to intervene, teach him a lesson, and seal Yhwach's The Almighty.
Otherwise, Yhwach would not have been defeated so miserably at that time.
Regarding this matter, Ichibei Hyosube remained silent for a moment before asking:
"Do you know what kind of justice he upholds in his heart? The balance of the Three Realms? The honor of the Shinigami, or the protection of emotions?"
Facing these three options, Hikifune Kirio replied after hearing them:
"Perhaps all three are included."
"I haven't met that child many times, but I also know that his heart leans towards Soul Society."
"Monk, I understand what you're worried about."
"But rest assured, no matter how much the future changes, he will not become an enemy of Soul Society."
"Moreover, as long as the Soul King is safe, the Three Realms will not be destroyed, and the Soul King Palace is not a place ordinary people can easily enter."
"Naturally, we are in an unbeatable position."
The threat of Hell seemed to have disappeared, but in reality, it still existed.
It was merely controlled by someone else, thereby suppressing Hell and preventing it from erupting into disaster.
It should be known that Hell was neither controlled by the Soul King nor by Squad Zero.
What if one day Yoriichi Tsugikuni turned against Soul Society?
Even if he wanted to manipulate Hell to destroy the Three Realms, they could only watch helplessly, with no way to stop him.
Although the Soul King could guarantee that the Three Realms would not be destroyed, he could not ensure that the souls within the Three Realms would not perish.
This was not only Ichibei Hyosube's concern.
The other Divine Generals who did not understand Yoriichi Tsugikuni also more or less showed similar emotions.
Hearing these words, Ichibei Hyosube crossed his arms over his chest and nodded thoughtfully:
"Hmm, I see. So that's your view of him."
"Then, how about summoning him to the Soul King Palace in a few days?"
"As the master of Hell… in a sense, his status should be equal to this old man's."
"It's just a pity he's a bit young. If he had been born in ancient times with this old man, Squad Zero might have been a bit livelier."
Ichibei Hyosube couldn't help but feel a little regretful.
He was truly too old; even the oldest among them, Nimaiya Ōetsu, didn't have many common topics to discuss with him.
Looking across the entire Three Realms, among the currently existing beings, only Baraggan could probably chat with him for a while.
But recently, that fellow seemed to have been cast into Hell, disappearing without a trace.
Thus, there were no remaining ancient beings.
Facing Ichibei Hyosube's suggestion, Hikifune Kirio did not express any opinion.
The Monk was their leader, so what he said naturally went.
Inviting Yoriichi Tsugikuni to the Soul King Palace…
Hikifune Kirio suddenly recalled what she had said to Yoriichi Tsugikuni back then.
— The Seireitei is too small; I hope Yoriichi Tsugikuni can go further. If there's a chance, I'll treat him to a meal…
This opportunity seems to have come a bit quickly; I need to prepare some ingredients…
I heard the dragon meat from Nishishōkyoku is quite good; I'll have the Divine Soldier get some…
Hikifune Kirio's mind was filled with thoughts, and it was only after a while that she was awakened by Ichibei Hyosube's subsequent words.
Following that, the two continued to discuss some general matters, and then she left the area.
The corner of her mouth, painted with dark lipstick, curled into a subtle smile.
It's been a few years, and he's even gotten married; that speed is truly impressive…
Never mind, I still need to prepare more ingredients.
Although Yoriichi Tsugikuni might not need it, others might.
You see, within the Three Realms, only she can freely increase others' reishi.
Consider these their wedding gifts.
…
…
Lower Realm, Seireitei.
Japanese wedding procedures are always tedious and complicated, and by the time all the procedures were completed, it was already late evening.
Although the wedding procedures were over, the crowd did not disperse.
Yoruichi Shihouin sat in a seat close to the couple, her face revealing an unreserved expression of profound emotion.
In the blink of an eye, a year had passed, and in the blink of an eye, she had aged another year.
So many things had happened in this year, their number almost rivaling those of the past century.
Let's not even mention the discovery that Yhwach was not dead and was about to invade the Soul Society a century later.
