How much change can a single sentence, a story, an honor, or an insight truly bring to a person?
The Tao Te Ching says, "The superior man, when he hears of the Tao, diligently practices it; the average man, when he hears of the Tao, is half-convinced and half-doubtful; the inferior man, when he hears of the Tao, laughs loudly at it. If he did not laugh at it, it would not be the Tao."
We all know the story of Li Bai grinding an iron pestle into a needle, but witnessing this scene firsthand was a completely new experience for Chunzhen.
From that night on, Kōga changed.
Kōga Tatara became the student with the best learning attitude in the academy, without exception. She also changed her previous attitude of only pestering the couple for help; now she would consult other instructors whenever she had questions, learning from various sources to strengthen her own understanding.
Moreover, he has completely changed his previous arrogance. Kōga used to treat his mentor poorly, and his lifestyle from District 52 had never shown him any respect. But now he is very polite.
Meanwhile, regarding his attitude towards the three boys, and no longer targeting them specifically, Kōga began interacting with other classmates and even older students. He expanded his sparring circle to include everyone willing to fight him, remaining humble in victory and undeterred in defeat. Moreover, after venturing out, he discovered that the three boys were also quite skilled.
This change in attitude was truly astonishing, and many people actually knew that Kōga was Chun's disciple, so some people came to Chun to ask for his guidance.
"Shimizu ~ What happened to Tatara? What did you do to make him like this?"
"Exactly! Yesterday he rushed up to me, I was totally stunned, but then he actually bowed and asked me questions about Zanjutsu! Wow, you know what happened to me?"
Haha, are you even more confused now?
"That's him! That's him! I thought the sun had risen in the west, but I still answered his question. Then he bowed to me and thanked me. I rubbed my eyes three times to make sure he really was Kōga Tatara. I couldn't believe it!"
"Yeah, yeah, me too! It gave me quite a fright the other day. But hey, did anyone notice that kid's eyes? I haven't seen such clear eyes in a long time!"
"Oh? What kind of look?"
"Those are eyes filled with Isshin to become stronger, as pure as a flame. Hey~ Shimizu, how did you teach him?"
Chun scratched his head. "I don't know either. Maybe it was telling him about my last Expedition that touched him. The kid somehow found out I was seriously injured last time and insisted on knowing what happened."
"Oh, that? No wonder, it makes sense. The hero's disciple has changed like that! The prodigal son has been reformed by the hero."
"That's right! Shimizu truly lives up to his reputation as a hero of Soul Society, he's amazing! At this rate, we'll soon have a second hero, a little hero!"
"Speaking of which, the next Expedition will be in another ten years or so. It's such a pity that we missed out on two heroes. How unfortunate!"
What are you talking about? Are you sure you'll participate next time?
"Haha, you're right! May God bless me and the little hero as we Expedition!"
These professors are really outrageous when they get going. Every cultured person has a secretly passionate side. Once they started talking, the whole afternoon was spent chatting. Chunshi felt embarrassed by their chatter and left first.
The changes in Kōga were unexpected even for Chun himself, let alone others. Chun was very pleased with these changes; perhaps from now on, his tragic life would change? He would no longer be so arrogant, and thus wouldn't be framed.
However, Jun once again ignored the tragedy of the Soul Society, but this time, Jun did not stand idly by.
Please enlighten me!
"Oh~ come on!"
Kōga's opponent was a senior twelve years his senior, who was also among the top five in his grade. Although not as talented Kōga, this person was, based on his development, a top candidate for Seated Officer within fifty years, and very likely to enter the First Division within two hundred years.
As soon as they finished speaking, Kōga, as the challenger, launched the first attack. Both of them used Shunpo, and the sound of clashing blades echoed throughout the Training Ground.
The Training Ground was surrounded by layers of onlookers, but only a few skilled enough individuals could clearly see the fight between the two; the rest could only learn by listening to others' explanations.
In terms of Zanjutsu alone, Kōga is inferior to his opponent, because Jun taught Kōga the basics of the Tachikawa school of Zanjutsu, just like what Tachikawa Zan taught Jun back then, but only the most basic things.
