Chapter 175: Yixin and Maki

Even though Zhibo Yixin protested to his beloved deputy captain Songben Luanju, he was still dragged back to the team leader's room with a single hand by Songben.

"Captain Zhibo, regarding the report you assigned me, I've already taken care of it."

When Yixin and Luanju had just returned to the team leader's room, the short, boyish‑faced Xiao Bai— that is Riban Gu Dongshilang— walked in carrying a stack of documents…

Even though these documents should have been the work of the team leader and deputy captain, there's nothing they can do— after all, the team leader and deputy captain of Ten Squad are both lazy fellows!

In short, the task of reviewing the documents helplessly fell on his shoulders as the Third Seat.

Indeed, Dongshilang, who had only just joined Ten Squad, has now officially become its Third Seat.

"Hey~ truly worthy of being the next captain of Ten Squad, well done~"

Zhibo Yixin, after hearing Dongshilang's words, scooped him up as if soothing a child and laughed.

"Ugh…"

Although Dongshilang's face was full of unwillingness— he hates being treated like a child— when faced with his old superior who raised him like a son, he held back.

"Ugh? Shouldn't the next captain be me?"

"By both seniority and ability, I've met the standards, right?"

"Even my Bankai training has been diligent!"

Songben Luanju, who had been as lazy as a big orange cat, instantly changed color upon hearing Zhibo Yixin's words; she bared her claws like a little lion, rushed to Yixin's front, and kept protesting.

"If we hand Ten Squad over to you, it'll probably disband the next day, right? Speaking of Bankai, Dongshilang's Bankai training is also quite good; he might even have overtaken you, the lazy one, in progress, right? Little lion~"

Yixin said, set Dongshilang down, and patted his little head.

"Of course, my Bankai training has always been excellent, unlike someone who is already old yet still has time limits after achieving Bankai…"

Dongshilang said, looking at Luanju beside him.

"Whose are you talking about? Short winter melon!"

Hearing that, Luanju moved in front of Dongshilang and squeezed his cheek hard.

"Damn golden‑maned lion!"

Dongshilang, unwilling, pinched Luanju's lower lip and scolded.

"Heh, so spirited!"

Yixin watched Dongshilang and Luanju tussling, couldn't help a light smile; after admiring the youths' vigor, he went to the cabinet where he kept his steamed buns.

However, when Yixin, brimming with excitement, prepared to taste his previously saved steamed buns, he found the cabinet empty.

"Hey! Did you guys see my steamed buns?"

Yixin turned around, eyes full of suspicion, looking at Dongshilang and Luanju.

"…"

In response, both Dongshilang and Luanju turned their heads away.

"Dammit! You two ate my steamed buns, didn't you?"

"My treasured steamed buns! Do you know how expensive they are?"

Yixin said, his eyes beginning to shed painful tears.

"It's just a few steamed buns! I admit I ate them…"

"So? What's the matter? You should just listen to the report."

"In the end, I've contributed so much to Ten Squad; what's the problem with eating a few of your buns?"

Riban Gu Dongshilang, with a fierce tone, addressed Yixin.

"You brat, you got a free ride and are still playing nice, right?"

Yixin, hearing that, clenched his teeth and stared at Dongshilang.

"In any case, take a look at this report first!"

Dongshilang said, handing the report to Yixin.

"This is…"

Yixin, holding Dongshilang's report, his eyes flickered slightly.

"Do you still remember what happened in Mingmu City two months ago?"

"The Death God assigned to Mingmu City died, cause unknown for now!"

"This is brand‑new information: the Death God dispatched to investigate Mingmu City last month also died…"

Dongshilang looked at Zhibo Yixin, speaking earnestly.

"I understand."

Zhibo Yixin furrowed his brows; within the report he saw a hint of irregularity.

"Ten Squad will be left with you for now; I'll probably return the morning after tomorrow~"

"Well then, goodbye, Dongshilang and Luanju!"

"You two better take responsibility for me~"

Zhibo Yixin said, then flew straight toward the sky, vanishing from Dongshilang and Luanju's sight in a single blink.

"Captain! This hasn't been reported to the Chief Captain yet, has it?"

"Without the Chief Captain's permission, you launching a direct strike like this, is it really okay?"

