Her tone was incredibly arrogant; one might even think she had defeated Yamamoto Genryusai.
However, her attire made it somewhat understandable.
Saito Furofushi was dressed like a delinquent girl; it was hard to imagine this was a senior from a thousand years ago…
As for the two people beside her, they looked much more normal.
Yoriichi Tsugikuni lightly exhaled:
"My teacher told me you wouldn't surrender easily, and it seems he was right."
"Perhaps, as you say, your strength is considerable."
"But the present is no longer the past."
"Times have changed."
"Saito Furofushi."
"Since you're unwilling to surrender, then let's decide the outcome through battle."
No sooner had Yoriichi finished speaking than Shihouin Sennich sharply caught a key word, his expression subtly changing:
"Wait… what did you say, teacher? You're Yamamoto Genryusai's disciple?"
Yoriichi calmly looked at him: "Is there a problem?"
"No problem at all." Shihouin Sennich shook his head slightly, "It seems Yamamoto Genryusai trusts you considerably, otherwise he wouldn't have sent you."
"Saito Furofushi, be careful, this kid's strength might be even greater than you imagine."
"Because Yamamoto Genryusai's disciples have never been mediocre, and I don't believe he would take a mediocre person as a disciple."
Among the three, if one were to ask who was most familiar with Yamamoto Genryusai, it would naturally be Shihouin Sennich.
Although Shihouin Sennich knew Yamamoto Genryusai during his middle-aged period, his attitude toward his disciples would never change with the passage of time.
Even if this kid in front of him was the worst, his talent must be comparable to theirs.
Age means nothing.
Weren't they also very young when they died?
At this thought, Shihouin Sennich's expression became slightly more serious, and he uncharacteristically reined in his usual carefree demeanor.
Saito Furofushi heard this and immediately turned her gaze to Shihouin Sennich: "Huh? Are you serious?"
"So what if he's Yamamoto Genryusai's disciple? Back then, he was only a bit stronger than us."
"I don't believe his disciple could be stronger than him!"
Despite her disdainful tone, she still tightened her grip on her Zanpakuto.
Just as she was about to make a move.
The next second, Yoriichi Tsugikuni's calm voice sounded again:
"Let's move to another location. They were kind enough to take you in; it would be improper to destroy this place."
"It wouldn't be good to injure them either."
Upon hearing this, Saito Furofushi was indifferent; they were mere humans, who cared about their lives or deaths?
She stomped hard on the ground, about to charge forward.
Bang.
Bakuzan Saigyunzai gently tapped the ground with her long-handled naginata, stopping Saito Furofushi, and then said to Yoriichi Tsugikuni:
"No problem, where are we going?"
Unless absolutely necessary, she didn't want to harm those humans.
Although she was already dead and had lost some of her Shinigami abilities, she still remembered the Shinigami's duty.
To protect the Soul Society and humans.
In response, Yoriichi nodded slightly: "Let's go to the open space behind…"
…
As they conversed, on the second floor of the house, Ishida Soken quietly stood by the window, observing the Shinigami below with a solemn expression.
Initially, he didn't know what these Shinigami had done.
However, when Yoriichi Tsugikuni's words reached his ears, he suddenly realized that these people were actually fugitives from Hell.
Ishida Soken couldn't help but sigh inwardly, thinking how incredibly unlucky he was; out of only three fugitives, he had encountered all of them.
And to make matters worse, he couldn't extricate himself from the situation; these people were about to fight…
Captain-level figures from the Soul Society!
He had been fortunate enough to witness one a hundred years ago.
At that time, a single person could decimate a team of hundreds of Quincy, leaving them in disarray.
Now, four Captains gathered… the surrounding buildings would likely be razed to the ground.
Ishida Soken desperately wanted to take his family far away from here, but unfortunately, Ishida Ryūken and Katagiri Yae were behind Yoriichi Tsugikuni.
He had no way to get them out safely.
Heaven knew how violently his heart pounded as the group was about to erupt into battle, fearing that these Shinigami might accidentally put his son in mortal danger.
No matter how talented Ishida Ryūken was, he was still just a child.
