Chapter 230

Kensei turned around and walked back the way he came.

A gust of wind swept through the woods, producing a low, mournful sound.

The forest was unusually quiet, lacking even the sounds of birds and insects; the only sound was the snapping of a dead branch beneath his feet.

After walking for a while, he stopped.

Those Seated Officer should be near this grove.

These Seated Officer were all his old buddies whom he had personally trained and who had followed him for many years; they shouldn't have made such a mistake.

The only explanation is that something terrible happened to them.

Kensei quickened his pace and walked forward, then he smelled the stench of blood in the air.

Then he saw the first corpse, which was his Fourth Seat, Shinobu Eishima.

Shinobu Eishima leaned against the trunk of a dead tree, his head bowed, his hands still in the position of holding a knife.

His fatal wound was in his chest; a penetrating wound pierced precisely through his heart.

The wound was clean and neat, with no signs of struggle, and his expression remained alert, though tinged with a hint of doubt.

It was as if he was killed before he even realized the danger.

Kensei's breathing became heavy.

He closed his Fourth Seat eyes, stood up, and looked at the second and third corpses not far away.

Third Seat and six seats.

They were killed before they could even react.

The enemy was so strong that they didn't even have time to react.

However, one person is still missing...

The wind suddenly stopped.

The trees stopped swaying, and the sunlight seemed to dim a little.

Kensei straightened up and placed his hand on his Zanpakuto.

The next moment, darkness surged in from all directions.

It was an eerie darkness that blocked out all light and even silenced all sound.

Kensei became extremely alert; at this moment, he couldn't even hear his own breathing, and his heartbeat disappeared into the darkness.

Kensei gripped his Zanpakuto tightly, his Reiatsu surging wildly within him as he tried to break through this barrier.

In this darkness, he couldn't sense the enemy's location or determine the direction of the attack, but he knew that something was lurking in the darkness.

The next moment, a sharp blade pierced through his chest.

The blade pierced his chest from bottom to top.

He didn't feel the pain until the knife tip pierced his chest.

The darkness dissipated, and sunlight once again shone through the withered trees.

Kensei looked down and saw the blood-stained tip of the knife protruding from his chest.

Fresh blood dripped down the blade, spreading a thick, dark red stain on the withered leaves at their feet.

He wanted to grip his Zanpakuto, to retaliate, but his fingers would no longer obey his commands.

The blade was pulled out, causing Kensei's body to sway before he fell forward.

He lay on his side on the ground, his eyes wide open in disbelief.

Turning his head, he only saw Kaname Tōsen standing beside him, the hem of his Shinigami uniform stained with blood.

"Dong... Xian..."

Kensei's lips moved slightly, but no sound came out.

Kaname Tōsen did not reply.

The sound of the Suzumushi retracting into its sheath was exceptionally clear in the silent forest.

He turned around, his back to Kensei Muguruma, who was lying on the ground bleeding profusely, and walked towards the direction where Aizen was.

"The mission here is complete. Kensei Muguruma has been confirmed to be incapacitated. Lord Aizen, please issue the next instructions."

Aizen stood atop the hill, holding in his hand the transparent prism that sealed the Hōgyoku.

The Hōgyoku rotated slowly inside the crystal, radiating a peculiar energy.

Aizen looked at Kensei Muguruma lying motionless on the ground not far away, and a smile curved his lips.

"You did a great job, keep it up."

At this moment, Wang Xun stood behind Aizen.

A gentle breeze blew by, lifting the hem of his clothes.

From last night until dawn, and then until noon, he followed Aizen the whole time.

Aizen neither let him leave nor gave him any opportunity to act on his own.

Aizen carried out all the deployments with him, completely locking down his time.

"Lieutenant Aizen."

Wang Xun finally spoke.

Aizen didn't turn around, but merely tilted his head slightly, the prism-like blue light casting a cold reflection on his glasses.

"What should we do next?"

"Wang Xun, you don't need to worry, just follow orders."

Wang Xun remained silent for a moment.

"There is one thing I still don't understand: if Kaname Tōsen Kensei Muguruma was part of the plan, Mashiro Kuna has already returned to Seireitei."

"She witnessed Loyd disguising himself as Kensei Muguruma, and this information is currently on its way to the headquarters meeting."

"An emergency meeting of the Gotei 13 will definitely be held, and all the captains will be present."

"And I, as the vice-captain of the Fourth Division, if I were to be absent from this situation without a valid reason..."

He raised his head and looked in Aizen's direction.

"Lieutenant Aizen must have already considered this matter."

Aizen's smile deepened. He asked in a nonchalant tone.

"That's natural."

