Spiritual Pressure

The day after Ye Yang and Yoruichi's fifteenth birthday, their father, Shihoin Seigen, called them to the training ground and said, "You're going to become Soul Reapers in the future. As Soul Reaper candidates, do you know the four main skills of a Soul Reaper?"

Ye Yang thought back. He wasn't very familiar with the world of Soul Reapers. In his previous life, he had read the Bleach manga on a friend's recommendation, but he had only gotten as far as Aizen's betrayal before coming to this world. Just then, Yoruichi interrupted his thoughts.

"It's Zankensōki, isn't it, Father?"

"That's right. Zankensōki refers to Zanjutsu, Hakuda, Shunpo, and Kidō. As direct descendants of the Shihoin family, you must master all four skills, and you must be proficient in Shunpo and Hakuda. Those are essential requirements for joining the Stealth Force. Especially you, Yoruichi. As the eldest daughter, you'll inherit the position of commander-in-chief of the Punishment Force. Understood?"

"Understood!" they said together.

"Good. Shunpo requires excellent control over Spiritual Pressure. For now, I'll have you learn how to control and cultivate your Spiritual Pressure. Once you have enough of it, I'll teach you Shunpo. First, we'll learn Hakuda, which means hand-to-hand combat. Come at me with everything you've got and let me see your fighting talent and reaction speed."

As soon as Yoruichi heard her father, she attacked him without hesitation. Ye Yang, however, remained where he was, showing no intention of joining in. His pride as a martial artist wouldn't allow him to gang up on someone, even if that someone was his father!

Seigen looked at Ye Yang standing still and couldn't help frowning. "Ye Yang, what are you doing?"

"Father, I think testing us separately would make it easier to gauge our abilities."

Seigen fell silent for a while before saying, "Mm, you're right. You can come at me now." As for Yoruichi, her father had already knocked her down while he and Ye Yang were talking...

As they spoke, Ye Yang and his father had already begun fighting. In Ye Yang's eyes, his father's moves weren't particularly sophisticated, but they were extremely practical, probably honed through extensive combat and bloodshed. Ye Yang had ways to counter Hakuda at this level, but he would have to reveal his strength. After weighing it over, he decided against it. For a child, such strength would be a little too shocking, and if it were discovered, it would inevitably raise questions. Ye Yang decided to reveal his strength gradually over a long period of time.

When he felt enough time had passed, Ye Yang deliberately left an opening and was defeated by his father.

Seigen, however, was astonished. Ye Yang had lasted so long against him in his very first fight. Although Seigen hadn't used Spiritual Pressure or fought at full strength, it was still impressive enough. The boy had excellent fighting instincts and good reactions; he could be called a genius, Seigen thought. Yet there was more to come that would surprise him...

"All right, that's enough for today. Today was just to see your fighting talent. Overall, you both did very well. Someone will come later to test your Spiritual Pressure and teach you the basics of cultivating it. The real training starts tomorrow," Seigen said, then left. No one saw the faint smile that appeared at the corner of the usually stern Seigen's mouth...

After Seigen left, Yoruichi looked unhappy. She had lasted ten seconds against their father, while Ye Yang had lasted over a minute. "Hey, little brother, why were you able to last so long?"

A teasing smile spread across Ye Yang's face. "It's called talent. You understand?"

"You're asking for another beating, little brother," Yoruichi said angrily.

Ye Yang looked unconcerned. "When have you ever managed to beat me? Aren't you the one who gets beaten up every time?"

"Hmph, just you wait. I'll get my revenge someday. I'll beat you up so badly even Mom won't recognize you..." Yoruichi said, raising her little fist.

"Tch, you've said that 783 times already..." Ye Yang replied.

"So can't you just go easy on me and let me beat you up once?"

"No, this is a matter of principle..."

Before long, Nakamura Kei, the Shihoin Clan's butler, arrived and said to them, "Young master, young lady, the master has family matters to attend to, so he has left the Spiritual Pressure test and basic cultivation to me."

"Then... Grandpa Butler, how do you test Spiritual Pressure?"

The butler took something resembling a crystal ball from inside his clothes. "This is a Spiritual Pressure tester. Young master, young lady, you only need to put as much Spiritual Pressure into it as you can. The tester will display different colors depending on how much you put in. There are seven colors: red, orange, yellow, green, cyan, blue, and purple. The lowest is purple, equivalent to an ordinary Plus with Spiritual Power. Above that, the colors correspond to an ordinary Soul Reaper, a lower-ranked Seated Officer, a higher-ranked Seated Officer, a lieutenant, and a captain. As for the highest, red..." A trace of admiration flashed in the butler's eyes. "Only Shigekuni Yamamoto-Genryūsai, the strongest Soul Reaper in a thousand years and the current Captain-Commander of the Thirteenth Division, has ever produced that color."

