Putting Down Roots in the World of the Living

After Liu Ziyun's figure disappeared from the Captain's Office, he did not return to his dormitory to rest as usual, but went straight to the Underground Space. The secret Training Ground he had used for nearly a hundred years had now become his best refuge.

[These two women are definitely angry.] He thought to himself, [I need to hide for a few days and wait until they calm down.]

His original plan was to give each of them a gift and then trick them into wearing the lingerie for him. But things didn't go as planned; both women opened the packages at the same time, and his scheme completely fell through.

From that day on, Retsu Unohana and Isane Kotetsu never gave him a kind look. Sometimes, as soon as they saw him, they would beat him up without saying a word. The beatings were really fierce, targeting his sore spots, but without causing any real harm—it was clearly just venting their anger.

Liu Ziyun was at his wits' end and could only wander around each ward in the squad, trying to avoid meeting them alone. He was like a frightened mouse, darting between every corner of the Fourth Division, always on guard for the appearance of those two "cats".

That day, Liu Ziyun strolled around the ward as usual. He cautiously peeked around, making sure it was safe before entering an empty ward.

The door had just closed when a voice rang out from behind. "What's wrong? Don't you like me and the captain?"

Liu Ziyun turned around abruptly and saw Isane Kotetsu sitting in a chair, legs crossed, arms folded, staring at him with a scrutinizing gaze. His posture and expression were just like a judge interrogating a criminal.

"You always hide whenever you see us." Her voice was cold. "Do you have new members in your harem?"

Liu Ziyun broke out in a cold sweat instantly. He frantically waved his hands, his movements so frantic it was as if he were shooing away a swarm of bees. "No! Don't wrong me!"

Isane Kotetsu raised an eyebrow, her eyes filled with disbelief. "Then why didn't you come to find me and the captain?"

Liu Ziyun thought to himself, "Go find you? Do you think I'll get away with this? You're all so rude and unpleasant; I'd beat you up the moment I saw you."

But all he could say was, "Well... I've been quite busy."

Isane Kotetsu snorted, "Speak."

Liu Ziyun looked completely bewildered. "What are you saying?"

Isane Kotetsu's face flushed slightly. She lowered her head, her voice tinged with shyness, yet she tried to remain calm. "The clothes you bought for us last time... Explain yourself."

Liu Ziyun suddenly realized. "Oh, those are what you're talking about. They were recommended by people at the shopping mall in the World of the Living."

Isane Kotetsu looked up, his eyes filled with anger. "You buy it just because I recommend it?!"

Liu Ziyun looked aggrieved, his expression as innocent as could be. "The salesperson said these clothes are very popular with girls. And they're all underwear, so no one can see them."

Isane Kotetsu glared at him. "Then why didn't you buy everything I asked for?"

Liu Ziyun scratched his head, looking embarrassed. "Um... I don't have enough money. I can't exactly steal it, can I?"

Isane Kotetsu frowned. "Just a few items and you're out of money? Where did all your money go?"

Liu Ziyun counted on his fingers, "I bought things for you and the captain. Every time we come back from the World of the Living, we bring things back with us."

Isane Kotetsu didn't believe it. "How is that possible? You never buy that much stuff each time."

Liu Ziyun sighed, "But the things I bought for you were all very expensive. I really don't have any money left."

Isane Kotetsu looked at him, her eyes filled with a complex emotion. She was silent for a moment, then stood up, walked to Liu Ziyun, and glared at him fiercely. "Fine. Remember, you're not allowed to mess with other girls in the team from now on."

Liu Ziyun repeatedly, his head bobbing like a chicken pecking at rice. "No, absolutely not."

Isane Kotetsu couldn't help but smile at his cowardly appearance, but then her face hardened. "If I find out, I'll have the captain cripple you."

After saying that, she turned and left the ward.

Liu Ziyun watched her figure disappear through the door, stunned for a long while.

[They're... leaving already?]

He sighed and murmured, "Sigh, they didn't even give us a chance to be affectionate before leaving like that."

No sooner had she finished speaking than the door was pushed open again.

Retsu Unohana walked in with a smile, casually closed the door, and blocked Liu Ziyun in the ward.

Liu Ziyun looked at her tremblingly, his eyes filled with fear, helplessness, and a sense of resignation, as if to say, "I knew this would happen." "Captain, you've arrived? Is there something you need?"

Retsu Unohana walked up to him, her signature chilling smile on her face, "Nothing much. Just haven't seen Ziyun in a long time, I missed you."

Liu Ziyun's internal alarm bells rang: [Here it comes! Xiao Lielie is about to cause trouble again!]

