Another Three Years

A month passed quickly, and Ye Yang was increasingly amazed by Tōshirō's talent. He had already mastered the basics of Kidō after only a week of learning it. As for Shunpo, it was taught to him by Soi Fon, and Soi Fon's skill in Shunpo was no less than Ye Yang's.

In the end, Ye Yang taught him the Hakuda, even teaching him his most proficient Tai Chi Ye Yang. However, he was asked to learn how to circulate Spiritual Power using Tai Chi. This wasn't a secret; Ye Yang had let him try it before, but for some reason, this method didn't work on Tōshirō, so Ye Yang had to give up on the idea.

Now that Tōshirō has joined the Punishment Force, although he lacks combat experience and is small in size, he managed to defeat a Seated Officer of the Second Division during the Punishment Force entrance test with his astonishing Spiritual Pressure, successfully silencing any doubts.

From then on, a small figure appeared in Punishment Force. The team members did not know his identity, and Ye Yang did not make a fuss. He had to rely on himself there. When carrying out missions, Soi Fon would secretly follow him. She would never take action unless her life was in danger. Fortunately, Tōshirō did not disappoint Ye Yang.

Every morning he would go to the Shin'ō to check on the students, then return early in the afternoon to see Tōshirō, and go back to sleep at night. He did this every day. Since the last combat exercise incident, nothing major had happened in Soul Society, and it had returned to its former peace. Ye Yang was enjoying this peaceful life.

Over the course of three years, Tōshirō thrived in the Punishment Force. At least, no one dared to challenge his name. His mission success rate was an astonishing 99%, with only a limited number of failures. After all, he was still just a child. Those few missions were due to his lack of experience in combat, which inevitably led to unexpected events.

For the next two years, he never failed a mission. When his teammates talked about him, they could only call him a prodigy. He had already achieved so much at such a young age, and he was sure to be an extraordinary person when he grew up.

Ye Yang's students are all graduating this year. After that incident, they have obviously worked harder than before, perhaps because they felt their own insignificance, or perhaps because they have grown a lot.

The most outstanding figures in the class are Renji 'Renji current strength is roughly equivalent to that of a low-ranking Seated Officer. If he were to encounter that incident again, he probably wouldn't be as at a loss as he was back then. As for Kira and Momo, they are slightly inferior, since Renji has paid at least twice as much as them!

Shūhei had already graduated and was now a member of the Ninth Division. The current captain of the Ninth Division was Kaname Tōsen, who was Aizen's subordinate. Ye Yang originally wanted to dissuade him, but joining the Ninth Division had always been his dream.

This can actually be seen from the tattoo on his face. The person who saved him from Yorozumi was Kensei Muguruma, and from then on, he regarded Kensei as his idol. When he learned of Kensei's death, he vowed to inherit Kensei's will, so he tattooed the same tattoo on his face as Kensei and aimed to join the Ninth Division.

Now, Renji and his friends are also facing graduation. They have all decided on their respective destinations. Renji followed Ye Yang's advice and went to the 11th Division because it was the most suitable place for him. He could find joy in fighting, and it was the only place where he could grow rapidly.

Hinamori chose the Fifth Division. Ye Yang tried to persuade her several times, but to no avail. The little girl was completely captivated by Aizen. During this time, Aizen even gave a lecture at the Shin'ō a few times. As a result, Hinamori became hopelessly infatuated with Aizen and was determined to join the Fifth Division.

She even tried to understand Aizen's habits, and the only good thing about him was that Aizen liked to read, so Hinamori also started to like reading from then on and often went to the library when she had free time.

Ye Yang was also helpless about this problem, and could only wait and see.

Kira's choice did surprise Ye Yang. He also chose the Fifth Division. When Ye Yang asked him, he stammered and couldn't give a clear answer. He just blushed and kept glancing at Hinamori.

Ye Yang immediately understood, then smiled helplessly. He had thought Aizen had only gained Hinamori, but he hadn't realized this connection. In this way, Aizen directly gained Hinamori and Kira.

Although Kira doesn't admire Aizen, once he joins the Fifth Division, Kira's mindset will definitely be swayed by Aizen; in terms of cunning, he's far inferior to Aizen.

In this way, Aizen actually won. In the end, they still followed the original plot, and Ye Yang could only win over Renji.

They still have more than a month until graduation, but everything is already set in stone.

