Visiting the Ishida Family

When Ryūken Ishida's voice rang out in that secluded room of the Urahara Shop, all eyes turned to him.

This usually calm and composed Quincy now had a rare hint of earnestness in his eyes, along with an undisguised worry. "Mr. Liu, my mother also suffered a health injury from the Void, and it hasn't been good. If we have to go through the Auswählen in a few years, I'm afraid she won't be able to hold on. Could you please take a look at her?"

Liu Ziyun to look at him, a gentle light flashing in her eyes. In that light lay understanding, sympathy, and an indescribable tenderness. "Yes. It should be treatable. Let's go see him now. I've said everything I needed to say."

Ryūken Ishida breathed a sigh of relief and quickly stood up, "Okay."

He turned and walked towards the door, with Liu Ziyun following behind him. Their figures disappeared into the night.

Only Isshin Kurosaki and Kisuke Urahara remained in the room.

Isshin Kurosaki stared in the direction Liu Ziyun had left, remaining silent for a long while. Then, he turned to Kisuke Urahara, his eyes filled with doubt, inquiry, and an indescribable complexity. "Mr. Urahara, what Liu Ziyun said... will it really happen?"

Kisuke Urahara adjusted his hat brim and remained silent for a moment. In that silence lay contemplation, reminiscence, and an indescribable heaviness.

After a long pause, he slowly spoke, "Up to now, everything he said has happened."

His gaze deepened, as if piercing through time and returning to those years. "For example, your matter. Also, I asked Hirako and the others. Ever since they were framed by the Tsunayashiro Clan, Mr. Liu has been discreetly distancing himself from them. Especially after Aizen joined the team, he specifically told Hirako not to contact them in any way unless he took the initiative to Hirako them."

He paused, then continued, "Later, the Hollowfication Incident happened. After Aizen left, he and Unohana appeared. He then told me how to save Hirako and the others, and Unohana seemed to have come to witness it. After that, I speculated that they already knew about the Hollowfication Incident, but for some reason, they could only let it go."

His voice grew even lower. "After that, I heard what Kaien and the others said. So I started to speculate that Ziyun could predict the future. He might have seen certain things, which is why things could only develop according to what he saw. Now it seems that he did see the future, but only once. That's why he insisted on making things develop according to what he saw, to ensure that the future he saw wouldn't be changed."

Isshin Kurosaki fell silent. His brows furrowed, his eyes deep in thought.

After a long pause, he finally spoke, his voice tinged with doubt. "Could he... have some other purpose?"

Kisuke Urahara looked at him, a hint of something deeper in his eyes. "Perhaps. But so far, everything he's done has been beneficial to Soul Society. Even Hirako and the others trust him implicitly. Moreover, he's been guiding Hirako how to improve their strength, saying it's to prepare for the great terror of the future."

Isshin Kurosaki, then sighed, "Alright. There's nothing I can do to help with these things. I'll be going now; Masaki is waiting at home. I have to go back."

Kisuke Urahara covered his mouth with his folding fan, a mischievous glint in his eyes. "Mr. Kurosaki is truly a good family man."

Isshin Kurosaki blushed and quickly stood up. "Mr. Urahara, I'm leaving."

After saying that, he fled the room as if he were escaping.

Kisuke Urahara watched his retreating figure, a meaningful smile playing on his lips.

[A good family man... perhaps that's the most important thing.]

At this moment, Liu Ziyun followed Ryūken Ishida to the Ishida Family.

When the magnificent mansion came into view, Liu Ziyun couldn't help but exclaim, "Wow, your house is so luxurious! When I come back to the World of the Living, I'll never stay at Kisuke's place again. I'll just stay at your house from now on!"

Ryūken Ishida's face darkened, his expression filled with helplessness. But he maintained his politeness and said, "Mr. Liu, please feel free to come anytime you need me."

With that, the two entered the living room.