But all he could manage was a fawning smile, "Captain, if you miss me, you can call me anytime. And I miss you too; if I weren't so busy, I would have come to see you long ago."

Retsu Unohana narrowed her eyes. "Sweet talk just rolls off your tongue. We're both in the team, you can come see me anytime you miss me. How come you're too busy to come see me? Can't you even put your heart into your lies?"

Seeing her "let's see how you make this up" expression, Liu Ziyun completely gave up struggling. He sighed and said in a defiant tone, "Sigh, I'm giving up. You tell me, what are you going to do with me?"

Retsu Unohana paused for a moment, then laughed, "What, you've already given up before I've even said anything?"

Liu Ziyun, a sigh tinged with relief, helplessness, and an indescribable complexity. "Hey, Captain, I promise, I won't think about having a harem anymore, okay?"

A glint flashed in Retsu Unohana's eyes. "Then what about me and Isane? If you're not going to build a harem, you'll have to choose one of us, right?"

Liu Ziyun raised his head, looking at her with unwavering determination. "I want both."

Retsu Unohana raised an eyebrow. "Didn't you say you wouldn't have a harem?"

Liu Ziyun said matter-of-factly, "There are only two of them, so it doesn't count as having a harem, right?"

Retsu Unohana was momentarily speechless at his logic. "How can it not count?"

Liu Ziyun sighed again, "Sigh, there's nothing I can do. I've already offended both of you, I really can't let go."

Looking at his defiant attitude, Retsu Unohana finally couldn't help but laugh. Her smile held a mixture of relief, satisfaction, and an indescribable tenderness. "Alright, I'll let you off this time. Remember what you said today."

She paused, then her expression turned serious. "Also, don't buy us those lewd clothes anymore."

Liu Ziyun protested, "Where is the vulgarity? They're just underwear."

Retsu Unohana glared at him fiercely, her eyes filled with threat. "If I say it's vulgar, then it's vulgar. If you buy underwear like that again, I'll cripple you."

Liu Ziyun looked into her eyes, gasped, and quickly whispered, "I understand."

Seeing his aggrieved and helpless expression, Retsu Unohana stood up, turned around, and left the ward.

Liu Ziyun watched her leave and let out a long sigh of relief. He murmured, his voice filled with the relief of surviving a close call, "This time... I guess I've made it through, right?"

He leaned against the wall, staring at the ceiling, a complex mix of emotions welling up inside him. "Sigh, look at other people who time-travel, they're all surrounded by school beauties on the left and right, aren't they all embracing each other? Me? It's only just begun, and I'm already completely controlled."

He shook his head and gave a wry smile, "Forget it, let's stop dreaming."

And so, Liu Ziyun stopped dreaming of a harem in the days that followed. He worked diligently in the team, appearing in the Medical Room on time every day to process the mountain of medical documents; he returned to his dormitory on time every evening, and then entered the Underground Training Ground in the dead of night to carry out his daily cultivation.

Retsu Unohana and Isane Kotetsu didn't make things difficult for him anymore. Occasionally, Liu Ziyun could still make some ambiguous little gestures with Isane Kotetsu, such as secretly holding her hand when she wasn't paying attention; or saying a few witty words to cheer her up when she was angry.

These days are ordinary yet warm.

Liu Ziyun spent five years happily.

That day, after finishing his work at the team, Liu Ziyun called Isane Kotetsu and they went to the Captain's Office together.

Retsu Unohana was sitting at the tea table reviewing documents. Seeing the two enter, she looked up, her gaze falling on Liu Ziyun: "Ziyun? Is something the matter?"

Liu Ziyun sat down opposite her, his expression serious. "Captain, I plan to spend a few years in the World of the Living."

Retsu Unohana's brows furrowed slightly. A complex emotion flashed in her eyes, an emotion that contained reluctance, worry, and an indescribable bitterness. "Are you tired of me and Isane? So you ran off to hide in the World of the Living?"

Upon hearing this, Isane Kotetsu immediately glared fiercely at Liu Ziyun. His gaze was scrutinizing, threatening, and carried the implication that "if you dare to say yes, I'll cripple you."

Liu Ziyun waved his hands, his movements so flustered it was as if he were trying to shoo away a swarm of bees. "No, no! Captain, do you remember what I said a few years ago, that I wanted to go to the World of the Living to guide those two kids?"

Retsu Unohana paused for a moment, then suddenly realized. "Oh, about that."

She paused, a hint of confusion in her voice. "But, it seems we don't need you, do we?"

