Chapter 172

Kuchiki Family's clan grounds.

"Fēizhēn remembers to take her medicine."

Kuchiki Byakuya wore a plain white robe, gazing at Fēizhēn lying still on the sickbed, his eyes full of pity; Fēizhēn's body was inherently weak, and after she married into the Kuchiki Family to gain the family's approval and not embarrass Kuchiki Byakuya, she was constantly busy studying noble etiquette, even during her supposed rest time she had no idle moments, actually running to Wandering Souls Street, and in the end Fēizhēn's body finally broke down.

According to the Kuchiki Family's imperial physician's experience, given Fēizhēn's physical condition, it would be hard for her to survive this year! However, fortunately, the current medical standards of the Soul Society far surpass the understanding of the Kuchiki Family's imperial physician; as the captain of the medical division, i. e., the Fourth Division's captain, Mǎozhīhuā Liè, furthermore, with the help of Huāngmù, combining the Twelfth Division captains' research on righteous souls with the method of returning the Dao, they invented multiple tonic methods such as food supplementation and blood exchange, successfully saving the life that should have been lost this year, Fēizhēn's life.

Meanwhile, like Kuchiki Fēizhēn, likewise due to her frail body, living in the Tranquil Spirit Court where spiritual particle concentration is extremely high, Kuchiki Cāngchún felt great difficulty; also thanks to the temporary soul tonic method invented by Yèzhōu Tóngshēng, she managed to survive. Of course, the resources and money the Kuchiki Family spent treating Fēizhēn and Cāngchún are unimaginable to ordinary people; this necessitates mentioning the high price Huāngmù charged the Kuchiki Family for treating Fēizhēn and Cāngchún, a price enough to make even the immensely wealthy Kuchiki Family feel a pang.

Even now, Kuchiki Byakuya still remembers feeling heartbroken over Fēizhēn's condition; for this his grandfather, Kuchiki Yínlíng, recommended him to the Soul Society's top physician, who at the time was also the current Commander-in-Chief of the Guardian Thirteen Divisions, Huāngmù.

"Commander-in-Chief Huāngmù, may I ask if my wife Fēizhēn can still be saved?!"

Byakuya recalled that upon entering the First Division's captain's quarters, he eagerly asked Huāngmù about his wife Fēizhēn's condition.

"Your wife Fēizhēn's body is very weak!"

Byakuya also remembered that upon hearing this, Huāngmù furrowed his brows, putting on an expression of great distress over Fēizhēn's situation.

"Really? Even Commander-in-Chief Huāngmù cannot cure Fēizhēn?!"

At that moment, Byakuya felt despair.

"No, Byakuya kid, you've misunderstood……"

Just as Byakuya was in despair, Commander-in-Chief Huāngmù revealed a faint smile.

"What is that?"

Upon hearing this, Byakuya looked at Huāngmù with incomprehension.

"What I mean is, your wife Fēizhēn's soul is truly weak, but I didn't say it can't be saved; it can be saved, but you need to pay more! Much more……"

Huāngmù looked at the young Byakuya and spoke with a hearty laugh.

"I'll add it!"

Byakuya didn't even think, he directly agreed to Huāngmù's words.

Then Byakuya spent the amount that could buy ten thousand strips of 'wind-flower gauze' to obtain from Huāngmù the method to cure Fēizhēn. Indeed, the cure method alone was worth ten thousand strips of 'wind-flower gauze'; besides that, the medical fees, nursing fees, and medicinal material costs, etc., were calculated separately.

This time, even the Kuchiki Family could be considered to have suffered a huge loss……

"Byakuya, Fēizhēn's life is not worth the Kuchiki Family spending so much……"

Fēizhēn's mind was keen and perceptive; she knew that Kuchiki Byakuya had spent a great deal of money and resources to save her, and while she was deeply moved, she weakly spoke while holding Byakuya's hand.

"No! You are worthy! Fēizhēn, your heart, you need not feel any pressure; I sincerely believe you are worthy, you are worthy! In my view, your life is priceless……"

Byakuya held Fēizhēn's hand and spoke deeply.

