Before long, both sides finalized the terms of their agreement.
But Yoruichi Shihōin and Kūkaku Shiba could no longer stay calm.
Lin Xuan had kept his word and told them everything Aizen Sōsuke had done—including the fact that the Hollow with the power of consumption that had devoured Kaien Shiba and his wife, named Metastacia, was an experimental specimen Aizen had created.
Before long, once Aizen betrayed the Soul Society, they'd learn all of this anyway.
Yoruichi looked at Lin Xuan, still uncertain. "Who exactly are you? How do you know so much?"
"You probably heard about what happened at the Seiryū Gate recently?" Lin Xuan smiled.
Yoruichi nodded, surprised. "Are you the Ryōka who defeated Gin Ichimaru?"
"No." Lin Xuan shook his head. "To be precise, Gin Ichimaru was defeated by one of my subordinates."
Yoruichi and Kūkaku were even more shocked.
The Ryōka who beat Gin Ichimaru was this man's subordinate?
After the deal was struck, Lin Xuan quickly left.
He got out before Kūkaku came to her senses—otherwise he'd probably have been stuck rebuilding her house.
Yoruichi and Kūkaku remained stunned.
Ganju and the brothers Kin and Gin had already been sent away by Kūkaku beforehand.
Some things were better they didn't know.
Yoruichi fell into thought. She knew Aizen Sōsuke—when she'd been a captain in the Gotei 13, she'd crossed paths with him more than once.
But she didn't know him well. Aizen gave off a warm, approachable impression. He taught calligraphy at the Shin'ō Academy, and many Shinigami in the Seireitei thought highly of him.
Yoruichi had never liked him much. His smile always felt false—uncomfortable.
So when she learned Aizen was behind all of this, she wasn't entirely surprised.
Still, she hadn't fully swallowed everything Lin Xuan said.
As former Commander of the Onmitsukidō, she'd learned to doubt everything.
That was the only way to keep a clear head.
Not long after Lin Xuan left, Yoruichi contacted Kisuke Urahara in the living world and told him everything.
Finally, Yoruichi asked gravely, "Mr. Urahara, do you think what he said is true or false?"
On the other end of the line, Urahara was silent for a long time before speaking. "Most of it checks out. I'd say there's a high probability it's true."
Compared to Yoruichi, Urahara was clearly more convinced.
Since being exiled from the Soul Society over 110 years ago, he'd been watching developments on all sides—and Aizen Sōsuke had been high on his watch list.
After all these years, he hadn't come away empty-handed. That was why he tended to believe Lin Xuan.
"If he's willing to share information this important, he at least intends to cooperate in good faith. Whether he's trustworthy—you'll need to keep observing."
"Understood."
Yoruichi hung up, mind made up.
Kūkaku, beside her, was far less composed.
Learning after all these years that her brother and sister-in-law had been murdered, Kūkaku's emotions surged out of control.
The pipe in her hand was crushed to powder.
"Big brother—I swear I'll avenge you and sister-in-law," Kūkaku said through clenched teeth.
After parting with Yoruichi and the others, Lin Xuan wandered Rukongai a while longer, then decided to visit the living world.
He hadn't expected that the moment he arrived, he'd spot a massive Hollow with a bone-white mask nearby—
Chasing a young man with orange hair.
Looking at the youth, Lin Xuan was surprised. "Didn't expect to run into you this quickly—Ichigo Kurosaki."
Ichigo was running for his life, cursing as he went. "Damn it—what the hell is this thing?"
Beside him was a little girl with black hair in twin ponytails—not a living person, but a soul.
Boom!
The Hollow behind them suddenly accelerated. A massive fist descended from the sky, slamming toward the youth.
Ichigo's face went pale. He rolled aside just in time.
He glanced back at where he'd been standing—and his pupils contracted. The concrete had been shattered by that single punch.
If he'd been a fraction slower, the outcome would have been ugly.
Then he heard a scream. He looked up—and saw the little girl who'd been following him caught in the Hollow's grip.
"Damn it—let her go!" Ichigo shouted.
Just as he was about to charge in, the Hollow tossed the girl aside, sniffing the air. "Smells like an even tastier soul!"
Its gaze finally landed on Lin Xuan. It charged toward him excitedly, roaring, "What a delicious soul—mine!"
Ichigo's face changed again. He shouted urgently, "Hey—you over there, get out of the way!"
----------
T/N:
You'll also get 5 extra chapters just for being a free member!
Access 60 chapters in advance on my Patreon: [email protected]//allbluestories