First Meeting with Aizen

With the complete change in his meditation method, the bond between Liu Hao and the standard-issue Asauchi in his hand underwent a mysterious and profound transformation.

Day after day, in those deep, dreamless sleeps, his soul continued to resonate with and permeate the Asauchi; in his waking meditation, the Asauchi was truly treated as an indispensable part of his Reiatsu cycle.

This communication, combining inner and outer, movement and stillness, finally awakened the "true essence" sleeping deep within the weapon.

The changes were gradual, yet clearly visible.

The texture of the Asauchi's originally plain, white-wrapped, unremarkable hilt began to change.

Red and black threads of silk—or, more fundamentally, condensations of Reishi—spontaneously intertwined and wound around it as if alive, forming an ancient, mysterious spiral pattern full of power. It fit the contours of Liu Hao's palm closely, giving him a grip more comfortable and secure than ever before.

At the junction of hilt and blade, where the guard sat, an intricate and delicate Chinese Knot, condensed from pure Reiryoku, quietly appeared. Its tassel was a vivid, true red, swaying gently with the slight flow of Reiatsu, as if breathing.

The greatest change, however, was in the blade itself. Its original standard-issue tachi shape, with its slight curve, was straightened and extended under the reshaping spiritual light, finally settling into the form of a straight, slender Tang Dao with clean, flowing lines.

The blade did not have a simple metallic sheen, but an understated dark silver color, as if it held the settled glimmers of countless stars. On both sides, from guard to tip, intricate, graceful ancient inscriptions gradually emerged, seemingly containing the deepest truths of heaven and earth. They were not engraved, but appeared to have grown naturally from within the blade, fading in and out of sight as the angle of the light changed.

The cutting edge radiated an almost tangible, ultimate sharpness that made even the soul tremble slightly. Even when motionless, it seemed capable of cutting through the faintest flow of Reishi.

When the first faint glimmer of Reishi the next morning shone through the dormitory's narrow window onto Liu Hao's face, he slowly woke from a night of deep yet "active" meditative sleep within his consciousness space. He stretched his body out of habit, his bones giving a series of crisp little cracks. He felt refreshed, his Reiatsu full and stable.

Then his gaze naturally fell to his arms.

It was no longer that cold, unfamiliar, standard-issue Asauchi he had struggled to "communicate" with.

It was a Tang Dao, utterly transformed, as if connected to him by blood and sharing his breath.

Liu Hao stared at it blankly for several full seconds. Then a heartfelt smile, filled with boundless joy and anticipation, slowly spread across his lips, finally becoming a delighted, silent laugh. He gently brushed the mysterious inscriptions on the blade, his fingertips feeling the pulse of power flowing through them, from the same source as his own yet deeper and vaster.

At last... I've reached this point. His thoughts surged. Partner, next comes the time to truly earn your recognition and learn your name. We'll fight side by side, experiencing and changing things in this magnificent yet perilous world of Soul Reapers, and carving out a legend... of our own!

Just then, the dormitory door was thrown open with a bang, and Renji Abarai, who had just finished washing up, burst in with his hair still wet. He spotted the long blade in Liu Hao's arms, so different in form and extraordinary in bearing, and his eyes instantly went round, his mouth opening wide enough to fit an egg.

"Liu... Liu Hao!!" Renji's voice rose several pitches in shock. He rushed over in a single stride and pointed at the Tang Dao, his finger trembling slightly. "Your sword! Your Asauchi! How... how did it end up looking like that?! Th-this doesn't look anything like an Asauchi anymore! Could it be..."

Liu Hao looked up at Renji's expression, as if he had seen a ghost, and his smile grew brighter, carrying the pride and satisfaction of a parent watching a daughter come of age. "Yes, it's changed. After all my efforts during this time, my Zanpakuto... has awakened."

"Awakened?!" Renji sucked in a breath, then his face lit up with even more excitement than Liu Hao's. "Really?! You mean it's already... acknowledged you? Then, then what's its name?! Tell me! It's got to be a super cool name!!"

