A Promotion

The following morning, in the Fourth Division Captain's office.

Liu Ziyun stood outside the door, took a deep breath, and then gently knocked.

"Captain Unohana, Fourth Division member Liu Ziyun requests an audience."

A familiar, calm voice came from inside the door. "Come in."

Liu Ziyun open the door and entered, walking up to Retsu Unohana and bowing respectfully. Then, he presented the wooden box with both hands, placing it on the tea table. "Captain, I'm back. This is a gift I brought back for you from the World of the Living; I hope you like it."

Retsu Unohana didn't open the wooden box immediately, but instead quietly scrutinized him. Her usually calm eyes now gleamed with a complex light. "You've been gone for so long this time, I thought you'd run away. So, did you achieve your goal?"

Her tone was calm, but Liu Ziyun could detect a hint of... worry hidden within it?

He smiled, his tone relaxed. "Yeah, it's done. Actually, it wasn't difficult at all. After I got there, Kisuke Urahara came to me on his own."

He paused, then continued, "After explaining things to them, I had him take me to see those unfortunate guys. Just as I thought, those guys were too narrow-minded; they thought they were something special just because they had mastered the power of Hollowfication."

His tone was clearly disdainful. "So I taught them a lesson, then trained with them for a while before coming back."

Retsu Unohana raised an eyebrow. "Oh? They had four captains, one Assistant Kidō Chief, and three Lieutenant. And they were taught a lesson by someone like you who wasn't even Seated Officer?"

Her tone was slightly teasing, but more so, it was a test.

Liu Ziyun helplessly spread his hands. "You don't need to make such a fuss about this, do you? I've always been much better than them, okay?"

Retsu Unohana shook her head slightly, a barely perceptible smile playing at the corners of her lips, "Given your temper, you definitely wouldn't have obediently let them take turns teaching you a lesson. So you must have defeated all eight of them by yourself—equivalent to you having the strength to defeat half the Gotei 13."

Her tone turned serious. "It seems... we've underestimated you all along."

Liu Ziyun scratched his head somewhat embarrassedly. "Oh dear, I have a very good temper, okay? I'm not that arrogant..."

"You have a good temper?" Retsu Unohana interrupted him rudely. "You may like to keep a low profile, but if you were to go crazy, I think you'd be even crazier than me. Don't deny it—my intuition is very accurate. Don't forget, I'm a 'great villain' for a thousand years."

Her tone was calm, but her eyes shone with an indescribable light—not self-mockery, not repentance, but a kind of almost frank self-awareness.

Liu Ziyun fell silent.

He looked at Retsu Unohana —though he couldn't see her, he could "feel" that this First Kenpachi, one of the oldest Soul Reaper still existing in Soul Society, was now revealing his deepest self-awareness to him in an almost naked manner.

Then he spoke, "What kind of great villain is this? You just enjoy fighting. Isn't it normal for your defeated opponents to die? You wouldn't lay a hand on the weak—what kind of villain are you?"

His tone was calm and firm, without flattery or consolation, simply stating a fact he firmly believed in.

Retsu Unohana looked at him and remained silent for a long time.

Then, she smiled softly. There was no bitterness, no relief, only a gentle... acceptance in that smile.

"You've got a sweet tongue." She withdrew her gaze, her tone returning to calm. "While you were away, Fifth Seat Tazawa Kentarō suffered a serious injury while on a mission with the 11th Division, so he applied for retirement."

She paused, looking at Liu Ziyun: "I remember you once said you wanted to succeed Tazawa Kentarō. So I'm planning to promote you to Fifth Seat. Do you have any suggestions?"

Liu Ziyun without hesitation, "Of course I have no objections."

His tone was calm, clearly indicating that he had anticipated this decision. "I can't be a squad member for over a hundred years. Besides, my eyesight is failing, and if I don't serve as Seated Officer, it will only attract the attention of those with ulterior motives. Being the Fifth Seat will allow me to remain inconspicuous."

He paused, then asked, "But... is Tazawa Kentarō's injury serious enough to warrant retirement?"

"The injuries are serious," Retsu Unohana replied, "But with treatment and rest, he can recover. However, he feels he's getting old and wants to retire and rest, to live a peaceful life."

Liu Ziyun nodded. "Yes, it's good that you can recover."

He thought for a moment, then continued, "My becoming the Fifth Seat wouldn't attract too much attention. My medical skills are already quite good, and I've been in the Fourth Division for so many years—it would be strange if I didn't get promoted to Seated Officer."

He looked up at Retsu Unohana: "Your sudden promotion to Seated Officer is because Tazawa Kentarō has retired, and he was the one who saved me before, and we even made a promise to you that I would take over his position—that makes perfect sense, doesn't it?"

Retsu Unohana looked at him, a hint of admiration in her eyes. "It seems you've considered all the possibilities."

She paused, then asked, "So, what are you planning to do next?"

Liu Ziyun a deep breath. "From now on, I'll continue to lie low."

His tone was calm, yet carried a deep certainty. "I'll only start making moves when the Lieutenant of the Thirteenth Division is replaced by Kaien Shiba, and the captain of the Tenth Division is replaced by Isshin Shiba."

"Are they all important figures in future events?" Retsu Unohana asked.

Liu Ziyun nodded. "Kaien Shiba and his wife were both killed by Aizen's experiments. So we should try to save them if we can—they're both quite good, and they could become an asset to Soul Society in the future."

He paused, then continued, "Isshin Shiba is someone who accidentally stumbled into an experiment, which triggered a chain reaction. And all of this is necessary—I need to monitor it and make sure it proceeds as planned."

He raised his head, a hint of wariness in his voice. "However, after I take over as the Fifth Seat, those with ulterior motives will definitely come to investigate."

Retsu Unohana was silent for a moment, then nodded gently. "Okay, I understand."

She reached out and gently stroked the wooden box. Her fingers traced the carved Retsu Orchids on the lid, then she slowly opened it.

Hand cream, tea leaves, hairpin.

Three ordinary gifts lay quietly in the box.

Retsu Unohana picked up the hairpin and examined it under the lamplight for a long time. Then, she looked up at Liu Ziyun:

Thank you for the gift.

Her voice remained calm, but Liu Ziyun could detect a subtle, almost imperceptible softness within it.

"You can go back now."

Liu Ziyun stood up and bowed respectfully. "Yes, Captain. I'll be going now."

He turned and walked towards the door.

As he reached the door, he heard Retsu Unohana's voice behind him. "Liu Ziyun."

He stopped in his tracks.

"... I really like that hairpin."

Liu Ziyun didn't turn around, but a warm smile appeared on his lips, "Mm."

He pushed open the door and went out.