The advantage of the Tachikawa school of Zanjutsu is that once the foundation is solid enough, you can learn other people's techniques through sparring, provided you have enough talent. If you have talent like Unohana, combined with the foundation of Tachikawa, it's not impossible to become a true Yachiru.
However, due to their solid foundations and the advantage of using Shunpo on Kōga, it was truly difficult to say which side had the upper hand in this battle. Gradually, the two tacitly began to use sword pressure, which involved imbuing their Reishi with spiritual energy for combat—this was their most serious battle yet.
Because the force of the blade's strike could easily damage the soul itself, and if one wasn't careful, it might be beyond saving. Therefore, both slowed down their Shunpo, striving to determine the true victor in Zanjutsu.
This might also be part of the opponent's strategy. After all, if Shunpo) isn't enough to defeat him, he'll be frustrated and let Kōga chase after him. But now, for safety, with his speed reduced, Zanjutsu is where he has the advantage.
Kōga also began to feel clearly suppressed, and he wanted to find a way to break through. Kōga had indeed changed many of his problems and attitudes, but what he hadn't changed was his inner pride.
Pride isn't something you show off to others; that's called being a poor person. Pride resides within yourself. A person without pride in themselves becomes vulgar, even insecure and lacking self-respect, someone looked down upon by others.
Kōga's pride far surpasses that of others, because he is a genius, but his pride carries a deeper meaning, for he feels the weight of inheritance.
"I won't lose! I can overcome this gap! My sword, my skill, I believe I can win!"
Despite being suppressed Kōga suddenly launched a strong attack, startling his opponent. However, Xianghe's Zanjutsu was indeed superior, and he gradually regained control of the Kōga.
However, Kōga's probing pace quickened, and it seemed that Xianghe had become more accepting of the opponent's strength and familiar with their tactics.
However, Kōga didn't become arrogant. He knew that accelerating his offensive would expose his weaknesses, but Kōga was confident he could withstand his opponent's trump card.
In fact, Kōga carefully deflected several of the opponent's deadly moves, thus escalating the intensity of the battle with each attack, much to the delight of the onlookers.
Kōga launched another fierce attack, flicking his wrist and turning his slash into a thrust aimed at his opponent's neck; the opponent raised his sword, parried to the side, and then pressed down with his wrist. Both stepped forward, their shoulders colliding, swords pressed together and held sideways in front of them.
The opponent tried to turn and draw his sword, which was positioned higher up. He could have easily slashed at Kōga after turning around. Kōga flicked his wrist, deflecting the opponent's sword slightly higher, then stepped back, twisting his arm to flip the sword. As he gripped the sword with both hands, he raised his left arm in a V-shape, deflecting the opponent's sword.
However, after this move, the opponent unexpectedly activated Shunpo, forcefully twisting their momentum to launch a forward thrust. Kōga hadn't anticipated such a dangerous move, as the opponent was using their full power in this Shunpo.
This is considered cheating by the opponent. They agreed to a Zanjutsu contest, and then the opponent suddenly used the highest level of Shunpo) without reducing attack power. This is clearly an attempt to kill. Kōga also used Shunpo, but Kōga didn't intend to use it at its full Shunpo beforehand, and his Spiritual Power was insufficient in an instant.
"You're finished!"
Kōga truly never expected that the other party would actually harbor murderous intent! They actually wanted to kill him!
Is this how it ends for me?
This was Kōga's last thought. The opponent's sword was about to pierce Kōga's chest, and his own knife was still twisting halfway through its trajectory, making it impossible to parry.
This happens in the Shunpo of an eye; most people's eyes can't keep up, and those with insufficient skill naturally won't see it. Even if they do, they can't stop it.
In the instant that some were astonished, some were confused, some felt regret, and some were helpless, a hand suddenly appeared, grasped the knife aimed at Kōga, and then stopped firmly.
"Stop!"
Kōga a loud shout, Xianghe stopped the strange man who had been holding the knife Kōga at him, his blade now resting on the man's neck.
Ah~!
