News of Rukia

P. S.: Please forgive the slow update speed lately. I'm currently working 12 hours a day, including night shifts, so I don't have much time to write. I'll try my best to catch up once I return to school.

Also, thank you to all the readers who have been quietly supporting me!

"Hah!" Kira unleashed a powerful strike, showing that he hadn't used his full strength and was saving his move. Sure enough, Kira quickly withdrew his power after his initial attack, preparing for his next strike.

Ye Yang soon realized through their sparring that Kira had a very solid foundation and wouldn't take any risky moves. He played steadily and cautiously, with a strong defense but a weak offense, which was the exact opposite of Renji's style.

"Defense alone is not enough; you need to know how to counter-attack, understand?" Ye Yang couldn't help but remind him.

Kira said nothing, silently turning his defensive stance into an offensive one. It must be said that Kira used the Zanjutsu taught by Shin'ō very well, but this was also his biggest weakness. Perhaps a conventional teacher would consider him a good teaching material, but Ye Yang thought he was inadequate.

Although his movements were standard, they were somewhat stiff. In other words, he was trapped by these so-called routines and had no innovation whatsoever. After this attack Ye Yang could even predict his next move.

Ye Yang shook his head, ready to end the fight, but then he saw Kira launch a flying kick at him. Ye Yang immediately abandoned the idea and wanted to see if Kira could break through his limits.

"Hadō #4 - Byakurai!" Kira chanted, pointing his right hand and a white lightning bolt shot towards Ye Yang. Instead of dodging, Ye Yang stood still, his right hand outstretched, and caught the Byakurai with his palm.

"What!" Kira exclaimed in shock. He had never imagined that Kidō could be broken like this. Catching Kidō with bare hands? Was that really possible?

Ye Yang didn't care whether you were surprised or not. He instantly appeared in front of Kira and struck him in the chest with the hilt of his sword, sending him flying. "Your posture is too stiff, your moves are too rigid, your Kidō is alright, but next time I hope to see your innovation, you know?"

Yes, Teacher Ye Yang!

"Next, Momo Hinamori!" Ye Yang shouted.

The girl stepped forward. "Yes!"

Hinamori didn't stand too close to Ye Yang, and it seemed she was going to decide the outcome with Kidō. Sure enough, she immediately launched a Byakurai attack. Ye Yang smiled; since she was using Kidō, there was no point in Ye Yang directly attacking her with mental attacks. "Bakudō #8 - Repulsion!" A shield appeared in Ye Yang's hand, blocking Hinamori's Kidō.

The same Kidō that Kira used earlier is different from the Hinamori uses now. It is obvious that Hinamori's Byakurai is more solid and has greater power.

Hinamori was not surprised and immediately created distance, chanting, "Bakudō #4: Hainawa - Hainawa!" Instantly, a yellow rope flew out from her palm and towards Ye Yang.

Ye Yang neither dodged nor resisted, allowing himself to be bound by the Hainawa. He wanted to see what other tricks she had up her sleeve. Seeing Ye Yang bound, Hinamori revealed a hint of joy and then chanted, "Self-destruct, black dog of Rontanini! Worth mentioning, burn completely. Cut your own throat! Bakudō #9 - Hōrin!" A rope-like yellow light enveloped Ye Yang.

Hinamori clasped her hands together. "You ruler! Mask of flesh and blood. All things. Take flight. Things bearing the name of humanity! The Heat and strife, surging waves of the sea, advance southward! Hadō #31 - Shakkahō!" A fireball the size of a palm shot towards Ye Yang.

Only after the fireball was launched did Hinamori murmur in a panic, "Ah... Is Teacher Ye Yang alright?"

Then Ye Yang's voice came from inside. "Bakudō #39 - Enkōsen!" The fireball then crashed into an oval-shaped yellow mirror.

After the explosion, Ye Yang slowly walked out and said, "A very good idea. First, you used Bakudō that abandoned chanting to temporarily seal the opponent, then you used a Binding Spell with Bakudō to further seal the opponent, and finally you used Hadō Spell to end the battle. However, your Kidō level is too low and not enough to trap the opponent. Even opponents of the same level can dodge it. Perhaps it will be useful in the future when your Kidō control improves. Do you have any other tricks up your sleeve?"

Ye Yang's words were utterly blunt, making Hinamori somewhat saddened. She folded her hands and began to chant. "You ruler! Mask of flesh and blood, all things. Things bearing the name of humanity! Truth and temperance, standing only as claws on the wall of a dream unaware of sin! Hadō #33 — Sōkatsui!"

White flames began to gather around Hinamori's hands, but her body was trembling for some reason. Ye Yang appeared in front of her instantly, placing his right hand on Hinamori's hands. Gradually, the white flames on Hinamori's hands dissipated and finally disappeared into the void.

