The Arrancar Attack

After leaving the First Division, Liu Ziyun obediently followed Retsu Unohana back to the Fourth Division Captain's Office.

Throughout the journey, he had a bad feeling—the meaningful look in Unohana's eyes and the phrase "Isane Kotetsu also needs to follow" during the meeting had given him the creeps.

Sure enough, as soon as he entered, Isane Kotetsu greeted him with expectant eyes, "Captain, were any orders given at the meeting?"

Retsu Unohana glanced at Liu Ziyun, a mischievous glint in her eyes. "We need to send some people to be stationed in the World of the Living realm. However, Ziyun doesn't seem to want to take you with him."

Liu Ziyun's heart skipped a beat. He hurriedly tried to explain, but found that Isane Kotetsu was already looking at him sideways. Her eyes were scrutinizing, questioning, and had a dangerous glint in them that said, "You won't be done until you explain yourself."

"You don't want me to go," Isane Kotetsu's voice turned cold, "Are you eyeing another girl?"

Liu Ziyun broke out in a cold sweat and waved his hands repeatedly. "No way! I just repeated what the original people said, I absolutely did not mean to get rid of you!"

Isane Kotetsu snorted coldly, clearly not believing it.

Just then, a familiar voice came from outside the door. "Teacher, are you there?"

It's Ichigo Kurosaki.

Liu Ziyun as if he had been granted a pardon and quickly replied, "Yes! Come in!"

Ichigo Kurosaki pushed open the door and entered. He greeted the three people in the Captain's Office in turn, then looked at Liu Ziyun: "Sensei, when are we going back to the World of the Living?"

Liu Ziyun a sigh of relief; the question had come at just the right time, "I won't be going back with you. They'll send you back once the arrangements are made."

Ichigo Kurosaki was somewhat disappointed. "Oh... you're not coming back with us, does that mean Rukia isn't going back either?"

Liu Ziyun nodded. "We are Soul Reapers, so of course we should stay in the Seireitei. We won't go to the World of the Living unless we have a mission."

Ichigo Kurosaki was silent for a moment, then nodded. "Okay."

The following morning.

Liu Ziyun and Jūshirō Ukitake led Ichigo Kurosaki and the others to the Senkaimon. A huge gate of light stood before them, and on the other side of the gate was the scenery of the World of the Living.

Jūshirō Ukitake handed a card to Ichigo Kurosaki: "This is your Substitute Soul Reaper Badge. Remember, as Substitute Soul Reaper, you must abide by the laws of Soul Society. You cannot abuse your power, you cannot harm humans indiscriminately, you cannot..."

He went on and on, leaving Ichigo Kurosaki completely bewildered.

Liu Ziyun watched with schadenfreude.

Finally, Jūshirō Ukitake finished speaking. Ichigo Kurosaki accepted the Substitute Soul Reaper Badge with a sigh of relief and, along with Orihime Inoue and the others, stepped into the Senkaimon.

Watching their figures disappear into the light, Liu Ziyun said to Jūshirō Ukitake, "Captain Ukitake, I'm heading back now."

Jūshirō Ukitake nodded. "Okay."

Back in the Fourth Division, Liu Ziyun found Retsu Unohana and said, "Captain, I'm planning to go to the World of the Living in a couple of days."

Retsu Unohana frowned slightly. "So early? The others probably won't go this early."

Liu Ziyun's expression turned serious. "I'll go keep an eye on things first, to prevent Aizen and the others from taking advantage of the fact that no one in Soul Society is there to provide support, and then attack Ichigo and the others."

Retsu Unohana nodded. "Okay. Is Isane coming with you?"

Liu Ziyun shook his head. "No need. Isane can go with them."

Two days later, Liu Ziyun arrived in the World of the Living alone.

He didn't go straight back to the Martial Arts Hall, but went to Urahara Shop first.

Pushing open the door of the general store, I saw Kisuke Urahara sitting behind the counter, holding a research report. Seeing Liu Ziyun, he looked up. "Mr. Liu? What brings you back so soon?"

Liu Ziyun sat down opposite him. "Let's confirm the alternative plan for Karakura Town. Are you ready?"

Kisuke Urahara nodded. "Ready. Ready to start at any time."

Liu Ziyun nodded in satisfaction and then left Urahara Shop.

His next stop is the Visored's base.

When he stepped into that familiar abandoned factory, Shinji Hirako was training in the training ground. Seeing Liu Ziyun, he stopped and greeted him, "Ziyun? What brings you here?"

Liu Ziyun to the chase. "Hirako, go and make contact with Ichigo Kurosaki."

Shinji Hirako raised an eyebrow. "That brat? Now?"

Liu Ziyun nodded. "Yes. He needs your help."

Shinji Hirako was silent for a moment, then nodded. "Okay. I understand."

After finishing all that, Liu Ziyun finally returned to his Martial Arts Hall.

Pushing open that familiar gate, everything in the courtyard was just as he had left it—the bluestone path, the old locust tree, and the wooden dummy he had smashed with his punch.

He took a deep breath, a feeling of coming home welling up inside him.

[Finally... I can take a break.]

However, fate seemed determined not to let him rest.

One day, Liu Ziyun was meditating in the courtyard when suddenly—

A powerful Reiatsu descended from the sky.

The Reiatsu carried a strong aura of emptiness, powerful and violent, making one's heart tremble.

Liu Ziyun opened his eyes, threw on his clothes, and rushed out of the Martial Arts Hall. His figure darted quickly between the rooftops, rushing towards the source of the Reiatsu.

