Chapter 86

"..."

As Araki's words fell, the three people present all fell silent. They weren't clueless kids, so they naturally couldn't quickly answer Araki's question, but his words had already firmly taken root in their hearts.

Names: Araki (Araki? Actually it's a name). Also maybe "three people" not a name. So we have Araki.

Let's go! I'll take you to a nice place~

Araki said, deciding to skip class with the three kids in front of him.

Well, the teacher led the way in skipping class...

Where are we going?!

Chunshui looked at Araki and asked.

To a nice place! Anyway, just follow me...

Araki said, already walking out of the classroom.

Come on! Let's go see what's happening...

Chunshui was the first to follow Araki out of the classroom; he always had an adventurous spirit.

Sigh...

Fuzhu let out a long sigh. Sure, skipping class is bad, but right now even the teacher who teaches class has left, so staying in the classroom wouldn't teach him anything useful; he might as well go see what's happening.

「……」 No.

Shitan's face was gloomy; he always looked like he bore a deep grudge, his thoughts many and tangled.

When Shitan saw that Araki, Chunshui, and Fuzhu had all left the classroom, he first thought for a moment, then used an instant step to catch up with everyone.

Hehe...

Araki gave a light smile to the three people behind him.

Wanting to reform Shihun Jie, the first obstacle isn't Zhongyang Sishiliu Shi but the noble bloc led by Wuda Guizu.

Completely destroying Wuda Guizu is unrealistic; after all, they've been passed down for over a million years, longer than the history of Shihun Jie, and who knows what trump cards they might have hidden in the clan? Therefore Araki decided to firmly grasp the power of Wuda Guizu in his own hands.

The Sifengyuan family will be managed by his disciple Xiaoye Yi; the Xiumu family, as moral exemplars, will strictly abide by the laws they themselves established, so there's no need to worry about them! As for the family related to Hell, they have no interest in reforming Shihun Jie.

Even if Araki doesn't intervene, the Zhibo family will gradually decline; that is their destined fate! And although Heiqi Yihu, the male protagonist, has Zhibo blood in his veins, he clearly has no interest in becoming the head of the Zhibo family.

Next, the Gangmidai family, the most ambitious of the Five Great Noble Families, is also the mastermind behind many events in Shihun Jie. Araki decided to let this evil kid in front of him—disliked by the main family and seeking the truth—take control.

In the original work, Gangmidai Shitan is certainly no good person; many tragedies behind the scenes seem to bear his shadow, but it doesn't matter—right now Gangmidai Shitan is just a smug little brat, and he can be properly educated.

Of course, Araki didn't even think about changing Gangmidai Shitan's nature; changing something like that is unrealistic. Araki only needs Gangmidai Shitan to fear him—as long as Araki remains in Shihun Jie for a day, Shitan won't dare cause trouble, and that's enough.

By the time he thought of that, Araki had already brought the three people behind him to the front of the Eleventh Division's barracks.

The barracks are still under construction, but more than half is already built; thanks to the skillful hands of the Sifengyuan family's artisans, the entire Eleventh Division has been completely renewed.

Whether it's the artificial garden luxuriant everywhere, or the fountain and swimming pool, they don't seem like things a division should possess; this is more like the facilities of an entertainment club.

Captain Araki!

When the gate guard of the Eleventh Division saw Araki, he immediately saluted respectfully and greeted him.

I want to use the Jianshu Daochang now; you have the soldiers inside go outside and run laps.

Araki issued orders to the gate guard soldier in front of him.

Yes, sir!

Without a word, the soldier immediately ran into the barracks.

Soon, the soldiers of the Eleventh Division, under the officer's lead, ran outside the Pure Spirit Court.

Yes, what Araki meant by running outside was to run laps around the entire Pure Spirit Court.

You three, come with me~

Immediately, Araki led Chunshui and the three others, pushing open the gate of the Eleventh Division's sword training hall.

What is this?!

When Chunshui and Fuzhu saw the spacious training hall, their eyes lit up instantly.

Even Shitan nodded approvingly at the training hall; frankly, he's so used to the lavish scenes outside the Eleventh Division that they don't impress him anymore—the Gangmidai family's wealth isn't much less than the Sifengyuan family's.

Compared to fountains and such, this huge training hall actually interests him more; although the Gangmidai family's personnel are thriving, there's no great need to use such a massive training hall.

Araki, teacher, you really have no problem bringing us here??

Chunshui's curiosity had always been strong; ever since he came to the Eleventh Division, he hadn't wanted to go back to school, but today he was oddly well-behaved, asking Araki.

How come you want to go back to school?

