Chapter 138

On the eve of the "Hollow Circle" Expeditionary Force's departure.

Huāngmù, Kūwūshū, and Kūwūshū's deputy Āxīduō stood side by side on the makeshift podium erected by the soldiers of the First Division……

Originally, Kūwūshū had intended to give the central position among the three to Huāngmù, to show Huāngmù's noble status, after all Huāngmù was the strongest and highest-ranking among the three, but Kūwūshū's request was refused by Huāngmù……

Huāngmù, on the grounds that today's protagonist was not himself but Kūwūshū and the expeditionary force, had Kūwūshū stand in the center of the three, while Huāngmù gladly took the role of a supporting figure, standing to Kūwūshū's right.

At this moment, the three of Huāngmù faced forward, confronting the Hollow Circle Expeditionary Force soldiers before them……

For a moment, it seemed all three had something to say, to give a pre-battle pep talk to these soldiers.

"Commander, the soldiers are all looking at you—say a few words?!"

Huāngmù stood with his hands behind his back, looking at the spirited expeditionary force soldiers below, first gave a slight smile, then spoke softly to Kūwūshū beside him.

"Commander Huāngmù, you're joking."

"I grew up in the Wandering Soul Streets since childhood! I barely know a few big characters and have no culture! Facing such a solemn occasion, I don't know what I should say to the soldiers; how about this—let Commander Huāngmù deliver the mobilization speech for me today."

Upon hearing Huāngmù's words, Kūwūshū immediately smiled faintly.

Although he truly wanted to pour out his excited feelings to the soldiers below……

But considering that Commander Huāngmù was watching beside him, after thinking it over for a long time, he ultimately decided to let Commander Huāngmù speak in his place as the speaker of this mobilization assembly.

"Heh…"

"If that's the case, then I won't stand on ceremony."

Upon hearing Kūwūshū's words, Huāngmù first gave a light smile, then agreed to Kūwūshū's request.

Only see Huāngmù with his hands behind his back, walking to the front of the crowd, facing the expeditionary force soldiers, he spoke loudly: "The wind rises, the clouds soar; where can we find brave warriors to go to the four directions! To the Hollow Circle to exterminate hollows! This must be done at any time, we cannot fail! Think hard—how many helpless souls in this world have been devoured by hollows? And how many brave warriors have died under the maw of the great hollow! Therefore, for us Shinigami of the Soul Society……"

"……In this world, days without the great hollow are peaceful days! Days without the great hollow are the good days we Shinigami soldiers day and night strive for! Go, go to the Hollow Circle! Go prove yourselves, my dear soldiers—you are the true heroes of the Soul Society!!!!"

"Good!!!!"

As Huāngmù's words faded, Kūwūshū was the first to clap his hands together with a 'clap-clap' sound.

"Everyone, applause!"

Āxīduō was the second to clap……

While Āxīduō clapped, he did not forget to stir up the expeditionary force soldiers below, urging them to give applause for Huāngmù's earlier highly rousing speech—one that, upon careful tasting, would seem splendid beyond compare, and upon reflection would bring great benefit.

"Papapa……"

After Āxīduō's words fell, the entire area beneath the podium was already filled with deafening, thick-and-dense applause.

However, those expeditionary force soldiers were not applauding because Āxīduō's words had roused them; they applauded because they were truly moved in their hearts by Huāngmù's words……

If there were a Zero Division soldier present at this moment, they would see that as Huāngmù uttered not a single word, the sky over the Pure Spirit Court would flash with a glimmer of glazed light!

Huāngmù bestowed a combat buff on every soldier here; these glows would not only boost their combat power, but at critical moments would also save each soldier's life!

This also counts as a responsibility of life that Huāngmù, as Commander of the Guard Court, bears toward the Shinigami of the Pure Spirit Court.

"Lord Huāngmù, your speech was superb!"

At the same time, Kūwūshū and Āxīduō on the stage cast admiring glances at Huāngmù.

"Heh…" In response, Huāngmù merely gave a light smile, then said to the crowd before him his final words of the day: "May your martial fortunes prosper!"

"Whoosh!"

