Chapter 253

Wang Xun sized up Kisuke Urahara.

A fisherman's hat, a green kimono, and a fan in his hand.

This person is quite different from the Third Seat of the Second Division he remembered, who spent all his time in the lab.

Urahara now already shows some of the makings of the cunning businessman he will become, but his eyes are still clear, and he hasn't completely turned into that carefree, irresponsible person.

Of course, Urahara was also sizing up Wang Xun.

Captain's Haori, the emblem of the 11th Division.

When he left, Wang Xun was still the vice-captain of the Fourth Division. How long has it been? He's already wearing Kenpachi's haori.

If I hadn't seen it with my own eyes now, it would still be hard to believe.

With the Kendō he honed under the tutelage of Unohana, defeating Kiganjō would be no difficult task for Wang Xun.

However, since Kiganjō could at least Bankai and his Reiatsu was not low, it was still quite astonishing that Wang Xun could directly defeat a captain with Bankai.

Urahara glanced at Wang Xun's Reiatsu; it was genuine Captain-level, far stronger than it had been in the underground cavern of the Sōkyoku Hill.

The rate of growth is still frighteningly fast.

"Now that we're here, let's put away our Reiatsu."

Urahara tapped his palm with his fan.

"Do not disturb the inhabitants of the World of the Living."

Wang Xun raised his wrist.

Wang Xun had a Limitation Seal branded on his wrist, which suppressed his Reiatsu to within a quarter of its range.

"The Limitation Seal has been applied, it won't have any effect."

"As the host, aren't you going to treat us to a meal, Mr. Urahara?"

"Ha, still so impolite."

At that moment, Yoruichi jumped off Urahara's shoulder.

At this moment, in her black cat form, her tail was held high.

She took small, quick steps to Soi Fon and looked up at the Captain's Haori Soi Fon was wearing.

"That's quite surprising," Yoruichi tilted her head. "Soi Fon, you've already mastered Bankai?"

Soi Fon didn't say anything.

Her fists were clenched tightly, and her shoulders were trembling slightly.

Her hair hung down, obscuring half her face, making her expression impossible to see.

Wang Xun reached out and placed his hand on her shoulder, feeling the trembling slowly subside in his palm.

Soi Fon raised her hand and wiped her cheek.

She lowered her head, staring at the black cat, her eyes reddening.

"Lady Yoruichi, why didn't you take me with you when you left?"

Yoruichi, he watched her, his tail slowly drooping.

A moment later, she sighed, jumped onto Soi Fon's shoulder, and patted her head with her paw.

"Of course I don't want to implicate you. Defection is a serious crime. The Shihoin Clan is large and powerful enough to handle it, but if you come along, your family will be in trouble."

Soi Fon took a deep sniff.

Unexpectedly, Lady Yoruichi was thinking of her best interests.

"Waaaa, Lady Yoruichi..."

Soi Fon reached out and hugged the black cat, tears streaming down Yoruichi's body.

"What? You're using me as a face wipe? Okay, stop crying."

Yoruichi and comforted Soi Fon.

Kisuke Urahara and Wang Xun, who were standing nearby, exchanged a smile as they watched this scene.

"Alright, let's find somewhere else to talk."

Urahara turned and led the way, the group following him through several blocks before turning into a detached house.

The courtyard was small, with several empty flowerpots piled up in the corner, and the light bulb under the eaves emitting a dim yellow light.

Pushing open the doorway, you see a low table on the tatami mat, with steaming teaware on it.

Tessai Tsukabishi was standing at the door. When he saw the group return, a hint of relief appeared on his serious face.

"Mr. Tsukabishi, how are you feeling?"

"Of course, Wang Xun, Soi Fon, please come in."

Yoruichi jumped off Soi Fon's shoulder and went to the bathroom to groom her body.

Tessai Tsukabishi poured a cup of tea for both Wang Xun and Soi Fon.

The tea soup is emerald green with a delicate aroma.

"Tell me," Urahara said, sitting to one side. "What's the situation in Soul Society right now? My information channels are limited; all I know is that the war with the Quincy just ended."

Wang Xun his teacup and took a sip.

"The Quincy almost completely wiped out, but most of them died in Yhwach's Auswählen, not from our killing."

Urahara paused for a moment, a hint of seriousness flashing in his eyes.

"Yhwach, he's actually still alive?"

Wang Xun nodded.

"Indeed, Yhwach awoke during the battle, but he was in poor condition and fled with his remaining troops."

"The Quincy possess a technique that can steal Bankai, called Quincy Medallion Transformation. Captain-Commander Yamamoto's Bankai was stolen by Yhwach, and so was Isshin Shiba's."

"However, the Twelfth Division has already broken the Quincy Medallion, Bankai can be retrieved, so there's not too much to worry about."

Kisuke Urahara clicked his tongue.

The name Yhwach was more than just intelligence to him.

He had seen the archives of the Quincy battle a thousand years ago.

I never expected that Yhwach could be resurrected.

This is not good news.

