Chapter 5: and translation of chapter title

At the same time, in the Tranquil Spirit Court,

In the barracks of the First Division of the Guard Court,

A middle-aged man with a very noticeable cross-shaped scar on his forehead and a severely receding hairline stood quietly at a high point overlooking the entire Tranquil Spirit Court streets, listening to the report of the person behind him.

The middle-aged man's name is Shānběn Yuánliǔqí Zhòngguó, the supreme commander of the Guard Court Thirteenth Division, which sits at the pinnacle of the soul reaper system guarding the Tranquil Spirit Court!

However, this man, who was usually known for overwhelming enemies with 'boundless majesty,' 'absolute strength,' and 'violence,' showed a clear look of surprise upon hearing the report from behind him.

"What?!"

"You say that brat Huāngmù and that idiot Zhāiténg said he plans to come to the Tranquil Spirit Court in these few days?!"

"How reliable is this news?!"

Shānběn Yuánliǔzhāi Zhòngguó asked in a low voice toward the person behind him.

"Absolutely certain! This is what Captain Zhāiténg said personally after drinking!"

Upon hearing this, the person behind Yamamoto immediately lowered his head and replied respectfully.

"Alright, I understand! Step down now!"

Upon hearing this, Shānběn Yuánliǔqí Zhòngguó's mouth corners slightly rose, showing his pleasure. At the same time, Yamamoto waved his hand toward the person behind him, indicating they could leave.

"Yes, sir."

Having received Yamamoto's permission to leave, the First Division soldier slowly exhaled. Frankly, being with Yamamoto put immense pressure on this ordinary soldier! Even though in his heart he had always revered Yamamoto Genryūsai Shigekuni as the guardian deity of the Tranquil Spirit Court in Soul Society...

"Lord Genryūsai is truly wonderful; Brother Huāngmù finally plans to come to the Tranquil Spirit Court to help you! Then your burden will be greatly reduced."

Not long after that First Division soldier left, a young man with gray hair and gray eyes walked out from the shadows of the First Division barracks, smiling, and addressed the Commander-General Yamamoto.

"Chōjirō, look at what nonsense you're spouting? When have I ever needed the help of that 'foolish' disciple Huāngmù, whose head is filled with water?"

Upon hearing this, Commander-General Yamamoto spoke angrily to the young man named Québù Zhǎngcìláng.

"Yes, yes, yes, Lord Genryūsai is the strongest soul reaper in Soul Society; he simply doesn't deign to accept Brother Huāngmù's help..."

"However, Brother Huāngmù seems to have not fared well over the past century since leaving the Yuanzi Academy!"

"As far as I know, in recent years Brother Huāngmù has fallen to making a living in places like the Rukongai, earning pocket change from wandering souls by his craft (cheating fools), just to get by (in a tough/stylish way)!"

"Lord Genryūsai, even if you consider Brother Huāngmù's past as your disciple, you should lend him a hand! Please arrange a suitable position for your useless disciple in the Tranquil Spirit Court Guard Court Thirteenth Division!"

Québù Zhǎngcìláng seemed to understand Yamamoto Genryūsai's temperament well, and immediately soothed him in accordance with his nature.

"Hmph! There's no need for you to say more on this matter, Chōjirō!"

"Since that 'foolish disciple' Huāngmù once studied under me, I naturally cannot let him embarrass my school in the Rukongai!"

"Since that foolish disciple of mine was exiled to the Rukongai for a hundred years of closed-door reflection, he must have realized his mistake by now! Since he has come to his senses and decided to seek me out in the Tranquil Spirit Court, I will naturally give him a chance."

Upon hearing this, Yamamoto Genryūsai Shigekuni first snorted coldly, then spoke boastfully.

"Ah, yes, yes, yes..."

"It was you who punished Brother Huāngmù by making him sell ramen in the Rukongai for a hundred years."

Québù Zhǎngcìláng nodded repeatedly after hearing Lord Genryūsai's words.