Seeing Renji even more impatient than himself, Liu Hao smiled helplessly and scratched his head, a little embarrassed. "Uh... well, the name... I don't know it yet."

"Huh?" Renji froze, as if a bucket of cold water had been poured over him. "You don't know? Didn't you say it had awakened?"

"It has awakened. Its form has settled, and the source of its power has begun to respond to me clearly," Liu Hao explained, a hint of anticipation and challenge for the future in his eyes. "But for her to truly 'tell me' her name, complete the True Name Call, and achieve a genuine Shikai, we still need further communication and... recognition. I'm afraid that won't be easy. She seems to be... a very strong-willed and demanding 'partner.'" Remembering the forceful, incisive woman in the Five-Colored Immortal Garment—and later the combat outfit—in his consciousness space, he could not help twitching at the corner of his mouth.

Renji digested this. Though a little disappointed, he was soon excited again. "Then... does that mean you're already really close to Shikai? You just need her to acknowledge you and tell you her name?"

"In theory, yes." Liu Hao nodded. "But that last step might be the greatest test of temperament and compatibility."

"I know you can do it!" Renji clapped Liu Hao hard on the shoulder, brimming with confidence. "You're the sharpest of our group and the hardest worker at cultivation! Even Captain Unohana thinks highly of you! A mere Shikai definitely won't stop you!"

Liu Hao grimaced from the slap, though his heart warmed. He put away the Tang Dao whose name he still did not know—he would call it a Zanpakuto for now—and stood up. "All right, don't just envy me. Your Reiatsu looks a lot more solid too; you can't be far from that step yourself. Come on, it's time for class."

"Right, right!" Reminded of class, Renji suddenly remembered something, excitement lighting up his face. "Liu Hao, did you know? I heard this morning's special instruction class for our elite class is being taught by Captain Sōsuke Aizen of the Fifth Division himself! And they say Captain Aizen will demonstrate his Zanpakuto's Shikai for us on the spot, maybe even explain some techniques for deeper communication with a Zanpakuto! This is a once-in-a-lifetime chance! It's hard enough to see a captain normally!"

"Captain... Aizen?" The smile froze on Liu Hao's face. A flash of sharpness and coldness passed deep in his eyes, so quickly it was almost impossible to notice. He repeated the name, his tone sounding subtly different. "How... did you find out?"

Absorbed in his excitement, Renji missed Liu Hao's momentary change and answered casually, "Huh? Oh, the academy announced it after class yesterday afternoon. It was posted on the notice board, and our homeroom teacher mentioned it too. Everyone's been talking about it for ages. You just ran back to the dorm to meditate as soon as class ended, paying no attention to anything else, so I guess that's why you didn't know! Hehe, today we finally get to see a Captain-level Shikai with our own eyes. Maybe it'll give me some inspiration too!"

"Is that so..." Liu Hao lowered his eyes and answered in a low voice, falling briefly into thought. His fingers unconsciously rubbed the hilt of the newly born Zanpakuto at his waist as he rapidly weighed the pros and cons.

Sōsuke Aizen... teaching personally... demonstrating Shikai...

It sounded like an excellent learning opportunity, especially for someone like him who had just awakened his Zanpakuto and urgently needed to understand deeper communication techniques.

But... Kyōka Suigetsu.

That terrifying Zanpakuto possessed the ability of Complete Hypnosis. Anyone who saw its Shikai even once would have the seed of hypnosis planted in them forever. From then on, all five senses would be under Aizen's control, and anything they saw or heard could be an illusion.

Going to see Aizen, particularly when he might witness a demonstration of his Shikai, was no different from willingly handing all his future perception and judgment over to this most dangerous schemer, becoming a piece on his board that could be used or discarded at any time. With his current strength and mental fortitude, there was absolutely no chance he could resist or break Kyōka Suigetsu's hypnosis.

The risk far outweighed the reward.