As Huāngmù's words fell, his figure instantly vanished from everyone's sight.

"All expeditionary forces, hear the order—follow me immediately! Depart the realm and exterminate the hollows!"

After Huāngmù left, Kūwūshū made a decision.

Seeing that tonight's atmosphere had been built up to this point, he thought that if he didn't seize this opportunity to do some socializing, wouldn't he be wasting a good chance?!

Thinking this, Kūwūshū directly drew his zanpakutō from his waist, and loudly shouted toward the Black Cavern disguised as a World‑Piercing Gate behind him, calling to all the soldiers.

"Kill! Kill! Kill!"

After Kūwūshū had roared that deafening sound into the ears of every expeditionary force soldier……

The expeditionary force soldiers immediately imitated Kūwūshū, drawing their zanpakutō from their waists and, facing the sky of the Pure Spirit Court, shouted three times "Kill!"

For a moment, the expeditionary force's killing intent was overflowing, capable of shaking the four seas and eight wildernesses.

"Follow my charge!"

Exactly as the expeditionary force's momentum reached its peak, Kūwūshū pointed his sword at the pitch‑black World‑Piercing Gate and shouted loudly. After shouting, he was the first to rush into the World‑Piercing Gate……

"Go!"

Āxīduō closely followed Kūwūshū, becoming the second to enter the World‑Piercing Gate.

"Kill!"

After Āxīduō and Kūwūshū came the soldiers of the Hollow Circle Expeditionary Force……

The expeditionary force soldiers, each with red‑glowing eyes, followed their expeditionary force's commander and deputy commander, pointing their swords at the Great Hollow Forest!

In fact, according to Kūwūshū's original plan, after tonight's mobilization assembly ended, they should have let the soldiers rest properly for a night, go to the most famous tavern in the Pure Spirit Court, drink the finest liquor, eat the best food, and enjoy themselves leisurely! After all, whether they could return to the Pure Spirit Court after today was uncertain.

But with Huāngmù's heartfelt speech, the expeditionary force soldiers' eyes turned blood‑red, like blood‑thirsty demons, eager to rush straight to the Hollow Circle and furiously slay a few great hollows, to offer the utmost glory and respect to their great Commander Huāngmù.

As the soldiers of the Hollow Circle Expeditionary Force passed through the World‑Piercing Gate……

Huāngmù also returned to his own First Division barracks.

When Huāngmù arrived at the gate of the First Division barracks, he happened to see a Room Forty‑Six sage standing in front of the gate, seemingly continually saying something.

"Let us in—we are the sages of Room Forty‑Six!"

The Room Forty‑Six sage, upon seeing the First Division soldiers, immediately announced his identity.

"Sorry! This is the First Division barracks; aside from Commander Huāngmù's order, nobody is allowed to enter—not even you Room Forty‑Six sages, and even if an arbiter came, they'd have to wait outside obediently."

The First Division soldiers, all having crawled out of seas of blood, simply would not put up with the Room Forty‑Six routine; upon hearing the sage's words, they merely gave a cold smile.

"You……"

"Do you know what consequences blocking me will bring?"

The sage, hearing this, instantly flew into a great rage.

"Consequences?"

"Do you know what consequences there will be if you forcibly enter the First Division?"

"Do you believe it? When we, the First Division, get angry, we can make your blood spatter five feet on the spot!"

The First Division soldier, hearing the sage's words, burst out laughing. In this Quiet Spirit Court, only when they, the First Division, threaten others have they never been threatened by anyone; not even the Sage of the Chamber Forty-Six has the qualification to threaten them.

"You..."

The sage, hearing this, broke out in a cold sweat on his forehead and was made angry enough to sneer by their words.

"I'm going to go to your Chief Captain Araki and report you!"

In response, the sage roared angrily.

"Hahaha..."

"You say you're going to go to Chief Captain Araki and report us?!"

"Good! We'll be waiting for you to report us..."

"Just wait until you actually get to see our Chief Captain Araki, then it's not too late to say that!"

However, the First Division soldier, upon hearing the sage's words, felt no fear or terror, but instead each burst out laughing hysterically, as if the Sage of the Chamber Forty-Six before them were spouting nonsense.

