Arriving One Step Too Late, the Correct Use of Gakushi Tsuishou

One of the disciples most valued by Genryusai Shigekuni Yamamoto, the first captain and Captain-Commander since the founding of the Shinigami Academy.

Though frail and sickly, he was immensely powerful and well liked throughout the Gotei 13.

If not for his health preventing him from appearing before the public often, Jushiro Ukitake might have surpassed Aizen to become the most popular captain.

Of course, that pleasant side of him was limited to those on his own side.

His life had been full of hardship. As a child, he had nearly died from lung disease, so the fact that he became a captain at all proved his life was tough enough to endure it.

Su Feng did not wish to comment too much on Jushiro Ukitake as a person, but Aizen's assessment that he was overly lofty did fit him rather well.

Ever since he became captain of the Thirteenth Division, his clan had often used that title to seek fame and profit, gaining no small amount of influence among the Lower Aristocrats.

The fall of the Ryūdōji Clan had been pushed along by the Ukitake Clan from behind the scenes.

It could even be said that they were one of the masterminds.

However, the petty schemes among nobles had been tangled up for thousands of years, perhaps even longer, so none of them had any right to claim they were clean.

They were all equally filthy.

"The Ukitake Clan..." Rangiku Matsumoto mused. "Captain, are you worried Captain Ukitake might interfere?"

Nanao Ise adjusted her glasses and said seriously, "Captain Ukitake is one of the few current captains with considerable seniority. He is indeed someone we need to take seriously."

"More importantly, he is Captain-Commander Yamamoto's disciple!"

Having once worked in the Eighth Division, Nanao Ise possessed a uniquely advantageous edge when it came to intelligence.

"Eh? That sickly captain is actually Captain-Commander Yamamoto's disciple!?"

Rangiku Matsumoto was especially shocked. She slammed both hands onto the table, immediately causing it to shake violently.

"That is common knowledge." Su Feng pressed down with his hand, signaling for her to calm down. "Besides Captain Ukitake, Captain Kyoraku of the Eighth Division is one as well."

"Don't forget, the Soul Reaper Academy was founded by the Captain-Commander too. His disciples are truly everywhere."

At that point, Su Feng paused before continuing his explanation.

"Actually, I am not worried about Captain Ukitake."

"He is too lofty by nature. He definitely will not interfere in this matter."

"The main concern is that the Ukitake Clan itself possesses a certain degree of unusualness."

The reason Jushiro Ukitake had survived as a child was, in fact, somewhat related to his identity.

When the doctors had declared him beyond saving and given up treatment, Jushiro Ukitake's parents sent him to the shrine of Mimihagi, the native god.

Through a Sacrificial Ritual, they offered his necrotic lungs to Mimihagi, thus preserving his life.

That was where the key issue lay.

How could ordinary families in Rukongai possibly understand Sacrificial Rituals? Even among nobles, only a very small number possessed the power of ritual.

In Su Feng's recollection, only the priestly Ise Family presided over rituals.

All the signs indicated that the Ukitake Clan was not as simple as it appeared.

"The squad members are far too weak."

Su Feng had his own considerations. "The three of us will handle this mission."

Ikkaku Madarame's hellish training had only just begun, and it would be difficult to see results anytime soon.

When it came to missions of greater difficulty, Su Feng felt it was more convenient to act personally.

Rangiku Matsumoto and Nanao Ise were reasonably capable as well. They could serve perfectly well as assistants.

"Get ready. We leave immediately."

"Yes, Captain!"

East Rukongai, 32nd Snow District.

After organizing the relevant intelligence, the three of them went directly to the sole remaining base of the Ryūdōji Clan remnants under Nanao Ise's guidance.

After passing through several streets, a dilapidated manor came into view.

Though it still bore the name of nobility, the Ryūdōji Clan no longer possessed any of a noble clan's substance.

Even the manor they lived in had become decrepit beyond measure, worse than the homes of ordinary Rukongai residents.

There was not even a guard at the entrance. It was shabby to the extreme.

Su Feng did not bother hiding anything and walked straight through the gates into the manor.

Rangiku Matsumoto and Nanao Ise exchanged a glance, then followed closely behind Su Feng.

What met their eyes was utter devastation.

Charred earth had been overturned, ravines crisscrossed the ground, and massive pits lay scattered throughout.

"Looks like we arrived one step too late."

Su Feng swept his gaze around, attempting to find some clue.

Rangiku Matsumoto used Shunpo and rushed into the manor to search for evidence.

Nanao Ise stepped forward, crouched beside one of the ravines, and used Kido to capture the reishi lingering within.

"The reishi activity is below average. The battle should have ended not long ago."

Rangiku Matsumoto emerged from the building, shook her head, and said slowly, "There are no signs of fighting or searching inside, nor are there any lingering spiritual pressure fluctuations."

Su Feng was not the least bit anxious. As long as the Ryūdōji Clan had not been completely wiped out, there was still room to turn things around.

Besides, even if they had all met a gruesome end.

As long as he brought the mastermind to justice, that should count as completing an apprehension mission, right?

"There are almost no usable clues."

Su Feng sighed, stepped up beside Nanao Ise, crouched down, and held his right hand hovering over the ravine.

"In that case, we can only break the deadlock through brute force."

"Heart of the south, eye of the north, fingertip of the west, toe of the east, gather with the wind and scatter with the rain!"

Brilliant Kido light blossomed in Su Feng's palm, while complex Kido Incantation patterns emerged along the ravines in the ground.

Once he had fully mastered this Bakudo, he could even skip the step of drawing out the Kido Incantation patterns.

"Bakudo #58: Gakushi Tsuishou!"

As his words fell, a massive pillar of light shot into the sky.

Su Feng's spiritual pressure spread out instantly, like an invisible giant net enveloping the entire 32nd Snow District and continuing to expand farther and farther outward.

Nanao Ise stared at Su Feng in shock. What was happening before her truly exceeded her understanding.

She had mastered Bakudo #58 as well.

But releasing it as effortlessly as Su Feng had was far beyond her capabilities.

Not to mention that suffocatingly powerful spiritual pressure.

Nanao Ise carefully memorized the frequency of Su Feng's spiritual pressure, refining her own understanding of Gakushi Tsuishou.

A moment later.

Su Feng ceased releasing the Bakudo and withdrew his spiritual pressure.

"I've caught their location."

"Rukongai's 76th Nigoku District."

He rose to his feet and walked out of the manor, urging them on without looking back.

"Stop standing around and hurry after me."

"I am worried that if we delay any longer, the Ryūdōji Clan will be completely erased from Soul Society."

Su Feng did not know much about Rukongai.

But he happened to know a little about the Nigoku District.

Just as he had said earlier, the Ukitake Clan itself possessed a certain degree of unusualness.

At the far end of East Rukongai, there was a legend of a native god.

An object that had fallen from the heavens in ancient times, an object used to worship the Soul King's Right Arm.

Mimihagi...