Their Respective Plans

By the time Cilian left Hu's room, it was already broad daylight.

He walked down the corridor with his one arm behind his back, his pace unhurried. Four hundred years had left him with a composed ease.

Yexing Hu was in better shape than he had expected.

Although he had still been doubting himself that morning, his body had at least mostly recovered. Cilian had seen too many young people who thought they could do anything when success went to their heads, only to believe they were worthless at the first setback. Yexing Hu was just another rough stone that needed polishing.

But that Zanpakuto's ability...

Cilian narrowed his one eye slightly.

Separating Hollows from Pluses.

In four hundred years, he had never seen anything like it.

What kind of ability was that...?

He did not dwell on it. Some things were not for him to worry about right now.

A turn at the end of the corridor led to Fon Shaoling's study. Cilian did not break his stride, but his thoughts returned to the previous night—

When he returned to the Fon Clan from Sizhuzhai, it was already late at night.

The Hollows captured alive had been escorted to the underground cells, and the Onmitsukidō members were finishing up. Instead of returning to his quarters, Cilian went straight to Fon Shaoling's study.

The study door was ajar, and candlelight shone through the gap.

Cilian knocked softly.

"Come in."

He pushed the door open and saw Fon Shaoling sitting at her desk. She wore her black, backless fighting outfit, her dark purple hair tied up and her golden eyes especially sharp in the candlelight. This was Soi Fon's appearance, not the face Princess Shaoling usually presented to others.

Cilian dropped to one knee before her.

"Commander."

Fon Shaoling looked up at him.

"Go ahead."

Cilian did not speak immediately. First, he glanced at the documents spread across her desk: intelligence previously sent by the Onmitsukidō, records of the recent abnormal Reishi fluctuations in West Rukongai, and a written briefing on the incident.

"The preliminary figures for the Sizhuzhai incident are in," Cilian said quietly.

Fon Shaoling's fingers stopped in midair.

"What were the casualties?"

"Grim." Cilian fixed his one eye on her. "Far more residents were transformed into Hollows than expected. By the time the Onmitsukidō arrived, they had already..."

He left the sentence unfinished.

Fon Shaoling fell silent.

Her fingers slowly curled into a fist.

"What about those captured alive?" she asked.

"After the order to capture them was given, the Onmitsukidō caught a total of 137," Cilian said with a nod. "But only 27 were still alive by the time we returned to the Fon Clan."

He took a cloth bundle from inside his robes, set it on the desk, and opened it.

Inside was a tattered navy-blue kimono, with "Sizhuzhai" embroidered on the inside.

Fon Shaoling stared at the garment in silence for a long time.

She simply looked at the word "Sizhuzhai," at the name soaked in blood. The light in her golden eyes darkened, and something churned silently within them.

Cilian had seen that expression before. It was not surprise, but something that appeared when a suspicion was confirmed, only for the truth to be heavier than expected.

A long time passed before she spoke.

"Go on."

"There's one more thing." Cilian paused. "About Yexing Hu."

Fon Shaoling looked up.

"He released his Zanpakuto's Shikai in battle," Cilian said evenly. "It's called 'Jiku'a.' The ability it displayed after Shikai was an unreasonable kind of cutting. It could cut through a Gillian's shell, a Cero, and even space. Most unusually, it separated a Hollow from a Plus."

Fon Shaoling's eyes widened for an instant.

It was the first time Cilian had seen her make that expression. This was surprise—not surprise at the power, but shock at the possibility.

"Separated?" Her voice came a beat faster than usual. "You mean he turned a Plus who had already undergone Hollowfication back?"

"Yes." Cilian nodded. "Shimizu, a third-rank Attendant of the Fon Clan, was transformed into a Hollow during the Sizhuzhai incident. Hu stripped the Hollow from him with his Zanpakuto. Shimizu has regained his human form and is resting in the infirmary. The medical team says he's weak because a large amount of Reishi was stripped away, but there's nothing else abnormal."

Fon Shaoling stared at him, something flashing intensely in her golden eyes.

"Shimizu, after it was stripped from him... what condition is he in now?"

"Weak, but conscious," Cilian said. "According to the medical team, the first thing he asked when he woke up was whether Keiko, his fiancée, was safe. The second was whether he had brought shame on the Fon Clan."

The corners of Fon Shaoling's mouth moved slightly.

It was not a smile, but a complicated expression.

"Shimizu..." she repeated the name softly. "I remember him. He's a very hardworking young man who excelled during his Attendant training. I just gave his group of Attendants a pay raise last month."

Cilian said nothing.

Fon Shaoling lowered her head and looked at the tattered garment on the desk, then raised it again to look at Cilian.

"What about Hu? How is he?"

"His Reiatsu was overexerted after the battle, and his muscles are fatigued," Cilian said. "The medical team is treating him. He should recover by tomorrow."

Fon Shaoling nodded.

"Go and rest," she said. "Check on him first thing tomorrow morning."

"Yes."

Cilian stood and withdrew.

