https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-623-Severing-Desires-Tranquil-Waters/12560017/
Chapter 624: Returning to the Soul Society
Chapter 624: Returning to the Soul Society
"Heehee, hahaha..."
A strange laughter escaped from Nimaiya Oetsu, who was lying on the ground.
As a member of the Zero Squad, he shouldn't have been so easily overwhelmed. But due to the immense energy he had expended in forging his Zanpakuto earlier, he now found himself virtually defenseless against Riana's Bankai, which unleashed a torrent of emotions within him—pride, joy, and mania.
His rational mind cried out in alarm, trying to suppress the tumult of emotions that were stirring within him, but to no avail. He could only watch helplessly as these emotions swelled.
Not far away, a twelve-year-old-looking Rukia lowered her head, emanating a dejected aura. She was succumbing to feelings of fragility, depression, and despair.
"I... being human, I'm sorry..."
"Some people are born with a dead heart..."
"I can never be an excellent Shinigami... There's no point in trying... I'll never be acknowledged..."
As Rukia muttered dejectedly, it seemed as if she were enveloped in a dark cloud, causing her to curl up and huddle on the ground, hugging her legs.
Nearby, Hinagiku presented a stark contrast. The gentleness and elegance that usually characterized her were gone, replaced by a flushed complexion and starry eyes that shone as she gazed in Feng Ye's direction. "Your Majesty... Feng... Lord Fengye... I want..." she trailed off, her voice filled with longing.
Aside from Feng Ye, the only other person unaffected by Riana's power was Lilith.
With her hands neatly folded in front of her chest, she stood expressionlessly, gazing at Riana, who was standing in the center of the darkness. "Crude ability," she remarked without any emotion.
Feng Ye glanced at Hinagiku, whose desires seemed to have momentarily surpassed her respect for him, as she took a step towards him, intending to act on her impulses. Then he looked at Rukia, who was sinking further into despondency, her spiritual pressure becoming increasingly chaotic.
"That's enough."
"It's over now."
A faint golden glow appeared in Feng Ye's eyes as he swept his gaze around, instantly dispelling the myriad emotions that had been stirred up in Rukia, Hinagiku, and the others.
The ocular technique of the God Eye possessed the ability to control emotions, and Feng Ye rarely used this power. The last time he had employed it was twelve years ago when he created Riana.
Swish!!!
Everyone's emotions were forcibly cleared, and the effects of Riana's Bankai vanished. Riana herself regained control and immediately released her Bankai.
"Your... Your Majesty..."
Hinagiku had already closed the distance to within a meter of Feng Ye. Now that the influences were gone, she regained her senses and felt mortified by her earlier behavior. She was at a complete loss, even wishing she could shrink into a crack in the ground.
Feng Ye turned to her and smiled gently. "Riana's power lies in manipulating emotions. It stimulates certain emotions within you and then amplifies them without restraint."
"Don't worry about it!"
As Feng Ye explained Riana's ability, Riana, having released her Bankai, jumped up from behind him and wrapped her arms around his neck. She poked her head out from his shoulder and grinned at Hinagiku. "To face someone like your father, who barely conceals his image and demeanor, and not have any desire stir within you—I doubt there are many in this world who could achieve that."
Feng Ye tapped her forehead with his finger, causing her to exclaim in surprise and cover her head with her hands as she tumbled backward off his shoulder.
Although Riana was right, it didn't exempt her from punishment for unleashing her Bankai without perfect control and doing so carelessly in this place.
"I knew you were here, Dad," Riana said, sensing Feng Ye's thoughts and looking at him with a slight pout.
"You rely on your father for everything. You should reflect on that," Lilith remarked, her expression unchanged.
Riana stuck her tongue out at Lilith. "You're just projecting your preferences onto Dad. You're the one who should reflect."
Lilith looked at Riana for a few seconds and then closed her eyes. "Idiot."
"Alright, that's enough bickering," Feng Ye said, giving Riana's head a light rap. He stopped her from continuing the argument and added, "Until you can perfectly control your Bankai, you are forbidden from using it."
"Yes," Riana agreed obediently, nodding her head.
Feng Ye glanced at Rukia, who had somehow managed to hide behind Hinagiku and was peeking out cautiously. "Rukia, come here. We're going to the Soul Society now."
Rukia was still embarrassed and uneasy about her earlier display of negativity and depression. She started slightly at Feng Ye's words and stepped out from behind her sister. "Are you going to the Soul Society as well?" she asked, looking at Feng Ye.
"Yes, I'll come along for the ride," Feng Ye replied with a casual smile. He then raised his hand and, with a wave, created a shimmering golden portal that pierced through the layers of space, connecting directly to the Soul Society.
After creating the spatial passage, Feng Ye turned to Lilith. "You stay in the Palace of the Soul King this time."
"Yes," Lilith nodded in agreement.
Riana stuck her tongue out playfully at Lilith and waved. "Be a good girl and watch the house, big sister~ I'm off to play!"
Unmoved, Lilith watched as Riana pulled Rukia along with her, the two of them following Feng Ye into the spatial passage. Then she turned and vanished from the spot.
