Chapter 110: Spring Water, Your

It was the day after Araki got rid of three senior noble heads…

Clang!

Countless senior noble heads who received the intel began smashing tables and chairs wildly, venting the frustration in their chests.

Dammit! Yamamoto's disciple—what kind of wind is he pulling now?! Suddenly he started attacking us?!

A noble completely destroyed the ornaments on the study desk, continuously venting his emotions.

How about this? We could send a letter to Yamamoto, have him properly discipline that prized disciple of his?!

As the noble dismissed his thunderous anger, his retainer immediately stepped forward and asked his lord.

A letter!? Hahaha…

Do you think sending Yamamoto a letter would help? Write him a letter and he'll step in to help us restrain that prized disciple?! Don't joke—Yamamoto wouldn't dare scold that prized disciple for us! As far as I know, Araki was raised by Yamamoto as a son!

Heh… When have you ever seen me scold my son over some outsider's life or death? Yamamoto and his disciple are just the same scum! No, perhaps even the whole affair was plotted by that old bastard Yamamoto! That old bastard Yamamoto is beating us down~

The noble, after hearing his subordinate, suddenly threw his head back and laughed loudly, his laughter filled with hatred toward Yamamoto and Araki.

Ugh…

The retainer, after hearing the noble, froze on the spot; he truly hadn't considered it that way, and now that his lord had exposed him, a cold sweat broke out all over him. Indeed, since Araki is Yamamoto's top disciple, how could his deeds not bear Yamamoto's shadow?!

So what should we do now?!

The retainer's expression showed a hint of panic.

Why panic?!

Yamamoto's disciple could possibly kill all of us nobles, couldn't he? If he kills us all, who in the Pure Spirit Court would serve him?

Could we rely on the trash from Wandering Soul Street? Those weak spirit corpses—can they survive in the Pure Spirit Court? They'll probably be crushed to death by the countless spirits there.

The noble seemed to calm down, lighting a cigarette, inhaling clouds of smoke while watching his retainer continue his rambling.

You are right…

The retainer, after hearing the noble, also gradually calmed down.

At the same time, when the retainer heard the noble mention the vagrants of Wandering Soul Street, he couldn't help but chuckle.

Just as his lord said, the weak spirits of Wandering Soul Street's populace find it extremely hard to survive even within the Pure Spirit Court; whether it's Yamamoto or Araki, if they want this vast Pure Spirit Court to run smoothly, they inevitably need the help of nobles like us…

Let me think: continue sending that letter to Yamamoto as you planned, pressuring him in the name of the family! Also, later go and rein in our family's retainers and servants, make them keep their eyes open and not cause any trouble! And tell that 'useless' son to stay at home these days, don't go out and stir up trouble for his father!

By the way, later go to Yamamoto's disciple—I think his name is Araki, right?! Offer him a few tens of thousands… up to a hundred thousand as a gift! Hmph, once a person gets money, all faults disappear…

The noble, puffing on his tobacco, seemed increasingly animated, looking at his retainer and issuing orders.

As you command.

The retainer, hearing this, nodded repeatedly, feeling admiration for his master—truly a heroic and composed figure, calm no matter what arises.

Go then~

The noble said, waving his hand at his retainer.

As you command!

The retainer, after receiving the order, immediately left the noble's study.

Phew~ As the retainer left, the noble exhaled a huge cloud of vapor and muttered to himself, "The West Edge Bureau really is something—makes the mind flow like a spring~"

The thing the noble kept 'clicking' in his hand was a tobacco product, currently very popular among the upper echelons of the Pure Spirit Court; these nobles spend a fortune importing it from the West.

Meanwhile, in the Corpse Soul Realm, besides this tobacco‑obsessed noble, countless informed nobles of the Pure Spirit Court also took similar measures.