"Byakuya……"

Upon hearing Byakuya's words, Fēizhēn's watery eyes instantly welled up with crystal-clear tears once more; she truly felt that meeting someone like Byakuya even after death was a great fortune across three lifetimes.

"Fēizhēn, once your injuries are fully healed, I hope you can agree to one thing……"

Byakuya looked at the lovely Fēizhēn before him, suddenly recalled something, and his expression gradually became serious.

"As long as it is what Byakuya says, I will gladly comply!"

Fēizhēn looked at the stern-faced Byakuya before her and spoke seriously.

"Fēizhēn, this is what you said! So from today onward, you must not go to such unsafe places as Wandering Souls Street; I am truly afraid that you might encounter some accident there, and I cannot imagine living without you."

Byakuya pulled Fēizhēn's hand and spoke softly.

"Byakuya, regarding this matter, I hope you can let me think it over again."

Upon hearing Byakuya's words, Fēizhēn's expression changed slightly; she clearly knew she had no right to refuse Byakuya, and she also knew his proposal was entirely for her safety, yet she could not easily agree to Byakuya, because this matter was not just her own—it also involved her younger sister, the person she felt most sorry for in this life.

"Fēizhēn, are you worried about your sister?"

Upon hearing Fēizhēn's words, Byakuya gently lifted her soft hair and smiled.

"Byakuya, you already know?!"

Upon hearing Byakuya's words, Fēizhēn's expression changed slightly.

Indeed, regarding her own younger sister, she had never mentioned it to Byakuya, because the matter was truly too difficult to bring up; moreover, Byakuya had already done enough for her, and she could not let him sacrifice anything further for her—since it was she who personally abandoned her sister back then, let her now personally find her back! This is how it ought to be……

However, it is obvious that things did not develop as Fēizhēn had initially envisioned; right now, Byakuya already knows everything.

"Fēizhēn, you underestimate me as your husband; as your husband, if I don't even know what has been troubling you these past years, then am I not utterly useless and unqualified?!"

Byakuya looked at Fēizhēn and smiled.

In fact, Byakuya merely asked his subordinates, the guards he had personally stationed beside Fēizhēn, what she was looking for when she went to Wandering Souls Street?! Then, combining that with Fēizhēn's circumstances, he quickly inferred her situation.

Indeed, aside from being a love-struck fool, Byakuya's intelligence and emotional intelligence are both maxed out, making him the Kuchiki Family's most outstanding heir in nearly a thousand years, without equal.

"Byakuya, do you think I'm useless? Back when I just wanted to stay alive, I actually tossed that adorable, young biological sister aside—I'm such a terrible sister; if that child were still alive, she'd surely hate me as a sister to the core?! Byakuya, would you be disappointed in me? After all, your wife is someone who constantly arms herself with lies and, at critical moments, discards her own biological sister—such trash~"

Fēizhēn lay on the sickbed, revealing a bitter, self-mocking smile.

Originally she had said she would rely on her own strength to find her sister……

Originally she had also said she would never cause trouble for Byakuya again……

Yet the outcome was still this: not only did she fail to find her sister, but her body also suffered lasting damage from it, causing Byakuya considerable trouble—she truly is a useless person.

"Fēizhēn, I absolutely will not allow you to belittle yourself! You are the wife I, Kuchiki Byakuya, have chosen; from the very beginning I decided to love everything about you—whether good or bad, I want everything about you to be filled with my affection for you."

Upon hearing Fēizhēn's words, Byakuya's cold brows immediately furrowed—this was the first time he had grown angry at Fēizhēn, and the reason for his anger was merely that she did not know how to cherish herself; in fact, Byakuya hoped she would rely on him more, not bear everything alone, since they are now husband and wife, he has prepared himself to face any ordeal—whether blades or flames—side by side with Fēizhēn.

"Byakuya……"

At this moment, Fēizhēn no longer knows how to repay Byakuya; she owes him so much that even sacrificing her life would likely still fall far short.

"Byakuya, what must I do to repay your kindness to me?"

Fēizhēn gently caressed Byakuya's handsome cheek and asked softly.