Wang Xun's pupils contracted slightly.

Aizen had already started walking away, heading towards the direction where Kensei Muguruma had fallen.

"I've already assigned a team member to replace you."

"His build is similar to yours. With slight adjustments to the Kyōka Suigetsu, and him standing behind Unohana, no one will notice anything amiss."

"With the help of the Kyōka Suigetsu' effect, he will play the Ikkaku Wang Xun well for you, so you don't need to worry about anything."

Aizen turned around and looked into Wang Xun's eyes.

"He will attend the brigade meetings in your place, and he will handle everything that requires your presence."

"From now on, you will stay here and stay by my side to assist me in completing the subsequent plans."

So you don't need to worry. The Fourth Division Lieutenant won't be absent without a reason.

Aizen watched Wang Xun's reaction and a smile played on his lips.

"What are the follow-up plans?"

You'll find out soon.

Wang Xun watched Aizen walk step by step toward Kensei Muguruma, who lay in a pool of blood.

Aizen had arranged for a substitute beforehand, something he was completely unaware of.

This means that Aizen had been planning today's events for a long time and had been on guard against him the entire time.

Aizen was certain that Wang Xun would make certain choices at crucial moments.

Now, Aizen has kept Wang Xun firmly by his side, ostensibly to participate in subsequent plans, but in reality to sever all ties between him and the Seireitei.

He was unable to send a message to Kisuke Urahara, nor could he corroborate any of his statements at the headquarters meeting.

Wang Xun watched Aizen's retreating figure, a deep chill creeping into his heart.

Hopefully, Kisuke Urahara will realize something.

Seireitei, in the headquarters meeting room.

Upon receiving the urgent notification, all team leaders were present, more punctual than at any routine meeting.

A large number of souls have disappeared in the northern part of Rukongai. Quincy have reported witnessing the incidents, and Captain-level Soul Reaper have been dispatched.

These three things combined caused everyone present to become solemn.

Mashiro Kuna stood directly in front of the crowd, panting heavily.

"That concludes all the information I witnessed in the North District 80."

"The Quincy escaped using the Shadow Dimension after being exposed, Kensei ordered me to return and report first."

"The advance team of the Ninth Division, including one Seated Officer, has been completely wiped out. The residents of three settlements in the northern part of Rukongai have disappeared en masse, with only clothing scattered at the scene."

"Kensei fought the enemy, but the enemy was able to transform into Kensei's appearance and even unleash his Shikai. After we defeated him, the enemy disappeared into the shadows."

She took a step forward and bowed her head as she spoke.

"The situation is urgent. Captain-Commander, please order reinforcements immediately!"

Shigekuni Yamamoto sat upright in the main seat, his hands folded as he leaned on his cane, his eyes lowered.

"The Quincy, this is the second incident. First it was the Third Seat of the Fifth Division, and now even the Seated Officer and their entire households have been wiped out..."

"Captain-Commander."

A voice came from outside the conference room.

Kisuke Urahara open the conference room door, behind him stood Yoruichi Shihōin, arms crossed, her expression cold.

Behind the two were none other than the Great Kidō Master Tessai Tsukabishi and the Deputy Kidō Master Hachigen Ushōda.

Yamamoto raised his eyes and looked at Yoruichi.

"The Kidō Corps... you brought them here, what do you have to report?"

"Yes."

Yoruichi stepped forward. "Kisuke Urahara has important information that needs to be reported directly to the Commando Unit meeting. It concerns the assessment of the Rukongai incident."

"The two members of the Kidō Corps met us on the way here; they were also quite interested in the Rukongai situation."

Yamamoto was silent for a moment, then nodded slightly.

Urahara stepped forward and held up the document in his hand, which was internal information from the joint investigation by the Second Division and Twelfth Division into Quincy.

"Thank you, Captain-Commander. As everyone here should know, the Twelfth Division and I have been tracking the so-called unexplained Reiatsu fluctuations and the recent traces of suspected Quincy activity for some time now."

His voice was somewhat solemn.

"I heard Lieutenant Mashiro Kuna now. He witnessed the Quincy fleeing and Captain Kensei giving chase. This is indeed strong evidence."

"But this situation is definitely not as simple as just Quincy attack."

"From the initial Reiatsu fluctuations to the cause of death of the Third Seat of the Fifth Division, and then to the recent mass disappearance of Rukongai residents, certain details of these cases contradict the known methods of the Quincy."

"Therefore, I suspect that beneath that layer of evidence pointing to the Quincy, there lies another, even deeper layer of darkness."

He looked at Yamamoto, speaking slowly and deliberately.

We must proceed with caution.

Yamamoto remained silent for a moment.