...
Soul Society.
On a street within the Seireitei.
Feng Ye, Riana, and Rukia appeared without a sound.
"Whoa, what strong spiritual pressure..." Riana exclaimed, looking north towards the Seireitei with a hint of surprise.
"Oh, it's him."
Feng Ye glanced in the direction of the spiritual pressure's origin, a faint glimmer flashing in his eyes before he smiled faintly and withdrew his gaze.
Liliana looked at Feng Ye curiously and asked, "Dad, have you kept an eye on him before?"
Feng Ye shook his head calmly and replied, "No, I haven't paid specific attention, but I'm aware of his existence. After all, he is... a rare 'wild beast' in the Soul Society."
"He sounds interesting."
Liliana's eyes sparkled with curiosity.
Feng Ye chuckled and said, "If you're interested, go take a look. You don't have to bring Rukia along; she can stay with me."
"Okay."
Liliana flashed a cute smile and then vanished from the spot.
Feng Ye looked ahead at the street; they were on a road beside the 2nd Division barracks, and by walking a short distance down this street, they would arrive at the 2nd Division compound.
Feng Ye extended his hand to Rukia, who was standing beside him.
Rukia looked at the hand that Feng Ye held out to her, hesitated for a moment, and then cautiously placed her small hand in his.
Feng Ye calmly walked forward, holding Rukia's hand, and asked, "How long has it been since we walked like this together?"
"Twenty years," Rukia replied softly.
The last time Feng Ye had held her hand and taken her out like this was when he was still the vice-captain of the 2nd Division. It hadn't happened since.
Although the position of vice-captain of the 2nd Division was considered quite high-ranking within the Gotei 13, it didn't make her feel distant back then. But now, with his identity as the 'Creator of the Soul Society, the one who brought life to all its inhabitants,' she found it impossible to view him with the same familiarity as before.
The difference in their identities and statuses made her subconsciously feel a sense of distance.
"Hmm, it has been twenty years," Feng Ye lightly sigated. "It does seem like a long time, but in the context of the Soul Society's million-year history, it's merely an insignificant blip."
"Spanning the million-year history of the Soul Society, I have remained unchanged, am unchanged now, and will remain so in the future, even after tens of millions or hundreds of millions of years."
With each steady step, Feng Ye spoke, expressing his conviction and will.
However, to Rukia's ears, his words took on a different meaning—that even now, Feng Ye still viewed her as a little sister, and nothing had changed between them.
Rukia's emotions stirred, and her eyes turned red. She looked up at Feng Ye, her voice trembling as she spoke, but at the last moment, she changed the word she had intended to say.
"...Your Majesty."
Feng Ye smiled gently, releasing her hand and ruffling her hair affectionately. "It doesn't matter if you can't be as close as before. When you become the kind of Shinigami you aspire to be and attain the abilities you desire, then come to me and address me by that title."
As his words trailed off, Feng Ye's thoughts stirred, and the two of them vanished from the street.
...
In the 2nd Division barracks, within the captain's resting chamber.
Yoruichi Shihoin lay in an extremely relaxed posture on a large square cushion, with one leg casually draped over Soifon's thigh.
Soifon gently massaged Yoruichi's calf and foot, asking, "How are you feeling, Yoruichi?"
"Very comfortable," Yoruichi replied, a smile playing at the corners of her mouth as she gazed at Soifon with hooded eyes. "As always, you're the only one who can truly relax me, Soifon."
Soifon's cheeks flushed at the implication of Yoruichi's words, but she continued her task, asking, "How was the captain's meeting?"
"Same as always," Yoruichi replied, tilting her head back to look at the ceiling. She stretched out her arm, holding a feather that had appeared from nowhere, and idly waved it in front of her face. "That Aizen guy hasn't made a move in twenty years. We still haven't found a chink in his armor."
Soifon's eyes flickered, and she said, "It seems that after witnessing the power of the Soul King, Aizen is too intimidated to make any further moves."
"No," Yoruichi sat up, her expression turning serious as she looked at Soifon. "Aizen isn't the type to be cowed so easily. He's definitely plotting something, and he's likely set his sights on Feng Ye's power as well. We can't afford to be complacent."
A hint of resentment crept into her voice as she continued, "That guy just disappeared all of a sudden, taking both Rukia and Hinamori with him, and leaving me behind. He even abandoned you."
"Yoruichi-sama!" Soifon exclaimed, unable to hold her tongue any longer.
This part of the conversation was even more bizarre than the previous statement, as it not only involved her but also Feng Ye.
"Huh?" Yoruichi turned to look at Soifon, who had suddenly lost her composure. She shrugged nonchalantly and said, "After being deceived by him for so long, shouldn't I be entitled to some compensation? At the very least, promote me to the Zero Squad."
As her words fell, a hand appeared from behind Yoruichi, resting gently on her shoulder, accompanied by a voice that held a hint of amusement.
"The Zero Squad is adequately staffed at the moment, but if you're so eager to join me in the Palace of the Soul King, I could use a cat over there."
(End of Chapter)
Chapter end
Report