"Live well, and then love me well!"

Upon hearing this, Byakuya replied with utmost determination.

"I will."

Hezhen answered very firmly.

At this moment, Hezhen felt she was the happiest woman in the world.

"Hezhen!"

"Baizai~"

"Hezhen~"

For a moment, Baizai and Hezhen once again got lovey-dovey.

"So annoying, I just can't recover..."

Regarding this, Changchun in the next room felt a surge of anger; he sometimes really wanted to kick his eldest son out of the Xiumu family.

Going forward, the Xiumu family's education of its heirs, besides morality, intellect, physique, aesthetics, and labor, must also determine whether the person is a love‑brain! Previously the Xiumu family had never produced a love‑brain, so they didn't think about it, but now it seems this is the most important…

"By the way, Hezhen, I'll tell you some good news~"

"Your sister, we the Xiumu family have already found her."

Just as Baizai and Hezhen's feelings were rapidly heating up, love‑brain Baizai suddenly thought of something, and he couldn't help sharing this good news with his wife.

"Baizai, don't try to cheer me up; I've already prepared myself to search for my sister slowly with my life, and of course I will protect myself carefully."

After hearing Baizai's words, Hezhen showed a hint of surprise, which gradually calmed; her eyes smiled as she softly said to Baizai.

In Hezhen's view, her husband Baizai must be afraid she would run off to the perilous Wanderer's Street again, so he was deceiving her.

"It's true; that child is very talented, relying on her own strength she entered the True Central Spiritual Arts Academy, and is now a second‑year student there! Regarding this, I first declare that the child's admission to the Spiritual Arts Institute is absolutely not arranged by our Xiumu family, since I only recently found the child; in other words, she entered the institute entirely by her own ability and will."

Baizai solemnly promised Hezhen.

"Baizai, you really found that child..."

Seeing that her husband was not feigning, Hezhen immediately became excited.

"Of course I wouldn't dare deceive the lady."

Baizai smiled at Hezhen and gave a slight nod.

"How wonderful, truly wonderful..."

"That child truly is a fortunate little girl; even without my help she can live well, and I am truly happy."

Hezhen wore a happy smile on her face, feeling genuine joy that her sister was still alive and doing well.

"Just being able to put your mind at ease is enough..."

"When your health improves a bit more, I'll arrange a meeting for you with that child."

"I suppose you sisters must have a lot to say to each other!!"

Baizai gently stroked Hezhen's flushed cheek and spoke tenderly.

"Meeting that child?"

"I, I haven't made the preparations yet..."

"Will that child dislike me?"

"If that child dislikes me, Baizai, what should I do?"

Hezhen said, tears glimmering in her eyes again.

"No way, that child will surely like you, Hezhen!"

"After all, there is no one in this world who truly dislikes you, Hezhen..."

Baizai looked at the helpless Hezhen, raised his cool brows slightly, and made a decision in his heart.

He decided to make time to first meet Hezhen's sister...

At the same time Baizai remembered that the child's name seemed to be Landao.

Speaking of which, that child's talent is truly not bad; if she received guidance from the Xiumu family, she might even hope to master Complete Release and become captain of the Thirteen Court Guard Squads.

In that light, bringing her into the Xiumu family would not only add strength to the family but also settle Hezhen's worries—truly killing two birds with one stone.

"Hehe..."

Thinking this, Baizai revealed a faint smile.

This is literally the plan working out! Baizai truly is a genius~

On another note, the Research and Development Bureau of the Twelfth Court Guard Division.

"Sorry to disturb you, Captain Nie~"

Huangmu's figure once again appeared at the barracks of the Twelfth Division.

"Ah~ Isn't that Chief Captain Huangmu? What brings someone of your stature here?"

Upon hearing Huangmu's voice, Nie Mayuri first frowned, his expression showing a bit of displeasure—after all, nobody likes people who barge into others' homes without permission—but when Nie Mayuri turned and saw it was Huangmu, he immediately relaxed his furrowed brows.

"Nothing, can't I just come see you?"

Huangmu looked at Nie Mayuri and smiled.

"You're really joking..."