Before the study door closed, Fon Shaoling sat alone in the candlelight, looking at the desk without moving.

The candlelight flickered across her face, revealing no expression.

Cilian's thoughts returned to the present.

He had reached the door to Fon Shaoling's study. It was half open, and he could hear papers rustling inside.

He stopped outside the door and knocked softly.

"Come in."

He pushed the door open and saw Fon Shaoling sitting at her desk. She had changed back into her red kimono, her dark purple hair falling loose, and her golden eyes looked at him. This was Princess Shaoling's appearance.

Several reports lay spread across the desk. The one on top was the report on the Sizhuzhai incident that Cilian had submitted the previous night.

Cilian approached the desk and bowed slightly.

"Commander."

"Rise." Fon Shaoling's voice was soft. "How is Hu?"

Cilian straightened.

"He's no longer in any serious danger," he said. "After Kaidō treatment, he can walk on his own, and his muscle fatigue has eased. When I went to see him, he was lying in bed doubting himself, thinking he wasn't fit to be a Soul Reaper."

Fon Shaoling raised an eyebrow slightly.

"Oh?"

"Young people." A trace of resignation entered Cilian's voice. "He was the one who got carried away with himself, and now he's the one who thinks he's worthless. I've already talked to him. He should be going to see Shimizu now."

Fon Shaoling gave a soft laugh.

"Cilian."

"Yes?"

"Tell me honestly." Fon Shaoling looked at him. "What do you think of Hu?"

Cilian was silent for a moment.

"His Zanpakuto's ability is unlike anything I've seen in my life," he said. "Separating a Hollow from a Plus is considered impossible in Soul Society. Yet he accomplished it with his Shikai."

He paused.

"His performance in battle was also commendable. Although he made mistakes in his tactical judgment, both his reactions in the moment and his use of his Zanpakuto's ability exceeded what one would expect of a newcomer. Given time..."

Fon Shaoling finished for him. "Given time, his future is boundless."

Cilian nodded.

"But," he said.

Fon Shaoling looked at him.

"But his temperament still needs polishing." Cilian was blunt. "He gets carried away easily, and he doubts himself just as easily. If I speak a little too harshly, he can shut himself in his room and brood all night. He won't get far with a temperament like that."

After hearing him out, Fon Shaoling did not speak immediately.

She lowered her head and looked at the report in her hand, her gaze lingering on a few lines for a long time—

"Number of residents transformed: XXX"

"Number of deaths: XXX"

"Yexing Hu, Zanpakuto: 'Jiku'a,' ability: undetermined (observed capabilities: can cut matter and space; cutting precision: Reishi level)."

She looked at them in silence for a moment.

Then she tapped the last line lightly with her finger.

"I'll take charge of the Demon Examination myself."

Cilian was taken aback.

"Commander?"

"The Demon Examination." Fon Shaoling looked up. "I'll handle everything personally, from training to the examination. Cilian, you think his temperament needs polishing, so I'll be the one to polish it."

Cilian looked at her, a flicker of understanding passing through his one eye.

He was about to speak—

Just then, footsteps sounded outside the door.

They were light, but clearly audible in the quiet corridor. The footsteps stopped at the door. After a pause, a soft knock sounded.

Fon Shaoling glanced at Cilian.

Cilian understood. With a flash, he disappeared silently into a dark corner of the study.

Fon Shaoling adjusted her collar and cleared her throat. Her voice returned to its usual gentle tone, the one that belonged to "Princess Shaoling."

"Come in."

The door slid open.

Yexing Hu stood in the doorway with Jiku'a at his waist. Sunlight streamed in behind him, outlining him in a faint golden glow.

Hu walked into the study and saw Fon Shaoling sitting behind her desk. She looked up at him.

"Yexing-san," she said softly. "You're here."

Hu walked up to the desk and sat down across from her.

"Shaoling," he said, "I've come to report."

Fon Shaoling raised an eyebrow slightly.

"Report?"

"Mm." Hu nodded. "My body has recovered, and I can continue training and taking the examinations. I'll be on time for Shunpo training this afternoon. And—"

He paused.

"The people who were captured alive."

Fon Shaoling looked at him.

"Instructor Cilian said there were 27," Hu said steadily. "I want to save them, like I saved Shimizu."

Fon Shaoling did not answer immediately. She looked at him, something stirring gently in her golden eyes.

"Do you know how many people died last night?" she asked.

Hu was taken aback.

"I don't know the exact number," he said. "Instructor Cilian didn't say. But I know—"

He paused.

"It must have been a lot."

Fon Shaoling looked at him.

"Even if everyone captured yesterday is saved, they'll still be only a small number. Even so, do you still want to save them?"

"Yes." Hu did not hesitate. "Whether there are many or few, I'll save whoever I can."

Fon Shaoling looked at him, something flickering in her golden eyes. The corners of her mouth moved slightly.

"Yexing-san," she said, "it seems you've truly come to your senses."

Hu scratched his head.

