Each with Their Own Schemes / Ants Teasing a Cat

Perhaps because of the cold weather, there was only one boat at the huge dock, which looked like it was preparing to set sail.

Yamabuki Chidori walked over and called out to the boatman. The boatman was a young man who looked to be in his early twenties. He was startled when he was called out and quickly turned around.

"We'd like to rent your boat for a sea excursion, how much?" asked Yamabuki Chidori.

The boatman watched Yamabuki Chidori with great vigilance and did not answer until Unohana came over.

Upon seeing Unohana, the young boatman was visibly taken aback, stammering, "For just one string of cash, you can go out to sea for three days and even experience the joy of fishing with your own hands! You... you must be a nobleman's son and daughter, right? Are you siblings?"

Yamabuki Chidori was very unhappy. Everyone she met along the way said they were siblings. Was the age difference really that obvious?

"We're husband and wife, not siblings. If you can't speak properly, then don't speak at all!" Yamabuki Chidori said coldly.

The boatman chuckled awkwardly, "This young lady may look very young, but she has a very mature air about her, as if she has lived a long life. I'm sorry, I misjudged her!"

Unohana smiled, making the boatman completely captivated.

"My boat is famous for its speed, and other boats won't be out to sea in this kind of weather. How about it? If you hire my boat, I can give you a discount. By the way, my name is Kuroto. What are your names?" The boatman Kuroto said with a smile, although his face was fixed on the two of them, his eyes were always on Unohana.

"How about we change to another boat?" Yamabuki Chidori said, thinking that the kid was really ungrateful.

With a smile, Unohana said in a meaningful tone, "I think this ship is quite good. If there's any danger, Mr. Kuroto will definitely protect us. Otherwise, what fisherman would carry a knife when he goes out to sea?"

As she spoke, Unohana glanced at the Kuroto's waist. There was a very obvious bulge under the clothes. Unohana was a master swordswoman and could tell at a glance that there was a short sword inside.

Kuroto's expression changed slightly, and he hurriedly explained, "Pirates are rampant here, so I brought a knife for self-defense! Please don't overthink it! If you think the boat is too expensive, I can give you a discount, but judging from your clothes, you two shouldn't be short of money, right?"

Unohana wore a luxurious mink coat on the outside, and underneath was a Kimono made of extremely high-quality materials and craftsmanship. Coupled with her magnificent headdress and gentle personality, she looked every bit the part of a noble lady or a lady of high society.

Although Yamabuki Chidori's attire was very simple, she was holding a pure silver pipe in her hand, which was obviously very valuable. This kind of person must not be short of money.

In an instant, Yamabuki Chidori knew what Unohana was thinking, and nodded calmly. "Alright, since you put it that way, let's hire this ship."

Kuroto was overjoyed and immediately went to make preparations.

"By the way, where would you two like to go? I'm very familiar with this area." Kuroto said casually as he hauled the fishing net onto the boat.

"How far can your fishing boat go? Try to go as far out to sea as possible," said Yamabuki Chidori.

"Of course, no problem! As long as the money is right, my ship can go all the way to the ends of the earth." Kuroto said happily. Yamabuki Chidori handed over two strings of cash, and Kuroto smiled even more happily.

This fishing boat is quite large compared to other fishing boats, and it can easily carry four or five people. The bow and stern are about seven or eight meters long, and there is also a cabin below.

Just as Kuroto pulled the fishing net from the sea, the wooden door leading to the cabin suddenly creaked open a crack, and a very cute figure peeked out from the cabin. It was a child, who looked to be only four or five years old, and seemed very afraid of strangers.

Unohana took out a few candies from her pocket and handed them over, but the child, like a frightened bird, suddenly darted under the cabin.

"Mr. Kuroto, is that little child in the cabin your son?" Unohana said gently, "What a lovely child!"

Upon hearing Unohana's words, Kuroto shuddered, stiffly turning his head slowly, his pupils filled with terror, and cold sweat slowly seeping from his forehead.

