Returning to Soul Society
The ensuing battle unfolded between Ichigo Kurosaki and Kisuke Urahara. It was less of a fight and more of a one-sided chase— Ichigo Kurosaki ran ahead, stubbornly shouting that he would Kisuke Urahara a lesson, while Kisuke Urahara chased after him at a leisurely pace, leaving shallow wounds on Ichigo Kurosaki's body with each swing of his Benihime.
This chase lasted for some time, and it was less of a battle and more of a practical training exercise for Ichigo Kurosaki by Kisuke Urahara. Every attack and every dodge taught Ichigo Kurosaki how to sense his opponent's Reiatsu, how to predict the direction of an attack, and how to remain calm in battle.
Suddenly, Ichigo Kurosaki stopped running and stood still. He adjusted his breathing, sheathed his Zanpakuto, gripped the hilt with both hands, and assumed a drawing-slash stance.
At that moment, his demeanor changed—he was no longer the novice who was running away in a panic, but a true warrior.
Kisuke Urahara also stopped his pursuit, watching Ichigo Kurosaki with great interest. He could feel the Reiatsu within Ichigo Kurosaki's body rapidly gathering, and the Zanpakuto resonating with its master's will.
"Slay the Moon!"
With a deep roar, Ichigo Kurosaki drew his sword and swung it. The sword light was as cold as moonlight, carrying the power to tear through space. When the light dissipated, the Zanpakuto in his hand was no longer a broken sword, but a complete, pitch-black, massive blade— Zangetsu —appearing in its complete form in its master's hand for the first time.
Kisuke Urahara looked at Zangetsu in Ichigo Kurosaki's hand, a glint of admiration in his eyes. "Now that Mr. Kurosaki's Zanpakuto has appeared, let's begin the Test Three."
"Then, Mr. Urahara, you'd better dodge this next attack." Ichigo Kurosaki glanced at Zangetsu in his hand and said to Kisuke Urahara.
His voice no longer carried the panic and anger of before, replaced by a calm confidence. This was the change brought about by the awakening of his Zanpakuto —not just an increase in power, but a transformation of his state of mind.
As soon as he finished speaking, Ichigo Kurosaki's Reiatsu erupted like a volcano. The air in the training room began to tremble, and the pebbles on the ground were suspended in mid-air by the impact of the Reiatsu. He gripped Zangetsu tightly with both hands, raised it high, and then brought it down with the force to tear the heavens and earth apart.
This attack embodied all of Ichigo Kurosaki's will and power; it was his strongest attack since becoming Soul Reaper.
Faced with this terrifying attack, Kisuke Urahara did not dodge, but instead raised the Benihime in his hand. "Cry out, Benihime!"
A blood-red wall instantly unfolded before him, a defensive barrier formed by Benihime's power, called "Blood Haze Shield." This was one of the release abilities of Kisuke Urahara Zanpakuto, possessing extremely strong defensive capabilities.
The blue crescent-shaped blade of light collided violently with the blood-red shield wall.
Boom--!
A deafening explosion echoed through the training room, the energy shockwave spreading outwards and cracking the walls. Smoke and dust filled the air, obscuring visibility.
As the smoke and dust gradually dissipated, the scene before my eyes was astonishing.
From where Ichigo Kurosaki stood to where Kisuke Urahara stood, a massive chasm, several meters deep and tens of meters long, appeared in the ground, as if struck by a real meteorite. Kisuke Urahara's hat was shattered, fragments scattered on the ground, and Ikkaku of the Blood Haze Shield in front of him was also shattered, the red Reishi slowly dissipating like broken glass.
Kisuke Urahara bent down to pick up the tattered hat, brushed off the dust, and then slowly walked towards Ichigo Kurosaki. At the edge of the chasm in front of him, Ichigo Kurosaki was kneeling on the ground, supporting Zangetsu —not injured, but asleep from exhaustion.
Kisuke Urahara stopped in front of Ichigo Kurosaki, carefully examining the young Soul Reaper. He could sense that although the Reiatsu within Ichigo Kurosaki was weak, its essence had undergone a fundamental change—it was purer, stronger, and more stable.
"Liu Hao," Kisuke Urahara said without turning around, but pointed to a shadowy spot in the training room, "Mr. Kurosaki is a truly terrifying brat. If it weren't for that Blood Haze Shield, I'd probably be missing an arm."
Liu Hao slowly emerged from the shadows. He had been secretly observing the battle and had witnessed Ichigo Kurosaki's transformation firsthand.
"Hmm, to possess this level of power even after only a preliminary release of his Zanpakuto, he's truly a terrifying brat." Liu Hao looked at the sleeping Ichigo Kurosaki, his tone a mixture of admiration and satisfaction. "However, this was to be expected. After all, he's Isshin Shiba's son, with powerful blood flowing through his veins."
Kisuke Urahara nodded. "However, we still need to train hard. The awakening of the Zanpakuto is just the beginning; to truly master this power, we need even more practice."
