The Prototype of Shunkō

Wang Xun nodded upon hearing this, not expecting Yoruichi to bring it up herself.

"That is indeed the case, and I am also interested. I wonder what Captain Yoruichi's opinion is?"

"That's a good thing."

Yoruichi's expression finally relaxed a bit.

"Kaidō is an important skill, especially for you team members who are on the front lines."

"Since Captain Unohana has spoken, if you're interested, the Second Division can help you coordinate a time."

Upon Wang Xun looked surprised, not expecting Yoruichi to agree so readily.

"If it's feasible, that would be wonderful."

The conversation then turned to the mission itself.

Yoruichi stood up and walked to the window, gazing at the Seireitei.

"There may be certain nobles involved behind Amamiya Shin. If there is indeed evidence, then the Stealth Force has the right to conduct a thorough investigation."

"But given the current situation, we don't know where to begin."

"Things have been a bit unsettled in Soul Society lately."

Yoruichi turned around and looked at Soi Fon.

"Soi Fon, you get some rest. I still have some work to do, so I won't stay any longer."

Yoruichi gave a few more instructions and then left in a hurry.

The door closed gently, and Yoruichi's Reiatsu gradually faded away.

The ward fell silent again.

Soi Fon leaned against the headboard, gazing at the sky outside the window, her eyes somewhat lost in thought.

Then she said softly.

I still feel somewhat resentful.

"They caught the person, but this is the result."

Wang Xun sat down on the chair beside the bed.

"There's no use worrying now. Captain Yoruichi and Third Seat Urahara will handle this properly."

As he spoke, he deftly opened the food box and laid out the still-warm porridge and side dishes one by one.

Soi Fon watched his actions, her eyes flickering slightly.

This guy is actually quite good at taking care of people.

She suddenly remembered the scene from before when Wang Xun carried her through the deep night.

The steady, powerful heartbeat, and the warmth of his neck against my cheek.

Soi Fon's ears gradually turned red, and then she quickly shook her head, shaking these distracting thoughts out of her mind.

"Let's eat something first."

After a long pause, Soi Fon nodded gently upon hearing Wang Xun's voice.

She then took the bowl and sipped the water.

After a moment, she suddenly said softly.

"Lady Yoruichi, you must be quite troubled too."

"Although she always acts nonchalant, I could sense her anxiety just now."

Soi Fon looked down at the bowl in her hand.

"The unseen dealings in the shadows of Soul Society are always Lady Yoruichi has to face on the front lines; her pressure is actually much greater than what we see."

Wang Xun remained silent, knowing that Soi Fon was right.

As Yoruichi head of one of the Four Great Noble Clans, the Second Division Captain, and the commander-in-chief of the Stealth Force, Yoruichi carries a burden far greater than it appears.

"If only I were stronger, and could get closer to her, that would be wonderful."

Seeing the forlorn look in Soi Fon's eyes, Wang Xun sighed softly and said in a low voice.

"Don't worry, you'll definitely be able to do it someday."

Soi Fon looked up and saw the sincere look in Wang Xun's eyes.

As if encouraged, he nodded slightly.

A few days later, at the Second Division training ground.

As dawn broke, the training ground still carried the chill of the night.

Soi Fon had changed back into her close-fitting Punishment Force's combat uniform and had brought Wang Xun here early to continue developing Shunkō's abilities.

Although Captain Unohana advised her to rest for a few more days, Soi Fon couldn't wait that long.

The Amamiya Shin incident made her realize that her abilities were far from sufficient.

To become stronger, we must become stronger even faster.

This idea rose and burned in her heart.

Soi Fon stood in the center of the training field, closed her eyes and concentrated, her Reiatsu flowing slowly around her.

She raised both hands, her left hand attempting to gather Reiatsu and construct a complete Reiryoku flow.

Hakuda requires concentrating Reiatsu into fists and feet, pursuing the ultimate concentration and explosive power within the body.

The Kidō requires precise control of Reiryoku and complex spell construction.

Combining the two is far more complex than simply layering them together.

Soi Fon has tried many methods, but she can only maintain the amplification state for a few seconds at most before inevitably collapsing.

The Reiatsu operating circuit is in conflict, the control is unbalanced, and the wrist cannot withstand the load of Reiatsu output, resulting in a series of problems.

This is far from meeting the requirements of actual combat.

"Failed again..."

Soi Fon frowned as she looked at the dissipating Reiatsu in her hand.

She recalled the suggestion Wang Xun had just made.

"Instead of forcibly merging two completely different systems, it's better to find a node that allows them to work together in some way, rather than awkwardly merging them into one."

"By using the Kidō method to manipulate Reiryoku, one can make the Reiatsu flow rhythmically around the body, thereby gradually increasing its output power."

At the time, she thought the idea was novel, but now that she's tried it, she still faces many difficulties.

Where is this output node located, and what is the coordination method?

Soi Fon took a deep breath and decided to temporarily change her perspective.

If a technological breakthrough is not possible in the short term, perhaps inspiration can be found in conceptual approaches.

Hakuda is the ultimate expression of physical skill, a fighting art where the body becomes a weapon.

The Kidō is the outward manifestation of Reiryoku; it is the application of Reiatsu through controlling the spirit with the mind.

The two may seem unrelated, but at a higher level, they may have something in common.

So the question might be rephrased as: how can Reiatsu be both highly compressed within the body for an instantaneous burst, and also finely shaped and continuously operated externally, like Kidō...?

Wang Xun watched quietly as Soi Fon frowned in thought, then spoke softly.

"You've already mastered using Reiatsu to amplify the power of your punches and kicks. Now, you should focus on how to maintain a continuous output of Reiryoku and find that crucial point."

"How about we try channeling our Reiatsu towards a specific area, like... our shoulder?"

His words were like a spark of inspiration, illuminating Soi Fon's thoughts.

Shoulder?

Soi Fon closed her eyes and began to simulate the scene in her mind.

Countless possibilities flashed, collided, and recombined like streaks of light.

Unbeknownst to her, Soi Fon's Reiatsu began to undergo subtle changes.

It was no longer the violent fluctuations of the past, but a more stable and orderly flow.

Reiatsu surged from his wrists, searching for a specific path of circulation, gradually rising with his arms and forming a faint vortex on his shoulders and back.

Although it was still very raw and only in its infancy, this time, the Reiatsu did not immediately collapse.

It lasted for a brief moment.

With a ripping sound, Soi Fon Fon's fabric was torn open at her shoulders.

Soi Fon opened her eyes, a look of surprise and joy flashing in them.

She seemed to have found her footing.

She looked at Wang Xun, her eyes shining with an undisguised brilliance—the exhilaration of finally seeing the light at the end of the tunnel after a long period of searching.

A hint of surprise flashed in Wang Xun's eyes.

She just said whatever came to mind, and surprisingly, Soi Fon actually found the trick with just a few words.

"Yes, that's the feeling. Continue."

She nodded excitedly, resumed her stance, and her Reiatsu began to flow again.

This time, it went much more smoothly than before.