"You... madam, you're joking. There's no one else on this ship besides the three of us! How could there be a child? This joke isn't funny at all! Hahaha!" Kuroto gave a few stiff laughs, then took the fish off the fishing net. "How about we have stewed sea fish for lunch today? It's incredibly delicious!"

Unohana's expression remained unchanged, and she said with a smile, "Maybe I'm seeing things! But I've heard that squid from the seabed is delicious. Can we catch a few? I heard that eating them raw is good for your skin!"

Although Yamabuki Chidori sensed the somewhat awkward atmosphere on the ship, she still retorted with a look of disgust, "If you dare to eat me alive, I'll never kiss you again!"

"Huh? Is our love not even worth as much as a squid?" Unohana was shocked.

"If you want to eat it, I'll make you grilled squid. I'm afraid you'll get parasites if you eat it raw!" Yamabuki Chidori said with a look of disgust.

When it comes to food, his biggest pet peeve is sashimi. Many famous figures in history died from parasites contracted from eating raw fish. While he's not afraid of parasites, the thought of those tiny worms crawling around in his stomach...

How terrifying!

Chapter Fourteen: Each with Their Own Hidden agendas

"If this lady wants to eat squid, our ship will have to go a little deeper into the sea. Only in the deep sea can we catch big squid. Actually, I don't really recommend eating it raw, but if you grill it over a fire and add some salt, it will definitely be a delicacy!" Although Kuroto's forehead was still covered in cold sweat, he had already cleverly changed the subject.

Yamabuki Chidori glanced at the cabin again. Could there be something strange there?

"We can set off now. I can tidy up the cabin, and you two can stay on the boat." Kuroto walked straight into the cabin without waiting for their agreement. Yamabuki Chidori reached out and gently pulled the cabin door, only to find that it was locked from the inside.

Yamabuki Chidori glanced at Unohana, seeking his wife's opinion with his eyes; he always felt that this young boatman seemed a bit strange.

Unohana's gentle eyes held a hint of sharpness.

But he didn't say anything.

A moment later, the cabin door opened, and Kuroto took out a large bag from inside the cabin.

"What are these? Let me see!" said Yamabuki Chidori.

Kuroto hurriedly said, "It's just some household trash, nothing to see."

As he spoke, he hurriedly threw the bundle in his hand into the sea. Just then, a wave crashed over and swept the contents of the bundle away.

Yamabuki Chidori sighed. She was still wearing the Giglio, otherwise she could tell what was inside just by her sense of smell.

"If you two want to enjoy the scenery, you can stay on the boat a little longer. However, judging from the wind direction, it's going to get windy at sea soon, so please don't catch a cold," Kuroto said very kindly.

Yamabuki Chidori smiled slightly, sat cross-legged on the deck, and looked at the scenery on the sea. Unohana had already entered the cabin. The cabin was very dimly lit, and an oil lamp was needed to see what was happening inside.

Perhaps due to poor air circulation, there was a faint smell of rotting wood in the cabin, and there were many dark marks in the wooden planks. Unohana reached out and gently touched them with her finger, confirming that they were marks left by blood seeping into the wooden planks.

Among the Gotei 13, Unohana may not be the strongest, but she has definitely killed the most people. Before she met Yamabuki, she could kill wherever she went, and she would cut down anyone she didn't like.

Blood was all too familiar to Unohana. It seemed her guess was right; the boatman named Kuroto was indeed no ordinary fisherman, and he probably harbored many secrets.

Unohana chose this ship because she sensed a faint but palpable killing intent emanating from the Kuroto.

There are many dog butchers on the streets and alleys. It is said that even the fiercest large dogs will tremble with fear when they see these dog butchers. That is because these dog butchers have killed so many dogs that they will unconsciously exude a faint murderous aura. Humans are not as perceptive as dogs, so they cannot feel it, but dogs can clearly sense the terror of the murderous aura.

The same applies to people. When a person kills many people, a faint killing intent will appear on their body. Masters like Unohana and Ōtōgawa Utsugi can control their killing intent, but ordinary people do not have this ability. They can't even feel the existence of the killing intent itself.

