How About You Think Again?

Seeing the face of Sennichi, everyone in the Central 46 was so shocked they were rendered speechless. How long had it been since Shihoin Sennichi last appeared in public? Thirty years, perhaps?

No one expected him to show up today. And alone, at that? Furthermore, he had come directly to the Council Chamber.

One must understand that ever since the establishment of the Central 46, the Four Great Noble Houses had never stepped foot in this place lightly.

What was going on?!

Shihoin Sennichi gazed up at the rows of seats above, surveying the room with a beaming smile before speaking in a slow, leisurely tone: "I believe the two individuals recommended by Captain-Commander Yamamoto should be granted an exception for admission into the Shino Academy."

A faint, almost imperceptible pressure of spiritual energy spread through the air. The council members present felt as if an invisible hand were gripping their throats; though they could breathe, they found themselves utterly unable to speak.

"B-but, Lord Shihoin, I fear this is not in accordance with the regulations..." The First Seat, the only one who didn't feel the same physical constraint, stammered, unsure of how to conduct himself.

If the Four Great Noble Houses had not relinquished a portion of their power to the rising noble families back then, the Central 46 would never have had the opportunity to exist.

Regardless of their wealth or the height of their seats, none of the members present were qualified to be mentioned in the same breath as the Four Great Noble Houses, let alone when the head of one of those houses was present in person.

Moreover, as the only one of the Four Great Noble Houses to join the Court Guard Squad and lead a division independently, the Shihoin clan—with their "Heavenly Gifted Armament"—was undeniably formidable in terms of individual combat prowess.

Even if the council members held objections, they dared only express them in the softest of tones and the most roundabout of ways.

Shihoin Sennichi continued in his slow, leisurely manner: "The two youths recommended managed to destroy an intelligence stronghold of the rebel forces in the Danzhao District entirely on their own.

Such merit and potential, I feel, make them perfectly suited for advanced study at the Shino Academy. If any of you have objections, feel free to voice them!"

His voice was soft, his tone light. Yet, to the ears of the Central 46 members, it sounded like a continuous roll of thunder exploding beside them. It was the crushing pressure born of status and soul strength.

Furthermore, this time even the First Seat felt his throat being constricted, unable to utter a single sound. Several council members, fearing that Shihoin Sennichi was about to kill them on the spot, were so terrified they nearly wet themselves.

Yamamoto, standing to the side, frowned impatiently: "When will you learn to speak as quickly as you fight, Sennichi?"

Shihoin Sennichi didn't mind at all. He reached up and casually brushed his snow-white hair, looking as refreshing as a spring breeze:

"I am indeed just as fast now—ever since my legs were broken, my Hakuda speed has become about as fast as an ox."

"You fellow..." The corner of Yamamoto's eye twitched imperceptibly.

He cleared his throat and spoke again: "Those with merit should be rewarded, and those with crimes should be punished. To destroy an intelligence stronghold with only two youths—to reward such merit merely with admission to the Shino Academy without an entrance exam already seems somewhat stingy.

Of course, if any of you present can nominate someone with more outstanding merit than these two children, then I, too, shall raise my hand in favor of waiving the entrance exam for them."

Shihoin Sennichi nodded, a foolish grin on his face: "That's right, that's right, I agree as well.

With merit like this, none of the Four Great Noble Houses would have any objections to them being granted an exception to enter the Shino Academy without an exam. If no one objects, let us begin the vote."

The First Seat, hiding behind a screen, was both shocked and furious. His clenched fists trembled incessantly. After a long silence, he finally said helplessly: "Let us vote by a show of hands."

Every council member present raised their hand: thirty-five to zero, passed unanimously.

Shihoin Sennichi raised an eyebrow: "It has passed. How delightful!—Captain-Commander, please give me a hand on the way out; my legs aren't very nimble..."

A flash of resentment crossed Yamamoto's face, which had just returned to calm. He shot him a look of annoyance: "If you can't walk, then spend the night here. After all, this is one of the two safest places in the Seireitei."

Shihoin Sennichi wore an expression of disappointment and injury: "Ah, how heartless. Genryūsai, as a friend, I want to tell you something..."

Yamamoto, who was walking out, slowed his pace: "What is it?"

Shihoin Sennichi leaned in as if it were a serious matter: "It's just, let me tell you... my superior, the Captain-Commander, is a jerk who discards people once they've served their purpose!"

He dropped this line quickly into Yamamoto's ear and walked away, laughing heartily. His cane made a dodo sound on the floor, the rhythm growing faster and faster...

Yamamoto: ...

Meanwhile, inside the "Kirin Spring Bath" operated by the Kirinji family.

"Why is it so hot..." Lin Nan, covered in bandages, woke up from a wave of sweltering heat. He opened his eyes groggily and was immediately startled. "Holy crap!"

A face so thin it looked like skin stretched over bone was hanging upside down right in front of him, with small but piercingly sharp eyes staring intensely at him.

Moreover, even though that face was still some distance away, Lin Nan felt something poking his chin. He looked closely—it was the tip of an exaggeratedly long pompadour.

A face-to-face scare is the most lethal; Lin Nan let out a loud shout and sat up instinctively.

The man reacted with lightning speed. Seeing Lin Nan move, he tilted his head up nimbly—but didn't dodge in time.

Bang!

Kirinji let out a miserable shriek, clutching his chin in pain.

Lin Nan held his forehead, turning to look at the man behind him who was rubbing his chin with teary eyes, and felt a sudden moment of stunned silence.

