Huang Rong's kick landed squarely on Ouyang Ke's injured spot. With the pain compounded, Ouyang Ke let out a miserable scream before completely losing consciousness.
He passed out cold.
Chu Yang estimated that even if the man didn't end up permanently crippled, he wouldn't be getting out of bed for at least a year or two.
Seeing Ouyang Ke's crumpled figure, Guo Jing felt a bit uneasy and couldn't help saying to Huang Rong,"Miss Huang, don't you think that was a little too ruthless?"
"Ruthless?" Huang Rong replied coldly. "If I hadn't had a protective treasure on me, who knows what would've happened after I fell into his hands?"
"And you—what do you think you are, lecturing me?"
Guo Jing's face flushed red. Tongue-tied as always, he couldn't think of a rebuttal and could only turn away, sulking in silence.
With Ouyang Ke defeated, the Zhao Prince Manor's once-boasted Five Great Experts had all fallen. Without them, Wanyan Honglie could barely even ensure his own safety.
Standing atop a rooftop, Chu Yang looked down and asked calmly,"Wanyan Honglie, are you still not handing them over?"
Wanyan Honglie said bitterly,"I have no grudge with you, past or present. Why must you tear apart my family today and force me into a dead end?"
Chu Yang sneered."You still have the nerve to talk about tearing families apart?"
"Eighteen years ago, you were hunted by Qiu Chuji and fled into Ox Village, where Bao Xiruo saved your life. Instead of repaying that kindness, you lusted after her."
"To get her, you bribed the Southern Song officer Duan Tiande to lead troops against the Guo and Yang families, destroying their homes and killing innocents. You then staged a heroic rescue, deceived Bao Xiruo, and now you dare say I am the one tearing your family apart?"
"Tell me—your wife and your son—which of them actually belongs to you?"
Wanyan Honglie panicked. He couldn't understand how a secret buried for eighteen years had been exposed so easily.
Could this man truly be… an immortal?
On horseback, Bao Xiruo suddenly began struggling, glaring at Wanyan Honglie."Is what he said true?!"
Wanyan Honglie was left speechless.
Wanyan Kang also looked up at him, his expression vacant.
This truth was even more devastating than before.
The man who raised him for eighteen years—his revered father—was actually the one who destroyed his biological family.
How was he supposed to accept that?
Even Chu Yang, who had never liked him much, couldn't help feeling a trace of sympathy.
Yang Tiexin was so enraged that his old injuries flared up. Clutching his chest, he still forced himself to curse,"You treacherous dog!"
Huang Rong, meanwhile, looked like a spectator enjoying the drama, her eyes darting around as she took in everyone's expressions with gleaming excitement.
Upon learning that Wanyan Honglie was his father's killer, Guo Jing's eyes turned red, ready to charge forward, but Yang Tiexin pulled him back.
Growing impatient, Chu Yang said coldly,"Wanyan Honglie, three strikes and you're out. I've asked you twice already. If I ask a third time, I'll act."
Wanyan Honglie fell into torment.
On one side were his wife and son; on the other were himself and nearly ten thousand Jin soldiers.
He no longer doubted Chu Yang's ability to slaughter them all.
Wanyan Honglie wasn't afraid of death—but he feared dragging these soldiers with him. Nearly ten thousand troops were vital to Yanjing's defense. Losing them would leave the city exposed.
The Liao and the Southern Song were watching like hawks. Any weakness could plunge the Jin Kingdom into crisis.
In the end, Wanyan Honglie clenched his teeth and ordered Bao Xiruo and Wanyan Kang released.
Under Chu Yang's gaze, the army slowly withdrew.
Wanyan Honglie kept looking back, his eyes filled with longing.
Wanyan Kang walked like a corpse, dragged forward by Bao Xiruo. Her joy meant nothing to him.
At last, Yang Tiexin's family reunited, weeping as they embraced.
Seeing this, Guo Jing suddenly thought of his own father, his eyes growing moist.
"Young brother," Yang Tiexin said sincerely, "we met by chance, yet you were willing to help me. I will never forget this kindness."
