Prelude to the Incident (III)
Following Liu Ziyun's instructions, Unohana made an excuse to leave early after the meeting. She returned to the Fourth Division, changed into the Black Cloak, activated the concealment function, and then quietly left the barracks.
Meanwhile, Liu Ziyun had already found a secluded corner to hide in outside the First Division. He was wearing another Black Cloak, completely blending into the night, and even his Reiatsu had disappeared without a trace.
"[They're here...]" Liu Ziyun murmured to himself.
He saw Shinji Hirako, Love Aikawa, and Rōjūrō Ōtoribashi leave the First Division first, followed closely by Hachigen Ushōda and Lisa Yadōmaru. All five wore solemn and resolute expressions, clearly understanding the danger of this mission.
[The Unlucky Bastards Legion is all present.] Liu Ziyun smiled bitterly to himself. [According to the original plan, what follows is...]
His thoughts were interrupted.
A barely perceptible fluctuation of Reiatsu emanated from afar. Liu Ziyun immediately turned his head and saw a figure also cloaked in Black Cloak silently leaving the Twelfth Division barracks and moving towards the outside of the Seireitei.
Kisuke Urahara... went after all.
Liu Ziyun immediately followed. His Shunpo technique had been honed to perfection, and with the concealment effect of his Black Cloak, he was like a true shadow, moving through the night undetected.
Meanwhile, Unohana was also secretly following. Her strength was already unfathomable, and with the aid of the Black Cloak, tracking a non-combat captain like Kisuke Urahara was naturally a piece of cake.
The three of them, one in front and one behind, like three silent ghosts, walked through the streets of Seireitei, crossed the city walls, and arrived at the wilderness outside Seireitei.
Just as Kisuke Urahara was about to continue forward, a tall figure suddenly appeared in front of him, blocking his way.
He is the Great Kidō Chief of the Kidō Corps Path Tessai Tsukabishi.
"Captain Urahara, you can't go." Tessai Tsukabishi's voice was low and firm. "This is too dangerous. You should stay in Seireitei and wait for news from the rescue team."
Kisuke Urahara stopped in his tracks, and from beneath the hood of his Black Cloak came his calm voice. "Great Kidō Chief, you've misunderstood. I didn't come alone."
He turned his head and looked into the darkness behind him. "Captain Unohana, please come out."
Unohana emerged from the shadows, her expression calm and serene beneath the hood of her Black Cloak: "Wait a moment, we're waiting for someone. He'll explain everything."
Before she could finish speaking, Liu Ziyun had already appeared in front of them.
His appearance came without any warning, as if he had walked directly out of the void. Even with the strength of Tessai Tsukabishi, he did not sense how he approached.
"Time is of the essence, so I'll get straight to the point." Liu Ziyun didn't waste any words and looked directly at Kisuke Urahara. "The explanation is the same as before—you two hurry up and rescue those eight unlucky guys."
He turned to Tessai Tsukabishi: "Great Kidō Chief, you can use time stop and spatial teleportation to get them to the Twelfth Division. Captain Urahara knows how to save them."
He then looked at Kisuke Urahara: "When we reach the World of the Living, we should be able to cure it using Quincy Reishi and human souls. You'll have to figure out the specific method yourself. I'll emphasize again—don't reveal anything about me or Captain Unohana. Otherwise, the Three Worlds will be destroyed."
Having said that, without waiting for Kisuke Urahara and Tessai Tsukabishi's reaction, he gave Unohana a wink. "Let's go."
The two figures flashed and disappeared into the night, their speed so fast that they left no afterimage.
In the wilderness, only Kisuke Urahara and Tessai Tsukabishi remained, staring at each other in bewilderment.
"That person just now..." Tessai Tsukabishi's expression was shocked, "Who is he? Why can't I sense his Reiatsu at all? And what he said..."
Kisuke Urahara remained silent for a moment, then his complex voice came from beneath the Black Cloak: "A man who knows many secrets. The Great Kidō Chief. We have no time to hesitate. Do as he says—go save them."
Tessai Tsukabishi hesitated for a moment, then finally nodded. "Alright. But Captain Urahara, you must promise me that you will explain everything clearly afterward."
"I will," Kisuke Urahara promised, "But not now. Right now, saving lives is the priority."
The two figures flashed and sped off into the depths of Rukongai.
On a distant hill, Liu Ziyun and Unohana stood side by side, gazing in the direction where the two had disappeared.
"Is it really okay to just let them go like this?" Unohana's voice was filled with worry.
"This is the only way," Liu Ziyun said firmly. "If we don't rescue them, those eight people are doomed. If we do, they have a chance to live. And... this is also part of fate."
He turned his head to "look" at Unohana. Although his eyes were empty, Unohana could feel the heavy gaze in his eyes.
"Captain, what's about to happen may exceed your expectations. But please remember—no matter what you see or hear, do not act or interfere. This is for the greater future, for the lives of many more."
Unohana remained silent for a long time, finally nodding slowly. "I understand. I will keep my promise."
The rain started again, the pattering raindrops hitting the rocks with a soft, rustling sound. From the depths of Rukongai in the distance, faint fluctuations of Reiatsu could be heard—the signal that a battle was about to begin.
Liu Ziyun gripped the hilt of the knife at his waist, feeling the slight tremor from the Life-Taker Tulu.
[It begins... The Hollowfication Incident, Aizen's first large-scale experiment, the birth of the Unlucky Bastards Legion... Everything begins tonight.]
[And I can only stand here, watching, waiting, and guarding those vital nodes that must be protected.]
In the rain, his figure appeared lonely yet resolute.
A storm sweeping across the entire Soul Society has officially arrived.