Central 46
Soi Fon just stared blankly in the direction Ye Yang had left, muttering to herself, "I hope so..."
Meanwhile, Ye Yang, accompanied by several Punishment Force, arrived at the entrance of Central 46. "Master, please go in yourself. Someone will meet you inside. We can only take you this far."
Ye Yang nodded, "Okay, you guys go ahead." He then walked in alone, and sure enough, two members of the Central 46's exclusive guard team led him inside. Although they didn't know why Ye Yang n't wearing the shackles for limiting Spiritual Pressure, that wasn't something they could ask. Their task was simply to get Ye Yang inside.
Ye Yang followed them inside, which was a place similar to an interrogation room. The Central 46 consisted of forty sages and six judges gathered from across the Soul Society. They were all sitting there, but their faces were not revealed; only their positions were written on the signs in front of them.
Turning his head, Ye Yang saw a man with a long beard standing there. Ye Yang was slightly taken aback, not expecting the Captain-Commander to come in person. Ye Yang gave him a smile, and the old man simply nodded without saying anything.
The judges in Central 46 were startled to see Ye Yang walk in like that. After all, they weren't very strong, and if he wanted to escape, they wouldn't be able to stop him. "How dare you! Do you know you're a criminal!"
Ye Yang naturally knew what they were referring to. "Putting aside whether I'm guilty or not, I'm still the head of the Shihoin Clan Four Great Noble Clans. Unless His Soul King himself comes, you probably don't have the right to imprison me." Ye Yang was utterly blunt. He already disliked the Central 46, and now they'd brought him here for interrogation. Of course, he wouldn't submit. He wasn't Kisuke Urahara from back then. Did he think that being strong would overpower him? He was sorely mistaken!
"You... how dare you! You're a convicted criminal and you still dare to argue! We're going to add another charge of insulting Central 46 to your list!" A group of old men, enraged and humiliated, started adding charges haphazardly.
"Is that so?" Ye Yang's lips curled into a mocking smile. "May I ask, sir, what crime have I committed?"
"You have repeatedly challenged the authority of the Central 46 Division. Captain-Commander, please arrest this prisoner for interrogation!" In the end, they had to ask Yamamoto to capture Ye Yang, otherwise they would have been quite wary.
A flicker of hesitation crossed Yamamoto's eyes. But he had no choice but to act; his almost rigid loyalty to Soul Society ultimately forced him to take action. Ye Yang waved his hand and said, "Wait!"
Yamamoto paused to see what Ye Yang would say next, but Central 46 spoke up, "Captain-Commander, aren't you going to make a move? Are you going to disobey the orders of Soul Society? Ye Yang Shihoin, you have challenged the authority of the Central 46 time and time again. Are you trying to rebel?"
Ye Yang's voice slowly rose. "Have you all forgotten something? The laws of Soul Society clearly stipulate that as the heads of the Four Great Noble Clans personally appointed by His Soul King, if they violate the rules of Soul Society, they must first report to the Spirit Realm for His Majesty the Soul King to decide! During this period, Seireien has no right to interfere or interrogate! You have already violated His Soul King's decree, are you aware of that?"
Ye Yang's move caught them completely off guard. They wanted to say something, but they were speechless because there was indeed such a rule, and they couldn't do anything about it. Ye Yang kept referring to himself as His Majesty the Soul King. Although they didn't know if the Soul King still existed, he was a symbol of the Soul Society. If they said anything that was detrimental to His Majesty the Soul King, not to mention anyone else, Yamamoto in front of them wouldn't let them off the hook!
Moreover, they were certainly accused of violating Soul King Majesty the King's decree; this was indeed a brilliant move.
"So that wasn't an interrogation, right? Then what's wrong with me saying a few words?" Ye Yang continued.
The group of old men were speechless, while Yamamoto's lips curled up imperceptibly. These old men often made decisions without consulting him, which infuriated him. Now, seeing them suffer a loss at Ye Yang, he couldn't help but feel happy. However, he also began to worry, because this incident was not so simple. Otherwise, they wouldn't have dared to offend the head of the Shihoin Clan.
As expected, the presiding judge, seated at the head of the table, said, "That is indeed the case. However, there is another rule, and I don't know what your opinion is on it: In cases of defection or betrayal of Soul Society, the Central 46 can interrogate anyone!"
Ye Yang frowned. What did that mean? "Defect? Aren't I right here?"
"How did your Spiritual Pressure disappear in just a few months after you went to Hueco Mundo? Have you done something shady in the past fifty years?" he demanded loudly.
"The Soul Society should have been notified of this by now. I was injured by Vasto Lorde and accidentally fell into the underground world of Hueco Mundo, which is commonly known as the Forest of Menos!" Ye Yang said slowly.
"What!" he exclaimed. As the presiding judge, he naturally knew what the Forest of Menos was—a place known as the Land of Death, where one was allowed to enter but not leave!
