Chapter 77

Tranquil Spirit Court…

Today is the day the 'Hollow Expedition Army' returns; as the Captain-Commander of the Court Guard Squads, Shānběn Yuánliǔzhái Chóngguó, brings along the various captains of the Court Guard Squads, standing silently before the World-Piercing Gate, quietly awaiting the return of Huāngmù and the others…

As the 'World-Piercing Gate' opened, the captains all grew tense.

"How is it, Dàqiántián, are you feeling nervous?!"

The current captain of the Second Division, Sìfēngyuàn Qiān rì, glanced at the tall man with an explosive hairstyle standing behind him and spoke teasingly.

"Well, after all, that punitive squad's captain is said to have fought alongside you against 'Yhwach', a legendary figure; I really am extremely nervous…"

The man surnamed Dàqiántián spoke respectfully to Sìfēngyuàn Qiān rì.

"Haha, relax! Huāngmù is just as refined and easygoing as I am."

In response, Sìfēngyuàn Qiān rì softly comforted the veteran subordinate behind him who had accompanied him for over fifty years.

"If he's the same kind of person as the captain, then I can rest easy!"

Dàqiántián heard this and slowly let out a breath of relief.

"Crack~"

Just then, the gates of the 'World-Piercing Gate' swung open, and one after another, soldiers in black Shinigami attire stepped out from within; naturally, standing before the troops, was—Mǎo zhī huā Liè.

"Where is Huāngmù?!"

In response, Shānběn Yuánliǔzhái Chóngguó furrowed his brows and asked Mǎo zhī huā Liè.

"Well, Captain Huāngmù has already returned early; didn't you know?!"

Upon hearing this, Mǎo zhī huā Liè looked at Shānběn Yuánliǔzhái Chóngguó and gave a light smile.

Throughout Tranquil Spirit Court, only a handful of people—Mǎo zhī huā Liè and Huāngmù—dare speak to Shānběn Yuánliǔzhái Chóngguó in such a casual tone…

"What?!"

When everyone heard that Huāngmù had returned, they all showed shocked expressions; even Shānběn Yuánliǔzhái Chóngguó himself raised his eyebrows.

"Lord Shānběn Yuánliǔzhái Chóngguó, Huāngmù has asked me to give this to you…"

Just as Shānběn Yuánliǔzhái Chóngguó was wondering where Huāngmù had gone, accompanied by a pitch-black shadow, the figure of Quèbù Zhǎngcìláng appeared before him, presenting him with a blood-stained Eleventh Division haori.

In that moment, where Huāngmù had gone seemed to go without saying…

"This wicked disciple! He's infuriating me!"

Shānběn Yuánliǔzhái Chóngguó looked at the blood-stained haori, and in an instant exploded with rage, releasing boundless spiritual pressure from within him; the terrifying sense of oppression shocked the captains' faces to change dramatically, and after nearly a century of peace, they had almost forgotten just how terrifying this old man before them truly was…

"As expected of the strongest Shinigami of Tranquil Spirit Court, this power is simply beyond reach!"

Someone admired Shānběn Yuánliǔzhái Chóngguó's strength from the heart.

"Looks like someone's in for bad luck!"

Someone secretly gloated, thinking that the captain of the 'Expedition Army' was likely to meet misfortune.

"Captain Huāngmù of the Eleventh Division of the Court Guard Squads, having returned from the Hollow without contacting any captains, came back early through the World-Piercing Gate and acted on his own; therefore, I punish him with one week's salary to uphold the dignity of the Court Guard Squads!"

In response, Shānběn Yuánliǔzhái Chóngguó issued this punishment to Huāngmù with an utterly furious tone.

"Huh?!"

In an instant, all the captains of the Court Guard Squads froze, wondering when a one-week salary cut ever counted as punishment?!

"Since Huāngmù doesn't need to greet his troops, we likewise need not fawn over him; let each division's captain take his men and return to his unit!"

Before the captains could think further, Shānběn Yuánliǔzhái Chóngguó issued the order to dismiss the welcoming troops.

Even if someone harbored considerable doubts, there was no time to ask Shānběn Yuánliǔzhái Chóngguó; they simply had to temporarily bring their vice-captains back to their divisions…

At the same time, some shrewd individuals picked up on certain signals from Shānběn Yuánliǔzhái Chóngguó's words at this moment!