Araki looked at Chunshui and asked.

Not at all!

Chunshui replied without hesitation.

Then what are you asking?

Araki said, lightly tapping Chunshui's head with the sheath of his sword.

Hehehe...

Chunshui rubbed the back of his head where Araki had hit him, giving a silly smile.

What about you two?

At that moment, Araki also looked toward Fuzhu and Shitan on the side.

Listen to the teacher's arrangements!

Fuzhu's answer matched Araki's thoughts exactly.

It's you who brought us here; if anyone tries to hold us responsible, it's none of our business~

Shitan's answer just annoyed everyone.

It doesn't matter; there's no one in the Pure Spirit Court who can hold me accountable.

Huang Mu said, picking up the sword sheath in his hand and striking Shi Tan's head hard.

It hurts...

Shitan touched his swollen forehead from being hit, tears streaming out helplessly.

You're talking big! Even if you're the captain of the Thirteen Court Guard Squads, you have no ability to resist before true authority!

Shitan looked at Araki, who was speaking angrily. For a moment, Araki couldn't tell whether Shitan was doing it on purpose or just spouting childish anger. After all, this kid has a complicated mind since childhood; his words, including his everyday expressions, don't count~

True authority? What is true authority...

Araki wanted to hear, in Shitan's eyes, what true authority is.

This corrupt world lacks everything except those in power! We, the Taira clan etc., are the 'heads of the five great noble families,' 'members of the Golden Seal Noble Council,' 'members of the Noble Council,' and so on!

As the captain of the Thirteen Court Guard Squads, you are indeed a power-holder, but you cannot reach the pinnacle of authority; for you, the 'Central Forty-Six Chambers' is an insurmountable mountain!

It seemed they had hit a topic of interest to Shitan; he crossed his arms before him and spoke at length to Araki.

Pa~

In response, Araki swung the sheath of his sword, striking Shitan's head again.

It hurts...

Shitan covered his head, glaring angrily at Araki, yet could do nothing about him.

The 'Forty-Six Chambers' and the 'Noble Council members' are all scared to death of me~

Araki looked at Shitan's face, full of discontent, and spoke with a chuckle.

Liar.

Shitan obviously didn't believe Araki's words.

Hehe~

After hearing Shitan's words, Araki merely gave a light smile.

Go ask your father; he'll tell you the answer.

Araki looked at Shitan and smiled.

Who gave you that confidence?!

Young Shitan didn't understand; he couldn't comprehend why Araki was so open-hearted.

Strength!

Araki thought for a moment and gave Shitan his reason.

Strength?

Shitan froze for a moment; obviously Araki's answer exceeded his understanding.

When your strength is great enough to annihilate all rule-makers, and those who try to bind you with those rules, the rules hold no meaning for you~

Araki looked at Shitan and spoke calmly.

After speaking, Araki took six wooden swords from the rack and threw them to Harusui, Ukitake, and Shitan.

What is this?!

Harusui and the others were stunned; they didn't understand why six swords were thrown to them.

Two each! Today I'll teach you how to use dual blades.

Before Harusui and the trio could think further, Araki's words already reached their ears.

Huh?!

Even though Harusui and the trio were still doubtful, they still picked up the wooden swords Araki threw at them.

Then the game begins!

Araki said, assuming the stance of 'Nitōryū' (two-sword style).

Pay attention to your left!

As Araki's words fell, he appeared like a gentle breeze to the left of the three, then the two wooden swords crossed, and under the convergence of spiritual pressure, he swung a cross-shaped slash at everyone.

Boom!!

As expected, the three were directly blown away by Araki.

How can we block this?!

At this moment, Kyōraku Harusui and everyone were dumbfounded; this kind of slash that directly condenses spiritual pressure and swings it out leaves them wondering how to block it!

Yeah, how should we block it? Why not try imitating my motion and swing a slash?

Araki said, and the next slash had already come down upon everyone.

If only we could do that!

Kyōraku, hearing that, covered his head and fled while shouting at Araki.

Then it's not my fault; I can only blame you for lacking ability.

Araki said, and then slashed several more cuts at Kyōraku.

If you want to learn how to fight others, first learn how to take a beating!

Araki looked at the trio rolling all over the ground from his blows and spoke calmly.

Sunset...

Pain, so painful, hateful...

After Shitan returned home, his whole body had no uninjured spot; he could feel that Araki had swung his blade at him the most, intentionally or not.

Shitan, you're back!

Taira Shitan's father, a middle-aged man whose face somewhat resembled Shitan's, showed a hint of displeasure upon seeing Shitan return.

