The Soul King's Summons (II)

Upon hearing this, Yamamoto Genryusai's eyes flashed with approval. This young man was not only powerful but also meticulous, knowing when to act and when to hold back. This mature judgment was more valuable than mere strength.

"What are your thoughts on the order from the Soul King Palace?" Yamamoto Genryusai asked again, his voice tinged with a hint of probing.

Liu Hao tilted his head, his expression casual. "I don't have any thoughts. Anyway, I'm not planning to join the Zero Division. Those people are all monsters; I can't get along with them."

Yamamoto Genryusai seemed to have anticipated this answer, and he continued, "They'll be down soon."

Liu Hao's expression finally changed. His brows furrowed slightly, and a thoughtful glint flashed in his eyes. "Really? Coming down at this hour? Looks like I have no choice but to go."

Yamamoto Genryusai nodded. "It seems so. The Soul King Palace's order is very clear... The Soul King wants to see you personally, and there is no room for refusal."

Liu Hao was silent for a moment, then said, "If it's the Soul King who summons me personally, I'm actually quite interested. Why does he want to see me? What does he want to say to me? These questions do pique my curiosity."

Yamamoto Genryusai asked, "Do you need me to come with you?"

Liu Hao thought for a moment, then shook his head, revealing a confident smile, "No need. If they want to keep me here, they'll put you in the middle. You won't be able to help either side, and it'll only put you in a difficult position. If it were just me, they wouldn't be able to keep me either. After all, although I'm not as strong as before, I'm not so easy to control."

Yamamoto Genryusai looked at Liu Hao, a hint of inquiry in his eyes. "Oh? Why do you think they'd want to keep you here?"

Liu Hao's smile became somewhat meaningful. He said, "I have broken some established destinies, which will affect some people's plans, and naturally I will be targeted. Those people in the Soul King Palace, or rather the Soul King himself, have their own plans and arrangements."

And I might not be part of their plan, or even be hindering it. So, it's only natural that they want to keep me, control me, and make me act according to their wishes."

He shrugged and continued, "Of course, these are just the worst-case scenarios. Maybe they simply want me to become stronger so I can protect the Three Worlds. After all, in a way, I did them a big favor this time. If Aizen really attacks the Soul King Palace, they'll have a real headache."

Yamamoto Genryusai was silent for a moment, then said, "You can decide for yourself. After all, we don't know what the Zero Division is thinking. Although those people are nominally our superiors in the Gotei 13, in reality, they are from a different world than us. Their way of thinking, their style of doing things, their goals and pursuits are all different from ours."

Liu Hao nodded in understanding. He knew that the Zero Division was the Soul King's direct guard, responsible for protecting the Soul King Palace and maintaining the balance of the Three Worlds. Their power far exceeded that of ordinary Captain-level Soul Reaper, and their very existence was a deterrent.

However, they also maintained a certain distance from the Soul Society and rarely interfered in the affairs of the Seireitei. This time, the fact that they took the initiative to issue the order, and that the Soul King personally summoned them, in itself demonstrates the seriousness of the matter.

"Then I'll go," Liu Hao said, his tone relaxed and casual, as if he were just going to visit a neighbor. "I'll see what the Soul King wants to say to me. If the conditions are right, it wouldn't be bad to have a chat with them. After all, I'm quite curious about the Soul King Palace."

Yamamoto Genryusai looked at him, and the corner of his mouth seemed to twitch slightly. The movement was very subtle, but Liu Hao saw it. It was a smile, a smile that belonged to an elder, filled with satisfaction and expectation.

"Go," Yamamoto Genryusai said, his voice unusually gentle. "Be careful. No matter what happens, remember, Seireitei will always be your home."

Liu Hao bowed, then turned and walked towards the door. His steps were calm and firm, as if what he was about to face was not the mysterious Zero Division, nor the lofty Soul King Palace, but just an ordinary trip.

As he reached the door, he suddenly stopped and turned back to the Captain-Commander: "By the way, Captain-Commander, what should I say if the people from Zero Division ask about my Bankai?"

Yamamoto Genryusai thought for a moment and said, "Just tell the truth. There's no need to hide anything or exaggerate. Those people aren't so easily fooled."

Liu Hao nodded, then pushed open the door and walked out.

Sunlight streamed down his body, casting a long, long shadow. He looked up at the sky. Above that azure firmament, deep within the clouds, at a height inaccessible to mortals, lay the Soul King Palace. He had only ever heard of that place in legends, only read about it in books. And now, he was about to go there in person.

"The Soul King Palace..." Liu Hao murmured softly, a smile playing on his lips, "I wonder if the tea there is any good."

He strode forward, his figure gradually disappearing at the end of the Seireitei street. Behind him, the doors of the First Division Barracks slowly closed, once again shrouding the old man sitting in the center in shadow.

Genryūsai Shigekuni Yamamoto sat there alone, his aged fingers gently tapping the tip of his cane. His gaze passed through the window, looking up at the sky, at that place beyond the reach of mortals.

"The Soul King has summoned me personally..." he said in a low voice, a hint of something unreadable in it, "Is this a blessing or a curse?"

No one answered him. He was alone in the room, with only the sound of his breathing and the soft tapping of his fingers on his cane. But he knew that whatever the answer was, whatever awaited Liu Hao ahead, the young man would face it calmly.

Because that's just who he is.

Meanwhile, at the other end of Seireitei, Liu Hao had returned to the Fourth Division's barracks. He stood in the courtyard, looking at the flowers and plants, and took a deep breath.

"Next, I'll be going to the Soul King Palace," he muttered to himself. "I wonder what it's like there. I also wonder if they'll make things difficult for me."

He thought for a moment, then laughed again, "Forget it, there's no point in thinking so much. We'll deal with whatever comes our way. Whatever they want to do, I'll face it."