Who are you calling a stable boy?!

Unohana replied with a smile.

Kyoraku stroked his chin, first nodding in agreement, then shifting his gaze.

"But when did Ah Zheng become acquainted with that person?"

He glanced at the thin, somewhat gloomy figure in the crowd, leaned closer, and muttered to Unohana Retsu, "Could it be that we had some connection back in Rukongai? Captain Unohana, do you know him?"

Upon hearing this, Unohana also looked towards the figure wearing the 11th Division Captain's haori.

Kenpachi Momoshiro.

A year ago, he appeared in Rukongai and killed Kenpachi Kuruyashiki in a one-on-one duel in front of many Eleventh Division members, becoming the man who inherited Kenpachi's name.

The only possible connection between this man and Zheng Jing is indeed Rukongai.

However, unlike Zheng Jing, Kenpachi Mochi's words and actions all suggest that he may be a descendant of a fallen noble family.

So perhaps even the so-called intersection of Rukongai doesn't exist between him and Zheng Jing.

Well... yes.

Why would he come here specifically?

Seemingly finally noticing Unohana and Kyoraku's gaze, Kenpachi Azajo, who had been quietly watching the gate, turned his head to meet their eyes, then closed his eyes, lowered his head, and bowed to them.

"Oops, we've been found out."

Kyoraku gave an embarrassed smile.

"Hey! Reflective glasses! Time's up!"

Just then, Hiyori, who had been staring at the clock, suddenly shouted.

"really."

Aizen, who was addressed in this way, simply smiled, and then, under the gaze of all the captains, looked at the Captain-Commander.

With the captain's nod, he operated the control panel on the box in front of him for a few moments, then looked up and stared at the interdimensional portal.

A moment later, the portal to the otherworld stirred.

As spiritual energy surged, a pitch-black rift, similar to the one in the Black Cavity, opened in the testing field.

All the Grim Reapers looked over, and soon a face popped out from the dark crack.

"Oh?"

Upon seeing these familiar faces, Zheng Jing blinked, chuckled, and jumped out of the passage.

"So, everyone's here to pick up Old Zheng? Oh! Thank you all so much, thank you so much!"

With his fists clasped and arms raised high, Zheng Jing immediately took two steps around the crowd.

It was at this moment that people began to emerge from the portal behind him.

Needless to say, it was Kisuke who came back with him, and the liaison team led by Aya Hachisho.

"Zheng Jing".

After the last member of the liaison team came out, and no new figures appeared in the interdimensional gate for a while, Yamamoto finally spoke to Zheng Jing, who was circling around thanking him.

"Where are the other members of the investigation team?"

"Stay behind!"

Zheng Jingying replied, "I've already brought Zhuzi back, so there still needs to be someone left at the manor. Don't worry, everyone is doing well! They're eating and drinking their fill and sleeping soundly every day!"

"Oh?"

The old man twitched his long, white eyebrows: "From what you're saying, have you really built a base in Hueco Mundo?"

"Hey! Grandpa, what are you saying? Didn't you all want me, Old Zheng, to build it? Did you not believe I, Old Zheng, could do it when you sent me?"

"You little rascal, you're still as unruly as ever."

While saying these words, Yamamoto did not show even a trace of the severity one would show when scolding a junior.

On that slightly swaying old face, a hint of a smile could be seen.

"In that case, you have three days to prepare a report and submit it without any errors."

After saying this, he turned around, leaning on his cane and leading the Sparrow Corps, and slowly left the testing ground.

"You stinking Zheng Jing!"

Just as the captain left, Hiyori headbutted Zheng Jing in the arms.

"You actually left without giving us a single message and it's been so long!"

"What are you saying? I would like to send some messages back too, but I can only bring Suzuko back after Old Lan developed the new interdimensional portal!"

"Humph."

With a pout, Hiyori crossed her arms: "Anyway, you owe me a favor, you know? I've been taking good care of Reflective Glasses because of you!"

"Reflective glasses?"

Zheng Jing was taken aback upon hearing this, then looked at Aizen, who was smiling somewhat helplessly.

"Ha! Reflective glasses!"

He pointed at Lao Lan, slapped his thigh with a laugh, and then patted Hiyori on the shoulder: "Good, good, good, you deserve the credit! I'll send you some local specialties later!"

"Hey! You're such a gorilla!"

Pulling Soi Fon along, Yoruichi came over and grabbed Zheng Jing's hand: "What are you doing? Why does my Soi Fon seem a little silly since she came back from this trip?"

"what?"

Upon hearing this, Zheng Jing glanced at Soi Fong.

As a result, Soi Fon, who was already looking down, shrank back as if she wanted to burrow into her chest cavity.

"Haki, don't bite people with your cat's mouth!"

Zheng Jing glared at her: "What can I, Old Zheng, do with this little girl? She's not like you!"

"Huh? You gorilla, after being captain for years, all you've improved at is your ability to annoy people, huh?"

"Nonsense! What do you mean 'only'? My ability to annoy people has improved by leaps and bounds!"

"Ha, anyone can talk the talk."

