Chapter Summaries

Duan Mu returned Granny Shuiyue’s cat and gained Experience Points from her increased favorability, then used some points to activate Hakuda. He reflected on how his system rewarded him for earning women’s favor and left his remaining points saved for future needs.

• Duan Mu caught Granny Shuiyue’s runaway cat and returned it, raising her favorability to 20 and earning 4 Experience Points.
• Duan Mu spent 50 Experience Points to activate Hakuda and absorbed the techniques and physical adaptations that came with it.
• Duan Mu reviewed his status and explained that he saved Experience Points for emergencies and training bottlenecks.
• Duan Mu recalled that the system rewarded him when women’s favorability increased, while men gave him no Experience Points.
• Duan Mu described how favorability worked and recalled lowering a woman’s favorability after her affection crossed into Romance Value.

Duan Mu settled into his quiet life running the Yorozuya in District 38, joking with his neighbor Uzuki and enjoying the liquor left for him by Brewing Granny. The chapter ended with Uzuki leaving and Duan Mu closing the shop to take a bottle upstairs.

• Duan Mu greeted neighbors on his way to the Yorozuya and reflected on his decision to live in District 38 rather than become a Soul Reaper.
• Duan Mu admired the shop's new discounts for female Soul Reapers, and Uzuki mocked him for expecting them to bring him work.
• Duan Mu teased Uzuki about her figure, and she punched him before helping him unlock the shop.
• Duan Mu found Brewing Granny's liquor in a basket, while Uzuki accused him of being an alcoholic and joked about rumors that he seduced old ladies.
• Duan Mu gave Uzuki strawberry milk, and she said she did not want to become a Soul Reaper despite the free desserts at the Academy.
• Uzuki left, and Duan Mu closed the shop and carried a bottle of liquor upstairs.

Duan Mu considered how to spend his limited experience points and chose to invest them in Hakuda rather than Byakurai, Zanjutsu, or Physique. After absorbing new Hakuda knowledge, he checked his updated system status and the affection interface.

• Duan Mu tested Byakurai and decided its power was adequate for now, despite its lack of recent progress.
• Duan Mu reviewed his training options and set aside Zanjutsu because he lacked an Asauchi, while judging Physique and spiritual pressure poor uses for his scarce experience points.
• Duan Mu spent all 136 of his remaining experience points on Hakuda and absorbed extensive knowledge of combat techniques and anatomy.
• Duan Mu practiced Hakuda, then checked his system interface and saw Hakuda at Beginner (136/500) with no experience points remaining.
• Duan Mu opened the Affection Interface, saw that most people’s affection levels were low, and resolved to keep working hard.

Duan Mu worked in Runlin'an, then brought supplies to the homeless children he cared for in District 54. Back at his shop, he accepted a moving commission from Shiba Ganju and planned to start the next morning.

• Duan Mu collected his repair fee from Uncle Watanabe, who told Soul Reaper Academy students about the Yorozuya and its services.
• Duan Mu traveled to District 54 and gave candy to thirty homeless children, then helped them make beds, tables, and chairs.
• A customer crashed through Duan Mu's shop door, and Shiba Ganju arrived with a pig and asked about a moving commission.
• Duan Mu accepted Shiba Ganju's commission and agreed to begin moving the next morning.

Duan Mu helped Ganju move his belongings from the Shiba Clan house and discovered that Ganju could not sense his spiritual pressure. The move continued as Duan Mu began wondering whether his body had an unusual ability.

• Duan Mu reached Ganju's secluded house and met Koganehiko and Gin Hikō, who let him in after Ganju identified him as the Yorozuya worker.
• Ganju explained that Duan Mu would help move the packed belongings to a new house where Ganju's older sister was waiting.
• Duan Mu and Ganju spent nearly three hours carrying boxes and furniture upstairs, and Ganju praised Duan Mu's stamina before asking him to join as an underling.
• Duan Mu noticed that Ganju could not detect his spiritual pressure, even when it was gathered beneath his skin, while Duan Mu could sense Ganju's spiritual pressure.
• Duan Mu briefly released his spiritual pressure, causing Ganju to look around in confusion, and wondered whether his body was special before resuming the move.

Duan Mu arrived at the Shiba Clan’s new home and met its head, Shiba Kūkaku, whose favorability point earned him an unexpectedly large amount of experience. Hoping to get closer to her, he offered to become Shiba Iwao’s unpaid underling, and Iwao eagerly accepted.