Moreover, one of the soldiers mercilessly mocked the Sage of the Chamber Forty-Six before him.

"You! You're bullying people too much!"

The sage, hearing this, flew into a rage.

"What's happening?!"

Araki, seeing this, slightly raised the corners of his mouth, walked over at a leisurely pace, and asked.

"Chief Captain Araki!!"

Upon Araki's arrival, the gatekeeping First Division soldiers immediately straightened their bodies, stood properly before him, and respectfully spoke to him.

As the First Division soldiers moved and spoke, the Sage of the Chamber Forty-Six finally noticed Araki's arrival...

"Chief Captain Araki, you've finally come; I've been waiting here for you a long time..."

"You don't know, your division's soldiers are simply outrageous; they actually blocked me outside the First Division, not letting me in! Even if I revealed my identity, they still wouldn't let me in, and even dared to mock me! Truly unreasonable! Unbelievable!"

"I think you must severely punish these..."

Upon seeing the belatedly arriving Araki, the Sage of the Chamber Forty-Six, whose face had been utterly stifled, instantly broke into a smile. His ugly old face at that moment bloomed like a chrysanthemum...

He also never expected his luck to be this good, suddenly encountering the Chief Captain Araki outside the First Division. For a moment, the sage planned to tell Araki a petty report about how the First Division soldiers had toyed with him.

"Chief Captain Araki, this guy who claims to be one of the Sages of the Central Chamber Forty-Six says he's come to collect a debt from you! I thought our First Division owed no one any money, so I detained him outside the First Division barracks, fearing he was a fraud using the Chamber Forty-Six's name."

However, before the sage could speak, the First Division soldiers who had detained him outside the barracks' gate spoke up first, reporting to Araki the sage's transgressions.

"You soldiers, how dare you still deceive people? You weren't saying that just a moment ago!"

Upon hearing the soldiers' words, the sage instantly felt suffocated; these First Division soldiers lie without even blinking an eye! They're outrageously bullying!

"Alright, stop fooling the Sage of the Chamber Forty-Six; quickly apologize to him."

Before the sage could say more, Araki interrupted him and ordered his own soldiers to apologize to the Sage of the Chamber Forty-Six.

"Sage, we were wrong..."

The soldiers, meanwhile, were obedient; as soon as Araki spoke, they immediately expressed their deep remorse to the Sage.

"An apology? If apologies were useful, what would we need the law for?"

After hearing the soldiers' words, the sage's expression remained somewhat displeased.

"By the way, I don't know why, as a Sage of the Central Chamber Forty-Six, you're not staying in your interrogation hall but running over to our First Division barracks—what's the meaning of this?!"

Just as the sage was being unreasonably obstinate, Araki once again interrupted him, looking at the sage and asking.

"Chief Captain Araki, I've come this time to collect a debt from you..."

"Do you still remember what you initially promised our 'Forty—?!"

The sage asked Araki.

"That's only natural; I would never dare forget it for a moment!"

Araki, hearing this, lightly nodded.

"Then the bill?"

Only after hearing Araki's words did the sage finally relax.

As long as Araki still acknowledges it, next we just need to collect the debt...

Frankly speaking, these Sages and judges of the Chamber Forty-Six no longer beg Araki to take out the money of the Five Great Nobles and share it with everyone; they now only hope that Araki will return the principal he took from their hands.

"The bill?!"

Upon hearing this, Araki first feigned a puzzled expression.

Then Araki suddenly had an expression of sudden realization, saying to the sage: "Oh! You look at my memory—I've even forgotten the matter of splitting the bill..."

"Huh..."

"Hehe, as long as you remember, that's fine, just remember."

The sage, who had originally lifted his heart in anxiety, once again set his heart at ease; each of Araki's deep breaths continually tugged at his old heart.

"Here!"

However, just as the sage relaxed, Araki placed a stack of bills into the judge's hands.

"What is this?!"

The sage, looking at the bill in his hand, first stared blankly, then immediately asked Araki.

