The Fate That Was Almost Changed (1)

After Yoruichi Shihōin's figure completely disappeared at the end of the corridor, the atmosphere in Captain Unohana's room subtly shifted. The aroma of tea still wafted up, but an invisible mist seemed to have appeared in the air—a mist about the future, a mystery about fate.

Unohana slowly withdrew her gaze from the doorway and turned to Liu Ziyun, who stood quietly to the side. Her eyes were no longer as relaxed and casual as when she was facing Yoruichi Shihōin, but had become deep and sharp, dissecting the seemingly ordinary yet enigmatic team member before her with the precision of a scalpel.

"They're involved too?" Unohana's voice was soft, but every word struck Liu Ziyun's heart like a hammer blow. "Yoruichi Shihōin, Kisuke Urahara... these people are all playing roles in the 'future' you see?"

Liu Ziyun was silent for a moment, then finally nodded. "Yes. Not only them, but many others are caught in this web of fate. Some will become the driving force, some will become the sacrifices, and some will become the guardians... And what I need to do is, at crucial moments, slightly adjust the direction of this web."

"A slight adjustment?" Unohana raised an eyebrow. "Do you know that what you just said to Captain Yoruichi may have been overheard by Kisuke Urahara through some means? He's an extremely intelligent guy. If he becomes suspicious and starts investigating you..."

Liu Ziyun smiled wryly, "Captain, this is exactly what I need to ask of you next. Please help me speak with the Captain-Commander and Kisuke Urahara to stop keeping an eye on me. Because if he keeps an eye on me, it might draw the attention of the 'mastermind' to me as well."

Unohana's eyes sharpened. "Since you knew this, why did you tell Captain Yoruichi so much? You could have been more cautious and only given the necessary information."

"Because I need to build trust." Liu Ziyun sighed and sat down in the chair opposite Unohana. "In the future, I will still need to go to the World of the Living to find them. If they refuse to see me or are hostile towards me, it will be difficult for me to achieve my goal. After all, Kisuke Urahara's skills and strength are formidable; if he wants to hide, it will be very difficult for me to find him."

"What are you going to do to see them in the World of the Living?" Unohana's question went straight to the point. "If it's just to save people, wouldn't it be more convenient to save them directly in Soul Society? Why go through all this trouble, even waiting until they've gone to the World of the Living?"

Liu Ziyun up the now-cold tea and drank it all in one gulp. The bitter taste spread across his tongue, much like his current mood.

"Because I have a kind heart." He put down his teacup, a hint of self-deprecation in his voice. "I want to save a few people, but the fate of some of them can only be changed in this World of the Living. And... it involves two motherless children. I want to make the ending more perfect."

"A child without a mother?" Unohana keenly grasped the key phrase, "Whose child is it?"

Liu Ziyun head. "Captain, we can't say right now. But please believe me, the fate of those two people is related to the balance of the entire Three Worlds. If it's not handled properly, more people will sacrifice themselves and more families will be broken in the future."

Unohana gazed at Liu Ziyun silently for a long time. Her fingers gently caressed the rim of the teacup, a movement elegant and restrained, yet containing a profound sense of contemplation.

"Liu Ziyun," she suddenly spoke, her tone unusually serious, "How do you know so much? Fragments about the future, the fates of specific people, secrets I didn't even know... Can you reveal some of the truth?"

Liu Ziyun's heart skipped a beat. He knew this problem would come sooner or later. Unohana was no ordinary captain; she was the First Kenpachi, someone who had experienced countless life-and-death battles and witnessed countless secrets. It was almost impossible to keep it from her forever.

He quickly considered a solution.

[I'm from outside this world, and you wouldn't believe me even if I told you. Even if you did, you'd probably treat me like a heretic and dissect me for research. So... I'll just have to keep lying.]

An idea took shape in my mind.

Liu Ziyun a deep breath, his expression becoming serious and mysterious.

"Actually... it's not that mysterious." He spoke slowly, his voice carrying a deliberately crafted air of world-weariness. "Captain, do you still remember the Release Phrase of my Zanpakuto — Life-Taker Release?"

Unohana paused for a moment, recalling. "[Existence Is to Change Fate]... I remember."

"That's right." Liu Ziyun nodded, a wry smile on his face. "'Existence Is to Change Fate.' This phrase is not only the Release Phrase, but also a description of my Zanpakuto's ability. You should be able to guess something from it, right?"

Unohana's eyes flickered slightly. "You mean... your Zanpakuto can see the future?"

"It's not something you can see all the time," Liu Ziyun continued weaving his lie. "It was only at the very moment I first released my Zanpakuto and completed my Shikai that my consciousness was pulled into a strange realm. There, I glimpsed fragments about the development of my own destiny—not all of it, just snippets of important moments relevant to me."

He paused, making his tone sound more believable, "That's why I know so many secrets. Like the truth behind the noble incident, like the crisis faced by Captain Hirako, like the fates of Kuchiki Kōga and Amagai Shūsuke... and as I just mentioned, Captain Kirio Hikifune's promotion to the Zero Division, Kisuke Urahara becoming the captain of the Twelfth Division."

Unohana listened quietly without interrupting.

"But that was a one-time glimpse." Liu Ziyun's expression turned grave. "Since then, I've been unable to see any more fragments of the future. That's why I'm afraid—afraid that my interference will cause things to develop in a way I don't know. Once the future deviates from my expected trajectory, things will spiral out of control, and might even affect the Three Worlds."

He raised his head, his empty eyes "looking" at Unohana, unfocused yet earnest. "Captain, can you understand my fear? I know what the future holds, but I dare not change it easily. Every intervention is a huge risk. It's like walking a tightrope; one wrong step and you're in the abyss."