The students in this class were generally satisfied, and the graduation ceremony was a rather grand event. However, this was not the most significant event in Soul Society. Byakuya's wife, Hisana, could not escape her fate. This morning, news came from the Kuchiki Clan that Hisana Kuchiki away.

The death of a woman is nothing unusual, since everyone knows she will pass away sooner or later. So people were prepared for her departure, and even the elders of the Kuchiki Clan were looking forward to her death!

However, another person passed away at the same time: the previous head of the Kuchiki Clan, Byakuya's grandfather, Ginrei Kuchiki! A gloomy atmosphere immediately descended upon the Kuchiki mansion.

For the elders, this was a bolt from the blue, because when the old patriarch was alive, Byakuya had to consider him in everything he did. Although he did not object to Byakuya marrying Hisana, he turned a blind eye to the elders' refusal to include Hisana in the family register. As a result, even Byakuya could not change the situation.

However, at this time, the old patriarch passed away, and Byakuya became the true patriarch of the Kuchiki Clan. With Byakuya's strength and methods, subduing those elders would be a piece of cake. It wouldn't be impossible for him to enshrine the deceased Hisana in the Kuchiki Clan, since Byakuya had done things against the rules more than once for Hisana's sake.

Byakuya's situation was not so optimistic. Having suddenly lost two of the most important people in his life, even the usually strong Byakuya was at a loss for what to do.

Upon hearing this news, Ye Yang went to the Kuchiki Mansion immediately. Such a blow was not something an ordinary person could bear. At present, Ye Yang was probably the only person in the Soul Society who could talk to him.

When Ye Yang arrived at the Kuchiki residence, white cloth strips were hanging on the gate. The servants naturally came to greet him. "Lord Shihoin, the head of the family instructed that if you arrived, he would inform you; he's waiting inside."

Ye Yang nodded slightly and walked into the Kuchiki residence. He knew where Byakuya was without even looking; it must be under the cherry blossom tree in the backyard. Sure enough, a familiar figure stood alone under the cherry blossom tree, but the cherry blossoms had already withered, leaving only lonely branches, just like the person under the tree, lonely.

Ye Yang stood still without calling him, not wanting to disturb his peaceful reverie; the two of them stood there quietly.

"You've come," Byakuya said softly, his eyes still fixed on the cherry blossom tree, as if he were talking to the cherry blossoms, or perhaps he was remembering something. He already knew that Ye Yang was coming.

"Yes," Ye Yang responded, then walked to his side and said, "How could I not come after such a big event?"

Byakuya slowly turned his head, and Ye Yang was immediately taken aback. What an expression he had! His face was deathly still, pale and bloodless, and he had no expression at all, just like a dead man.

Ye Yang couldn't see any trace of his former pride and brilliance in his eyes; they were as calm as a stagnant pool. Ye Yang was afraid he would die at any moment. However, when he turned to look at Ye Yang noticed the fleeting hope in his eyes. It should be said that Ye Yang was probably the only person in Soul Society who could talk to him now.

"Byakuya, you..." Ye Yang wanted to say something, but stopped himself, because any words of comfort would seem too pale and powerless now. He could only silently share this pain with him.

"I... I'm fine, Brother Ye Yang. I suddenly realized how fragile life is. Even if you become the Grim Reaper, you still can't escape the erosion of time, and in the end, you'll return to dust."

Ye Yang sighed softly, "Life is indeed very short. Even becoming a Grim Reaper only lasts a thousand years. Even someone as powerful as Captain-Commander Yamamoto only lasted two thousand years, and he's starting to decline now. But the meaning of life is not just that."

"The meaning of life?" Byakuya murmured softly, lost in thought.

"Hey, why do you like cherry blossoms?" Ye Yang asked him this seemingly unrelated question.

Byakuya was taken aback. He lowered his head and thought for a while, but he couldn't figure out why he liked cherry blossoms. It seemed that he had liked them for no reason since he was a child.

"The cherry blossom's blooming period is very short, but it is the most dazzling among all flowers. When it blooms, it's like a shooting star streaking across the night sky. For it, that's enough, because people will remember its beauty. This is what is meant by 'fleeting beauty.' Others may feel regret, but it has no regrets, because it has achieved its most beautiful bloom in its short time!"

Byakuya slowly closed his eyes, softly murmuring to himself, "Hisana, are you that cherry blossom? Is that why Heaven allowed us to be together? Do you truly have no regrets...?"

Ye Yang said softly, "Perhaps she never regretted it from the beginning. This is her life, the life she chose..."