• Iwao and Koganehiko led Duan Mu to the Shiba Clan’s new home between western and northern Rukongai, marked by a banner reading “Shiba Kūkaku.”
• Shiba Kūkaku greeted Duan Mu and praised him for helping Granny Hidariha and other residents.
• Duan Mu gained 300 experience points when Shiba Kūkaku’s favorability toward him increased by one.
• Shiba Kūkaku left Duan Mu and Iwao to watch the supplies while she continued building the lower level.
• Duan Mu offered to become Iwao’s unpaid underling so he could build a relationship with Kūkaku, and Iwao enthusiastically accepted.

Duan Mu helped Kūkaku and Iwao move things, revealed his Spiritual Power, and explained why he had no intention of becoming a Soul Reaper. As they prepared to have dinner, four members of the Punishment Force pursued and subdued a Shinigami, then bowed to Kūkaku before taking him away.

• Duan Mu finished moving things with Iwao and admitted that he had Spiritual Power, while Kūkaku urged him to consider joining the Soul Reaper Academy.
• Duan Mu said he preferred life in Rukongai and had given up on becoming a Soul Reaper because he valued his freedom and feared dying.
• Kūkaku invited Duan Mu and Iwao to dinner, then noticed figures approaching through the night.
• Four members of the Punishment Force surrounded a fleeing Shinigami and beat him unconscious using Hakuda.
• One pursuer healed the Shinigami, and the four bowed respectfully to Kūkaku before carrying him away.

Kūkaku explained to Iwao and Duan Mu that the Onmitsukidō’s Supervision Team secretly investigated Soul Reapers and imprisoned those deemed dangerous, even without crimes. Duan Mu left after dinner, while Kūkaku privately questioned the sincerity behind his constant smile.

• Kūkaku told Iwao and Duan Mu that the Punishment Army arrested Soul Reapers and delivered them to the Supervision Team.
• Kūkaku explained that the Central 46 could order Soul Reapers with supposedly dangerous ideas confined in the Worm's Nest under Special Supervision.
• Kūkaku revealed that Kurotsuchi Mayuri had once been imprisoned for dangerous ideas before the previous 12th Division captain freed him.
• Iwao urged Duan Mu to avoid becoming a Soul Reaper, and Duan Mu joked that he wanted to be a good person and work for world peace.
• Duan Mu declined Iwao's offer to stay the night and left, while Kūkaku wondered whether his cheerful manner was sincere and decided not to interfere as long as he posed no threat to Iwao.

Duan Mu unlocked Kaido and used his accumulated experience to improve his combat skills and spiritual pressure after realizing he needed to defend himself. He reached Stage Seven, but the favorability interface no longer showed Shiba Kūkaku’s name.

• Duan Mu realized that the system had unlocked Kido after he witnessed the Punishment Force treating an injured Soul Reaper, so he spent 50 experience points to activate it.
• Duan Mu raised Hakuda and Shunpo to low level, and his system level changed from Stage Eight to Stage Seven.
• Duan Mu concluded that his level likely reflected combat ability and considered how lacking a Zanpakuto limited his strength.
• Duan Mu spent 224 experience points to raise his spiritual pressure to intermediate and 500 to raise Kaido to low level, leaving 40 experience points.
• Shiba Kūkaku’s name disappeared from the favorability interface, though Duan Mu did not notice.

Duan Mu discovered that five Soul Reaper Academy students had visited his shop and offered to teach them combat skills for a fee. After demonstrating Byakurai, he secured all five as students, leaving him with a chance to improve his own Kidō by learning from them.

• Uzuki told Duan Mu that suspicious people had watched his shop, and he thanked her before dismissing the concern.
• Duan Mu waited at his shop until five Academy students arrived and asked about his discounts and services.
• Duan Mu demonstrated Byakurai in the courtyard, stunning the students and convincing them that he could teach them.
• Duan Mu offered the students discounted hourly lessons and refunds if they failed to improve or pass their examinations.
• All five students paid for lessons, and Duan Mu planned to use their knowledge of Kidō to develop his own skills.

Dean Kujo and Natsuhiko investigated Duan Mu’s Soul Reaper cram school after students’ abilities improved from studying there. The Onmitsukidō found no evidence of a threat and recommended continued supervision while allowing students to attend.