Just resolving the Hell crisis alone was enough to make all Shinigami above Third-Class Spiritual Power in the Seireitei come to show their support.
After all, it was Yoriichi who saved their lives.
Unfortunately, Yoriichi is a relatively low-key person, and a crowded venue is not conducive to a clean exit; it's easy for all sorts of unsavory characters to mix in.
Therefore, a grand occasion like this is probably a rare sight.
But Yoruichi believed that, based on Yoriichi's current performance, there would eventually be similar occurrences in the future.
Drinking a cup of sake by herself, Yoruichi's thoughts began to wander.
Just then, Kisuke Urahara, who was sitting beside her, leaned over and asked in a low voice:
"Yoruichi, what gift did you prepare for them? Can you tell me?"
"I'm a bit unsure. What if Yoriichi doesn't like it?"
"…" Yoruichi gave him a helpless look.
Thud.
Setting down her sake cup, she casually said:
"Are you stupid? As long as you don't give them strange things, why wouldn't they like it?"
"What did you give?"
"Children's clothes."
"Huh?" Yoruichi felt she had misheard. She looked at Kisuke Urahara in surprise,
"Why would you think of giving that? Don't you know the probability of Shinigami having offspring?"
"It's precisely because I know that I thought of being prepared. You know, you can't predict these things." Kisuke Urahara shook his head,
"Besides, my clothes aren't ordinary clothes."
"They have functions like dust and moisture protection, cleaning, reishi protection, and language learning."
"Both boys and girls can wear them."
"If it weren't for that extremely small probability, I would have planned to sell them as a product."
"Unfortunately, there's no market, so I can only give them as gifts."
"After all, it's the thought that counts."
"In the Seireitei… no, in the entire Soul Society, it's truly one of a kind!"
Judging by your tone, you sound quite proud, what's going on?
Yoruichi felt increasingly speechless.
She held her forehead, about to speak.
But Kisuke Urahara asked, "Don't talk about me, what did you give?"
"…" Yoruichi was silent for a moment before reluctantly replying:
"It's a secret medicine that can increase the probability of offspring being born. This is an exclusive formula of my Shihouin Clan…"
"Shiro's birth was entirely thanks to it…"
As soon as she finished speaking, Yoruichi Shihouin keenly caught Kisuke Urahara's current expression and glared at him fiercely:
"Hey, what are you laughing at?"
"Isn't continuing the family line a big deal for a family? What's so funny about it?"
"Sorry, sorry, I didn't mean to, Yoruichi." Kisuke Urahara pressed his lips together and waved his hands repeatedly,
"I just think your gift and mine are quite complementary."
"If Yoriichi's child is really born, I feel like they'll have to call us godfather and godmother…"
"Eh…"
Seemingly realizing that his choice of words was a bit off, Kisuke Urahara paused for a second, then denied it repeatedly,
"Sorry, I didn't mean that, I just…"
However, Yoruichi no longer wanted to hear him continue.
What on earth is this guy thinking?
Who cares.
Anyway, no matter what, they'd have to wait until Shiro grew up.
…
After the wedding, everyone left in succession.
Kisuke Urahara didn't pay attention to Yoriichi's expression when he opened the gifts.
Yoruichi's indifference during the latter half made him think she was angry.
After apologizing to Yoriichi, he quickly chased after her, wanting to explain what he had just said.
Those were just his unintentional words, and he had no idea what Yoruichi was thinking.
Alas, the human heart is truly complex.
More complex than machines.
As he left, Kisuke Urahara let out a deep sigh. This scene was witnessed by Yoriichi behind him.
Uta Tsugikuni also saw it, so she softly asked in a voice only the two of them could hear:
"What exactly happened between Miss Yoruichi and Mr. Kisuke just now?"
"Yoriichi, do you know?"
Yoriichi responded:
"I know a little, but those are their private matters, so let them handle it themselves."
Since it was a private matter, Uta Tsugikuni couldn't say much more.
After everyone had dispersed.
The sky had already turned dark.
