Shiraishi thought Taro deserved a good beating.
If it weren't for Kenpachi Zaraki and Yachiru Kusajishi, but some other Shinigami, they might have returned and killed Taro after failing to find him.
Shinigami kills one or two rioters in Rukongai, he will generally not be held accountable.
Unless it's a major incident involving the loss of tens of thousands of souls, only then will Third Seat or Fifth Seat be dispatched to investigate the cause of the incident and hold those responsible accountable.
The residents of Rukongai generally fear and loathe the Shinigami, mostly because of this legal right to kill.
Shiraishi didn't want anyone to die trying to help Shinigami, especially since Taro's help was so insignificant.
With his current strength, defeating Kenpachi Zaraki would be no problem at all.
The reason is simple: his critical strike ability is a great counter to Kenpachi Zaraki.
That guy has a habit of suppressing his Reiatsu when fighting others. When you encounter a critical hitter like him, the first few attacks are normal, but the next critical hit will double the damage.
It's too late for Kenpachi Zaraki to improve his strength. Unless he takes off his eyepatch from the start and goes all out, the outcome will be uncertain.
Taro was beaten for seven or eight minutes before he escaped from the control of the thin bamboo stick and ran to his room to change into a clean pair of pants.
Taro's mother made tea for Shiraishi and asked what was wrong.
"It's nothing, I just came to visit Taro."
Shiraishi didn't reveal his intention to borrow money. What had just happened made him a little embarrassed to say so, so he could only go to the tea shop owner to buy it on credit.
After changing into a clean pair of pants, Taro, once again a spirited little boy, rushed out and shouted, "Big brother, let's go!"
"Hmm." Shiraishi took a sip of tea, filling his empty stomach, and stood up, saying, "Sister Lian, I'll be going now."
Come visit more often when you have time.
"Definitely, definitely." Shiraishi waved, stepped out the door, and walked on the unpaved dirt road.
Taro jogged up to catch up and whispered, "Big brother, don't let anyone know I cried just now, it'll ruin my tough guy image."
"Fine." Shiraishi replied irritably, still trying to maintain his tough-guy image. Rice Village probably didn't know that Taro had the nickname "Taro crybaby."
The two, one big and one small, hadn't walked far when more children caught up with them, calling out, "Big brother!" "Big brother!" "Big brother!"
Because of his great strength and gentle demeanor, Shiraishi doesn't have an arrogant or fierce aura.
The children loved to stick with him and elected him as the king of the kids in Rice Village, their big brother.
Shiraishi had no objection to this; he quite enjoyed playing games with these children, especially spinning tops, and never lost.
Accompanied by a bunch of noisy tagalongs, Shiraishi arrives at Rice Village Saito House.
The shop is small, just a thatched shed with three tables and chairs and two benches, seating at most a dozen people.
From hospitality to cooking, everything was handled by the proprietress Kichō, all by herself.
"Oh, isn't this Bai Jun? Long time no see! Have you missed me?"
Her soft, sweet voice, coupled with a flirtatious, seductive wink, made it seem as if she wanted to devour him.
Shiraishi gave a wry smile and said, "Sister Kichō, didn't we just meet the day before yesterday?"
"As the saying goes, 'A day apart feels like three autumns,' she misses you terribly, unlike you, you good-for-nothing, you don't even have her in your heart~"
Kichō winked playfully, her oval face full of charm, a black mole beneath her thick red lips, and the loose neckline of her gorgeous kimono revealing her fair skin.
Shiraishi, unusually behaving like a gentleman, dared not speak carelessly lest he be dragged into bed for some real action. He kept his eyes straight ahead and said, "I'm a little short on cash lately, could I buy dumplings on credit?"
"No problem, if I can't pay back the money, I'll settle it with my body."
"Sister Kichō, please don't say such things in front of children."
Shiraishi became increasingly embarrassed. The woman in front of him was a well-known mature woman in the West District Ten, with fair skin and a beautiful face, and was also known as a symbol of power.
Most Shinigami who take up positions in the West District Ten will have some thoughts about her if they see her.
She was adept at navigating social situations, often finding herself caught between several Shinigami, yet she lived a very comfortable life.
After all, with such a small tea shop, even if they lived frugally for hundreds of years, they might not be able to afford a gorgeous kimono and gold and silver jewelry.
"Hmph," Kichō said with a displeased look, hands on her hips, "What do you little devils want to eat?"
"Boss, I want three-colored dumplings!" "I want sakura mochi!" "I want tempura!"
The children all started shouting.
"Alright, you all just wait and see." Kichō replied, then turned and went inside to prepare. She wasn't treating these children to a meal for nothing; it was on Shiraishi's tab.
Shiraishi's personality meant he wouldn't eat alone; he'd make the kids around him drool and watch. If he was going to eat, he'd eat together in a lively, bustling atmosphere.
Children without Spiritual Power cannot eat much; a string of dumplings is enough to fill their stomachs.
Their combined spending was less than half of Shiraishi's.
He's a big eater.
Before long, Kichō came out with a tray carrying several plates of dumplings, sakura mochi, and tempura. The children each took a portion and ate them happily.
Shiraishi also picked up a string of dumplings with a smile.
Kichō sat down beside him, her voluptuous and fiery body leaning against his shoulder. "Where did you go gallivanting around yesterday?"
I'm going to the West District Twenty-Six with a friend.
Shiraishi answered truthfully, trying hard not to let his gaze wander. It was true that he liked beautiful women, but he still had principles and bottom lines, and would never flirt with someone else's wife or mistress.
He only flirts with single girls.
"Traveling such a long distance in a single day, I really envy that."
Kichō sighed. She had applied to the Shin'ō Academy but was not admitted because her Spiritual Might was not up to standard.
The minimum admission standard for the Shin'ō Academy is 20th-rank Spiritual Might. Those who do not meet this requirement cannot pass the training to become members of the Thirteenth Division.
Her dream of Shinigami was ruthlessly shattered from the very beginning.
Shiraishi shrugged and said, "It wasn't a one-day trip; I came back this morning."
"This morning?" Kichō's eyes showed a hint of shock. She had accompanied many Shinigami and heard them boast about their strength, so she knew that this was not the speed a normal Shinigami should have.
Because those guys never exaggerate this much, even when they're just bragging.
"Bai Jun is truly powerful."
Her eyes sparkled, her face filled with adoration.
Shiraishi was pleased and said with a grin, "Not bad, not bad."
Kichō pressed on, "Has your strength reached the Captain-level?"
"Under normal circumstances, we can still exchange a few blows."
Shiraishi never boasts about his abilities; instead, he hides his true strengths, especially in front of a woman like Kichō, whose thoughts are hard to fathom.
He would never reveal his true strength or thoughts.
Perhaps it's just overthinking, or perhaps it's a personal prejudice against mistresses.
Shiraishi always felt that the proprietress of Saito House was not a simple person.
If one is greedy for wealth and status, one could easily find a nobleman to associate with and leave Beginning of Spring District, instead of staying here, opening a teahouse, and becoming the mistress of several Shinigami.
Serving one person is much easier than serving a group.
Sigh, women like that are too complicated. Kūkaku and Soi Fon are much simpler.
Thinking of Shiraishi, Soi Fon couldn't help but think of their date in two weeks; he was really looking forward to it.