Thankfully, that ninth division captain seemed to be a good person; he didn't act rashly but chose to move the battlefield, giving them, these "humans," a chance to live.
But Ishida Soken's heart was still filled with worry; once their Quincy identity was discovered, what choice would this Captain make?
Of course, the most urgent matter at hand was not to ponder this question.
Getting out of here quickly was paramount.
Watching the group disappear using Shunpo, Ishida Soken hurriedly ran downstairs like an ordinary old man.
When he saw his son, before he could even speak, he suddenly noticed the deep unwillingness on his son's face.
That expression was as if someone had been left far behind, unable to catch up no matter what.
Ishida Soken's heart was full of questions; what exactly had happened?
He turned his gaze to Katagiri Yae, who was beside Ishida Ryūken. Katagiri Yae, noticing Ishida Soken's gaze, gently shook her head helplessly:
"I'm sorry, Master Soken, that Shinigami knew our identities…"
"Young Master… he might have had his confidence shaken."
"But I believe he will definitely surpass those so-called Captains."
"After all, he's still young."
At these words, Ishida Soken's expression subtly changed.
His face had changed countless times this day.
He had thought that after experiencing so much, he would be able to remain calm in any situation, but he hadn't expected his heart to still stir with some ripples.
Their identity had been discovered?
When did that happen?
Why didn't he make a move then?
Ishida Soken had originally thought that the ninth division captain had extended a helping hand because they were human…
He hadn't expected…
At this thought, Ishida Soken's expression became somewhat complex.
He lightly exhaled, trying to rein in his chaotic thoughts, and then showed a kind smile.
Ishida Soken gently rubbed Katagiri Yae's head while softly instructing her:
"I understand. You take Ryūken and leave first. Don't get close to here."
"I'll be right behind you."
"Ryūken, you must listen to her, for your safety…"
Although it wasn't the first time he had heard such words, Ishida Ryūken always felt a bit impatient.
However, at this moment, he had no mind to retort, simply because he was no match for any of the four individuals.
Were these the kind of enemies the Quincy faced back then?
No wonder they lost.
The strongest person he had ever seen was his own father, but his father didn't even dare to say a word in front of them…
It was simply too humiliating.
At this, Ishida Ryūken secretly made up his mind: even if not for his father, then for himself, he would become stronger, until he surpassed them.
Only then could he prevent the tragedies of the past from happening again.
Only then could he regain his dignity.
…
Of course, becoming stronger couldn't be too ostentatious, as the painful experiences of the past were still etched in his mind.
Ishida Ryūken heavily exhaled, took a deep look in the direction where the group had disappeared, and then quickly flashed away towards the outskirts of the district, led by Katagiri Yae.
Seeing his son safely leave, Ishida Soken's heart, which had been hanging in the air, finally slowly settled.
At this moment, a rumbling sound seemed to emanate from the open space not far away.
A surging gale blew towards him, carrying a powerful impact that made it almost impossible to stand steady.
He exchanged glances with his wife, who had arrived shortly after, and then they both quickly left the area.
…
In the open space.
Shihouin Sennich frowned slightly.
It wasn't for any other reason, but he seemed to be seeing an incredible illusion.
How could this kid perfectly blend Hakuda and Kido?
If he remembered correctly, this was the ultimate realm he had pursued so diligently throughout his life!
However, fate was cruel; he had died before he could succeed…
At this moment, this scene was truly defying common sense.
He didn't look old, at most around two hundred years old, perhaps even younger.
Yet, such a young man had accomplished at the age of two hundred what he had spent five hundred years trying to achieve.
What kind of disciple had Yamamoto Genryusai taken on!
Shihouin Sennich's heart was in turmoil, extremely complex.
To be honest, if he hadn't died and hadn't escaped from Hell, he would definitely have befriended this ninth division captain.
This kid was truly to his liking.
What a pity…
Sighing slightly, Shihouin Sennich sighed helplessly towards Saito Furofushi:
"I seem to be done for. This kid completely counters me in hand-to-hand combat."
"An achievement I failed to realize in my entire life, he accomplished with ease."
"Speaking of which…"
He seemed to suddenly remember something he had forgotten, so he asked Yoriichi Tsugikuni:
"Kid, what's your name?"
