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"Don't move! What are you trying to do?"

When the Soul Reaper saw Wang Xun take a few steps, he instinctively gripped his sword hilt.

Wang Xun raised both hands to show he meant nothing else by it.

He was only picking up his spoils.

During the fierce battle just now, Hasegawa had dropped quite a few fragments.

Wang Xun picked up most of the fragments, then stopped under the Soul Reaper instructor's tense gaze.

[Reiryoku fragments obtained ×22, Spiritual Might experience +220]

[Kendō insights obtained ×6, Kendō experience +60]

[Shunpo insights obtained ×4, Shunpo experience +40]

[Kidō insights obtained ×1, Kidō experience +10]

Seeing the system messages, Wang Xun understood.

Aside from having higher Reiatsu than him, Hasegawa was not much stronger than him in other respects.

Having put himself to the test in actual combat, Wang Xun now had a clear grasp of his strength.

Even without his Zanpakuto's Shikai, his overall strength was already on par with that of a typical high-ranking Seated Officer.

That might have been strong for a student at the Spiritual Arts Academy, but in the vast Seireitei, it was nothing remarkable.

"By the way, sir, my classmates left before me. Are they safe now? Did you see a small girl named Nanao Ise?"

"Hm? I didn't notice, but don't worry. All the students have gathered at the assembly point. The only one missing is someone named Wang Xun... What's your name?"

"My name is Wang Xun."

"Oh."

Wang Xun and the Soul Reaper guarding him stood there, staring at each other.

Before long, a commotion came from the distance.

A moment later, several Soul Reapers arrived in an orderly formation.

The man at their head had long blond hair and a cold gaze as he surveyed the area.

"Where's Hasegawa?"

The Soul Reaper beside Wang Xun immediately straightened up and reported to him excitedly.

"Captain Hirako, sir! Sixth Seat Hasegawa left in the one o'clock direction. Several of the supervising Soul Reapers who came with us have already gone after him."

"All right. Take this student back, and leave a few people to patrol the area."

After assigning several Soul Reapers to stay and handle the scene, Shinji Hirako vanished from where he stood.

Led by the others, Wang Xun finally passed through the Senkaimon and returned to Soul Society.

When they emerged from the Senkaimon, the area was almost empty.

Aside from a few Soul Reapers stationed there, only Nanao Ise, Heita Harada, and the third-year students they had been supervising remained.

The moment Wang Xun emerged, the first thing Nanao noticed was his torn academy uniform.

Nanao hurried over and grabbed Wang Xun's arm.

"You're hurt. What happened?"

Seeing Nanao's worried expression and agitated manner, Wang Xun smiled and waved a hand.

"They're just scrapes. If I'd come back any later, they'd have almost healed already."

Just then, a Fifth Division Soul Reaper beside them reached out to separate Wang Xun and Nanao.

"A serious incident occurred during this Konsō practicum. Fortunately, no one was killed or injured."

"As witnesses who were present, you need to come with us and cooperate with our investigation."

"You should head to the Fifth Division first."

Nanao pursed her lips.

"Could I go with him to the Fourth Division first...?"

"All right, Nanao. Do as this Soul Reaper says for now. Let's not cause them any trouble."

Before the Soul Reaper could speak, Wang Xun spoke up to persuade her.

Hearing Wang Xun's words, the Soul Reaper in the lead gave him an approving look.

A sensible kid.

"Let's go."

At his signal, Wang Xun parted from the others and headed toward the Fourth Division, escorted by two Fifth Division members.

The incident involved the defection of a high-ranking Fifth Division Seated Officer, which was nothing short of a scandal for the division.

That was why the Fifth Division Captain had personally turned out and acted so quickly.

Until the facts were established, Wang Xun, the only person who had personally experienced the incident, would clearly be kept under strict watch until the matter was settled.

Wang Xun could not help pondering it on the way.

He just didn't know what Aizen was doing now.

If Aizen had arranged all of this, why had he sent a fairly high-ranking Seated Officer to act?

Could he be... a disposable pawn?

"By the way, I saw Captain Hirako earlier, but I didn't see Lieutenant Aizen. Did he come today too?"

At Wang Xun's question, the two Soul Reapers beside him exchanged a glance.

"Why do you ask?"

"Just curious."

One of them thought for a moment. It wasn't anything worth hiding.

"Lieutenant Aizen received another rescue assignment from the World of the Living and headed out earlier."

Wang Xun nodded. There was no need to wonder. Aizen had definitely been watching from the sidelines earlier.

As meticulous as ever.

A short while later, they arrived at the Fourth Division.

After receiving some basic treatment there, Wang Xun was placed in a private room within the Fourth Division.

Outside the door, the two Fifth Division Soul Reapers never left their posts.

A day slipped quietly by.

The sudden Menos Grande attack during the Konsō practicum in the World of the Living and Sixth Seat Hasegawa's defection were like a stone thrown into a tranquil lake, sending ripples through the Gotei 13.

But neither incident spread through Shin'ō Academy, and few people there knew about them.

The Fifth Division issued a gag order to Nanao Ise, Heita Harada, and the others who knew the details.

Before an official announcement was made, they were not allowed to spread word of the incident indiscriminately.

As a result, the academy students who had hurried back from the Konsō practicum in the World of the Living did not know exactly what had happened.

Only a handful of people knew that a Menos Grande had attacked the students.

None of that, however, had anything to do with Wang Xun.

He was lying comfortably on a medical bed in the Fourth Division, while Nanao Ise sat beside him, peeling an apple with a small knife.

After more than half a day of questioning, Nanao and the others had been allowed to return to the academy and move about freely.

Nanao had immediately come to the Fourth Division and found Wang Xun's room.

When the two guards at the door saw that it was Nanao Ise, they discussed it privately.

After warning Wang Xun not to reveal anything about Hasegawa, they allowed Nanao to visit.

Even so, both of them kept their attention fixed on the room.

Looking at Wang Xun's relaxed expression, Nanao gradually put her unease aside.

"Didn't you say you weren't hurt? Why do you still need me to peel an apple for you?"

"It tastes sweeter when you peel it."

Seeing how utterly serious Wang Xun looked, Nanao was speechless, but she carefully peeled one for him anyway.

"Let's just say... it's a reward for you."

When she finished, she gently held it to Wang Xun's mouth.

"Say ah~"

"Ah."

Wang Xun took it in his mouth, but because he had opened so wide, his lips accidentally brushed Nanao's fingers.

Nanao felt as though an electric shock had run through her fingertips. She jerked her hand back, her face rapidly flushing red.

A moment later, she rubbed her hand against Wang Xun.

"Gross..."

Wang Xun: ?