If it weren't for Chōjirō knowing the behind-the-scenes story—that Huāngmù ran to the Rukongai to travel after arguing with Yamamoto Genryūsai and trying to spite him...

"... he ended up staying in the Junlin An District, just a step away from the Tranquil Spirit Court, selling ramen right in front of Yamamoto Genryūsai, deliberately opposing him... he almost believed Yamamoto Genryūsai's words."

Of course, Québù would never expose this matter in Yamamoto's presence; otherwise he wouldn't have served by Yamamoto's side for so long. Being emotionally intelligent, he would only give Yamamoto a thumbs-up and then reply, "Ah, yes, yes, yes! Everything you say is correct!"

However, there is one thing Québù understands better than anyone: Huāngmù's position in Yamamoto Genryūsai's heart is absolutely unique! After all, Huāngmù is the only person in a thousand years to have received the 'Genryū· Menkyo Kaiden' from Yamamoto Genryūsai, making him Yamamoto's one and only chief disciple.

Even if Huāngmù really angered Yamamoto Genryūsai to the point of nearly drawing swords back then, Yamamoto Genryūsai was not utterly helpless with Huāngmù, letting him go on a trip! After all, this 'good disciple' was personally trained by Yamamoto Genryūsai; no matter how angry he got, he could only grit his teeth and accept it.

Even after Yamamoto Genryūsai successfully took control of the Tranquil Spirit Court and cleared out his rivals, fearing that Huāngmù might not be doing well in the Rukongai, Yamamoto Genryūsai deliberately found a spendthrift boy for Huāngmù—one who could guarantee Huāngmù's quality of life, wasn't too bright, and could be easily manipulated by Huāngmù...

——Yes, this spendthrift boy is none other than Zhāiténg Bùlǎo bùsǐ.

To ensure Zhāiténg gives Huāngmù money each month, Yamamoto specially set Zhāiténg's stipend at twice that of other division captains~

All one can say is, how pitiful the hearts of parents everywhere are!

Speaking of which, Zhāiténg still feels that receiving an extra stipend each month compared to other captains is because she is smarter than others and outperforms other division heads~

Little does she know that Yamamoto fears Zhāiténg's 'great cleverness' will be swindled out of all her pants by Huāngmù, ultimately leaving her hungry herself.

At the same time, the Sixth Division,

"Hehehe..."

"Let me tell you a piece of good news—Huāngmù, 'burp'~ Huāngmù has already agreed to come to the Tranquil Spirit Court!"

"By then, the position of Sixth Division vice-captain will be handed over to him to handle~"

"At that time, our Sixth Division will in one fell swoop become the strongest division among the Guard Court Thirteenth Divisions, aside from the First Division where Old Man Yamamoto resides! Let's celebrate! Boom boom boom..."

Sixth Division Captain Zhāiténg Bùlǎo bùsǐ was extremely excited; she gripped a wine jar and gulped it down, while her surroundings were littered with Sixth Division soldiers, obviously all drunk.

However, the excited Zhāiténg Bùlǎo bùsǐ failed to notice that on the beam of her Sixth Division barracks, a First Division soldier clad in black soul-reaper attire was frantically taking notes, recording the information spouted by the 'drunk-crazy' Zhāiténg.

Eleventh Division,

On the swordsmanship dojo floor,

A beautiful woman with a 'graceful' figure, 'lovely' face, and three thousand strands of black hair flowing loose behind her stood firmly in the dojo, gripping a wooden sword, while around her stood a group of powerful soul-reaper soldiers.

"Come on, everyone~"

After the woman and the soldiers faced off for several seconds, all that was heard was the woman softly uttering four words.

"Kill!!"

The next moment, the soldiers who had surrounded the woman all shouted and swung their blades at her.

"Hehe~"

Faced with such a terrifying scene, the woman merely gave a light smile. Immediately, her wooden sword flashed like lightning as she swung it at the group of soldiers!

"Pap pap pap pap..."