Liu Ziyun to himself, "[I just want to be more involved. Besides, I can take this opportunity to mess with that Cheat B however I want. Once he becomes powerful, I won't have the chance anymore.]"

But what he could say out loud was, "I'm just trying to teach them properly so they don't go astray. And also, I'm keeping an eye on them so that no one with ulterior motives can take advantage of them."

Retsu Unohana looked at him, remained silent for a moment, and then nodded. "Alright. But I need to report to the Captain-Commander."

Liu Ziyun nodded quickly. "Yes, no problem."

Isane Kotetsu listened from the side, a reluctant expression on her face. She walked to Liu Ziyun's side, gently tugged at his sleeve, and said with a hint of resentment in her voice, "Then remember, come back to see us often."

Liu Ziyun felt a surge of warmth in his heart. He reached out and gently patted her head, a tender and affectionate gesture. "Yes, don't worry. I'll definitely come back to see you often."

Isane Kotetsu's face flushed slightly, but she did not dodge.

Retsu Unohana watched this scene, a complex emotion flashing in her eyes. But she said nothing, only sighed softly.

The next day.

Liu Ziyun Black Cloak, passed through the Senkaimon once more, and arrived in the World of the Living.

Instead of going to the Visored base or the Kurosaki Family first, he went directly to Urahara Shop.

Pushing open the door of the general store, I saw Kisuke Urahara sitting behind the counter, holding an unidentified research report. He paused for a moment upon seeing Liu Ziyun, then put on a professional smile, "Mr. Liu? Is there something you need?"

Liu Ziyun sat down opposite him and got straight to the point. "I'm planning to set up a Martial Arts Hall near Isshin Kurosaki's house. Can you help me out?"

A hint of surprise flashed in Kisuke Urahara's eyes. "You're planning to stay in the World of the Living permanently?"

Liu Ziyun nodded. "Yes. I plan to set up a Martial Arts Hall and have Ryūken Ishida and Isshin Kurosaki send their sons there to study with me for a while."

Kisuke Urahara frowned. "Isn't it a bit early? They're only five or six years old."

Liu Ziyun shook his head, his gesture filled with certainty. "That's exactly what we need to do—cultivate them from a young age. It's not about teaching them to use strength immediately, but about developing their physique and skills. When they grow up and gain power, they'll naturally be able to integrate and master it."

Kisuke Urahara nodded thoughtfully. "Alright. I'll think of a way to help you set up Martial Arts Hall."

Liu Ziyun and added, "By the way, could you help me get a Gigai looks slightly different from mine and can hide my Reiatsu? Also, could you set up some Barriers and Training Ground in the Martial Arts Hall? In case I need to go into seclusion, I don't want my Reiatsu to leak out, to avoid any other problems."

Kisuke Urahara nodded. "Okay. But this will cost quite a bit of money."

Liu Ziyun took out his wallet from his pocket and placed it on the counter. "This is all my possessions. If it's not enough, please make up the difference. I'll pay you back when I have more."

Kisuke Urahara picked up his wallet, opened it, looked inside, and then fell silent.

Inside the wallet were only a few thin banknotes and a few loose coins.

He looked up at Liu Ziyun, his eyes filled with helplessness, a hint of mockery, and a question that seemed to ask, "Are you sure this is all your possessions?"

Feeling guilty under his gaze, Liu Ziyun scratched his head and chuckled awkwardly, "Well... you know, all these years I've spent my money buying things for the captain and Isane. So..."

Kisuke Urahara sighed and put his wallet away. "Alright, alright. I'll cover the rest. You'll definitely need to ask me for favors again in the future anyway."

Liu Ziyun chuckled, "Then thank you very much!"

Two weeks later.

Two streets away from Isshin Kurosaki's house, a small Martial Arts Hall called "Isshin Dojo" quietly opened.

The dojo is small, with only one training room, one office, and a few rest rooms. But the training room has brand-new tatami mats, various training equipment hanging on the walls, and several wooden dummy stands in the corner.

In the backyard of the dojo, there is an underground training room completely sealed off by multiple layers of Kidō Barriers. That is Liu Ziyun's secret space, used specifically for cultivation and seclusion.

At the entrance of the Martial Arts Hall hangs a wooden sign. The sign reads, "Isshin Dojo, Inquiries Welcome."

Liu Ziyun stood at the entrance of the dojo, looking at the wooden sign, a satisfied smile appearing on his lips.

[Finally... we can start making plans.]

He thought to himself silently.

[Ichigo, Uryū, wait for me.]

He turned and went into the dojo, starting to tidy up the equipment that hadn't been organized yet.