Almost instantly, Liu Hao made his decision. It seemed cowardly, but under the circumstances, it was the safest decision for protecting his future independence and possibilities.

He raised his head, his usual composure restored, and spoke to Renji, who was still chattering excitedly. "Renji, I'm... not feeling well today. I'm afraid I can't go to class."

"Huh? Not feeling well?" Renji paused and looked him over. "You look fine to me."

"It's an internal injury. My Reiatsu isn't circulating smoothly, so I need to rest and recover." Liu Hao fabricated the excuse without changing expression. "Could you ask our homeroom teacher for a day off for me? Tell him I was too eager for results when I practiced Kidō early this morning. My Reiatsu control was unstable, and the spell backfired and injured me."

To make it more convincing, he did not even wait for Renji to react. A small, highly compressed ball of Reiryoku, flickering with unstable light, quickly formed in his right palm—these were indeed the characteristics of backlash energy that improper Kidō practice could produce. Then, under Renji's astonished gaze, he unhesitatingly pressed the ball of Reiryoku lightly against the left side of his chest, near his heart!

"Pfft!"

A muffled thud sounded. Liu Hao's body jolted slightly, his face instantly growing paler as fine beads of sweat appeared on his forehead. He grunted and raised a hand to cover his chest. Faint golden specks of Reishi light seeped between his fingers, simulating the escape of Reiatsu from an injury. Using his exquisite control over his own Reiatsu, he simulated the typical symptoms of Reiryoku backlash damaging his internal organs and Reiatsu pathways. It looked quite realistic.

"Liu Hao! What are you doing?!" Renji Abarai turned pale with shock and rushed forward to support him. "Are you crazy?! Why would you hurt yourself?! You could just ask for leave. You didn't have to do this?!"

Leaning on him, Liu Hao steadied himself and took several deep breaths, suppressing the discomfort caused by the deliberately inflicted "injury." He raised his head and looked directly into Renji's shocked, bewildered eyes, his gaze unusually serious, even carrying an unprecedented solemnity.

"Renji, listen to me. Remember every word I'm about to say."

His voice was not loud, but every word was clear and carried an unquestionable force. "This morning, I was too eager to practice higher-level Kidō, and my unstable Reiatsu control caused the spell to backfire and injure me. So I can't go to class and need to stay in the dormitory to rest. Those are all the facts."

He paused, his tone growing emphatic. "No matter when or who asks—including me in the future, if I ask you about today for some reason, such as my memory being affected—you must, and can only, answer this way: 'Liu Hao injured himself practicing Kidō this morning, so he took leave.' Do you understand? Repeat it back to me."

Renji Abarai was completely bewildered by his unusually serious attitude and strange demand. He looked at Liu Hao's pale but utterly resolute face, then at the marks of the "real" injury on his chest, his mind in chaos. But out of his long-standing trust in Liu Hao and their friendship as companions, he still repeated it instinctively, stammering, "Th-this morning, Liu Hao was practicing Kidō, his Reiatsu was unstable, and he injured himself, so he took leave and stayed in the dorm..."

"Good." Liu Hao gave him a gentle push, bringing him slightly out of his daze. "Remember that answer. Carve it into your mind. Now go to class and ask for leave for me. Don't ask or say anything else."

Renji Abarai stared at him blankly and opened his mouth, seemingly full of questions. But when he met Liu Hao's deep, calm eyes, which seemed to contain raging waves, every question caught in his throat. In the end, he simply nodded firmly. "...Okay, I understand. I'll go now. You... get some rest."

With that, he turned and left the dormitory, looking back every few steps, full of doubt and worry as he headed toward the training grounds.

After watching Renji leave, Liu Hao immediately closed the dormitory door tightly behind him. He did not tend to his "injury" right away. Instead, he formed several smaller, less powerful balls of Reiryoku with different attributes and carefully inflicted what looked like more "natural" superficial wounds and Reiatsu burns on his arms, shoulders, and other areas, similar to those caused by Kidō backlash. Only after doing all this did he go to the bed, hug the newly born Tang Dao tightly to his chest, and lie down fully clothed. He closed his eyes and forced himself to sleep—he intended to enter the consciousness space where he could communicate with his Zanpakuto on a deeper level.

