Outmaneuvered

The young man held his stance.

"Anyone else want to try?"

His smoking fists and feet and the masked man's miserable condition made the others hesitate, afraid to come forward. The three rounds he had handled with ease had shown the masked group the gap in their strength. Their leader's chest had caved in, and he lay motionless on the ground, impossible to tell whether he was alive or dead. They began to hesitate. At that moment, Fon Shaoling, still inside the carriage, discreetly signaled a guard beside it. The guard understood and shouted, "The bandit leader has been defeated! Capture all the remaining bandits!"

All the guards then charged at the masked group. Hearing this, the masked men panicked and fled in every direction. In the end, the guards brought back only a handful of prisoners.

Once all the guards had returned, Fon Shaoling stepped down from the carriage and began issuing orders. "Interrogate the prisoners one by one and gather as much information as possible. Examine the bandit leader's corpse as well, and see whether it has any useful information on it." After the guards acknowledged her orders and set to work, Fon Shaoling walked over to the young man and bowed solemnly. "I am the youngest daughter of the Fon Clan. My name is Shaoling. Thank you for coming to our rescue. The Fon Clan is deeply grateful."

Meanwhile, Fon Shaoling was thinking:

He's dressed in a white bathrobe and looks like a soul who was just escorted here from the World of the Living, but he has some combat experience. He can even use spiritual power to a certain extent, and he can use Shunpo too. The timing of his entrance was also somewhat coincidental. Did he hear that we were lower nobles and come forward hoping to seek our patronage? His Reiatsu barely reaches the threshold for becoming a Soul Reaper, so it isn't impossible. In any case, I'll test him first.

With that thought, she finished thanking him and, while still bowing, silently recited, "Bakudō number twenty-five: Mind Demonstration."

The young man, who had not heard her, hurriedly replied, "No need to be so formal, no need at all. I've only just arrived in Soul Society, and I don't know a thing about the place. I was looking for someone who could tell me what's going on."

"I see. If you continue along this road, you should reach Bamboo Creek Plain in West Rukongai District Two after about a day's walk. I happen to be headed there myself, so you can travel with us."

"Really? Thank you so much."

"Not at all. I haven't learned your name yet. May I ask what it is?"

"Oh, my name is Kou... Hgh... cough, cough..."

Damn it, I forgot I can't say my old name!

Once again, the young man felt his throat stiffen.

"I already told you, your current spirit body doesn't recognize that name. Why did you say it anyway? Stop thinking about it, quick, or it won't just be your throat that stiffens," the Zanpakutō spirit said to him again.

I didn't want to say it just now, but some power inside me was pushing me to. It's getting stronger even now. The young man's hand closed around his own throat against his will. The power he had used to send his enemies flying began acting on his own body. He felt unable to breathe, his heart raced, and it was as though all the organs in his body were fighting one another.

Fon Shaoling was startled to see the young man start coughing after uttering a single syllable, then begin choking himself.

What's going on? Why is he like this just as he was about to say his name? His Reiatsu is growing chaotic, and Reishi is spilling out too. What's happening?

"Sir! Sir! What's wrong?"

The chaos within the young man slowly began to subside, and the power that had kept pushing him to say his name began to fade.

"When I died, some kind of power invaded and altered me... Ha... ha..." The young man gasped for breath, but continued, "My current spirit body doesn't accept my old name... If I say my original name, my body starts fighting itself like this..."

"At least, that's what my Zanpakutō spirit told me..."

"Your Zanpakutō spirit? Can you already hear your Zanpakuto's voice, sir? And talk to it as well?"

The young man nodded. "Yeah. It started talking to me as soon as I got to Soul Society. Scared me half to death. If it hadn't spoken to me, I wouldn't even have known I'd died. It was the one that told me this was Soul Society too."

Fon Shaoling was genuinely a little shocked now.

A soul who just entered Soul Society can already hear a Zanpakuto's voice, and not just a faint whisper, but communicate with it directly. That's no ordinary talent. Normally, a Soul Reaper has to train for a long time, obtain an Asauchi, and spend a long time in Zanjutsu meditation with the blade before they can hear their Zanpakuto's voice. Was he invaded and altered by some power when he entered Soul Society? Did he encounter a spatial-temporal current in the Dangai? But if a Soul Reaper escorted him here, he shouldn't have entered the Dangai. Could this man have come crashing into Soul Society on the strength of his soul alone, without a Soul Reaper to escort him?

"After you died, did you not meet a Soul Reaper who escorted you here?"

"No."

He really did come down here on his own! Fon Shaoling was certain now. This guy's talent must be monstrous. His mental strength may be a little weak, though. Mind Demonstration has been cast on him, and he still hasn't noticed anything wrong. He's awfully oblivious.

"I see. What a disaster. What do you intend to do next, sir? You may not know this, having just arrived in Soul Society, but words hold great power here. A name is an important anchor that proves one's existence. A soul who forgets their name is actually not far from dissipating. You're in a rather dangerous position right now."

Fon Shaoling offered this warning.

"My Zanpakuto said the problem can be solved as long as I find someone whose soul is stronger than mine to give me a new name. I'll probably have to find a Soul Reaper to help."

"Hey, why are you telling her everything?" The Zanpakutō spirit was puzzled.

I don't know either. Whenever I look at this girl's face, I feel like answering anything she asks me. Isn't that strange?

"Don't tell me you've fallen for her? Like love at first sight in those old stories?"

How could that be? How could something so cliché happen? the young man thought, his eyes beginning to focus on Fon Shaoling before him. She was very petite, reaching only to his chest. Her dark purple hair fell over her shoulders like a waterfall, and her red kimono stood out against the blue sky and green grass. With her hands resting over her lower abdomen, she stood gracefully. Her features were delicate, and her skin was as white as porcelain, making her golden pupils all the more dazzling. Those eyes were looking at him.

I... how... how could I possibly like her? That's impossible.

Fon Shaoling looked at the young man and smiled. "In that case, I may be able to help you. The Fon Clan has deep ties to the Soul Reapers. How about this? Once we reach Bamboo Creek Plain, you can stay with the Fon Clan for the time being. Meanwhile, I'll prepare some possible names for you and contact a Soul Reaper stationed at Bamboo Creek Plain to name you."

When those golden eyes narrowed slightly and a smile appeared on her delicate features, the young man felt his heart being seized. Warmth enveloped his entire body, and a single word slipped out.

"Yes!"

Zanpakutō spirit, I think I've fallen for it. What do I do?

"Huh? Ahahahahaha! Don't tell me you really have fallen for her! Hahaha..."