Arrogant Noble Lords (2)

Fourth Division Barracks, courtyard.

Unohana sat beneath the eaves, trimming a potted orchid with a delicate pair of small scissors.

Her movements were graceful, her expression focused.

It was as though the killing intent in the reception room earlier had been nothing but an illusion.

After spending a good while in the kitchen, Liu Ziyun came out carrying a plate of Sichuan Boiled Pork, a plate of mapo tofu, and a bowl of rice.

"Captain, time to eat!"

He set the food on the small table, then sat across from Unohana and watched her expectantly.

Unohana put down her scissors, washed her hands, and sat at the table.

She picked up her chopsticks, took a slice of meat, and put it in her mouth.

Then—

Her eyes curved into crescents.

"Delicious."

Liu Ziyun breathed a sigh of relief. Looks like she's calmed down.

He shovelled rice into his mouth as he asked cautiously, "Captain, do you think... they'll replace the head of the Tsunayashiro Branch Family this time?"

Unohana glanced at him. "You're quite clever, aren't you?"

She paused. "Then take a guess... will the head of the Tsunayashiro Branch Family die?"

Liu Ziyun put down his bowl and chopsticks and thought about it seriously. "If the Captain-Commander gives the order, I expect he'll demand that they 'bring his head as an apology.'"

"But..." he continued, "the Tsunayashiro Clan won't actually do it. After all, even the head of a branch family is still a noble, and he represents the Tsunayashiro Clan."

He paused. "My guess is... they'll appoint a new family head, then exile the old one—or put him in confinement. Once things blow over, they'll bring him back and let him resume his position."

He looked at Unohana. "And the Captain-Commander... probably won't pursue it any further. After all, killing a noble family head for offending a captain might offend most of the nobility."

After hearing him out, Unohana gave him a meaningful look. "It seems... you know the Captain-Commander and the Tsunayashiro Clan very well."

Liu Ziyun's heart tightened. Damn, I said too much!

He hurriedly played dumb. "I don't know them that well... I was just guessing."

He changed the subject. "Still, they really did go a bit too far this time. Threatening a captain, manipulating the academy trial... they clearly wanted to meddle in the Thirteenth Division, maybe even take control of it..."

He paused. "That was a blatant disregard for the Thirteenth Division's bottom line."

Unohana said nothing.

She simply ate in silence, her gaze deep and unreadable. It was impossible to tell what she was thinking.

The two chatted a while longer. After they finished eating, Liu Ziyun cleared away the bowls and chopsticks, then took his leave.

As he walked out of the courtyard, he glanced back.

Unohana was still sitting there, looking at the potted orchid. Her figure from behind seemed a little... lonely?

He shook his head, casting the thought aside, and headed toward his quarters.

But he didn't go back to his quarters.

Instead—

He quietly slipped out of the Fourth Division and raced toward the underground training ground in the hills behind it.

Meanwhile.

At the family head's residence in the Tsunayashiro Branch Family.

Tsunayashiro Sōichirō was flying into a rage.

"A mere student! A mere Fourth Division Captain! How dare they show me such disrespect!"

His face red with fury, he hurled the teacup on the table to the floor. "Tell me! How should we deal with them?!"

A group of family elders sat before him, every one of them wearing a grave expression.

One elder spoke up. "If they won't show us respect... then let's kill them."

His tone was casual, as though he were asking what was for dinner. "It's time those people learned... what it means to be one of the Four Great Noble Clans."

Another elder chimed in. "We should make Genryūsai Shigekuni Yamamoto bring that commoner brat's head here himself!"

The third elder was even more ruthless. "No! We should make Unohana cut off that commoner's head herself and bring it before us!"

The more they talked, the more excited they became, as though they could already see Liu Ziyun and Unohana on their knees, begging for mercy.

But what they didn't know was—

At that very moment.

At the First Division Barracks.

Genryūsai Shigekuni Yamamoto slowly opened his eyes after listening to Shunsui Kyōraku and Jūshirō Ukitake's report.

His gaze was as cold as a blade.

"It seems... it's time to give those noble lords a warning."

He spoke slowly, his voice low. "Sasakibe."

"Yes, Captain-Commander." Chōjirō Sasakibe bowed.

"Go inform the Tsunayashiro Main Family," Genryūsai Shigekuni Yamamoto said, enunciating each word. "Tell them to take the branch family head's head... to Captain Unohana as an apology."

"Yes." Chōjirō Sasakibe answered calmly and turned to leave.

"Wait." Genryūsai Shigekuni Yamamoto stopped him and looked at Shunsui Kyōraku and Jūshirō Ukitake. "You two... go with him."

"Yes, teacher!" the two answered in unison, then turned and hurried after Chōjirō Sasakibe.

