Who are you calling a stable boy?!

Old Man Xiu Mu was simply telling Old Man Shan the truth.

"So, those nobles think that this young genius can surpass me, Old Zheng?"

"That's true."

"really?"

"......Oh."

With a smile, Unohana tapped Zheng Jing's forehead with her index finger knuckle.

"That's Vice Captain Kuchiki's son, Captain Kuchiki's grandson. Don't torment the child too much."

"Oh?"

Zheng Jing opened his eyes: "Cang Chun's son!"

The current vice-captain of the Sixth Division is Kuchiki Ginrin's biological son, Kuchiki Sōjun.

Compared to his stern and unsmiling father, the gentle and mild-mannered Kuchiki Sōjun had a very good relationship with Jung Kyung.

"Then I, Old Zheng, really have to go and take a look. I'll go at dawn!"

"You..."

Unohana Retsu shook her head helplessly.

She knew Zheng Jing wouldn't really bully the young master of the Kuchiki family, but she was also a little worried that the proud young master might realize the gap between herself and Zheng Jing.

Many so-called aristocratic geniuses are easily discouraged after their first setback.

While the Kuchiki family's upbringing wouldn't produce a weak-willed person, not to mention that the young master will undoubtedly become the new head of the Kuchiki family in the future, if the goal is Zheng Jing...

"Don't forget, the chief commander wants you to compile a report."

With a sigh, Retsu Unohana said, "After you finish your report and return to Hueco Mundo, focus on your work and don't wander around anymore, especially... don't go to the human world."

"Because of those Quincy?"

Upon hearing Zheng Jing's question, Unohana Retsu fell silent.

Zheng Jinghui knew about this, and she was not surprised.

Given Zheng Jing's popularity, any of the team leaders could probably remind him of these things before she did.

Seeing that Mao Zhihua remained silent, Zheng Jing sat up.

"What's the old man thinking? Does he really want to fight?"

Chapter Ten: Zheng Jing is the kind of person who is very special.

"Given how things have developed, the only way to avoid the war is for the Quincy to back down. However, judging from their attitude in the previous talks... the possibility is extremely slim."

After a long silence, Unohana gave this answer.

Clearly, in the eyes of this veteran who had experienced the ancient war, a new great war between the Shinigami and the Quincy was inevitable.

Based on the intelligence Seireitei has gathered over the centuries through monitoring the Quincy, the outcome of this battle will inevitably be a victory for Seireitei.

Completely annihilating the Quincy race might truly be a permanent solution for the stability of the Three Realms...

Unohana didn't say that much.

But she was undoubtedly conveying this view to Zheng Jing.

Or rather, it was conveying Yamamoto Genryusai Shigekuni's thoughts to Zheng Jing.

Zheng Jing did not express any opinion on this matter in front of Unohana Retsu.

He simply nodded and then changed the subject, chatting with Retsu Unohana, the Shinigami with the deepest mastery of resurrection in the Seireitei, about his resurrection techniques.

Perhaps genuinely drawn to the wonders of the resurrection method, or perhaps because she didn't want Zheng Jing to continue discussing the Quincy, Unohana Retsu readily followed up on this new topic.

The two talked on and on until dawn.

A short while later, as the morning light spilled into Seireitei, muffled thuds, seemingly caused by the collision of hard objects, echoed from the Kuchiki family's martial arts arena.

However, none of the Kuchiki family servants passing by the martial arts arena stopped for even a moment.

Because they all knew that it was the exceptionally talented and diligent young master practicing his morning exercises.

"Boom!"

When wooden swords collided, and one of them suddenly dragged and pressed down, it easily used the opponent's remaining force before the other could retract it, and landed on the opponent's shoulder.

"......pretty."

With a heartfelt exclamation, Ueji lowered the wooden sword he hadn't had time to raise: "I lost."

Thank you for your guidance.

Listening to the boy's energetic voice and looking at the tall and handsome boy in front of him, Uei smiled and said, "I thought I could last at least a year, but I didn't expect to be defeated so easily in just three months. The genius boy of the Kuchiki family is indeed worthy of his reputation! When you enter the Spirit Arts Academy next year, I wonder how many self-proclaimed geniuses will be heartbroken."

"Mr. Uei, that's a bit too much praise..."

Hearing what Kuchiki Sōjun, who was watching from the sidelines, said, Uei looked over and said seriously, "I'm not exaggerating, Lord Sōjun. Byakuya-sama's swordsmanship is indeed superior to mine. To have such ability before even entering the Spirit Arts Academy, he is the first among all the students I have ever taught!"

Upon hearing this, Kuchiki Byakuya, the young genius praised by Uei and the prodigy of the Kuchiki family, suddenly raised his head.

"Mr. Shangjing, I heard that you were once Captain Zheng Jing's kendo instructor at the Spirit Arts Academy."

Upon hearing Byakuya's words, Kawai's previously cheerful expression stiffened slightly, and he nodded in response to Byakuya's gaze.