How did you end up like this? Did you get into a fight with someone? Did you win?

Shitan's father questioned him coldly; he needed to know whether Shitan had lost face for the Taira family.

Hit by a teacher!

Shitan rubbed his sore shoulders and spoke frankly.

"The teacher from the True Center Spirit Arts Academy dared to hit you!!"

Shitan's father heard this, his expression obviously stunned, his eyes showing a hint of disbelief.

"Could it be that you didn't tell him what your surname actually is?"

Shitan's father retorted.

"I told him, but he still hit me." Shitan said, not forgetting to add embellishment: "He said he completely disregards our Gangmidai family!"

"Courting death!"

After hearing his son's words, Shitan's father's eyes flashed with a fierce light; as a member of the Gangmidai family, he valued his family's reputation above all, and now it had been trampled by a mere teacher from the True Center Spirit Arts Academy—something he could not tolerate.

Moreover, he hadn't managed Shitan for over a year, and he didn't even know who Shitan's current teacher was! Thus, before going to confront someone, Shitan's father remained quite rational, asking his son: "Could that person possibly be Yamamoto Genryuusai?!"

"No......"

"He's just an unknown nobody!"

Shitan affirmed to his father.

"Take me to see him......"

"I want to see just what kind of divine figure this person is, who dares to disregard our Gangmidai family!"

After confirming that the person who said those words was not Yamamoto the General Commander, Shitan's father regained his confidence, his eyes carrying a hint of arrogance, intending to seek justice for his son.

Then……

Shitan then brought his father to the quarters of the Guard Court Eleventh Division.

"Shitan, could it be that your teacher is a member of the Eleventh Division?"

As Shitan's father followed Shitan to the Eleventh Division's quarters, he immediately sensed something was wrong.

After all, the current captain of the Eleventh Division is none other than that peerless ferocious person.

The last guy who shouted at that peerless ferocious person still hasn't had his blood dry~

"Yes......"

Shitan said, and directly brought his father into the Eleventh Division's quarters.

Because the Eleventh Division's soldiers knew that Shitan was a student of Aramaki, they did not stop the two.

This led Shitan's father to mistakenly believe that it was the aura of his Gangmidai family at work.

Little did he know, any noble title meant nothing before these Eleventh Division soldiers who have fought the Great Hollow for a hundred years...

"Teacher, my father wants to seek justice from you!"

At the very moment the alarm bell rang loudly in Shitan's father's heart, his obedient good son had already pushed open the gate of the Eleventh Division's swordsmanship dojo, and loudly addressed Aramaki, who was staring at the training soldiers inside.

"Huh?!"

In an instant, Aramaki and all the Guard Court Eleventh Division soldiers turned their gazes toward the father of Shitan who had come from afar.

"Shitan, who is your teacher?"

Shitan felt those intensely oppressive gazes and asked his own good son.

"It's him......"

Shitan extended his finger, pointing at Aramaki and said.

"......"

Seeing this, Shitan's father fell silent.

Good! His eldest son's teacher really is this fierce deity!

"You wretch! Hurry up and apologize to the teacher!!"

After Shitan's father remained silent for a while, the first thing he did was give his own good son a heavy blow.

At the same time he muttered in his heart: "Damn Shitan! Actually letting me provoke this killer star! Do you really want your father to die soon just so you can inherit our family's property?"

"That... sorry! Captain Aramaki, my child is clueless, please show some understanding."

Immediately after, Shitan's father humbly spoke to Aramaki.

"Simple~"

Upon hearing that, Aramaki lightly nodded.

"Then Captain Aramaki, you go ahead and be busy; I'll first take Shitan back~"

Seeing that Aramaki was still reasonably easy to talk to, Shitan's father gradually relaxed his breath and continued to speak respectfully to Aramaki.

"Hmm."

In response, Aramaki merely waved his hand casually.

"Just wait till I get back and see how I'll deal with you!"

Shitan's father grabbed Shitan and pulled him away, simultaneously making a decision in his heart: henceforth he would strictly discipline this brat Shitan!

At this moment, Shitan wore a bewildered expression, completely unlike what he had imagined!

Before Shitan could think further, his father's voice echoed in his ears, nagging: "From now on remember to attend Aramaki's teacher's lessons seriously; being able to become his disciple is also a blessing for you, and it will greatly help your future!"

"Huh?"

Upon hearing that, Shitan's expression froze; does that mean he still has to continue taking Aramaki's class?

In other words, Aramaki's brutal beating is not an end for him; it's merely a beginning...

Another four thousand words~ Please vote for waves~

(End of chapter)