Join If You Can't Beat Them

Under the suspicious gazes of the crowd, Lin Nan laid his Asauchi flat, pointing the tip directly at the sphere of water formed by the Azure Wave Barrier: "Way of Destruction, Number Eleven, Tsuzuri Raiden!"

In a dim corner of the Spirit Arts Academy under the night sky, a flash of blue light suddenly streaked across the air.

Everyone from the Noble Rights Protection Association, including Omaeda, collapsed to the ground in agony, twitching uncontrollably. For those with weaker constitutions, faint wisps of black smoke even drifted from their mouths.

Lin Nan walked slowly over to the incapacitated Omaeda Marechiyo, looking down at the group still shivering on the ground with a tone as sharp as shards of ice: "Normally, I don't bother those who don't bother me. Understand now? To deal with the likes of you, I don't even need to draw my blade."

Omaeda, still unable to control the tremors racking his body, could only nod tremblingly.

"Since that's the case, I'll spare you today."

Lin Nan truly couldn't be bothered to look at these people for another second. He dropped that single sentence and headed straight toward the dormitories.

However, he hadn't walked for even ten minutes before he discovered Amamiya Keiji, who was struggling to get up from the ground beside a secluded path.

He stepped forward to lend a hand, pulling Amamiya up. In the faint light of the streetlamp, he saw that the other boy's face was bruised and swollen.

"What happened to you? Don't tell me you just tripped."

Amamiya lowered his eyes, heavy with troubled thoughts, and lightly touched his purple-black eye socket. He winced in pain and retorted stubbornly, "Leave me alone. Just let me die."

"Oh, quite the temper. Can't you understand a kind gesture?"

Lin Nan didn't have a good impression of Amamiya at all, and he turned to leave after tossing out that remark. But before he could walk away, a thought flashed through his mind.

"The people from the Noble Rights Protection Association just passed by... you weren't beaten by them, were you?"

Amamiya's face flushed red, as if his shameful secret had been exposed.

Lin Nan observed his expression, and in his heart, he had already guessed the truth.

"They wanted you to join them? And when you refused, they bullied you?"

Amamiya's face twisted further, his knuckles turning deathly pale from the force of his grip: "Those bastards... ganging up on me!"

"I thought you were quite interested in cozying up to nobles, so why didn't you agree?" Lin Nan asked, watching him with interest.

"Who doesn't want a noble as a backer? It's just... I can't stand their ways. It's despicable! And..." Amamiya trailed off.

"And what?" Lin Nan noticed the subtle shift in his expression and pressed further.

"And, among them are some of my former friends! Now that they've latched onto the upperclassmen, they've turned around and laid hands on me! They even threatened that if I don't submit, they'll come back to beat me again tomorrow!"

The more Amamiya spoke, the more grief and indignation he felt, and he began to tremble uncontrollably.

Lin Nan sighed: "At least now you know who your real friends are and who the fake ones are—they were probably just like you used to be, desperate to find a good backer. Now that they've latched onto the Noble Rights Protection Association, they can just discard you.

You really need to relearn how to make friends, classmate!"

Amamiya Keiji kept his head down, tears swirling in his eyes, but he forced his eyes wide to keep them from falling.

Lin Nan was right; he really did need to learn how to make friends.

When the term started, Ukitake, a commoner, was bullied, yet a high noble like Kyoraku stepped in to help him; even Lin Nan, also a commoner, had acted immediately without fear of offending wealthy merchant sons like himself.

Even with the status of being the Head Captain's disciples, the other two could have easily stood by and watched.

And his so-called friends? On the first day of school, when he was put in his place by Lin Nan, not one of them stepped forward to help; and today, even more so...

Before coming to the Spirit Arts Academy, his father had grabbed his hands and urged him, "The future of the Amamiya House depends on you; you must make useful friends at school!"

But what is a friend? And what is friendship?

Lin Nan watched the silent Amamiya quietly, as if he had guessed what the other was thinking: "Don't be sad. It's a good thing to recognize early on whether someone is a true friend."

