The walk back wasn't far, and the two walked for about ten minutes without encountering anyone.
Yuan had a relatively "E" (extroverted) personality, belonging to the talkative and communicative type in daily life.
Although their time together was brief, Yuan observed that the old man, Satō, seemed to have been craving a conversation like this for a long time. His desire to talk was quite strong. Yuan only needed to pose a few well-timed questions or show curiosity about a topic, and the old man would open up like a floodgate, narrating endlessly.
During the conversation, key pieces of information mentioned by the old man Satō—such as the "Seireitei," "Shinigami," "Shin'ō Academy," and "Hollows"—all aligned with what Yuan knew from memory, giving him a clearer understanding of his current situation.
"Mr. Satō, are the Hollows you mentioned common in District 3 West?" Yuan asked, his tone carrying a touch of well-placed anxiety.
"Not really. Although this area is considered the outskirts of District 3 West, it's been several years since I last heard about a Hollow attacking a soul."
The old man Satō smiled reassuringly.
"District 3 West is considered to have very good public safety and decent living conditions among the 320 districts of the Rukongai (encompassing all four directions: East, South, West, and North). Furthermore, many Shinigami come from District 3 West, and they still have many acquaintances living here. They often return during holidays, so the safety here is quite secure."
"As long as you don't venture too close to the northern woods..., there generally won't be any danger."
The old man Satō wasn't surprised by Yuan's question. For ordinary souls, Hollows were the most unsolvable terror.
Stopping at the crucial point, he turned and pointed towards the slightly dense and secluded woods a few miles to the north.
"The northern woods, then... I understand."
Yuan silently noted this critical information. The Soul Society was vast, and every district of the Rukongai contained many undeveloped wilderness areas, places often fraught with lethal threats.
As they chatted, a dilapidated house, similar to Yuan's own, quickly came into view. Even though both of them had intentionally slowed their pace, the short journey soon came to an end.
At the old man Satō's prompting, Yuan poured the clean water into the old water jug until it was filled to the brim, then covered the opening with a wooden board.
Putting the empty wooden bucket in the corner, Yuan felt it was time to say goodbye. He had gathered most of the information he wanted, so he turned to the old man Satō.
"Mr. Satō, thank you so much for today and for teaching me so much."
"My memories have also become clearer. I think I'll head back now to collect my thoughts. I won't trouble you any further."
Hearing Yuan's farewell, the old man Satō's eyes dimmed.
Although they were only fleeting acquaintances, Yuan's warmth, courtesy, and conversational nature had made this short half-day the richest and most vibrant time Satō had experienced in over a decade. Despite his inner disappointment, he maintained a gentle smile and replied seriously.
"Since you're heading back, Yuan-kun, I won't keep you. After all, I don't have much to offer here."
"Finally, please don't mind the old man's nagging, but listen to a few more words."
"Although you can survive in the outer districts, it's nothing compared to the Inner District. After all, a young man like you will eventually need to find a partner, right? That's where young people like you should be."
The old man Satō's expression became serious, his words harboring genuine concern for Yuan. This was not a casual courtesy but had a deeper meaning.
Young souls like Yuan usually weren't natural deaths. After their memories recovered, the intertwining of their life's regrets, coupled with lonely living, often made them the most likely to degenerate into Hollows. This was not uncommon in the past.
However, unlike the vast majority of ordinary souls in this world, Yuan's greatest desire now was to shine his own light in this marvelous world and leave his mark.
"I will. I'll be going then."
"Goodbye, Mr. Satō."
Yuan nodded, indicating he had taken his advice to heart. After a slight bow to bid farewell, he turned and walked out the door.
As he walked away, he could feel the warm gaze behind him following him until he rounded a dilapidated low wall, and the sight was finally cut off.
"Oh dear."
Hearing the gradually receding footsteps, the old man Satō merely sighed softly and returned to his old house. Having lived in the Soul Society for so many years, he had experienced countless partings like this throughout his long life and had grown used to it.
This was the norm for the lives of ordinary souls in the Soul Society.
No hunger, but little peace.
Standing at the crossroads, Yuan did not return to his wooden house; there was nothing there worth lingering over.
"Inner District..."
He set his sights directly in the opposite direction—the road leading to the Inner District of District 3 West.
The Inner District meant a better living environment, a greater concentration of souls, more information, and... a closer opportunity to the world of the Shinigami.
Though the old man Satō was quite old, the information he knew was too fragmented.
For instance, regarding the Shin'ō Academy, he had only heard the name and knew it was where Shinigami trained, but he was unclear about the admission time or conditions.
And most critically, Yuan couldn't glean the exact time period he was in from him, as the concept of time had long lost its meaning for ordinary souls.
Without hesitation, he quickened his steps, heading towards the Inner District.
Initially, the surrounding scenery was no different from the area where he lived: still dilapidated houses and sparse vegetation.
Occasionally, one or two elderly souls with numb faces and empty eyes could be seen moving slowly outside their houses. They cast a brief, indifferent glance at Yuan, the hurrying stranger, and then paid him no further attention.
But as he continued forward, the dirt road underfoot gradually became a bit smoother. The houses by the roadside, though still simple, were noticeably tidier and more regulated, having been maintained and managed by people.
The spring and summer sun was warm, casting a slightly hot glow on his body.
He hurried along, and although he should have felt somewhat tired and out of breath, the warm sunlight permeated his limbs like a warm current, dissipating much of the soreness from the journey.
Yuan didn't pay much attention, assuming his body was just activating from walking for so long. He stretched his shoulders and neck, and his steps became lighter.
The closer he got to the Inner District, the richer the atmosphere of daily life became. Yuan saw small patches of vegetable gardens cultivated by souls near many houses, and the faces of the souls outside were no longer dead and apathetic but carried a touch of lively vitality.
Suddenly, Yuan's heart stirred, and he followed the sensation—only to see a small squad of people in black clothing, with swords at their waists, speeding quickly in another direction in the distance.
Shinigami attire, Shinigami!
The individuals moved extremely fast, instantly turning into a few blurry black dots in the distance.
Drawing his gaze back, Yuan continued towards his goal.