Luanju shouted at Yixin, nervous.

"Honestly, Dongshilang, you and I, hurry and catch up!"

Luanju, seeing Yixin had no intention of returning, turned to Dongshilang.

"Let the captain go!"

Dongshilang, after hearing Luanju, shook his head.

"Honestly, Dongshilang, why are you like this too?"

Luan Ju, after hearing Dong Shilang's words, was speechless.

"Don't you understand yet? The reason the captain chose to go alone?!"

"With our current strength, even if we chased after them, we'd only cause trouble for the captain!"

Dong Shilang, after hearing Luan Ju's words, spoke helplessly.

"This..."

Luan Ju, upon hearing that, fell silent.

Meanwhile...

In the dim laboratory of Ghost Street.

Lan Ran, Dong Xian, and Shi Wan Yin were continuously manipulating the instruments before them.

"Damn it! Just a little bit, just the last little bit..."

Dong Xian sighed while operating the instruments before her.

"It's okay, Dong Xian! Don't panic..."

"I've found the traces of Hirako Shinji and others who fled to the mortal world decades ago; even if our experiment goes wrong, we can make up for our shortcomings using their bodily data, so rest assured—everything is under our control."

Lan Ran, after hearing Dong Xian's complaint, softly soothed her.

"I understand, Lord Lan Ran!"

Dong Xian, upon hearing that, immediately calmed down.

At the same time, in the office of the First Division captain...

"Everything is under our control."

Huang Mu sat silently in front of a television, quietly watching the program inside.

Yes, every move Lan Ran made was under Huang Mu's observation; as for the person responsible for filming these scenes, it was none other than Dong Xian, whom Lan Ran had just soothed.

"Alright, Lan Ran! Go to the mortal world~"

"The birth of the child of fate still needs your help~"

Huang Mu sat on the sofa, strategizing as he spoke.

At the same time, Shi Bo Yi Xin had already passed through the Dimensional Gate, heading toward the mortal world.

In a small town of the mortal world, Empty Seat Town...

When the captain of the Tenth Division from Soul Society, Shi Bo Yi Xin, came to investigate the unexpected deaths of Soul Reapers in the mortal world and arrived in Empty Seat Town...

Lan Ran, Dong Xian, and Shi Wan Yin, who were tasked with collecting data on the experimental subject Hollow White and seeking Hirako Shinji and others, also happened to arrive in this city!

What a coincidence: the pure-blood Quincy clan, the Shi Tian family, also resides in Empty Seat Town; and likewise, the pure-blood Quincy family, the Black Cape family's sole heir, Black Cape Maya, happened to be staying with the Shi Tian family...

For a moment, all the players gathered on this grand stage of Empty Seat Town, and the wheels of fate began to turn once again.

That day was June 17th, and a light rain fell from the sky.

Shi Bo Yi Xin had finally found the murderous beast Hollow White that had slaughtered Soul Reapers, but before he could engage it in battle, he was stabbed in the back.

"Was that slash from a Soul Reaper?"

"There's a traitor among the Thirteen Court Guard Squads!"

Yi Xin's face suddenly changed; at that moment he remembered a rumor from when Urahara Kisuke betrayed the Seireitei: the rumor said the betrayal wasn't Urahara's doing, but that someone had schemed against him, and that schemer still lurks within the Thirteen Court Guard Squads.

Back then, Yi Xin didn't think much of it, but now, after being cut, he finally realized.

"Damn it, am I really going to die here?"

Just as Yi Xin lay on the damp, cold floor, his eyes helplessly fixed on the sky...

"Whoosh!"

A sound of tearing through the air instantly drew the attention of both Hollow White and Yi Xin.

There appeared a girl with orange-yellow short hair, seemingly out of nowhere in the night, now continually drawing her spirit-arrow bow.

"That is..."

Yi Xin looked at the girl, and the name 'Quincy' instantly sprang to mind.

Immediately, as Yi Xin was still pondering the girl's identity, she suddenly ceased her attack, allowing Hollow White to tear at her...

"Watch out!"

This startled Yi Xin, who had just risen from the ground.

However, before Yi Xin could finish speaking, an even more shocking scene unfolded.

