The Choice Between Parting and Protection

Just as Liu Ziyun's figure was about to disappear into the night, Retsu Unohana suddenly spoke. Her voice was soft, yet clearly reached his ears. "Come back and visit me and Isane more often."

She paused, a barely perceptible softness in her voice. "When I received the news, Isane was very worried about you."

Liu Ziyun stopped and turned to look at her. In the moonlight, her figure appeared exceptionally aloof, yet possessed an indescribable tenderness. A warmth welled up in his heart, and the corners of his mouth unconsciously turned up. "Are you worried about me?"

Retsu Unohana glanced at him, her eyes filled with a hint of disdain, yet also an undisguised concern. "You're as clever as a monkey, and so strong. Why should I worry?"

Liu Ziyun sighed, his expression one of utter grievance. "Sigh, it won't be convenient to meet in the future. I'm so sad."

Seeing his affected manner, Retsu Unohana couldn't help but say, "Get lost. Your pretentious act makes me want to chop you up."

Liu Ziyun didn't leave; instead, he took a step closer and said, "I still want to go see Isane-chan."

Retsu Unohana frowned slightly. "Lately, people from the Fourth Division have been hanging around here intentionally or unintentionally. You'd better not show up."

Liu Ziyun sighed, a hint of longing in his eyes. "Alright. I'm genuinely envious of illusion-type Zanpakuto, their perfect ability to steal fragrance and jade."

Retsu Unohana glanced at him, her eyes filled with wariness. "You're thinking of building a harem again?"

Liu Ziyun hurriedly waved his hands, shaking his head like a rattle-drum. "No, no!"

Retsu Unohana stared at him coldly, her voice carrying a warning. "Behave yourself in the World of the Living. If I and Isane find out you're flirting with girls, we might not be able to beat you, but we'll kill those people."

Liu Ziyun broke out in a cold sweat and quickly assured them, "No, no! I never want to think about the harem again!"

Retsu Unohana looked at his cowardly appearance, a hint of amusement flashing in her eyes, but her face remained aloof. "That's for the best. Get lost."

Liu Ziyun turned away dejectedly and disappeared into the night.

In the World of the Living, Urahara Shop.

When Liu Ziyun open the door, Kisuke Urahara and Kaien Shiba were talking quietly behind the counter. Seeing Liu Ziyun enter, they both looked up simultaneously.

Liu Ziyun up to them, his expression turning serious. "From now on, Kaien and Du are not allowed to go out anymore."

Kaien Shiba was stunned. "Mr. Liu, what's wrong?"

Liu Ziyun a deep breath and slowly said, "The Soul Society has already noticed you. If you're caught, our entire plan will be exposed to Aizen. The situation might get out of control."

A hint of frustration flashed in his eyes. "They've only accused me of 'Tulu nobles' so far. I don't know what else they'll do. Sigh, I was supposed to have a few more years before I had to live a life of hiding. But just because I went out for a little fun, you guys exposed me."

Kaien Shiba lowered his head, his face filled with remorse. His voice was tinged with self-reproach. "I'm sorry, Mr. Liu. It's all my fault."

Liu Ziyun looked at him, his eyes filled with helplessness, understanding, and an indescribable complexity. "Sigh, I shouldn't have let you protect Masaki in the first place. Who told me to forget that your family's saintly heart is hereditary?"

He sighed and continued, "Right now, they have suspicions that you're still alive, but they don't have concrete evidence. So, we can't afford to give ourselves away again. In a few years, Rukia Kuchiki might be sent to the World of the Living. Your existence must absolutely not be discovered by her. Understand?"

Kaien Shiba lowered his head, his voice low and firm. "Okay, I understand."

Liu Ziyun looked out the window, his eyes thoughtful. "Luckily, I made preparations when I came to the World of the Living. Otherwise, I would definitely be targeted. Right now, they only suspect me, so they've just made a little noise to try and get me to show up. But I'll just disappear and make them unable to make a move. I want to see what they can do then."

He paused, a hint of worry in his voice. "If they insist on finding me, they might cause some trouble. However, it's our captain and the Captain-Commander who will be in trouble."

