Learning Bankai (3)

"Devouring Soul King?" Shinji Hirako's face turned pale. "You mean... someone can devour Soul King?"

Liu Ziyun nodded, his tone eerily calm. "There was a being that devoured the Soul King, becoming the new 'Keystone,' and nearly destroyed the entire Three Worlds. And the one who defeated that being was that kid—although he had the help of Quincy and Aizen, his combat power truly reached the Soul King Level."

He looked at Kisuke Urahara, his voice carrying an almost cruel honesty. "I wouldn't dare compare myself to him. At most, I've only reached the limit of Soul Reaper, while that kid can reach the Soul King Limit. There's no way we can compare."

The training ground fell into dead silence.

Everyone was so shocked by these words that they were speechless.

The Soul King —that's the foundation of Soul Society, the pillar of balance in the Three Worlds. If someone could devour the Soul King, what would that mean? If even the Soul King could be defeated, then what are Soul Reaper, Quincy, Hollows... all beings compared to such power?

After a long silence, Kisuke Urahara finally spoke, his voice hoarse. "The existence of the Devouring Soul King... the future is truly terrifying."

"Nonsense." Liu Ziyun's tone became relaxed again. "Otherwise, why would I be hiding like this? Do you think I enjoy pretending to be blind and weak?"

He paused, a hint of anticipation in his voice. "But in a few decades, I won't have to live like this anymore. Once that child grows up, I can finally live a carefree life."

He turned to Mashiro Kuna, his face breaking into that carefree smile again, "Mashiro Kuna, join my harem, and I'll take you flying—flying to a future where you won't have to worry anymore."

These words instantly broke the heavy atmosphere that had just been there.

Kensei Muguruma almost jumped up, pointing at Liu Ziyun and yelling, "You bastard! Don't you dare lure children here!"

Mashiro Kuna tilted her head, a naive smile on her face, "I'm not a child, Kensei... are you jealous?"

Kensei Muguruma's face flushed red instantly, and he stammered, unable to speak.

Shinji Hirako and the others couldn't help but burst into laughter, their earlier gloom vanishing instantly.

But Kisuke Urahara didn't laugh. He looked at Liu Ziyun with a deep and complex gaze.

"Don't you have any other motives?" Kisuke Urahara asked, his tone carrying a certain scrutiny.

Liu Ziyun looked at him, and the smile on his face gradually faded.

"Why do you have so many thoughts?" His tone carried a hint of helplessness and exhaustion. "I've told you so many times—I'm only working hard to improve my strength to prepare for the future. I don't want anything else."

He turned around, his back to the crowd, and his voice deepened. "In the future, there will be someone Tulu the entire Seireitei. Do you think I'll survive if I don't make myself stronger?"

He paused, then continued, "Also, you think I'm stronger than you guys to the point of being beyond dimensions, right? In the future, Aizen and that brat will easily reach that level. And that brat will be even stronger than Aizen — Aizen will look at that brat just like you're looking at me now."

His voice carried a hint of awe, a hint of fear, and a hint of... anticipation.

"But Aizen is indeed powerful; he can't be killed, he's been sealed away."

Kisuke Urahara was silent for a moment, then slowly spoke, "Is that so? Aizen Mirai... fused with the Hōgyoku, right?"

Liu Ziyun turned around, looked at him, and gave him an approving smile, "As expected of the guy Aizen called 'the smartest person in Soul Society.' Indeed."

Shinji Hirako suddenly spoke, his voice filled with suppressed anger. "So we're just going to let Aizen grow to that level? Let him get away with it? You know the hatred we have for Aizen!"

His voice echoed through the training ground, every word filled with anger and resentment that had been suppressed for nearly a century.

Liu Ziyun "looked" at him and calmly replied, "Absolutely. Otherwise, it wouldn't just be the Seireitei being Tulu, but the entire Three Worlds being destroyed."

His tone was eerily calm. "Otherwise, why do you think I'd be hiding like this?"

Shinji Hirako's breathing became rapid, but he did not refute it. Because he also knew that Liu Ziyun was right.

"But..." Shinji Hirako gritted his teeth, "Do you know how much we hate Aizen? Do you know how much we want to kill him with our own hands? And we... we also hate Soul Reaper, we hate everything in Soul Society!"

Liu Ziyun looked at him, his eyes filled with a complex emotion.

"Don't worry," his voice was soft but clear, "Aizen will avenge you."

These words stunned everyone.

Hiyori Sarugaki was the first to react. She jumped up and screamed, "Damn it! How could this be! Aizen is our enemy! How could he possibly help us get revenge!"

Liu Ziyun "looked" at her, his tone flat. "He Tulu the Central 46, doesn't that count as avenging you?"

The cries of Hiyori Sarugaki abruptly ceased.

The entire training ground fell silent once again.

Central 46 —the judicial body that sentenced them to death, the corrupt institution that disregarded human life, the embodiment of "justice" that never gave them a chance to defend themselves.

Shinji Hirako closed his eyes and took a deep breath.

He recalled the scene a hundred years ago when he was led to the dock. The masked judges, the cold, hard accusations, the irrefutable verdicts...

"Execution by death penalty. Execute immediately."

This is the "fairness" that the Central 46 gave him.

He slowly opened his eyes, looked at Liu Ziyun, and said in a hoarse voice, "You're right... Aizen did indeed... avenge us."

These words silenced everyone present.

Kisuke Urahara broke the silence, his voice tinged with a hint of probing. "Aren't you going to lend a hand? After all... you're such a kind person."

Upon hearing this, everyone in the Visored raised their heads and looked at Liu Ziyun.

Their eyes held a complex mix of emotions—expectation, unease, fear, and... something indescribable.

Liu Ziyun looked around at them, remained silent for a moment, and then slowly said, "I am kind-hearted, not a saint."

His voice was soft, yet firm. "It's already kind of me not to personally slaughter those corrupt bastards, okay?"

Shinji Hirako looked at him, a bitter smile slowly creeping onto his lips, "Yes... you really are... very kind."

Kisuke Urahara spoke again, "I'm afraid you'll take the opportunity to cause some trouble then, won't you?"

Liu Ziyun did not deny it. He "looked" into the distance, as if he could see a scene from the future through layers of walls. "Hmm, if I have the chance, I'll deal with some odds and ends."

His tone was as calm as if he were discussing tonight's dinner menu. "If there's no chance, so be it. Anyway, when I reveal my strength, they can't do anything to me. If they insist on using underhanded tactics against me... I'll just kill some people to establish my authority."

He paused, then added, "Besides, the Captain-Commander and our captain won't just stand by and watch me get framed."

Kisuke Urahara him a deep look. "I hope you won't go too far then."

Liu Ziyun to him, a sincere smile on her face, "Don't worry, I just want to live my own life freely."