Upon returning to the room, Uta Tsugikuni checked the gifts they had received and compared the items given by the two people.
Even though she had been mentally prepared, she couldn't help but blush slightly at this moment.
What are all these things?
Did they ask each other when they were giving gifts?
Otherwise, how could it be such a coincidence?
Although she wasn't clear about the exact content of the conversation between Kisuke Urahara and Yoruichi Shihouin,
But combining these gifts, she could roughly guess a thing or two.
If the two hadn't discussed it beforehand…
Was it a telepathic connection?
Thinking about these random things in her mind.
Suddenly, Uta Tsugikuni snapped back to reality, quickly shook her head vigorously, and tried her best to cast these thoughts aside.
Yoriichi was right, no matter what happened between the two of them, those were their private matters…
She only hoped that the two of them could reconcile.
That was all she could wish for.
The night was still very long.
…
…
The next day, Yoriichi left home. As soon as he arrived at the Ninth Division, he heard a summons from the Gotei 13.
Upon learning that Squad Zero wanted to invite him into the Soul King Palace, he pondered for a few seconds and asked Yamamoto Genryusai:
"Just me?"
"No." Yamamoto Genryusai shook his head,
"According to custom, when entering Squad Zero, you can bring one or two escorts."
"These escorts can be anyone, even your relatives."
"Logically, this old man has no right to interfere, but the higher-ups specified that you can bring your wife, Uta Tsugikuni, with you."
"As for the other person… have you decided?"
"Or, you can also give up this slot."
"Currently, we've only received general information. The specific details will only become clearer after they come down."
"Because to reach the Soul King Palace, you must be accompanied by one member of Squad Zero."
Yoriichi was silent for a moment, not giving a reply.
However, given the current situation, bringing Uta Tsugikuni was enough.
Although he hadn't had contact with Squad Zero before—Hikifune Kirio hadn't joined yet at that time, and he didn't know what she looked like now.
But they were clearly on the side of the Soul Society.
If they wanted to harm him, there would be no need to specifically invite him.
Thinking of this, Yoriichi nodded: "Understood."
…
A few days later, the people from Squad Zero arrived, and Yoriichi saw Hikifune Kirio, whose appearance had greatly changed.
Previously, Hikifune Kirio was a plump beauty.
Now, however, she had become a wide, corpulent person.
The change was so great that Yoriichi almost didn't recognize her.
Hikifune Kirio strode forward, her movements seemingly shaking the ground.
She walked to Yoriichi's side, looked at Yoriichi, then looked at Uta Tsugikuni beside Yoriichi, and smiled with satisfaction:
"Excellent! It's been a few years, and I've missed you dearly, little brother Yoriichi. Is this your wife? Not bad."
"She looks very virtuous."
"Seeing how much you've progressed, I'm relieved, because only when you become stronger can the Soul Society have a better tomorrow."
After speaking, Hikifune Kirio suddenly turned around,
"No more nonsense, follow me up. Time is pressing."
"The Soul Society is millions of kilometers from the Soul King Palace; even with transportation, it will take several days."
"These next few days, I want to ask you about the things that have happened in the Soul Society over the years."
"I heard you've taken control of Hell. Is that true?"
Yoriichi and Uta Tsugikuni silently followed. After entering the transportation device that looked like a pillar, he slowly began to speak:
"Captain Yoruichi, so Squad Zero invited me for Hell?"
"Eh, don't call me Captain, just call me Miss Hikifune, of course, Miss Kirio is fine too."
Hikifune Kirio crossed her arms. At this moment, the gate of the Tenchūren quickly closed.
Accompanied by the firing of the Shiba Clan's cannon, the Tenchūren suddenly ascended into the sky.
Hikifune Kirio scanned the external environment, paused, and continued to speak:
"As for Hell… indeed, that is indeed one of the reasons we invited you."
"The other Squad Zero members besides me are all quite wary of this ability of yours."
"But I understand your character; you are not the kind of Shinigami who would act recklessly after gaining power."
"Therefore, this matter is not important at all to me, Yoriichi. I want to ask you about something else."