"Then I'll leave the rest to you, Kisuke." Liu Hao turned to Kisuke Urahara, a sincere smile on his face. "I should also begin my journey back to Soul Society."
Kisuke Urahara's expression turned serious. "Can you Senkaimon? Now the entire Seireitei knows you're a 'traitor,' the Senkaimon will definitely be under close surveillance."
"How could I possibly Senkaimon?" Liu Hao shook his head and laughed. "Don't forget, although the Captain-Commander and Captain Unohana know that you and I were framed, the others don't. How could they possibly let me return to Soul Society through Senkaimon?"
"Then how will you get back?" Kisuke Urahara asked curiously.
Liu Hao smiled slightly, his hand resting on the Imperial Sword at his waist. "My Imperial Sword possesses the ability to manipulate space. Although with my current strength, it's impossible to directly open a spatial passage from World of the Living Soul Society, we can first open a passage to the Dangai, and then open a passage from the Dangai to the Soul Society. Taking it two steps will make things much easier."
"I see," Kisuke Urahara's eyes flashed with understanding, "What a convenient ability! However, the Dangai is filled with Kōryū and Kōtotsu, so you must be careful."
"Don't worry," Liu Hao said confidently, "This isn't the first time I've crossed Dangai. Besides, with the Imperial Princess here, those things pose no threat to us."
He paused, then continued, "Alright, I'll be going now. These kids are in your hands. Especially Ichigo Kurosaki; make sure he grows to a level where he can easily infiltrate the Seireitei in a short time."
"I will do my best," Kisuke Urahara solemnly promised.
Liu Hao turned to his side and said softly, "Imperial Princess, open the passage."
As soon as she finished speaking, the Imperial Princess's figure appeared beside Liu Hao. She didn't speak, but simply extended her slender finger and gently touched the space in front of her.
Space began to ripple, like waves on the surface of water. The center of the ripples gradually expanded, forming a stable portal. Through the portal, one could see the scene on the other side—distorted spacetime, flowing light, and a huge skeletal structure, which were the characteristics of the Dangai.
Kisuke Urahara stood beside Liu Hao, carefully observing the spatial gate. He could sense the stable spatial fluctuations within it; this was not an unstable passage that had been opened temporarily, but a well-constructed and stable portal.
"This ability to manipulate space has surpassed the scope of ordinary Soul Reaper," Kisuke Urahara commented.
Liu Hao smiled but didn't explain further. He took one last look at the sleeping Ichigo Kurosaki before stepping into the spatial portal.
Before fully penetrating, he turned back to Kisuke Urahara and said, "Let's go, Kisuke. I hope we both succeed."
"I definitely will, Liu Hao." Kisuke Urahara smiled and waved goodbye.
The portal closed slowly after Liu Hao entered, eventually disappearing completely as if it had never existed.
The Dangai a special space connecting the World of the Living and the Soul Society. There is no clear sense of direction here, and the flow of time is abnormally chaotic. The Kōryū —a turbulent flow of time like a giant python—rages here; the Kōtotsu —a scavenger-like entity—periodically eliminates those who linger.
Liu Hao traversed this chaotic space with unhurried steps. The Imperial Princess guided him from the side, her eyes able to see through the mists of time and space to find the safest path.
"Master, the Kōtotsu are approaching," the Imperial Princess suddenly warned.
Liu Hao looked up and saw a huge white, skeletal structure rushing towards them. It was the scavenger of the Dangai, which would devour all those who remained.
"Ignore it," Liu Hao said calmly. "We're faster than it."
He quickened his pace, and the Imperial Princess also sped up. The two of them moved like streaks of light through the Dangai. Kōtotsu chased after them, but could never close the distance.
About half an hour later, Liu Hao stopped. "Let's do it here, Imperial Princess. Open the passage to Soul Society."
The Imperial Princess nodded and used her spatial abilities again. This time, the portal opened more slowly than before, clearly indicating that connecting directly from the Dangai to the Soul Society required more power.
When the portal was completely stable, Liu Hao could feel a familiar aura coming from the other side—it was the unique Reishi atmosphere of Soul Society, pure and rich.
He took a deep breath and stepped through the doorway.
When Liu Hao opened his eyes again, he was in a familiar place— the Private Training Ground behind the Fourth Division Barracks. This was where he had Retsu Unohana, and traces of their past battles still remained on the ground.
Moonlight spilled onto the Training Ground, turning everything silvery-white. Liu Hao looked around at the familiar dummies, training equipment, and sword marks, a complex mix of emotions welling up inside him.
"Phew, Soul Society, I'm back again," he said softly, his voice filled with emotion.
Although I haven't been gone for very long, so much has happened in that time. From being framed and escaping, to building new bonds in the World of the Living, and now quietly returning—it all feels like a dream.