"Well! This is the bill I previously promised you, the Chamber Forty-Six~"

"You 'Forty—when the silver is gathered, I'll have the soldiers come collect it! Then I still have things to do, so I'll take my leave for now..."

Huangmu finished speaking, gently patted the sage's shoulder, and then headed toward the First Squad's barracks.

"It's not Captain Huangmu, that's wrong, right?!"

"We hadn't agreed on that before, had we?"

"Captain Huangmu, don't leave yet, wait for me!"

The sage stared at the massive stack of bills in his hand, his pupils trembling faintly; as he watched Huangmu drift in and drift out, he immediately reached out, trying to seize Huangmu's sleeve.

"Sorry, esteemed sage of Room 46, without Captain Huangmu's order, even the judge of Room 46 may not enter our First Squad's barracks!"

Unfortunately, before the sage could enter Huangmu's First Squad barracks, the several First Squad soldiers stationed at the gate stepped forward to block him.

…

The sage listened to the First Squad soldiers before him, once again thwarting his argument, and his expression fell silent.

He now realized that Huangmu and these soldiers were playing good guy and bad guy right before his eyes! In fact they'd been colluding all along, treating him as the fool and spinning him around.

"Fine! So that's the trick you're pulling, Huangmu?!"

"Alright! Just wait for me; someday, I'll come back and deal with you..."

After speaking, the sage turned and left.

He swore that the humiliation he suffered today in the First Squad would one day be avenged!

As the saying goes: "Thirty years the river runs east, thirty years it runs west; do not despise a poor youth..."

Fine, at his age that proverb is useless; he could just jump straight to the tears of a grave‑robber in the Spirit Realm.

On the other side…

After Huangmu returned to the barracks, he headed straight for the squad leader's chamber.

"Clack~"

As Huangmu gently pushed open the door of the squad leader's chamber…

He saw Maozhihua Lie and Zaitou Bulaobusi subtly confronting each other inside the chamber.

"Hey, Huangmu, you're back~"

When Maozhihua Lie saw Huangmu return to his own squad leader's chamber after finishing the hard work, he immediately broke into a bright smile and greeted Huangmu.

"It's done…"

"That kid Ku Wushi, leading the expeditionary army, has already departed for the Void Circle!"

"From now on, leave everything to that kid…"

"A sage from Room 46 just came to the doorway, saying he wanted the bills; I sent him away!"

"Let the bills linger; I won't stop until I've squeezed every penny from those Room‑46 sages!"

Huangmu, after hearing Maozhihua Lie's words, smiled and replied.

Because no outsiders were present, Huangmu's remark was extremely blunt.

"Captain Huangmu~ you're finally back~"

"We've been waiting for you for so long~"

Just as Huangmu and Maozhihua Lie were speaking normally, Zaitou Bulaobusi, for some unknown reason, cooed at Huangmu.

"Ugh…"

Huangmu, after hearing Zaitou Bulaobusi's words, immediately furrowed his brow; his eyelids twitched rapidly, and subconsciously felt boundless disgust.

"Speak properly."

In response, Huangmu looked at Zaitou Bulaobusi and demanded clearly.

"That wicked woman, taking advantage of your absence just now, ran back to our First Squad!"

"She is clearly the captain of the Fourth Squad, yet she keeps coming to our First Squad—what kind of decorum is that?!"

"Moreover, if I recall correctly, the Fourth Squad's infirmary still houses many members of the Thirteenth Squad injured on missions who haven't been discharged yet!"

"Maozhihua, as a doctor, not staying in the hospital to care for others is downright unprofessional!"

Zaitou Bulaobusi put away his disgusting pretentious pose and complained to Huangmu.

…

Huangmu, after hearing Zaitou Bulaobusi, said nothing more and looked straight at Maozhihua Lie.

Huangmu knew that no further words were needed; Maozhihua Lie had his own reasons to persuade Zaitou Bulaobusi.

"Hey~"

"First, all the squad members currently recuperating in the Fourth Squad are no longer in life‑threatening condition; as long as they take their medicine on schedule, their injuries will heal!"

"In other words, what they need most now isn't a doctor who only diagnoses, but professional nursing staff; therefore, there's nothing more I can do for the Fourth Squad at present."