His physical "injuries" and deliberate mental relaxation soon sent him sinking into that familiar dream world, where a pale golden mist of light flowed.

This time, the scene was different. The endless chaotic mist of light was gone, replaced by the backdrop of a deep, boundless dark universe, with an insubstantial starry sky beneath his feet and a brilliant galaxy overhead. The woman in the Five-Colored Immortal Garment stood with her back to him, stretching her body as she performed an ancient and graceful dance beneath the "moonlight," perhaps the light of a distant star. Her movements flowed like water, seemingly in subtle harmony with some rhythm in the motion of the surrounding stars.

As if sensing Liu Hao's arrival, the woman slowly stopped dancing. She did not turn around, but her cool voice rang directly through Liu Hao's consciousness. "You're here."

"Uh... I'm here." Liu Hao replied awkwardly. He felt a little embarrassed that he had injured himself to "skip class," only for this "source of power" to point out his purpose directly.

The woman slowly turned around, undisguised contempt written across her breathtakingly beautiful and imposing face. "You were afraid of Kyōka Suigetsu's hypnosis, so you didn't even dare attend Sōsuke Aizen's class. You even went so far as to hurt yourself and make it look like a training accident... Liu Hao, you really are a thorough coward." Her assessment was merciless.

Liu Hao's cheeks grew slightly hot, but he quickly suppressed that bit of shame. He raised his head to meet the woman's appraising gaze, his voice calm and firm. "Is that fear? Perhaps a little. But I prefer to call it 'clear-headed avoidance.'

"You and I both know Kyōka Suigetsu's ability. It's a form of mental manipulation that's nearly impossible to counter. Before my strength and mental fortitude are anywhere near the level needed to resist or even see through its hypnosis, willingly exposing myself to its Shikai would be no different from handing my future, my judgment, and even my soul's free will over to the schemer hiding behind that gentle mask.

"I don't want to become a piece on his board for him to manipulate as he pleases, and I certainly don't want to be hypnotized into doing things against my own heart and hurting my companions in the future. Avoiding a known, irresistible, enormous risk and preserving my independence and future possibilities—isn't that the wiser choice?"

The woman listened quietly to his defense. In those eyes that seemed able to see through everything, the contempt faded somewhat, replaced by a complex mixture of scrutiny, amusement, and an almost imperceptible hint of... approval?

"Your eloquence is as remarkable as your 'caution,'" she remarked coolly, without committing herself. "But no matter how pretty your words are, they can't hide that instinctive tremor deep in your soul when faced with absolute power and unknown control. Don't forget, I'm the embodiment of the source of your power, a reflection of the other side of your soul. You can't hide your thoughts, fears, or hopes from me."

Liu Hao fell silent. He could not refute her. Faced with a being on Aizen's level and the terrifying rumors about Kyōka Suigetsu, claiming he felt no apprehension or pressure at all would be self-deception.

"However," the woman continued, her tone seeming to lighten somewhat, "since you came here this way and avoided unnecessary trouble, let's not waste time. This is a good opportunity for us to have a proper 'exchange.'" She deliberately emphasized the word "exchange," and the curve of her lips made Liu Hao's heart jump.

Liu Hao had not yet fully understood what she meant by "exchange." He merely assumed it might be an in-depth discussion about his Zanpakuto's true name, the conditions for Shikai, and the like. But the next second—

The woman moved without warning!

Without gathering strength or giving any sign, she vanished from the spot as if teleporting, leaving only a faint multicolored afterimage in the starry sky!

Before Liu Hao could even think, a ferocious gust from a fist rushed toward his face! His pupils contracted, and he barely had time to cross his arms in front of his chest!