Hinamori stared in astonishment at the scene before her, only to hear Ye Yang say, "The thirty-third level of Hadō is too early for you. Don't disregard your health, understand?"

Hinamori nodded blankly. What confused her even more was how Ye Yang had shattered her nascent Kidō, which completely overturned her understanding of Kidō.

After hesitating for a moment, she asked, "Teacher Ye Yang, how did you do that?"

Ye Yang explained, "Hanki Sōsai involves using the same type and quantity of Kidō as your opponent to destroy their Kidō, thus neutralizing its effects. It's a relatively advanced technique; you'll understand it once your Kidō reaches a certain level."

Hinamori nodded, but it wasn't until she joined the squad that she realized that level was beyond her reach.

She kept her head down, not daring to look at Ye Yang. The Shakkahō No. 31 was already her limit. After using the Shakkahō and consuming a lot of Spiritual Power, she knew that her success rate was very low, even almost impossible. She was only pushing herself to the limit so that Ye Yang wouldn't look down on her. However, Lady Luck did not seem to be on her side. If Ye Yang hadn't stopped her in time, she might have suffered a backlash from the Kidō. At best, it would cause her blood and qi to stagnate; at worst, she would be bedridden for several days.

Seeing Ye Yang's slightly reproachful gaze, she dared not look up, like a child who had made a mistake. Ye Yang lowered his voice and said gently, "Don't do such dangerous things again, okay? Go back and rest for a while."

"Hmm," Hinamori responded softly, finding a corner to begin adjusting her state. Although Ye Yang had already helped her dispel the Kidō, she still needed to adjust herself.

Next, Ye Yang tested the remaining students. These students were not as strong as the previous three, and he easily defeated them all. Most of them were now lying on the ground, unable to even move.

Meanwhile, Renji Kira, and Hinamori had finished resting and were huddled together talking about something when Ye Yang suddenly appeared in front of them. The three of them instinctively took a step back.

Ye Yang chuckled, "I'm not Menos Grande, what are you afraid of? Today's training is complete, and I'll devise a customized training plan for each of you later."

Upon hearing that today's training was over, they breathed a sigh of relief. Ye Yang continued, "I just came to chat with you. Don't be nervous. Are all three of you from Rukongai?"

Kira answered first, "Yes, that's why we became friends so quickly. I used to live in the fifth district of East Rukongai, and the area is quite safe."

Ye Yang asked, "And what about home? Isn't Rukongai all made up of families?"

A flicker of sadness crossed Kira's eyes as he slowly said, "I used to have an older brother and a grandfather, but they both lacked Spiritual Power, and now they're both..."

He didn't finish his sentence, but everyone present already knew. "Sorry," Ye Yang said.

"It doesn't matter"

Hinamori immediately said, "I live in Junrinan Ward, West Rukongai. My grandma lives here, and oh yeah, I also have a cute little brother named Tōshirō. He always acts like a little adult." She seemed to be thinking about her brother, and couldn't help but laugh as she thought about him.

Ye Yang's body trembled almost imperceptibly. The captain of the Tenth Division in the original series seemed to have this name, and he was Hinamori's younger brother. So it must be him, that genius boy.

"Really? What a cute kid. I used to have an older sister too, maybe we'd get along better~" Ye Yang chuckled.

Hinamori chuckled, "Little Lion, you look a bit like Teacher Ye Yang! Teacher Ye Yang, do you have an older sister? Could you tell me about her?"

Ye Yang gently shook his head, seemingly unwilling to talk about her. "Renji? I think you live in the District 78, right? The security there is really bad."

Renji scratched his head. "Yeah, water and food were extremely scarce there. A group of us used to live there, and we survived by stealing. But I really miss those days..."

Hinamori asked, "And then?"

"Later... they all died, so in the end only I and one companion were left, so we came here," Renji said somewhat sadly.

Finally, the question got to the point. Ye Yang wanted to know about Rukia, "What about your companion? Did you come to the Shin'ō of Dramatic Art together?"

A suspicious look flashed across Renji's face. "Yes, she's in Class 2 now, her name is Rukia."

Ye Yang exclaimed in shock, "What! Rukia?"

"What's wrong? Do you know Teacher Ye Yang?" Renji asked in surprise. He clearly remembered that Rukia had grown up with him, and they had never met Ye Yang before.

Ye Yang asked slowly and solemnly, "Are you sure her name is Rukia? Does she have any family?"

"Relatives? No, we've been playing together since we were little. She probably doesn't have any relatives. Why are you asking, Teacher Ye Yang?"

"Is she in Class Two now? Can you call her over so I can meet her? I have a friend who knows someone named Rukia, I don't know if it's the Rukia you're talking about," Ye Yang said, looking up.