The Strongest Person Joins the Strongest Team

The arrival of Hongjiang and his group successfully drew the attention of some, especially a few vagrants hiding behind tree trunks. They were dressed in rags, covered in filth, and their eyes were filled with greed. To them, the young Hongjiang looked like a walking treasure, a hearty dinner; youth was the one thing that shouldn't exist in this place.

"Still staring? Keep looking and I'll gouge your eyeballs out!" Kamisawa's warning had some effect; at least the vagrants didn't dare to stare as brazenly as before, merely casting occasional glances from the shadows.

Kamisawa felt deeply helpless at this situation. He really wanted to cut these "things" down, but unfortunately, there were too many "merciful" people here, and it wasn't worth starting a conflict over such a trivial matter.

As for Hongjiang, who was being scrutinized, Kamisawa could only shrug and console him: "Don't mind them, just a bunch of vultures. They won't dare approach you unless you're on the verge of death. Of course, if you get injured to the point where you can't move and end up dying at their hands, you can only blame your own bad luck. The Plain of Slaughter never lacks entities that gift death."

Hongjiang smiled and spread his hands noncommittally. He had been mentally prepared for this long ago; if you lose and die, you can't blame the enemy for being despicable, you can only blame yourself for being less skilled.

"Kamisawa, how come you only brought one?"

A voice suddenly came from above. Hongjiang looked toward the source and saw a man jump down from the tree, landing right in front of him. The man's eyes rolled up and down, sizing him up.

"Only one survivor among the new recruits this time? Did you drag your feet, kid?!" As the man spoke, his gaze turned sharp, and a faint killing intent radiated from his body. The few vagrants who were still peeking fearfully hid themselves instinctively.

"Is anyone else coming soon?" Hongjiang spread his hands, completely unaffected by the man's killing intent, and said with a smile: "Maybe it's because they were too slow, and I didn't want to be held back, so I came first."

The man frowned slightly. Although killing intent was merely an outward manifestation of a murderous mind after long periods of slaughter and had no direct impact on combat power, most newcomers who had just arrived here usually couldn't withstand such a direct, piercing aura. He still remembered being taught a good lesson by his seniors when he first arrived at the Plain of Slaughter; back then, he couldn't even speak properly.

But the young man before him was not only unaffected but could even smile and talk back to him. Interesting. At this thought, the corners of the man's mouth couldn't help but curl up. Would someone like this be a burden? He wouldn't even believe it himself if he said it.

"Looks like you've got some skills, kid!" The man said, his right hand touching the Zanpakuto at his waist. "Since I'm bored, want to spar with me for a bit?"

"Don't! If you want to move around, go take a walk yourself, don't drag me into it!" Hongjiang waved his hands in refusal. Challenging everyone he met to a fight—didn't these people get tired of all this killing?

"Yamagata, you can't beat him. He just drove Kenpachi Zaraki away earlier." Kamisawa, who had been watching the show, spoke up at this moment, helping Hongjiang out of the predicament.

"For real?!" The man called Yamagata looked at Hongjiang with surprise after seeing Kamisawa nod. "Hey, hey! Hey!! Are you kidding me! The new recruits in our Squad 11 this year are way too fierce!"

Hongjiang looked down at his feet, pursing his lips, not knowing what to say. So only your Squad 11 is fierce! If you're so damn good, why don't you go occupy Hueco Mundo!

Seeing Hongjiang's deflated expression, Kamisawa couldn't help but burst into laughter. "Yamagata, this kid isn't from our Squad 11, hahahaha!"

"How can that be? How could the Captain miss such a strong kid? Oh wait, Gosuke is the one in charge of recruitment. Is that guy blind?!" Yamagata muttered to himself, completely ignoring Hongjiang and Kamisawa, who were whispering to each other nearby.

"Does this guy always talk this much?"

"He usually doesn't speak." Kamisawa stroked his chin, shook his head slightly, and continued: "But once he starts, it's like a woman peeing—it's impossible for him to pull up his pants until he's finished."

So he's a chatterbox who likes to act cool. Hongjiang turned his head, only to find Yamagata's face pressed right against his own, scaring him so much he almost threw a punch.

"Kid, which squad are you in now?"

"Squad 1, and also, can you stay away from me?" Hongjiang was speechless; it was disgusting for two grown men to be this close!

Hongjiang's words didn't make Yamagata back off; instead, he leaned in even closer. "Squad 1? What's the point of Squad 1! You should come to our Squad 11!"

Not many people had been paying attention to this side, but after Yamagata's shout, the eyes of every Soul Reaper in the area were focused on them. Why would a member of Squad 1, which never comes to the Plain of Slaughter, be here this time?

Yamagata didn't think that much; he was now single-mindedly trying to poach Hongjiang. Everyone knew that in the Zaraki District, the name Kenpachi Zaraki carried a lot of weight, and many people here had been bullied by him.

The person in front of him was clearly a new face—at least, there was no such person in the Seireitei a hundred years ago, which meant this kid had been a Soul Reaper for less than a century. With infinite potential, he was definitely a good seed. In Yamagata's view, it was only natural that the strongest people should be in the strongest squad.

"Kid, do you crave battle?"

"Uh, not really, actually..."

This kid's fighting spirit seems a bit lacking. Looks like I need to add some heavy bait!

"Then do you want to become a Lieutenant or even a Captain?"

"I'm a bit interested in that." Hongjiang nodded. The white haori of a Captain was still quite cool. Plus, wandering around the streets, acting tough, and doing whatever he wanted—it was quite attractive.

"Then come to our Squad 11!" Yamagata patted Hongjiang on the shoulder and said loudly: "As long as you're strong enough, you can be a Lieutenant or a Captain! The Captain also passes down the title of Kenpachi; it's a buy-one-get-one-free deal, definitely a bargain!"

Kamisawa started coughing violently upon hearing this. What does this kid think the Captain and the title of Kenpachi are? Buy-one-get-one-free! If the Captain finds out, he'll definitely break your legs—both of them!

Yamagata didn't think that far ahead and kept sharing his views. "But it's different if you stay in Squad 1. At most, you'll be a Lieutenant; don't even think about becoming a Captain, there's no chance."

"Why shouldn't I think about it?"

"You want to defeat Old Man Yama?!" Yamagata made an exaggerated expression and said in a weird voice: "Maybe you'll have a chance when you become a thousand-year-old grandpa. Since you're young, you might have a chance to outlive the old guy."

Pfft! Hongjiang couldn't help but laugh out loud. Encouraging someone to challenge his own Captain and calling Old Man Yama an "old guy"—this person really dared to say anything!

"So, kid, if you want to be a Captain, transfer to our Squad 11."

"No need, I'm doing just fine in Squad 1."

"Why?" Yamagata asked, puzzled. "Don't want to be a Captain?"

Before Hongjiang could explain, a low voice appeared, answering Yamagata's question.

"Yamagata, the person standing in front of you is the crown prince of Squad 1."

A man dressed in a Shihakusho with graying hair was walking slowly toward Hongjiang, and it was he who had just spoken. Arriving in front of Hongjiang, he patted his head and said: "No, that's wrong. It should be the crown prince of our Seireitei."

Hongjiang looked at the man before him. The man's face was full of undisguised sarcasm, and his drooping eyes were filled with mockery. It seemed the news from the Seireitei had already reached this place.