"Bang!!!"

A heavy impact struck at the level of his soul! Liu Hao felt as if he had been hit head-on by a speeding train. His entire consciousness body flew backward out of control, tracing a long path through the void! The seemingly real agony in his cheek brought him instantly to his senses—this "exchange" was no joke!

He forced himself to twist around in midair and stomped both feet hard against the void, even though there was no solid ground. Using the opposing force, he barely stopped himself from flying backward and assumed a defensive stance.

But the woman's second attack had already arrived! She followed him like a shadow, catching up almost the instant Liu Hao stopped. Her long right leg swung like a battle-axe, kicking viciously at his abdomen with enough force to tear through the starry sky!

"So fast!" Liu Hao was horrified. His feet instinctively slid sideways, another movement on the level of consciousness, and he narrowly dodged the vicious kick. The fierce wind brushed past him, bringing a bone-piercing chill.

Seeing this, the woman did not continue her pursuit. She stopped nearby, tilted her head slightly, and looked at Liu Hao, who stood on guard in his defensive stance. She nodded. "It seems you're ready for our 'exchange.' Then let's make it official."

As soon as she finished speaking, intense Reishi light erupted around her! Multicolored radiance wrapped her like a whirlwind, and her Reiatsu rose sharply! From within the whirlwind came faint metallic clashes and clangs, like a structure being rearranged!

Liu Hao watched warily, guessing at what she intended to do.

Suddenly, the familiar tip of a Tang Dao, flashing with cold light, thrust out from the heart of the Reishi whirlwind, piercing the halo! Then the tip swept to the side—

"Rip!"

Like brocade being torn apart, the Reishi whirlwind enveloping the woman was cleanly split down the middle by the blade and dispersed into nothing.

The woman who appeared in its place was the same, but her attire was utterly different. The gorgeous but somewhat flowing Five-Colored Immortal Garment had vanished, replaced by a fitted, practical combat outfit, deep black adorned with dark gold patterns and red sashes! It perfectly outlined her tall, agile figure and further emphasized an aura of efficiency and sharpness, born for battle. In her hand was a straight, slender Tang Dao identical to the one Liu Hao had in the real world, inscriptions flowing across its blade and its edge radiating sharpness.

Liu Hao stared in surprise and muttered inwardly, She can change skins too? That outfit she had on just now looked pretty good...

"The expression on your face has already given your thoughts away," the woman coldly interrupted his internal complaint. "Those clothes were suitable for dancing and ceremonies, but not for real combat. Since we're going to 'exchange,' naturally I need to change into my dedicated battle attire. Enough nonsense—"

She flicked her wrist, and the Tang Dao gave a clear, ringing hum, its tip pointing straight at Liu Hao. "Come, let me see whether you're worthy of knowing my true name and wielding my power."

Before she finished speaking, she became a bolt of black lightning and charged! Blade light flashed like snow, instantly enveloping Liu Hao's vital points!

"Hey! Wait!!" Liu Hao shouted as he desperately dodged, awkwardly using "Shunpo" on the level of consciousness. "At least give me a weapon! How am I supposed to fight you barehanded?! What kind of 'exchange' is this?! You're just beating me up one-sidedly!!"

His protest seemed utterly feeble amid the fierce flashes of the blade.

While Liu Hao, in the dreamlike space of his consciousness, was being chased with nowhere to run by his own Zanpakuto in human form, undergoing an inhumane "special training exchange"—

In the real world, in the dormitory area of Shin'ō Academy.

Renji Abarai had finished Captain Aizen's special instruction class with his mind full of questions. Though the class was excellent, he had remained somewhat distracted.

After class, he had intended to slip straight back to the dormitory to check on Liu Hao, but his homeroom teacher stopped him and asked in detail about Liu Hao's "injury."

Remembering Liu Hao's instructions, Renji steeled himself and repeated the story about "injuring himself practicing Kidō," emphasizing that Liu Hao needed rest.