That's the kind of person Kuroto is.

Just as Unohana was observing the cabin, a cute little head peered up through the floor. It was the same little boy from before, who looked to be only three or four years old, with a small braid and a chubby face!

Moreover, judging from his clothes and accessories, he must be the son of a nobleman; a fisherman could never afford such clothes!

"Don't be afraid! Come to your sister! What happened?" Unohana said very gently, but the little child was terrified of Unohana.

Unohana took out a few pieces of candy from her clothes and handed them over. The little child ran over timidly, took a piece of candy from Unohana's hand, and put it in his mouth.

This child is a spirit, meaning he was killed when he was three or four years old.

The child was very surprised to find that his fingers could actually touch the older girl's hand, whereas normally his body would simply pass right through whatever he touched.

"Tell your sister why you're here?" Unohana asked.

A hint of fear flashed in the child's eyes. After taking the candy, he turned around and crawled back under the wooden board.

Unohana didn't believe there was a space beneath the wooden plank; she assumed it was definitely a vast ocean.

"Is it because you're too young to express yourself clearly?" Unohana said quietly.

"Madam, dinner is ready. Would you like to come up and have some? It's fresh seafood!" Kuroto's voice came from the deck. Unohana's smile remained unchanged as she came up to the deck to eat.

The lunch was very simple: stewed sea fish with some small crabs and shrimp, which tasted incredibly fresh.

Yamabuki Chidori glanced at Unohana, Unohana slightly, indicating that something had indeed happened in the cabin.

However, neither of them made a fuss about it.

In fact, with their combined abilities, they could easily have captured the man with the Kuroto and tortured him severely, but both of them were intrigued and wanted to see what the fisherman's true purpose was, so they held back.

"If you two want to do some sightseeing, there's an island ahead with beautiful scenery. The only pity is that it's not spring yet, otherwise the whole island would be full of blooming flowers, it would be very beautiful! But at this time of year, there might even be plum blossoms blooming on the island!" Kuroto said with a smug look on his face.

"That's wonderful! Let's go take a look! Oh, and I have a lot of sweets I brought from Kyoto, let's all try them!" Unohana opened her package, which contained many exquisite sweets. Kuroto stared in disbelief; he had never imagined that food could be made so beautifully.

"Then... then I won't be polite!" Kuroto grabbed a pastry and put it in his mouth. It was soft, sweet, and delicious—something he had never tasted in his life.

"Once I've saved enough money, I'm definitely going to Kyoto to make a name for myself." Kuroto thought to himself as he ate his snacks, while keeping an eye on Unohana and Yamabuki Chidori out of the corner of his eye.

"These two are rich. After this heist, they'll have saved up almost all their money. It's such a pity about this woman! She's so beautiful, she can't compare to any of the women he's had before! What a lucky break for that brat!" Kuroto thought with a heart full of jealousy.

Little did he know that these emotional changes in him were being observed by Unohana and Yamabuki Chidori.

Perhaps those who engage in cricket fighting reflect their mindset.

No matter how fierce the cricket under the grass stalk may be, it can never defeat a human finger!

Chapter Fifteen: Ants Teasing a Cat

"Should we just strangle him?" Yamabuki Chidori conveyed this idea.

"No, I haven't seen the ending yet! He went to all this trouble just to harm the two of us, didn't he? I really want to see what methods he'll use!" Unohana.

They were completely acting like they were putting on a show.

It has to be said, that's where they went wrong.

Kuroto may be weak, but he's already tried so hard, and you two are just treating him like a fool. Do you have any conscience at all?

The night was a rare, clear day. The bright moon cast a soft glow, and the faint starlight was reflected on the sea, creating a breathtakingly beautiful scene.

Unohana and Yamabuki Chidori sat at the bow of the boat, enjoying the scenery. Kuroto slowly reached into his clothes and pulled out a dagger.

"You two can be husband and wife on the Yellow Springs Road!" Kuroto's eyes flashed with murderous intent.