"Second, I came to your First Squad's leader chamber to find your Captain Huangmu—not for fun, but on serious business."

"Finally, stop using that brain full of 'yellow' waste to try to gauge my nobility! My professional ethics are far beyond your imagination…"

Maozhihua Lie narrowed his eyes and angrily rebuked Zaitou Bulaobusi.

"I…"

Zaitou, hearing that, was momentarily at a loss for how to reply.

"Huangmu, the matter between me and Zaitou has been settled…"

"Then can you and I discuss some important matters?"

Maozhihua Lie looked at the mute, speechless Zaitou Bulaobusi, gave a faint smile, and then asked Huangmu.

"Of course we can…"

Huangmu, hearing that, walked toward Maozhihua Lie.

"Huangmu~"

"These past days I've been studying the physiology of us Death Gods!"

"It finally took several days, and at last my efforts paid off; building on my previous 'Push Method', I've developed more advanced moves! I wonder if your Zanpōtō can withstand this this time?!"

Mao Zhi Hua Lie first stepped up to Araki, and in front of Zaitou, grabbed Araki's hand…

Then she seemed to deliberately provoke Zaitou, smiling at Araki as she spoke.

"What? Such a thing actually happened?"

Araki heard this and his eyes lit up; his gaze swept over Mao Zhi Hua Lie…

In the end, Araki's eyes settled on the heavy watermelon tightly wrapped by Mao Zhi Hua Lie.

One can only say that in this world, a gentleman's gaze is remarkably consistent.

"Then I must experience your brand‑new 'Push Method'!"

In response, Araki lightly touched his chin, then spoke with righteous resolve.

Without giving Mao Zhi Hua Lie or Zaitou a chance to speak, Araki immediately grabbed Mao Zhi Hua Lie and headed toward the back hall of the squad headquarters!

"Here we can't move freely, but the back hall is far more spacious, suitable for us to train the new skill."

Araki led Mao Zhi Hua Lie toward the back hall, speaking solemnly.

"Hehe…"

"Araki, you'd better be careful this time; I hope you don't lose to my newly developed combat technique~"

"Otherwise, the title 'Sword Eight' will be mine again."

Hearing this, Mao Zhi Hua Lie gave Araki a gentle smile.

"Losing is impossible! Mao Zhi Hua, you've greatly underestimated me!"

"My Zanpōtō is the most resilient blade in the Soul Society; it will never be outclassed by yours."

Araki, after hearing Mao Zhi Hua's words, showed a confident grin.

One should know that Araki's Zanpōtō has been reforged with the 'Spirit King's Power'! Its might is naturally boundless…

At the same time, Mao Zhi Hua Lie couldn't help but wink at Zaitou as if taunting his immortality.

"Don't eat! Don't eat! Sour radish, don't eat!!"

The immortal Zaitou, angry at Mao Zhi Hua Lie, spoke in the dialect of the 'Xishao Bureau' right before her.

Unfortunately, Mao Zhi Hua Lie and Araki ignored Zaitou and launched a fierce battle in the back hall!

From the opening, it was a flurry of blade flashes!

Terrifying sword qi and spiritual pressure collided, shaking the very space…

Mao Zhi Hua Lie didn't hold back; she immediately used her brand‑new Push Method on Araki…

The next second, under Araki's astonished gaze, a cotton‑like dumpling materialized out of nowhere, nearly enveloping his entire Zanpōtō, rendering his strength useless…

One must admit, Mao Zhi Hua Lie has indeed trained diligently!

This brand‑new technique even caused the strongest Soul Reaper, Araki, to fall at a disadvantage!

"Illuminate! Apothecary Liu Li's Light!!"

In the end, Araki could only resort to his First Release to counter Mao Zhi Hua Lie's assault.

"Devour him, Niku Shizuku Sa!"

Unfortunately, Mao Zhi Hua Lie already had a counter for Araki; the moment she saw him unleash his Zanpōtō, she also released her own Zanpōtō, and a hairless, soft creature appeared before Araki, immediately lunging at his Zanpōtō and devouring it…

"Damn!"

