Chapter 103

Ten years passed in a flash……

Gengmu, inside the First Division Captain's Quarters, had continued training under Yamamoto Genryusai for another ten years……

During those ten years, Yamamoto imparted all of his own four basic Shinigami abilities—'cut,' 'fist,' 'foot,' and 'spirit'—as well as his insights on training the Soul-Cutting Sword, teaching them wholly to Gengmu……

It's a pity that Gengmu's aptitude for Spirit Way is nearly zero, and his Flash Step barely reaches the beginner level, so he stopped trying to improve it! In Gengmu's view, Flash Step is just a skill for getting around—good enough is enough! As for Spirit Way, he has no interest at all! On the other hand, he studied Yamamoto's Swordsmanship and Hand-to-Hand Combat very seriously.

Needless to say, Gengmu's talent for training in Swordsmanship and Hand-to-Hand Combat is astonishingly high; in just over two years he mastered all of Yamamoto's swordsmanship, making Yamamoto feel as if he were teaching Aramaki again. As for the remaining eight years, Gengmu continually honed his swordsmanship and trained his own Complete Release……

Unfortunately, after ten years, Gengmu's use of his Soul-Cutting Sword's Initial Release became ever more proficient, yet he still could not grasp the core of the Complete Release……

Thus, Yamamoto Genryusai decided to send Gengmu back to the Eleventh Division for now—after all, Gengmu is still young, he has plenty of time to slowly figure out his Soul-Cutting Sword's Complete Release, with no need to rush……

Before departing, Yamamoto Genryusai seemed to think of something; he summoned the young Gengmu to his captain's quarters, looking at Gengmu clutching his Soul-Cutting Sword, he asked: 'Gengmu, if you come into conflict with the judges of Central 46 Chamber, what would you do?!'

'First, obey the judges' orders, temporarily hand over my Soul-Cutting Sword, then go inside Central 46 Chamber and await judgment from the sages and judges!'

Upon hearing this, Gengmu didn't even think about it and directly replied.

'Oh, then what?!'

Genryusai heard this, nodded satisfiedly; no matter what, in his view Gengmu's answer was already better than Aramaki's……

If it were Aramaki, he would surely retort to Genryusai: 'What? A mere judge dares to clash with me? How many Soul-Cutting Swords does Central 46 Chamber have? Who doesn't know that in the Pure Spirit Court, the one with the harder fist gets listened to?!'

'Then, after the judges and sages all gather, I'll slaughter them all!'

Just as Genryusai thought Gengmu, whom he had educated, was already promising, Gengmu's voice continued to echo in his ears.

'Heh…' Gengmu showed a cruel smile and continued: 'Only when the judges and sages begin to judge me will they all gather and shut the gate of Chamber 46! During that time, while they use the passage to send messages outward, I have enough time to crush them all! Hmm, I must crush them all, for only by ensuring these people are dead will they not be able to refute my words!'

'Cough cough……'

Upon hearing Gengmu's words, Genryusai nearly died of anger.

'Idiot! Your sword has already been surrendered; how are you supposed to kill the sages and judges of Central 46 Chamber now? Do you think Chamber 46 has no guards? They have dozens of guards! They have swords, you don't—what a disadvantage!'

Genryusai looked at Gengmu and shouted angrily.

'Huh? Do I really need a Soul-Cutting Sword to deal with that trash? If I needed a Soul-Cutting Sword to handle those lowlifes, then my Hand-to-Hand Combat training would be for nothing!'

Upon hearing Genryusai's words, Gengmu retorted.

'That's also true…' Genryusai heard this, paused a moment, first nodded slightly, then continued shouting angrily: 'Damn it! You've led me astray; even if you could beat those guards, you cannot just slaughter the judges and sages of Chamber 46 without cause!'

'What you should do now is wait quietly for Chamber 46's judgment, and leave the rest to me and Aramaki! Don't act on your own and cause trouble for others!'

Genryusai looked at Gengmu with displeasure.

'Old Man Mountain, I'm not killing them for no reason!'

If the 'Sage' or 'Judge' of Central 46 intends to act against me, 'Aramaki', or you, then clearly they have been bewitched by the enemy.

If they weren't bewitched by the enemy, they couldn't possibly act foolishly and attack us! At the very least they should know, within this vast 'Soul Society' 'Seireitei', who is protecting them.

At a time like this, we naturally need to purge those bewitched by the enemy, then find a group of 'clear-eyed' ones—I mean sages who haven't been bewitched—to take charge!

Aramaki, upon hearing this, argued his case.

Hearing Aramaki's reasonable and well-founded remarks, Yamamoto Genryūsai's mouth opened slightly, and for a moment he could not utter a word.