In an instant, accompanied by the light sounds of wooden swords striking flesh, the soldiers who had encircled the woman were instantly flung outward! Meanwhile, the woman standing at the center with a handsome visage wore an expression of ease; her three thousand strands of black hair fluttered lightly in the airflow generated by the sword's blows, while all her opponents lay defeated on the ground...

Too weak! These guys can't even stir the slightest interest in me.

Could it be that there's no opponent left in this world who can satisfy me?!

The woman looked at the soldiers she had counted and cut down on the ground, and there was no joy in her eyes.

The woman's originally cold and sharp gaze flickered with a hint of melancholy; she raised her head and, looking through the dojo's window at the scenery outside, silently pondered and awaited, hoping that in the vast Soul Society someone who could match or even surpass her would appear.

The captain is truly incredibly strong!

Isn't that obvious? The woman captain, known as 'Kenpachi', is the strongest Shinigami in the entire Soul Society except for General Captain Yamamoto.

I dare say there is absolutely no one in this world who can defeat the captain.

Just as the woman gazed melancholically out the window, feeling utterly lonely from being unable to find an opponent, the soldiers of the 11th Division lying on the ground one by one pushed themselves up and began muttering softly.

In the eyes of these soldiers, the woman before them is the strongest being in the world, the object of their worship, and the one who can lead them all forward……

For the woman before them is none other than the legendary first captain of the 11th Division, Unohana Yachiru! She is also the first person to earn the title of Kenpachi! A woman who, relying solely on the sword in her hand, subdued all sword schools of the entire Soul Society.

How lonely! I really wish to meet an opponent who can satisfy me!

Unohana Yachiru listened to her own soldiers' words, and her gaze grew ever more lonely.

Meanwhile……

Rukongai, East 37th District, Liuyan.

In a desolate grove, Araki sat cross-legged on the ground, embracing his Zanpakuto.

This is the place Araki painstakingly selected for mastering Bankai! It is also where Yamamoto Shigekuni, Chief of the Sparrow Department Jiro, mastered Bankai. Naturally, it is also the origin of Yamamoto's transformation from the Yi Character Hall to the Cross Hall, and then to his self‑named Original Willow Hall.

Well then, Liuli Guang! I've come.

Araki closed his eyes tightly; in the moment he whispered to himself, his consciousness seemed to sink to the seabed—this is the space where his spirit resides, forged by his own spirit, and also where his Zanpakuto 'dwells'.

Yo~ You've come again, my 'King'~!

This time, could you have come for Bankai?

Your spiritual pressure is 'barely' enough, but Bankai isn't that easy to learn~

Within Araki's consciousness space, a being wearing a green robe, whose appearance gives no hint of being a loli or a shota, gender indeterminate, spoke with a voice that sounded both boyish and girlish, greeting him softly.

K·ROOM·Piercing Wave!

In response, Araki smirked, raised his Zanpakuto, directly imbuing it with his Devil Fruit ability, and lunged to stab the boy with his strongest Devil Fruit awakening ability.

Boom!

That boy, faced with Araki's attack like a god‑slaying gun, had no time to react.

Instantly, a four‑kilometer‑long blade pierced straight through the boy's chest.

I've never seen such a dishonorable 'King'!

The boy stared at the attack that had pierced his chest, a flicker of disbelief in his eyes; he lifted his head and glared at Araki, shouting in a hoarse voice.

Well, you've seen it today!

Cut the chatter—quickly tell me the true name of your Bankai!

Araki looked at the Zanpakuto spirit he had tricked, and gave a cold smile.

Others, when cultivating Bankai, treat their Zanpakuto like a venerable elder, kneeling and begging it to reveal its name!

Araki, cultivating Bankai, opens with 'Open Big'—if you don't obey, you fight! As long as he subdues his Zanpakuto, he naturally knows its Bankai name.

Even his own Zanpakuto, Araki won't indulge it! As for whether his Zanpakuto will give him trouble—Araki simply doesn't care! In the face of absolute strength, everything is mere clouds.

Two chapters~ from now on, two chapters every day~

(End of chapter)