Guo Jing hurriedly explained his identity and produced the dagger that had once served as the Guo-Yang families' token.
Yang Tiexin caressed the dagger, memories flooding back."My elder brother has descendants… he has descendants!"
Guo Jing then recounted his years in Mongolia, filling Yang Tiexin with emotion. His gaze shifted toward Wanyan Kang—Yang Kang—and Mu Nianci.
"Back then, Brother Guo and I agreed: if one family had a son and the other a daughter, they'd be betrothed. If both were sons or daughters, they'd become sworn siblings."
Looking between Yang Kang and Guo Jing, he declared,"From this day forward, you two are sworn brothers."
Guo Jing nodded. His mother had told him this long ago.
But then Yang Tiexin pointed at Mu Nianci."I also have a daughter. The betrothal can still stand—what do you think?"
Guo Jing froze and instinctively looked toward Huang Rong, who was chattering away beside Chu Yang, completely uninterested in him.
Mu Nianci was also startled, her expression stiff, her eyes inexplicably drifting toward Chu Yang.
One looked at Huang Rong.The other looked at Chu Yang.
In the end, Guo Jing broke the awkwardness, scratching his head and grinning."My mother only told me to acknowledge brothers, not wives. I can't decide that—I'll have to ask her."
Yang Tiexin nodded."As it should be. After so many years, I should visit your mother as well—but first, you and Kang'er must complete the duel at Jiaxing's Misty Rain Tower."
At the mention of the duel, Guo Jing suddenly exclaimed,"Oh no! My masters are still waiting for me. I've been gone so long—they must be worried sick!"
"We'll return to the Southern Song together," Yang Tiexin said. "If needed, we'll wait for them at the Misty Rain Tower."
While they discussed plans, Chu Yang had already left with Huang Rong.
Mu Nianci panicked and rushed forward to block them.
"Miss Mu, is there something else?" Chu Yang asked, puzzled.
Mu Nianci had acted on impulse and now couldn't find the words, standing there awkwardly.
Huang Rong immediately sensed danger and shot Mu Nianci an unfriendly look.
Thankfully, Guo Jing arrived in time."Brother Chu, we're returning to the Southern Song too—the same small city where we last met. My masters should be there."
Chu Yang coughed awkwardly. After all, Guo Jing's blood-sweating horse was still tied up in his backyard…
Bleach World
After reaching an agreement with Kisuke Urahara, Chu Yang stayed at Urahara Shop to train, no longer attending school.
Urahara taught him extensive knowledge about spiritual pressure and trained his control over his own reishi.
Chu Yang absorbed everything quickly.
The four Shinigami disciplines—Hakuda, Shunpo, Kidō, and Zanjutsu—were soon laid out before him.
Hakuda felt familiar to Chu Yang, a close-combat veteran. Many techniques resembled Fish-Man Karate in concept.
Shunpo felt similar to the ninja world's Body Flicker Technique, though Shunpo relied on spiritual power rather than chakra.
Kidō was more complex, divided into Hadō, Bakudō, and Kaidō—offense, restraint/defense, and healing.
Essentially, Kidō was the Bleach World's version of "spells," requiring incantations and spiritual power, much like magic in the Harry Potter World.
As for Zanjutsu, there was little to say. Chu Yang's swordsmanship had steadily improved across the One Piece World and Demon Slayer World.
But the most crucial element—the Zanpakutō—was beyond Urahara's help.
Unlike Ichigo Kurosaki, Chu Yang wasn't special in that way.
To obtain a Zanpakutō, one had to become a Shinigami.
At the Shin'ō Academy, students are issued an unnamed Zanpakutō known as an Asauchi, which gradually evolves into a unique blade shaped by the wielder's soul.
If Chu Yang wanted a Zanpakutō, he had to officially become a Shinigami—meaning abandoning life in the Living World.
Fortunately, he had little attachment there, and rules only bound the weak.
Becoming a Shinigami was also part of his deal with Urahara.
After being exiled from Soul Society, Urahara knew little of Aizen's movements. He needed eyes inside.
Chu Yang was perfect for the role.
As time passed, Rukia Kuchiki was taken back to Soul Society and sentenced to execution for granting Shinigami powers to a human.