The living room is spacious and elegant, with several antique calligraphy and paintings hanging on the walls and exquisite flower arrangements in the corner. The whole space exudes a noble yet warm atmosphere.

Liu Ziyun looked around and nodded. "We can talk about that later. You should hurry up and ask the old lady to come out so I can take a look at her."

Ryūken Ishida paused for a moment. "The old lady?"

Liu Ziyun looked at him, a hint of teasing in his eyes. "Yes, your mother. What, should I call your mother 'Miss'?"

Ryūken Ishida blushed slightly and quickly said, "Oh, okay. I'll go and fetch Mother right away. Please sit here and wait a moment."

After saying that, he turned and went into the inner room.

Liu Ziyun found a guest seat in the living room and sat down. As soon as he sat down, a maid came to serve him tea. He thanked her, picked up the teacup, and began to taste it.

The tea has a delicate aroma and a lingering aftertaste.

[The tea from the Ishida Family is indeed excellent.]

He thought to himself.

After a while, Ryūken Ishida led the two of them out.

Liu Ziyun raised his head, his gaze falling on the newcomers. Walking in front was an elderly man with white hair and beard, a kind face, and a gentle smile in his eyes. Behind him was a middle-aged woman with delicate features, but a pale complexion and an aura of weakness.

Liu Ziyun stood up and bowed politely. "Greetings, both of you. I presume you are Mr. Sōken Ishida and Ms. Yoshizumi Ishida?"

Sōken Ishida smiled kindly, a smile that conveyed kindness and friendliness, "Yes."

Yoshizumi Ishida, however, remained silent with a dark expression. Her eyes held a mixture of wariness, defensiveness, and an indescribable complexity.

Liu Ziyun didn't seem to mind, and simply said gently, "So, which of you two would like to go first?"

Yoshizumi Ishida stepped forward, her tone curt. "I'll go first."

Liu Ziyun nodded. "Okay. I'll change my state first. The soul check isn't working in my current state."

As he spoke, he sat down. Then, he pressed his hand to his chest, Gigai instantly lost its support, tilting its head and leaning against the back of the chair like an abandoned doll, while Liu Ziyun stood up in the form of Soul Reaper.

His figure was exceptionally clear under the light, dressed in a Shihakusho with Zanpakuto hanging at his waist. He exuded an indescribable aura, an aura that was neither fierce nor oppressive, yet impossible to ignore.

Both Sōken Ishida and Ryūken Ishida tightened, and a hint of seriousness flashed in their eyes.

Yoshizumi Ishida was even more panicked, instinctively taking a step back. "What do you want to do?!"

Liu Ziyun quickly waved his hand, his gesture conveying both reassurance and explanation. "Oh, it's a misunderstanding. My ability lies in my Zanpakuto, that's why I'm wielding a sword. Don't panic."

As he spoke, he flicked his left hand, and the wrist Wristguards carved with a crimson-gold phoenix on his wrist instantly burst forth with dazzling light. Within the light, a slender Tang Dao slowly materialized. The blade shimmered with platinum-gold light, and a crimson-gold phoenix with outstretched wings was carved on the edge. The entire sword exuded an aura of peace, healing, and rebirth.

Liu Ziyun his right hand along the blade and muttered, "Existence Is to Change Fate — to Life-Taker."

The light on the blade became softer and warmer. The platinum-gold light flowed like water across the blade, illuminating the entire living room.

Liu Ziyun stroked the blade with a gentle and devout touch, as if caressing his lover. "My Zanpakuto exists to change destiny. That's why I saw so many destinies during my first release. And what I told you about Ryūken before was what I saw then."

His gaze deepened, filled with pity, helplessness, and an indescribable heaviness. "I don't want to change the course of events or prevent the world from collapsing. So I can only do small things to change the fate of some people. For example, the inevitable death of those around you, such as your wife and your father. But I haven't paid attention to your mother, Ms. Yoshizumi Ishida, yet. This time, I've come across her."