The other person finally realized what was happening, hurriedly dropped his knife, and while backing away, accidentally stepped on his own butt with his left foot, making a huge fool of himself.
"You"
Kōga looked at the strange man who had suddenly appeared. He had brown hair, purple eyes, and alluring red lips. He wore a white cloak with a purple velvet collar and a purple lapel. His fingers had sharp nails almost the same length as his own. He was holding his own knife in his hand.
The strange man looked at Kōga, and Kōga looked back at the strange man. Kōga knew in his heart who this person was, but Kōga was still completely confused.
"My lord~"
"Uh," Kōga looked around. The place was packed with onlookers. He actually quite liked Kōga, but this one was a bit too much. "Give me back my knife first."
"Yes," Muramasa, pulling a knife from his body and handing it to Kōga. He himself was still holding a knife.
"Uh," Kōga took the knife and found it was the same one he had, exactly the same. Then he looked at the one in Muramasa's hand, and it was exactly the same as the one in his hand.
Muramasa laughed, "My lord, I am your sword. You can have as many as you desire."
At that moment, the surrounding area finally exploded.
Who is that person?
He said he was Tatara's sword.
"A knife!? That's a person!"
"I'm not blind! I know it's a person!"
"Could he be Shikai?"
Can one transform into a human through Shikai?
"Some can even turn into fish. Don't you know Captain Unohana 'Fourth Division Shikai?"
"But it didn't turn into a human!"
A commotion broke out around them. It was the first time someone had transformed into a person in Soul Society, especially in an academy; it was simply unbelievable.
What's even more unbelievable is that a student who hasn't even graduated yet, holding a sword blank given to him by Soul Society —not even Zanpakuto yet— Shikai. What kind of situation is this?
In short, the chaos instantly threw the entire student body into disarray, and within two hours, the entire Seireitei received the news: the first sword in Soul Society to have a personal Shikai had appeared.
Jun immediately summoned Kōga Muramasa to his office and asked the other instructors to leave. The others understood that this was a serious matter, and the master and apprentice had something to say to each other.
Upon meeting Muramasa, Jun immediately realized that this Kōga was the same as the other Kōga. He was certain; this was Kuchiki Ginrei's son-in-law, Byakuya's uncle.
"May I have your name?"
"Reporting to my lord, I am Muramasa."
The one engaging in the dialogue was Muramasa, while Kōga watched from the side, inwardly marveling at Jun's ability to accept things. Kōga still couldn't quite accept that his sword was a person.
"Master? Heh, you're Kōga's blade, so Kōga respects me and you respect me too? Interesting. What are your abilities?"
"That's right. Reporting to Master, my ability is to make other swords become like me, and to control the thoughts of the swords."
"Oh?" Chun pulled out his knife. "Interesting. Then let Clear Rain show herself. I want to see what Clear Rain like."
"I obeyed my master's orders; I apologize for the offense."
Muramasa said it was offensive, but he didn't touch Jun's knife. Instead, he opened his hand towards Jun, and after a ripple, a slender woman with a cool and aloof expression appeared in the office. She wore a plain white headscarf and a light white veil.
The woman performed a traditional China deep squatting salute to Chun, and said in a light, melodious voice, "Clear Rain greets her master~"
Chun examined the knife closely. It wasn't Chun's true inner self, but it was also something Chun had created. It certainly suited his aesthetic sense.
"Mmm~ You're so beautiful. I admire your beauty, Clear Rain."
"Thank you for the compliment, Master!"
"I also admire your abilities, Muramasa. You're very interesting and very capable!"
Muramasa bowed deeply and said, "Thank you for the praise, Master!"
At this moment, the acting dean, Tessai Tsukabishi, rushed in. He was the Kidō Chief from the original work, though not yet. He was immediately dumbfounded when he entered, wondering why there was an unfamiliar woman here.
"Well"
"Hello, Dean Woling. Is the Captain-Commander here to see Kōga?"
"Oh, right, right, Shimizu, you take Tatara over there, I won't go."
"Okay, thank you for your hard work, Acting Dean."
"Haha, it's not hard at all, it's not hard at all."