• Dean Kujo and Natsuhiko visited the 2nd Division barracks and received Duan Mu’s investigation file from Marechiyo Ōmaeda.
• A masked member of the Punishment Force reported that Duan Mu had arrived in Rukongai four years earlier with weak spiritual pressure but had developed exceptional skill in the four Soul Reaper techniques.
• The Punishment Force member said Duan Mu frequently visited the Shiba Clan’s main family and had no apparent motive beyond earning money through his Yorozuya and cram school.
• The member reported that Duan Mu treated female students with extra attentiveness but had made no improper advances.
• Dean Kujo agreed not to prevent students from studying with Duan Mu, while the Onmitsukidō continued surveillance and planned to rotate its assigned officers annually.

Duan Mu finished a tobacco-harvesting job and then joined Iwao on a trip to District 79. The group rode trained boars toward their destination, while Duan Mu reflected on his low-ranking place among Iwao’s underlings.

• Duan Mu woke up at Yorozuya, learned that his students would be away for the term, and agreed to help Granny Hidariha harvest tobacco leaves instead of repairing Uncle Sa Yu’s house.
• Shiba Ganju arrived and asked Duan Mu to accompany him to District 79, then stayed at the shop while Duan Mu worked.
• Duan Mu completed the tobacco harvest, declined Granny Hidariha’s meal invitation, and returned to set out with Iwao.
• Duan Mu rode behind Iwao with four of Iwao’s longtime underlings, whose nicknames and roles he recalled along the way.
• Duan Mu rejected Iwao’s proposed nickname for him, “Yoda,” as the group rode toward District 79.

Duan Mu accompanied Iwao and his men into the dangerous District 79 to pursue thugs, but grew wary of the powerful, bloodthirsty residents there. After Duan Mu questioned how Iwao learned the thugs had gone to District 79, spiritual pressure closed in from all sides, leaving the group surrounded.

• Duan Mu reflected that serving as Iwao's underling gave him useful protection and helped him raise Shiba Kūkaku's favorability.
• Hawk and the others became frightened by the ruined, violent districts and urged Iwao to turn back.
• Duan Mu sensed powerful spiritual pressure and killing intent among the residents, then warned Iwao that Hawk and the others could not protect themselves in a fight.
• Iwao agreed to take the group back but made clear that he still intended to pursue the thugs.
• Duan Mu questioned who had told Iwao that the thugs had fled to District 79, as multiple spiritual pressures surrounded the six of them.

Daimaru ambushed Shiba Ganju and his companions, hoping to force Ganju to reveal the Shiba Clan’s Soul Reaper combat techniques. Surrounded by Daimaru’s overwhelming force, Ganju prepared to distract the attackers, but Duan Mu instead told him to set off a Blood Tear Bead at their feet.

• Daimaru explained that he had lured Shiba Ganju to District 79 so he could capture him and obtain Soul Reaper combat techniques.
• Daimaru ordered his men to surround Ganju and the other five, instructing them not to kill Ganju but allowing them to kill the rest if necessary.
• Ganju recognized the ambush and urged Duan Mu, Hawk, and the others to escape while he made a gap in the encirclement.
• Daimaru threatened that his men would kill Ganju’s companions if they resisted, and their killing intent left Hawk and the others nearly unable to move.
• Ganju decided to draw the attackers’ attention so Duan Mu could lead the others away, but Duan Mu told him to throw a Blood Tear Bead at their feet.

Duan Mu used a smoke bomb and a precisely timed Kido spell to help his companions escape, then charged into the crowd pursuing them. He slaughtered the attackers as his fighting skills rapidly sharpened, leaving Daimaru questioning Rukongai’s reputation as a good person.

• Iwao threw the Blood Tear Bead, and Duan Mu used Sekienton to spread the pepper smoke while shielding his group from it.
• Duan Mu told Iwao to lead Hawk and the other three boys to safety, then vanished into the crowd.
• Daimaru learned from his aide that Duan Mu was known in West Rukongai as a kind and helpful shopkeeper.
• Duan Mu killed two attackers and fought the charging crowd, adapting quickly as he cut through them.
• Daimaru watched Duan Mu’s bloody rampage and challenged his aide’s description of him as a good person.

Duan Mu fought off the encircling forces while Iwao tried to hold back reinforcements and clear an escape route for Hawk and the others. The chapter ended with Duan Mu’s Byakurai clashing against Daimaru’s spiritual-pressure-charged fist in a stalemate.