Seeing the girl, as Hollow White bit her shoulder, she smiled, wrapped her arms around its neck, and softly said, 'This way I've got you~'

As soon as the girl finished speaking, holy annihilation arrows flared once again in her hand...

"Roar!!"

In the form of the massive Hollow known as Hollow White, letting out a full-throated roar, Black Cape Maya, wielding the holy annihilation arrow, instantly pierced its neck.

"Boom!"

However, Hollow White did not die just like that; in a violent expansion, it grew larger and larger.

"Oh no!"

Yi Xin immediately threw Hollow White to the ground and used Binding Spell: Break the Void!

"Boom!!"

A flame shot up to the heavens like an intercontinental missile.

Because the spirit particle density in the mortal world is the lowest of the three realms, the power of both Soul Reapers and Hollows is weakened here; nevertheless, that flame awakened all of Empty Seat Town, and the authorities classified it as a gas explosion.

"Haha, sorry for dragging you into this..."

Compared to his own son, Black Cape Ichigo, who had already turned into a rug, Shi Bo Yi Xin looked utterly embarrassed at the girl before him, grinning foolishly.

"Are you okay?"

The girl looked at Yixin before her and asked nervously.

"Don't worry, don't worry..."

Yixin shook his head repeatedly upon hearing that.

"But you, you're really amazing!"

"I actually took it down in one strike, and even the great hollow that gives me a headache!"

"By the way, I still haven't asked your name, miss. Who are you?"

Yixin looked at the girl and probed.

"I..."

"I am Heiqi Zhenxiao, I'm an Extermination Specialist!"

Zhenxiao hesitated for a moment, then answered truthfully.

"You're really an Extermination Specialist? That's amazing! Cough cough cough..."

Yixin responded excitedly upon hearing that.

It seems because Yixin was too excited, he accidentally aggravated his injury, causing nonstop coughing.

"Is this a Death God? It's completely different from what my father said."

At this moment, Zhenxiao was more like a curious little white rabbit.

Yixin undoubtedly is a big grey wolf lusting after beauty...

Then...

Yixin returned to the Guardian Thirteen Squads.

"So, do you have anything else to report?"

Huangmu sat in the chair of the captain's chamber and asked Yixin facing him.

"Report to the Chief Captain! Nothing..."

Yixin heard that and slightly bowed.

"Is that so? Then you may go!"

"Remember to give me a heads-up before your next trip to the Living World!"

Huangmu looked at Yixin and thought.

"Yes! Yes, sir!"

Yixin looked at Huangmu, who showed a faint killing intent, and cold sweat instantly broke out on his forehead.

Over the next few days, Yixin remained stationed at the Tenth Squad.

After all, he had previously gone overboard, and many captains in the Guardian Thirteen Squads held opinions against him, especially the captain of the Second Squad, Sui Feng...

"Damn! I just can't get it out of my mind!"

However, no matter how hard Yixin tried to calm his mind, he could never fully quiet down; as soon as he closed his eyes, he thought of Heiqi Zhenxiao's smile.

If Huangmu saw Yixin's expression now, he would surely laugh and say: "You're done for! You're in love!"

In short...

After Shibo Yixin struggled with his own mind for several days, he finally couldn't hold back, secretly passed through the World-Piercing Gate, and went to the Living World, Empty Seat Town.

When Yixin arrived at Empty Seat Town, he finally met the girl he had been longing for, but unfortunately the girl's situation seemed not good...

After Yixin argued with the Extermination Specialist holding that girl, a man wearing a strange hat and a green bathrobe simply appeared in the sky above, solemnly saying to Yixin and the Extermination Specialist: "If you two really want to resolve that girl's condition, why not come with me? I somewhat understand that girl's condition, after all, I've been troubled by that very condition on the girl for nearly a hundred years!"

"Are you Pu Yuan Xi Zhu?"

Yixin looked at the disheveled man before him, was first stunned, then spoke the man's name.

"Long time no see, Captain Shibo~"

Upon hearing Yixin's words, Pu Yuan Xi Zhu took off his hat, revealed his weathered face, and smiled.

"Then Extermination Specialist, or should I call you Shi Tian Long Xian~"

"How will you choose? Believe me, or..."

Pu Yuan Xi Zhu said, looking at the silver-haired Extermination Specialist.

