A Writer's Pride

Siwei Yan completed the opening of The Killer of Meteor City in one smooth stroke.

Just as he was about to set down his pen and gauge the Reiatsu consumption, he unexpectedly discovered that the anticipated loss of spiritual power was nowhere near as great as he had imagined.

He froze slightly, his gaze falling on the opening poem filled with bloody poetry. A flash of insight struck him!

I see! By using poetry—a highly condensed form full of symbolism and implication—

I can cleverly summarize the story's core atmosphere while leaving enormous gaps in the specific details!

It's like dancing through the cracks in the rules!

He had not directly "magically altered" Captain Unohana's settled past.

He had merely used images like "River of Bones," "Blood Blossom," and "Shu Hua" to depict a certain "state," a certain "atmosphere"!

How readers interpreted it was their own business!

Whether they associated it with the First Kenpachi or some other serial killer had nothing to do with him, the "poet"!

An even bolder idea flashed through his mind:

If I use poetry to pave the way for Lan Chuan's future fate...

Could I also bypass that terrifying spiritual power consumption and backlash?!

Lan Chuan had quite a few loyal readers now!

"Bang!"

A deafening crash, accompanied by flying splinters, brutally cut off his train of thought.

"Good heavens! C-Captain Yoruichi! You really can't go in there! They're... they're conducting a very important spiritual power experiment inside!"

Urahara Kisuke's pig-like wail and attempts to stop her came from outside the door.

Yan Si's heart clenched. With lightning speed, he stuffed the manuscript pages he had just covered in writing into the wide sleeve of his Shinigami uniform.

He sprang to his feet, his face cold as he stared toward the door.

The door had been kicked open by brute force. A tall, athletic figure stood in the doorway with her hands on her hips, utterly at ease.

She wore the standard captain's haori of the Second Division, with a fitted Shinigami uniform underneath that allowed easy movement and outlined her powerful, explosive curves.

Her healthy light-brown skin contrasted with her dazzling dark-purple hair, tied into a ponytail that swayed gently in the breeze.

A teasing, brazen smile rested on her strikingly heroic face. Her golden eyes, like those of a hunting feline, swept across the room with keen interest.

It was none other than the captain of the Second Division, Yoruichi Shihōin!

"Yo! Long time no see, Yan Si!" she greeted him with a grin, her tone familiar as her gaze traveled up and down his body.

"Why did you come to my turf without paying a visit to your captain first? Instead, you secretly hid in this little room with Urahara... playing some interesting game?"

As she spoke, her eyes had already taken in everything in the room, including the faintly humming "iron barrel" machine and the concealed Spirit Particle Circuit markings on the floor.

As the head of the Shihoin Clan, one of the Four Great Noble Clans, and the commander of the Division of Heavenly Armaments, she saw through the room's secrets at a glance.

Yet she did not seem particularly concerned about Urahara Kisuke's little tricks. Her gaze remained firmly fixed on Yan Si.

Behind her, Urahara Kisuke bared his teeth as he rubbed his chin. With an embarrassed expression, he frantically winked at Yan Si, desperately trying to convey a message with his eyes:

Brother Yan Si! This really isn't my fault!

The entire Second Division is basically her backyard. She can go wherever she wants! And she's absurdly strong—I couldn't stop her even if I tried!

Yan Si nodded slightly to show that he understood.

He took a deep breath, forcing his expression back to calm, then walked toward the doorway.

"You know there have been too many pointless rumors about me in the Seireitei lately. They're unbearably annoying, so I came to Urahara's place for some peace and quiet, and to look for inspiration while I was at it. I can't write in peace in the Ninth Division."

He walked up to Yoruichi and tried to squeeze past her. "Now that I've found my inspiration, it's time for me to go back. Would you mind moving aside?"

However, Yoruichi remained rooted in place, the playful smile on her face deepening.

"Oh? Looking for inspiration to write a new book?" she deliberately drew out the words, then abruptly stretched out a hand, palm open beneath Yan Si's nose, and said with a cheerful smile:

"Perfect! Let me see it! Let me be your first reader and give you some feedback!"

Yan Si's heart sank, and his face turned completely cold.

"Don't joke about this! To an author, a manuscript is like a Shinigami's Zanpakuto—it is an extension of his life and pride! How could it be shown to just anyone?!"

More importantly, the freshly written manuscript still carries the unique Reishi fluctuations of Tsuzurimono Bansho, along with that bloody atmosphere! It might be fine if an ordinary person saw it, but Yoruichi's senses are freakishly sharp. If she catches even a hint of something unusual, my secret will be completely exposed! Absolutely not!

But Yoruichi refused to let it go, waving her open hand.

"What's wrong with taking a look? My lips are sealed, I promise I won't leak your plot! Come on, take it out and let me appreciate the writing of the Most Beautiful Noble Son of Soul Society~"

Yan Si's gaze turned utterly icy, his voice low and warning.

"Captain Yoruichi, this is not something to joke about."

Why is this woman so difficult!

"C-Captain Yoruichi..." Urahara Kisuke gathered his courage and quietly spoke up for him.

"As fellow creators, I-I understand Brother Yan Si's feelings... Reading an unpublished manuscript without permission really is... a little excessive..."

"Hmph!" Yoruichi curled her lips, apparently finding it boring, and finally stepped aside to clear the way.

But the bright smile had vanished from her face, replaced by an expression that plainly said, "I'm unhappy." "Fine, don't let me read it! Cheapskate! You'll publish it sooner or later anyway!"

Yan Si secretly breathed a sigh of relief and quickly stepped out of the room into the courtyard.

Still, he found it somewhat strange. Yoruichi had actually been so reasonable today?

Based on her usual personality, shouldn't she have simply snatched it from him?

Had two years as a captain truly made her more mature and steady?

He could not help recalling his days at the Central Spirit Arts Academy. Back when he had trained bitterly in the Forest of Swords, trying to overcome his instinctive fear while in an "unguarded" state, this elusive woman had always suddenly appeared in black clothes and a mask to "spar" with him.

She had forced him to erupt again and again at the edge of life and death before he finally mastered the technique of condensing spiritual power to its absolute limit.

That dark period of one-sided "torture" had only improved two years ago, after she officially became captain and grew busy with official duties.

It seems time really can change a person...

As Yan Si reflected, he absentmindedly reached into his sleeve to check on that precious manuscript...

His movement abruptly froze, and his face changed in an instant.

N-No, something's wrong! Where's my manuscript?!

His sleeve was completely empty!