Who are you calling a stable boy?!

Rather, at this moment, Aizen was beginning to look forward to Urahara defeating him.

-

Since the Twelfth Division started helping manage the warehouse, news of Zheng Jing occasionally going to play with the captains or vice-captains of each division has indeed no longer reached the ears of Yamamoto Genryusai Shigekuni.

—Instead, news of Zheng Jing frequently taking the members of the Twelfth Division on trips around was circulating.

He would often suddenly appear at the Fifth Division's base during his duty hours.

The member of the 12th Division who appeared most frequently with Zheng Jing was the 12th Division Vice-Captain, Hiyori Sarugaki.

At first, the old man would punish Zheng Jing for this, confining him to his quarters for a day or two.

But after it happened many times, when the old man heard about these things from the Sparrow Division, he would just twitch his eyebrows, close his eyes, and say, "Don't worry about it."

After all, although Zheng Jing and Hiyori ran around everywhere when they were on duty, they never caused any serious trouble. The most serious incident they ever did was put three spoonfuls of chili oil into Hirako Shinji's strong tea.

In truth, the most severe punishment Zheng Jing could receive would be for dereliction of duty.

But for hundreds of years before Zheng Jing arrived, the warehouse of the Twelfth Division did not need anyone to guard the entrance.

In addition, the captains and even the Sparrow Division would occasionally plead for Zheng Jing, so the old man rarely turned a blind eye to it.

Moreover, Zheng Jing was quite clear about the matter of the special operations team.

From Quebu, the old man learned that although Zheng Jing seemed to be idle all day, he had actually made progress on all the team-building matters, such as the integration of special operations team materials and the review of team members.

...That certainly won't cause us to fall behind.

Because it was actually Aizen who did all that.

Zheng Jing only needs to submit progress reports.

At most, he might suddenly become interested and ask a few more questions, and Lao Lan would be happy to explain the ins and outs to him.

In short, life goes on day by day.

Six months is neither a long nor a short time.

In the blink of an eye, there are only about two weeks left until Zheng Jing leads the special operations team to Hueco Mundo.

That day, Zheng Jing had some free time and didn't need to go to the warehouse to work. So after finishing his meditation and cultivation all night, he opened his eyes and saw that Lao Lan, who was working overtime in the Fifth Division barracks, hadn't returned yet. So he went out, thinking of going to the Fifth Division to take a look.

He suddenly stopped halfway through his journey.

"So early? Are you here to get beaten up again?"

As he spoke, Zheng Jing glanced sideways at the eaves.

"We didn't settle things last time, so don't act like you've already won!"

Standing on the eaves, Yoruichi put one hand on her hip and glared at Zheng Jingyi.

When Zheng Jing had free time, if he went to see Yoruichi in the morning, they would often spar and compete in the martial arts arena for the whole morning.

Yoruichi preferred to spend a morning working hard with Jung Kyung rather than dealing with the duties of the Second Division.

For almost half a year now, the two of them have been fighting back and forth, and she has never been able to win once.

Aside from losing decisively, the game was dragged out until dinner time and ended in a draw.

Thinking back to their school days, they could at least win two or three out of ten times...

"Then let's come again today!"

"If not today, let's try tomorrow."

Yoruichi waved his hand.

"I have something else to discuss with you today."

"What's up?"

"Let's talk over there."

"Let's go."

Chatting back and forth, they arrived at the Criminal Army's garrison with Ye Yi. Zheng Jing, familiar with the place, rummaged through the tea and snacks in the room and plopped down.

It felt like coming home.

"What's the matter?"

"Put my business aside for now, you guys talk first."

No sooner had Yoruichi finished speaking than the door that had just been closed was pulled open.

"Oh! Suzuko!"

Upon seeing that it was Urahara, Zheng Jing greeted him with a smile.

"Long time no see, senior."

It has indeed been a while since we last met.

Urahara is still a student at the Spirit Arts Academy, which has a semi-closed teaching model. So unless Zheng Jing sneaks into the Spirit Arts Academy to find him, the only time they can meet is when Urahara asks for leave from the academy.

The last time they met was a month ago.

That time, Zheng Jing sneaked into the Spirit Arts Academy to find Lao Lan, who worked part-time as a calligraphy teacher there. On the way, he happened to run into Urahara, who was teaching a class in the martial arts arena.

"What? Judging from your expression, you've made up your mind?"

"Yes, I'm sorry to have kept you waiting."

"Hehe, not long, not long!"

Zheng Jing rubbed his hands together.

"That?"

"Senior Zheng Jing—"

Urahara paused, glanced at Yoruichi subconsciously, and after receiving a smile in response from Yoruichi, his tense shoulders relaxed, and his face showed his usual smile.

He was sitting down, bowing deeply to Zheng Jingmeng.