"You mean, besides the Quincy themselves, we have other enemies?"

"Yes."

Urahara nodded without hesitation.

Quiet murmurs broke out in the conference room.

Yoruichi frowned slightly; she wasn't concerned with the conclusion itself.

Given Urahara's personality, he wouldn't have rushed to the headquarters meeting to make such a statement unless he was 80-90% certain.

Shunsui Kyōraku pulled his straw hat down low, obscuring his expression.

Ukitake coughed lightly, then frowned in thought.

Urahara continued.

"I'm not just making this up. Fourth Division Vice-Captain Wang Xun."

He turned around and looked behind Unohana.

"He also conducted an independent investigation into this case, and he is well aware of the suspicious points. Vice-Captain Wang Xun, you..."

His voice suddenly stopped.

The person standing behind Unohana, with a vice-captain's badge pinned to his cuff, had a calm expression and composed demeanor; he was indeed Wang.

Search.

However, the man looked at Urahara with a slight frown.

"I haven't heard of what Third Seat Urahara said."

His voice was steady, even carrying a hint of offended confusion.

"Based on the information I currently have, the eyewitness report of Lieutenant Mashiro Kuna is completely consistent with the previous investigation direction."

To me, there's nothing unusual about this.

The meeting room fell silent.

Urahara stood there, staring at his face.

This is Wang Xun's face, and this is his voice.

But the person in front of him now gave him a strange feeling.

It was as if the two didn't know each other at all.

But how could someone with such a long-standing friendship behave and act this way?

Urahara withdrew his gaze, looked at Shigekuni Yamamoto in the center, and then glanced discreetly at Aizen standing behind Shinji Hirako.

Aizen maintained his upright posture, a gentle smile on his face.

Urahara narrowed his eyes, a deep suspicion rising in his heart.

"Wang Xun...?"

At this moment, Kisuke Urahara was at a loss for words, but he had already sensed that something was wrong.

At that moment, he remembered the ability of "Kyōka Suigetsu".

Deceiving the five senses...

Is this person in front of me really Wang Xun?

Just as Kisuke Urahara was about to ask something else...

Just then, the sound of hurried running echoed down the corridor again.

It seemed even more urgent than any of the previous announcements.

The members of the Twelfth Division stumbled open the door, their faces ashen, and blurted out before they could even catch their breath.

"Report! Emergency! Captain Kensei Muguruma's Reiatsu has just disappeared from the monitoring system!"

Upon hearing this, Mashiro Kuna abruptly turned towards the door.

Her body reacted before her brain could, and she was already rushing towards the door.

However, a figure was faster than her. Shinji Hirako Shunpo moved in front of Mashiro Kuna, grabbed her shoulder, and with a light touch, froze her in place.

"Mashiro Kuna, calm down."

Hirako's voice lacked its usual lazy tone; it was unusually steady.

Mashiro Kuna looked up at him, her lips trembling, something welling up in her eyes, but she stubbornly refused to let it fall.

"Kensei, he..."

"I know."

Hirako didn't say much, but he tightened his grip on her shoulder a little more.

Then he turned his head and looked at Shigekuni Yamamoto, who was sitting in the main seat.

"Captain-Commander, please give the order. Souls have vanished, the Soul Reaper has been killed, and now even the captain is in trouble."

"This is no ordinary incident."

Hirako's tone was calm yet solemn.

"As a support team, the Fifth Division cannot stand idly by."

Shigekuni Yamamoto slowly rose to his feet.

The cane slammed heavily on the stone slab, and a heavy Reiatsu emanated from the Captain-Commander's body, suppressing all the noise in the room.

This strongest Soul Reaper, who has protected the Soul Society for millennia, surveyed everyone present, his aged eyes filled with majesty.

"Approved. Shinji Hirako, Love Aikawa, and Rōjūrō Ōtoribashi are hereby ordered to immediately form an emergency support team."

"Send one person from the Twelfth Division to accompany and monitor the area."

"Kyōraku, you should go too."

Yamamoto looked at Kirio Hikifune, then turned his gaze to Shunsui Kyōraku.

At that moment, Kyōraku turned to look at his vice-captain.

"Let Little Lisa handle this matter; Seireitei also needs manpower."

Yamamoto nodded slightly upon hearing this.

"Then Hiyori Sarugaki will accompany us as a special technical support officer for the Twelfth Division, Lisa Yadōmaru will be assigned by Shunsui Kyōraku and included in the team as well."

"Vice Kidō -no-Taisho, Hachigen Ushōda also accompany us."

"From this moment forward, all Gotei 13 are on high alert."

As he finished speaking, his cane struck again.

"Depart immediately."