• Iwao used Stone Wave to bury attackers as Hawk and the others knocked them out and moved toward the gap Duan Mu had opened.
• Iwao sent Hawk and the others to escape, then used his Chain Stone Wave Fan to turn the ground into quicksand and cut off reinforcements.
• Duan Mu used Hakuda to kill and disable attackers until Daimaru entered the fight and struck him hard enough to send him sliding more than ten meters.
• Duan Mu restrained Daimaru briefly with Shitotsu Sansen, then used Shunpo to retreat as Daimaru broke free.
• Duan Mu cast Byakurai, and Daimaru met the lightning with his fist, bringing their attacks to a stalemate.

Duan Mu discovered that Shiba Kūkaku’s affinity had surged, giving him a large store of experience points, while Daimaru attacked him. He endured a brutal blow to make Kūkaku favor him, and she arrived to subdue Daimaru as Duan Mu finally passed out.

• Duan Mu noticed that his experience total had risen to 11,400 as his White Lightning dissipated and Daimaru charged at him.
• Duan Mu realized Shiba Kūkaku was nearby after the system credited her with a sudden increase in affinity and experience points.
• Daimaru struck Duan Mu in the chest, sending him flying, and Duan Mu urged Iwao to escape and seek Kūkaku’s help.
• Shiba Kūkaku appeared and slammed Daimaru face-first into the ground with one hand.
• Duan Mu saw his affinity with Kūkaku rise further, then lost consciousness after enduring the attack without spending his experience points.

Duan Mu woke in the Shiba household after being injured, and Kūkaku and Iwao learned how much spiritual pressure he had concealed. Welcomed to recuperate, he considered how to spend his newly gained experience points to strengthen his Kido.

• Duan Mu woke in the Shiba household and identified the medicinal herbs treating his injuries.
• Kūkaku and Iwao questioned Duan Mu about hiding his spiritual pressure, and he explained that it did not leak unless he exerted himself.
• Kūkaku scolded and beat Iwao for taking the group into a dangerous area without permission, while Duan Mu agreed Iwao had acted recklessly.
• Kūkaku told Duan Mu to rest at her home while he recovered, and Duan Mu noticed her warmer attitude toward him.
• Duan Mu checked his 18,600 experience points and decided to invest in improving his intermediate Kido before other abilities.

After recovering from his injuries, Duan Mu followed Shiba Kūkaku to her newly built underground Great Kūkaku Training Hall, where she arranged rigorous training for him and Iwao. Kūkaku agreed to take responsibility for teaching Duan Mu and told him to claim she had taught him his techniques, leaving him ready to begin Kido instruction.

• Duan Mu recovered from his injuries in three days and prepared to leave, but Shiba Kūkaku appeared and ordered him and Iwao to follow her underground.
• Shiba Kūkaku showed Duan Mu and Iwao the Great Kūkaku Training Hall, a vast training space she had built a thousand meters underground.
• Shiba Kūkaku assigned Iwao to destroy ten increasingly difficult platforms designed for training the Shiba secret arts, and told him he could not leave until he passed them.
• Shiba Kūkaku told Duan Mu to claim she had taught him Hakuda, Kido, and Shunpo, explaining that his mysterious past and guarded nature had made her wary of him.
• Shiba Kūkaku said Duan Mu's conduct during the battle had reassured her and asked what Kido he knew; after hearing his list, she recognized it as academy-level material and connected it to his Soul Reaper Cram School.

Duan Mu and Iwao trained under Shiba Kūkaku, who taught them how spiritual power, spiritual pressure, and combat techniques worked. Kūkaku praised Duan Mu’s Kido skill and suggested a path combining Kido and Hakuda, while Duan Mu struggled with mounting stress and the urge to drink.

• Duan Mu trained to increase his spiritual pressure inside a pressure-generating platform while Iwao practiced Shiba techniques and fireworks.
• Kūkaku explained that spiritual pressure depended on the density and control of spiritual power, and described how Zanpakuto, Kido, Hakuda, and Shunpo helped Soul Reapers use it.
• Kūkaku praised Duan Mu’s White Lightning skill, then repeatedly struck Iwao and Duan Mu when they lost focus during her lesson.
• Duan Mu reflected on his growing stress, his longing for alcohol, and his discomfort at having gone days without work.
• Kūkaku warned Duan Mu not to rely on one Kido spell as a trump card and recommended that he combine Hakuda with Kido, mentioning an old friend who had followed that path.