"Who in the Soul World doesn't know that Chief Captain Huangmu, you're swamped with duties day and night, extremely busy, and hardly ever have time to rest?"

"If I disturbed Chief Captain Huangmu's rest, that would be a grave sin~"

Nie Mayuri looked at Huangmu, speaking in an exaggerated manner, spouting all kinds of flattery.

"Alright, no more idle talk~"

"The Soul Reapers I had you capture—have you caught them all?"

Huangmu looked at Nie Mayuri and asked.

"As you can see, all eleven living Soul Reapers created by Researcher Landao have become specimens in my lab~"

Nie Mayuri lightly snapped his fingers after hearing Huangmu's words.

Instantly, twelve huge tanks rose in the dark lab, containing eleven sleeping Soul Reaper members and the creator of the Soul Reapers, Researcher Landao. Yes, Nie Mayuri had even captured Landao himself…

"Well done~"

Huangmu looked at the twelve nutrition boxes before him and nodded in satisfaction.

"Thank you for your praise, this is all I should do……"

Niejuanli received Huangmu's praise and gave a light smile.

"Well then, Niejuanli, let me show you something interesting."

After verifying Niejuanli's work, Huangmu then sent the reason for his search this time—a pair of siblings about five or six years old—to Niejuanli's side.

"This is……"

Niejuanli looked at the pair of siblings before him, his eyes wide open.

"Soul? Hollow? No, neither is correct……"

"I never expected such an interesting existence to appear in this world! It's utterly unbelievable—I really want to study them thoroughly."

Niejuanli looked at the pair of sleeping siblings before him and spoke excitedly.

"Niejuanli, I have only one request: let them grow up healthy."

Huangmu looked at the excited Niejuanli and spoke calmly.

"In other words, as long as they can grow up healthy, the rest can be left to me to manage, right?!"

Niejuanli is skilled at finding loopholes in Huangmu's words; he's a master of word games.

"You can understand it that way."

Huangmu lightly nodded.

"Then please leave it to me! Captain Huangmu~"

"I will definitely raise them well~"

Niejuanli eagerly took the pair of siblings from Huangmu's arms, as if looking at a precious treasure, and carefully brought them to the computer.

As for Niejuanli's actions, Huangmu saw them all……

As for such things that Niejuanli considers valuable, he cares more about their safety than Huangmu does, so their well-being needs no consideration from Huangmu.

As for the siblings' identities, they were a nameless pair adopted by Xiumu Luqiya; when Luqiya was attacked by a Hollow, they fused with the Hollow.

Speaking of which, the siblings also have some connection with Niejuanli; if it weren't for Huangmu rescuing them at a critical moment and bringing them here, then once they grew up, the first person they would mess with would be Niejuanli……

In Huangmu's memory, they gave Niejuanli a rough time; if Niejuanli didn't have the habit of keeping memories by seniority, perhaps even his own existence couldn't be maintained?!

Naturally, that was the original course of events, but with Huangmu's arrival, everything has changed; Huangmu looks forward to seeing what wonderful chemical reaction will occur when the siblings are raised by Niejuanli……

"So then……"

Huangmu said, then prepared to leave, after all he was truly busy with myriad affairs.

However, just as Huangmu was about to leave the 12th Division, his eyes suddenly noticed a petite, adorable little girl.

The girl wore a Shinigami uniform, with a white lab coat over it, clearly also a member of the Technical Development Bureau; according to Niejuanli's words, she is one of the beings under his control.

"Niejuanli, I had no idea your Tech Dev Bureau was so short-staffed as to need child labor?!"

Huangmu pointed at the girl and asked Niejuanli.

"Oh? You mean that child?!"

"That child is Mian Wuhao, one of the products of the Mian Project……"

Upon hearing Huangmu's words, Niejuanli set down the child in his hands, glanced casually at Huangmu's direction, instantly saw the girl Huangmu was observing, and immediately replied.

"Remember, recruiting child labor is illegal."

After obtaining the information he wanted, Huangmu said no more, merely reminding Niejuanli before leaving.

"That child is called Mian Wuhao!"

