Chapter Summaries

Wang Xun challenged Soi Fon to a Hakuda-only fight and improved rapidly as he learned from her attacks. After landing the first blow and forcing her back, he asked to continue, leaving Soi Fon furious but ready to face him again.

• Wang Xun set aside his Zanpakuto and agreed to fight Soi Fon using only Hakuda.
• Soi Fon overwhelmed Wang Xun with precise, powerful attacks, while he recognized that she reinforced her strikes with a Reiatsu method resembling Kidō.
• Wang Xun endured Soi Fon's assault and gradually improved his timing and ability to read her moves as he gained system insights.
• Wang Xun reached Hakuda level 5, evaded Soi Fon's next strike, and punched her in the ribs, forcing her to retreat for the first time.
• Soi Fon realized Wang Xun's Hakuda had improved during their fight, but Wang Xun took a new stance and demanded another round, making her laugh in anger.

Wang Xun fought Soi Fon in his Punishment Force Reserve assessment, rapidly learning from her attacks and discovering that Shunkō could unlock once his Hakuda and Kidō reached level six. He passed the assessment and began arranging his quarters, while Soi Fon left unsettled by their fight and planned to report to Lady Yoruichi.

• Wang Xun exchanged increasingly fierce blows with Soi Fon and adapted to her fighting techniques, including the rudiments of her Kidō-infused Hakuda.
• Wang Xun's system detected Shunkō and showed that he needed Hakuda Lv6 and Kidō Lv6 to unlock it.
• Soi Fon ended the assessment and officially accepted Wang Xun into the Punishment Force Reserves, ordering a nearby member to take him to the infirmary.
• Wang Xun healed his own injuries with Kaidō, then followed a reserve member to arrange his quarters and daily necessities.
• Soi Fon walked through the Second Division, unable to stop thinking about Wang Xun and preparing to report the test results to Lady Yoruichi.

Wang Xun completed his enlistment check-in with the Punishment Force Reserves and settled into the shared dormitory, then asked Kosugi Ken to show him the Second Division training grounds. That night, Soi Fon reported Wang Xun’s combat talent to Yoruichi, while Kisuke Urahara remained curious about him but said it was too early to tell whether anything unusual was going on.

• Kosugi Ken reassured Wang Xun about the training-ground incident and helped him complete his enlistment check-in and receive his supplies.
• Wang Xun settled into the third longhouse, changed into his training clothes, and asked Kosugi Ken to show him the Second Division’s squad training grounds.
• Soi Fon reported that Wang Xun had shown strong Hakuda, Shunpo, and combat intuition, and had quickly learned to counter and imitate her moves.
• Yoruichi told Soi Fon to keep an eye on Wang Xun but treat him like an ordinary squad member for now.
• Kisuke Urahara told Yoruichi that he was curious about Wang Xun but could not yet say whether anything about him was unusual.

Kisuke Urahara studied Wang Xun’s unusual Reiatsu, which contained stable Hollow properties, and considered whether it could be used to understand controllable Hollowfication. He took the sealed Hōgyoku from storage, leaving his intentions unresolved.

• Kisuke Urahara entered his hidden laboratory in the Maggot's Nest and reviewed his analysis of Wang Xun’s Reiatsu.
• Kisuke Urahara examined Wang Xun’s Reiatsu sample alongside stored Hollow Reiatsu and considered how Wang Xun could possess stable Hollow power.
• Kisuke Urahara recalled creating the Hōgyoku to overcome a Soul Reaper’s limits and how it had developed an uncontrollable hunger for Reiatsu.
• Kisuke Urahara compared the Hōgyoku with Wang Xun’s Reiatsu, then carefully removed the Hōgyoku’s sealed container from storage.

Wang Xun’s performance in reserve training impressed his instructor, who planned to recommend him for early selection as a full member of the Punishment Force. Meanwhile, Soi Fon secretly watched him, hoping to understand how he had advanced a combat technique that had stalled her own progress.

• Wang Xun easily completed the grueling reserve training and gathered experience while sensing an unseen gaze on him.
• During a combat exercise, Wang Xun swiftly defeated three reserve members, prompting the instructor to end his regular reserve exercises and recommend him for early full-member selection.
• The instructor told Wang Xun that Captain Shihoin had mentioned him and warned that full-member training and missions would be far more dangerous.
• After the instructor left, Soi Fon emerged from hiding and admitted to herself that she had been secretly observing Wang Xun for insight into his combat technique.
• Soi Fon watched Wang Xun leave for dinner, still unsettled by her curiosity and frustration.

Wang Xun and Soi Fon discussed the technique he had copied from her Reiatsu-enhanced strikes, and Soi Fon asked to spar with him to develop it further. Wang Xun agreed eagerly and pressed to begin immediately, leaving Soi Fon surprised.

