Deployment to the World of the Living

When Sōsuke Aizen's boast of "ruling the heavens" echoed over Sōkyoku Hill, Liu Ziyun couldn't help but curl his lip.

He covered his eyes, crossed his arms, and said in an extremely disdainful tone, "Aizen, you really are arrogant! Although I knew you would say that, it's still really unpleasant to stand here and listen to you speak!"

The voice carried a hint of mockery, a touch of ridicule, and a disdainful "What are you pretending for?"

Aizen looked down at him, his gentle smile unchanged, "Is that so? Liu Ziyun, actually I'm quite interested in you. Especially your ability to know my actions without anyone else knowing, and that ability to bring the dead back to life. How wonderful it would be if you could travel with me."

Liu Ziyun tilted his head, his expression one of utter disdain. "You're not a cute girl, I don't want to travel with you."

Aizen smiled. His smile held a hint of amusement and admiration, "Heh, I hope you haven't made the wrong choice."

Liu Ziyun sighed, his tone carrying a sense of relief. "Sigh, that's what I hoped for too. But I feel much more relaxed now that you're gone."

Aizen raised an eyebrow. "Why?"

Liu Ziyun shrugged, his gesture utterly irritating. "What else could it be? Your Hollowfication Experiments, of course. If I'm always hanging around in front of you, I'm afraid you'll be tempted to use me as a guinea pig for experiments, or frame me or something. How am I supposed to pick up girls then?"

A glint flashed in Aizen's eyes. "Interesting."

After uttering those two words, the Garganta slowly closed. The figures of Sōsuke Aizen, Gin Ichimaru, and Kaname Tōsen disappeared into the darkness of Hueco Mundo.

Liu Ziyun looked at the completely closed Garganta and let out a long sigh. He turned around and flashed a big smile at the people behind him, "Alright, Aizen's gone. I can finally move around freely!"

No sooner had he finished speaking than a soft voice came from behind him, "Really? You can pick up girls however you want now, right?"

Liu Ziyun's body stiffened instantly.

He slowly, very slowly turned his head and saw Retsu Unohana standing not far away, a mocking smile on her face. Beside her, Isane Kotetsu looked grim, her eyes seeming to want to devour him.

Liu Ziyun broke out in a cold sweat instantly. He said guiltily, "Captain... Captain, Isane, when did you arrive?"

Retsu Unohana's smile widened even more, "When you were saying you were going to pick up girls..."

Liu Ziyun panicked and quickly protested, "I never said I wanted to pick up girls!!"

Retsu Unohana completely ignored him and turned to Isane Kotetsu, saying, "Isane, arrange for treatment."

She then looked at Byakuya Kuchiki and Sajin Komamura: "Please come here, I need to treat you."

Liu Ziyun immediately transformed into a sycophant, scurrying over eagerly. "Captain, I'll do it, I'll do it! You don't need to do this yourself!"

Retsu Unohana glanced at him but did not refuse.

Under Retsu Unohana's command, the members of the Fourth Division quickly entered the field and began treating the injured.

The entire Sōkyoku Hills had been transformed into a massive temporary medical station, with green Kaidō illuminating the darkening sky.

Rukia Kuchiki was summoned before Byakuya Kuchiki and Liu Ziyun. She was pale and weak, but her eyes shone with a complex light.

Liu Ziyun looked at her, his eyes filled with gentleness and seriousness. "Rukia, there are some things you need to know."

Rukia Kuchiki was stunned.

Liu Ziyun began to speak. He explained why Byakuya Kuchiki had always been cold to her—it wasn't out of disgust, but out of protection; he told the truth about the Hōgyoku and why it was sealed inside her; he also told the story of Kaien Shiba and Shiba Miyako —they hadn't died, but had been saved by him.

Rukia Kuchiki's eyes widened, her face filled with disbelief. "So... Lord Kaien and Lord Miyabi... are still alive?"

Liu Ziyun nodded. "Yes. However, for now, in the World of the Living. Aizen's conspiracy is now out in the open, so Kaien and the others no longer need to hide. You'll be able to see them again when you go to the World of the Living later."

Tears welled up in Rukia Kuchiki's eyes. They were tears of joy, tears of relief, and tears of gratitude.

She bowed her head deeply. "Thank you, Mr. Liu."

Liu Ziyun waved his hand. "No need to thank me. It's nothing."

For the next few days, the entire Seireitei was immersed in an eerie calm. The injured captains gradually recovered under the careful treatment of the Fourth Division, and the air was filled with a sense of exhaustion and tranquility after a great battle.

A few days later, all the captains who had recovered from their injuries were summoned by Genryūsai Shigekuni Yamamoto to the First Division Barracks for a captains' meeting.

Liu Ziyun and Yoruichi Shihōin were also invited to participate.

The atmosphere in the conference room was serious and solemn. Genryūsai Shigekuni Yamamoto sat upright in the main seat, his unchanging eyes sweeping over everyone present.

"Then," he said slowly, "We need to discuss how to deal with what Aizen is going to do next."

His gaze fell on Liu Ziyun: "Liu Ziyun, you speak."

Liu Ziyun stood up and walked to the conference table. His expression turned serious, his usual nonchalant attitude gone. "Aizen may next create the 'King’s Key' in the Spirit Realm of the World of the Living. And the current Spirit Realm is Karakura Town."

