Just Had a Dream, Then Found Some Idiot at My Bedside with a Knife to My Throat, Demanding an Update

"What's wrong with him?"

Shyarly watched Wu Biao wolfing down his food at the table and couldn't help asking. The freeloader usually never stopped talking at mealtimes—not with his mouth full, but with his mouth running.

Whenever it was time to eat, Wu Biao always had all sorts of topics to chatter about, and it was enough to drive anyone up the wall.

But today, Wu Biao was acting extremely strangely. Not only was he sitting there in silence, but his face even wore a rare look of seriousness.

Looks like what that parrot said last night really made Brother Biao angry! Kurosaki Ichigo thought as he finished washing up and watched Brother Biao.

At that thought, Ichigo looked at the parrot on Wu Biao's shoulder and sighed inwardly. No wonder Brother Biao was furious. That scumbag had tormented Yuichi's family while he was alive, and even after death, he still wouldn't leave Yuichi alone.

"I'm full!"

With a bang, Wu Biao set his rice bowl... rice cooker down on the table, then turned to Kurosaki Isshin, who had just come out on the other side. "Boss, I'm going out for a while today. Give me the day off!"

Isshin knew exactly what Wu Biao was planning to do. He nodded to himself, suddenly feeling that this kid was more and more to his liking.

"Go ahead. Be careful!" Isshin said, stepping forward and pulling two bills from his pocket to hand to Wu Biao. "Come back early. If you can't make it back for lunch, buy yourself something to eat!"

"Mm!" Wu Biao nodded, took the money, and stuffed it straight into the pocket of his white coat.

Seeing this, Isshin shook his head. "Use the rest to buy some clothes. You're a fine young man, so don't go wandering around in a white coat all the time!" As he spoke, he shot Ichigo a sidelong glance. Look at him, then look at you. All you ever want is new clothes.

"..." Ichigo's mouth twitched. He didn't need to be told what that look meant, but... he wore his school uniform almost every day. When had he ever asked for new clothes?!

Did you buy me my Shihakusho, or what?

Ignoring the father and son's pointed looks as they bonded, Wu Biao headed straight out the door. Who knew when that bastard Hollow might show up? It was better to leave early, or the Kurosaki Family could get caught in the crossfire!

"You're still here!" As soon as he stepped outside, Wu Biao spotted a familiar figure crouching outside the Kurosaki Clinic. The moment the man saw him come out, he stood up and walked straight over. It was Sado Yasutora.

"I want to help, too!" Sado stated his reason succinctly.

Wu Biao glanced at him. "Then come along." Without another word, he headed off into the distance, with Sado following close behind. The two figures, one tall and one short, gradually disappeared into the morning sunlight.

"Wait—"

Kurosaki Ichigo and Rukia, both in Shinigami form, had caught up at some point. Wu Biao glanced back at them and said expressionlessly, "What are you doing here? I can handle this alone!"

Ichigo chuckled. Brother Biao looked so serious that he had an indescribable presence, enough to make anyone feel a little intimidated. Still, he said, "Brother Biao, I just came to watch. I won't interfere!"

"Suit yourself!"

Wu Biao muttered, then turned to Rukia. "Where exactly do those monsters live? Why can I sense them one moment, then not sense them the next?"

Though he didn't know who this woman was, even someone as slow on the uptake as Wu Biao had noticed the big change in Ichigo since she showed up. It was obviously her doing.

Rukia glanced at Wu Biao, a little surprised, then gathered her thoughts before answering. "Hollows that come to the Human World hide in the space between the Human World and the Soul Society when they aren't doing anything bad. You can only detect them when they come out to attack. Understand?"

"So that's how it is!" Wu Biao nodded with exaggerated seriousness and pondered for a long while. "So... well, if I bring Yuichi along, I'll be able to find him, right?"

Where did you get that "so that's how it is" from...?

Rukia sighed in resignation. "Let's just say it works the way you said."

Meanwhile, Sado had groped his way over to Ichigo. He looked like a little kid playing blind man's buff, feeling his way toward the voices he'd heard.

It had to be said that Ichigo's influence on his friends was already starting to show. Sado still couldn't see spirits, but he could hear them now.

Ichigo couldn't help laughing as he watched Sado feel his way over. He stepped forward, took Sado's hand, and gave it a tug.

"Is that you, Ichigo?"

"That's him!" Wu Biao answered on Ichigo's behalf, then headed straight off into the distance. "Ask him yourself later if you want to know. Anyway, I don't get it. Right now, I just want to knock that bastard flying!"

Ichigo couldn't help smiling at that. Brother Biao made him feel safe—and powerful, too!

Maybe that was just Brother Biao's unique charm. It was why Ichigo had brought him home after meeting him only twice!

The group traveled in silence. With Wu Biao leading the way, they arrived at an abandoned factory. Ichigo looked around and asked, "Brother Biao, how did you know this place was here?"

Wu Biao found a broken rock to sit on, pulled out a cigarette, and lit it before answering with disdain, "It's a hangout for a bunch of little punks. I was itching for a fight last time, so I found them and beat them up."

"..." The three of them fell silent. Sado was all right, but Ichigo and Rukia knew just how much destruction Wu Biao could cause. They couldn't help feeling sorry for those so-called delinquents. Getting targeted by a violent maniac like him couldn't end well.

"Kid, when's that bastard going to show up?" Wu Biao asked Yuichi, who was perched on his shoulder.

Yuichi shook his head. "I don't know, but... he comes out a few times every day. He just doesn't stay out for long."

"Is it to avoid being hunted by the Shinigami?" Rukia wondered. She didn't know that the Hollow had been a serial killer when he was alive and had long since mastered the art of evasion. Once he learned that Shinigami were hunting Hollows, he spent most of his time hiding in the gaps.

He only came out of hiding when it was time to hunt, toying with his prey like a cat playing with a mouse.

As soon as Yuichi finished speaking, Wu Biao suddenly looked into the distance, the corner of his mouth slowly curling into a savage grin. "Looks like the mouse finally came out of its hole!"

Rukia was a little surprised. She couldn't sense anything at all. Had this battle maniac's senses really gotten that sharp? Thinking this, she turned to Ichigo. "Can you sense it?"

"No..." Before Ichigo could finish, his expression darkened. "I just sensed it!" He looked toward the same spot as Wu Biao.

Rukia followed their gazes. Sure enough, a dark shape was approaching from far away in the sky, moving at incredible speed. She couldn't help feeling shaken.

How could anyone have such terrifyingly sharp senses?

The Hell Butterfly hadn't even given a warning yet. That meant the Soul Society hadn't detected the Hollow's arrival either. But the instant it appeared, Wu Biao had already sensed it—and even pinpointed its exact location!

But Jiao Ge definitely wasn't the kind of person in the title who would give in so easily. So, of course... I woke up... then rolled over to write another chapter before going back to sleep.

Please vote and add this to your collection! Xiao Jiao wants to make the new-book rankings, too. If there are enough votes, I'll write three chapters in a row later!