At the execution ground, the captains suddenly looked up at the sky.
A streak of light descended from above and crashed onto the execution platform.
Boom!
Everyone's expression shifted. Hands went to Zanpakutō, ready to fight at any moment.
As the dust cleared, several figures appeared.
Every eye locked onto the man standing at the front.
Yamamoto and the others had seen Lin Xuan before—he'd appeared on the broadcast during Itachi and Gin's battle at the Seiryū Gate.
Now all attention focused on him.
Captain-Commander Yamamoto stared at Lin Xuan, his aged face unreadable.
The other captains sized him up, trying to gauge his strength from his reiatsu.
But soon their expressions changed—they couldn't sense any reiatsu from Lin Xuan at all.
That usually meant one of two things.
Either he was too weak to have any spiritual power at all.
Or he was so powerful he could completely suppress his reiatsu—and in that case, the answer was obvious.
Shunsui Kyōraku smiled with interest. "Heh, interesting. Looks like he's strong."
The other captains' gazes shifted as well.
Gin Ichimaru, especially, had been half-lidded since Lin Xuan appeared, a sly smile on his lips that revealed nothing.
But soon their attention shifted to another young man behind him.
He had strange orange-red hair, wore black shihakushō, and carried a Zanpakutō nearly as tall as himself.
Everyone paused.
Who was this kid?
Why was he dressed like a Shinigami?
They were certain no Shinigami in the Seireitei matched this description—that hair alone would have been impossible to miss.
Behind him stood a woman smoking a pipe, a somewhat ugly muscular man, and a black cat.
Soi Fon's gaze suddenly fixed on the cat. Confusion crossed her face.
For some reason, the cat felt oddly familiar.
Yoruichi, still in cat form, didn't notice Soi Fon's reaction. She stared at Lin Xuan with deep resentment.
She was genuinely speechless.
Before leaving, Yoruichi had asked Lin Xuan about his specific plan.
Lin Xuan had been full of confidence—everything was arranged, no problems at all.
She'd assumed they'd enter the Seireitei, hide, and look for an opportunity to save Rukia.
She'd assumed Lin Xuan thought the same way.
Instead, the moment they entered, Lin Xuan flew straight to the execution ground and confronted Yamamoto head-on.
Yoruichi's scalp tingled. Could their tiny group really fight Yamamoto and the captains face-to-face?
Kūkaku was nervous too.
Ganju Shiba, at the back, was shaking so hard his legs wouldn't stop. Sweat poured down his forehead.
Every captain here was a legendary figure in the Soul Society.
Facing so many captains, the pressure was crushing. Their reiatsu alone nearly buckled his knees.
If he had a choice, he really didn't want to fight these monsters. There was zero chance of winning.
Lin Xuan and Ichigo, by contrast, were much calmer.
Ichigo didn't know who these people were—but he could feel they were strong.
Standing beside Lin Xuan, he wasn't too nervous. If anything, he was itching for a fight.
Lin Xuan looked calmly at everyone present and smiled faintly. "A bunch of grown men ganging up on one woman. Tsk tsk—you really have no shame."
As he spoke, a massive spectral arm appeared beside him and grabbed at the Sōkyoku—the giant flaming bird.
The Sōkyoku sensed the threat and shrieked, erupting with terrifying heat as if it could incinerate everything in existence.
But when it reached Lin Xuan, the giant arm caught it—and crushed it flat.
Boom!
The flaming bird exploded into scattered flames that rained back down to the execution platform.
Everyone's face changed. The Sōkyoku's attack—crushed effortlessly?
Lin Xuan flashed forward to Rukia Kuchiki, suspended on the crucifix. With one grab, he shattered the frame.
Holding Rukia, he smiled. "Don't worry. You're safe now."
Rukia trembled as if struck by lightning.
In Lin Xuan's arms, she felt warmth. Her eyes grew wet. She nodded with a trembling smile.
For the first time, she truly felt safe.
----------
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