Bleach: From the moment I was invited by Squad Zero

Chapter 80 The Monk's Plan

Lingwang Palace, Eye Monk Hall.

A giant calligraphy brush, "Ichimonji," floats in mid-air, while Hyosube Ichibei sits cross-legged.

His wide sleeves fluttered even without wind. His eyes were slightly closed, and he was drawing upon an invisible stream of spiritual energy, writing several ancient and profound characters in mid-air.

The characters are not any known writing system, yet they seem to contain some fundamental truth of the world, and the surrounding space subtly resonates with the movement of the strokes.

Just as the last stroke was about to be completed, a slightly rapid fluctuation of spiritual pressure came from outside the palace gate.

Immediately afterwards, the palace door was pushed open without any ceremony, and a figure wearing a Zero Division haori, with anxiety and worry between his brows, walked in. It was Kirinji Tenjiro.

"Monk!" Kirinji Tenjiro's voice arrived before he did, interrupting Hyosube Ichibei's writing.

He walked a few steps to Hyosube's side. "Are you sure it's okay? Entrusting such a dangerous mission as investigating the Quincy in Hueco Mundo entirely to that kid Yanagawa?"

Hyosube Ichibei slowly opened his eyes, raised his hand, and gently tapped the nearly completed character in the air.

The characters rippled outwards like waves, eventually merging silently into the surrounding spiritual particles, as if they had never existed.

He then slowly turned around and faced Kirinji Tenjiro directly.

"Precisely because the opponent is a Quincy, Kirinji,"

Hyosube Ichibei's voice was loud and calm, carrying a soothing power yet containing an undeniable certainty: "That's why Yanagawa needs to step in."

"Huh?" Kirinji Tenjiro put his hands on his hips. "What kind of riddle are you playing, old monk? The Quincy disappeared for over a thousand years, and suddenly they reappear, causing such a commotion in Hueco Mundo. It's obvious they're targeting our Zero Division!"

"Liu Chuan has only been here a few days. Even if he passed the 'Path of No Entry' test, can his combat experience and understanding of Quincy compare to those Quincy who have lurked in the shadows for thousands of years?"

Hyosube Ichibei shook his head slightly, his gaze seemingly piercing through the barrier of the Spirit King's Palace and landing on the distant Hueco Mundo: "Precisely because they have been silent for a thousand years, they are now willing to risk premature exposure to create trouble in Hueco Mundo."

I even suspect that their goal might be to lure Liuchuan there, and the scheme behind this is far from ordinary.

Upon hearing this, Kirinji Tenjiro's expression hardened, his impatience subsiding slightly, replaced by the keenness and seriousness befitting a veteran of the Zero Division: "Leading Yanagawa? Is it worth them going to such lengths, even risking exposing themselves to target our Zero Division—"

Could it be that it's all for "Wang Jian"?!

"Not bad." Hyosube Ichibei nodded.

"Besides the King's Key, the only key to the Spirit King's Palace," I can't think of any other reason why they would risk such a dangerous move to alert the enemy.

They probably received incorrect information, or they deduced from past experience that every new member of the Zero Division already has the King Key embedded in their body.

And Yanagawa happens to be the only member of Squad Zero who resides permanently in the lower realm and is relatively easy to "touch."

"Wouldn't Yanagawa be even more dangerous then?!" Kirinji Tenjiro's voice suddenly rose, filled with undisguised worry. "Since the Quincy dared to make a move, they must have a meticulous plan and absolute confidence!"

Liu Chuan doesn't have the King's Key on him at all, and the Quincy don't know that either! They'll only try to steal it as a "key"!

just in case----"

"If he falls into the hands of the Quincy and they discover that he does not have the King Key, then the Quincy's plan will naturally fail."

Hyosube Ichibei took over Kirinji's words, his tone still calm, but with a deep chill in it, "But for us, this is also a duel we cannot back down from."

The Quincy have already made their move, their target being my Zero Division, and the very authority of the Soul King Palace.

If we cower in fear of risk, wouldn't that show weakness and embolden them?

This battle concerns the reputation of the Zero Division, and even more so, the Spirit King Palace's deterrent power in the lower realm.

He paused, his gaze becoming distant again, as if he could see that young figure walking alone in the pale desert of Hueco Mundo: "Besides, Kirinji Temple, don't underestimate Yanagawa. He is an anomaly who was regarded differently by Lord Rei-oh, and who, with his mortal body, traversed the path that is not open to worship," and opened up his own path.

His potential and character far exceed our imagination. This trip to Hueco Mundo is both a crisis and a test for him.

Facing such a formidable foe as the Quincy is a true test of whether he can truly shoulder the responsibilities of the Zero Division. I—do not believe he will lose.

Kirinji Tenjiro fell silent.

He was not unaware of Hyosube's considerations. As a veteran of the Zero Division, he was even more aware of the enormous responsibility behind the Zero Division's extraordinary status.

The Quincy's return, targeting the Zero Division, is a serious provocation against the authority of the Soul King Palace.

The Zero Division must give the strongest and most direct response.

Yanagawa, as the only member of Squad Zero currently outside and directly related to the incident, is indeed the most "suitable" candidate to carry out this mission—

It can represent the will of the Zero Division, and its "special" nature may also bring unexpected variables.

"On the other hand," Kirinji Tenjiro took a deep breath, forcing himself to analyze from a calmer perspective, his tone complex, "even if—I mean even if Yanagawa really met with misfortune, there is no King Key inside him at all."

Despite all their scheming, the Quincy ultimately gained nothing.

Their plan was fundamentally flawed and doomed to failure.

While we lost a promising junior, we also learned some of the Quincy's trump cards and movements.

He didn't finish his sentence, but his meaning was clear: this was a cruel scheme.

They risked Liuchuan's safety to gamble on the Quincy's conspiracy and to protect the dignity of the Zero Division and the safety of the Soul King Palace.

From the perspective of the "big picture" and "duty", Hyosube Ichibei's decision was perhaps the most "correct" and the choice that best served the interests of the Zero Division.

Hyosube Ichibei stared at Kirinji Tenjiro for a few seconds, his all-knowing gaze seemingly able to see through the other's inner struggles and helplessness.

In the end, he neither admitted nor denied Qilin Temple's speculation, but simply nodded slowly.

His gaze returned to the boundless Spirit King Palace outside the hall, a palace seemingly composed of crystal and light. His voice was deep and firm: "The duty of the Zero Division is paramount. I trust Yanagawa, and I also believe—the Spirit King will not misjudge us."

Kirinji Tenjiro said no more. He knew that regardless of whether he agreed or not, Hyosube would not change his mind once he had made a decision.

He took one last look at Hyosuga's steady, mountain-like back, and then glanced in the direction of Hueco Mundo.

Worry and determination mingled in his eyes, finally culminating in a barely audible sigh as he turned and strode away from the Temple of the Eye Monk.

He needed to do something at the hot spring palace, at the very least, to ensure that if Yanagawa returned seriously injured, he would have the best possible treatment.

Silence returned to the hall. Hyosube Ichibei sat alone, the huge "Ichimonji" had somehow returned to his hand.

He reached out and gently stroked the penholder, where faint, mysterious patterns flashed by.