Tang San's Trust

Before coming to the Soul Hunting Forest, Tang San had heard that Big Brother Aizen had entered the forest to obtain a Soul Ring.

He had never expected to run into him in the Soul Hunting Forest.

The attack from the unfamiliar girl had dragged on for so long that he had no idea how to break the stalemate.

If they kept fighting, they would likely attract Soul Beasts. They might even die here.

At such a critical moment, Big Brother Aizen had found him and helped him drive off that unfamiliar girl.

"Big Brother Aizen, do you know who that girl was? Why did she run as soon as she saw you?" Tang San asked as he rested.

Aizen shook his head, indicating that he did not know. "I was about to ask you. Did you offend someone to end up being attacked like this?"

Tang San froze for a moment, then gave a bitter smile. "Who could I have offended? That girl suddenly rushed out without saying anything. I couldn't even figure out what was going on. Good thing you stepped in when you did, Big Brother Aizen."

As he said this, Tang San understood why the girl had left. "She probably realized that she wasn't a match for the two of us working together, so she left."

Aizen smiled faintly and nodded. "Perhaps."

As he spoke, he walked over to Tang San and gave him a careful once-over. Then he said happily, "My, my, you've already obtained your first Soul Ring. You've grown, and I'm very pleased.

But it's still not enough. Look at you—you can't even beat a little girl. How are you supposed to become a powerhouse of the continent in the future? Once we get back, I'll train you. Isn't that right, Ulquiorra?"

Another familiar figure emerged from the forest. It was Ulquiorra.

He gave Tang San an indifferent glance and nodded with his assessment. "Still too weak."

Faced with their belittlement, Tang San did not know whether to laugh or cry. He then looked at Ulquiorra and said, "I have a Soul Ring now too. I'm not necessarily worse than you!"

Ulquiorra ignored Tang San entirely and sat down to one side.

Seeing that Ulquiorra would not respond, Tang San asked arrogantly, "What, are you scared?"

Aizen patted Tang San on the shoulder and said with a smile, "Ignore him. He's been a little unhappy lately."

Tang San curiously glanced at Ulquiorra and asked in a low voice, "What happened?"

Feigning mystery, Aizen leaned close to Tang San's ear and said, "The day before yesterday, we found a four-hundred-year-old Mandala Snake. He thought its poison attribute suited me well, so he wanted to catch it for me as a Soul Ring. But it got away. He's still upset about it."

Tang San said in surprise, "A four-hundred-year-old Mandala Snake? That was actually the Soul Ring Big Brother Aizen needed? I'm sorry, I absorbed it."

As he said that, Tang San felt somewhat embarrassed.

The Mandala Snake had clearly been discovered by Big Brother Aizen and Ulquiorra first, yet he had ended up killing it and obtaining its Soul Ring.

Aizen smiled calmly. "It's fine. We're all from the same village. Whether you get it or I do, it's the same. Besides, I already obtained a three-hundred-year Soul Ring with an ice attribute."

"There are actually ice-type Soul Beasts in this Soul Hunting Forest?"

A familiar voice suddenly rang out.

Aizen and Tang San looked over and found that Yu Xiaogang had awakened.

"Teacher, you're awake." Tang San hurried over to Grandmaster in surprise and sent pure internal energy into his body.

"Yes. Thank you for saving me!" Yu Xiaogang said gratefully.

Tang San scratched his head. "My father taught me how to treat poison wounds when I was little, so I gave it a try. I didn't expect it to work."

"What a clever child." Yu Xiaogang forced out a smile.

Tang San chuckled. "Teacher, rest for a while first. I'll go make you some hot soup."

Yu Xiaogang waved his hand to show that there was no rush. Then he turned toward Aizen and asked doubtfully, "How did you find an ice-type Soul Ring here?"

Aizen recounted the story he had fabricated based on information from the Soul Beast illustrated guide, and Yu Xiaogang slowly nodded.

