Intervening in the Fate of Kaien Shiba and His Wife (3)

The moment the two Talisman, shimmering with golden light, fell into the Kaien Shiba and Shiba Miyako, a sudden change occurred.

The Talisman seemed to suddenly come to life; they trembled violently, emitting a deep hum, like the resonance of some ancient incantation. The hum grew louder and more urgent, eventually transforming into two dazzling golden beams of light that shot out from the Talisman and directly towards the two people.

Kaien Shiba instinctively tried to dodge, but the light was too fast, too fast for him to react. The golden light, like two sharp arrows, instantly pierced their chests and disappeared without a trace.

Immediately afterwards, the Heat sensation rose from the back of his neck—a searing pain, yet tinged with a strange warmth. Kaien Shiba could feel something coalescing and taking shape there, as if branding his skin with a hot iron to leave a permanent mark.

Shiba Miyako and reached up to cover the back of his neck, only to find nothing there—just the Heat sensation spreading deep into his soul.

"This... this is..." Kaien Shiba clutched the back of his neck, his face filled with shock.

Jūshirō Ukitake strode forward and carefully examined the back of the two men's necks. There, a golden light was slowly flowing beneath their skin, and within the light, the outlines of a phoenix and a Golden Dragon were faintly visible. They intertwined and coiled, forming an exquisite and mysterious pattern.

The pattern lasted for about three seconds, then slowly faded and eventually disappeared completely.

But both of them could sense that the pattern hadn't truly disappeared; rather, it had sunk deep into their souls and become a part of them.

Retsu Unohana watched all this quietly, a knowing glint in her eyes. "It seems he was right. This Talisman was specifically made for the two of you."

Her voice was calm, yet carried an indescribable certainty. "It remained unchanged after being in my hands for so long. Yet, it reacts like this in yours."

Jūshirō Ukitake. He looked at Kaien Shiba and Shiba Miyako, his tone filled with concern. "Are you feeling anything else? Are you experiencing any physical discomfort?"

Kaien Shiba and Shiba Miyako exchanged a glance. Kaien Shiba stretched his shoulders, carefully sensing the changes within his body. "It feels like there's a fire burning on the back of my neck. However... that flame seems to be trying to merge with our souls, rather than harm us."

Shiba Miyako nodded and said softly, "I can feel something taking root deep within my soul. But it's not an invasion, it's... protection? I can't quite put my finger on it."

Retsu Unohana walked behind the two and carefully examined the back of their necks. There were no visible marks on their skin, but her spiritual senses clearly detected a strange, quiet, and stable power lurking there.

"Don't resist." Retsu Unohana's voice became solemn. "He said that this Talisman is meant to revive you after you die, so it must involve the soul. It should be being imprinted onto your souls now for it to take effect."

Kaien Shiba took a deep breath, forcing himself to relax. He grasped Shiba Miyako's hand, and the two closed their eyes simultaneously, no longer resisting the power that was seeping into their souls.

The Heat sensation gradually subsided, like the warm winter sun gently nourishing their souls. After an unknown amount of time, the feeling finally disappeared completely, leaving only an indescribable sense of peace.

They opened their eyes and looked at each other.

"I'm alright now," Kaien Shiba said softly. "I feel... good."

Retsu Unohana nodded in satisfaction. "That should solve the problem."

She turned and walked towards the door, stopping at the doorway and turning back to look at the three of them. "Alright, my task is finished. The rest, let nature take its course. I'm leaving."

"Captain Unohana." Jūshirō Ukitake suddenly called out to her.

Retsu Unohana turned around.

Jūshirō Ukitake hesitated for a moment, then finally asked the question that had been weighing on his mind, "Could you tell me... the source of this information?"

Retsu Unohana was silent for a moment, then gently shook her head. "For now, it's a secret. He'll show himself later."

Her gaze fell on Jūshirō Ukitake, her tone carrying a deeper meaning. "Moreover, he also mentioned your illness. He said he might try to treat it in the future. However, he can't guarantee whether it will be successful—after all, the thing inside your body is too advanced, and he can't do anything about it."

Jūshirō Ukitake was stunned. He gently pressed his hand to his chest—where the Soul King's Right Arm was sealed.

"He... knows this?"

Retsu Unohana didn't answer, but simply nodded slightly, then pushed open the door and disappeared at the end of the corridor.

In the Captain's Office, only Jūshirō Ukitake, Kaien Shiba, and Shiba Miyako remained.

The silence lasted a long time.

Finally, Jūshirō Ukitake broke the silence. His voice was low and serious. "Kaien."

"Exist."

"Next, replace the team members. Put in those with bad records."

A sharp glint flashed in Kaien Shiba's eyes. He understood what the captain meant—it was time to purge those parasites hidden within the team, those scoundrels who committed evil deeds but were kept in check for various reasons.

"Let's leave the rest as it is for now," Jūshirō Ukitake continued, his tone becoming more serious. "This matter cannot be revealed to anyone. Not even Kūkaku and the others. Otherwise, we'll draw the mastermind to their side."

Kaien Shiba and Shiba Miyako exchanged a glance and nodded simultaneously. "Yes, Captain. We understand."

A hint of gratitude flashed in Kaien Shiba's eyes. "Actually, we should thank Captain Unohana and the others. Otherwise, if things had continued like this, we would both be dead. Now, it's just a matter of hiding for a while, it's nothing."

Jūshirō Ukitake looked at him, his eyes flashing with complex emotions. He stepped forward and gently patted Kaien Shiba on the shoulder. "Go."

Kaien Shiba and Shiba Miyako bowed respectfully, then turned and left.

After the door closed, Jūshirō Ukitake stood alone in the Captain's Office, gazing out the window at the Seireitei.

The setting sun was slowly sinking below the horizon, bathing the entire city in a warm golden-red hue. Soldiers hurried past on the streets, each busy with their own tasks. No one knew that beneath this tranquil surface, an undercurrent powerful enough to change the fate of countless people was quietly brewing.

"Sigh..." Jūshirō Ukitake sighed deeply, "This is really troublesome. I wonder when all this will end."

He walked to the window and gazed at the gradually darkening sky. "I hope Kaien and Du will both be safe and sound."

He paused, his brow furrowing slightly. "Oh, right, we also need to train two more people. Fortunately, while Kaien and Du are away, they can help me with team affairs."

He looked down at his hands, hands that were slightly pale from years of illness. "My body... it's really hard to describe."