What he had not expected was that this account would draw the "concern" of Fifth Division Captain Sōsuke Aizen, who had just finished teaching and was preparing to leave.

"Oh? Has that student Liu Hao been injured?" Aizen adjusted his glasses, a gentle, approachable smile appearing on his face, his voice even and pleasant. "I happen to know a little Kaidō. Why don't we go and see him together? After all, he's an elite student highly valued by Shin'ō Academy. It would be unfortunate if a lingering problem affected his future."

The homeroom teacher naturally did not dare refuse the captain's kind offer and readily agreed. Renji Abarai's heart sank, and he inwardly cried out in dismay. Unable to refuse, he could only brace himself and lead Sōsuke Aizen toward the dormitory area. All the way there, his heart pounded like a drum and his palms sweated as he kept praying Liu Hao's "act" would be convincing enough not to give anything away.

The two arrived at the door of Liu Hao and Renji Abarai's dormitory. Renji hesitated, but under Aizen's calm gaze, he had no choice but to take out his key and open the door.

The room was somewhat dim. Liu Hao lay on his side on the bed, facing inward, tightly hugging the dramatically transformed Zanpakuto—the Tang Dao—to his chest. He seemed fast asleep.

His student uniform was somewhat disheveled. Several fresh "wounds," bearing scorch marks and traces of Reiatsu, could be seen on the exposed skin of his shoulders and arms. They were dark red and blackened, typical signs of burns from Kidō backlash. On the bedsheet near his chest was a small patch of blood that had not completely dried.

Renji Abarai's heart tightened at the sight. He was about to step forward and wake Liu Hao when Sōsuke Aizen raised a hand and gently stopped him.

"Shh." Aizen gestured for silence, still wearing that warmly reassuring smile. But behind his lenses, his gaze swept slowly over every corner of the room like the most precise scanning instrument, finally settling on Liu Hao in the bed. He walked soundlessly to the bedside, bent slightly, and closely examined Liu Hao's "sleeping face" and "injuries."

Liu Hao's brows were slightly furrowed in his sleep, as if he were suffering some discomfort or pain, and his breathing was a little hurried.

After observing him for a moment, Aizen extended his right hand, a soft, pure green light glowing in his palm—the light of Kaidō. He gently held his hand over Liu Hao's injured chest. Green healing light slowly fell, beginning to examine and attempt to repair the damage caused by the "Reiryoku backlash."

He was not merely treating him. That gentle Kaidō Reiryoku was also like the finest probe, silently penetrating Liu Hao's spirit body to investigate the true cause of his injuries, the stability of his Reiatsu, and even... the faint fluctuations of his conscious activity. He was verifying whether this "accidentally injured" elite student's story was true, or whether... something else lay behind it.

In the consciousness space, on the Starry Sky Battlefield.

Liu Hao was being driven from one desperate defense to another by the woman in combat attire wielding the Tang Dao, danger surrounding him at every turn. Although he was only a consciousness body, the "pain" from every brush of the blade's wind and every punch or kick was incredibly real, accompanied by the strange sensation of being suppressed and "corrected" on the level of Reiatsu.

Just as he gritted his teeth and held on, trying to find a chance to counterattack, even if only to block once—

The woman, whose attacks had surged like a tide, suddenly paused for an instant without warning. She lifted her head, her eyes, which seemed to reflect endless galaxies, looking toward the nonexistent "above" of the consciousness space. Her brows knit almost imperceptibly.

"Hmph... that was fast." She murmured to herself, no emotion discernible in her voice.

Then she withdrew her gaze and looked at Liu Hao, who had opened the distance once more and was panting for breath. A trace of complexity flashed in her eyes. She raised the hand holding the Tang Dao and pointed its tip at him again, but this time no attack followed.

"That man you 'fear' has already found your actual body." The woman's voice entered Liu Hao's mind directly, carrying a barely perceptible urgency. "He's using Kaidō to investigate your injuries and consciousness. Deal with him carefully, coward."