Who told you that?!

Yamamoto Genryūsai said, narrowing his eyes slightly. He didn't believe Aramaki had come up with this himself; it was obvious someone had taught him to say it…

Aramaki…

Aramaki replied instinctively.

However, as soon as Aramaki opened his mouth, he covered his own lips, remembering that Aramaki had told him not to tell anyone these words, which Aramaki had entrusted to him…

I knew it! Such treasonous words could only have been taught to you by him…

Upon hearing this, Yamamoto Genryūsai's expression showed he had expected it. Suddenly he felt weary; the disciples he had painstakingly taught, one after another, had all walked the path of treason—truly leaving one at a loss for words.

Sometimes Yamamoto Genryūsai also wondered whether perhaps the path his disciples were taking might actually be the correct one…

Everything I could teach you, I have taught you without reservation; from now on, how you proceed is up to you! You… do as you see fit!

Yamamoto Genryūsai suddenly lost interest; after advising Aramaki a few sentences, he let Aramaki leave.

He's gone~

Aramaki, too, was cheerful; after Yamamoto Genryūsai issued the order to expel him, he swaggered out of the First Division barracks.

After leaving the First Division, Aramaki without a word headed for the Eleventh Division, believing his strength had increased, intending to put on a good showing before Aramaki…

Meanwhile, inside the chief's quarters of the First Division…

Captain Yamamoto Genryūsai, Aramaki has left…

After Aramaki left, Que Bu immediately stepped out from the shadows, stood before Yamamoto Genryūsai, and reported the outside situation.

"Hmm…" Yamamoto Genryūsai said, upon hearing this he first lightly nodded, then looked at Que Bu Chōjirō before him and inquired: "By the way, I have something I want to ask you."

Captain Yamamoto Genryūsai, please ask!

Que Bu, upon hearing this, immediately moved his body close to Yamamoto Genryūsai's front, speaking respectfully.

Recently I heard an interesting rumor from the mouths of the First Division officers; I don't know if you've heard it, Que Bu?!

Yamamoto Genryūsai looked at Que Bu with squinting, smiling eyes, though his voice carried endless authority.

Rumors? I'm not interested in those!

Que Bu, upon hearing this, solemnly looked at Yamamoto Genryūsai and replied.

Really? But I heard this rumor originated from your mouth…

Yamamoto Genryūsai still wore a squinting smile, but killing intent seemed to seep from his narrowed eyes.

Ah?! Captain Yamamoto Genryūsai, I truly don't know what you're talking about?!

This left Que Bu bewildered; he genuinely couldn't understand what Yamamoto Genryūsai was saying.

"Ha…" Yamamoto Genryūsai looked at Que Bu before him, gave a light chuckle, then continued: "You really don't know what I'm talking about? But I've heard that outside, everyone's saying this kid Aramaki is my illegitimate son!"

What? Has this news really spread?!

Que Bu's face changed dramatically at the words; he hadn't expected that his all‑out effort to make the rumor disappear would backfire, and now the news had reached Lord Yuan Liuzhai's ears.

"Que Bu, I need an explanation..."

Yuan Liuzhai looked at the pale‑faced chief Que Bu Jiro and said coldly,

"Ugh..."

"Could it be that Gengmu is not, after all, your child, Lord Yuan Liuzhai?!"

Only now did Que Bu realize it.

"Boom!!"

The response to Que Bu came from Yuan Liuzhai, his whole body engulfed in scorching flames.

A few tens of minutes later…

When the bruised Que Bu recounted the whole incident to Yuan Liuzhai, Yuan Liuzhai fell silent.

"Go tell Araki: by any means, stop this unfounded 'rumor' within three months!"

After dropping that line, Yuan Liuzhai turned and went back to his room to take a nap.

"..."

For a moment, only the pitied Que Bu remained, standing alone where he was.

On the other side…

Gengmu had already returned to Team Eleven.

"Araki! I'm here to challenge you!"

The first thing Gengmu did upon returning to Team Eleven was to issue a challenge to Araki.

As Gengmu's words fell, the members of Team Eleven rushed out of the barracks one after another…

These Team Eleven members had no intention of stopping Gengmu; instead, each wore a spectator's grin, eagerly anticipating the upcoming spectacle.

After all, they had all witnessed Gengmu's power and knew his return to Team Eleven signaled a breakthrough, intending to show off a few moves to those present.

As for whether Gengmu could defeat Araki, no one even considered it…

In their eyes, no Shinigami in the world could beat Araki; perhaps only the Spirit King residing in the Spirit King Palace could surpass him across the Three Realms…

"Huh?!"