At this point, Hikifune Kirio's tone became more serious.
Her eyes moved, looking directly at Yoriichi, and her more formal voice followed:
"Where do you come from?"
"Or, is there only one world outside the Three Realms?"
…
Yoriichi did not answer Hikifune Kirio's question, because he himself didn't know.
He knew why Hikifune Kirio was asking.
Because if other worlds still existed, then he could come here…
What about others?
He alone could pose a substantial threat to the Three Realms.
If a few more came.
Even if all of Squad Zero mobilized, they probably wouldn't be able to suppress them.
They needed to prepare for a rainy day.
There was one saying Yoriichi remembered very clearly: strike first and gain the advantage, strike later and suffer the consequences…
These Shinigami of Squad Zero, for the safety of the Three Realms, would probably spare no effort to eliminate those potential threats.
It was only after he had grown for some time and gained a certain degree of self-preservation ability that he explained his origins.
Otherwise, if they had known he came from outside the Three Realms early on…
The consequences would have been unimaginable.
Do other worlds truly exist?
Yoriichi fell into deep thought.
Perhaps.
But no matter what, he just wanted to live a peaceful life with Uta Tsugikuni.
…
…
The scattered thoughts gradually converged with the casual conversation, and in a few days, the Soul King Palace was reached.
On the wide white street.
As soon as Yoriichi stepped onto the ground, he saw a large Monk standing in the middle of the road, his face full of smiles yet also eager for a challenge.
That expression seemed to say…
"O Master of Hell, come and have a match with this old monk!"
…
Ichibei Hyosube didn't say a word, but his expression subtly conveyed this attitude.
Of course, this might have been just an illusion for everyone.
After all, his perpetually smiling face completely masked his inner emotions.
Even when Yoriichi Tsugikuni used Transparent World to observe him, he couldn't detect anything unusual.
His blood surged like a mighty river, and the density of his muscles and bones was extremely high.
His spiritual pressure was even more unfathomable, subtly indicating that he was the strongest person present.
Before Yoriichi could speak, Hikifune Kirio stepped forward and said, "Monk, what are you standing here for? Don't scare these two children."
"Speaking of which, why are you the only one here? Where did everyone else go?"
"Haha, my apologies, my apologies." Ichibei Hyosube rubbed his large head, his smile very hearty, "This old man just wanted to see what kind of person the master of Hell truly is."
"You know, Hell is even older than this old man."
"The others are still observing from the side. After all, this boy is their junior, but in terms of status and importance, he has already surpassed them."
"They probably feel a bit embarrassed."
"Ōetsu is currently forging a Zanpakuto."
As he spoke.
Thump.
Ichibei Hyosube, wearing wooden clogs, walked up to the group.
His dark, deep eyes fixed on Yoriichi Tsugikuni, scrutinizing him carefully, before finally revealing an intrigued smile,
"Your name is Yoriichi Tsugikuni, isn't it? Not bad, truly not bad."
"Leaving aside your spiritual pressure for now, in terms of physical constitution alone, you are already subtly comparable to this old man."
"It's a pleasure to meet you. This old man is Ichibei Hyosube, the leader of Squad Zero. You can call me Monk or Eye Monk."
After introducing himself, Ichibei Hyosube turned and walked behind them.
He waved his hand:
"Come with me. This is the outer perimeter of the Soul King Palace. Your'seniors' are waiting for you."
Yoriichi and Uta walked forward together. The reishi concentration in the surroundings was extremely high, which made Uta feel a bit uncomfortable.
However, the tools developed by Kisuke Urahara effectively suppressed these effects.
Hikifune Kirio took in this scene, a subtle glint flashing in her eyes.
Just as expected.
The ingredients she had prepared could finally be put to use.
...
...
The first person to enter Yoriichi's sight was Tenjiro Kirinji.
As soon as he appeared, he used Shunpo to materialize behind Yoriichi, as if to assert some kind of dominance.
Although the Monk had said that Yoriichi Tsugikuni's status should be equal to theirs, and that they shouldn't take him lightly, Tenjiro Kirinji was unwilling to be outdone by a junior like this.