She paused and looked at Liu Hao. Her gaze seemed to soften for an instant before quickly turning cool again. "As for me... I hope you'll do better next time. For now, go back and deal with the 'trouble' in front of you."

Before she finished speaking, she lightly flicked the wrist holding the sword. She made no slashing motion, but a brilliant light suddenly shone from the Tang Dao's blade, as if it could sever the connection of consciousness!

Liu Hao felt the light instantly fill his entire field of vision. An irresistible force of rejection, gentle yet powerful, came over him, and his consciousness seemed to be abruptly "pulled" from the Starry Sky Battlefield by an invisible hand!

In the real world, on the dormitory bed.

Liu Hao slowly opened his eyes, groggy and carrying a trace of lingering dreamlike disorientation and fatigue.

The first thing he saw was a handsome face close at hand, wearing a gentle, concerned smile, and a pair of round-framed glasses reflecting the light. A hand hovered above his chest, emitting warm, comforting green healing light.

Sōsuke Aizen!

Liu Hao's heart jumped. Almost instinctively, his pupils contracted and his body tensed slightly for an instant. But he immediately forced himself under control, quickly transforming that moment of vigilance and shock into the confusion and slight unease of someone who had just woken to an unfamiliar situation and a high-ranking person.

He blinked, and weakness, confusion, and the surprise and apprehension of recognizing the other man appeared on his face in just the right measure. "You... you're Captain Aizen of the Fifth Division? Thank you for treating me... Actually, I could have regulated my breathing to deal with a minor injury like this myself. How could I trouble you to come in person, Captain..." As he spoke, he made as if to struggle into a sitting position while seemingly naturally raising a hand to gently push aside Aizen's palm, which continued to emit Kaidō. His movements carried the weakness and caution characteristic of an injured person.

Sōsuke Aizen's hand paused slightly, but the green healing light did not immediately fade. His smile remained unchanged, his voice still gentle and pleasant, yet carrying an unquestionable insistence. "There's no need to be so polite, Liu Hao. Let me treat you thoroughly. I have some experience with Kaidō, and ensuring no hidden problems remain is vital to your future growth. It would be unfortunate if forcibly interrupting the treatment left a hidden injury."

Through his lenses, he calmly watched Liu Hao's eyes. His gaze seemed to possess the power to see into a person's heart, yet gave no offense, carrying only the pure concern of a teacher or elder.

Liu Hao's heart tightened. He knew the man would not be easily sent away. He stopped trying to sit up, his face showing gratitude mixed with shame, and obediently ceased resisting the treatment, though he continued, "Thank you so much, Captain Aizen. It's just... weren't you teaching the other students? How did you..." At just the right moment, he turned to look at Renji Abarai, who stood at the door looking nervous and a little at a loss. His tone carried a perfectly measured note of "reproach." "Renji, honestly, how could you disturb Captain Aizen over such a small matter and trouble him to come all the way to our dormitory..."

Renji Abarai opened his mouth, wanting to say something, but under Liu Hao and Aizen's gazes, he closed it again without a word. He could only scratch his head and give an awkward, worried, foolish grin.

Sōsuke Aizen gently withdrew the hand emitting Kaidō. The treatment seemed to be complete; at least the surface injuries were no longer serious. He adjusted his glasses and explained calmly, "It's not Renji's fault. After class, I heard Nakamura-sensei mention that you'd been injured while practicing and couldn't attend, so I was concerned.

"After all, you're elite students the academy is focusing on training. In the future, you're very likely to become a mainstay in protecting Soul Society. I heard you had an accident while practicing Kidō? Given the talent and control you've shown in Kidō class, that came as something of a surprise. I don't believe I've heard of you having a similar problem before. May I ask what caused it this time?"

His question sounded casual, like a teacher's concerned inquiry into an excellent student's occasional mistake, but the eyes hidden behind his lenses carefully caught every minute change in Liu Hao's expression and the most instinctive fluctuations of his Reiatsu.