Soon after, Ichigo Kurosaki returned to Urahara for special training, preparing to infiltrate Soul Society.
The others were taken by Yoruichi Shihōin for Fullbring-related training.
When Ichigo saw Chu Yang, he was overjoyed—he'd thought something had happened to him.
Seeing Chu Yang unharmed eased his nerves about the coming invasion.
Ichigo remembered clearly how Chu Yang had beaten a Hollow bare-handed.
With such a companion, how could he not feel reassured?
What Ichigo didn't know was—
Chu Yang was entering Soul Society to stay.
To become a Shinigami.
After Ichigo completed his training and learned his Zanpakutō's name—
Zangetsu—
Urahara opened a Senkaimon.
Passing through the Dangai, Chu Yang felt no discomfort as his body converted into a reishi form.
With Yoruichi leading the way, they entered the dark passage.
Chu Yang quickly recognized where they were.
The Dangai—the boundary space between the Living World and Soul Society, where time flows roughly 2000 times faster than outside.
The Dangai was filled everywhere with Kōryū—currents capable of halting the movement of souls. Their existence was meant to restrict the actions of Hollows, protecting both Soul Society and the Living World.
Without the Kōryū, Hollows would be able to invade both worlds far more easily.
The downside was that Kōryū did not discriminate. Any soul caught in them would be affected. If Chu Yang and the others failed to evade them in time, they would be permanently trapped in the Dangai. That was precisely why Yoruichi had repeatedly warned them to stay close to her.
The Kōryū surged like floodwaters released from a dam, roaring forward at terrifying speed. They rapidly closed the distance, about to engulf the group.
At the critical moment, Inoue Orihime activated Shun Shun Rikka, forming a defensive barrier that barely held back the Kōryū. The violent impact from the collision blasted Chu Yang and the others straight out of the Dangai.
After landing, Chu Yang scanned his surroundings.
Seeing the retro-style buildings, he immediately understood—they had safely arrived in Soul Society.
This was Rukongai, the place where all souls first settled after arriving in Soul Society.
A mocking smile tugged at Chu Yang's lips.
The most ironic thing about the Bleach world was this: many people spent their entire lives in the Living World toiling like beasts of burden, only to die and arrive in Soul Society—yet not in the paradise they had imagined.
Those who clung to beautiful fantasies instead found themselves reliving everything they had endured in life.
Sometimes, it was even more brutal.
People here aged. They died. They experienced all the same pain as in the Living World.
The only difference was that souls aged far more slowly.
Which meant they had to "live" here for many, many years.
Was that a blessing?
For those with the talent to become Shinigami—yes.
But for those without it, the duration of suffering was simply extended.
Some people suffered while alive, and after death, suffered even more.
An endless cycle.Life after life.Never ceasing.
Truly terrifying.
After ensuring everyone was safe, Yoruichi began explaining Soul Society's structure.
Soul Society was divided into two parts: Seireitei and Rukongai.
Seireitei was the core of Soul Society—the place where Shinigami lived.
It was also where wealth and power were concentrated.
Rukongai surrounded Seireitei and was divided into eighty districts, spread across the four cardinal directions. The higher the number, the fewer the resources. These areas were not only poor but also plagued by frequent violence.
Put simply, it was like Manhattan and Brooklyn—one wealthy and orderly, the other a place where freedom and chaos coexisted.
For souls living in Rukongai, there was only one way to obtain a better life in Soul Society:
Become a Shinigami and move into Seireitei.
Before Yoruichi could finish explaining, Ichigo Kurosaki impatiently rushed toward Seireitei.
Suddenly, massive walls rose from the sky, blocking his path.
At the same time, a gigantic figure appeared.
A giant as tall as a mountain, wielding an axe-shaped Zanpakutō, dragged his blade across the ground, carving a deep fissure.
"If you want to pass through the White Road Gate, then defeat me first!"
The giant laughed arrogantly.
Yoruichi explained,"That guy is Jidanbō. He's the guardian of the White Road Gate, one of the four great gates of Seireitei. Each gate has its own guardian."
