Waiting in Silence

Underground Space.

Retsu Unohana stood in this unfamiliar space, looking around.

This was a vast space completely enveloped by a pale golden Barrier. The space was at least several hundred meters in diameter and over a hundred meters high, clearly enlarged by some kind of spatial expansion technology. The walls were covered with intricate Runes, which Runes slowly flowing and emitting a faint but steady light, forming a perfect protective network.

In the center of the space, a figure sat cross-legged, motionless.

But when Retsu Unohana saw the figure clearly, her pupils suddenly contracted, and her heart felt as if it were being gripped tightly by an invisible hand.

That person is Liu Ziyun.

But his state sent a chill down her spine, a fear that welled up from the depths of her soul.

His body and clothes were permeated with an aura of decay, as if they had endured countless years. His skin was an unnatural grayish-white, like dried parchment; his hair had lost its luster and hung down his shoulders like withered grass; the aura emanating from him was like... a corpse that had been dead for a long time, a skeleton forgotten by time.

Even more terrifying, she couldn't sense his Reiatsu at all.

It wasn't a reduction, nor a concealment, but a complete and utter disappearance. If she hadn't seen him sitting cross-legged there with her own eyes, she would have thought the place was empty, just a void.

Retsu Unohana's Reiatsu and killing intent erupted uncontrollably. The immense Reiatsu surged through the space as if it were a tangible substance, causing the entire Barrier to tremble slightly. Tears welled up in her eyes—tears she hadn't shed in a thousand years, tears she thought had long since dried up.

Just as she was about to lose control, the Talisman in her hand suddenly flashed.

A warm light surged from the Talisman and flowed into her body. The light was like a bucket of cold water, instantly extinguishing her anger and sorrow, and restoring her reason. At the same time, a strange feeling came from the light—a comfort, an encouragement, a silent promise.

In that instant, she saw it— Liu Ziyun's hand had trembled slightly just moments before.

He's still alive!

Retsu Unohana took a deep breath, forcing herself to calm down. Following the instructions on the map, she found the entrance to the Barrier and opened a door with Talisman.

The moment the door opened, an indescribable pressure rushed out.

That wasn't Reiatsu, nor was it murderous intent; it was something more fundamental and terrifying—a power that instilled fear and submission instinctively from the depths of one's heart. That power seemed to come from a higher dimension, from some being beyond comprehension, causing her body to instinctively want to kneel, to submit, to... disappear.

Retsu Unohana gritted her teeth, trying to resist the pressure. But her body was completely unresponsive; she couldn't even move a finger. She could feel that force scrutinizing her, judging her, and deciding her fate.

Just then, the Talisman in his hand flashed again.

A brighter golden light surged from the Talisman, completely enveloping Retsu Unohana. Instantly, the terrifying pressure vanished. Her body regained its freedom, her heartbeat returned to normal, and her breathing became smooth again.

Retsu Unohana walked quickly to Liu Ziyun and looked down at him.

Two beams of light, one black and one white, were constantly moving around his body. The black light was as deep as an abyss, carrying an aura of destruction; the white light was as pure as snow, carrying an aura of creation. The two intertwined and transformed into each other, forming a perfect cycle, like the yin and yang fish in the Taiji diagram. And within these black and white lights, there was also a faint golden light, which was gentle and holy, as if it could encompass and balance everything.

Retsu Unohana could clearly see that wherever the black light touched, fine cracks would appear on Liu Ziyun's body; and the white light would follow closely behind, healing those cracks at a speed visible to the naked eye. Destruction and creation, annihilation and rebirth, formed an endless cycle within his body.

Even more miraculously, with each reincarnation, Liu Ziyun's body becomes more solid and stronger. Those cracks are no longer just simple injuries, but a process of transformation, a prelude to rebirth.

Is this... his power?

Retsu Unohana thought to herself. She could sense that this power had surpassed her understanding, exceeded the limits of Captain-level, and even surpassed the limits of Soul Reaper. It belonged to a higher level of existence, a power capable of changing destiny.

She reached out, wanting to touch him, but ultimately withdrew her hand. She didn't know what this state meant, nor what she should do. All she could do was stay by his side and wait for him to wake up.

She walked to the edge of the Barrier and found a relatively comfortable spot to sit down.

She sat there quietly, watching the figure sitting cross-legged, watching the black, white, and gold light swirling around him, and an indescribable peace welled up in her heart. That peace was like the deep sea, like the starry sky, like eternity.

I will wait for you.

She said it silently to herself.

[No matter how long it takes, I will wait for you. Even if it's a hundred years, two hundred years, a thousand years... I will wait.]

She closed her eyes and entered a shallow meditative state. Her spiritual awareness still permeated the entire space, constantly monitoring Liu Ziyun's changes. She knew this process might be long, but she was prepared.

But deep within Liu Ziyun's consciousness, an even more profound change was taking place.

His consciousness sat cross-legged on a giant Taiji diagram. The Taiji diagram slowly rotated, with the yin and yang fish chasing and transforming each other, forming a perfect cycle. With each rotation, a subtle power would emanate and merge into his consciousness. That power was like sweet dew, like sunlight, nourishing his soul and strengthening his existence.

Those forces, through his consciousness, were projected onto his body. Each projection was tiny, merely covering the surface of his spirit, undetectable without close observation. But these tiny forces were gradually transforming his body, making his spirit more solid and powerful.

He was unaware of what was happening outside, unaware that Retsu Unohana was by his side, and unaware of how much time had passed.

He simply immersed himself in the cycle of the Taiji diagram, feeling every pulse of power, every cycle of life. His consciousness grew clearer, his soul stronger, and his existence more complete.

Time, at this moment, loses its meaning.