Entrusting Ichigo to the Visored

Ichigo Kurosaki turned to Liu Ziyun, who remained calm beside him, and asked hesitantly, "Sensei, those people are... do you know them?"

Liu Ziyun's gaze pierced through the night, as if he were looking into the distant past.

He nodded slightly, his tone calm yet tinged with complex emotion. "I know them, they're all old acquaintances. We crossed paths quite a bit back in Soul Society. But..." He paused, a barely perceptible hint of regret flashing in his eyes, "... their fates were rather tragic; they were used by Aizen as Hollowfication test subjects. It's the Miracle they've survived until now."

Upon hearing this, Ichigo Kurosaki was startled. He recalled the Hollow that would occasionally emerge from within him to cause trouble, and the similar aura of those people to himself. He couldn't help but ask, "Then... what is their purpose in appearing in Karakura Town now?"

Liu Ziyun gently, a smile that held both understanding and helplessness, "Their purpose? Naturally, they want to increase their strength. Aizen left indelible scars on their lives; this hatred cannot be easily erased by time. They want to become stronger, strong enough to stand up to Aizen, strong enough to seek justice. In this respect, we are in the same boat."

Ichigo Kurosaki silent. He understood that desire to become stronger, that feeling of having to grip the blade tightly to protect those who mattered. He raised his head, a resolute light burning in his eyes. "Then should I join them?"

Liu Ziyun shook his head, his tone carrying a hint of instruction. "You don't need to deliberately join them, but you can learn from them. They've experienced what you've experienced, even more. Their understanding of Hollowfication and their control over the ethereal within their bodies are exactly what you need right now. And..."

He gave Ichigo Kurosaki a meaningful look. "When you go to study, I'll go with you. There are some things I can be at ease knowing you're learning them."

Ichigo Kurosaki a warmth in his heart, but he didn't show it. Instead, he asked the question that had troubled him for so long, "Sensei, you know how to solve my problem, right?"

Liu Ziyun's gaze deepened. He remained silent for a moment before slowly speaking, "I only know the theory. Your power system is far too complex, more unique than any Soul Reaper I've ever seen."

Theoretically speaking, your Hollowfication, your Soul Reaper Power, and even the mysterious force suppressing your Soul Reaper Power, are all essentially part of you. They shouldn't repel each other, but rather merge. However..." he changed the subject, "I don't know the specific practical methods. But those guys do. They used their own bodies and their own souls to gradually figure out how to control Hollowfication. This experience is more valuable than any theory."

Ichigo Kurosaki took a deep breath and nodded solemnly. "Yes, I understand, teacher."

The conversation between the two came to an end. A gentle night breeze rustled through the distant forest. Liu Ziyun suddenly turned his head slightly and said softly to the clearing not far away, "Kisuke, Yoruichi, since you're here, come out. What are you hiding there for?"

As soon as he finished speaking, two figures slowly emerged from the shadows. Kisuke Urahara was still dressed in his signature attire, his green striped hat pulled low, obscuring most of his face, but his cane and relaxed demeanor made him instantly recognizable.

Beside him, Yoruichi Shihōin was dressed in a tight-fitting outfit, her long black hair fluttering gently in the night breeze, her cat-like, keen eyes filled with a hint of inquiry.

Kisuke Urahara adjusted his hat slightly, his voice as languid as ever, but a closer listen revealed a hint of seriousness. "Mr. Liu, those people just now... were they Arrancar?"

Liu Ziyun nodded, making no attempt to hide anything. "Yes, and they are mature Arrancar. Their Hollowfication is complete, and the Hollow and Soul Reaper Power within them have reached a certain balance. Although unstable, their strength should not be underestimated."

Kisuke Urahara frowned slightly. "With our current strength, can we handle Arrancar of this caliber?"

Liu Ziyun's gaze swept over Kisuke Urahara and Yoruichi Shihōin, his tone calm yet full of confidence. "They're fine. They're strong, but they're no match for you. Kisuke, I know your strength; Yoruichi, your combination of Shunkō and Kidō in combat is something those half-baked Arrancar can't compare to. They're not a problem."

Kisuke Urahara, but then asked, "What about the others? What about the captains and Lieutenant of the Gotei 13? If they encountered Arrancar of this caliber..."

Liu Ziyun's expression turned serious. "That's hard to say. Our current strength is limited to only a portion of the people. As for the Soul Society, Captain-Commander Yamamoto goes without saying, Kyōraku and Ukitake won't have too much of a problem either. But the other captains, especially the Lieutenant, if they were to fight these mature Arrancar, I'm afraid..." He didn't finish his sentence, but everyone present understood his unspoken meaning.

Yoruichi Shihōin crossed her arms and said in a deep voice, "That means we need to improve our strength as soon as possible."

Liu Ziyun nodded, a meaningful smile appearing on his lips, "That's right. Moreover, the ladder to advancement has already been presented to us."

As he spoke, his gaze drifted in the direction where the Arrancar had disappeared. "Let's use these people as a touchstone to hone our skills. Let them help us unleash our potential, let them become the opportunity for us to break through our limits."

Without further delay, Liu Ziyun led Ichigo Kurosaki away from the open space. The two crossed streets and alleys, finally arriving at a seemingly ordinary building. From the outside, it was just an old, long-abandoned building, but Ichigo Kurosaki could sense the Reiatsu emanating from within—mixed, powerful, and filled with the aura of the Hollow.

Liu Ziyun open the door and led Ichigo Kurosaki inside.

The interior space was much larger than it appeared from the outside. After passing through a dimly lit corridor, the space suddenly opened up before us—a huge Underground Space. In various parts of this space, several figures were either sitting or standing.

The leader was a man with long blond hair and glasses. When he saw Liu Ziyun and Ichigo Kurosaki, a playful smile appeared on his lips.

"Yo, Ichigo, you finally came." Shinji Hirako said in his characteristically lazy tone, a hint of teasing in his eyes behind his glasses. "Why didn't you come when we asked you to? We've been waiting for ages."

Ichigo Kurosaki blushed slightly and stammered, "Um... I didn't know about your situation before, so... so..."

Before he could finish speaking, Liu Ziyun waved his hand to interrupt him, "Alright, stop teasing him. Hirako, Ichigo is in your hands now." His gaze swept over everyone present. "Explain to him how to control Hollowfication. Tell him everything you've experienced, the detours you've taken, and the pitfalls you've encountered."

He paused, then continued, "I have other matters to attend to, so I won't stay here. Let me know when you begin your formal cultivation, and I'll come and keep an eye on things with you." Without waiting for a reaction, he turned and left.

After Liu Ziyun's figure disappeared into the darkness, Shinji Hirako shrugged and beckoned to Ichigo Kurosaki: "Come on, Ichigo, let's go downstairs and talk."