Shunsui Kyōraku frowned. "So what should we do next? If we directly send people to garrison the Spirit Land, the fighting will cause irreparable damage to the World of the Living."

Liu Ziyun nodded. "I've already had Kisuke set up a fake Karakura Town beforehand. We can switch places and fight there."

Jūshirō Ukitake asked, "Then how do we confirm when they will arrive?"

Liu Ziyun: "The awakening of the Hōgyoku takes a year. However, during this period, it can be briefly awakened through the infusion of Captain-level Reiatsu. Aizen will use this opportunity to create a large number of high-level combatants. Therefore, we need to arrange some people to monitor Karakura Town."

Genryūsai Shigekuni Yamamoto nodded. "Then who should we send?"

Liu Ziyun counted on his fingers. "Captain of the Tenth Division, Tōshirō Hitsugaya; Lieutenant Rangiku Matsumoto; Lieutenant of the Sixth Division, Renji Abarai; Third Seat of the 11th Division, Ikkaku Madarame; Fifth Seat Yumichika Ayasegawa; Rukia Kuchiki of the Thirteenth Division."

He paused, then pointed to himself. "Adding me should be enough. After all, Yoruichi and Kisuke are in the World of the Living too. And those unlucky guys are there as well."

Jūshirō Ukitake paused for a moment. "Those unlucky bastards?"

Liu Ziyun smiled and said, "It's Shinji Hirako and the others."

A glint flashed in Genryūsai Shigekuni Yamamoto's eyes. "Are they willing to return to Seireitei?"

Liu Ziyun shook his head. "I'm not too sure about that. However, we'll definitely have to act according to the Seireitei's orders. Otherwise, they'll be forced to hide."

Retsu Unohana suddenly spoke up, "Captain-Commander, Isane Kotetsu also needs to come along."

Liu Ziyun, and he quickly chimed in, "Yes, yes! Isane Kotetsu needs to come along too!"

Everyone looked at him with a strange expression.

Feeling guilty under his gaze, Liu Ziyun quickly lowered his head.

Genryūsai Shigekuni Yamamoto nodded. "Okay."

He paused, then suddenly asked, "So, Liu Ziyun, with the team leader position becoming critically short, would you be willing to take on one of the responsibilities?"

Liu Ziyun was startled and quickly waved his hand. "I can't do it! If you make me the captain, I'll definitely be like Isshin Kurosaki, making up some excuse to run away!"

Genryūsai Shigekuni Yamamoto looked at him without forcing him.

A moment of silence fell over the meeting room.

Genryūsai Shigekuni Yamamoto spoke again, his voice tinged with solemnity. "Then, the Central 46 have been completely Tulu. We need to rebuild the nobility."

Liu Ziyun and said, "I think, shouldn't we have some members of our Gotei 13 participate? Otherwise, it's not fair for the Central 46 to only recruit nobles."

Byakuya Kuchiki frowned slightly. "How can it be unfair?"

Liu Ziyun looked at him, his eyes serious. "The power of the nobility is too great. Controlling things through the Central 46 will put us in a very passive position."

He gave an example. "For instance, the reason for Kaname Tōsen's betrayal was that Tsunayashiro Tokinada killed his wife, a Soul Reaper Kaname Tōsen's friend, and was sentenced to house arrest. As for the captains Lieutenant who were used as test subjects, they were treated the same way as Hollows, with no intention of saving them."

Silence fell over the meeting room.

Genryūsai Shigekuni Yamamoto was silent for a moment, then slowly nodded. "Yes. I will communicate with the nobles about this issue and limit some of the powers of the Central 46 to prevent such unfairness from happening again."

Soi Fon suddenly spoke, her voice tinged with coldness. "What should we do with the Ryoka?"

Shunsui Kyōraku smiled and said, "These children have been kind to us in this matter. Therefore, I hope to treat them well."

Mayuri Kurotsuchi glanced at Liu Ziyun, her eyes carrying a deeper meaning. "Among them is a Quincy. And someone's student at that."

Jūshirō Ukitake said, "We already have a management system for Substitute Soul Reaper. I think it can be applied to Ichigo Kurosaki."

Genryūsai Shigekuni Yamamoto nodded. "Then grant Ichigo Kurosaki Substitute Soul Reaper. As for the Quincy, let's forget about it. After all, he's just a kid, and he seems to have lost his powers."

Mayuri Kurotsuchi frowned. "We cannot afford to be complacent about the emergence of Quincy in the World of the Living."

Liu Ziyun looked at him, his eyes serious. "Not for now. Uryū Ishida's family has always lived under the watchful eye of Soul Reaper. So, there's no need to be overly wary of him."

Mayuri Kurotsuchi's eyes narrowed, a dangerous glint in them. "You should know..."

Liu Ziyun interrupted him, his expression turning serious. "Captain Mayuri Kurotsuchi, I know what you mean. However, now is not the time to talk about the Quincy. We need to deal with Aizen now."

Mayuri Kurotsuchi gave him a cold look, but ultimately said nothing more.

Genryūsai Shigekuni Yamamoto stood up, his voice carrying an undeniable authority. "The matter is settled. This meeting is adjourned."

The captains all stood up and left the First Division Barracks.