Conflict

Wang Xun glanced at Harada, who had spoken.

When Harada noticed Wang Xun looking at him, he jerked his head down and stood stiffly in place, not even daring to meet Wang Xun's eyes again.

Wang Xun gave a soft snort, not even bothering to waste words on him.

Then he looked at Tsunayashiro, his voice as calm as ever.

"This decision came directly from the Second Division Captain. If you have any questions, you can take them up with Captain Shihoin."

"If you can actually get me out of the Second Division, then I'll consider your offer."

Those words were like a stone tossed into a still lake, making Tsunayashiro's brows knit at once.

Behind him, Kenji Takaya looked incredulous.

"What? The Second Division Captain?"

"Haven't you graduated yet?"

Tsunayashiro considered whether Wang Xun was telling the truth, but he had no way to verify it.

The Second Division, the Stealth Force.

Yoruichi Shihōin...

He stared fixedly at Wang Xun, his usually half-lidded eyes now wide open. The smile that had remained on his face for so long finally faded.

At that moment, the composed and friendly mask on Tokinada Tsunayashiro's face finally cracked.

His gaze turned cold. There was anger, resentment, and unwillingness in it, all eventually settling into an icy silence.

There was one thing Tsunayashiro had not mentioned: he had already noticed that Wang Xun and Kaien Shiba had an unusually close relationship.

You're a lowborn from Rukongai, and just because you have some ability, you've rejected my offers again and again.

You refuse to accept my offer, yet you're so close to the Shiba Clan, whom we drove out of the Seireitei.

And in the end, you've climbed your way into the Shihoin Clan's favor?

The corners of his mouth twitched slightly, and his fingers tightened unconsciously.

His upbringing as a noble kept him from losing his composure on the spot.

But anyone could see that his calm was only a facade. Beneath it lay a chill like that of a venomous snake finally baring its fangs.

"Shihoin... heh. Wang Xun, I thought you were a smart man, but your choice is truly... shortsighted."

He practically forced the words through his teeth, his voice carrying a chill he could barely conceal.

If the Shihoin Clan really was backing Wang Xun, he truly would not dare make another move against him.

The Tsunayashiro Clan was unlike the Shihōin Clan, which produced talented people generation after generation and held a firm grip on the position of Second Division Captain.

Nor could it compare to the Kuchiki Clan, which had risen later and secured a place in the Thirteenth Division.

In terms of strength alone, the Tsunayashiro Clan had never ranked particularly highly in the Seireitei.

As a result, aside from having a certain amount of influence in Central 46, the clan could hardly even arrange positions with real power for its younger members.

Most of them could only be sent to the Great Spirit Book Gallery to do surveillance and management work.

The clan had also had enough of this predicament. To increase its actual strength, it had long been conducting unsavory experiments in secret.

Previously, it had even sought out a woman who had a Soul King Fragment inside her. Ignoring her origins in Rukongai, it had forced her to marry a member of a branch family.

While conducting experiments, the clan had also tried to improve the Reiryoku of its descendants.

Unfortunately, his older cousin from that branch family was a complete lunatic, far too cold-blooded and bloodthirsty. For some reason, he had killed the woman before the experiments were complete. What a pity.

Thus, in his view, Wang Xun's rejection of the Tsunayashiro Clan in favor of the Shihoin Clan was not only an insult, but a sign of contempt.

Seeing Wang Xun's unchanged expression only made Tsunayashiro angrier at his own impatience.

Then his gaze passed over Wang Xun and fell on Nanao behind him.

A vicious smile appeared on his lips.

"Wang Xun, I'm afraid you don't know yet. The women of the Ise Clan bring death to their husbands. Not a single man who marries one of them lives past middle age."

"There are even rumors that the women of their clan sustain themselves by drawing on their husbands' Reiryoku..."

"Enough."

Wang Xun's voice was not loud, but the chill in it made the surrounding temperature seem to drop several degrees.

The next moment, a powerful Reiatsu erupted from him.

Although his Spiritual Might level was not high, it was enough to make the few things in front of him struggle to breathe.

Heita Harada's face went pale, and he staggered half a step backward.

Kenji Takaya fared no better. The superiority on his face crumbled in an instant, replaced by cold sweat pouring down his forehead.

Thanks to the advantage of his bloodline, Tokinada Tsunayashiro actually held up the best of the three.

Even so, confronted by Wang Xun's sudden release of Reiatsu, his chest tightened, and he nearly failed to maintain his composed expression.

But he was a member of the Tsunayashiro Clan, after all. He forced himself not to retreat, though his fingers were already trembling.

Wang Xun looked Tsunayashiro straight in the eye, his voice as cold and sharp as a blade.

"Tsunayashiro, out of consideration for your status as a descendant of a great noble clan, I'm still letting you save face. Don't ask for trouble."

"Save face?"

Tokinada Tsunayashiro's breathing was a little hurried as he forced out a cold smile.

"You rejected my offer, yet you associate with trash like the Shiba Clan, who couldn't even stay in the Seireitei. Is that the face you chose to save?"

He took half a step forward and lowered his voice, nearly forcing the words through his teeth.

"I checked. Your business in Rukongai is doing quite well. Ichiraku Ramen, right?"

Wang Xun's expression remained unchanged.

"Let me remind you," Tokinada Tsunayashiro said, his smile turning dangerous, "in Soul Society, a business without a noble's protection is like rootless duckweed."

"One storm is all it takes to make it disappear completely."

Wang Xun watched him quietly for a few seconds, then suddenly smiled too.

But there was no warmth in that smile.

"Classmate Tsunayashiro," he said softly, in a voice only the two of them could hear, "let me give you a reminder too. If you dare touch anyone close to me, or lay a hand on my business..."

"I'll show you that when duckweed gets tangled in a propeller, even a great ship risks sinking."

Tsunayashiro gave Wang Xun a cold look.

He said nothing more threatening. He merely gave Wang Xun and Nanao, whom he was shielding behind him, one last look, then snorted and turned to leave.

Seeing Tsunayashiro turn and walk away, Heita Harada was as relieved as if he had been granted a pardon and hurried after him.

Kenji Takaya glared viciously at Wang Xun before turning and leaving as well.

In the distance, some Spiritual Arts Academy students had already noticed what was happening and were whispering among themselves.

Wang Xun paid no attention to his surroundings. He simply turned and looked at Nanao.

Nanao's face was a little pale. Though her eyes were full of anger as she watched Tsunayashiro's departing back, she also seemed somewhat at a loss.

When she noticed Wang Xun looking at her, the anger on her face gave way to a trace of grievance, and tears glimmered faintly in her eyes.

Wang Xun sighed inwardly and reached out to ruffle Nanao's hair.

"I'm sorry I dragged you into this. Don't believe what he said. It means nothing."

Nanao raised a hand to adjust her glasses, wiping the corner of her eye as she did so.

Then she composed herself, lifted her head, and smiled.

"Mm, I'm fine. Thank you, Wang Xun."

"What are you thanking me for?"

Wang Xun smiled, his smile warm and genuine.

He gently patted Nanao on the shoulder.

"Come on, let's go back."