Liu Hao did not linger in the Training Ground. He put his black cloak back on, completely concealing his figure in the darkness, and quietly sneaked into the Fourth Division Barracks under the cover of night.
As a former Squad Lieutenant of the Fourth Division, he knew the terrain like the back of his hand and easily bypassed all the patrols and guards, arriving at the Fourth Division Captain's Office.
The lights were still on in the Captain’s Office, indicating that Retsu Unohana was still working. Liu Hao gently knocked on the door.
"Please come in," came Unohana's gentle voice from inside.
Liu Hao pushed open the door and entered, his hood still hanging low, covering most of his face.
Unohana was sitting behind her desk working on documents when she looked up and saw the person shrouded in a black cloak. A familiar smile appeared on her face, "Who are you, and what brings you here so late at night?"
"Captain, it's me." Liu Hao took off his hood and replied with a smile.
Upon seeing Liu Hao, a fleeting look of surprise crossed Unohana's face, quickly replaced by a mischievous smile, "Oh, it's you. But what brings a wanted criminal like you here so late at night?"
"Captain, stop teasing me," Liu Hao said with a wry smile. "Rukia's verdict has been handed down, right?"
Unohana nodded, her expression turning serious. "It's over. Death sentence, to be carried out by the Sōkyoku, currently on probation. The Central 46's stance is firm; there's no room for negotiation."
"Thank goodness, thank goodness, we still made it in time." Liu Hao patted his chest and breathed a sigh of relief.
Unohana narrowed her eyes, a dangerous glint in her smile, "You're showing off your intention to rescue a death row inmate right in front of me, the Fourth Division Captain. Aren't you being a little disrespectful to me?"
"Uh..." Liu Hao was momentarily speechless. "Captain, let's stop acting, okay? There are no outsiders here."
"Alright," Unohana said, her dangerous expression vanishing and replaced with a gentle smile. "What are your plans next?"
"There's no specific plan," Liu Hao said honestly. "We're just waiting for those kids from the World of the Living to come over, and keeping an eye on them from causing any major trouble. After all, given their personalities and strength, if they were to break into the Seireitei to rescue Rukia, it would definitely cause a huge uproar."
Unohana nodded understandingly, then asked, "So why did you come to see me? Just to ask about Rukia?"
"I've had nowhere to go these past few days, so I came to stay with the Captain," Liu Hao said with a smile, his tone carrying a hint of matter-of-factness.
Unohana smiled too, "Alright then, you can stay in the Fourth Division for a while."
"Yes, yes, thank you, Captain." Liu Hao nodded happily.
However, as Unohana continued handling team affairs while Liu Hao remained standing still, she looked up and asked in confusion, "Why aren't you leaving yet?"
"Huh?" Liu Hao was stunned. "Didn't you say I'd stay here for a while?"
Unohana explained, "I'm asking you to stay in the Fourth Division for a while, not to stay here with me. The Fourth Division is so big, do you really want to stay in my Captain’s Office?"
"Huh! If I'm not here, where am I supposed to go?" Liu Hao asked, completely bewildered.
"Your dorm in the Fourth Division has been reserved for you," Unohana said. "Go stay there."
Liu Hao hesitated for a moment before expressing his concern. "Um, if I go back to the dorm, won't Aizen find out? After all, he's definitely monitoring the Fourth Division."
"Then find somewhere else to stay, don't stay here," Unohana said bluntly.
Hearing this, Liu Hao was speechless for a moment, then tentatively said, "Captain, let me stay here with you. Your Captain’s Office has a special barrier, making it difficult for Aizen's surveillance methods to penetrate."
Unohana's eyes narrowed, and her smile became meaningful, "What, you really think I'm your Empress?"
"Huh?!" Upon hearing Unohana's words, Liu Hao was startled, and cold sweat broke out on his forehead.
Unohana squinted and continued smiling, "Don't think I don't know what you say in the World of the Living. I heard about your 'drunken truths' at the wedding with Yoruichi and Kisuke."
"This..." Liu Hao stammered, unsure how to explain. He hadn't expected that his drunken ramblings would reach Unohana's ears.
"Alright, hurry up and leave, don't get in the way." Unohana waved her hand, signaling him to leave.
Liu Hao could only pull his hood back up and slink away from the Captain’s Office.
Watching Liu Hao's departing figure, Unohana chuckled and shook her head, "Kid, you think you can take me into your harem with that little bit of courage?"
She picked up the documents on the table again, but a complex light flashed in her eyes. She knew very well what Liu Hao's return meant. This trial surrounding Rukia Kuchiki could very well become the fuse that ignites internal conflicts within the Seireitei.
And Liu Hao is one of the core figures in this storm.
Liu Hao, having left the Captain’s Office, stood in the corridor of the Fourth Division Barracks, unsure of where to go. He couldn't return to his own dormitory, as Aizen was likely monitoring it; nor could he seek out other acquaintances, since their strength was insufficient to withstand Kyōka Suigetsu's hypnosis.