Alarm bells rang in Liu Hao's mind, but his face showed even greater shame and helplessness. He lowered his head, his voice growing more subdued. "I'm embarrassed to have you see this, Captain Aizen. What people call 'talent' is only what outsiders see on the surface.

"'To shine before others, you must suffer behind the scenes.' My Kidō control wasn't exceptional from birth. It took hundreds and thousands of dull, sometimes dangerous practice sessions in private, failure after failure and adjustment after adjustment, for me to barely manage to look at ease in class.

"This time... I was too impatient. I tried to practice an advanced Bakudō I hadn't fully mastered ahead of time, and miscalculated the timing of my Reiatsu output. That caused my Reiryoku pathways to fall into disorder and recoil in an instant, injuring me. I brought it on myself. My fundamentals still aren't solid enough."

His words were half true and half false. They explained the plausibility of the "accident"—a mistake caused by eagerness for quick results—while skillfully flattering Aizen, implying he knew how discerning a captain was and would not dare make everything up. They also gave him the image of a student who worked hard but occasionally rushed ahead.

Sōsuke Aizen listened quietly, the gentle smile on his face not changing in the slightest. He seemed to be savoring every word Liu Hao said, yet also seemed merely to be expressing routine concern.

"'To shine before others, you must suffer behind the scenes'..." He repeated Liu Hao's words quietly, his gaze flickering slightly behind his lenses, as if the saying had stirred some thought in him.

Then he nodded gently, his smile growing a little warmer. "A saying that contains a profound truth. It's truly rare for you to have such awareness, Liu Hao. The road of cultivation is long. It does require taking one step at a time and progressing gradually, never rushing ahead in pursuit of quick success. Your ability to recognize your own shortcomings is commendable."

He stood up and straightened the front of his Captain's Haori, looking down at Liu Hao as he leaned against the headboard. His tone returned to the encouragement of an elder. "In that case, Liu Hao, please continue to work hard and proceed steadily from now on. I look forward to seeing you perform even better at the academy once you've recovered. We... will have another chance to meet in the future."

With that, he stayed no longer. He gave Renji Abarai a slight nod, then turned and left the narrow student dormitory at an unhurried pace.

Renji Abarai hurriedly bowed. "Goodbye, Captain Aizen!" Then he jogged after him to see him off for a few steps.

Only when the sound of Aizen's footsteps had completely disappeared at the end of the corridor did Liu Hao slowly unclench the fist he had been secretly holding tight. His back was already soaked with cold sweat. He let out a long, silent breath, as if laying down an enormous burden.

Those few minutes of dealing with Aizen had seemed calm, but in truth they had been fraught with danger. He had used almost all his mental strength to control his expression, tone, and Reiatsu fluctuations, terrified of revealing the slightest flaw for that man to catch.

He had temporarily avoided the threat of Kyōka Suigetsu, but Aizen's own unfathomable insight and the invisible pressure he brought made Liu Hao realize more deeply the chasm-like gap between himself and the top powerhouses of this world.

He lowered his head and looked at the Tang Dao in his arms, already awakened but not yet having told him its name. The blade was cold, its inscriptions flowing quietly in the dim light.

It seems the road to becoming stronger is still nowhere near its end... he thought. But at least I've taken the first step. And "she"... doesn't seem to hate me completely?

Remembering that "exchange" in his consciousness space, where he had been beaten one-sidedly, Liu Hao could not help a wry smile, but an even fiercer fighting spirit burned in his eyes.

The road ahead was long, and powerful enemies surrounded him. But he had gripped his "sword" firmly and seen some of the hidden "shadows" clearly.

Liu Hao's story, together with his Zanpakuto, had only just opened its true chapter.

And Sōsuke Aizen's "unexpected" visit, like a stone thrown into a calm lake, had raised no great waves, yet quietly stirred the hidden undercurrents beneath the surface. In the future, they would surely meet again, on a wider and more dangerous stage.