"That's...that's true."

"I've heard a lot about Captain Zheng Jing's deeds when he was in school. Mr. Shangjing, in your opinion, how do I compare to Captain Zheng Jing when he was in school?"

Having been invited by the Kuchiki family, Uei knew this question would come, but when he actually heard it, he couldn't help but show a helpless expression.

He was more than just Zheng Jing's kendo instructor.

He even personally presided over Zheng Jing's entrance examination.

"This... Young Master Byakuya, what about Captain Zheng Jing? He's rather... um..."

Pinching his chin, Shangjing frowned and said, "It's not a matter of whether he's a genius or not."

"He's really the kind of person... the kind that's very rare..."

Kamii's ambiguity made Byakuya frown.

He was never a patient person to begin with.

Noticing the change in her son's expression, Cang Chun, who was standing on the sidelines, quickly got up to try and smooth things over.

When he was still at the Spirit Arts Academy, Mr. Uei was also his kendo teacher.

In addition, Cang Chun knew his son's temperament; when he got angry, even if he didn't mean any harm, his words would inevitably offend people.

So when he saw this, he knew something was wrong and went to stop them.

"Why don't you just ask me this question directly?"

—The sudden appearance of the unfamiliar voice startled Byakuya.

Compared to him, Shangjing and Cangjun were also taken aback, but judging from their expressions, they clearly realized who the voice came from!

"Who?"

Realizing what was happening, Byakuya looked in the direction of the sound, only to find that a corner of the martial arts arena was completely empty.

"Look where you are?"

That unfamiliar voice appeared again.

This time, it felt as if the person speaking was right next to my ear!

Byakuya subconsciously turned his head—

"Wow, what a handsome young man!"

Pinch Byakuya's cheek and Zheng Jing praised him with a grin.

Byakuya swung his wooden sword, delivering an instinctive strike without holding back.

Then, his eyes widened as he watched helplessly as the wooden knife in his hand pierced through the body of the person in front of him.

It was as if the man pinching his face was nothing more than a figment of his imagination.

"Hey! You've got quite a temper, you didn't get that from you, Cang Chun."

Releasing Byakuya's face, Zheng Jing turned around and looked at Kuchiki Sōjun, who was walking towards him at a slower pace.

"Well, haha..."

"Mr. Uei, it's been a long time."

With his hands clasped in a fist, Zheng Jing bowed to Shangjing.

"It's been a long time, okay, okay."

Shangjing walked up with a smile and patted Zheng Jing on the shoulder.

Seeing this, Byakuya hesitated to continue swinging his wooden sword at the suspicious man in front of him.

He was familiar with my father and seemed to be a student of Professor Shangjing... Could he have been my father's classmate at the Spirit Arts Academy?

Thinking this, Byakuya hesitated for a moment, then lowered his hand and looked at Sou Chun, asking, "Father, who is this?"

Upon hearing this, Cang Chun was about to speak when another voice rang out in the martial arts arena.

"He is Zheng Jing, the captain of the special investigation team."

"Father!"

"grandfather?"

"Captain Kuchiki..."

—Three different titles, yet they all reveal the identity of the same person.

Indeed, the person who came was Kuchiki Ginrin, the father of Kuchiki Sojun, the grandfather of Byakuya, the captain of the Sixth Division, and the current head of the Kuchiki family.

Upon seeing his father there, Cang Chun's expression immediately became tense.

It's not that he has a bad relationship with his father; in fact, the two are very close.

But he also had a good relationship with Zheng Jing.

That's why he suddenly became nervous.

—Because he knew perfectly well that Zheng Jing had definitely slipped past the Kuchiki family's guards and sneaked in!

"Hey! Old Man Silver Bell!"

Zheng Jing grinned and waved his hand: "Why did you leave so early yesterday? It would have been better to have a couple of drinks with everyone!"

Among the captains who welcomed him back yesterday was Kuchiki Ginryu, but the old man did not attend the banquet that followed.

Upon hearing Zheng Jing's nickname for Kuchiki Ginryo, Byakuya immediately became furious.

"No matter who you are, you are not allowed to be so rude to your grandfather! Otherwise..."

The wooden sword was pointed directly at Zheng Jing, and Byakuya's face was full of anger.

"Otherwise what? Hmm?"

Bowing down to Byakuya, Zheng Jing put one hand to his ear and rolled his eyes: "Otherwise, are you really going to get angry? Huh? Hehe!"

"—You asked for this!"

Byakuya took a step forward and raised his sword to strike Zheng Jing, shouting, "You rude scoundrel!"

"Ha ha ha!"

With a loud laugh, Zheng Jing twisted his waist and dodged the whistling blade.

"Wait! Byakuya—"

Cang Chun was about to step forward to stop her, but Yin Ling stopped her by raising her head.

"Father?"

Yinling did not respond to Cangchun.

The old man simply watched Byakuya, who was gritting his teeth and brandishing his sword, and Zheng Jing, who was jumping around with a grin.

Staring intently.