Although his voice was somewhat muffled by the strong wind, Yoriichi still heard him clearly.
After Yoriichi calmly stated his name, Shihouin Sennich nodded slightly.
"Yoriichi Tsugikuni, may I ask who is the current head of the Shihouin Clan?"
"Is it Byakuen? Or Yoruichi?"
"Or someone else?"
In his memory, Yoruichi had only recently been born when he died.
Now, hundreds of years later, she should have grown into an adult.
Yoriichi told him the information he wanted to know.
During this time, the others did not make a move, but instead focused intently on Yoriichi's current state, as this was a form they had never seen before.
Kido fused with Hakuda?
Though they didn't know how powerful it was, it looked quite intimidating.
Saito Furofushi, even if he wanted to step forward, hesitated now.
Just moments ago, she hadn't felt anything special, but now, as soon as Yoriichi Tsugikuni unleashed his reishi, she immediately sensed a huge disparity in their reishi levels.
She was a second-grade Spiritual Pressure, while Yoriichi was a first-grade Spiritual Pressure.
This was ridiculous. Are the juniors nowadays all this fierce?
If any random captain was a first-grade Spiritual Pressure, where would they, the seniors, put their faces?
At this moment, remembering what she had said earlier, Saito Furofushi felt a bit ashamed.
…
She had always been headstrong and willful, yet deep down, she also possessed a sense of shame.
The current situation was like an old man proudly boasting about his wealth in front of a young person, only for the young person to effortlessly acquire the old man's enterprise in the blink of an eye.
The oppressive aura made it almost impossible for her to breathe.
What on earth was going on?!
She subtly glanced at Bakuzan Saigyunzai.
This gentle young woman's face was as calm as water at the moment, but the slight bulging veins on her hand gripping the naginata revealed that her inner emotions were far from as tranquil as they appeared.
This was only natural.
Back then, captains with first-grade Spiritual Pressure were ultimately a minority.
Her blade could indeed ignore defense and reishi.
However, ultimately, ignoring defense did not mean it could cut through in one strike.
Even if it only caused a slight scratch, it could still be called ignoring defense.
Moreover, under the endless gusting winds, whether they could even get close was an unknown.
The more she thought about it, the more she couldn't understand what kind of monster Yamamoto Genryusai had taken as a disciple?
If he had been there back then, what need would there have been for the other twelve captains?
If the two of them teamed up, they might even be able to overturn those in the Soul King Palace…
Although this was just a hypothesis, the mere possibility of it was already a remarkable achievement.
At the very least, all twelve of them combined were no match for Yamamoto Genryusai after his Bankai.
If another person of equal strength were to appear…
At this thought, Saito Furofushi couldn't help but take a slight gasp, the shock in her heart spreading like ripples.
Shihouin Sennich's words echoed in her ears, but she had no time to listen.
Immediately after, Yoriichi Tsugikuni's figure appeared before them like a descending deity.
As soon as the figure, enveloped in a mighty gust of wind, appeared, Saito Furofushi was blown so hard she couldn't open her eyes, the strong winds like countless invisible hands forcefully pushing her.
Even though she had used her Zanpakuto to accelerate her physiological functions.
But the next second, there was still a loud "boom."
She was still instantly sent flying backward, like an ordinary Shinigami squad member encountering a captain head-on, and crashed heavily to the ground.
The pain from the fall spread rapidly throughout her body like an electric current, making her vision go black for a moment, as if the world instantly became blurry.
Seeing this, Shihouin Sennich reluctantly made a move, but he too found it difficult to resist the fate of being repelled, after all, he was only skilled in Hakuda.
He also flew out, then stopped moving, his eyes tightly closed, clearly intending to play dead to avoid being severely beaten.
Are you kidding? Being knocked flying once was already embarrassing enough. If it happened a few more times, and the news reached the Soul Society, how would he ever show his face again?
All previous heads of the Shihouin Clan were masters, and upon death, they were destined to fall into Hell.
He did not want to be ridiculed by his juniors.
In the blink of an eye, due to Shihouin Sennich's passive shirking, two opponents were gone.
Yoriichi looked at the only remaining young woman holding the long-handled naginata.