"In other words, Mian Qihao, aka Nie Yin Meng, is about to appear too~"

"Time really flies~"

Huangmu muttered to himself, his figure already returned to the barracks of the 1st Division.

"Truly worthy of being a Captain, you noticed this child's difference?"

"Hehe, interesting, interesting……"

Meanwhile, after Huangmu left, Niejuanli revealed a sinister smile, began to mutter words that the members of the Technical Development Bureau couldn't understand.

Several days later.

Xiumu Baizai did not constantly accompany Heizhen's side, but chose to leave the Xiumu Clan's territory; he also had his own matters to attend to, and according to his promise, letting the Xiumu Clan fund Heizhen's treatment entailed a price!

He must, within five years, pass the captain's examination of the Thirteen Court Guard Squads, take over the captaincy of the 6th Division from Yinling, and assume the responsibilities of the head of the Xiumu Clan; in a short time, even the genius Xiumu Baizai felt immense pressure.

After all, the positions of captain of the 6th Division and head of the Xiumu Clan are two identities countless people in Soul Society dream of; for Xiumu Baizai, they are not merely a post and identity, but also the obligations and responsibilities that come with them.

Currently, Baizai has not yet inherited the 6th Division, nor is he truly the head of the Xiumu Clan; he can still act willfully and deceive himself into thinking he's just a child, but once he takes over Yinling's duties, he must lead by example.

"Alas……"

Thinking of this, Baizai couldn't help but let out a long sigh, allowing himself, as the heir of the Xiumu Clan rather than its head, one last act of willfulness~

After Baizai's long sigh, he brought his attendants and the Xiumu Clan's steward to the gates of the True Center Spiritual Arts Academy……

"Go see the girl named Luqiya~"

Baizai said, then strode into the academy before him.

"Yes, sir."

And those attendants followed closely behind.

That day, after class Luqiya vanished; Asanjing Lianci, who had scored high on the exam, searched the academy everywhere for her trace.

"Luqiya! Luqiya, where are you?"

"You know? I got first place this time and gave those nobles a good slap in the face! You really should have come with me—then you'd see the nobles we used to dislike, their faces as black as if they'd eaten feces……"

When Lianci felt Rukia's spiritual pressure, he pushed open the meeting room doors on his own, and at the moment he spoke loudly, what he saw was a man wearing on his head a star‑pulling clasp that only the highest nobles would wear, with a silver‑white wind‑flower gauze around his neck that he could scarcely afford in his lifetime, exuding noble bearing in his every gesture.

That man looked at Lu Qiya with an indifferent expression, as if saying something to her……

"Someone's coming, anyway take some time, I'll come pick you up then."

Man spoke to Lu Qiya in a commanding tone, then immediately walked toward the approaching Linci. The man never once looked at Linci from head to toe; he simply walked past Linci's side silently, thereby imposing endless pressure on Linci……

"What powerful spiritual pressure!"

Linci's face turned pale; he knew the man beside him wasn't intentionally using his own spiritual pressure to provoke him, yet merely the spiritual pressure unintentionally released by the other was enough to make him feel chest tightness and breathlessness—this is an absolute gap in quality.

"Then please consider it yourself, and also please be careful of your safety!"

Bai Zai's retainers turned around, left that sentence to Lu Qiya, then no longer disturbed her, closely following Bai Zai's silhouette as they departed.

"What on earth is going on with Lu Qiya?"

After everyone had left, Linci walked up to Lu Qiya and asked his childhood friend.

"……"

Lu Qiya did not answer Linci; she merely shed a clear tear.

"Eh? Lu Qiya, why are you crying?"

"Bastard, indeed that incredibly powerful, outrageous noble just bullied you, didn't he? Lu Qiya, don't be afraid, I'll go settle the score with him right now……"

Although Linci knew that even if he caught up to the other party, he likely couldn't beat the latter's retainers, let alone avenge Lu Qiya—he'd surely get a beating—but he still had to go, believing that justice exists in this world.

"Linci you jerk, what nonsense are you spouting?!"

"Don't spout nonsense! That person is my brother-in-law; how can you be so rude?"