"To enter Seireitei through the gates, you must defeat the guardian."
After she finished, Chad and the others all turned to look at Chu Yang.
Naturally, they assumed that Chu Yang—the strongest among them—should be the one to challenge Jidanbō.
Chu Yang shook his head slowly, uninterested.
Jidanbō was too weak. At best, he was only on par with a lower-class Gillian Menos Grande.
"Then I'll do it."
Ichigo confidently stepped past the boundary Jidanbō had drawn, officially challenging the warrior who had supposedly gone undefeated for three hundred years.
Already knowing the outcome, Chu Yang paid little attention to the fight.
Instead, he closed his eyes and attempted to use Observation Haki to sense his surroundings.
In the Living World, he couldn't use Observation Haki to track Hollows. But here, after converting into a reishi form, his Observation Haki began functioning again.
He sensed several powerful presences rapidly approaching.
The closest one was already nearing the White Road Gate.
Based on the timeline, the one arriving could only be Gin Ichimaru, captain of the Third Division.
In the past, Chu Yang might have avoided him.
But now, with Observation Haki functioning normally in Soul Society, this was an excellent chance to test himself against Gin Ichimaru—and to display his potential.
As a captain dealing with intruding Ryoka, Gin Ichimaru was unlikely to go all out or use Bankai.
Chu Yang had no intention of escalating the battle either.
If he could stall Gin Ichimaru long enough and demonstrate sufficient talent, Genryūsai Yamamoto would likely approve of him becoming a Shinigami.
Gin Ichimaru's Zanpakutō, Shinsō, could extend at incredible speed.
As long as Gin didn't use Bankai, Chu Yang was confident he could evade Shinsō in its Shikai state using Observation Haki.
In Shikai, Shinsō could extend up to one hundred times its original length, delivering immense impact capable of piercing nearly any defense.
Objectively speaking, Shinsō was closer to a modern sniper rifle—capable of precise, lethal strikes from over a hundred meters away.
Calling it "Barrett" might have been more appropriate.
In Bankai, however, it transformed from a "rifle" into "heavy artillery," gaining even greater speed and range.
At that velocity, the kinetic energy rendered it virtually indestructible.
Worst of all, Shinsō released a potent cell-dissolving toxin during attacks.
Even Aizen—hailed as the strongest Shinigami—had nearly been killed by it due to momentary carelessness. If not for the Hōgyoku's evolution, he would have died.
That alone spoke volumes about Gin Ichimaru's strength.
However, Shinsō had a glaring weakness.
As a straightforward direct-attack Zanpakutō, its combat style was simple and predictable.
If the timing was anticipated, it could be dodged.
At least in Shikai, someone with Observation Haki like Chu Yang could evade every strike.
Mechanically speaking, Observation Haki directly countered Shinsō. As long as his reactions were fast enough, Chu Yang could avoid all of its attacks.
Even if he made a mistake, it didn't matter.
With his physical body enhanced by Armament Haki, Lightning Release Armor, Sage Mode, and other abilities, taking a few hits from Shinsō wouldn't be fatal.
His regenerative vitality would recover any damage during battle.
As a certain shield-obsessed someone once said:
"I can keep this up all day."
In the blink of an eye, Jidanbō was defeated by Ichigo—so fast it caught everyone off guard.
With his pride shattered, Jidanbō broke down sobbing. Ichigo tried to comfort him, but only ended up stabbing him in his emotional weak spot, making him cry even harder.
"We're kind of in a hurry," Chu Yang said kindly. "Could you open the gate first and cry later?"
"You really have no sense of compassion," Jidanbō muttered darkly.
Still, he stepped forward, lifted the White Road Gate with both hands, and gestured for them to enter.
But he didn't see someone already approaching from the other side.
"Sorry, but you won't be passing through here today. Best turn back now."
A white-haired man stood beyond the gate, eyes narrowed in a smiling crescent.
In the next instant, he drew his Zanpakutō.A flash of steel—
—and Jidanbō was slashed.
The giant dropped to one knee in pain but still didn't release the gate.
