True Strength

"Th-There's absolutely no such thing! How could I address you that way, Commander...?"

Hearing Yoruichi Shihōin's words, Soi Fon hurriedly raised her head and flusteredly tried to explain herself. But when she saw the slight disappointment in Yoruichi Shihōin's eyes, she froze.

"Th-Then!"

Soi Fon closed her eyes and lowered her head. When she raised it again, the resolve in her eyes had vanished, replaced by shy hesitation. "Like Lord Shadow, I will address you as Lady Yoruichi... Would that be acceptable?"

"Ha!" Yoruichi Shihōin tilted her head back and said helplessly, "You really are stubborn. Fine, call me whatever you like!"

She seemed somewhat dissatisfied with Soi Fon's form of address, but the upturned corners of her lips showed that Yoruichi Shihōin was not angry.

Leaning forward slightly, Yoruichi Shihōin said, "I called you here because I saw your strength. How you address me doesn't matter. I'm really looking forward to what you can do, Soi Fon!"

"Yes!"

Joy filled Soi Fon's petite body. This was Lady Yoruichi, whom she had always admired and longed for! She was ecstatic that Yoruichi could address her with such trust.

"You need only live for that lady!"

Her father's words from many years ago echoed in her ears again. Soi Fon gazed fervently, admiringly, longingly at Yoruichi Shihōin, who was still seated there, and made a lifelong vow in her heart.

"Yes. Everything I have will be for Lady Yoruichi..."

Without the slightest hesitation...

"Lady Yoruichi! If there is nothing else, Soi Fon will take her leave!"

Soi Fon bowed respectfully as she spoke.

Although Yoruichi Shihōin rarely handled division affairs, everyone in the Second Division and the Stealth Force understood that this only applied to routine paperwork. Whenever things became especially busy, or when difficult missions arose, Yoruichi Shihōin would always take action personally, fighting at the very forefront.

So, no matter how much Yoruichi Shihōin loved to play around, she was still the spiritual pillar of the Second Division and the Stealth Force. Over the years, with Shadow's assistance, her prestige had already surpassed that of Shihōin Shanqing.

"Ah! You may go first!"

Seeing Soi Fon's expression, Yoruichi Shihōin chuckled and waved her hand.

"Yes, Lady Yoruichi!"

"Soi Fon!"

Shadow suddenly raised his head from the documents and stopped Soi Fon as she was about to leave. His cold voice carried bone-piercing chill. "One last reminder: do not call me 'Lord' again!"

Bang!

Yoruichi Shihōin gave Shadow a sharp knock on the head, then said without looking back, "Ignore him, Soi Fon. You can go now!"

"Yes!"

Kneeling on the ground, Soi Fon cautiously lifted her head and glanced at Shadow, who was still radiating coldness. Then, as swift as a hummingbird, she vanished from the division barracks' entrance.

Watching Soi Fon use such skilled, masterful Shunpo, Yoruichi Shihōin could not help nodding in satisfaction. Solid fundamentals, outstanding Shunpo and Hakuda talent, and diligent, tireless effort.

"Hey! Put away that icy aura of yours!" Yoruichi Shihōin turned to him. "Tell me, Shadow, why do you resist the word 'Lord' so much? I think it sounds pretty good!"

"I am not a lord! Lady Yoruichi is!"

Shadow stubbornly insisted. In truth, how to address him had always been a difficult matter over the years. Call him Lord, and he would not allow it. Do not call him Lord and use his name instead, and that did not seem right either. Besides, no one dared to do so.

After walking a long way, the still-excited Soi Fon thought of her family—the Bee Family, a lower-ranking noble house that had served in executions and assassinations for generations.

Such noble houses were common in the Seireitei. Their clansmen had to devote their entire lives to joining the Punishment Force. Strength was their sole measure of worth. Anyone unable to join the Punishment Force would be cast out by the family, because keeping such a person would only waste the family's scarce resources.

Soi Fon was a ninth-generation member of the Bee Family, the youngest of six siblings. Of her five older brothers, two had died on their first mission, two on their second, and the remaining one on his sixth. Though she had been deeply saddened, Soi Fon only worked harder. At last, in her seventh year after joining the Punishment Force, she was appointed to the Commander's personal guard.

She swore that she would spend her life protecting... Lady Yoruichi!

The next day, Soul Society, Seireitei, Kuchiki Estate, rear courtyard.

Hah!

Hah!

Byakuya Kuchiki was diligently practicing Swordsmanship. Not far away, Shadow stood with a cold expression, while Yoruichi Shihōin and Ginrei Kuchiki sat beneath a tree at a stone table, drinking tea as they watched.

"Byakuya has grown much stronger. I truly have to thank you, Yoruichi!" Ginrei Kuchiki said.

"Ha! Don't worry about something so minor!" Yoruichi Shihōin laughed heartily, then abruptly changed the subject. "But I heard the Kuchiki family recently produced quite a bit of good wine..."

"I already had someone send it to the Shihōin family." Ginrei Kuchiki looked as if he had expected this all along.

"Then thanks, old man Ginrei!" Yoruichi Shihōin burst out laughing.

"Stop!" Shadow called out to Byakuya Kuchiki, then said coldly, "What are you swinging?"

"A sword!"

Byakuya Kuchiki answered as if it were only natural, then looked at Shadow in confusion.

"Is that so?"

Shadow casually snapped a branch from a tree and pointed it at Byakuya Kuchiki.

At once, a killing intent as solid as substance swept over him. That immense, terrifying killing intent nearly made Byakuya Kuchiki collapse. Just as he could no longer endure it, the killing intent vanished in an instant.

With a thud, Byakuya Kuchiki dropped to the ground, his face pale. Cold sweat born of lingering fear covered his forehead, along with a trace of terror.

"Do you still think what you were swinging was a sword?" Shadow tossed the branch aside and asked coldly.

Hearing this, Byakuya Kuchiki panted as he gradually steadied his chaotic breathing. "What was that? It was incredible... so powerful!"

"Powerful?" Shadow snorted disdainfully. "That is what you consider power?"

"Isn't it? Just a single branch was already so terrifying..."

"Terrifying?" Shadow sneered. "Tell me, Byakuya Kuchiki, what do you think is truly powerful? What do you think is truly terrifying?"

"This..." Byakuya Kuchiki fell silent.

"Is it difficult to answer?" Shadow said. "The strongest thing is your heart. The most terrifying thing is your sword!"

"A sword..."