The Visored's Confusion and Liu Ziyun's Guidance (Part One)

After resting for two days in the underground base of the Urahara Shop, Liu Ziyun finally regained some of his strength. His Reiatsu was still low, but at least he could walk and talk normally, no longer as weak as when he had just revived Kaien Shiba and his wife.

He bid Kisuke Urahara, left the store alone, and headed towards the Visored's Secret Base.

Passing through the bustling streets of Karakura Town and navigating the throngs of people, Liu Ziyun, relying on his memory and spiritual senses, quickly located the base hidden deep within the abandoned industrial area. The pale yellow Barrier still enveloped the entire area, causing all ordinary creatures to instinctively detour around it.

Liu Ziyun gently knocked on the Barrier, and the portal opened in response.

He entered the base, walked through the familiar corridor, and arrived at the Underground Training Ground. As soon as he entered, he heard the sounds of fierce fighting coming from inside—the crisp sound of blades clashing, the roar of Reiatsu bursting, and heavy breathing.

In the center of the training field, Shinji Hirako was engaged in a fierce battle with Kensei Muguruma. Shinji Hirako's Sakanade drew strange trajectories in the air, causing Kensei Muguruma's attacks to miss time and time again; while Kensei Muguruma's Tekken Tachikaze carried a violent force, tearing through the air with each punch, attempting to break through Shinji Hirako's defense. The two exchanged blows, and the battle was at a stalemate.

At the edge of the training ground, Love Aikawa, Rōjūrō Ōtoribashi, Hachigen Ushōda, Lisa Yadōmaru, Mashiro Kuna, Hiyori Sarugaki, and others were either sitting or standing. Some were watching the battle, some were discussing in hushed tones, and some had their eyes closed in meditation, seemingly trying to communicate with the power within their bodies.

Liu Ziyun against the door frame and watched quietly for a while. Although he couldn't see them, his spiritual sense clearly captured the state of each person—their Reiatsu fluctuations, their breathing rhythm, and the faint, ethereal power within them.

Finally, Shinji Hirako noticed his arrival. He feinted with his sword, forcing Kensei Muguruma, then sheathed his sword and retreated, revealing his signature lazy smile, "Oh, Ziyun, what brings you here again? It's only been a short time, and you've already missed us?"

Kensei Muguruma also stopped attacking, put away his Tekken Tachikaze, and walked to Shinji Hirako's side, looking at Liu Ziyun as well. The others also turned their heads, their gazes falling on the man leaning against the door frame.

Liu Ziyun didn't answer immediately. He slowly walked into the training ground, stood among the crowd, and then spoke, "Hirako, how's your training going lately?"

Shinji Hirako's smile faded, and his expression turned serious. "Your training is going alright, isn't it? The main problem is communicating with the Hollows; it's a bit troublesome."

He sighed, a hint of helplessness in his voice. "Although we've been able to stop the Hollowfication, getting it to truly accept us is still quite troublesome. However..."

He paused, a satisfied smile playing on his lips, "His strength has indeed improved. I can feel it; he's considerably stronger than before."

Liu Ziyun nodded, a look of satisfaction on his face. "That's not bad, it proves you've been working hard in your cultivation. You haven't been slacking off."

Shinji Hirako looked at him, a hint of curiosity flashing in his eyes. "What brings you here this time? Not here to lecture us again, is it?"

Liu Ziyun shook his head. "This trip is mainly to deliver two people to Kisuke Urahara, and also to check on how your training is going."

Shinji Hirako raised an eyebrow. "Want to test it out? Let's see how much progress we've made lately?"

Liu Ziyun smiled wryly, raised his hand and waved it gently. "I'm not in good shape right now. My Reiatsu hasn't recovered yet because of the rescue. I've only recovered a little in terms of physical strength, enough to walk and talk normally. I wouldn't be able to fight. So I can only look and leave."

Shinji Hirako frowned. He carefully examined Liu Ziyun and noticed the undisguised exhaustion on the other man's body—although he was better than before, it was still clear that he had been greatly depleted.

"Saving someone could deplete your Reiatsu so severely?" Shinji Hirako asked, a hint of disbelief in his voice. "Who did you save?"

Liu Ziyun was silent for a moment, then slowly said, "Two people who were almost certainly going to die. They didn't even have a spirit anymore."

These words stunned everyone present.

"Even the spirit is gone, how can you save it?" Kensei Muguruma couldn't help but exclaim in surprise.

Liu Ziyun nodded slightly. "We made preparations in advance, so we weren't completely unprepared. Otherwise, I wouldn't have been able to save him."