Kisuke Urahara listened in silence, without saying a word.

One month later.

Ryūken Ishida rushed to the Martial Arts Hall and found Liu Ziyun. His face was grave, and his eyes were full of worry. "Some of the Mixed-Blood Quincy in our family are physically unable to take it anymore."

Liu Ziyun nodded and stood up. "Let's go. We'll go to Xizhu's Kisuke and get some of the equipment I asked him to prepare. Let's try and see if we can treat those people."

The two went to Urahara Shop and retrieved the medical equipment that Liu Ziyun had asked Kisuke Urahara to prepare beforehand. Then, they went to the Ishida Family and began treating the Mixed-Blood Quincy.

The surgery was performed by Ryūken Ishida himself. His movements were precise and skillful, each incision perfectly executed. Meanwhile, Liu Ziyun used equipment developed by Kisuke Urahara to slowly extract the Still Silver from the blood vessels of the Mixed-Blood Quincy.

After the surgery, Liu Ziyun unleashed his Zanpakuto, Life-Taker, and used the power of [Change Fate] to restore the bodies and souls of these people. A pale golden light enveloped them, and their souls, damaged by the Auswählen, gradually healed within the light.

With their seamless cooperation, the Mixed-Blood Quincy, though having lost their powers, were able to live healthy lives like ordinary people.

Two more months passed.

Masaki Kurosaki and Kanae Ishida also exhibited unusual physical symptoms. Their complexions grew increasingly pale, and their bodies became weaker and weaker, signs of the onset of the aftereffects of the Auswählen.

However, having the experience of treating the Mixed-Blood Quincy before, Ryūken Ishida and Liu Ziyun more skilled this time. They quickly performed surgery on the two women, removing the Still Silver from their bodies, and then Liu Ziyun her Life-Taker power to completely restore their bodies.

Furthermore, Liu Ziyun even used his abilities to ensure that neither of them had a single scar.

"Scars are a woman's worst enemy," he said seriously.

Masaki Kurosaki and Kanae Ishida looked at their bodies, now fully restored, their eyes filled with gratitude.

After removing the Still Silver from the bodies of numerous Mixed-Blood Quincy and from the bodies of Masaki Kurosaki Kanae Ishida, Liu Ziyun found Ryūken Ishida and said seriously, "You should forge this thing into an arrowhead specifically for Quincy. It's meant to be left for Uryū in the future."

Ryūken Ishida adjusted his glasses, a thoughtful look flashing in his eyes. "Is this something he absolutely has to do?"

Liu Ziyun looked at him, his eyes filled with meaning. "It's fine with either him or you. In any case, it's both your revenge. You decide for yourself. However, he is immune to the Auswählen. As for you, I don't know."

Ryūken Ishida was silent for a moment, then nodded solemnly. "Okay, I understand."

Thus, the life-threatening crisis facing Masaki Kurosaki and Kanae Ishida was completely eliminated thanks to Liu Ziyun's arrangements.

In the days that followed, aside from disciplining the two children, Liu Ziyun kept a close eye on the situation in Soul Society. He was terrified that Aizen, unable to find him, had turned his attention to Retsu Unohana and Isane Kotetsu.

Every night, he would sit alone on the roof of the Martial Arts Hall, gazing in the direction of Soul Society, remaining silent for a long time.

That night, Liu Ziyun secretly sneaked back into Soul Society.

Inside the Fourth Division Captain's room, Retsu Unohana saw him and frowned slightly. "Why aren't you in the World of the Living? What are you doing here?"

Liu Ziyun up to her, his expression serious. "Captain, I've come to ask you for a favor."

Retsu Unohana raised an eyebrow. "What is it?"

Liu Ziyun hesitated for a moment, then said, "I've noticed that Isane has been surrounded by a lot of people lately..."

Before she could finish speaking, Retsu Unohana interrupted her, "What? Afraid that Isane will be lured away?"

Liu Ziyun quickly waved his hand. "No, no! I'm afraid Aizen will target Isane to Isane me into making a move."

