Soul Reapers Don't Always Clean Floors-Some Clean Sewers Too

Wang Chuan woke up early, still wearing his pajamas.

Although he lived in the Fourth Division Barracks, the surroundings were quiet, and as a veteran with extensive experience and powerful healing Kidō, he already had a private room of his own.

"Another new day. I bet I'll have to clean the sewers again."

Ring, ring—

It was time to wash up and start a new day.

"Other people start at eight, but I have to start at six. Life isn't easy. I wish I could sleep in until I'd had my fill."

Despite his complaints, his body was honest.

A thin morning mist shrouded the upturned eaves of the Fourth Division Barracks. The fresh scent of grass and trees mingled with a faint medicinal fragrance throughout the courtyard.

Wang Chuan stood in the front row of the stone-paved courtyard outside the General Infirmary.

Today was the annual induction of new recruits.

Several recruits who had graduated from Shin'ō Academy held their Zanpakuto and looked at the assembled Fourth Division members before them. Their black shihakushō were brand-new and still creased, and plain white sashes were tied around their waists.

Iemura Yasochika stood at the front of the formation, his expression solemn. He briefly explained the Fourth Division's duties, then went over the rules for ward duty and field medical aid.

"Remember, the Fourth Division's first priority is treating the wounded. Don't rush for results. Healing Kidō isn't something you can master overnight."

Wang Chuan and several veteran members stepped forward to assign the recruits their dormitory room numbers and hand out medicine logs and wooden tablets for keeping records.

"You are still trainees, so you won't be issued medical overcoats or cylindrical hats for now," Iemura said slowly. "In the wards, you may only assist with care. You are not permitted to use healing Kidō on the seriously wounded without authorization. On field assignments, you may only follow your seniors and carry stretchers or deliver medicine packs. Do not rashly treat injuries yourselves."

The recruits lowered their heads and acknowledged his instructions.

Next came morning training. In the courtyard, the trainees followed the veteran members in practicing basic healing Kidō, pale green Reishi continually appearing in their palms.

After morning training came breakfast. The Fourth Division's breakfast was excellent, and Wang Chuan had always been satisfied with it.

After breakfast, the teams that had received assignments selected trainees and full members. Some followed their seniors to the wards to clean, make beds, and inventory the medicines, bandages, and other supplies on the shelves; others accompanied the logistics team to the storeroom to inventory various consumables.

Having only just arrived, they had no heart-stopping assignments, only ordinary, tedious daily work that left no room for the slightest carelessness.

Wang Chuan also received his assignment from Isane Kotetsu.

"Lieutenant, seriously? Why am I cleaning the sewers again?"

"The captain said you were more experienced. Pfft."

"Experienced? For years now, I've spent seven or eight days a month in the sewers. How could I not be? Lately it's been even worse. I've been cleaning the sewers for a whole month straight."

His fists clenched. Wang Chuan's fists clenched.

He wanted nothing more than to go find Retsu Unohana right now and really give her...

He couldn't beat her. He genuinely couldn't beat her.

She was the First Kenpachi. There were only a handful of people in all of Soul Society who dared claim they could definitely beat her. Besides, he hadn't achieved Shikai yet. He'd nearly finished nurturing his Zanpakuto, but its true name was still very hazy.

What could he do? He could only put up with it.

Seeing Wang Chuan's gloomy expression, Isane Kotetsu spoke. "You could consider applying for a promotion to Seated Officer. Your Kidō is good, and your healing Kidō is strong too. You meet the requirements."

"Forget it. We'll talk about it later."

There was nothing wrong with Isane Kotetsu's suggestion. Seated Officers no longer needed to handle certain routine chores. It wasn't a privilege; anyone who became a Seated Officer would surely know all those tasks inside out.

But the Fourth Division's captain was Retsu Unohana. For an ordinary Seated Officer, it might just be a routine process: pass the healing Kidō test, and the captain could appoint them.

Somehow, she'd seen that he was good with a sword, and ever since he turned down Unohana's invitation to spar, he'd been sent to clean the sewers frequently.

If he applied to become a Seated Officer, she would most likely beat him up and then make him treat his own injuries. Whether he could be promoted would depend on how well he treated his wounds.

As for the beating he'd get—what beating? That was called preparation for the assessment. Didn't he understand how things worked when it came to the captain?

Still feeling glum, Wang Chuan selected two trainees and two full members, gathered the necessary supplies, and went to clean the sewers.

Wang Chuan led the members into the sewers.

The four members, two men and two women, were divided by gender, with a veteran and a newcomer in each group.

Wang Chuan was mainly responsible for compiling and filing the cleaning reports and records once the work was done, as well as overseeing maintenance and reporting as team leader.

The two male members were responsible for using Kidō to clear away the accumulated spirit fragments, soul remnants, and silted-up filth.

The two female members were responsible for inspecting and recording the passageways, mainly noting, marking, and updating the map with various abnormal changes in Spiritual Pressure.

Later, the two groups would switch tasks and continue alternating, ensuring everyone could complete all the work independently.

As for how much later, barring any surprises, it would be tomorrow, and he'd be leading the team again.

"Sister Chizu, the senior leading us seems a little fierce. He hardly says anything."

Asakura Sumino glanced at Wang Chuan. Seeing that he wasn't paying attention to them, she turned back to Mizuno Chizu and said, "Senior Wang Chuan has been cleaning sewers for a whole month straight. It's normal for him to be a little down. He's actually very nice. He's been a full member for quite a few years and has a lot of experience."