If he remembered correctly, she should be the strongest of the three; that blade was quite dangerous, capable of splitting even the Hell Gate and its chains.
Although it might only be possible under special circumstances, Yoriichi didn't want to test it.
After all, getting them to willingly return to Hell was much better than forcibly imprisoning them.
Furthermore, Yoriichi didn't know what had happened inside Hell, and he still needed to learn about the internal situation from them later.
If he directly imprisoned them and then entered Hell to understand the situation after this matter was over, it would be a bit troublesome.
Bakuzan Saigyunzai was unaware of Yoriichi's thoughts at the moment.
She only knew that since Yoriichi had defeated her companions but chose not to deliver the finishing blow, he seemed to be a quite upright person.
She admired this greatly.
Of course, due to the disparity in strength, her emotion at this moment was more of lament.
In merely seven hundred years since their deaths, the Soul Society had actually produced such a powerful Shinigami…
It seemed their sacrifices as predecessors were indeed worthwhile.
With this in mind, Bakuzan Saigyunzai slowly opened her mouth:
"Is Captain Yamamoto Genryusai still well?"
"Young man, there's no need to rush into action for now."
"Your reishi completely surpasses ours; even if we exert our full strength, we are probably no match for you."
"Why don't we sit down and have a good talk?"
"Once this matter is settled, we will voluntarily return to Hell."
Escape was already hopeless. Yoriichi, in his Shunko Wind God form, was incredibly fast.
Even Saito Furofushi's movements, accelerated tenfold, could not escape his attack.
Shihouin Sennich was also slacking off on the side.
By herself… if she could win, she wouldn't have been fleeing with two others.
Sighing softly, Bakuzan Saigyunzai watched as Yoriichi Tsugikuni slowly withdrew from his Wind God form, and the surrounding strong winds immediately lessened significantly.
She paused, then continued:
"It seems you, like Shihouin Sennich, are a master of Hakuda?"
"I must admit, this technique truly counters me."
"It seems Yamamoto Genryusai hasn't forgotten us after all these years."
This was not bad news; what people feared most was being forgotten, and even after falling into Hell, their will had not perished.
Yoriichi heard these words and did not deny anything.
He just calmly said:
"Teacher is very well, and he certainly hasn't forgotten you."
"Tell me, what exactly happened in Hell?"
"Why did you escape from it?"
"Also, is it just the three of you?"
"So many Sinners in Hell…"
"It's precisely for that reason."
Bakuzan Saigyunzai sighed helplessly, striking the ground heavily with her naginata, her voice filled with despondency,
"Recently, I don't know why, but a group of Menos Grande suddenly appeared in Hell."
"These Menos Grande attack Shinigami on sight."
"While we can resurrect infinitely, ultimately, two fists are no match for four hands."
"And at the same time, due to the intense fighting, a Menos Grande named Baraggan used his ability to corrode some cracks in the Hell Gate above."
"Although these cracks are insignificant and will repair themselves over time, repair still takes time…"
"Shihouin Sennich, Saito Furofushi, and I were all affected by this, saw an opportunity, and chose to escape from within."
"Of course, since the chains could only be cut by me, the three of us are the only group that escaped."
"The other Shinigami and Hollows were captured one by one by the Hell Gate before they could escape far."
"This is all I know. I wonder if it's useful to you?"
It was very useful; at least Yoriichi had never expected that this upheaval in Hell was caused by Baraggan.
It seems these overgrown Menos Grande need to be confined in a separate place.
Hell is extremely deep; next time, he'll throw him to the very bottom.
As for now…
"Your combat skills should still be intact, right?"
Yoriichi suddenly asked, with a hint of contemplation in his voice, "If they are, can you, being composed of reishi, return to the Soul Society?"
If they could, then there was no need to rush their imprisonment, because Hell had not conveyed any urgent emotions.
Perhaps from its perspective, the loss of a few prisoners was not particularly important.
If that was the case, then a delay of a few days or even dozens of days was nothing.
Their existence could help the Shinigami in the Soul Society improve their strength better.
Yoriichi never forgot that his identity was that of a Shinigami, not a Hell warden.