White Appears

Liu Ziyun stayed in Kisuke Urahara's general store until evening. The sky outside the window gradually darkened, the streetlights lit up one after another, and night arrived in Karakura Town as scheduled. He stood up, put on the Black Cloak that could completely conceal his Reiatsu and whereabouts, and disappeared into the back door of the general store as if he had merged into the air.

The coordinates provided by Kisuke Urahara were extremely precise; Isshin Shiba was near an old residential area in the eastern ward of Karakura Town. Using the concealment of his Black Cloak, Liu Ziyun like a true ghost, silently leaping and darting between rooftops. His speed was incredibly fast, yet there was no sound of wind, no fluctuation of Reiatsu, as if he had never existed.

When he arrived at the target location, he saw Isshin Shiba chasing two figures on the rooftops. They were two members of the Tenth Division, two young men with black and white hair, frantically running between the rooftops. Isshin Shiba's movements were light and composed; it was less of a chase and more of a herding of two lost lambs.

Liu Ziyun against the shadow of a water tower, his Black Cloak blending perfectly into the night. His gaze was fixed on Isshin Shiba, while his peripheral vision scanned every corner of his surroundings. He knew that everything tonight would be crucial.

The surrounding air began to feel damp, and a thin layer of mist slowly rose, like some kind of ominous premonition, quietly enveloping the entire block.

The black-haired youth among the two squad members stopped and looked around uneasily. His voice trembled slightly in the mist. "This feels really bad... I remember the guy before us, and the guy even earlier, they all died in the rain, right? It's really creepy..."

Another white-haired soldier shivered and quickly stopped him:

"Don't... don't say those kinds of things!"

As soon as the words were spoken, a light drizzle began to fall. At first, it was just a few scattered drops, but soon the rain intensified. The raindrops pattered on the roof tiles, making a crisp sound, like countless tiny drumbeats, striking the heartstrings of everyone present.

The two members of the Tenth Division were completely panicked.

"It's... it's starting to rain!" The white-haired squad member's voice was filled with obvious fear. "What should we do? I have a bad feeling about this!"

The black-haired team member was also at a loss. "What do we do? Although the captain told us to go back..."

"Fool!" the white-haired squad member interrupted him, "Going back means going back to Soul Society?! We'll get demerits if we do that!"

Just as the two were panicking and at a loss, a figure suddenly appeared behind them.

"Oh dear..." Isshin Shiba's voice carried a hint of teasing, "You've overheard some important information."

The two soldiers turned around abruptly and saw their captain's face with a mocking smile. They exclaimed at the same time, "Captain Shiba!"

Isshin Shiba's smile vanished, replaced by a serious expression. He looked at his two subordinates, a hint of concern in his eyes. "If it rains tonight, you two should go home."

Having said that, he ignored their reactions, turned around, and leaped onto a higher rooftop. Rain soaked his Shihakusho, but his eyes remained alert, scanning his surroundings.

[Is this Hollow... aimed at Soul Reaper, or at creatures with high Reiatsu?] Isshin Shiba pondered in his mind. [If it's the latter, then I should be able to draw it out with my Reiatsu.]

He began to release his Reiatsu. The powerful Reiatsu spread out like invisible ripples in the rainy night, enough to attract the attention of any being sensitive to Reiatsu.

The two soldiers stood there, staring at each other, bewildered.

"Should we... go back?" the black-haired team member asked hesitantly.

"Perhaps... we should find a place to hide?" the white-haired squad member suggested.

Just then, a dark figure appeared silently behind them.

Before the two could react, a karate chop had already struck them precisely on the back of the neck. The two soldiers' eyes rolled back, and they collapsed to the ground, unconscious.

Liu Ziyun withdrew his hand, looked at the two people lying on the ground, and shook his head helplessly. He looked around, quickly picked them up, found an abandoned empty house, and settled them in a corner.

He formed hand seals and unleashed the Kidō: "Bakudō Number Twenty-Six, White Hiding."

A pale white light enveloped the two team members. This Kidō could temporarily suppress and conceal the target's Reiatsu, preventing them from being detected by any spiritual senses while they were unconscious. After doing all this, Liu Ziyun carefully checked again to make sure nothing was missed before returning to the night.

He found a more secluded corner to hide in, his gaze fixed on Isshin Shiba's direction. Rainwater slid down his Black Cloak, unable to wet his body or disturb his senses.

Just as he had concealed himself, a strange figure slowly emerged from the darkness behind Isshin Shiba.

It was a monster made entirely of black. There was a Hollow Hole in its chest, but the Hollow Hole was blocked by some kind of white substance; its two small arms were shaped like blades, gleaming coldly in the rain; on its head were a pair of long, curved horns resembling bull horns, and between the horns was a white, expressionless mask.

Liu Ziyun's pupils contracted slightly.

[It's here...] he thought to himself, [This is "White," the cheat code for Cheat B has arrived. I've been waiting for this Cheat B to appear.]

The moment it saw White Isshin Shiba turn around, it launched its attack. Its speed was astonishing, far exceeding the reaction speed of a typical Captain-level. Its twin blade arms drew deadly trajectories in the air, each slash aimed directly at Isshin Shiba's vital points.

Isshin Shiba was caught in a fierce battle. He could sense that this Hollow's fighting style was completely different from ordinary Hollows. It wasn't the instinct of a beast, but rather the skill and strategy of a grim Soul Reaper. What was even more terrifying was that its speed and strength far exceeded his expectations, forcing him to fight with all his might.

Just as the battle was at a stalemate, an uninvited guest suddenly barged into the area.

It was a member of the Thirteenth Division who had obviously sensed the Reiatsu fluctuations here and rushed over to check the situation. He stood at a distance, staring dumbfounded at the battle between Isshin Shiba and White, completely at a loss for what to do.

Liu Ziyun frowned.

[Damn it! Can't this idiot see they're having a huge fight?! Coming here to get himself killed!]

Under the cover of darkness, he quickly circled behind the soldier. Before the soldier could react, he delivered a swift and decisive chop to the neck, knocking him unconscious.