Upon hearing this, both Sōken Ishida and Ryūken Ishida fell silent.

Yoshizumi Ishida's expression softened slightly. She looked at Liu Ziyun, a complex emotion in her eyes. "Then how do you intend to change our fate?"

Liu Ziyun looked at her, a gentle smile playing on his lips, "Let me first place my knife on your body and check your condition."

Yoshizumi Ishida hesitated for a moment, then extended her hand. "Okay, you can do it."

Liu Ziyun gently Life-Taker his hand on hers, as if it were his life.

The moment the blade touched her, a soft light emanated from it and slowly seeped into her body. Liu Ziyun closed his eyes, sensing every trace of information about Yoshizumi Ishida's body and soul emanating from the blade.

After a long while, he opened his eyes. His gaze held understanding, regret, and an indescribable complexity. "Your soul has been corrupted by the power of the Hollows. Although it was treated with Quincy's secret techniques, the root cause wasn't resolved."

His voice was calm, yet carried an undeniable certainty. "Therefore, your soul is growing weaker and weaker. This weakness in your soul also affects your body, causing it to weaken as well. And all your power is being used to suppress the illusory power within you. Therefore, you are powerless to restore your soul and body."

A flicker of despair crossed Yoshizumi Ishida's eyes, but more than that, there was a calm—a calm that came from knowing the outcome and accepting one's fate.

Liu Ziyun looked at her, a hint of pity flashing in his eyes. He took a deep breath, his tone becoming even gentler. "Next, everyone, please don't panic. I need to insert my blade into Yoshizumi Ishida's body to remove the illusory power from her soul."

Having said that, he no longer hesitated.

A knife pierced through.

The blade pierced Yoshizumi Ishida's body, yet not a drop of blood flowed. Platinum light surged from the wound, enveloping her entire body.

Liu Ziyun closed his eyes and softly murmured, "Change Fate."

These two simple words contain a kind of indescribable power.

Yoshizumi Ishida's body began to glow. It wasn't a Life-Taker light, but rather her own, long-dormant, never-awakened light. That light surged from the depths of her body, intertwining with the Life-Taker light to form a warm and powerful resonance.

Her body began to change. Her originally dry and pale skin gradually became rosy and radiant; her originally weak and powerless body gradually became full of strength; and her originally furrowed brows gradually relaxed.

Liu Ziyun slowly pulled out the blade.

As the blade was withdrawn, the light emanating from Yoshizumi Ishida gradually faded until it disappeared completely.

When she reappeared before the public, she was no longer the weak and haggard middle-aged woman, but a healthy, rosy-cheeked, and vibrant beautiful woman.

Liu Ziyun sheathed his Life-Taker, looked at Yoshizumi Ishida, and a satisfied smile appeared on his lips, "Alright, Ms. Yoshizumi Ishida. Feel it; the Hollow power within your body has been purified by my Zanpakuto's power. Incidentally, it has also repaired your soul damage. Your power should have recovered as well."

Yoshizumi Ishida was stunned.

She slowly raised her hands, which, once withered and dry, were now rosy and strong, as if she had become twenty years younger. She looked at her hands in disbelief, then touched her face, where the skin was smooth and firm.

Then, she suddenly lifted up her trouser leg.

The ugly scratch mark left by the feint attack on his calf had disappeared, replaced by smooth, delicate skin.

Tears welled up in Yoshizumi Ishida's eyes. She murmured, her voice trembling with disbelief and an indescribable joy, "I... I'm all better now..."

Liu Ziyun looked at her, a hint of relief flashing in his eyes. "Yes, it's all better now."

He turned to Sōken Ishida, his eyes filled with a gentle inquiry. "Mr. Sōken Ishida, I see you seem to have some old injuries as well. Shall I take a look at them for you?"

Sōken Ishida paused for a moment, then smiled. In that smile were gratitude, relief, and an indescribable trust. "Okay, thank you, Mr. Liu."