"Impossible! No Shinigami can come out from there! Shinigami who have gone in since ancient times are all considered dead because the Spiritual Pressure from the outside disappears."
"Nothing is impossible. It is indeed isolated from the Spiritual Pressure of the outside world there. I was seriously injured and recuperated there. Moreover, there is a Grim Reaper there named Ashido. I have been there for the past fifty years. He can testify to that." Ye Yang said half-truthfully. He had indeed gone to the Forest of Menos, but only for thirty years. Anyway, Ye Yang had already provided evidence. If they couldn't find it, it was none of his business.
The Central 46 was quite helpless about this, as they couldn't offer any evidence to refute him. They then said, "You've been recuperating there for fifty years? You shouldn't have such a serious injury."
Ye Yang smiled at this, "Healing is easy, but getting out is difficult! Do you think it's so easy to get out of the Forest of Menos? It took me fifty years to find the exit."
"So you're saying you've lived there for fifty years? And since you've found the exit, why didn't that so-called Ashido come out with you?"
Speaking of this, Yoruichi's face revealed admiration. That friend with the sunny smile is probably still fighting now. If you knew this side of Soul Society, would you still be able to continue fighting?
Ye Yang then repeated Ashido's original words. Ye Yang couldn't see the expressions on the faces of the judges; perhaps they were indifferent. But Ye Yang did see Yamamoto slowly close his eyes, perhaps deeply admiring this Shinigami who fought for his beliefs. Just one belief could sustain him in fighting for four hundred years, and he would continue to fight in the future. Just how great must that belief be?
At this moment, the presiding judge suddenly spoke up and asked, "What does Captain-Commander Yamamoto think?"
Yamamoto opened his eyes, a glint of shrewdness flashing in his eyes. "I think we should investigate whether a Shinigami named Ashido went to Hueco Mundo more than four hundred years ago. That way we can determine whether what he said is true or false."
"That makes sense, investigate!"
Several people then went outside to review the records, and the room fell silent as both sides awaited the outcome.
Meanwhile, in the Second Division, Shunsui sat in the reception room waiting. Soi Fon had just returned when she heard that Shunsui was looking for her. Although she was puzzled, she still went into the reception room.
Only Soi Fon walked in. Shunsui asked, "Captain Soi Fon, why are you alone? Didn't Ye Yang come back?"
Soi Fon replied, "Yes, but he should be in Central 46 right now. They called him in for questioning. Is there something wrong with the Captain Kyōraku?"
Shunsui immediately became anxious. "I came here to tell him not to go to Central 46, but I didn't expect it to be too late..."
"What! What exactly happened?"
"It's just..." Shunsui revealed the purpose of Central 46's search for Ye Yang, but as soon as he finished speaking, he saw that Soi Fon had disappeared. He naturally knew where Soi Fon had gone, and a bitter smile appeared on his lips. He didn't know if what he had done was right or wrong...
Brother Ye Yang, this time I won't let you fight alone again. If you have to leave, I'll go with you. Didn't you ask me what I would do if the Soul Society wanted to kill you? Now I know my answer. Wait for me...
The long wait is finally over, "The adults' investigation results are in."
"Explain!"
"Yes! One of Kenpachi's acquaintances, named Ashido, led the Shinigami to conquer Hueco Mundo 450 years ago. After that, his entire squad disappeared, and it's suspected that they were all the same person!" the judge answered honestly.
"Okay, you can go now." The judge's tone was slightly surprised, but more so annoyed. He had thought Ye Yang was just talking nonsense, but he didn't expect it to be true.
"Consider yourself lucky, this matter is settled. But there's one more thing you can't deny!" The judge immediately changed his tone.
"Oh? Is there anything else?"
"Ye Yang Shihoin, do you still remember why you went to Hueco Mundo fifty years ago?" His tone carried a hint of smugness, as if victory was assured.
Ye Yang had a bad feeling. Had they already investigated and found out that he had helped Kisuke escape to the World of the Living? If so...
Seeing Ye Yang remain silent, the judge continued, "Fifty years ago, you were sent to the Expeditionary Force for protecting Yoruichi Shihōin and Kisuke Urahara as they fled to the World of the Living. However, our investigation revealed that the truth is quite different. The eight Captain-level Shinigami involved in the Hollowfication Incident mysteriously disappeared. Our investigation shows that you were the one who transported those eight people from Kisuke Urahara's basement that day. You cannot deny this; we have ample evidence!"
"Speak! Did you also participate in Kisuke Urahara's evil Hollowfication Experiment? Otherwise, why did you help him escape? What is your crime for releasing eight criminals who were about to be executed? Isn't this betraying Soul Society? As Four Great Noble Clans of Soul Society, don't you feel ashamed for doing such a thing? We will never tolerate betrayal!" The judge spoke with a firm and resounding voice, giving Ye Yang no chance to defend himself.