If Yoriichi were several hundred years old, that would be one thing.
But he was only nearly a hundred years old... This number just seemed jarring no matter how he looked at it.
It felt to him as if an adult had to be respectful to a child.
And this child was a "senior" who had suddenly appeared.
No matter how he thought about it, he felt uncomfortable.
Appearing behind Yoriichi, he reached out to pat Yoriichi's shoulder, but the next second, he hit nothing but air.
Immediately after, he felt a weight on his shoulder, as a hand had pressed down on it.
Yoriichi silently appeared behind Tenjiro Kirinji and asked, "Who are you?"
He had never encountered such a greeting before, and out of caution for the unfamiliar environment, Yoriichi initially thought he was an enemy.
Although it was highly probable that anyone appearing here was a member of Squad Zero, his behavior was indeed a bit baffling.
Seeing this, Tenjiro Kirinji's expression stiffened instantly, and the blade of grass he was chewing on fell from his mouth.
He didn't answer Yoriichi's question but used Shunpo again.
Unfortunately, no matter how fast he moved, Yoriichi managed to track him.
No matter how many times Tenjiro Kirinji flashed, Yoriichi could accurately appear behind him.
"You brat..."
Tenjiro Kirinji was so exasperated that he laughed.
Having mastered Shunpo for nearly a thousand years, it was the first time he had encountered a Shinigami who could surpass him in footwork.
Shunpo is divided into three steps: preparation, footwork, and Shunpo.
Generally speaking, the faster the footwork, the faster the Shunpo, similar to a recovery animation.
Through long periods of training, he had almost eliminated the recovery animation.
But Yoriichi Tsugikuni, on the other hand, had completely eliminated the recovery animation, like the instant movement of Sonido.
Is this even a Shinigami?
Due to his control over his muscles, his speed was slightly inferior to Yoriichi Tsugikuni's.
Helplessly, he could only stop, raising his hands in a "surrender" gesture:
"You win. Don't do anything yet. I'm a member of Squad Zero."
"I was just joking."
"You're a monster, aren't you? You can use Shunpo techniques to perform Sonido..."
"I, Tenjiro Kirinji, 'The Swift,' admit defeat. No wonder the Monk told me to be polite to you. So he was waiting for me here."
He muttered, looking at Ichibei Hyosube, and complained:
"Hey, Monk, did you know all along that his speed was faster than mine?"
Ichibei Hyosube had witnessed their entire exchange.
Hearing Tenjiro Kirinji's accusation, he merely smiled, his words vague:
"Well, who knows? This old man remembers having warned you long ago not to underestimate anyone in the world."
"It's just being surpassed in speed, that's all."
That's all?
He was the fastest Shinigami in a thousand years!
Even Yamamoto Genryusai couldn't compare to him in his youth.
Previously, Tenjiro Kirinji had even considered this achievement his pride.
He was bestowed the name "The Swift."
Now look at him.
The undefeated myth of The Swift was broken just like that.
This kid and that Monk are truly more annoying than the last.
Tenjiro Kirinji pouted. When he lowered his hands, Yoriichi also moved away from behind him.
It's good that it was a joke.
He thought he was going to give him a rough welcome.
Returning to Uta's side, Yoriichi's expression was normal.
However, Uta's expression at this moment was filled with admiration, as it was the first time she had witnessed Yoriichi's true speed.
She couldn't even see Tenjiro Kirinji's movements; it was like a stick creating a sonic boom, where even the afterimage disappeared.
But Yoriichi could surpass him, and even made him voluntarily admit defeat...
As his wife, Uta was naturally pleased.
The stronger her husband, the more secure she felt. As for worry...
She did have some at first, but after seeing that Tenjiro Kirinji didn't pull out a weapon and stated it was just a joke.
All her worries transformed into an emotion akin to excitement. Perhaps this was empathy.
"..." Yoriichi noticed Uta's expression at that moment; her eyes seemed to twinkle with little stars.
Seeing this, he didn't say much, only silently turned his face and asked Hikifune Kirio:
"Who's next?"