"Hey, when the monkey king is gone, Kimi gets cocky! I think you've been needing love for a while now. I wonder who's always getting beaten up and breaking into the street?"

"what?"

"Ok?"

"Hey, hey, hey! I know you young people are full of energy, but there's no need to rush to work up a sweat as soon as you reunite!"

Seeing that Zheng Jing and Yoruichi were likely to turn the test site into a martial arts arena, Kyoraku, who had somehow gotten close to them, quickly spoke up.

With his arrival, the other team leaders also gathered around.

Zheng Jing's expression changed from angry to smiling. He went around greeting everyone in turn until he saw Mao Zhihua. Only then did he suppress his playful nature and bow his head.

"Greetings, elder sister. It's been so long since we last spoke. Please forgive me!"

Looking at Zheng Jing, Unohana reached out her hand, paused just before touching his cheek, then continued forward, her fingertips lightly touching Zheng Jing's neck before finally resting on his shoulder.

I patted him three times, not too hard, not too soft.

"It's good that you're back."

Withdrawing her hand and leaving behind these words, Unohana, like the previous Captain-Commander, turned and left.

Zheng Jing looked up, his eyes darting around.

"Hey everyone! Since you're here, please do me the honor of drinking tonight! Let's go, let's go!"

Chapter 8: I didn't say I wanted you to come find me.

"By the way, where's Brother Chunshui and Brother Kuruyashiki?"

Zheng Jing suddenly asked Chunshui, "You didn't invite him to drink with you. You'll be blaming me, Old Zheng, for being so unfair!"

"Ah... um, that's true, but..."

Chunshui lowered his head, pulled up his straw hat, and his voice sounded somewhat muffled.

Not only him, but the other team captains present also looked rather strange.

Seeing Chunshui's hesitant expression, Zheng Jing scratched his cheek. Just as he was about to turn around and whisper to Lao Lan, he heard someone say, "Kuyashiki Kenpachi is no longer here."

"Ok?"

Zheng Jing looked in the direction of the voice: "Oh? You're a new face, and you're even wearing a haori... Ah! Shunsui, has Brother Ukitake finally come to his senses and retired to recuperate?"

"Captain Ukitake remains the captain of the 13th Division."

The melancholy-looking young man lowered his eyes and said to Zheng Jing, "I am the current captain of the Eleventh Division, the one who inherited the name Kenpachi, Mochishiro."

Upon hearing this, Zheng Jing fell silent.

He first looked at Old Lan.

Aizen nodded slightly.

Zheng Jing was indeed unaware of the change of generation for the Sword Eight.

Aizen never told him that.

He had genuinely believed that the reason Kuruyashiki hadn't come to greet him was because the conflict between the human world and the Quincy had escalated, resulting in a heavy workload for the Eleventh Division, a dedicated combat unit, and Kuruyashiki, as the captain, being unable to spare the time...

"In other words, you killed the man named Kuchiyashiki."

With that, Zheng Jing, still grinning, started walking toward Mole City.

"Wait! Ah Zheng, don't be impulsive—"

Worried that things might really develop in the direction he least wanted to see, Chunshui quickly reached out to press down on Zheng Jing's shoulder.

The captains, who had been chatting and laughing with Zheng Jing, all moved aside to try and block him from view.

They didn't intend to protect Mole City.

Instead, they knew that an enraged Zheng Jingzhen might fight Zhicheng to the death right here.

If that's the case, whether Moss City will die from Jung Kyung's stick is another matter, but Jung Kyung, who caused a ruckus in Seireitei, will definitely be punished by the Captain-Commander!

"Yes."

—At that moment, upon hearing that Zhicheng had actually admitted it, even Chunshui frowned.

Although Mole City shouldn't agree, and that's the truth, admitting it to Zheng Jing at this moment would undoubtedly provoke him.

Sure enough, under the watchful eyes of all the captains, Zheng Jing suddenly flashed!

"Zheng Jing!"

Chunshui shouted out loud.

Zheng Jing, who had already arrived in front of Mole City, stretched out his hand.

"The City of Moles, right?"

He smiled and said, "Come on, let's shake hands."

Zhicheng looked down at Zheng Jing's outstretched hand, silently extending his own right hand to shake it—

Then, before Mole City's eyes, the world spun around him.

—Bang!

He crashed heavily onto the test field floor, and in Zhicheng's view, Zheng Jing's smiling face appeared.

"The fact that you are standing here alive means that you have earned the approval of Mr. Kuruyashiki and the old man, and the name Kenpachi is well-deserved. Therefore, I will not pursue the matter of Mr. Kuruyashiki's death... It is only right."

Looking down at the immobilized city of moles, Zheng Jing clenched his left fist.

"Bang!!"

A powerful punch caused the specially reinforced, durable ground of the testing range to crack open.

Withdrawing his fist and releasing Zhicheng's hand, Zheng Jing stared expressionlessly at Zhicheng, whose nose had been broken and whose noble young master face was now distorted by blood.

"However, Kuruyashiki is a friend of mine, Lao Zheng."