Meanwhile, Araki, who was napping in the Team Eleven headquarters, heard the shout, irritatedly removed the blindfold from his head, and walked out the main door toward the outside of Team Eleven.

"You brat, you just got back and you're already causing trouble!"

When Araki stepped out of Team Eleven's barracks, the outside was already packed with Team Eleven members, all with front‑row spectator expressions, even the ageless Saito came to join the excitement.

"Araki, after ten years of training, I'm no longer the same as before! I'm stronger now than ever! Come test yourself against me!"

Gengmu, gripping his Zanpakuto, roared at Araki,

"One bottle unsatisfied, half a bottle wobbling!"

"Just because your strength has only slightly improved, you think you can defeat me now?!"

Araki looked at the shouting Gengmu, his eyes tinged with a hint of helplessness.

At this moment Araki had a déjà vu feeling, as if his son had returned from boot camp just to show off for him.

"Devour, Wild Sun!"

When Gengmu saw Araki step out of Team Eleven's barracks, he immediately unleashed his Zanpakuto.

"Boom!"

In an instant, a terrifying spiritual pressure burst from Gengmu's body, and a massive cleaver that looked like both a giant axe and a kitchen knife was hoisted onto his shoulder.

"That terrifying thing is only a Shikai?!"

When the terrifying spiritual pressure from Gengmu's body struck the members of Team Eleven, they felt a weight on their shoulders and an endless chill rising within them…

This caused all the Team Eleven members' faces to change; they had seen captain‑level Shinigami unleash Bankai before, yet even those Bankai did not exert the oppressive force that Gengmu's current Shikai delivered.

"Hahaha..."

"Now I feel I could slice the entire Jingling Court in half with a single slash!"

Gengmu, bearing the massive cleaver on his shoulder, laughed loudly.

"Hey, hey, hey! A weapon of that caliber isn't something you can just wield casually inside the Jingling Court!"

"It could very well be the end of countless Shinigami!"

When the Team Eleven members heard Gengmu's mutter, they all showed nervous expressions, fearing that Gengmu truly intended to use his Shikai on the Jingling Court to test whether he could cleave it in two. Such a feat is impossible for ordinary people, but on Gengmu it seemed plausible—he truly could pull it off…

"Araki, take this!"

Just as the Shinigami of Team Eleven were scrambling, Gengmu leapt into the air, smiling, intending to cut down Araki and the entire Team Eleven barracks with a single slash.

"I'm telling you... you're being noisy!"

Araki, seeing Gengmu mid‑air, drew his Zanpakuto from his waist; his eyes flashed with a scarlet lightning, and his Zanpakuto immediately slashed out a black crescent.

"Divine Evasion..."

Araki's spiritual pressure condensed to its peak; the seemingly small crescent contained boundless power, hurtling toward the airborne Gengmu.

"Hahaha!"

Gengmu watched Araki's incoming slash, burst into laughter, thinking it was just a single cut—no need to dodge at all!

"Divine Evasion? I don't dodge; I'm god‑level badass!!"

"Boom!"

Before Gengmu could think further, Araki's slash struck him; with a single contact, it cut Gengmu, causing him to spit blood and roll his eyes white…

"What?!"

Before losing consciousness, Gengmu didn't even know what had happened.

"Boom!!"

With a booming roar, Gengmu was cut and flung away by Aramaki, turning into a meteor that shot straight into the sky!

In those few seconds, Gengmu flew straight to the highest heavens, breaking through the barrier of the Jingling Court, and finally careened toward the first district of Wandering Soul Street, the Runlin An District…

"Now it's finally quiet!"

Aramaki, watching Gengmu sliced and sent flying by his blade, sheathed his Soul‑Cutting Blade and slowly exhaled a puff of foul air,

"Ah…"

As for the members of the Eleven Squad, at this moment all their eyes widened; they could not believe what they had just seen…

"What a joke— that beast‑like Gengmu got instantly killed by Captain Aramaki?!"

"I know the gap between Gengmu and Captain Aramaki is huge, but it shouldn't be this huge, right?!"

"Is the distance between sky and ground really that far?!"

The Eleven Squad members had long anticipated Gengmu would lose to Aramaki, but they never expected Gengmu to be defeated so completely— the mighty Gengmu couldn't even withstand a single move from Aramaki.

"Aramaki, just how strong have you become now?"

"Could it be that you've already surpassed the old man of the Cross Sect?!"

Saito, the ageless Death God of senior captain rank, sees more than ordinary squad members; frankly, even she wouldn't dare to hard‑block the full‑force strike Gengmu unleashed with his Soul‑Cutting Blade just now…

Saito can confirm that Gengmu wasn't exaggerating; that blade truly could split the entire Jingling Court in half… yet even the mighty Gengmu couldn't survive a single round in Aramaki's hands—that's what surprised Saito.

