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"The pitch-black light… it must be a shadow. How could I have been mistaken back then, thinking that guy was glowing?"
Ichimaru Gin raised his head and squinted at the sun hanging high in the sky.
"There's no such thing as a pitch-black, gloomy sun…"
He clenched his fist.
Reiji was right.
It was useless for him to go.
With his current strength, he wasn't qualified to help him.
But if he stayed, he could still be of some use.
Matsumoto Rangiku, who was beside him, was different from the outwardly cheerful yet inwardly dark Reiji.
Although this blonde young lady wasn't stupid, her thoughts were entirely focused on Reiji, so much so that her brain often struggled when dealing with other matters.
A moment later, Aozaki Reiji arrived alone at the northern part of the forest.
Here lay a continuous stretch of mountains, lush and dense forests, birds singing, flowers fragrant, and a pleasant environment—a good place for eternal rest.
Confirming that no one had discovered his whereabouts, Aozaki Reiji extended two fingers and pressed them to the ground, his spiritual pressure spreading out like an invisible ripple.
"I found you."
A light spot appeared in Reiji's eyes, corresponding to a location within the dense forest.
Tracking Kido.
This was the tracking Kido Yoruichi had taught him.
Lifting his fingers into the air, he could clearly sense a faint spiritual pressure belonging to himself.
Having determined the direction, Aozaki Reiji stood up.
Although acting now was indeed risky, Reiji was not a reckless person.
He was able to break through the encirclement of Rukongai's thugs and become a district overlord not just by brute force.
Without a brain, he would have been backstabbed and killed countless times by those Rukongai residents.
Before entering the Human World, he had confirmed with his teachers that the only people coming to protect Tsunayashiro Asaho this time were the academy students.
They were a group of students who had never even experienced actual combat.
This also meant that these academy students, who only had spiritual pressure and techniques, would be powerless against him… They would have no ability to resist.
That was enough.
Thoughts drifted through his mind as Reiji took a step forward.
An invisible spiritual pressure instantly spread out from beneath his feet.
His spiritual pressure instantly gathered beneath his feet, forming something akin to a stepping stone, allowing him to stand in mid-air.
This was a technique very difficult to achieve in Soul Society: gathering spiritual pressure beneath one's feet, using spiritual pressure as a foothold for flying and treading on air.
The spiritual particle density in the Human World was low, so using this technique wasn't too difficult.
However, the spiritual particle density in Soul Society was too high, making such a feat almost impossible.
The next second, Reiji began treading on air, quickly disappearing into the clouds and vanishing into the distant sky.
......
At the same time.
In the dense forest north of the Soul Burial Internship site.
Four richly dressed figures sat on a large rock, the emerald leaves casting shadows over them in the sunlight.
"What kind of wretched weather is this? This sun is truly annoying."
On the giant rock, Tsunayashiro Asaho shielded her head with her hand, squinting her eyes and glancing with distaste at the dazzling sun in the sky.
The bright sky radiated brilliant light, and the sunlight shone into the forest, falling on the ground and the green grass, cloaking the emerald world in a dazzling glow.
Such a vibrant and beautiful scene, however, only made Tsunayashiro Asaho feel a stinging sensation in her eyes.
"Lady Asaho! The escorts who came this time are only twelve academy students from Rukongai."
An academy student wearing a uniform over noble attire approached respectfully, bowing deeply.
"Including the two of us and Lady Sugishiro, there are fifteen people in total who will protect your safety during this internship."
Tsunayashiro Asaho waved her hand, somewhat displeased, and said:
"Why are they all academy students from Rukongai? What about the nobles?"
The heir to the Tsunayashiro Family always had personal bodyguards, but due to the special circumstances of the Soul Burial Internship, family bodyguards were not allowed to participate.
Unless the bodyguard happened to be a Shin'o Academy graduate participating in the Soul Burial Internship.
Normally, even without bodyguards, there wouldn't be too much danger in such an examination.
After all, the Shin'o Academy teachers protecting the academy students from the periphery were not just for show; they generally had the standard of mid to high-ranking officers.
The bodyguard replied with trepidation:
"Reporting, Lady Asaho, we sent messages to those nobles, and many declined, wishing to complete their Soul Burial Internship first."
"In this subordinate's opinion, those nobles are likely intimidated by Aozaki Reiji's might and dare not come."
Tsunayashiro Asaho could only nod impatiently upon hearing this.
Although both nobles and followers from Rukongai attached themselves to the Tsunayashiro Family for power, there was a slight difference between the two.
Compared to the powerless and uninfluential academy students from Rukongai, noble academy students were wealthy and influential, and naturally wouldn't willingly risk their lives.
The Tsunayashiro Family also didn't expect them to die for them; they only valued the family power behind them.
"Oh, and one more thing…"
Tsunayashiro Asaho paused, then spoke again:
"That fellow named Aozaki Reiji…"
The bodyguard was stunned, remembering the gift the handsome man had sent earlier, and bowed, saying:
"Lady Asaho, do we need to cease our operation?"
"He is, after all, Captain-Commander Yamamoto's disciple, and now he is inclined towards the family, intending to accept the family's overtures."
"Perhaps we can report this situation to the family after the internship ends; this would definitely be a great merit, and then your position as heir…"
Tsunayashiro Asaho suddenly laughed, as if she had heard a good joke, and waved her hand with a sneer:
"No, what I mean is to not kill him for now. After we leave here, I'll have the family send more people to kill him."
The bodyguard was taken aback, momentarily unable to keep up with Asaho's thought process.
Had she truly gone mad?
Although the Tsunayashiro Family held immense power and could easily decide a person's life or death.
But Aozaki Reiji was no ordinary person; he was Captain-Commander Yamamoto's disciple.
When such a person actively showed goodwill, shouldn't it be gladly accepted?
Even if they wanted to kill him, they would need a compelling reason, otherwise the family elders would not agree.
Tsunayashiro Asaho saw the bodyguard's confused expression, stomped her foot on his head, forcing him to kneel on the ground.
"Are you questioning my decision?"
"No, never! It's just… this subordinate is foolish!"
The bodyguard prostrated himself on the ground, his face pale, his body trembling uncontrollably.
Tsunayashiro Asaho nodded with satisfaction and snorted coldly:
"If you must have a reason…"
She narrowed her eyes, her tone chilling.
"Whether his goodwill towards the family is sincere or merely feigned flattery, we cannot be sure."
"And the family elders promised me that as long as I can kill him, I can become one of the family heirs."
"Given that, why gamble on whether he will submit to the Tsunayashiro Family, or whether his joining will please the family elders?"
"There's no need for that… but before killing him, playing with him for a bit wouldn't be out of the question…"
With that, she extended her hand from her sleeve and hooked Sugishiro Tetsuya's chin.
The two bodyguards immediately understood her meaning, rose, and retreated.
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