This is... Tenjirō Kirinji? I've arrived at the Royal Palace?!

Tenjirō Kirinji, in the original work, was the Eastern Divine General belonging to Squad Zero, known as the "Hot Spring Demon."

"Are you..." Lin Nan almost blurted out the man's name, but caught himself just in time, forcing the words back.

Kirinji didn't answer, continuing to wear a mask of agony: "Why is your head so hard, you brat? You've nearly flattened my handsome chin!"

Lin Nan looked around his surroundings with curiosity, discovering that he was in a tall wooden building. There wasn't much furniture inside, just a coat rack against the wall and a row of towel racks.

He wasn't lying on a bed, but a wide bench. Kirinji must have been leaning over the end of the bench to observe him at such close range, otherwise, they wouldn't have collided.

Is this the Royal Palace? He looked toward the door suspiciously, but unfortunately, it was already dark, and he couldn't see a thing.

"Where is this?"

Tenjirō Kirinji finally recovered from the pain and casually stuck the blade of grass he was holding into his mouth. "I saved your life, and you don't even have a 'thank you' to start with? Huh?!" As he spoke, he extended his thumb to point at his own chest, placed his other hand on his hip, and looked up at the sky.

"Kid, the one who spent an entire afternoon saving your life is none other than the greatest genius in the Seireitei and even the entire Soul Society—Lord Tenjirō Kirinji! You are currently in my very own residence!"

This pose and the firm, booming voice completely stunned Lin Nan. He muttered a thank you in a somewhat dazed manner, then looked at that sky-piercing pompadour and asked with a hint of hesitation:

"Man, I actually wanted to ask you this a moment ago... why do you have a bicycle seat on your head?"

"I told you to thank me! I didn't tell you to ask that!" Kirinji broke character in a second, veins popping out on his forehead. "I like it! Just because I am the greatest genius in the Soul Society!—What even is a bicycle seat??"

"That's not important." Lin Nan blinked curiously. "The greatest? Stronger than Unohana Kenpachi? Stronger than Captain-Commander Yamamoto?"

After some thought, he was certain in his heart that the current Kirinji had definitely not yet joined Squad Zero.

The five members of Squad Zero all had their bodies modified by the Oken, granting them extraordinary durability; they would never be in so much pain that they couldn't stand straight for a long time just from a headbutt from him.

Lin Nan was very interested in this era's Kirinji, after all, Unohana's Kaidō was learned from him. A master of Kaidō who was nicknamed "Thunder Swift" for his proficiency in Shunpo was akin to a famous doctor who was also an expert at long-distance running.

It was hard to imagine what Kirinji had experienced in his career to train such exquisite Shunpo. Perhaps his patients were all very fast runners?

Hearing the name Unohana, Kirinji's momentum instantly deflated. "Why are you bringing her up?"

He still couldn't forget the way he had frantically used Shunpo to dodge Unohana's explosive slashes.

Lin Nan shook his head. "I didn't mean anything by it. Those are just the only two people I've heard the title of 'the greatest' associated with. Though I haven't seen Captain-Commander Yamamoto fight, I do know a little about Captain Unohana..."

Kirinji scoffed. "You little brat, what do you know!"

"Not much, after all, I didn't fight her for very long..."

Kirinji whipped his head toward Lin Nan, his pompadour swaying violently, looking hilariously comical. "What did you say?? You fought her? How did you fight? Rock-paper-scissors?"

Lin Nan reached out and mimicked a slashing motion. "Just with a blade."

Kirinji instinctively widened his eyes, his small pupils filled with confusion. "You mean... you can fight that crazy woman? And you actually survived?"

Lin Nan nodded.

"No wonder Yamamoto was willing to step in personally at noon today to make me save your life!" The grass in Kirinji's mouth wobbled. "You're not just a genius anymore, you should be called a monster!"

Looking at that hairstyle, you're the real monster, Lin Nan thought to himself.

Kirinji patted Lin Nan on the shoulder. "Enough small talk, it's time to continue the treatment."

He led the way, guiding Lin Nan out of the house.

In the middle of the courtyard, a four-meter-square hot spring enclosed by stones was emitting wisps of steam.

Kirinji chewed on his grass, his earlier embarrassment gone, and said with a smug look, "This is the treatment method I've newly researched: the [Spirit Hot Spring]! From now on, you will soak in this hot spring! One day! I guarantee you'll be as good as new."

As he spoke, his expression darkened slightly, and he looked a bit uncomfortable. "Also, I have a request. Could you write down your detailed feelings while soaking in the bath?"

Lin Nan had long known about Kirinji's hot spring therapy from the original work. But faced with this question, he couldn't help but ask out of curiosity, "This... why do you need this? Are you planning to open a bathhouse later? Collecting customer feedback in advance?"

Kirinji looked at Lin Nan with solemn sincerity and replied, "No, since this Spirit Hot Spring was designed, no one has used it yet. You are the first test subject. So your experience is very important to me!"

After saying this, the usually arrogant and conceited man forced himself to endure his discomfort, frowned, and bowed to Lin Nan. "I'm counting on you!"

Lin Nan looked at his expression; it felt just like someone bowing ninety degrees to you while asking, "Is this melon ripe?"

Lin Nan remained silent for a long time.

He had thought he was entering an intensive care unit, but it turned out he was here to be a lab rat.

He swallowed hard and asked in a low voice, "I don't feel like I'm that unhealthy right now, so is this really necessary?

How about... you think about it again?"