• Wang Xun reviewed his abilities over lunch and considered visiting the Fourth Division to improve his Kidō.
• Soi Fon sat with Wang Xun and repeatedly watched him before admitting she wanted to ask about the technique he had used in their entry-test fight.
• Wang Xun explained that he had imitated how Soi Fon applied Reiatsu through Kidō to strengthen her punches and kicks.
• Wang Xun said mastering both Kidō and Hakuda to at least Captain-level might be necessary to fuse them effectively, giving Soi Fon a possible explanation for her difficulty.
• Soi Fon proposed regular sparring to help them develop the technique, and Wang Xun agreed.
• Wang Xun asked why they had to wait and whether Soi Fon had something to do, leaving her surprised.

Soi Fon took Wang Xun to a secluded training ground to test how Kidō-style Reiatsu control could improve her Hakuda. As they examined the flow of Reiatsu through her strikes, Wang Xun identified an unstable point in her kick, and they continued their close training.

• Soi Fon agreed to train with Wang Xun and led him to the Punishment Force commander’s personal guard training ground.
• Wang Xun gathered fragments and insights as he warmed up, bringing his Spiritual Might close to a seventh-rank breakthrough.
• Soi Fon began attacking while Wang Xun studied the Reiatsu in her punches, elbow strikes, and kicks.
• Wang Xun stopped Soi Fon to examine a disruption in the Reiatsu flowing through her calf, making her retreat in embarrassment.
• Soi Fon slowed her kick, and Wang Xun identified a conflict between the Reiatsu’s coiling rhythm and Hakuda’s explosive force before pressing lightly against her leg.

Wang Xun trained with Soi Fon, analyzing her Reiatsu and helping her improve its flow while his close observations unsettled her. After they agreed to train again the next day, Soi Fon left the training ground still troubled by her unfamiliar feelings.

• Wang Xun studied Soi Fon's Reiatsu and identified sluggish initial flow as the cause of her difficulty producing a burst.
• Wang Xun repeatedly touched and closely observed Soi Fon during training, while she struggled with embarrassment and growing distraction.
• Soi Fon asked Wang Xun to keep more distance, and he apologized while explaining that close observation helped him study subtle Reiatsu changes.
• Wang Xun's Spiritual Might rose to seventh class, and Soi Fon acknowledged that his training suggestions had improved her Reiryoku control.
• Wang Xun and Soi Fon tested their adjustments in combat, then agreed to train again the next day.
• Soi Fon left alone, released a burning breath in the corridor, and composed herself despite her lingering confusion about Wang Xun.

Yoruichi approved Wang Xun’s transfer from the reserve unit into Soi Fon’s direct squad and assigned him his first official mission. Soi Fon left to prepare for an investigation into Shinigami disappearances in West Rukongai District 32.

• Soi Fon reported on the Second Division’s missions, and Yoruichi noticed she had seemed distracted lately.
• Yoruichi told Soi Fon that Wang Xun’s assessment recommended promoting him from the reserve unit to the regular ranks.
• Yoruichi proposed placing Wang Xun in Soi Fon’s direct squad, and Soi Fon agreed despite her embarrassment about their private training.
• Yoruichi formally assigned Wang Xun to the Second Division and the Punishment Force under Soi Fon’s command.
• Yoruichi ordered Soi Fon to take Wang Xun and two veteran members to investigate reports of Shinigami disappearing near West Rukongai District 32.

Wang Xun received his formal assignment to Soi Fon’s squad and learned that their first mission was to investigate two missing Tenth Division patrol members. After a violent night with Soi Fon, he met the squad the following afternoon with a bruised face, while she quietly regretted hitting him too hard.

• Wang Xun received orders assigning him to Soi Fon’s squad and joined her briefing with veterans Sugimoto and Kawasaki.
• Soi Fon explained that two Tenth Division members had disappeared near an area under surveillance and ordered the squad to investigate while prioritizing safety.
• After Sugimoto and Kawasaki left, Soi Fon gave Wang Xun his uniforms and equipment, and he asked whether they would continue their nighttime training.
• Soi Fon agreed, and Wang Xun arrived the next afternoon with a bruised face, which he treated with Kaidō.
• Sugimoto and Kawasaki warmed to Wang Xun after seeing his healing skill, and Soi Fon arrived feeling guilty about his bruise.

Soi Fon and Wang Xun searched West Rukongai for a missing Tenth Division member, while Wang Xun’s ability led them to Hollowfication Fragments near an abandoned house. As they prepared to investigate, Kaname Tōsen and several Ninth Division Soul Reapers arrived, leaving their purpose unclear.