Amamiya struggled to control his emotions, sniffled, and said in a low voice: "Will I ever have a chance to have friends like you, Ukitake, and Kyoraku?"

Lin Nan blinked slightly, a hint of surprise appearing in his eyes, but then he understood and smiled: "Sincerity is exchanged for sincerity. You can have them too."

"Then... can I be your friend?"

"Uh... it's not impossible. But you can't keep being a snob who worships wealth like before, otherwise, we definitely won't get along."

"I will change! I want to become better, stronger! And then make those bastards pay the price!" Amamiya growled, venting the grievances in his heart.

Lin Nan didn't speak, just watched him quietly.

"Thank you for staying with me for so long, Lin Nan. I'm sorry for making a fool of myself." Amamiya wiped his face with his sleeve and bowed to Lin Nan.

Lin Nan waved his hand impatiently: "Don't do that with me, I don't like it."

Amamiya stood up, turned to look in the direction Lin Nan had come from, and suddenly asked: "You came from that way too? Didn't you run into them? They were heading in that direction just now."

Lin Nan smiled slightly: "I did run into them!"

Amamiya was puzzled. Whenever those people from the Noble Rights Protection Association encountered non-noble freshmen, they usually bullied them—either forcing them to join or using force to conquer them.

He knew Lin Nan was a commoner, so how could he have avoided being harassed by them?

"Oh... because you're the Head Captain's disciple, they didn't dare touch you?" Amamiya realized.

Lin Nan curled his lip: "What? I can't just go around bragging about my status to everyone—those guys, I beat them all into the dirt."

Amamiya looked at Lin Nan in disbelief.

One against a dozen, and he still won! As expected of a disciple of Head Captain Yamamoto, he was truly strong!

"Lin-sang, since you are so powerful, please guide me in my studies from now on! I must become stronger so that I am qualified to be your friend!"

"Please, you must accept me. I will absolutely draw a clear line between myself and that group!" Amamiya bowed to Lin Nan once more without the slightest hesitation.

Lin Nan hurriedly reached out to support his shoulders and helped him stand up. "Didn't I say it already? I don't like seeing people bow."

Looking at Amamiya's expression, his heart suddenly stirred. That gaze was so earnest, so firm; it seemed he truly wanted to turn over a new leaf.

A thought suddenly popped into Lin Nan's mind. He suddenly felt a twinge of regret for having let the Noble Rights Protection Association off so easily just moments ago.

"Amamiya, as long as you are sincere, the three of us are willing to be your friends."

"Really?! Rest assured, I am absolutely sincere! To prove myself, I am willing to do anything! I will definitely draw a line with those former friends of mine and not be like them, bullying the weak and fawning over the rich!"

Lin Nan shook his head and said slowly, "Uh, actually, there is indeed something I would like to ask of you. This matter might be most suitable for you to handle."

"Tell me, I'll agree to anything!" Amamiya nodded hurriedly.

Lin Nan hesitated in his heart for a long time before finally speaking the words: "Tomorrow, if they come to give you trouble again, do not resist. Since you cannot beat them, then just join them."

There is no such thing as an airtight wall in this world. As long as someone has ever set their sights on the Zanpakuto within the Spirit Arts Academy, they must have left behind some traces.

The members of the Noble Rights Protection Association span from the first to the sixth year, so they are bound to come into contact with gossip and rumors.

Therefore, he might as well let Amamiya Keiji act as an undercover agent; perhaps he would discover something. However, to ensure Amamiya Keiji's safety, Lin Nan did not tell him the truth.

Although Amamiya was puzzled, out of his hatred for the Noble Rights Protection Association, he was still willing to give it a try.

Over the next few days, Lin Nan did not initiate contact with Amamiya, so as to leave the other party enough time to integrate into the organization. After all, one could not expect to gather any information in the early stages. Everything was aimed at completing the infiltration and becoming a true member of their group.

During these few days, Lin Nan and the three of them, including Kyoraku, also had to build their personas according to the plan in order to solidify their images and ensure the plan proceeded smoothly.

However, on Lin Nan's side, things began to develop in an uncontrollable direction.