"Please, bring Zhenxiao back!"

The silver-haired Extermination Specialist, upon hearing that, earnestly said to Pu Yuan Xi Zhu.

"Sure~"

Pu Yuan Xi Zhu heard that and instantly showed a faint smile.

In the end, Shi Tian Long Xian, Pu Yuan Xi Zhu, and Shibo Yixin came to Pu Yuan Xi Zhu's shop set up in the Living World, and after his introduction, they revealed Zhenxiao's treatment method.

"What a joke!"

Long Xian heard that and his expression changed instantly.

"Looks like you're a smart person."

Pu Yuan Xi Zhu looked at the astonished Long Xian, and a glint shone in his eyes.

"How could this Death God possibly discard his own power for this?"

"To help an Extermination Specialist discard his own power? What a joke, it does him no good at all! He would never agree..."

At this moment, Long Xian despaired; upon hearing Pu Yuan Xi Zhu's method for treating Zhenxiao, he felt despair instantly—this was nothing short of a fantasy.

To treat Zhenxiao, one needs a captain-level Death God to sacrifice his own Death God power?! This is absolutely impossible...

"Hah? It's just asking me to give up my Death God power? You should have said so earlier!"

"Although I'm also somewhat reluctant, but if I today give up saving her, tomorrow's me will surely look down on today's me..."

Just as Long Xian was still in despair, Shibo Yixin had already made a decision.

"This is..."

The moment Longxian heard what Yixin said, he realized he could not win.

Just because Yixin said the same thing as Zhenxiao……

Then let's begin!

Although Puyuan was also shocked, he still began his own surgery as he had previously said, first extracting the Soul Reaper power from within Zhibo Yixin's body, then injecting it into Zhenxiao's body; when the Soul Reaper power that possessed anti-Hollow antibodies, or rather shared the same origin as Hollows but was harmless to Quincy, entered Zhenxiao's body, Zhenxiao's complexion visibly began to improve, and the Hollow hole in her chest gradually faded.

Success……

Puyuan wiped the sweat from his forehead and smiled at the person behind him.

However, the very moment Puyuan turned his head, he found he could not smile at all.

Just because Puyuan saw a person who, no matter what, should not have been here, smiling kindly at everyone present.

Success~

Hahaha……

Of course, this did not affect Zhibo Yixin, who had lost his Soul Reaper power; he had now become a mere ordinary person, unable to reach the world where Puyuan and the others were.

Haha……

Zhibo Yixin may have lost his power, but he was no fool.

Upon seeing Puyuan Xizhu and Shitian Longxian as formidable opponents, he lightly wiped the sweat from his forehead and then asked, 'Is there something behind me? Something I cannot see?!'

Aiya……

I never expected it! The Captain-Commander of the Guardian Court Thirteen Squads actually graced my humble shop, truly bringing glory to this lad's establishment~

Just as Zhibo Yixin was puzzled, Puyuan Xizhu revealed the identity of the person standing behind Yixin. Indeed, the visitor was none other than Huangmu himself, who had come directly from the Soul Society to Empty Seat Town via the Super Boundary Gate.

Puyuan Xizhu, long time no see~

Huangmu looked at Puyuan and Yixin, then spoke calmly.

……

Puyuan said nothing more, merely bowed slightly toward Huangmu.

What the heck is this guy?

As for Shitian Longxian, he stared at Huangmu with eyes full of incomprehension.

He had never seen such a powerful spiritual being like Huangmu!

Captain-Commander? No way!!

Don't fool me……

Yixin, hearing this, was frightened and turned away; he naturally saw nothing, but when Yixin met the stern gazes of Puyuan and Longxian, he finally understood: in the world he could not see, the strongest Soul Reaper of the Soul Society had arrived.

Greetings, Captain-Commander! Please give me a chance to explain……

Yixin immediately dropped to one knee on the ground and spoke to the empty air he could not see.

Wrong! The Captain-Commander is by your side~

Seeing this, Puyuan could not bear to cover his eyes.

Yes, Yixin was mistaken; at this moment, Huangmu stood beside the reclining Heiqi Zhenxiao on the sickbed, silently observing the girl before him.

Writer's block, just a brief transition~