After hearing Linci's words, Lu Qiya spoke angrily.

"Ah? That incredibly strong monster turned out to be my brother-in-law, sir."

"This is disastrous; I probably left him a bad impression, right?"

Upon hearing that the cold-faced handsome guy from earlier was actually Lu Qiya's brother-in-law, Linci's expression changed instantly, and he suddenly became even more nervous than before.

Furthermore, Linci took out a mirror, slightly fiddling with his hairstyle; however, no matter from which angle he looked, he felt he couldn't even match one ten-thousandth of that handsome guy from earlier—this truly is heartbreaking.

My brother-in-law is so handsome, it will impose tremendous pressure on him……

"Damn it, Linci, that's my brother-in-law; what are you yelling about for no reason?"

Lu Qiya first retorted at Linci with a sentence, then looked at him rather speechlessly.

"Oh? That's also right, that's your brother-in-law; what do I have to be nervous about?"

Upon hearing that, Linci suddenly showed a look of realization.

"Speaking of which, it turns out you have an older sister, Lu Qiya?"

Linci then realized the key point. Earlier he had only been comparing himself with that super noble handsome guy, forgetting that Lu Qiya actually has an older sister……

"I'm also hearing this for the first time."

Lu Qiya spoke righteously.

"Eh? Then what moved you just now?"

Upon hearing that, Linci froze for a moment.

"Idiot, my brother-in-law just said that my older sister, in order to find me, has been going to 'Wandering Souls Street' day after day; she's different from us, her body is very weak! As a result, after wandering long in 'Wandering Souls Street', her body broke down! Now she's long-term bedridden……"

"Nevertheless, even so, my older sister refuses to give up looking for me; my existence seems to have become a lump of disease in my older sister's heart, and it's because of this that I'm moved to tears—these years I've caused my older sister quite a bit of trouble……"

Lu Qiya sternly told Linci.

"So since she's so worried about you, why did you get lost in the first place?"

Linci scratched his head, asking doubtfully.

"That kind of thing definitely isn't my older sister intending to lose me……"

Lu Qiya, very understanding, rebutted.

"That makes sense!"

Upon hearing that, Linci also really couldn't figure it out……

All he could do was give Lu Qiya a thumbs up.

"Anyway, my brother-in-law said to take some time and go to his place to see the bedridden older sister. My brother-in-law also said, my older sister misses me so much, and her longing has turned into illness……"

"Linci, what should I bring as a gift to visit my older sister, sir?"

Lu Qiya rubbed her temples and asked Linci.

"How should I put it? I think with your brother-in-law's conditions, you probably lack nothing; in that case, just presenting something thoughtful would be enough, right?"

Linci spoke frankly.

"That's also true……"

"But what counts as thoughtful?"

Lu Qiya said with a headache.

"The cooking class should still be open, right?"

"Why not try making a batch of cookies for your older sister?"

Linci thought for a moment, then smiled at Lu Qiya.

"That makes sense!"

Upon hearing that, Lu Qiya showed Linci a brilliant smile.

"Hahaha……"

Linci looked at Lu Qiya's beaming face and laughed foolishly.

But soon Linci couldn't laugh anymore, because what appeared before him was cooking that could be described as lethal to the level of holy script.

"Eating this will kill you, right?"

Linci looked at the blackened charcoal that could no longer be called a cookie, and spoke frankly.

However, when Renji met Rukia's expectant gaze, he still ate it.

Heh, just that...

Renji said, with a 'plop', he collapsed to the ground.

"Renji, wake up! Wake up, Renji!"

Rukia looked at the fallen Renji and shouted loudly.

Meanwhile...

Coming to the Soul Reaper Academy to teach students, Aizen Sosuke was actually doing it to raise affection, and he saw Kuchiki Byakuya just leaving the academy's gate.

Interesting~

Aizen smiled slightly, then went to the classroom where he taught.

"Teacher Aizen is so handsome~"

As soon as Aizen entered the classroom, he was greeted by the screams of countless fangirls.

One of these fangirls, who also happened to be someone Aizen specially paid attention to, was named Hinamori Momo...

Eight thousand~