"All right, enough talk. Young master, young lady, please put your Spiritual Pressure into the tester."

Yoruichi placed the tester on her palm and put her Spiritual Pressure into it, looking as though she was exerting herself. Gradually, the originally translucent crystal ball began to glow a faint purple, and the color deepened. Then it gradually changed from purple to blue, finally settling on a deep blue.

The butler's expression had grown somewhat unnatural. He had expected the young master and young lady's Spiritual Pressure to register purple, or light blue at most. He hadn't expected Yoruichi's Spiritual Pressure to be equivalent to that of an ordinary Soul Reaper already. Yoruichi had never undergone any training or cultivated her Spiritual Pressure! She could only be described as a genius. The butler didn't show his joy, however. Composing himself slightly, he said, "Mm, very good. Young master, you're next."

Ye Yang curled his lip. He didn't intend to reveal his strength; using about half of it would be enough. He slowly put his Spiritual Pressure into the crystal ball, and it turned the same deep blue as Yoruichi's. It seemed a little darker than hers, as though it might change color at any moment.

The butler could no longer conceal his shock. The young master's Spiritual Pressure was even greater than the young lady's. In every generation of noble descendants, there were always a few with outstanding Spiritual Power, and when tested, theirs would register deep purple or light blue. A genius would be born every few generations; otherwise, the noble families would gradually decline. This was especially true of the Shihoin Clan, one of the Four Great Noble Clans. The Shihoin Clan hadn't produced a genius for several generations, and their great-grandfather was still the current head of the family—because anyone who couldn't subdue the Punishment Force couldn't become its commander-in-chief.

The butler had thought the young lady would be the next head of the family, but the young master's Spiritual Pressure seemed to be even stronger than hers. Two geniuses had appeared in the same generation, and they were siblings who got along well, so there would probably be no struggle for power. The butler seemed to foresee a prosperous future for the Shihoin Clan.

At the thought, the butler smiled knowingly. Ye Yang looked at Grandpa Butler's smile in confusion. "Grandpa Butler, what are you smiling about?"

The butler noticed his own lapse and hurriedly composed himself. "Mm, both your and the young lady's Spiritual Pressure are quite good." He then took two books from behind his back. "These explain how to cultivate Spiritual Pressure. Take one each and cultivate on your own when you return tonight."

"Yes!"

"Yes!"

After the butler left, Yoruichi looked at Ye Yang. "Little brother, you always do so well. I'm your sister, can't you let me win once?"

Ye Yang glanced at Yoruichi's resentful expression. "Can't be helped. It's called talent, understand?"

Looking at Yoruichi's puffed-up little face, Ye Yang couldn't help feeling a trace of warmth in his heart. The warmth of having a family was something he hadn't even dared imagine in his previous life. He had lost both parents when he was very young, and if his master hadn't taken him in, Ye Yang might have died in some corner long ago. In this life, he had parents and an older sister. Ye Yang silently swore to himself: I must protect this family. I'll never let them come to harm! If anyone hurt his family, Ye Yang would make them regret being alive, no matter the cost!

Shihoin family council hall

An elderly man with a full head of white hair sat in the main seat. Although the years had left their marks on his body, his eyes shone with sharp light, as though telling everyone he wasn't old yet. This was the current head of the Shihoin Clan, Shihoin Tōno.

Several family elders sat nearby, including Ye Yang's father, Shihoin Seigen. The old man spoke. "Seigen, your two children officially began their Soul Reaper training today, correct?"

"Yes, Lord Family Head."

"How talented are they?" Shihoin Tōno felt a trace of nervousness. After all, this was his last hope. He had to admit that he was old, and perhaps he would never live to see the birth of the next generation of descendants.

"Family Head, so far I've only tested their reactions and fighting instincts. They're quite good in those areas. The butler conducted the Spiritual Pressure test. He's here now, so please ask him."

The butler entered through the main doors and said, "Family Head, I was responsible for testing the young master and young lady's Spiritual Pressure. Both registered deep blue, and the young master's Spiritual Pressure was just short of the level of a lower-ranked Seated Officer."

Shihoin Tōno restrained his excitement. The Shihoin Clan hadn't produced anyone with such talent in many years. He had thought the family's decline after his death was inevitable, but now two descendants with the potential to inherit the family had suddenly appeared. How could he not be excited?

"Raise both of them as the next head of the family," Shihoin Tōno said.

"But..." A family elder stood up, only for Shihoin Tōno to interrupt him. "Say no more. Raise both of them as the next head of the family. As for the future, let them decide for themselves." Then he turned to all the elders. "You may all leave."

"Yes..."

In a voice no one could hear, Shihoin Tōno said, "There's hope for the Shihoin Clan..."