Bowing to Reality, Su Feng's Style

Rukongai was where souls from the Human World arrived after Shinigami performed the Soul Burial on them.

Souls who came here were issued sorting tickets and assigned to one of eighty districts in the east, west, south, or north according to the order of their deaths.

The First District had good security and ample food, making it an ideal place to live.

In contrast, the Eightieth District was barren, with famine everywhere. Souls often fought and killed one another for food.

As the Seventy-Eighth District of Rukongai, Inutsuke had exceptionally poor security. Let alone nobles, even Shinigami rarely came here to carry out missions.

It could be said that the actions of the Lower Aristocrat Arisugawa Clan were beyond the understanding of these soldiers who had come from Rukongai.

Thus, when they received the detailed mission briefing, every one of them was filled with confusion.

However, Nanao Ise, formerly of the Eighth Division, answered the questions that had arisen in everyone's minds with outstanding professionalism.

"Generally speaking, ordinary souls only need to absorb reishi from the atmosphere and drink a small amount of water to survive."

"But for souls with higher Spiritual Power, absorbing reishi from the air alone is nowhere near enough to sustain their lives. In addition to the necessary water supply, they also require a great deal of food."

Nanao Ise pushed up the gold-rimmed glasses resting on her delicate nose bridge and explained expressionlessly:

"And such souls are usually the source of Shinigami from Rukongai. I believe you all understand this deeply."

Rangiku Matsumoto nodded repeatedly, looking as though she would die for someone who truly understood her.

As a soul who had nearly starved to death, her time in Rukongai remained vivid in her memory.

The ten Shinigami Soldiers also wore sorrowful expressions.

Life in Rukongai had not been easy. The districts near the front were somewhat better, but in places like Inutsuke, Zaraki District, and Kusajishi, it was practically a death sentence.

The past was too painful to revisit.

"One of the Arisugawa Clan's objectives is now clear."

Nanao Ise paused. She casually glanced at Su Feng beside her, and only continued after seeing that he had no intention of interrupting her.

"To gather souls with high potential for Spiritual Power."

Su Feng listened quietly, with no visible change in expression.

Deep down, he sighed. Getting Nanao Ise from Mr. Shunsui was definitely the best decision I've made lately. This is far too worry-free.

I don't even have to think anymore.

Actually.

From beginning to end, Su Feng had never cared about the Arisugawa Clan's objective.

Strictly speaking, none of that mattered.

He only wanted to bring the criminals to justice.

That was all.

"I have yet to determine the Arisugawa Clan's ultimate objective."

Nanao Ise's voice grew a few degrees colder. "But without question, their actions have already seriously violated the laws of Soul Society."

Su Feng nodded slightly. "You should all understand now. Prepare to depart for Rukongai."

"Captain, shouldn't we submit an application to the First Division to pass through the Seireimon?"

Rangiku Matsumoto raised a hand. "If it isn't an emergency mission, we need to report it to the First Division."

Su Feng glanced sideways at her and replied calmly, "Too troublesome. When you work with me, don't bother considering such tedious procedures."

"We'll just leave under the name of the Tsunayashiro Family."

With that, he headed straight toward the Seireimon.

The others could not help but stare blankly.

They watched Su Feng's retreating back, and only then realized that their newly appointed captain's way of doing things was completely different from that of other captains.

Including the former captain, Kensei Muguruma.

Before Shūwamon, the southern Seireimon.

Su Feng did not even need to say a word before Bigau Inudō, who was responsible for guarding the place, briskly lifted the Seireimon.

As one of Soul Society's Four Great Heroes, Bigau Inudō was built like a mountain, and his vicious face was enough to stop children from crying at night.

Yet when he looked at Su Feng, who was walking at the front, his face was full of fawning deference.

Such an enormous gap in status forced even a proud hero to bow to reality.

"Captain Su Feng, safe travels!"

Even while holding up the Seireimon, Bigau Inudō did not forget to bid him farewell.

The completely different treatment from when they had entered and exited the Seireitei before left Rangiku Matsumoto and the others with strange expressions.

"What a hypocrite..."

Walking beside Su Feng, Rangiku Matsumoto complained, "When I went out last time, I still had to show an approval notice from the First Division."

Su Feng cast her a casual glance and replied indifferently, "The Tsunayashiro Family crest is much more useful than that thing."

Once you had used privilege, there was no going back.

Rukongai covered far more land than the Seireitei. Even though everyone from the Ninth Division hurried at full speed, the journey still took quite some time.

Inutsuke District.

Filthy and chaotic, it reeked of mixed odors. People of all kinds came and went, and in the dark corners, one could even see corpses twisted into bizarre postures.

After the Seventieth District, Rukongai's environment became extremely poor.

But the state of Inutsuke District still exceeded some of the soldiers' expectations.

Though they had all come from Rukongai, the vast majority had lived in the earlier districts. Places as vile as Inutsuke were generally considered forbidden zones.

Even after becoming Shinigami, they had never come here to carry out a mission.

"Which direction is the Arisugawa Clan's base?"

Faced with this sight, Su Feng remained as calm as ever, with barely any change in expression.

He had lived in Rukongai for a time, so it was naturally easier for him to adapt.

"In the northern outskirts, at a place called Fushimi Mountain."

Before setting out, Nanao Ise had already memorized all the information concerning this mission.

At the foot of Fushimi Mountain, there was nothing but desolation.

Only a single manor stood there.

Souls in ragged clothes but with vicious-looking faces entered and left it.

"Captain, shouldn't we record this?"

Rangiku Matsumoto reminded him, "This is evidence of the Arisugawa Clan trading water resources."

"Why go through all that trouble?" Su Feng asked, puzzled. "Have you still not understood Su Feng's Style?"

As they spoke.

The group had already arrived near the manor at the foot of Fushimi Mountain.

Su Feng looked toward Nanao Ise on his left. "I remember that you're quite talented in Kido, but you've never had a good teacher to guide you in depth."

"What the Soul Reaper Academy teaches is not enough to make someone truly strong."

"So don't blink. Watch carefully, and remember what happens next."

As soon as he finished speaking, Su Feng raised his right hand and aimed it at the distant manor. His calm voice rang beside Nanao Ise's ear:

"Bones of beasts scattered about! Spire, red crystal, steel wheels! Motion is wind, stillness is sky! The sound of spears striking echoes through the empty city!"

"Hado #63: Raikoho!"

Brilliant, dazzling golden light bloomed in his palm, illuminating the somewhat dim sky.

Thunder roared like divine punishment as explosive lightning tore through the air and struck the manor with perfect accuracy.

Before everyone's utterly horrified eyes, the outer perimeter of the manor collapsed at once. Billowing dust rose up, completely swallowing this Arisugawa Clan base!