BLEACH: Blade of Purification

Two towering, square wooden pillars, with a huge gate-like structure between them. In front of the huge partition sliding door, which was common in Japan but definitely not this large, there were also two huge door panels as a screen, which would only be opened when someone passed through.

This was the facility known as the Senkaimon. When a Soul Reaper traveled from the Soul Society to the World of the Living, they had to pass through this gate.

Ling Qing looked back at the huge gate. He had returned to the World of the Living from the Soul Society, only to find that this World of the Living was not his. He hadn't just simply died; he had died and crossed over at the same time. And now, he had returned to the Soul Society from the World of the Living. But he didn't feel much of a sense of homecoming. If he had to say, it was more like being sent on an assignment, going from one place to another.

After just a few more glances, he withdrew his gaze. Behind him was a large group of Onmitsukidō Soul Reapers, their entire bodies wrapped in black cloth, with only their two eyes exposed. In this group of uniformly dressed black-clothed Soul Reapers, only Ling Qing was wearing a black Shihakushō, his silver-white hair slightly lifted by the headwind. The overly long sword was held upside down. He seemed to stand out from the crowd. One look and you could tell he was no ordinary person.

In fact, he was indeed walking at the very front of the team.

Strictly speaking, he was not yet a Soul Reaper, let alone a 2nd Division Soul Reaper. But before Shihōin Sōichirō had dispatched him to the World of the Living to carry out the mission, he had given an order to the accompanying Onmitsukidō Soul Reapers.

They had to protect Ling Qing and had to meet any conditions he gave. The Onmitsukidō was not like the 11th Division, a team composed of warriors who, if they got hot-headed and didn't like something, would even cut down their own comrades who got in the way. The Onmitsukidō followed orders strictly. Whatever Shihōin Sōichirō said, they would do.

Thus, this rather strange situation arose, where although he was not yet a Soul Reaper of the 2nd Division, it seemed as if he were the leader of this group of Onmitsukidō members.

And looking out, one could see a rather huge city. The entire city covered an incredibly large area, but because most of the buildings within the city were simple in appearance, with light-colored walls and tiled roofs, and without tall buildings one after another, one could still see everything at a glance from a high place. The environment within the city was beautiful, with large patches of grassland and low, rolling hills. The whole city was arranged in a circle with huge streets.

According to Shihōin Sōichirō, if an ordinary soul wanted to walk around here, it would take more than forty days. And this place... was the Seireitei. The place Ling Qing had originally wanted to come to.

But things in the world are unpredictable. He had never thought that he would not set foot in the Seireitei through the traditional channel of the Shin'ō Academy, but directly through this 'crooked path' of Shihōin Sōichirō, putting on a Shihakushō before officially becoming a Soul Reaper, and even carrying out a mission for them.

Thinking of this, he thought of Yuizen Ryū, who had come to the Seireitei before him, wanting to become a Soul Reaper. He wondered how he was doing now. Had he passed the Shin'ō Academy's test and already started studying in the academy, or had he been rejected and was preparing for the next challenge?

After my business here is dealt with, I'll go and ask around. He made a decision silently in his heart, but on the surface, he showed no expression, walking with a cold face at the very front of a group of black-clothed people.

Actually, he didn't want to put on this expression either, making it seem like he was being very arrogant—after all, there was no one else around to see—but the team behind him was just too... much, which made him feel that if he didn't put on this expression, it would be a bit of a mood killer.

Fortunately, this slightly awkward atmosphere didn't last long. Not far ahead, a person appeared on the road. Black long hair tied into a ponytail, with a healthy brownish skin. The clothes he wore were no longer the noble style of a grand robe, but a white haori over his Shihakushō.

"Yo, Ling Qing, you're back safely."

The man standing there, seeming to be waiting for them, immediately raised his hand and greeted Ling Qing as soon as he saw him at the head of the group. When he noticed that he was walking at the very front, a slight look of satisfaction appeared on his face.

"I'm back."

The one welcoming them here, besides the 2nd Division Captain—Shihōin Sōichirō—could not be anyone else. The 2nd Division had not returned through the same Senkaimon as the 11th Division. Although the 11th Division Captain had not made much of a move except for the last night, he had at least followed them the whole way.

For Shihōin Sōichirō, the 2nd Division Captain, to have been handling important matters in the Seireitei and to have completely shirked his responsibilities the whole time was a bit too much. If he didn't show up at this time to boost his popularity, who knows if the people under him would have opinions.

But looking at his appearance now... it seemed more like he had come specifically to wait for Ling Qing.

But with Shihōin Sōichirō being so enthusiastic, Ling Qing couldn't be too cold—and his coldness was just infected by the atmosphere—so he also raised his hand that wasn't holding the sword and greeted him.

Fortunately, Shihōin Sōichirō was a captain, and also the head of a whole family. His emotional intelligence couldn't be that low. After greeting Ling Qing, his gaze fell on the Onmitsukidō Soul Reapers following behind him. As his gaze slowly passed over the whole group, Ling Qing could clearly notice that these Onmitsukidō Soul Reapers, whose faces were even concealed by black cloth, immediately stood up straight, as serious as if they were being inspected in a military parade.

"You all did very well too."

The only one who seemed particularly casual at the scene was probably Shihōin Sōichirō. He smiled and nodded lightly. "Not sacrificing too many people means that the usual efforts were worthwhile. But you've also worked hard this time. Go back and rest for a month."

"Yes!"

As if they had practiced countless times, everyone answered in unison. But from their response, one could hear an obvious joy.

Paid leave, I guess. Ling Qing thought silently. Putting myself in their shoes, who wouldn't be happy about paid leave!

"Go on."

Shihōin Sōichirō waved his hand. Then Ling Qing could only hear the sound of 'whoosh whoosh whoosh' breaking through the air behind him. When he looked back again, there was no one left behind him. The Soul Reapers selected for the Onmitsukidō, if not for their combat power, at least had to be skilled in Shunpo (Flash Step).

Seeing that there were no more Onmitsukidō members in sight, Ling Qing suspected that Shihōin Sōichirō might have thought they were in the way here. So he had sent them all away early.

And the facts proved... his thoughts were correct.

Shihōin Sōichirō, with a猥琐 smile that was hard to describe, hehehe, came up to him, patted his shoulder, and said, "Come on, call me Dad!"

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