Gin Ichimaru said coldly,"Losing to a handful of Ryoka… what a useless piece of trash. This is your punishment for failing to guard the White Road Gate."
Ichigo exploded with rage and prepared to attack, but Yoruichi stopped him.
"That's the captain of the Third Division. A captain-class Shinigami. You're no match for him. Retreat for now—we'll rethink our approach."
Ichigo ignored her.
He hoisted Zangetsu and charged straight at Gin Ichimaru.
His first strike was easily blocked.
Gin smiled faintly and swung his blade.
Shinsō became a streak of white light, blasting Ichigo backward—along with Jidanbō, who was sent flying as well.
As the gate began to fall—
Chu Yang stepped forward without hesitation, bracing the White Road Gate with his hands and shouting:
"Now—run inside!"
Upon hearing Chu Yang's shout, Chad and the others immediately rushed through the White Road Gate. Even Ichigo Kurosaki, after scrambling back to his feet, sprinted forward without hesitation.
"To be able to hold up the White Road Gate… that's some impressive strength."
Gin Ichimaru was slightly surprised. After offering a brief remark of praise, he immediately launched an attack at Chu Yang.
Shinsō extended once more, transforming into a streak of white light that shot straight toward Chu Yang.
At that moment, Chu Yang was still supporting the White Road Gate and had no room to dodge.
Shinsō was both fast and ruthless. The others didn't even have time to react, let alone warn Chu Yang.
The blade pierced straight into Chu Yang's body.
Boom!
In an instant, dust and debris exploded into the air.
Ichigo and the others froze, staring anxiously in that direction.
When the dust settled, Chu Yang was still standing beneath the White Road Gate. Lightning surged across his body, silver arcs dancing wildly around him.
He looked like a god of thunder.
"He actually tanked it?"
Both Gin Ichimaru and Yoruichi Shihōin revealed looks of surprise. They each knew all too well how terrifying Shinsō's power was.
Seeing that Chu Yang was still standing, Ichigo and the others tried to rush forward again.
But after several flashes of white light, they were all sent flying once more by Shinsō.
"I told you it wouldn't work!"
Yoruichi shouted a warning.
Since Ichigo and the others couldn't break through Gin Ichimaru's blockade, there was no point in Chu Yang continuing to hold the gate. He released the White Road Gate and, amid their shouts, walked alone into Seireitei.
Gin narrowed his eyes.
"I believe I said you wouldn't be allowed through here…"
Chu Yang grinned."If you've got the ability, then knock me back out."
"I can keep this up all day."
Looking at Chu Yang, whose body crackled with lightning, Gin Ichimaru grew curious.
"A Fullbringer? I'm very interested in what kind of Fullbring could block my attacks…"
"You want to know?" Chu Yang stretched his shoulders, stared at Gin's Zanpakutō, and smiled. "Beat me, and I'll tell you."
"Tsk, tsk…" Gin shook his head slowly, still smiling. "You seem to have misunderstood something. That last attack didn't even use ten percent of my strength. If I went all out, you'd turn into dust instantly."
Chu Yang crooked his finger at him."Then come try."
The moment his words fell, Shinsō shot out again, transforming into a long, narrow beam of white light that stabbed toward Chu Yang at lightning speed.
A cold glint flashed through Gin Ichimaru's eyes. This time, he used at least thirty percent of his power. Shinsō's speed was five times faster than before—there was no way this arrogant Ryoka could dodge it.
He was already picturing Chu Yang being torn apart.
But at the very instant Shinsō extended—
Chu Yang's figure vanished from Gin's sight.
The supposedly unavoidable strike pierced nothing but air.
Gin's eternally smiling expression finally changed.
"So fast… That Shunpo is faster than most of the Shinigami in the Gotei Thirteen. Where did you learn it?"
Gin's curiosity about this young man deepened.
Chu Yang chuckled."Same answer as before. Beat me, and I'll tell you."
The curve of Gin Ichimaru's smile subtly shifted. Anyone who knew him understood—he was getting irritated.
"You don't look like an ordinary Ryoka. Fine, I'll get serious and play with you a bit."