Of course, the so‑called measures of these nobles were the usual old trick—'carrot and stick' tactics~

At the same time, as Araki's series of actions within the Pure Spirit Court slowly spread through the noble circles, all nobles in the Pure Spirit Court became increasingly uneasy…

Especially those noble families with little power, upon hearing of Araki's deeds, were terrified; Araki even dares to torture senior nobles, let alone medium or lower‑rank nobles!

Thus the nobles within the Pure Spirit Court all kept a low profile…

All of this was part of Araki's plan; as for the nobles who sent him gift money, he welcomed each with a smile and took the money…

This gave those nobles a false impression that Araki could be bought off, and Araki intended to craft a persona of being easily bought, to later lure these nobles into further mistakes—mistakes that could lead to their downfall…

Perhaps due to Araki's past‑life family background, he truly understands 'fishing enforcement'—no one knows it better; how to make others willingly err…

While Araki was boldly torturing nobles throughout the Pure Spirit Court and methodically advancing his plan, his few disciples were not idle.

The Fu Zhu family.

Come on, big brother!

Big brother, you're the best~

As expected of the big brother, we truly can't compare!

In the wheat field, Fu Zhu wielded the liberated Pisces principle; each slash cut through swaths of wheat.

The golden wheat quickly piled into a high wheat stack, and Fu Zhu's younger siblings stood atop it, constantly cheering him on.

Rest assured! Big brother is the best!

Fu Zhu looked at his younger siblings and smiled with satisfaction.

At this moment Fu Zhu's heart was filled with joy; he seemed to lose himself amid his siblings' constant praise…

Hehe…

As expected of Big Brother, he works efficiently!

When Big Brother was first born, we thought his spirit was weak and he wouldn't live long! Yet in the end, our naturally frail Big Brother turned out to be the most successful~

Fu Zhu's parents, both with graying hair and looking like people in their fifties or sixties, stood beside the wheat stack, watching Fu Zhu swing vigorously in the field, unable to hide a smile.

Although Fu Zhu's parents are nobles, they lack any aristocratic arrogance; the two simply exude plainness, plainness…

In fact, in the Corpse Soul Realm, where fights over water resources can leave one bloodied, a family like Fu Zhu's—owning a vast ancestral wheat farm—ranks among the relatively well‑off lower nobles.

Of course, they can't compare to the senior nobles who reshape their lands like imperial capitals; the wealth gap in the Corpse Soul Realm is far more exaggerated than in the mortal world…

I must do more for my younger brother and sisters!

Fuzhu wiped the sweat from his forehead, hand gripping the Soul‑Cutting Blade, continuously swinging it in the wheat field.

Honestly, Fuzhu himself never expected that merely visiting the Spirit King Palace would give him so many younger siblings; fortunately, Fuzhu was naturally fond of children~.

By then, Fuzhu the Fourteenth returned to his clan, instantly becoming a doting‑older‑brother demon and a ruthless wheat‑harvesting machine; one wonders what expression the Sword God Ninomiya Ōetsu, staying at the Spirit King Palace, would wear seeing Fuzhu use his painstakingly forged Soul‑Cutting Blade "Twin Fish Principle" to reap wheat for the family？！

Kyōraku family.

When Kyōraku returned home, his father and mother had already completely stepped down from their positions as head and matriarch of the Kyōraku household, and his elder brother had likewise thoroughly married the young lady of the Ise family, consequently moving out to live separately！

As for the current head of the Kyōraku family, it is none other than his own elder brother……

Regarding this, Kyōraku had no objection; he never intended to inherit the Kyōraku family, nor did he plan to study its martial way.

This let Kyōraku's parents breathe a sigh of relief, for given Kyōraku's present strength, he could, following their martial‑family tradition, defeat the incumbent head in a fair contest before the heads of other martial families and thus successfully assume leadership！

Naturally, it wasn't that Kyōraku's parents were playing favorites; rather, their eldest son—Kyōraku's own older brother—had lost the strength to fight Kyōraku, so, barring any surprise, the headship of the Kyōraku family would soon fall automatically onto the shoulders of Kyōraku's second son, Sōzō Harusui, and even if Kyōraku didn't want it, he could not avoid it……

Therefore, after Kyōraku had finished dinner with his parents, his father slipped a manual of the martial arts befitting the head of the Kyōraku family into his lap.

