Preparing to Depart for the Soul King Palace

Just as Liu Hao was walking towards Rukongai, Rukia Kuchiki slowed down.

A hint of worry appeared on her face. She looked at Liu Hao's retreating figure, hesitated for a moment, and then spoke softly, her voice filled with concern and anxiety. "Liu Hao, how will they treat you when we go to the Soul King Palace this time?"

Renji Abarai and Ichigo Kurosaki stopped in their tracks upon hearing Rukia's question. Their gazes simultaneously fell upon Liu Hao, their eyes filled with the same concern and worry.

Liu Hao stopped and turned around to look at Rukia. He saw the worry in her eyes, the concern in Renji and Ichigo, and the undisguised unease in their hearts. A warm smile appeared on his lips.

"Don't worry," Liu Hao's voice was calm and composed, "Since you've brought even the whole thing along, neither the Soul King nor the Zero Division will do anything to me."

Rukia's worry eased slightly upon hearing Liu Hao's words. She nodded, said nothing more, and quietly followed in Liu Hao's footsteps.

The four continued deeper into Rukongai. Their destination was clear— Kūkaku Shiba's residence.

When they arrived at Kūkaku Shiba's residence, the sight before them made them stop in their tracks.

The enormous Tenchūren —the black cylinder that had descended from the sky a few days earlier—had been moved to Kūkaku Shiba's gun emplacement. It stood there straight, like a black tower, like a colossal pillar reaching for the heavens, gleaming with a dark light in the sunlight.

Beneath the fortress, Genryūsai Shigekuni Yamamoto stood at the forefront, leaning on his cane, his aged face expressionless.

Retsu Unohana stood not far behind him, her expression calm and indifferent, but her gaze remained fixed on Liu Hao, as if to confirm whether he had truly recovered.

Kenpachi Zaraki stood with his arms crossed, leaning against the base of the cannon. His expression was somewhat impatient, but upon closer inspection, one could see that his gaze kept shifting back and forth between Liu Hao and the Tenchūren.

Other Captains, including Shunsui Kyōraku, Jūshirō Ukitake, Toshiro Tōshirō Hitsugaya, Mayuri Kurotsuchi, were also present.

The gates of the Tenchūren were already open. The five members of Zero Division stood at the entrance, waiting for Liu Hao and the others to arrive.

Ichibē Hyōsube stood at the front, arms crossed, a string of fist-sized Buddhist prayer beads around his neck, and a kind yet unfathomable smile on his face.

Kirio Hikifune stood behind him, his plump figure particularly striking in the sunlight, the wooden shovel on his head swaying gently in the breeze.

Ōetsu Nimaiya still maintained his nonchalant demeanor, making a peace sign with both hands and smiling as he watched Liu Hao and the others approach.

Tenjirō Kirinji had a toothpick dangling from his mouth, held up the Zero Division flag, and wore a smug smile.

Senjumaru Shutara stood at the very back, her eight wooden arms on her back retracted. Her expression remained indifferent, but her gaze lingered on Liu Hao.

When Liu Hao led Rukia, Renji, and Ichigo to the foot of the cannon, all eyes were on them.

Ichibē Hyōsube's smile deepened as he saw Liu Hao and the others approaching. His eyes narrowed into slits, and the string of Buddhist prayer beads on his chest swayed slightly, making a soft clinking sound. His voice came from above. "You've arrived."

Liu Hao raised his head, looked at Ichibē Hyōsube of the Tenchūren Carriage, and smiled slightly, "I've kept you all waiting."

Ichibē Hyōsube's smile deepened upon hearing Liu Hao's words.

"You little rascal," Ichibē Hyōsube's voice carried a mix of a senior's doting affection for a junior and a teasing tone towards Liu Hao, "Let's go, don't keep the Soul King waiting too long."

The words were spoken lightly, but the moment the words "Soul King" were uttered, the atmosphere in the entire room became heavy.

After saying this, Ichibē Hyōsube turned around and walked into the Tenchūren.

Kirio Hikifune, Ōetsu Nimaiya, Tenjirō Kirinji, and Senjumaru Shutara followed behind him, entering the interior of the Tenchūren in turn.

Liu Hao, along with Rukia Kuchiki and the others, followed the Zero Division members into the Tenchūren.

The moment Liu Hao stepped across the threshold of the Tenchūren Carriage, a voice came from behind him. The voice was clear and loud, carrying the unique boldness and directness of the Shiba Clan: "Liu Hao!"

Liu Hao stopped and turned around, looking in the direction of the sound. He saw Kūkaku Shiba standing below the cannon platform, looking up at him at the entrance of the Tenchūren Carriage.

Kūkaku Shiba smiled at Liu Hao and said, "Thank you for what happened to my older brother and sister-in-law."

Liu Hao looked at Kūkaku Shiba, tilted his head, and said in a half-joking tone, his voice not loud but clearly reaching the ears of everyone present. "No need for verbal thanks, just repay me with your body when I return."