"Please allow me to join the special operations team!"

Chapter 144: Though We Are Far Apart, We Are Close at Heart

Urahara had indeed thought a lot about the Special Operations Team.

What finally made him decide was a long talk with him last night.

In fact, Yoruichi had mentioned Zheng Jing to him quite a few times.

To be precise, ever since Yoruichi first met Zheng Jing at the Spirit Arts Academy, Urahara had frequently heard the name Zheng Jing from Yoruichi's lips.

What even made Yoruichi abandon her plan to stay at the Spirit Arts Academy for two more years and suddenly decide to graduate was Zheng Jing's disappearance.

Urahara could tell that, despite their short time together, Yoruichi undoubtedly regarded Seijiro as a close friend.

After seeing Zheng Jing in person and observing him for almost half a year, Urahara finally understood why Yoruichi-kai valued Zheng Jing so much.

This man truly deserves it.

Yesterday's long conversation revealed that Yoruichi was not there to persuade him to join the Special Operations Team.

On the contrary, she came to say bad things about Zheng Jing.

It's said that Zheng often acts unreasonably and rudely!

...Finally, he said that he was actually a man of great loyalty and affection.

It's said that Zheng Jing is always lawless!

...Finally, he said that he actually had compassion for the weak and vulnerable.

It is said that Zheng Jing loved to show off his reckless courage!

—Finally, he added that he was actually quite perceptive.

He sounds like such a complicated person.

But if you really ask, Ye will just smile and say that Xingxing Jing is actually quite simple-minded.

Was that night there to persuade Urahara to go with Zheng Jing, or to advise him to stay out of this mess?

neither.

Yoruichi was simply telling Urahara, as usual, what kind of person Zheng Jing was in her heart.

Skillful.

Even now, in Urahara Kisuke's mind, Zheng Jing is such a person.

"Good good!"

Helping Urahara up, Zheng Jing laughed loudly and put his arm around his shoulder.

"Don't worry, Zhuzi, I, Lao Zheng, will keep all the benefits I promised you! Especially the supplies, why don't you go check the list with Hajime and tell me what you're missing!"

Zheng Jing patted his chest confidently.

"I'll take it all, plenty!"

"Such arrogance."

Yoruichi poked his cheek.

"If you didn't know better, you'd think you were in charge of the 46th Chamber, not the warehouse."

"What does this have to do with Room 46?"

“Regular supplies are fine, you submit the application and I approve it, but eight or nine out of ten of the supplies related to Kisuke’s research are strategic materials! If it’s not a large quantity, the Commander-in-Chief can make the decision directly, but have you seen how many strategic materials you’ve applied for in the last six months!”

As she spoke, Yoruichi stabbed even harder.

“At this point, even if those old guys in Room 46 don’t deliberately make things difficult for you, I still have to submit the list first and wait for their approval before I can give you a receipt!”

Zheng Jing rolled his eyes.

"That's it? Pshaw! It's no big deal. Don't worry, I, Old Zheng, have a plan!"

Upon hearing this, Yoruichi frowned, then, as if she had thought of something, she glared at him and pounced on him, grabbing Zheng Jing's face.

"Don't you dare get the Twelfth Division into trouble! If the warehouse theft is confirmed, it's not something you can just take the blame for alone, you know? It will really implicate Captain Hikifune and the others!"

"Hey! What are you talking about! Would I, Old Zheng, harm my own people?"

Yoruichi narrowed her eyes.

"...I'm afraid you might be unintentional, but they might be, and that would be troublesome."

"I know, I know."

Zheng Jing patted her hand.

Seeing that Zheng Jingying had truly listened, Ye Yi sighed and released her hands.

"Actually, I had already asked Yoruichi to show me the list before."

Urahara raised his hand and said in a low voice, "The materials needed for the Transcendental Gate research are all here, and the quantity is sufficient. As for subsequent needs, it's not too late to apply for them here in Soul Society periodically after I have built the dedicated Transcendental Gate in Hueco Mundo."

Yoruichi closed her eyes, rubbed her temples, nodded, then shook her head.

"Compared to that, I actually think you have a more pressing problem to solve right now."

"Oh?"

Zheng Jingyi peeked out.

"Tell me, what's the problem?"

"You're not really planning to take Kisuke and Aizen to Hueco Mundo alone, are you?"

Ye Yi glanced at Zheng Jing with a stern look.

"I've checked your squad recruitment situation, and so far, you haven't recruited a single squad member? Putting everything else aside, I'm afraid you won't have the manpower to carry all those supplies to Hueco Mundo!"

"Oh! That's not right!"

Zheng Jing's expression turned serious, and he waved his hand.

"Why would I only take Old Lan and Zhu Zi with me?"

Yoruichi raised an eyebrow upon hearing this.