"I was scolded into it," he said. "Instructor Cilian was right. I got too carried away yesterday. I was so focused on showing off that I forgot there were so many people waiting to be saved. I'll remember that mistake."

Fon Shaoling laughed softly.

"If Instructor Cilian heard you say that, I expect he'd be happy."

Hu smiled too.

The atmosphere in the study relaxed a little.

Fon Shaoling lowered her head, picked up the briefing from the desk, and handed it to him.

"This is the detailed report on the Sizhuzhai incident," she said. "Take a look."

Hu accepted it and opened it. The descriptions inside made his eyes ache—

But he saw the word "Sizhuzhai," saw the phrases "transformed into Hollows" and "confirmed dead," saw the things he did not want to see but had to.

He took a deep breath and closed the report.

"Those people." He looked up at Fon Shaoling. "When can I start saving them?"

Fon Shaoling looked at him.

"Once the shelter at Sizhuzhai is built," she said. "Once the safety measures are in place. And once your ability is a little more stable."

Hu nodded.

"All right."

Fon Shaoling changed the subject.

"Tell me about yourself," she said. "There are only two days left for 'movement.' Are you confident?"

Hu thought for a moment.

"Instructor Sakiro said my main problem was my gait. It's gotten much better since I corrected it," he said. "In two days, I should be able to reach 300 meters."

"Should?"

Hu gave a wry smile.

"I'll do my best."

Fon Shaoling looked at him, and the corners of her mouth rose slightly.

"What about 'Kidō,' then?"

Hu froze for a moment.

"I haven't started learning 'Kidō' yet..."

"I know," Fon Shaoling said. "That's why I'm asking you who you want to learn from."

Hu blinked.

"The Fon Clan has dedicated Kidō instructors, right?"

"Yes." Fon Shaoling nodded. "But your situation is unusual. Your Reishi is too intense by nature, and your aptitude for Kaidō is almost zero. An ordinary Kidō instructor might not be able to teach you."

Hu fell silent.

He knew what his problem was. The assessment report had spelled it out: extremely high aptitude for Hadō, followed by Bakudō, and a disastrous incompatibility with Kaidō. An ordinary instructor really might not be able to handle a student as severely "lopsided" as him.

"Then..." he began.

Fon Shaoling looked at him, a sly gleam flashing through her golden eyes.

"I've prepared a surprise for you."

Hu froze.

"A surprise?"

"Mm." Fon Shaoling nodded, her voice soft and a little playful. "The instructor for your 'Kidō' assessment is someone special. As for who it is—"

She deliberately paused.

"You'll find out when the time comes."

Hu looked at her and suddenly felt like laughing.

It was such a serious subject, yet she had to put it that way.

"All right," he said. "I'll wait."

Fon Shaoling nodded, her expression returning to its usual gentleness.

"Then that's settled," she said. "Go practice Shunpo this afternoon. Kidō training starts tomorrow. As for those people—"

She looked at him.

"Leave them to me."

Hu stood up and bowed solemnly.

"Thank you."

Fon Shaoling did not avoid his bow. She simply watched him, his reflection in her golden eyes.

"I look forward to seeing you grow. Go on."

Hu turned and left.

Once the door slid shut, the study fell quiet.

The silence lasted a few seconds.

Then a shadow stirred slightly in the darkness, and Cilian emerged without a sound.

He stood before the desk, looking at Fon Shaoling.

Fon Shaoling did not look up. She simply studied the report, tapping her fingers lightly on the desk.

"What do you want to ask?"

Cilian was silent for a while.

"Leader, your trip to Bamboo Creek Plain was ostensibly to handle clan affairs, but you actually had another task, didn't you?"

Fon Shaoling's fingers paused.

She did not deny it.

Cilian looked at her, a complex emotion flashing through his one eye.

In the past century, there had been only one major incident involving a Hollow and a captain. That incident had directly led to a change in leadership of the Second Division, and the little princess once sheltered by generations of Fon Clan heads and the former captain had grown up a great deal almost overnight.

And now, was this little princess, all grown up, about to plunge into a similar quagmire... all alone, at that...?

Not necessarily...

Cilian recalled what the leader had just said to Yexing Hu, that "surprise," and the decision to teach Kidō personally—

Everything pointed in the same direction.

Cilian asked no more.

He merely bowed slightly.

"I'll take my leave."

Fon Shaoling nodded.

Cilian turned and walked toward the door.

As his hand touched the door, Fon Shaoling's voice came from behind him.

"Cilian."

He stopped.

"This matter—" Fon Shaoling's voice was soft. "Don't tell anyone."

Cilian did not look back.

"Understood."

He slid the door open and walked out.

The study fell quiet once more.

Fon Shaoling sat alone behind the desk, looking at the report, her gaze lingering for a long time on the passages describing the casualties.

She did not count the numbers.

She simply looked at the words, at the name "Sizhuzhai," at words like "transformation" and "death."

After a long time, she gently closed her eyes.

Outside the window, sunlight streamed through the bamboo blinds, casting mottled light and shadow across her face.