Gin flicked his wrist. Shinsō's tip scattered like starlight, erupting into countless thrusts that rained down on Chu Yang. The terrifying impact cracked nearby walls and shattered the ground.
It was like using a Barrett sniper rifle as a machine gun—a thought alone was enough to make one's scalp tingle.
To deal with such relentless attacks, Chu Yang fully activated his Observation Haki, continuously predicting the trajectory of each strike while using Shunpo to reposition.
Ten seconds later, Gin stopped attacking.
His eyes, usually slitted shut, opened slightly in genuine surprise.
Every single attack had been dodged.
It was as if Chu Yang had known exactly when and where Shinsō would strike.
"This guy… he's not a normal Ryoka at all."
Gin frowned."Who are you, really?"
Chu Yang grinned."You can call me Yang. I'm currently a first-year student at Karakura First High School. Oh, and by the way—I'm ranked first in my grade."
Gin froze for a moment, then said with a strange expression,"What kind of nonsense is that? I asked where you learned Shunpo."
Chu Yang rubbed his chin, thinking."From a shop owner who didn't really look like a good person."
Gin's eyelid twitched violently.
He took a deep breath, dropped his smile entirely, and stared coldly at Chu Yang.
"Looks like you have no intention of telling the truth. If you die next, don't blame me."
Chu Yang shrugged helplessly."Every word I said was true. You're really troublesome."
Gin stopped wasting words and fully activated Shinsō. Its speed now surpassed anything before, far beyond what the naked eye could follow. The impact force was on a completely different level.
Chu Yang felt enormous pressure and finally stopped holding back.
With Armament Haki and Lightning Release Armor layered together, he entered Sage Mode.
Radiant lightning enveloped his body, making him look like a celestial being.
In an instant, Shinsō thrust over a hundred times.
Only one strike actually landed—and Chu Yang forcibly tanked it.
Gin Ichimaru's face remained expressionless, but inside, he was once again shaken by Chu Yang's strength.
Chu Yang didn't stand still either. He constantly adjusted his position, maintaining distance near Shinsō's maximum range, refusing to let Gin pull him into close quarters.
At that range, under such dense attacks, even Chu Yang would struggle to dodge everything.
The two continued moving, and the battlefield shifted with them, spreading across large portions of Seireitei and drawing massive attention.
Numerous Shinigami rushed over—among them captains and vice-captains.
A Ryoka who could fight the Third Division Captain to this extent was shocking—and fascinating.
As Gin realized he wouldn't be able to defeat Chu Yang quickly, his expression grew increasingly grim.
It wasn't that he hadn't considered using Bankai—but as the battlefield kept shifting, they had already moved deep into Seireitei.
They were dangerously close to the Gotei Thirteen headquarters.
The destruction Shinsō could cause here was impossible to estimate. Although Gin would soon leave Soul Society alongside Aizen, and wouldn't need to answer for the damage, it would complicate Aizen's plans.
And even if he didn't care about that, now wasn't the time to betray anything.
After weighing his options, Gin suppressed the urge to activate Bankai.
"Endure a little longer… This kid will eventually run out of spiritual power and stamina."
And then—
Under the watchful eyes of countless Shinigami, the two fought all the way until evening.
The sun set.
And the first one to reach exhaustion was Gin Ichimaru.
Gone was his earlier composure. His face darkened as he silently cursed himself for being a fool.
Chu Yang, by contrast, looked battered—but his spirit was clearly stronger than Gin's.
By now, many captains and vice-captains of the Gotei Thirteen had gathered. Countless rank-and-file Shinigami stood around as well, all enjoying the rare sight of Gin Ichimaru being forced into a stalemate.
Shunsui Kyōraku, captain of the Eighth Division, chuckled cheerfully.
"Captain Ichimaru, running out of steam? Want to take a break? I can help you deal with this kid."
Gin said nothing, but mentally cursed Shunsui dozens of times.
The next moment, a wave of commotion spread through the crowd.
Genryūsai Yamamoto, Captain-Commander of the Gotei Thirteen, appeared at the battlefield, surrounded by Shinigami.
Yamamoto looked down.
Chu Yang looked up.
Their gazes met.
