The Fate That Was Nearly Changed (II)

Unohana remained silent for a long time, the aroma of tea slowly wafting between them.

"Now that you've seen the future," she finally spoke, her tone tinged with scrutiny, "Why did you save Hirako in the first place? Wouldn't it have been safer to do nothing and let them follow their predetermined path?"

Liu Ziyun's expression suddenly became agitated. "Because in the future I saw, that bastard from the Tsunayashiro Clan didn't interfere with the academy trials at all! It was that maggot-like noble scion who arbitrarily changed the original trajectory and almost killed Hirako and the others!"

His voice was filled with suppressed anger. "That's why I hate those nobles so much. The future I envisioned was one of peace and prosperity, but because of one person's recklessness, countless lives were almost lost. This is what I call the Butterfly Effect —a butterfly flapping its wings can cause a storm. And that damned nobleman was that damned butterfly!"

He took a deep breath, trying to calm himself down. "As for what happened later, you and the Captain-Commander kept trying to probe my background, so I had to reveal some information to gain your trust. Because if you didn't believe me and continued to investigate, it might cause more complications. I was like walking a tightrope, having to be careful with every step."

Unohana looked at Liu Ziyun with a complicated expression. She could sense that there was truth in his words, but also some deliberate concealment. Liu Ziyun's explanation sounded reasonable, but something just didn't feel right.

"Is this what you call the Butterfly Effect?" she finally asked.

"Yes, yes." Liu Ziyun nodded repeatedly. "Captain, you're so smart. No wonder you're the woman I've set my sights on."

Unohana gave him a disgruntled look. "At a time like this, you still have the mood to say things like that. Fine, I'll go talk to the Captain-Commander. But what are you planning to do now? Continue to hide like this?"

"What else can I do besides keep hiding?" Liu Ziyun smiled bitterly. "Once they go to the World of the Living, I'll probably be very busy. Sigh... I'm too kind-hearted and always thinking of others. I'll be rescuing people everywhere, but I don't know who will care about me. Why don't you join my harem, Captain? It's only a matter of time anyway."

Unohana narrowed her eyes, a dangerous smile curving her lips, "Fine, as long as you please me, I don't mind crippling you first."

Liu Ziyun shivered and quickly stood up. "Well... then let's leave it at that for now. I still have work to do in the team, I'll head back now and see the captain."

After saying that, he practically fled the Captain's Office.

After the door closed, Unohana sat alone at the tea table, remaining motionless for a long time. Her gaze lingered on the spot where Liu Ziyun had just sat, her mind replaying every word he had spoken.

[Existence Is to Change Fate... Seeing the future... The Butterfly Effect...]

These words intertwined in her mind, forming a vague yet unsettling picture.

In the days that followed, Liu Ziyun's life seemed to return to normal. He remained an ordinary member of the Fourth Division, doing mundane work every day, getting along well with his fellow members, and occasionally chatting with Tazawa Kentarō about daily life.

But only he knows that the cultivation of his Inner World has never stopped.

The battles against Life-Taker and Tulu are becoming more frequent and more dangerous. Although the power of his Complete Shikai has awakened, it will take time to fully master it. What's more troublesome is that his training in Bankai is making no progress—no matter how he tries, he can't break through that barrier.

"So you've brought this on yourself." After a battle, Life-Taker Still mocked mercilessly, "You could have mastered Bankai first, then slowly worked through it to achieve your Complete Shikai. You insisted on doing it the other way around, and now look what happened, the difficulty of Bankai has more than doubled."

Liu Ziyun collapsed in the void of his Inner World, his body covered in wounds, too weak even to refute.

Tulu crouched beside him, his tone still cold, but unusually refraining from adding insult to injury, "However, at least, the power of the Complete Shikai is indeed stronger. If you can master Bankai, its power... will probably exceed everyone's imagination."

"The premise is... that I can master it," Liu Ziyun said weakly. "I feel like I'm climbing a mountain with no end in sight, every step is incredibly difficult."

"That was your own choice." Life-Taker shrug. "Alright, that's enough for today. Go back; your real body needs to recover too."

Liu Ziyun's consciousness was kicked out of his Inner World. He opened his eyes and found himself lying on the floor of the Underground Training Ground again. His whole body ached, and his Reiatsu was almost exhausted.

How long will this continue?

He struggled to sit up and began Kaidō healing energy. A green healing light enveloped his entire body, and his wounds began to heal slowly.

Time flies by like water. In the blink of an eye, several months have passed.

On this day, Liu Ziyun was assisting in treating a group of wounded soldiers sent from the 11th Division in the Medical Room —those battle maniacs had once again inflicted themselves with injuries during training. Just then, a member of the division ran up to him and told him that Captain Unohana was looking for him.

Liu Ziyun gave a few instructions and then headed towards the Captain's Office.

He pushed open the door and Unohana standing by the window, her back to him. The sunlight streaming in from the window cast a hazy glow on her figure.

"Captain, you wanted to see me?" Liu Ziyun bowed respectfully.

Unohana turned around, her expression somewhat complicated. "Yes, just as you predicted. The transfer order for the Royal Guard Zero Division has come down. Twelfth Division Captain Kirio Hikifune has been transferred to the Zero Division due to his significant contributions to the Mod Souls."

Liu Ziyun's heart tightened, but he maintained a calm demeanor on the surface. "Her Lieutenant... is it Hiyori Sarugaki?"

Unohana nodded. "Yes."

"Next, Kisuke Urahara will succeed her as captain of the Twelfth Division," Liu Ziyun said, as if stating a given fact. "Then he will establish the Technology Development Bureau and Mayuri Kurotsuchi as its vice-director."

Unohana gave him a deep look. "You really do know so much about the future. Every prediction you make is accurate, which makes me have to believe that you really do see something."

Liu Ziyun smiled wryly, "Captain, to be honest with you, what I fear most is that I alerted him before, and he might decide against establishing the Technology Development Bureau. So I'm asking you to keep an eye on things, and if anything changes, please let me know immediately."

Unohana raised an eyebrow. "You really treat me like a tool, keeping an eye on everything for you."

"There's no other way," Liu Ziyun. "If I could step in, I wouldn't have to live like this. This kind of life is too unbearable. I'm constantly on edge, afraid of making a mistake that will trigger a chain reaction."

Unohana looked at him and suddenly laughed, "But I can tell you're enjoying it. Isn't that feeling of holding secrets and plotting in the shadows exciting?"

Liu Ziyun was stunned for a moment, then waved his hands repeatedly. "How could that be! Captain, you're wronging me! I'm under so much pressure every day that I can't sleep, and my hair is almost all white from worry... Ah, although I can't see it, it's definitely white!"

He explained incoherently, then suddenly seemed to remember something. "Oh right, I still have some work to do with the team, I have to go! Goodbye, Captain!"

After saying that, he fled again in disarray.