Araki felt cold sweat bead on his forehead.

He shouted, "It seems there's no other way! I have to use that move—Bankai!!"

"Araki, don't forget, in this Pure Spirit Court, you're not the only one who can Bankai!"

Mao Zhi Hua Lie looked at the soon‑to‑Bankai Araki with a hint of provocation, and likewise unleashed her own Niku Shizuku Sa into Bankai.

"Boom!!"

For a moment, Mao Zhi Hua Lie's and Araki's spiritual pressures swelled together, covering the entire back hall of the squad headquarters.

"Don't eat, don't eat…"

As for immortal Zaitou, he continued to curse Mao Zhi Hua Lie for breaking his word.

On the other side…

Aizen Sougo, who had successfully graduated from the Mao Spiritual Arts Academy, arrived at the First Squad's headquarters to report.

"It's said that Captain Araki's personality and hobbies are strikingly similar to those of the ever‑partying Captain Kyō!"

"I wonder if Captain Araki's room hides the kinds of things nobles often indulge in…"

"Like a golden nest hiding a delicate one…"

Originally, Aizen Sougo planned that after graduation he would, according to his own design, join the rescue unit most prone to his mischief—the Fifth Squad—starting as an ordinary squad member, biding his time silently! Once he was ready, he would become Fifth Squad captain and ascend to the upper echelons of the Pure Spirit Court.

However, the six‑year plan Aizen Sougo had crafted collapsed before it could be enacted! Because Araki forcibly transferred Aizen Sougo to the First Squad for reporting, and Aizen Sougo was the only trainee from his cohort to make it to the First Squad! This infuriated the still‑young Aizen Sougo, who constantly harbored malicious rumors about Araki in his heart.

If Araki heard Aizen Sougo's inner thoughts, he would surely smile and say, "Aizen, I never keep a delicate one in my room; if I do, it's the original Sword Eight, Mao Zhi Hua Lie!"

"Dong dong dong…"

Aizen, holding the Admission Notice personally issued by Araki, walked unimpeded to the massive doors of the First Squad's headquarters; looking at the huge portal, he felt an inexplicable shiver.

After a brief daze, he shook his head, dispelling the random thoughts, and his face reflexively broke into the sunny smile he had practiced countless times before a mirror, then he lightly knocked on the massive doors, producing a series of crisp sounds.

"Report: I am a fresh graduate of the Mao Spiritual Arts Academy, specially recruited by Captain Araki; I have come today as requested to report to the First Squad!"

After knocking the great doors, Aizen shouted loudly toward the squad headquarters.

"…"

However, no one inside the squad headquarters answered Aizen.

"Hm?!"

Aizen furrowed his brows; thinking the people inside hadn't heard, he raised his hand once more.

Advance.

Just as Lan Ran was about to knock on the door before him again, the door of the First Squad's leader's chamber suddenly opened gently right in front of Lan Ran.

Lan Ran, you're here?!

Inside the First Squad's leader's chamber...

Araki, Maozhihua Lie, and Zhai Teng Bulaobusi stood side by side.

Araki stood in the middle of the two, while Maozhihua Lie and Zhai Teng Bulaobusi each guarded Araki's left and right sides.

"There's a faint leaking spiritual pressure in the air; Captain Maozhihua Lie and Deputy Captain Zhai Teng Bulaobusi have beads of sweat on their foreheads. It seems Chief Commander Araki just sparred with Captain Maozhihua and Captain Zhai! I underestimated Chief Commander Araki; I didn't expect that even though he's already reached the Death God's limit, he still hasn't stopped his relentless pursuit of strength..."

"But that suits me perfectly! Perhaps the ever‑pursuing Chief Commander Araki could become a beacon on my path, illuminating the unknown ahead and maybe even guiding me step by step onto this very peak!"

Lan Ran's eyes, hidden behind plain lenses, still caught the details on the three inside and deduced that Araki, Maozhihua, and Zhai Teng had just endured a fierce battle...

This made Lan Ran even less willing to underestimate Araki; he must revise his plan and, using the First Squad as a springboard, set out again toward the Death God's summit!

Eight thousand~