For example, Shānběn Yuánliǔzhái Chóngguó calling Huāngmù the Captain of the Eleventh Division of the Court Guard Squads means he is actually acknowledging Huāngmù's captaincy, while the captain slain by Huāngmù died in vain~

"Captain, is this the 'refined and easygoing' you told me about?!"

"The blood dripping from that haori isn't even dry yet!"

Dàqiántián Xīzhīguāng glanced at the continually dripping haori, approached Sìfēngyuàn Qiān rì, and spoke tremblingly.

"Haha…"

Sìfēngyuàn Qiān rì heard this and gave a dry chuckle twice; in his view, this certainly counted as 'refined and easygoing', and the current soldiers of the Court Guard Squads have not experienced that war-torn era, not knowing what truly constitutes a 'killing material'.

Speaking of which, as his companions left one by one, even Sìfēngyuàn Qiān rì's sword began to grow dull…

"Sigh…" Thinking this, Sìfēngyuàn Qiān rì first let out a long sigh, then told Xīzhīguāng: "Come on! Let's head back to the unit!"

"Yes, sir, Captain!"

Upon hearing this, Xīzhīguāng immediately followed closely behind Sìfēngyuàn Qiān rì, heading toward the Second Division barracks.

The Second Division barracks are situated atop the mountains, a mountain-encircling palace painstakingly constructed by the Sìfēngyuàn family at great expense!

In terms of grandeur, perhaps only the First Division barracks among the Court Guard Squads can compare with it!

As for the Second Division captain's quarters, they are even more lavish…

The captain's quarters are spacious enough to hold hundreds without feeling cramped, displaying various facilities, antiques, and military gear, fully revealing the Sìfēngyuàn family's heritage and opulence.

Yet at this very moment, an uninvited guest has appeared within this vast Second Division barracks!

When Sìfēngyuàn Qiān rì pushed open the door to his captain's quarters, he froze in place, seeing only a handsome-looking man seated on his futon, holding a book on martial arts from the Sìfēngyuàn family, constantly nodding off, as if he had been waiting for him a long time…

"Bold! Who are you, daring to intrude upon the Second Division barracks?!"

Before Sìfēngyuàn Qiān rì could speak, Dàqiántián Xīzhīguāng behind him stepped forward and shouted at the man on the futon.

"Hmm~"

The man on the futon, upon hearing this, first stretched lazily, then tossed his book aside, rose to his feet, and approached Sìfēngyuàn Qiān rì as if no one else were there, greeting: "Long time no see~"

"Indeed, it's been a long time; reckoning, it's probably been about a hundred years." Sìfēngyuàn Qiān rì nodded, then asked the man before him: "How did the punitive campaign in the Hollow go?!"

"Not too bad~"

The man replied casually.

You just came back and caused a big scandal today! You don't know, when the Captain-Commander saw that blood-stained overcoat, his face turned green!

Qian Ri of the Four Maple Court seemed acquainted, chatting with the man before him.

Hehe, you must never be fooled by Old Man Shan; my master is a past master at pretending to be clueless!

Yes, the one who intruded into the Second Division barracks was naturally Huang Mu, who had just returned from the Hollow Realm; upon hearing what Qian Ri of the Four Maple Court said, he couldn't help but give a light smile—no one knows better than him what schemes his master is hatching in his heart...

Eh...

Standing nearby Huang Mu and Qian Ri, Daqian Tian Xizhiguang, upon hearing their familiar chat, was instantly dumbfounded, and upon hearing their conversation, his legs shook with fear.

He never expected that the handsome young man before him was none other than the one who, having just returned from the Hollow Realm that morning, had gone on to kill the current Eleventh Division Captain, an absolute monster.

In response, Daqian Tian exerted all his strength to lower his presence.

Too bad, how could Huang Mu not see that the man before him, whose appearance closely resembled the Previous God, was right there?!

Who is this?!

Huang Mu proactively looked toward Xizhiguang and asked Qian Ri of the Four Maple Court beside him.

Daqian Tian Xizhiguang, head of the Four Maple Court's branch family, is my vice-captain!

Qian Ri of the Four Maple Court answered truthfully.

Not bad!

Upon hearing that, Huang Mu lightly nodded, looking favorably upon Daqian Tian.

Eh...