The moment those words were spoken, the entire scene seemed to be paused.

Everyone was stunned. Genryūsai Shigekuni Yamamoto remained expressionless as if he hadn't heard anything, Retsu Unohana's eyes narrowed slightly, Kenpachi Zaraki's mouth was agape enough to fit an egg, Shunsui Kyōraku's straw hat tilted to one side, Jūshirō Ukitake coughed, whether to hide a smile or embarrassment was unclear.

Tōshirō Hitsugaya's lips twitched, Mayuri Kurotsuchi's face showed a bored expression, Shinji Hirako's smile became meaningful, and Hiyori Sarugaki simply rolled her eyes.

Upon hearing these words, Kūkaku Shiba's expression shifted from gratitude to shock, then to shame and anger, and finally to an indescribable complexity.

Her cheeks turned bright red, then purplish-red, the blush spreading from her cheeks to her ears, from her ears to her neck, and from her neck to her chest. Her eyes widened, her mouth gaped open, and she stood frozen in place as if struck by an invisible lightning bolt.

Then, her expression suddenly changed, from blank to angry, from angry to furious, and from furious to a rage that wanted to tear Liu Hao to pieces.

"You wish!" Kūkaku Shiba's voice boomed like thunder, filled with anger, embarrassment, and a hint of panic she herself didn't even realize. "You little bastard! When you get back, I'll break your third leg, or I'm not Shiba!"

The moment the words "third leg" were uttered, the atmosphere in the room became even more delicate.

Some people were suppressing laughter, some were coughing, and some were pretending not to hear anything. Genryūsai Shigekuni Yamamoto frowned but remained silent.

Retsu Unohana narrowed her eyes to slits, and the corners of her mouth turned up slightly, revealing a meaningful smile.

Just then, Retsu Unohana took a step forward, squinted, and looked at Liu Hao with a half-smile.

Her voice was gentle and melodious, yet it sent a chill down Liu Hao's spine. "Oh, Liu Hao, are you going to start a harem?"

Isane Kotetsu, standing behind Unohana, joined in the fun after hearing her Captain's words. Tilting her head, she asked in a curious tone, "Is Miss Kūkaku the Empress or the Imperial Consort?"

The moment the question was asked, Liu Hao's expression changed. His smile froze on his face, his body stiffened slightly, and fine beads of sweat appeared on his forehead.

He felt he was standing on the edge of danger; one wrong step and he would be doomed. He looked at Retsu Unohana's meaningful smile and at Isane Kotetsu's mimicking of Unohana's squinting expression, and an unprecedented sense of crisis welled up in his heart.

"No, no." Liu Hao smiled awkwardly, a smile tinged with embarrassment, panic at being exposed, and a desperate attempt to get away with it. His hands trembled involuntarily, his movements flustered and helpless, a stark contrast to his usual calm and composed demeanor.

Seeing Liu Hao's guilty look, Retsu Unohana Retsu's smile deepened. Her eyes narrowed into slits, a dangerous glint flashing in them, a languid yet deadly light, like that of a feline toying with its prey.

Her voice rang out again, still gentle and melodious, but every word was like a knife, piercing precisely into Liu Hao's heart. "No? Just a few days ago, you were with me and Isane, enjoying romantic moments under the moon..."

"Captain! Captain!" Liu Hao's voice suddenly rose an octave, filled with an almost pleading urgency, interrupting Retsu Unohana's words.

His face went from slightly flushed to deathly pale, and he raised his hands in a gesture of surrender.

"I was wrong! I was wrong!" Liu Hao's voice was filled with genuine fear. "Wait for me to come back! We'll talk about it when I get back!"

As he spoke, he retreated into the Tenchūren, his steps hurried and frantic, as if something terrifying was chasing him from behind.

After saying that, he turned his head sharply and looked at Hyōnobu Ichibei, who was standing inside the Tenchūren Ichibē Hyōsube. His eyes were full of urgency and pleading, as if to say: Hurry up and leave, or I'll die.

"Hurry, hurry!" Liu Hao's voice was filled with an unprecedented urgency, "If you don't leave now, you'll only be able to take my corpse back with you!"

Seeing Liu Hao's Ichibē Hyōsube appearance, Hyōjube Ichibei couldn't help but burst into laughter. His laughter was deep and loud, like the sound of a temple bell, echoing inside the Tenchūren, making the walls tremble slightly.

"Alright," came Ichibē Hyōsube's voice amidst the laughter, "We're going back."

He raised his hand and waved it gently, the movement casual and elegant, like a conductor waving a baton, a painter wielding a brush, or a magician casting a spell.

The gates of the Tenchūren slowly closed, emitting a deep mechanical sound. The sound echoed in the air, like an ancient horn sounding, like distant bells tolling, like the gears of fate turning.

Beneath the cannon emplacement, everyone stared at the closed door and fell silent involuntarily.