Chu Yang smiled slightly, deactivated Sage Mode and Lightning Release Armor, leaving only invisible Armament Haki. Then he raised both hands, plopped down on the ground, and shouted:
"I surrender!"
The surrounding Shinigami were baffled. Chu Yang clearly still had strength left—why surrender now?
Gin Ichimaru felt utterly played and trembled with anger.
"What are you doing?!"
Chu Yang simply lay down flat, speaking weakly,"We've been fighting all day. I'm tired. I want to sleep. You can step aside now."
"Sleep?"
Gin Ichimaru was so furious he nearly suffered a stroke.
You bastard—if you were going to sleep, why didn't you do it earlier?! I played monkey games with you here for an entire day, nearly every colleague has shown up to watch, and now you want to sleep?!
Get up and keep fighting right now!
Damn it!
I swear I'm going to poke three thousand holes all over your body!
"Enough."
The deep, timeworn voice of Captain-Commander Yamamoto suddenly rang out. Everyone straightened at once.
No matter how angry he was, Gin Ichimaru wouldn't be foolish enough to disobey the Captain-Commander's orders. And since he had already lost face today, it was even less appealing to stay any longer. He turned around and left.
Shunsui Kyōraku walked over to Chu Yang and examined him carefully. He had watched the entire fight from start to finish, and even he was shaken.
Even without Bankai, Gin Ichimaru was still the captain of the Third Division. Not even a vice-captain–level Shinigami could last that long against him.
Yet this kid actually managed it.
How had he dodged Shinsō's terrifying attacks so precisely?
Shunsui was extremely curious.
"Teacher, how should this Ryoka be dealt with?"Shunsui looked up toward Yamamoto.
"Unauthorized intrusion into Soul Society, and causing such a disturbance within Seireitei—surrender or not, he cannot be spared lightly. Lock him up. After Rukia's execution, hand him over to Central 46 for judgment."
Before leaving, the Captain-Commander gave Chu Yang a long, deep look.
Then he turned and departed, surrounded by Shinigami.
"That old man seems rather interested in you," Shunsui leaned in and said quietly.
Chu Yang smiled. "Can't be helped. Top students are always popular."
Seeing how relaxed Chu Yang was, Shunsui felt surprised."Aren't you afraid?"
Chu Yang shrugged. "Being afraid doesn't help. I can't beat all of you anyway. In that case, why waste energy on a useless emotion?"
Shunsui nodded. "Makes sense. You're a really interesting guy."
As they finished speaking, Kaname Tōsen, the captain of the Ninth Division and the one in charge of the prisons, walked over.
"Get up. You're coming with me to the detention cells. Let me warn you—don't get any ideas. You'll die."
Chu Yang glanced at Tōsen and didn't respond. If he truly wanted to escape, there weren't many Shinigami here who could stop him.
He obediently followed Tōsen to the prison, with no intention of causing trouble. As long as he waited quietly until the plot unfolded, his objective would be achieved.
As for Aizen's conspiracy, or his deal with Urahara Kisuke, those were beyond what he could directly interfere with.
Chu Yang knew Urahara's intentions.He also knew Aizen's scheme.
Both of them were after the Hōgyoku hidden within Rukia's soul.
The Hōgyoku was something Urahara had accidentally created during his research. It possessed the power to break the limits of a Shinigami's strength.
Aizen had long been researching how to surpass those limits.
There was only one answer—Hollowfication.
Whether it was Shinigami turning into Hollows, or Hollows becoming Shinigami, as long as balance between the two powers could be achieved, one could transcend the boundaries of Shinigami strength.
The only thing capable of enabling this was the Hōgyoku.
The Hōgyoku possessed a will of its own. It could absorb the hearts and desires of those around it and manifest them into reality.
Put simply, as long as you truly desired something, the Hōgyoku could help make it happen—though it wasn't without limits.
In addition, the Hōgyoku could protect its host from death.When the host's power reached its limit or their life was threatened, the Hōgyoku would force them to evolve to a higher state.
Even if something went wrong during Hollowfication, the Hōgyoku would ensure Aizen's survival.