"What is this?!"

This left Kyōraku utterly bewildered.

"Go see your older brother!"

Kyōraku's white‑haired father, gazing at his second son Harusui—whose overwhelming Spirit Pressure and Spirit Body had kept his face from aging, showing little change even compared to two hundred years ago—finally spoke softly.

As Kyōraku's father's words fell, his whole person suddenly looked much older……

"Go, Harusui! Please, this time don't quarrel with your father and older brother."

After Kyōraku's father left, Harusui's mother took his hand, her face tinged with a hint of sorrow, and spoke.

"I understand."

Harusui saw the tears glimmering in his mother's eyes, gave a slight nod, and his heart sank a little.

When Kyōraku Harusui, following his parents' arrangement, went to visit the older brother he had never particularly liked, he found a middle‑aged man lying on a sickbed, wearing a bitter smile, his complexion pallid, no longer bearing any of his former vigor.

"You've come, Jirō!"

"You've grown stronger; as your older brother, I am relieved."

The Kyōraku elder brother lay on the sickbed, watching Harusui scale the courtyard wall and enter on his own, and he showed a faint smile.

Although he had lost the power he once prided himself on, he could sense the strength harbored within Harusui's body, knowing his younger brother had become far stronger than any past head of the Kyōraku clan, which steadied his mind considerably……

In that case, the Kyōraku family would not vanish from the history of the Soul Society because of his downfall; moreover, it let him sigh a little in relief—being the eldest son of a high‑rank noble house, to be bedridden from illness would be utterly shameful if made public, and if that were to cause the Kyōraku clan's disappearance, he would be the greatest sinner the family has seen in thousands of years……

"How did you end up like this?"

Harusui admitted he disliked his older brother, for the brother always used his strength to lecture him, although each beating was his own fault……

But when Harusui saw the image of his immensely powerful older brother now confined to bed, his eyes grew wet and tears kept swirling in their sockets.

"What are you crying for? The Kyōraku family has no head who cries!"

The Kyōraku elder brother, seeing Harusui's ever‑moistening eyes, his face instantly grew much harsher; summoning all his strength, he pushed himself up from the sickbed and lectured Harusui.

"I……." Harusui gritted his teeth, looking at his brother, his voice trembling: "The head of the Kyōraku family is not me—it's you!"

"It will be yours very soon……"

Upon hearing this, the Kyōraku elder brother's gaze suddenly softened considerably.

"I'll go ask the teacher to save you!"

Harusui remained silent for a long time, then finally made up his mind.

"It's useless; his Spirit Body has already begun to collapse, and his Spirit Pressure is practically leaking out……"

Before Harusui could act, his brother intercepted him.

"Why?!"

Harusui looked at his older brother and asked about his birth.

"Hahaha, sorry, Harusui!"

"Your older brother I overestimated myself; I couldn't overcome that curse."

"From now on, the Kyōraku family, your sister‑in‑law, and the child in her womb are entrusted to you."

Harusui's elder brother laughed aloud upon hearing Harusui's words, his laughter devoid of any lingering attachment to the world, merely a faint regret at failing to overcome the Ise family's curse……

Perhaps Harusui's brother clearly understood that if Harusui went to plead with his teacher—the legendary Death God Aramaki of the Soul Society—he might yet be saved, but that is not what Harusui's older brother seeks; his noble pride forbids him from bowing to the curse, and he wishes to accept his defeat openly and honorably.

"Older brother, do you know what I dislike most about you? It's this tedious obstinacy, the noble spirit in your eyes—which I see as utterly worthless……"

Harusui gripped his older brother's hand and shouted angrily.

"Hahaha……" Upon hearing this, Harusui's older brother first burst into loud laughter, then looked at Harusui and earnestly asked: "Harusui, you've been willful for hundreds of years; let me, your older brother, be a little willful at the end of my life, can I?!"