"There's another piece of news, but I don't know whether to call it good or bad."

Wang Xun looked at Urahara.

"Aizen ran away."

"He used the Hōgyoku to absorb the Soul King's left hand on the battlefield. According to him, the Hōgyoku is almost complete."

"His next step is to go to Hueco Mundo to fuse with the Hōgyoku and create an army of Arrancar. Then, he will use a piece of Jūreichi in the World of the Living to fuse with 100,000 souls, forging the King's Key and entering the Soul King Palace."

"The Soul King's left hand?" Urahara frowned. "How could the Quincy have something like this?"

Who knows?

Wang Xun shrugged.

"So it seems he's no longer eyeing the Hōgyoku in my hand."

Urahara sighed; this was an unexpected turn of events.

At this moment, Wang Xun asked.

"How are those Hollowfication captains doing now?"

Urahara paused for a moment, then stood up.

Come and see for yourself.

He pushed open the sliding door at the back of the living room.

A narrow staircase leads to the basement, the wooden steps creaking underfoot.

The basement, much larger than the living room above, has been converted into a fully equipped laboratory.

The Reishi lamp was embedded in the ceiling, and there were culture jars in the corner, containing various samples.

At the very back is a row of individual cubicles.

Rōjūrō Ōtoribashi lay in the outermost compartment, his mask shrunk to cover only the area around his left eye, his chest rising and falling steadily.

Love Aikawa was next to him, his mask still covering the lower half of his face, but his breathing was steady.

Shinji Hirako was in the third cubicle, his eyes half-open, his pupils still somewhat unfocused, but when he saw someone enter, his eyes moved slightly.

He paused for a moment, as if trying to identify who it was.

Mashiro Kuna was on the innermost side, and her condition was actually the best.

The mask had almost completely disappeared, leaving only a small white mark on her left cheekbone. Sensing the arrival of people, she slightly opened her eyes and nodded to them.

"The Hollowfication process has been largely suppressed, thanks in large part to the Reiatsu sample you provided."

Urahara leaned against the laboratory wall.

"I've come up with a plan to use Quincy's Reishi Arrow to mix with human souls, in order to balance the power of Soul Reaper and Hollows."

"The inhibitors are working better than expected; several people have regained consciousness and should be fully awake in a while."

"Can you regain your combat abilities?"

"Theoretically, it's possible, but the Hollowfication process itself is irreversible. If it can be controlled, the power of Hollowfication can be used by them. Mr. Tessai and I are currently researching relevant training programs."

Wang Xun looked at the mask on Shinji Hirako's face. It was completely different from the one on the ruins of Rukongai. The edges no longer spread outwards and were suppressed within a controllable range.

How much longer?

"It could take anywhere from a few months to several years."

Urahara walked up to Hirako's cubicle and looked at him through the glass.

"After fully recovering, these captains will be stronger than before. With Hollowfication combined with Bankai, their combat power ceiling will increase by a whole level."

o

Wang Xun looked at the captains lying in the cubicle.

"I came here this time also for their sake."

"Soul Society is missing half of its captains, Yhwach has awakened, Aizen has gone to Hueco Mundo, Seireitei is currently short-handed."

"Besides, Aizen's plot has been exposed. Captain-Commander Yamamoto will eventually request the Central 46 to lift the arrest warrant for you. Do you want to go back?"

Urahara remained silent for a moment.

"To be honest, I don't really want to go back."

"How so?"

"After all, I created the Hōgyoku."

Urahara sighed.

"Although Aizen's Hollowfication Incident has nothing to do with me, the Hōgyoku itself is a dangerous item for Soul Society."

"My research methods and many of my ideas have exceeded the rules of Seireitei. Even if the Central 46 withdraws the arrest warrant, they will still keep a close eye on me."

"Being outside Seireitei is a relief for me. The World of the Living is big enough and quiet enough; no one cares what I research."

Yoruichi yawned in the corner.

"I'm not going back either. Who knows what kind of trouble he'll cause if no one's watching him? For the sake of world peace, I have to keep an eye on him."

Urahara chuckled awkwardly.

"Yoruichi-san, you're really strict."

Yoruichi at Urahara, then looked at Soi Fon not far away.

"Besides, the Stealth Force already has a new captain, so it doesn't matter whether I go back or not."

Soi Fon stood up.

"How could that be?" Her voice was a chord higher than usual. "Lady Yoruichi, the position of captain of the Second Division is yours. I'm only temporarily acting. I'll be at your service whenever you return..."

Yoruichi onto her shoulder and pressed a paw against her mouth.

"What nonsense are you talking about? You're already the Second Division Captain, and you earned it through your own abilities. Soi Fon, you've done a great job. I'm very confident in entrusting the Second Division to you."

Soi Fon was about to say something when Yoruichi smacked her on the head again.

"If you say anything more, I'm going to get angry."

She bit her lip and finally fell silent.

Urahara clicked his tongue.

"Aizen pursued the evolution of the Hōgyoku, aiming to become an existence surpassing even the Soul Reaper. Yhwach's Auswählen was even more extraordinary, capable of returning the souls of all Quincy to his body."