"Next?" His implied meaning was clear. Hikifune Kirio pondered for a moment and replied,
"There's no one else. Squad Zero only has five members, and not everyone is like Kirinji."
"But you need to be careful of someone named Nimaiya Ōetsu. He is the oldest Shinigami besides the Monk in terms of seniority."
"All Shinigami's Zanpakuto currently in existence were forged by him, and yours is no exception."
No sooner had Hikifune Kirio finished speaking than Tenjiro Kirinji shot her a look:
"Hey, Hikifune, whose side are you on anyway?"
"What do you mean 'not everyone is like me'? You make it sound like I did something wrong."
"It's just that you know this kid. If you didn't know him and suddenly heard of a Shinigami mastering Hell, and being invited here by the Monk..."
"Can you honestly say that such a thought wouldn't flash through your mind for a moment?"
Such a thought would indeed flash through one's mind, but thinking and doing are two different things after all.
To test him with Shunpo, this action was indeed a bit reckless.
However, considering that among Tenjiro Kirinji's mastered techniques, Shunpo was what he was most proficient in.
So it was not surprising.
Hikifune Kirio replied,
"I am naturally on the side of the Three Realms, Kirinji. Stop talking for now, lest you make our guests misunderstand..."
"Huh?" Tenjiro Kirinji couldn't stand that. He was about to retort.
Ding ding.
A crisp, pleasant bell sound suddenly rang out from the street directly opposite, as Shutara Senjumaru slowly walked over from a distance with graceful steps.
With almost every step she took, the distance would shorten.
In just a few steps, she appeared before everyone, interrupting Tenjiro Kirinji's words with an extremely elegant tone:
"This humble one has been awaiting you for a long time."
"You two, you must be the guests invited by the Monk, correct?"
"Indeed."
She raised her eyes, looking at Tenjiro Kirinji,
"Kirinji, do not leave a bad impression on our guests. Being too crude will damage the image of Squad Zero."
"..."
Shutara Senjumaru's appearance made Tenjiro Kirinji swallow the words at the tip of his tongue.
One after another, they played the good cop, leaving him to be the bad cop...
If he had known, he wouldn't have come out. It would have been better to maintain an air of mystery to elevate his standing.
Sighing softly, Tenjiro Kirinji closed his mouth, and the group continued their journey.
Soon, they followed the Monk to the end of the road.
Looking up, five floating palaces were situated above.
The Soul King Palace was in the center, surrounded by the other palaces, forming a protective stance.
Ichibei Hyosube turned around and instructed Yoriichi:
"For the next few days, you two will stay in Hikifune Kirio's Wotun Palace."
"Barring any unforeseen circumstances, that boy Ōetsu should still need some time to forge the Zanpakuto."
"Regarding the situation in Hell, this old man will discuss it with you in detail later. After all, you've just arrived, so you should adapt first."
"If you need anything, just find Hikifune. She has all the access permissions for the surrounding areas, but there's one thing you must remember: you cannot go to the building in the center."
"That is the residence of the Soul King."
When he said "residence," Ichibei Hyosube's tone uncharacteristically deepened slightly.
Yoriichi nodded slightly upon hearing this, indicating his understanding.
Immediately after, he and Uta followed Hikifune Kirio into her Wotun Palace.
Then, a grand feast was served. Hikifune Kirio claimed it was a wedding gift for them.
Facing such a table full of delicacies, Yoriichi didn't know what to say...
By the way... what exactly were they here at the Soul King Palace for?
Also...
Hikifune Kirio's drastically thin figure entered Yoriichi's eyes. He felt as if his Transparent World had a problem.
Otherwise, how could such an abnormal yet "normal" phenomenon occur?
However, he soon understood that this was all the effect of the artificial soul. All the delicacies before them had the effect of increasing spiritual pressure.
Uta only took one bite and felt her spiritual pressure skyrocketing.
In the blink of an eye, it soared from the Shinigami's standard fifteen-level spiritual power to ten-level, and it showed no signs of stopping...