• Soi Fon split the team into pairs to search the suspiciously quiet area in West Rukongai’s thirty-second district.
• Wang Xun sensed invisible Reiryoku Fragments and persuaded Soi Fon to search in their direction.
• Wang Xun collected a Hollowfication Fragment and grew increasingly wary as more fragments appeared.
• Soi Fon and Wang Xun stopped outside an empty house after finding a larger cluster of Hollowfication Fragments.
• Soi Fon and Wang Xun hid when approaching Reiatsu revealed several Soul Reapers moving toward them.
• Soi Fon recognized the group’s leader as Kaname Tōsen of the Ninth Division and wondered why they were there.

Kaname Tōsen and three Ninth Division Shinigami joined Soi Fon and Wang Xun’s investigation into the disappearance of Tenth Division members, claiming a deserter named Amamiya Shin was responsible. After Tōsen left, Amamiya Shin ambushed Soi Fon, and Wang Xun blocked his attack.

• Soi Fon and Wang Xun suspected Kaname Tōsen’s arrival was connected to the disappearance and emerged from hiding to confront his team.
• Tōsen said his team was pursuing Amamiya Shin, a deserter accused of forbidden experiments, and proposed joining the investigation.
• The two teams searched an abandoned house and found damaged Tenth Division uniforms and burned tools and papers.
• Tōsen left with his team to pursue Amamiya Shin, while Soi Fon and Wang Xun collected evidence to report to Lady Yoruichi.
• Amamiya Shin attacked Soi Fon from the shadows, and Wang Xun blocked the strike before Shin charged at them again.

Amamiya Shin used his Reiatsu-draining, toxin-laced Zanpakuto to incapacitate Soi Fon, but Wang Xun released Shikai and overwhelmed him. After analyzing Amamiya Shin's Zanpakuto and becoming immune to its effects, Wang Xun was caught when Amamiya Shin deliberately let himself be wounded to land his threads.

• Soi Fon and Wang Xun chose to keep Amamiya Shin occupied, and Soi Fon struck him with Suzumebachi.
• Amamiya Shin released Thousand-Thread Spider, entangled Soi Fon, and drained her Reiatsu while its neurotoxin numbed her limbs.
• Amamiya Shin used Bakudō #61: Rikujōkōrō to immobilize Soi Fon and turned his attack on Wang Xun.
• Wang Xun released Shackle Lotus, moved too quickly for Amamiya Shin to follow, and drove him through a wall with a powerful slash.
• Wang Xun completed his analysis of Thousand Spider Threads and became immune to its Reiatsu-draining threads and neurotoxin.
• Amamiya Shin let Wang Xun cut him, then used the opening to wrap his threads around Wang Xun's arm.

Wang Xun defeated Amamiya Shin and treated him so he could be interrogated, leaving Soi Fon and the others stunned by his strength. When Kaname Tōsen arrived to claim the prisoner for the Ninth Division, Wang Xun refused and stood against him.

• Wang Xun overcame Amamiya Shin's poison, cut off his Zanpakuto, and disabled him while keeping him alive for questioning.
• Wang Xun knocked Amamiya Shin unconscious and used Kaidō to treat his injuries as Soi Fon arrived and reacted with disbelief.
• Soi Fon learned Wang Xun had defeated Amamiya Shin and resolved to take responsibility for her own mistakes during the mission.
• Sugimoto and Kawasaki arrived, followed by Kaname Tōsen and members of the Ninth Division, who demanded custody of Amamiya Shin.
• Wang Xun refused to surrender the prisoner and challenged Kaname Tōsen when he insisted the Ninth Division should detain him.

Kaname Tōsen tried to take the captured Amamiya Shin from the Stealth Force, then attacked Wang Xun with his Zanpakuto, Suzumushi. Wang Xun resisted Suzumushi’s hypnosis and fought back, leaving Tōsen shocked as the battle continued.

• Kaname Tōsen argued that the Ninth Division should interrogate its deserter, Amamiya Shin, and accused the Stealth Force of concealing information.
• Wang Xun countered that the Stealth Force had captured Amamiya and suspected Tōsen of trying to hide the Ninth Division’s involvement.
• Kaname Tōsen drew his sword and challenged Wang Xun, while ordering his three subordinates to stand down.
• Kaname Tōsen released Suzumushi with “Cry, Suzumushi” and used Nake’s sound waves to disorient Soi Fon, Sugimoto, and Kawasaki.
• Wang Xun’s system began analyzing Suzumushi, and he pretended to be affected while Tōsen lunged for Amamiya Shin.
• Wang Xun suddenly attacked Tōsen and exchanged blows with him, then claimed Suzumushi’s sound was hard for him to hear.