However…
Whether it was Aizen's Hōgyoku or Urahara's, both were incomplete prototypes—unstable, dangerous, and unusable under normal circumstances.
That was why Urahara hid his Hōgyoku inside Rukia's soul.
Even Rukia's trip to the Human World, and her transferring Shinigami powers to Ichigo Kurosaki, all carried Urahara's shadow behind the scenes.
The gigai Urahara gave Rukia had the ability to decompose spiritual power. Over time, the user would lose all spiritual energy and eventually become an ordinary human.
His plan was to strip Rukia of her Shinigami powers, turn her human, and permanently conceal the Hōgyoku so it could never be obtained by those who coveted it.
On the other side, Aizen saw through Urahara's intentions.
That was why, after killing Central 46, he used Kyōka Suigetsu to hypnotize everyone entering and leaving, issuing false orders.
Through those orders, he had Byakuya Kuchiki and Renji Abarai bring Rukia back to Soul Society and sentence her to execution.
Once Rukia was struck by the immense power of the Sōkyoku, the Hōgyoku inside her would be exposed.
Chu Yang had considered making a move for the Hōgyoku himself—but at his current level, there was no way he could take it from either Urahara or Aizen.
For now, all he could do was watch from the sidelines.
With Aizen's intellect, even the slightest abnormal move from Chu Yang would be detected.
And once that happened, Chu Yang was certain of one thing—
He would be the first to die.
Aizen was terrifyingly strong.
At one point, his presence even eclipsed that of the man who had held the title of strongest Shinigami for over a thousand years—the Captain-Commander Yamamoto Genryūsai Shigekuni.
Aizen's Zanpakutō, Kyōka Suigetsu, was an illusion-type blade with utterly broken abilities.
As long as someone had seen its Shikai even once, their five senses would be completely controlled. Aizen could manipulate their perception at will.
What you saw would always be what Aizen wanted you to see—even if you knew you were under hypnosis, you could never break free.
How broken was this ability?
In terms of effect, it was like a weakened version of Infinite Tsukuyomi—except it had no restrictions. Aizen could activate it whenever he wished.
And beyond his Zanpakutō, Aizen's mastery of all four Shinigami arts—Zanjutsu, Hakuda, Shunpo, and Kidō—was at the absolute pinnacle.
There were very few who could even be mentioned in the same breath as him.
Any rational person with half a brain would never willingly provoke such a monster.
If Chu Yang ever wanted to fight Aizen head-on, he would need at least Six Paths Sage Mode with the Rinnegan, and probably even the Divine Tree's fruit.
In short—this was not the time to confront Aizen directly.
As always, problems meant for the protagonist to solve weren't his responsibility. Chu Yang had no reason to risk his life.
As long as he survived this arc and extracted enough benefit from it, it would be a guaranteed profit.
Among the crowd, Renji Abarai, vice-captain of the Sixth Division and Rukia's childhood friend, watched Tōsen take Chu Yang away.
That night, Renji secretly went to the Repentance Cell where Rukia was imprisoned and told her about Ichigo and the others.
When Rukia learned that Ichigo and his companions had come to Soul Society to save her, she showed panic for the first time in a long while.
She had willingly returned to Soul Society to accept punishment precisely to avoid dragging Ichigo into danger.
"Among them, there's a Ryoka named Yang. He's already been imprisoned by Captain Tōsen. If no one had been injured, he might've been sent to the Repentance Cell too."
Renji recalled the earlier battle and couldn't help sighing.
"That guy's really strong. He actually fought Captain Ichimaru from morning all the way until evening. Just when Ichimaru was about to run out of stamina, that guy suddenly surrendered…"
Rukia froze."Who did you say was fighting Gin Ichimaru?"
Renji looked confused. "You don't know that guy named Yang?"
"I do… it's just…"Rukia recalled the scene of him barehandedly battling Hollows. After a long pause, she said quietly,"I didn't expect him to get even stronger."
Renji nodded. "Yeah. Without a Zanpakutō, he still fought Ichimaru to that extent. If he weren't human but a Shinigami… he'd probably already be captain-class."
Rukia fell silent.
(End of Chapter)