"Cleaning sewers for a whole month? Does the same assignment usually last that long?"

"Generally, no." Asakura Sumino's expression turned odd.

"I heard this too, so don't go spreading it around."

Seeing Mizuno Chizu nod vigorously, Mizuno Chizu continued, "Apparently, he offended Captain Unohana, so she's been singling him out. As for why, come closer."

Mizuno Chizu leaned in.

"It's because the captain confessed to him and he turned her down, so her embarrassment turned to anger."

"Huh?!"

"Is something wrong?"

Sugimoto Sōta, who had been using Kidō to clear away the filth, heard Mizuno Chizu's cry and immediately turned around. His right hand gripped the hilt of his Zanpakuto, while his left reached into the medical bag he carried, ready to take out a Hell Butterfly and contact the Second Division at any moment.

This was a sewer. It was normal for all sorts of strange things to appear here, even Hollows.

"It's nothing, it's nothing. The newcomer's here for the first time and got a fright."

"That's good."

With that, he turned back and continued cleaning.

Wang Chuan, meanwhile, said expressionlessly, "Focus on your work."

"Yes." ×4

He'd heard what Asakura Sumino said, and his heart blossomed with joy. His painstaking efforts to spread the rumor hadn't been in vain.

His mood improved considerably, and he felt more motivated to work.

Before long, they finished working on that section and prepared to move on to the next.

After rounding a corner, Wang Chuan reached out to stop the four members behind him, signaling them to wait where they were.

Sugimoto Sōta had gone on many assignments with Wang Chuan. He repeated what he'd done when he heard Mizuno Chizu cry out earlier, standing guard while remaining ready to notify the Second Division at any moment.

"Hadō #1: Shō! Hadō #4: Byakurai!"

Several small shock waves and bolts of lightning instantly shot toward the area ahead, then struck the sewer walls.

Wang Chuan frowned slightly. After his perception had been strengthened by the Gate of Spirit, he'd become highly sensitive to changes in Spiritual Pressure.

He sensed an area ahead with Spiritual Pressure distinctly different from the usual, but he didn't know whether it was a person or a trap.

"In that case, Bakudō #58: Kakushitsuijaku."

An invisible wave spread over the surrounding area.

But Wang Chuan still detected no living creatures ahead.

Was my perception wrong?

Just then, a somewhat distorted black line abruptly appeared a hundred meters ahead.

In the blink of an eye, the black line trembled slightly as though writhing, then began widening from the middle, like a bizarre mouth opening to reveal darkness within.

"A Garganta?!"

"Sugimoto!"

"A five-person Fourth Division team has discovered a Garganta in the sewers west of the Fifth and Sixth Divisions."

"Wang Chuan's team has discovered a Garganta in sewer zone A3 west of the Fifth and Sixth Divisions. Everyone, please avoid the area."

Sugimoto didn't wait for Wang Chuan's orders. As soon as he spotted the Garganta, he sent out several Hell Butterflies. It was instinct as a veteran, as well as a result of his understanding with Wang Chuan.

The first was sent to Second Division Lieutenant Marechiyo Ōmaeda's department to request support. The reason it didn't include a specific section number was that those numbers were used only within the Fourth Division.

The remaining Hell Butterflies were for the other teams assigned to sewer duty today. The Fourth Division wasn't strong in direct combat; if they came to help, it would be like the Calabash Brothers going to save their grandpa.

Wang Chuan wanted to lead the team back immediately, but unfortunately, whatever was on the other side of the Garganta didn't seem inclined to let them leave.

Roar—

In the blink of an eye, three Hollows crawled out of the Garganta, and it didn't disappear after they emerged.

"Sugimoto, take them back."

"Wang Chuan, you—"

"That's an order."

"Go!"

Neither Sugimoto nor Asakura said anything more. Each grabbed a newcomer and turned to leave. The longer they delayed now, the more people might die.

"Seriously, can't I just live my life in peace?"

Wang Chuan gritted his teeth. Low-level Hollows could only use physical attacks, and with his strength, they were easy enough to deal with. But anything that could open a Garganta and keep it open was definitely no low-level Hollow.

Still grumbling, Wang Chuan drew his Zanpakuto and walked forward.

"Shunpo."

In an instant, Wang Chuan vanished from the three Hollows' sight.

Then he appeared behind one of them.

"Slash!"

Spiritual Pressure gathered on his Zanpakuto, and it pierced the Hollow's head like a hot knife through butter.

"Two left."

Wang Chuan planned to use the same trick again and deal with the remaining two using Shunpo. Unfortunately, whatever was behind the Garganta had other ideas.

Roar—

Three more Hollows joined the battle!

"Is this thing ever going to stop?"

"Shunpo Five Flashes!"

In an instant, five flashes of a blade appeared, and all five Hollows were dealt with.

The Garganta still hadn't disappeared, but for the moment, no new Hollows came crawling out.

Wang Chuan couldn't understand why the Garganta neither disappeared nor produced any new Hollows, but he didn't intend to figure it out, either.

Where's the Second Division? If they don't get here soon, I'm leaving. Whoever wants to deal with this damn thing can deal with it.

Just as Wang Chuan was muttering to himself,

a creature wearing a pointed-nose mask and clothing like a witch's cloak walked out.

"A Gillian?"

"This thing showed up in Soul Society?"

"Seventh Division, every last one of you go commit seppuku, you bastards!"