He didn't have any deep-seated hatred for these two people; he simply coveted the valuables they carried, though perhaps a little jealousy was also a factor.

However, Kuroto always believed that as long as you have enough money, you'll certainly have no shortage of beautiful women.

At this moment, he watched as the two men with their backs to him slowly approached with Kuroto or daggers, unaware that both of them were laughing.

"What should we eat for breakfast tomorrow?" Unohana suddenly asked.

"There's a fish in the sea! I'll catch one!" Yamabuki Chidori instantly drew her sword, the blade forming a perfect silver arc on the sea surface under the moonlight. The silver light sliced through the seawater, and the blade instantly pierced through the head of a large fish.

Kuroto was just about to make his move when he saw this scene and almost stopped breathing!

He had only heard that there were many samurai in Kyoto, but he never expected to encounter one himself. If that sword had been aimed at him, he would not have been able to dodge it no matter what.

"Kuroto, how about we stew this fish tomorrow morning?" Yamabuki Chidori turned to look at Kuroto, seemingly unaware of the fish on his back.

Kuroto's head buzzed. In his panic, he had a sudden inspiration. Holding his dagger, he walked over and said with a smile, "Leave this fish to me. Don't worry."

He skillfully took the fish, gutted it, and washed its internal organs with seawater.

After witnessing this scene, Yamabuki Chidori and Unohana smiled knowingly, thinking, "Are you playing a trick on me, Rin?"

Cao Cao used the same tactic against Dong Zhuo back then.

Unfortunately, I am not Dong Zhuo, and you are not Cao Cao.

"By the way, you should get some rest. We'll be on the island tomorrow morning. There are lots of sika deer there. If you like, I can catch one for you, Madam!" Kuroto said without looking up, as if afraid the other party would suspect him even slightly.

Unohana smiled faintly and said, "I don't really like eating venison, so let's not catch any deer."

"I see!" Kuroto felt a little strange. He had intended to catch a sika deer as a pet for her, so why was this woman thinking of venison?

I simply can't understand the mindset of the wealthy.

"Then let's get some rest!" Unohana said with a smile.

Yamabuki Chidori and Unohana returned to the cabin together.

Kuroto was still diligently cleaning the fish. After about half an hour, he listened intently and confirmed that there was no movement in the cabin. The two people must have fallen asleep. He took out a small bottle of poison from his clothes and gently applied it to the inside of the fish.

"Tomorrow! Hmph, after tomorrow, you'll only be able to report to the Yama!" Kuroto sneered.

But Unohana and Yamabuki Chidori weren't sleeping in the cabin; instead, they saw the little boy from before watching them with great vigilance.

Suddenly, Yamabuki Chidori reached out and grabbed the child's soul. "I'd better send you to Soul Society. Staying in this world might turn you into a Hollow, and I don't want to chop you up with my own hands!"

Yamabuki Chidori picked up her Zanpakuto, slammed the hilt down on the child's head, and sent him directly to Soul Society.

Unohana leaned on Yamabuki Chidori's shoulder and quietly fell asleep.

Early the next morning.

The ship, which had been rocking, suddenly stopped. Yamabuki Chidori opened the cabin door and found that they had arrived at the small island that Dao had mentioned.

Their boat was docked at the pier, which looked like it had been inhabited a long time ago.

Kuroto is busy cooking.

Hearing the question from Yamabuki Chidori, Kuroto chuckled and said, "About several decades ago, people did live here, but later, to escape the war, everyone left their homes, and the island became an uninhabited deserted island. However, because the scenery is so beautiful, I come here several times a year! You and your wife can wander around the island as you like, but don't go too far, because there might be wild animals in the morning. I'll call you when it's time for breakfast!"

Yamabuki Chidori watched the fish soup boiling in the pot, a cold smile flashing in her eyes.

I have to admit, the snow scene in the morning was beautiful. Unohana was wearing a pure white, gorgeous mink coat and a fox fur hat on her head. Standing in the snow, she looked like Snow Woman from a legend.