"So it was an Ice Earth Water Bug. This kind of Soul Beast can survive both in frigid environments and normal temperatures. Generally speaking, finding an Ice Earth Water Bug in the Soul Hunting Forest should grant a water-type ability. I never expected you to gain an ice-type ability. That is truly surprising. May I see it?"

Aizen chuckled. "Of course!"

As he spoke, Aizen drew his Zanpakuto.

Shatter, Kyoka Suigetsu!

Even Yu Xiaogang could not escape under the suppression of Soul Power.

After completely hypnotizing the two of them, Aizen swiftly switched his Zanpakuto for Hyōrinmaru.

After a momentary lapse of awareness, Aizen's blade appeared to emit wisps of cold air in their eyes, while a yellow Soul Ring rose beneath his feet.

"It truly is an ice-type ability. You really are fortunate," Yu Xiaogang sighed.

"I merely got lucky," Aizen replied modestly.

After seeing Aizen's ability, Yu Xiaogang seemed to suddenly remember something.

"Little San, did you succeed?"

This was the result that would verify whether his research theory was correct. He could not miss it.

Tang San smiled faintly. "Teacher, don't worry. I succeeded. Look."

As he spoke, Tang San revealed his Soul Ring. At the same time, deep-blue Blue Silver Grass surged from his palm, and a Soul Ring identical to Aizen's rose beneath his feet.

At Yu Xiaogang's repeated requests, Tang San carried out each experiment one by one.

"Good, very good! It seems my theory is entirely correct. The Mandala Snake really can work!"

Tang San looked at Aizen and said, "Actually, this should have been Big Brother Aizen's Soul Ring. I accidentally took it from him."

Yu Xiaogang frowned deeply and looked at Aizen. "Your martial soul is a blade. Why would you fuse with a snake's Soul Ring? Do you want to make your blade soft?"

Tang San hurriedly explained, "Big Brother Aizen wanted the Mandala Snake's poison attribute."

Hearing this answer, Yu Xiaogang nodded, but he still reprimanded him. "Even so, you cannot take such a risk. If you inherit its flexibility, the hardness that supports a blade's sharpness will be weakened. The loss would outweigh the gain. You cannot take such risks again!"

"Also, absorbing the Soul Ring of an Ice Earth Water Bug was risky as well. If you had gained a water attribute, then your first Soul Ring would have basically been ruined!"

Faced with Yu Xiaogang's rebuke, Aizen's eyes turned cold, though he answered aloud, "I'll remember that."

Yet Yu Xiaogang felt as though he were being watched by a venomous snake. A chill ran down his spine, and even his words became unsteady.

"J-Just remember it, then."

Ulquiorra looked at Yu Xiaogang as though he were looking at a dead man.

Aizen walked to Ulquiorra's side and said softly, "It's not time yet."

To care for Yu Xiaogang, who was still recovering from a serious illness, Tang San asked Big Brother Aizen to travel with them for a while. Aizen gladly agreed.

This made Tang San deeply grateful to Aizen.

He also said that if Aizen ever faced danger in the future, he would definitely help him.

A few days later, Aizen and Tang San's group returned to the academy.

As for Retsu Unohana, Tosen Kaname, and the third person, Aizen had given them another task.

Since Retsu Unohana liked fighting, he had her remain in the Soul Hunting Forest for a while longer to kill Soul Masters.

As for Tosen Kaname, Aizen arranged for him to enter Spirit Hall and become one of its members.

A blind man would suffer discrimination in Spirit Hall, which could nurture his hatred toward Soul Masters.

At the same time, blind men drew the least attention and could obtain more intelligence.

This intelligence would be delivered through letters, helping Aizen understand Spirit Hall's specific circumstances.

Grimmjow, meanwhile, was sent to Suotuo City, where the Great Soul Arena was located.

Once Retsu Unohana grew tired of life in the Soul Hunting Forest, she would also go to Suotuo City.

Since they wanted to fight, he would let them fight to their hearts' content.

At the same time, they would earn Soul Coins for him.

Everything was slowly proceeding as expected.