Kisuke Urahara arrived as Kaname Tōsen was preparing to escalate his fight with Wang Xun, forcing Tōsen to withdraw and leave Amamiya Shin in the Stealth Force’s custody. After Urahara learned what had happened, Wang Xun and Soi Fon stayed behind while the others carried the suspect back, and Urahara noticed Wang Xun’s depleted Reiatsu.

• Kaname Tōsen used Suzumushi Nishiki: Benihikō against Wang Xun, then prepared to unleash more power when his attack failed to control him.
• Kisuke Urahara appeared, disrupting Tōsen’s plans, and Tōsen sheathed his sword and agreed to leave Amamiya Shin in the Stealth Force’s custody.
• Wang Xun told Kisuke Urahara about Amamiya Shin’s attack, his Shikai, and the clash with Tōsen.
• Sugimoto and Kawasaki carried Amamiya Shin away, while Wang Xun and Soi Fon stayed behind because Soi Fon was still recovering from paralysis.
• Kisuke Urahara asked whether Wang Xun was all right after noticing that he had used a great deal of Reiatsu.

After the battle, Wang Xun stayed with the poisoned Soi Fon and supported her as they headed toward Seireitei. When her condition worsened, he reassured her that she did not have to face it alone, leaving their relationship subtly changed as he considered taking her to the Fourth Division.

• After Urahara, Sugimoto, and Kawasaki left with the unconscious Amamiya Shin, Soi Fon asked Wang Xun whether he had been hiding his strength, and he attributed the difference to his Zanpakuto.
• Wang Xun checked the rewards he had gained from the battles and offered to support Soi Fon, whose poison made her stumble.
• Wang Xun squeezed Soi Fon's arm twice, prompting her to kick him and call him a pervert.
• When Soi Fon later asked whether the squeeze had been accidental, Wang Xun admitted it had felt good, and she attacked him before the poison made her collapse.
• Wang Xun examined Soi Fon and told her he had stayed because he would not leave her to return alone; she thanked him as he realized her condition required care beyond his ability.

Wang Xun carried the poisoned Soi Fon toward the Fourth Division after she was too weak to walk. During the journey, he reassured her that she would succeed in developing her new ability, and she began to feel more at ease with him.

• Wang Xun concluded that Soi Fon's poison had spread and that she needed treatment at the Fourth Division.
• Soi Fon agreed to let Wang Xun carry her on his back after he argued it was the fastest and safest way to reach help.
• Wang Xun carried Soi Fon toward the Seireitei, and she gradually relaxed against his steady back.
• Soi Fon asked Wang Xun whether she would succeed in developing her Hakuda and Kidō technique, and he confidently encouraged her.
• Soi Fon said Wang Xun would deserve some credit when she completed the ability, and he accepted the praise.

Wang Xun visited Soi Fon in the Fourth Division barracks, where Captain Unohana offered to train him in Kaidō and medicine. Yoruichi then told Wang Xun and Soi Fon that Amamiya Shin’s mind had collapsed, leaving the investigation into the missing Tenth Division members without a usable witness.

• Wang Xun collected Reiryoku and Kaidō fragments while visiting the Fourth Division and brought food to Soi Fon.
• Captain Unohana praised Wang Xun’s precise Kaidō and offered to personally teach him, and Wang Xun said he would first ask Captain Yoruichi.
• Wang Xun found Soi Fon recovering in her hospital room with Yoruichi, and Soi Fon told him the toxin had been cleared.
• Yoruichi explained that Amamiya Shin’s soul had stabilized after emergency treatment, but his consciousness and memories had broken down.
• Yoruichi said Urahara was taking Amamiya Shin to Grand Kidō Chief Tessai Tsukabishi and Captain Unohana for further examination, while the evidence still linked him to the disappearance of the Tenth Division members.

Kensei Muguruma apologized for Kaname Tōsen’s misconduct and asked Wang Xun and Soi Fon to settle the matter between their divisions. Wang Xun accepted the punishment and let the dispute rest, while Yoruichi warned that the Ninth Division’s problems might run deeper and asked about Unohana’s offer to train Wang Xun.

• Yoruichi praised Wang Xun and Soi Fon for their mission and said the Ninth Division’s captain would address them.
• Kensei Muguruma and Mashiro Kuna visited the hospital, where Kensei apologized for Kaname Tōsen’s conduct and explained that Tōsen had been suspended and would forfeit four years of salary.
• Kensei asked Wang Xun and Soi Fon not to report the incident to Central 46, and Soi Fon deferred to Wang Xun.
• Wang Xun accepted the punishment and asked the Ninth Division to prevent similar incidents, earning Kensei’s promise of future help.
• After Kensei and Mashiro left, Yoruichi praised Wang Xun’s decision, warned that the Ninth Division’s problems might be serious, and asked about Unohana’s offer to train him.