"The two people's goals seem different, but they are essentially the same: they both want to become beings who transcend the existing rules."

"One was enough of a headache for us, and now two have appeared."

"Aizen went to Hueco Mundo, then Yhwach will most likely come to the World of the Living, since Quincy are originally a race from the World of the Living."

"Staying in the World of the Living will make it easier for me to track his movements. Wang Xun, after you return to Soul Society, send me news about Aizen regularly, and I'll also keep you updated on the Hollowfication captains' recovery progress here."

"Aizen has gone to Hueco Mundo to integrate the Arrancar, Yhwach has returned from hiding. The threats from both sides are significant."

"However, Soul Society still has a chance."

"As long as these captains can recover, plus you and Soi Fon, the new captains, the combat strength gap can be filled."

Wang Xun nodded. The group chatted for a long time, and it was about time for them to leave.

Soi Fon walked up to Yoruichi and squatted down.

"Lady Yoruichi, take care."

"You too, being a captain isn't easy, don't try to be a hero. If there's anything you can't handle, ask Wang Xun for help."

Wang Xun looked at Urahara.

"Those captains, if any of you need to return to Soul Society after you wake up, remember to let me know."

Urahara pushed open the front door and escorted the two into the courtyard.

"Of course, most people will probably want to go back, and we'll see how their recovery goes then."

Wang Xun didn't say anything more.

He led Soi Fon out of the courtyard, drew his Zanpakuto, activated the mark, and planted it in the air, opening the Senkaimon.

After walking a few steps, they looked back and saw Urahara, Yoruichi, Tsukabishi standing in the courtyard, waving at them.

Wang Xun and Soi Fon stepped into the passage, passed through the Dangai, and when the exit lit up again, they were already on the stone floor of Seireitei.

After saying goodbye to Soi Fon, Wang Xun went to the First Division Barracks and headed straight for the Captain-Commander's office.

Shigekuni Yamamoto sat behind his desk, a stack of documents spread out in front of him, a brush resting on the inkstone, the ink half-dry.

The room was quiet, with only the faint crackling sound of the charcoal fire burning in the corner.

When Wang Xun entered, Yamamoto did not look up, his voice hoarse.

"You went to the World of the Living?"

"Yes."

"I went to see Kisuke Urahara."

Wang Xun's lips twitched slightly.

"I can't hide it from you."

Yamamoto then raised his eyes.

Those aged eyes lingered on Wang Xun's face for a moment, then reached out, flipped the document in front of him over, pushed it to the side of the table, and gestured for Wang Xun to take a look.

The document bore the red seal of Central 46, and was the approval document for revoking the arrest warrant.

"After Aizen disappeared, the truth behind the Captain Hollowfication Incident became basically clear: Kisuke Urahara was framed, as were Tessai Tsukabishi and Yoruichi Shihōin."

"I have applied to the Central 46 to have the arrest warrants for them revoked, and the approval just came through today."

Yamamoto stared at Wang Xun.

Are those captains still alive?

"They are alive. Under Kisuke Urahara's treatment, the Hollowfication process has been brought under control. It will take anywhere from a few months to a few years for everyone to fully recover."

Yamamoto was silent for a moment, then spoke softly.

"That's good."

For so long, Yamamoto had believed that the loss of four captains that night was a serious loss, the worst since the establishment of the Gotei 13.

Now that he knows the person is still alive, the old man can finally relax a bit.

"Does Kisuke Urahara know that the arrest warrant has been withdrawn?"

"I told him, and he said he didn't want to come back."

Yamamoto showed no surprise, simply nodding.

"Where's Yoruichi Shihōin?"

"She doesn't want to come back either. She said she wants to keep an eye on Urahara to prevent him from causing any trouble."

Yamamoto snorted.

The girls in the Shihoin Clan have always been like this, wild and untamed.

"Let them be."

"Those captains who Hollowfication, if they are willing to return after recovering, the gates of Soul Society will be opened for them; if they are not willing, we will not force them."

Wang Xun nodded.

"Aizen's Kyōka Suigetsu can hypnotize everyone who has seen his Shikai. You said you knew the truth from the beginning, but couldn't say it because of Kyōka Suigetsu's power."

Yamamoto sat at the desk, his tone gradually becoming serious.

"I accept this reason, but not everyone can. There are people in Central 46 investigating you for failing to report what you knew."

How do you plan to deal with this?

"Aizen may have escaped, Yhwach will return with a vengeance."

Wang Xun's tone was very calm.

"If Central 46 wants to pursue a captain who could single-handedly defeat Yhwach's Schutzstaffel at this time, then let them pursue him."

"Quite the boast."

Yamamoto glanced at him, a smile playing on his lips.

"Alright, go ahead. I'll smooth things over for you."

"Compile the news from the World of the Living into a formal report and submit it tomorrow. Include the recovery status of those Hollowfication captains, in detail."

"After all, what Central 46 wants has to be done according to their procedures."