"Mm!"

Upon hearing this, Harusui's face darkened, and he nodded helplessly.

"Your sister‑in‑law…… can she be entrusted to you?"

Harusui's older brother continued to ask.

"Mm."

Harusui remained grim‑faced, nodding.

"Then I can rest easy, rest easy……"

"Fetch the wine! Today we won't return until we're drunk!"

Seeing Harusui's nod, his older brother finally showed a look of relief, patting Harusui's shoulder with a faint smile and saying.

"Didn't you say a martial artist should abstain from alcohol?"

Upon hearing his older brother's words, Harusui raised his eyebrows slightly.

"Hey! You're about to die—why bother with rules? Of course we'll eat meat heartily and drink wine in big bowls!"

Upon hearing that, Harusui's older brother, just as before, lightly tapped Harusui's head and then scolded him.

Good! I won't return until I'm drunk……

Chunshui heard his older brother's words, first stunned, then burst out laughing.

Hahahaha……

For a moment, the courtyard was filled with Chunshui and his older brother's laughter; yet as cherry blossoms drifted down throughout the courtyard, the corners of their eyes seemed to glisten with tears.

……

Outside the courtyard, beneath the beautiful cherry tree, Jingles's sister-in-law stood with a visibly round pregnant belly, leaning against the tree, her eyes filled with endless sorrow……

She felt both the pain of being unable to face her husband's curse and a faint joy at Chunshui and her husband's reconciliation.

At the same time, looking at the pitch-black cloth-wrapped Soul-Cutting Sword in her arms, she silently resolved herself.

Gangmidai Family.

Compared to the 'warmth' of the Ukitake family and the 'farewell' of the Jingle family, the Gangmidai family seemed much more 'harmonious'~

At this moment, all the Gangmidai family's 'heads', 'family heads', and even the 'Second Elders' through 'Fifth Elders', the masters of each branch, had all gathered.

Evidently, the Gangmidai family still placed great importance on Shitan's return, but the angle from which they valued it seemed somewhat different from that of ordinary people……

Yo! Shitan's back~

Quick, quick, come over so I can take a good look!

Hmm, indeed a remarkable talent, truly worthy of being the sole person in the Gangmidai family chosen by the Origin Flow~

The Gangmidai family head, seeing Shitan walk into the conference room, immediately smiled and began praising him.

Only he, as the family head, knew how many knives were hidden beneath that smile.

Ma De, this damn old 'yin bi'! Shitan cursed the family head in his heart, but on his face he laughed: "Hahaha, family head, you're overpraising me! How could Shitan compare to the main house's brothers and sisters~"

Hmm! I trust Captain Araki's eye, and even more Chief Captain Yamamoto's eye; they could see your potential, making you their heir—there must be a reason……

After hearing Shitan's words, the Gangmidai family head slowly shook his head, deliberately putting emphasis on the three words 'heir', biting down hard on the pronunciation, then stared straight at Shitan, as if hoping to see something from his face.

No matter who values me or who nurtured me, it cannot change the fact that I am a member of the Gangmidai family.

Shitan naturally understood the family head's meaning; the latter was testing him, determining whether he was Shitan of the Gangmidai family or Shitan of the Origin Flow. Shitan, naturally not stupid, immediately emphasized his identity.

Really?

The Gangmidai family head continued to ask after hearing Shitan's words.

Huh?!

This question left Shitan bewildered.

No way, could it be so blunt? Can such a thing be asked straight to someone's face?!

Hahaha……

I was just joking!

Just as Shitan was dazed, the Gangmidai family head suddenly burst out laughing, rose from his seat, lightly patted Shitan's shoulder, and then said to those around: "I told you you were overthinking; no matter whose disciple or heir we become, we cannot change the fact that our blood flows with the same ancestor's lineage."

That's right, that's right……

As the family head spoke, the family leader and even the Fifth Elders all broke into smiles.