"…"

As for Aramaki himself, he remained utterly calm.

Holy Script A‑act of God (Force Majeure)

Legend says that no matter what difficulty a god faces, a simple wave of the right hand can solve it all…

With Aramaki, it becomes a pure size contest; anyone whose spiritual pressure is weaker than his cannot block his attacks!

Remember, the one attacking you is not a human… it's a god!

In other words, as long as one's spiritual pressure is weaker than Aramaki's—even just a little weaker—there is absolutely no chance of defeating him head‑on.

If one's spiritual pressure is stronger than Aramaki's, then it depends on whether, after grappling with his Soul‑Cutting Blade, their pressure still exceeds his.

Simply put, use the Holy Script against the weak, and the Soul‑Cutting Blade against the strong!

"I'm going back to rest! When that idiot returns, tell him to come find me in the squad leader's room."

Aramaki dropped that line, and under the shocked, admiring, appreciative, and respectful gazes of the Eleven Squad members, walked into his own barracks toward the squad leader's room.

From the moment Aramaki left the squad leader's room, sliced Gengmu dead, and returned, not more than a minute had passed.

When Gengmu returned from Wandering Soul Street, it was already evening…

This time Gengmu was much more subdued; he lowered his head and entered the Eleven Squad barracks, no longer the arrogant figure he had been.

"Hahaha…"

"Gengmu, you're really disgraceful! Getting instantly killed by Aramaki…"

"Hahaha! I can't… you killed me with laughter! Didn't you say you had gotten stronger?"

"It seems you've become weaker than before…"

As soon as Gengmu came back from outside, he was continuously mocked by the ageless Saito.

Saito finally found some fun; she ridiculed Gengmu from start to finish.

In response, Gengmu said nothing and walked toward the squad leader's room.

"Dong dong!" Gengmu lightly knocked on the squad leader's door, then respectfully said, "Captain Aramaki, I'm back!"

"Enter~"

Aramaki heard this and said to Gengmu outside the door,

"Ka‑cha~"

Gengmu pushed open the squad leader's door and stepped inside.

"Hehe~"

As for Saito, who had been trailing Gengmu with mockery all the way, she naturally followed inside.

"Report, Captain Aramaki! In the ten years I've cultivated in the One Squad, I've successfully mastered the Soul‑Cutting Blade's 'Initial Release'; additionally I've made breakthroughs in 'Sword Technique' and 'White Strike'! As for 'Demon Path' and 'Instant Step', I've dabbled a bit, but lacking talent I haven't become proficient in those two."

After being beaten by Aramaki, Gengmu became much more obedient; he straightened his posture and reported to Aramaki.

"Very good~"

In response, Aramaki smiled with satisfaction; indeed, education must start from the children.

Who could have imagined that the future 'Gengmu Sword Eight' would one day be so obedient…

Although this obedient, limited‑edition Gengmu is the result of his beating, Aramaki is confident that as long as he lives, whenever Gengmu sees him, he will remain this obedient…

Because Aramaki is confident he will always be stronger than that kid Gengmu.

"Alright, go rest!"

After hearing Gengmu's report, Aramaki signaled that he could go down.

"Report, Captain Gengmu, may I ask whether the primary and secondary squad leaders of our Eleven Squad are both subject to the squad leader challenge rules?!"

After reporting his ten years of study in the One Squad to Aramaki, Gengmu did not leave but continued to ask Aramaki.

"Um…"

As Gengmu's words faded, Saito, who had been laughing, suddenly grimaced.

It is well known that the Eleven Squad has only two leaders: the main captain is Aramaki, and the vice‑captain is naturally her!

And now this little scoundrel Gengmu actually asks Aramaki whether the squad leader challenge rules apply to the vice‑captain— what ulterior motive does Gengmu have, need I say?!

Thinking this, Saito kept blinking her big eyes at Aramaki.

"Of course~"

That disappointed Saito…

Huangmu, after hearing Gengmu's words, replied directly.

"Haha…"

Gengmu, after hearing Huangmu's words, without a word swung his sword at the Zaiteng beside him.

"Ding~"

With a crisp metallic sound, Zaiteng's face turned iron‑blue as he blocked Gengmu's attack.

"Senior Zaiteng, you're laughing! Why don't you keep laughing?!"

To this, Gengmu, looking at the iron‑blue faced Zaiteng, asked loudly.

Two updates, twelve thousand, there's still the afternoon! Also, please give me wave tickets~