Daqian Tian felt the pressure emanating from Huang Mu, sweat continually beading on his forehead; at this point he was drenched in sweat, frankly speaking he would rather not be stared at by such an absolute monster as Huang Mu.

Daqian Tian, you may step down first!

Without letting Daqian Tian say more, Qian Ri of the Four Maple Court had him leave first.

Yes, Captain!

Daqian Tian secretly thanked his captain, then immediately fled the Second Division's main chamber.

So why did you summon me this time?!

After Daqian Tian left, Qian Ri of the Four Maple Court questioned Huang Mu.

Nothing much, just that your comrades are waiting for you up above...

Right, they asked me to pass along a message: they miss you dearly~

Huang Mu leaned in close to Qian Ri and whispered.

Qian Ri of the Four Maple Court is a sharp one; Huang Mu knew the other would understand his meaning...

How interesting~

Upon hearing that, Qian Ri's pupils constricted, then the corners of his mouth twitched upward.

Clearly, Qian Ri had grasped the hidden meaning in Huang Mu's words; in the Soul Society, the only place referred to as 'heaven' is the exalted 'Spirit King Palace'.

"So this is your plan with the Captain-Commander?" Qian Ri of the Four Maple Court muttered, meanwhile inwardly mocking those nobles: "You lot are a bunch of idiots! Do you really think that just by having all the captains of the original Guard Thirteen Squads step down and replacing them with your people, you could control the entire Seireitei? Ridiculous! You're merely being used as a pawn by the Captain-Commander."

In an instant, Qian Ri of the Four Maple Court understood everything...

Now that you know my and Old Man Shan's plan, there's no backing out~

At the moment Qian Ri of the Four Maple Court realized this, Huang Mu had already moved to his side and put an arm around his shoulder.

No problem~

Qian Ri of the Four Maple Court gladly agreed to Huang Mu's proposal.

This made Huang Mu furrow his brow; among the original Thirteen Squads, this pitch-black fellow before him has the most devious ideas!

As the captain of the original Second Division, I certainly have no problem! But I am not only the captain of the Second Division, I am also the head of the Four Maple Court family...

Qian Ri of the Four Maple Court spoke with a heartbroken tone.

So what then?!

Huang Mu looked at the mischievous troublemaker before him and asked.

So help our Four Maple Court family by raising a future head!

Qian Ri of the Four Maple Court looked at Huang Mu and spoke seriously.

I refuse!

Huang Mu refused without a second thought; he wanted to take Qian Ri to the Spirit King Palace for training, while Qian Ri wanted him to help the Four Maple Court family raise children—no matter how you look at it, it wasn't worthwhile, and in the end only the Four Maple Court would benefit.

Don't rush to refuse! My junior has extraordinary talent! Moreover, they're a beauty-in-the-making; grown up, they'll absolutely stun the entire Soul Society...

Qian Ri of the Four Maple Court continued, looking at Huang Mu.

I refuse that too! I have no interest in little beans!

Huang Mu continued to refuse.

They've already arrived...

In response, Qian Ri of the Four Maple Court gave a light smile, then clapped his hands toward the doorway.

Let me go! Let me go!

Only to see Daqian Tian Xizhiguang ushering a little bean into the Second Division barracks.

That child is called Ye Yi of the Four Maple Court, the most talented under-a-hundred-years-old in our Four Maple Court family.

Qian Ri of the Four Maple Court, looking at Huang Mu beside him, introduced.

Huh?!

Huang Mu eyed the little bean, his eyelid twitching slightly; 'Is this child Ye Yi of the Four Maple Court? Was Ye Yi born this early? Though it makes sense, given that the Four Maple Court lineage has lasted over a million years, and Ye Yi is the twenty-second head, one could say each head of the Four Maple Court tends to serve a fairly long term...'

And so...

When Huang Mu left the Second Division barracks, a dark-skinned little bean with purple short hair had appeared at his side.

Hmph~

At this moment the little Xiao Dou Ding is still very proud, showing none of the "mature composure" that comes with adulthood.

But Araki isn't flustered at all; often a tsundere just needs a good beating! Ahem…

In short, Araki has absolutely no experience raising children.

"How about we just send them straight to the Zero Squad?!"

"A fake monk who's lived for over a million years must be extremely experienced."

Thinking that way, Araki furrowed his brows tightly.

Three more, ten thousand! And then there's…

Also, please send wave tickets~

(End of chapter)