Let us wish the Gangmidai family eternal prosperity and flourishing!

Immediately afterward, the Gangmidai family head raised his wine cup and shouted to his assembled superiors:

Wishing the Gangmidai family eternal prosperity and flourishing!

Everyone raised their cups in agreement.

Of course, Shitan likewise raised his cup, but he added two words before the phrase: "Wishing my Gangmidai family eternal prosperity and flourishing!"

Laugh! Laugh! Laugh your hearts out, you bunch of immortals……

After I become the Gangmidai family head, I'll have one of you scrub toilets, another guard the gate! Four of you will take turns standing watch outside my bedroom every day! Then I'll find your little faults and kill you all, damn it……

Shitan looked at his assortment of 'old fogeys' with a grin; as a natural-born 'bad seed', he had already begun pondering how to do away with these damned old-timers.

Meanwhile, the Sifengyuan family……

Congratulations, Miss Yeyi, on your return to the Sifengyuan family~

Let us all applaud!

Papapapa……

Yeyi has really made something of herself; I dare not move!

Father, I feel like I'm about to cry!

Don't say you're going to cry; even I, old man, have started tearing up!

The retainers and elders of the Sifengyuan family, seeing that Yeyi's spiritual power had reached 'Second Rank' or above and that she had mastered 'Swastika Release' and 'Instant Coax', all excitedly clapped, and some of the older retainers even teared up.

Hehehe……

Sifengyuan Yeyi naturally accepted the congratulations from her elders and retainers; she sat smiling at the long table laden with food, then tossed aside her utensils and dug straight into the feast.

When Suifeng gained approval from the Sifengyuan elders and entered Yeyi's dining hall, he saw her clutching an entire tuna, biting into it in big gulps.

Er……

Suifeng stared wide-eyed at Yeyi, who bore no semblance of a Sifengyuan princess.

Suifeng, you've come~

The food's still hot~ Come over, sit beside me, and let's enjoy it together~

Yeyi waved at the arriving Suifeng and said:

Er……

Suifeng glanced at the imageless Yeyi, his eyelid twitching; not knowing how to refuse, he simply walked over.

Come, open up~

Yeyi looked at the approaching Suifeng and laughed:

Ah……

Suifeng faced Yichi's 'order' without the slightest hesitation, directly opening their mouth.

Pa~

At the exact moment Suifeng opened their mouth, Yichi stuffed an entire piece of cake into Suifeng's mouth.

Wu……

For a moment, Suifeng's mouth was completely filled by Yichi's cake; although Suifeng initially struggled a bit, facing Yichi's expectant gaze, she still gulped it down, with white cream occasionally spilling from her small mouth…

How is it, do you find the cake delicious?!

Yichi watched Suifeng gulping down the cake and asked.

Good, delicious……

Suifeng hesitated for a moment, then firmly nodded.

Great~

Yichi heard Suifeng's words and smiled slightly.

Huh……

Suifeng looked at the happy Yichi for some reason, and she also felt happy, a joyful smile gradually appearing on her face.

For a moment, whether it was Yichi, Suifeng, Keyle, Fuzhu, Shitan, or Aramaki's many disciples, they all temporarily set everything aside and enjoyed their rare life~

In the blink of an eye, a week passed……

Whether it was Yichi or Shitan, during that week they took no action; Yichi played the role of the little princess of the Four Maple House, Shitan continued to wear his poker face, acting as a branch-family child in the Tsunashiro House, Fuzhu continued farming, Keyle accompanied his elder brother who had little time left, and his gentle elder sister-in-law……

However, just as if everyone had agreed, after they rested for a full week, everyone began to act.

Suifeng, let's take down the 'Covert Mobilization' in one go!

Yichi, wearing a black night outfit that exposed her shoulders, tight and thin, loudly addressed her little follower Suifeng.

Oh!

Suifeng, hearing this, raised their small fist high, eyes filled with boundless fighting spirit.