Upon hearing this, Retsu Unohana remained silent for a moment. A complex light flashed in her eyes, then she raised her head, looking at him with the gaze of someone who had just seen a cheating man, and said coldly, "Are you afraid of Aizen, or are you just unable to bear the loneliness yourself?"

Liu Ziyun felt a pang of guilt and broke out in a cold sweat. "Of course... of course I'm afraid of Aizen! If something happens, I won't have time to rescue him. So..."

Retsu Unohana said angrily, "You're afraid that Isane will be schemed against by Aizen, but aren't you afraid that I'll be schemed against too?"

Liu Ziyun, sweating profusely, quickly explained, "You're strong enough that he wouldn't dare touch you easily. Also, I'd like you to come with me. But the Captain-Commander definitely won't agree."

Retsu Unohana looked at him, remaining silent for a moment. Finally, she sighed, "Fine. You can take him away. But he can't leave until tomorrow night."

Liu Ziyun confusion, "Why?"

The next day, Liu Ziyun finally understood why Retsu Unohana had made it so that he could only take Isane Kotetsu away the following night.

For the next full day and night, Liu Ziyun didn't leave the Captain's Office's bedroom. No, to be precise, he didn't even get out of bed.

During the day, Isane Kotetsu came to report to Retsu Unohana as usual.

Retsu Unohana emerged from the bedroom disheveled and told Isane Kotetsu to work in the Captain's Office's office, and to tell anyone who came that she had something to do. Then, she went back into the bedroom.

At first Isane Kotetsu didn't know what was going on. But then, hearing the deliberately made noises coming from the bedroom, she instantly understood everything. Her face turned bright red, and she could only sit at the Captain's Office all day with her head down.

That evening, Isane Kotetsu was called into the house by Retsu Unohana.

She saw Retsu Unohana getting dressed, then glanced at Liu Ziyun lying on the bed with a "helpless" expression, and glared at him resentfully. In her eyes, there was anger, shyness, and an indescribable complexity.

Liu Ziyun felt guilty under her gaze, his eyes darting around, and he dared not meet her eyes.

Retsu Unohana straightened her clothes and said to Isane Kotetsu, "Isane, Ziyun said he's worried about you in Soul Society. He's afraid Aizen will target you to lure Ziyun out. So, he wants to take you to the World of the Living. What do you think?"

Isane Kotetsu blushed, her voice barely audible, "I... I'll do whatever the captain says."

Retsu Unohana nodded. "Then you should go with him. He said it'll only be for a few years. I think it's good to have someone keeping an eye on him, so he doesn't go around flirting with other women."

Isane Kotetsu looked at her, her eyes filled with reluctance. "Captain, what about you?"

Retsu Unohana smiled. In that smile, there was relief, tenderness, and an indescribable deep affection. "Me? You don't need to worry. Just keep an eye on him."

Tears welled up in Isane Kotetsu's eyes. "I understand, Captain. You must be careful too."

Retsu Unohana looked at her, a mischievous glint in her eyes. "Occasionally, you could let him come and see me."

Isane Kotetsu's face instantly turned bright red. "What are you saying, Captain!"

Retsu Unohana smiled, then turned to look at Liu Ziyun lying on the bed. Her gaze instantly turned cold. "What are you pretending for? Get up, get dressed, and get out."

Upon hearing this, Liu Ziyun immediately got up and quickly dressed. Then, he walked up to Retsu Unohana, pulled her into his arms, and gently kissed her forehead. "Don't worry, I'll come back to see you."

Retsu Unohana pushed him away, her movement filled with disdain, yet her eyes were full of tenderness. "Get lost."

Liu Ziyun and Isane Kotetsu donned Black Cloaks and left the Captain's Office.

Watching the two leave, Retsu Unohana stood alone by the window, gazing in the direction they had disappeared. A blush crept onto her face.

She murmured softly, her voice tinged with shyness, sweetness, and an indescribable satisfaction. "He keeps saying no, no, but he always goes so hard. He's such a... lovable yet infuriating guy."

The moonlight shone on her, illuminating her tender figure.