Two Beggars in the Courtyard

The morning sun gradually illuminated the sky over the Seireitei. As the first rays of light shone into the bedroom of Yamamoto Shigekuni, the sound of hurried footsteps rang out just outside his door.

The extreme vigilance born from years of warfare caused Yamamoto to open his eyes instantly, his left hand reaching for his Zanpakuto, Ryujin Jakka, which rested by his bedside.

"Lord Genryusai! Lord Genryusai! Something has happened!" Outside the door, the anxious voice of Sasakibe accompanied a light knocking.

"Chojiro? Why such panic?" Yamamoto donned his outer robe and opened the door with a look of bewilderment.

Sasakibe looked at Yamamoto Shigekuni with a face full of worry: "I have just received news that your Gen Private School was attacked last night!"

"What? How did this happen?" Yamamoto was shocked by the news.

"It is not yet clear. According to the reports from the night watchmen, several explosions occurred in the courtyard starting in the latter half of the night, followed by a massive fire!" The anxiety was etched onto Sasakibe's face. "Please, you must return and see for yourself!"

As Yamamoto's most capable assistant for the past millennium, the Gen Private School was like a home to Sasakibe. With something happening to his home, how could he not be anxious?

"No matter. We shall go and see at once." Yamamoto's face was as cold as water; he returned to his room to dress properly, grabbed his Zanpakuto, and stepped out.

Since the location was outside the Seireitei, the two immediately utilized Shunpo. Two afterimages vanished from the spot, speeding toward the southern Rukon District.

The rushing wind could not suppress the thoughts racing through Yamamoto's mind: The First District of the Rukon District has always been the most secure area. How could the Gen Private School, located in the First District of the South Rukon, possibly be attacked!?

Hearing Genryusai's question, Sasakibe frowned and said, "Could it be that rebel forces launched a sneak attack under the cover of night?"

Yamamoto's brows twitched slightly: "Unlikely. I do not reside there; attacking the Gen Private School serves no purpose. But if this truly is their cowardly handiwork, I shall burn them all to ashes!"

The two pushed their Shunpo to the limit, the scenery on both sides flashing past Yamamoto's vision. For the first time, a hint of worry flickered in his eyes.

That fellow Kyoraku... he shouldn't be in any trouble, should he?

Gen Private School.

Sunlight pierced through a large hole smashed into the perimeter wall, casting beams onto the dojo floor. Within the light passing through the wall, dust motes were clearly visible.

Beside a pile of broken bamboo and wooden swords, a ray of sunlight acted like a spotlight, landing precisely on the face of Kyoraku Shunsui, who was slumped against the wall.

"You are the thick-skinned person I have ever met... neither bamboo nor wooden swords could leave a mark on you..." Kyoraku Shunsui's hair was a mess, his face was bruised, his clothes were in tatters, and his entire body was covered in black and blue marks. He panted heavily, "I believe you now when you say you can fight Unohana and survive. You are just too durable."

Lin Nan stood before Kyoraku with an expressionless face. His own face and body were blackened by soot from flames and explosions, and his clothes were shredded, with a few spots even still smoldering. However, judging by the skin visible through the tears in his clothing, he had not suffered any real injuries.

He reached out and casually patted out a spark on his sleeve, looking at Kyoraku with piercing eyes: "Shall we continue?"

Kyoraku Shunsui waved his hand helplessly and shook his head: "No more. I concede. We fought all night; my Reiatsu is completely exhausted, yet you don't have a single scratch. What kind of monster are you?"

Lin Nan reached out to straighten his ruined clothes, not answering: "I just bought these clothes. You have to compensate me."

"Fine, fine, I'll pay." Kyoraku waved his hand, barely having the strength left to speak.

Last night, he had exhausted every trick in his arsenal, from "Shadow Sneak" to close-quarters combat, even adding the strongest Kido he could currently muster.

Under such an onslaught, even the building had been set ablaze and collapsed by his own Kido. He never expected that he still couldn't do a thing to Lin Nan. In the end, he was the one beaten black and blue.

Lin Nan relaxed slightly and laughed: "All this tossing and turning all night has made me so hungry. If I had known, I should have just fought seriously from the start until you conceded." After saying this, he turned and walked toward the kitchen, which had half its roof blown off.

Kyoraku: ???

Is he joking? He wasn't even serious yet?

Before long, Lin Nan returned with two bowls that were broken until only the larger halves remained, a look of satisfaction on his face: "Good thing, good thing. I used a board to cover the bowls while we were fighting. Even though the bowls are broken, the noodles aren't dirty. Let's make do with a bite!"

After speaking, he shoved a bowl toward Kyoraku and picked up his own chopsticks, burying his head in the food.

Kyoraku Shunsui caught his breath. Watching Lin Nan wolfing down the food, an irresistible hunger surged within him. He couldn't help but swallow, then picked up his own chopsticks and began to eat slowly—his face was so swollen he didn't dare open his mouth too wide.

"I am a person who is very gentle as long as others don't bully me...

Look, am I not very easygoing right now? Also, how is my cooking?... Ugh, it's been a night, the noodles have gone soggy... but you have to admit the flavor is incredible, right!

Eh? Why aren't you saying anything? Do you not like to talk??" Lin Nan chattered on incessantly to Kyoraku while he ate.

Although the noodles were soggy, they were still delicious. Kyoraku Shunsui was both famished and craving the food, but because his mouth hurt, he could only eat in tiny, cautious bites. Tears of grievance flowed uncontrollably from the corners of his eyes.

Do you see me having the time to talk to you? It's hard enough for me to even eat these noodles right now.

He pointed at himself helplessly and said with great effort through his swollen face: "Can we finish eating before we chat? This is too difficult for me right now."

Lin Nan paused, then nodded: "Oh... my oversight... you really aren't very durable, are you? Tell you what, I'll make you some porridge tonight..."

Two figures flashed into the outskirts of Danzhao. Yamamoto Shigekuni's face was as cold as water, his gaze fixed ahead. Not far away, faint blue smoke was drifting up from the courtyard of the Gen Private School.

"Lord Genryusai, please wait a moment. I will go ahead and scout the situation to ensure there are no enemy ambushes!" Sasakibe Chojiro drew his Zanpakuto and used Shunpo to leap onto the highest small building nearby, peering into the Gen Private School.

Yamamoto said nothing, staring blankly at the Gen Private School that had nearly been destroyed.

He had spent a thousand years moving it from the depths of the Rukon District to the First District, the closest point to the Seireitei.

This small private school had taught many students, but almost all of them had fallen in the great war two hundred years ago and the subsequent years of endless conflict.

Now, even it had nearly become a ruin.

Yamamoto felt a fire burning fiercely in his chest. What had been destroyed was not just a small courtyard, but a millennium of memories, past events, and the faces and voices of those departed students.

He gripped the scabbard of Ryujin Jakka tightly. Around this seemingly plain-looking Zanpakuto, even the air began to ripple with visible distortion due to the immense heat it radiated.

Before long, Sasakibe Chojiro returned and knelt to report: "My Lord, there are no open flames inside. I found no bloodstains; the attackers likely did not kill anyone in the chaos, but I could not find any trace of Young Master Kyoraku. However..."

Yamamoto's gaze sharpened, and he asked in a deep voice: "However what?"

Sasakibe hesitated, as if confirming he hadn't misjudged the situation, and then said: "However... I saw two beggars in the courtyard, crouching in the corner eating noodles..."

Yamamoto: ???