After the three left, Genryūsai Shigekuni Yamamoto closed his eyes again.

But his fingers tapped lightly on the tabletop.

"Tap, tap, tap..."

Each tap carried a cold resolve.

The underground training ground.

Liu Ziyun sat cross-legged, took a deep breath, and entered a state of Blade Zen.

His consciousness sank into his inner world.

He opened his eyes and saw the familiar figures—

Life-Taker wore the same hanfu as always, her face covered by a veil and her gaze gentle.

Tulu wore the same armor as always, his muscles knotted and his gaze sharp.

But today, the mood... was a little off.

Life-Taker greeted Liu Ziyun with a cheerful smile. "Ziyun, you're here?"

But Tulu—

"Whoosh!"

Without a word, he drew his blade and slashed at him!

Liu Ziyun jumped in fright and hurriedly drew his blade to block:

"Clang—!!!"

The blades collided, sending sparks flying.

The impact drove Liu Ziyun back two steps, his arm numb. "Tulu! Why did you start without even saying hello today?! I wasn't ready!"

But Tulu didn't say a word.

He merely looked at Liu Ziyun with an icy gaze, then—

Swung his blade again!

This time, faster! Fiercer!

"Clang, clang, clang, clang—!!!"

Liu Ziyun barely managed to block, driven back step by step.

"Wait! Wait!" he shouted as he dodged. "What happened?! Did I make you angry?!"

Tulu finally spoke.

His voice was as cold as midwinter ice. "You... almost died today."

Liu Ziyun froze. "Huh?"

"That Tsunayashiro Sōichirō," Tulu said, enunciating each word, "wanted to kill you."

Liu Ziyun laughed. "How could that be? He just wanted to recruit me for the Shin'ō Institute of Medicines..."

"Fool!" Tulu cut him off. "Do you think... he really wanted to recruit you?"

He stopped attacking and looked at Liu Ziyun. "He was testing you. Testing your attitude, Unohana's attitude, and... the Thirteenth Division's bottom line."

He paused. "If you'd agreed, he would have gotten you into the Shin'ō Institute of Medicines, then gradually brought you under his control and exploited your abilities. If you refused..."

His gaze grew colder. "He would have found a way... to get rid of you."

Liu Ziyun was silent for a few seconds. "I know."

"You know?" Tulu raised an eyebrow.

"Of course I know." Liu Ziyun nodded. "I'm not an idiot."

He paused. "But... what could I do? Turn hostile on the spot? Draw my blade and cut him down? Or say, 'Sorry, I know you want to kill me, so I'm not going'?"

He smiled bitterly. "In that situation, all I could do was play dumb, refuse, and... hope Captain Unohana could protect me."

Tulu looked at him for a long time.

Then he sheathed his blade.

"You... are too weak." His tone was still cold, but it held less killing intent. "If you were strong enough to make everyone wary, strong enough that the nobles wouldn't dare touch you... what happened today wouldn't have happened."

Liu Ziyun nodded. "I know."

"Then what are you still doing here?" Tulu glared at him. "Get training!"

Liu Ziyun: "..."

Weren't you the one who attacked me without a word just now?!

But he didn't dare say it aloud.

He simply tightened his grip on his blade and took his stance. "Come on! Let's continue!"

A glimmer of satisfaction flashed in Tulu's eyes. "That's more like it."

He drew his blade. "Today... I'll use my full strength."

"If you don't want to die..."

"Then fight with everything you have and get stronger!"

Blades flashed once more.

The fight began again.

And this time, Liu Ziyun could feel it—Tulu really was using his full strength.

Every slash carried killing intent.

Every strike aimed for a vital point.

He had to give it everything he had just to barely hold them off.

But strangely...

He wasn't afraid.

Instead... he was a little excited.

That's right...

I'm too weak.

So weak I can't even protect myself.

So weak I need others to protect me.

So weak... I don't even have the confidence to refuse anyone.

So...

Get stronger.

Become very, very strong.

Strong enough... that no one dares mess with me.

Strong enough... to protect the people I want to protect.

His gaze gradually grew resolute.

His grip on his blade tightened.

"Come on, Tulu!"

He let out a low shout. "Let me see... your full strength!"

Flashing blades crisscrossed his inner world.

And in the real world, in the underground training ground, faint ripples of Reiatsu began to emanate from Liu Ziyun as he sat cross-legged.

Those ripples grew stronger and stronger.

Stronger and stronger...

As though something was awakening.

In the Fourth Division courtyard, Unohana finished trimming the orchid and looked up toward the hills behind the barracks.

A gentle smile curved her lips.

"It seems... the little fellow is working hard too." She murmured to herself, "Then let me see... just how far you can go."