Shinji Hirako looked at him, his eyes flashing with complex emotions. He knew that Liu Ziyun strong, but he didn't expect him to be this strong—he could even bring back people who didn't have a spirit body. This was beyond the scope of an ordinary Soul Reaper.

"Alright." Shinji Hirako took a deep breath and changed the subject. "Tell me, what's the situation in Soul Society now? We've been gone for so long, there must have been quite a few changes there, right?"

Liu Ziyun, then said calmly, "It's nothing serious. It's just that the captain of the Tenth Division has changed; Isshin Shiba has taken over."

Shinji Hirako paused for a moment, then asked, "Isshin Shiba? The one from the Shiba Clan?"

"Yes." Liu Ziyun nodded. "Also, the Thirteenth Division Lieutenant Kaien Shiba and the Third Seat Shiba Miyako dead."

Shinji Hirako's pupils contracted slightly. Of course he knew Kaien Shiba —that talented and forthright man—as the most outstanding representative of the Shiba Clan in this generation.

"Dead?" Shinji Hirako's voice was low. "How did he die?"

Liu Ziyun looked at him, his tone eerily calm. "I'm here to take these two to Kisuke Urahara."

These words made Shinji Hirako instantly understand something. He took a deep breath and slowly asked, "Another Aizen experiment?"

Liu Ziyun shook his head. "I don't know. However, the Hollow that killed them was Aizen's experiment."

A brief silence fell over the training ground.

Love Aikawa walked over to Shinji Hirako and patted him on the shoulder. Rōjūrō Ōtoribashi's expression also turned serious. Hiyori Sarugaki wanted to say something, but Lisa Yadōmaru gently pressed her hand down.

After a long silence, Shinji Hirako spoke again. His voice was hoarse and deep. "When... will your plan begin?"

Liu Ziyun understood what he was asking. He looked at Shinji Hirako, his empty eye sockets seemingly able to see through everything. "My plan is to keep an eye on Aizen's progress. However, judging from what I've seen of fate, it should still be another thirty or forty years."

He paused, then continued, "After all, the participants were all Aizen's experiments. Once Aizen escapes Soul Society, I can finally reveal a little of myself. After this is all over, I can be free and tell everyone everything that happened afterward."

Shinji Hirako looked at him with a complicated expression. "With such power, are you willing to do this? Willing to hide forever, wait forever, and watch those things happen without intervening?"

Liu Ziyun smiled. There was no bitterness, no resentment in that smile, only a calm that bordered on resignation. "Why wouldn't I be willing?"

He countered, "Weren't you the same when you were captain? You did what you were supposed to do and didn't do what you weren't supposed to do. I'm only improving my strength to protect myself."

He shrugged, his tone as casual as if he were telling a joke, "What's the point of being an official? If you're powerful, you're an official, and even if I don't listen to you, there's nothing you can do about it, right?"

Shinji Hirako paused for a moment, then smiled wryly, "That's true. But they can use scheming against you."

Liu Ziyun's smile grew even brighter, "My strength is so great that no conspiracy can defeat me."

Shinji Hirako looked at him, a hint of helplessness flashing in his eyes. "You really do value power above all else."

Liu Ziyun shook his head. "We're reasonable people. If reasoning doesn't work, we know a bit of kung fu, isn't that right?"

Shinji Hirako was speechless and could only nod with a wry smile, "Alright, you're right."

Liu Ziyun's smile faded, and his expression turned serious. "Keep training going, Hirako. Aizen is just a Minor Boss."

His voice deepened, carrying an indescribable heaviness. "When the final Major Boss appears, the Seireitei will truly be almost completely wiped out. At that point, I'm wondering if I could guide them to slaughter the nobles."

Shinji Hirako's expression changed. "The future... is it that terrifying? The Seireitei has been slaughtered?"

Liu Ziyun nodded slightly. "This is nothing at all."

He raised his hand, stopping Shinji Hirako from pressing the issue further. "We've said a bit too much. If we continue, we risk being discovered by those above and the hidden Major Boss."

He looked at Shinji Hirako, his tone solemn. "You just need to know that strength is everything. I don't want to see you in a sorry state, or... die young."

Shinji Hirako remained silent for a long time before slowly nodding, "Alright, I understand."

Liu Ziyun and walked towards the edge of the training ground. "I'll rest here for two days and then go back. If you have any cultivation problems during these two days, you can discuss them with me and see if I can offer any advice."

Shinji Hirako followed in his footsteps. "Okay."