When he arrived, the sight before him made his pupils shrink.

A huge crater appeared on the ground, as if it had been created by some terrible force. Two figures stood at the edge of the crater.

Those were two humanoid Hollows— Arrancar.

Liu Ziyun quickly identified them as the fourth and Espada: Ulquiorra Cifer and Yammy Rialgo.

Yammy is preparing to unleash "Soul Suck"—a terrifying ability capable of devouring human souls.

Liu Ziyun appeared without hesitation, blocking the two Arrancar. His face bore his signature nonchalant smile, "Oh, what brings you two to the mortal World of the Living?"

Yammy turned to Ulquiorra: "Ulquiorra, is this our target?"

Ulquiorra's green eyes were fixed on Liu Ziyun: "This isn't him. It should be the Liu Ziyun that Lord Aizen mentioned, the Fifth Seat the Fourth Division. His strength is unfathomable."

Yammy grinned, a smile tinged with fighting spirit, "Is that so? Looks like a tough character."

Liu Ziyun shrugged. "Not at all."

Ulquiorra said expressionlessly, "It seems our objective for this operation has failed."

Liu Ziyun's smile remained unchanged, "As long as you don't cause trouble in the World of the Living, I don't care."

No sooner had he finished speaking than two hurried footsteps came from afar.

Orihime Inoue and Yasutora Sado. They were clearly drawn here by the terrifying Reiatsu.

Yammy saw them and a hint of disdain flashed in his eyes. "Huh? Two more little bugs."

Orihime Inoue saw Liu Ziyun and quickly went up to him. "Teacher Liu, hello! What's going on here?"

Liu Ziyun didn't turn around, his gaze still fixed on the two Arrancar: "You and Chad check around to see if anyone is injured, and take them away for treatment. These two are not someone you can handle."

Orihime Inoue paused for a moment, then nodded and retreated to a distance with Yasutora Sado.

Just then, another figure rushed over.

Ichigo Kurosaki landed beside Liu Ziyun, his eyes filled with wariness. "Sensei, what's going on here?"

Liu Ziyun didn't answer his question, but said directly, "Go and spar with the one who's bigger."

Upon hearing this, Yammy's face darkened. "Are you looking down on me? Sending such a little brat to fight me?"

Ulquiorra said calmly, "This should be the target. Yammy, you can fight him and see."

A flicker of excitement flashed in Yammy's eyes. "In that case, I'll give it a try!"

He charged at Ichigo Kurosaki, and the two instantly clashed.

Liu Ziyun watched them fight, then slowly walked over to Ulquiorra. His demeanor was as if he weren't facing a dangerous enemy, but chatting with an old friend. "Ulquiorra, interested in leaving Aizen and joining me?"

Ulquiorra turned to look at him, a strange glint in his green eyes. "Are you also going to betray Soul Society?"

Liu Ziyun shook his head. "No, it's just that I think it would be a pity if you died later."

Ulquiorra was silent for a moment. "Really? You're so confident that Lord Aizen will fail?"

Liu Ziyun smiled. His smile was confident and certain, "Of course. After all, the Soul Society is full of talented people."

Ulquiorra frowned slightly. "If that's the case, then Lord Aizen wouldn't have been able to leave Soul Society so easily."

Liu Ziyun sighed, a hint of helplessness in his voice. "Sigh, what does 'leaving gracefully' mean? It's clearly a forced defection. Because if you stay, you'll definitely be killed."

Ulquiorra looked at him without saying a word.

In the distance, the battle between Ichigo Kurosaki and Yammy grew increasingly intense.

Ichigo Kurosaki battle, but suddenly—

His body suddenly stiffened, and he remained motionless.

Seeing Yammy's eyes flashed with killing intent, and he Zanpakuto to slash at Ichigo Kurosaki.

Just as the blade was about to fall—

A figure appeared in front of Ichigo Kurosaki like a ghost.

Liu Ziyun his hand to steadily catch Yammy's blade.

Yammy was stunned. He tried to pull the knife back with all his might, but found that the blade was as if it were clamped by iron clamps and would not budge.

Liu Ziyun looked at him, his eyes calm and composed. "Alright, let's call it a day."

A flash of anger crossed Yammy's eyes. He stared intently at Liu Ziyun: "You seem quite arrogant, don't you? You think you can ignore me just because you caught my blade with your bare hands?"

Ulquiorra suddenly stepped forward and pulled Yammy away from Liu Ziyun.

His voice was calm and rational. "He simply blocked your attack by concentrating his Reiatsu in his hand, using extreme Reiatsu. It's just a technique."

He paused, his gaze falling on Liu Ziyun: "However, we truly cannot estimate his strength. Starting a war here for a piece of trash is not the best option."

Then, he looked at Liu Ziyun, his green eyes filled with an indescribable emotion. "Liu Ziyun, you are indeed very powerful. Whether it's the Shunpo or the techniques for using Reiatsu, you truly deserve to be Soul Reaper has lived for nearly two hundred years."

His voice grew even deeper. "However, you who stand in our way will eventually fall before us."

After saying that, he raised his hand and waved it, and Garganta unfolded behind him.

He carried Yammy, stepped into the Garganta, and disappeared into the darkness of Hueco Mundo.

Liu Ziyun watched them leave and let out a long sigh of relief.

He turned around, looked at Ichigo Kurosaki was still frozen in place, and then at Orihime Inoue and Yasutora Sado in the distance.

Then, his gaze returned to Ichigo Kurosaki: "Ichigo, you can talk to the people who contacted you a few days ago. They have ways to help you resolve your current situation."