Tsunashiro House……

Father, what do you think about me taking on the role of the Five Elders?!

Shitan went to his father, speaking laughingly to his old father with a full head of white hair.

Five Elders?!

Shitan's father, hearing this, his eyes twitched slightly; this was his child's first showing of a desire for power, but unfortunately the family seemed unwilling to let Shitan enter the core of power, after all Shitan is a disciple of that person, and as long as Shitan holds that identity, even if Shitan's strength is the strongest among the young generation of the Tsunashiro House, it is still difficult to enter the core power circle.

Fuzhu House……

Well then, Father, I'm setting off!

Fuzhu bade farewell to his old father, preparing to begin action.

Remember, when you have time, come back and visit~

Fuzhu's father looked at his eldest son's handsome face, the corners of his mouth continually rising.

Well, he's indeed his offspring, possessing one-tenth of his handsomeness.

Keyle House.

Elder brother, elder sister-in-law, you're busy; I have some things to do today, so you don't need to wait for me to eat dinner~

After Keyle said goodbye to his elder brother and elder sister-in-law, he casually picked up his elder brother's bamboo hat left on the table and left.

This child Jiro is promising! With him around, I can relax.

Keyle's elder brother looked at Chunshui's back, the corners of his mouth impossible to hide rising, his eyes full of smiles and pride.

Mm! He has grown into a man who stands tall and firm.

Keyle's elder sister-in-law, hearing this, nodded firmly; she held her husband's warm hand on the sickbed, and in her gentle eyes revealed endless resilience—it's hard to imagine such a Yamato Nadeshiko–like woman having eyes as steadfast as steel; perhaps this is what 'being strong as a mother' means?!

Meanwhile……

Eleventh Division barracks.

Aramaki yawned and walked out of his captain's quarters.

Captain, you're going to do something again?!

The Eleventh Division members, seeing Aramaki go out for a rare moment, all smiled and gathered before him, casually greeting him; after all, they'd known him for hundreds of years.

Mm! I've made appointments with the captains of the Eighth Division, Ninth Division, and Thirteenth Division……

Aramaki, hearing his subordinates' question, lightly nodded.

Oh? Captain Aramaki, you actually arranged to meet the heads of other divisions? That's really rare……

Could it be that you have some big move? Do you need our help?

Those members, hearing Aramaki's words, were all shocked; given their knowledge of Aramaki, aside from staying overnight at the Fourth Division, it was basically impossible to meet other division captains, and this time they even met three at once.

Not needed……

It's not a big deal! Just stay in the Eleventh Division and do your own duties!

Aramaki, hearing his subordinates' words, casually waved his hand.

What are you going to do? Tell us about it.

As Aramaki's words fell, the Eleventh Division members, curious about what he intended to do, kept pestering him with questions.

Hey, it's just to call out those division captains and, by the way, handle their 'leave of absence' paperwork~

In Aramaki's view, what he's about to do isn't a big deal, and he casually told everyone.

Er……

For a moment, all members of the Eleventh Division fell silent, unable to understand how Aramaki could use such an indifferent tone to announce such a shocking event.

You want to simultaneously process the leave-of-absence paperwork for the heads of three divisions?!

The members of the Eleventh Division all thought they had misheard, staring at Huangmu in shock as they retorted.

What else? Did you think I called them out for tea, chatting, or playing mahjong?

The moment Huangmu's words fell, his figure had already vanished from the spot.

Looks like the Thirteen Court Guard Squads are about to be shaken up again!

Not only the Thirteen Court Guard Squads, but I fear the whole Seireitei, even the Soul Society, will be hit by a major upheaval! Those are the captains of three whole divisions! For the captains of three divisions to all take leave at once—such a thing has never been heard of in the hundreds of years since the Thirteen Squads were founded……

After Huangmu left, the members of the Eleventh Division finally came to their senses; they now regretted asking what he was up to—what he had just said was not something these low‑ranked squad members could casually hear!

Mid chapter, eight thousand~