Ability Assessment (1)

After Yexing Hu said his name without any obstruction or abnormality, Fon Shaoling clapped her hands a few times. "Congratulations, Lord Yexing Hu. You have finally obtained your own name, and welcome to the Soul Society at last."

"Now, then." Fon Shaoling straightened her clothes, smoothing out the wrinkles left by her earlier movements. Kneeling, she laid her hands flat in front of her knees, fingertips touching, then bent forward until her head rested against them. The attendants around her and the guards by the door made the same gesture toward Hu.

"Thank you for coming to our aid in yesterday's encounter. The Fon Clan would like to formally express its gratitude."

Seeing the entire Fon Clan bow to him, Hu thought to himself, The Fon Clan really does everything by the book.

"I should be the one thanking you. Without the Fon Clan's help, I might still be wandering around outside, looking for a way to get a name." Hu scratched his head. "Um... this is the first time anyone's thanked me so formally. How am I supposed to respond?"

"There's no need to worry, Yexing-san. This is simply the Fon Clan's way of thanking you. Please don't mind it; you can respond however you like."

"Then... you're welcome??"

Fon Shaoling nodded.

By then, the whole morning had passed. "Well, it's just about mealtime at the Fon residence. Yexing-san, please join me for a meal."

Hu felt his stomach. He did seem a little hungry, so he agreed and went to the dining room with Fon Shaoling.

The two began to eat.

As Hu ate, he suddenly thought of something. "Shaoling, we passed through several busy areas on our way here yesterday. There were plenty of clothing shops and all sorts of workshops, but I don't think I saw any inns or restaurants."

"Yexing-san, if you mean places where ordinary souls eat, there aren't any in Bamboo Creek Plain. Among ordinary souls, the weaker ones don't actually get hungry. They can survive by absorbing Reishi from the atmosphere. Souls who are a little stronger only need to drink some water to fill their stomachs. So even in the peaceful districts around the Seireitei, there are only a few tea shops and sake stalls at most. And because of its geography, Bamboo Creek Plain is filled with streams. If the souls living here get thirsty, they can simply get a cup of water from a stream, so even tea stalls are rare." Fon Shaoling took a bite of food, then added, "Yexing-san, is the Reishi Food not to your taste? If you have any preferences, you can tell the guards at the Fon residence."

"No, it's not that. The food is delicious. I was just wondering where I could eat a meal like this after leaving the Fon residence."

"Yexing-san, I was talking about ordinary souls just now, and you aren't included among them." Fon Shaoling took another bite. "You need to eat, Yexing-san. Both your fight yesterday and the length of this morning's naming ceremony prove that you have a very high Reishi density. Even without any training, a spirit body made up of Reishi at that density can't be sustained by just a little water and the Reishi in the atmosphere."

"So that means..."

"As you are now, Yexing-san, it would be very difficult for you to survive if you left the Fon Clan. And it would be very dangerous for you to live among ordinary souls."

"Why is that?" Hu asked, somewhat puzzled.

"Didn't you say you could hear the voice of a Zanpakuto, Yexing-san? That means your Zanpakuto spirit has already been born, and a Zanpakutō spirit without a blade to inhabit is very dangerous. Especially when its master is unconscious or asleep, the Zanpakuto's power might be used subconsciously, hurting nearby souls." Fon Shaoling finished the rice in her bowl and began drinking the miso soup that came with the meal. "On that matter, I have a proposal."

"A proposal?"

"Yexing-san, you could enroll in the Shin'ō Academy. It's a school that trains Soul Reapers. Although this year's admissions period has already passed, the Fon Clan is a lower noble clan, and we have a few recommendation slots for younger clan members to enroll under our name. We also have several Asauchi, the base forms of Zanpakuto." Having finished her meal, Fon Shaoling put down her bowl and chopsticks and wiped her mouth with a napkin.

"However, there are certain conditions for an outsider to use one of the Fon Clan's slots. They must meet the standards set by our current clan head, Soi Fon. After all, quite a few souls recognize the Fon Clan's strength and want its protection or wish to join it. In fact, one of the tasks I was sent here from the Seireitei to carry out was selecting recruits for the Fon Clan."

"Do you mean I have to take part in that selection?" Hu was still eating.

Fon Shaoling watched Hu as he continued shoveling food into his mouth, smacking his lips from time to time. She shook her head. "It would probably be very difficult for you to stand out in the recruitment selection, Yexing-san. After all, almost everyone taking part has spent years preparing. Besides, even if you passed, you wouldn't get a slot at the Shin'ō Spiritual Arts Academy."

"Really? Then what are the clan head's standards you mentioned?"

"The qualities needed to become a Soul Reaper. You need to demonstrate an ability to become a Soul Reaper that will make the Fon Clan take notice and be willing to grant you this favor. The standard is much higher than the Shin'ō Academy's entrance requirements, and each person only gets one chance, rather than the academy's three. Also, after receiving a recommendation, you must promise to choose the Second Division when joining a division, unless you're rejected. What do you think? Would you like to try, Yexing-san?" Although Fon Shaoling was asking Hu whether he was willing to accept, her brows were slightly furrowed, and she stared intently at him with a serious expression.

Hu might have been a little slow on the uptake, but after seeing the girl's expression, he understood that this might not be a question. "Then I'll give it a try?"

Fon Shaoling's brow relaxed. "Then there's no time to lose. Let's begin at once!" The attendants beside her cleared away the dishes, cleaned the table, and promptly brought out a crystal ball...

Seeing how smoothly they carried it all out, Hu's eyelid twitched.

"Isn't this a little too fast? Aren't you even going to let me prepare?"

"For tests that require preparation, you'll naturally be given time. This assessment is only to obtain some numerical data; it's very simple." Fon Shaoling picked up the crystal. "You only need to place your hand on this Reiatsu Crystal and channel your spiritual power into it. Afterward, the Fon residence's analysts will analyze the results." As soon as she finished speaking, a group of people who looked like researchers came running out from somewhere in the dining room. They wore small round glasses, white lab coats, and blue inner garments, and lined up behind Fon Shaoling. Hu stared at them in bewilderment.

"Where did all these people come from?" Hu said with a wry smile. "Shaoling, were you planning to spring this on me all along?"

"Hehe." Fon Shaoling smiled. "I think very highly of your talent, Yexing-san. I wouldn't let a capable person just walk away."

"Aren't you afraid I'm a capable villain with bad intentions?"

"You're not that kind of person, Yexing-san."

Hu was a little moved.

We've known each other for less than two days, and she already trusts me this much? Could I really have a chance?

At that thought, a few pink bubbles appeared in Hu's inner world. His Zanpakuto, within that world, glanced at the bubbles rising from beneath her feet, then at the clouds of bubbles that had already formed in the sky, and pressed a hand to her forehead.

Meanwhile, Fon Shaoling was thinking:

Bad intentions? No problem! Only the Spiritual Arts Academy cares about such things. The Onmitsukidō's training can correct any bad intentions!

Both of them smiled.

"Is that so?"

"It is."