Despite having the ability, Gao Yu naturally declined it with utmost respect.
He had no intention of marrying or having descendants at the moment, and even if he did, he wouldn't use his ability to force them to be filial.
If they weren't filial, it simply meant he lacked the capability or failed in his upbringing.
He followed the old woman into the house, and after he sat down, she even poured him a cup of tea.
"You've come to find Toushiro, haven't you?" the old woman said softly. "He went to buy sweet natto and should be back very soon."
Went to buy sweet natto?
Gao Yu was startled. Could it be such a coincidence? Had he stumbled upon the plot as soon as he arrived?
"As you said, I am indeed here to find Toushiro," Gao Yu said honestly, "Toushiro… he should become a Shinigami."
"To be frank with you, Toushiro's talent is perhaps extremely rare in the history of the Seireitei."
Toushiro Hitsugaya truly is a genius.
Gao Yu looked around the room. Although Toushiro Hitsugaya wasn't there, a faint trace of his spiritual pressure seemed to linger, making the room feel somewhat chilly.
Moreover…
How could a Zanpakuto's soul proactively seek out someone who didn't even have an Asauchi? This was clearly cheating, wasn't it?
No wonder he could become a captain in the next forty years. This level of talent was abnormal among abnormals.
"Is that so…" The old woman's expression was a little downcast, but more than that, it was one of relief.
"Toushiro, he…"
"Grandma!"
Before the old woman could finish speaking, a voice came from outside, followed by continuous footsteps.
The old woman softly said, "The child is back. Please don't force Toushiro into this matter."
"Don't worry," Gao Yu nodded, "I won't force him to become a Shinigami."
Then, the door opened.
Toushiro Hitsugaya was also startled by the scene inside the room, exclaiming, "A… Shinigami?"
Gao Yu looked over. Toushiro was indeed very short, probably only about 1.3 meters tall, with silver-white hair and emerald-green eyes, which were indeed somewhat rare in the Soul Society.
He was holding a bag of sweet natto in his hand, currently frozen at the doorway.
Gao Yu said, "Hello, my name is Gao Yu Guangyun, and I am Hinamori's friend from the Seireitei."
?
Upon hearing the name Hinamori Momo, Toushiro Hitsugaya finally breathed a sigh of relief.
"So you're Hinamori's friend. I thought you were with the Shinigami I encountered earlier."
"The Shinigami from before?" Gao Yu knew it was Rangiku, but he still pretended to be a little confused.
Toushiro wanted to say something, but seeing his grandmother nearby, he closed his mouth.
Gao Yu stood up and said, "Hitsugaya, I came specifically to see you. Can we talk alone?"
"…" Hitsugaya glanced at his grandmother, who nodded at him, and then he said, "Yes, if you want to talk, let's go outside."
He walked out, and Gao Yu followed him.
Gao Yu was a full 1.8 meters tall, and Toushiro didn't even reach his chest, which gave Gao Yu the feeling that he was looking after a child.
He looked at Toushiro Hitsugaya's soul core.
"Kirinji: You will gain unparalleled talent in all matters."
He truly is a genius!
A genius among geniuses, that's the kind of talent I need!
Gao Yu felt a surge of excitement. If he could acquire this ability, then becoming a captain in forty years, like Toushiro, shouldn't be a problem, right?
Moreover, the Kirinji ability isn't just for cultivation; its description states that one will gain great talent in any matter, which naturally includes scientific research.
One must know that scientists in this world are quite formidable; both Kisuke Urahara and Mayuri Kurotsuchi could be said to have MVP-level performances in every war!
I must get this ability!
The moment he saw this ability, Gao Yu decided to befriend Toushiro Hitsugaya.
"Toushiro Hitsugaya…"
Gao Yu softly said, "You should become a Shinigami."
"...?" Toushiro Hitsugaya paused, then said, "If you came for something like this, then go back. I will not become a Shinigami."
"Don't be so quick to refuse," Gao Yu said indifferently, "Because your rash refusal could very likely lead to your grandmother's further weakening."
"What did you say?!" Toushiro Hitsugaya's pupils dilated, and he immediately became agitated!
"You must have felt it," Gao Yu said, "As you grow, your grandmother's body becomes weaker and weaker. All of this is because you cannot control your growing spiritual power."
"Wh-…" Toushiro Hitsugaya looked at his hands, saying in astonishment, "My spiritual power?"
"After hearing your story from Hinamori, I had this thought, which is why I specifically came to see you today. Because I don't want Hinamori's friend to personally kill his own grandmother, that's why I'm telling you all this."
Gao Yu slowly said, "You should become a Shinigami, learn to control your power, just like this…"
Gao Yu placed one hand on Hitsugaya's head. The Strict Teacher Produces Outstanding Students ability was still active, so he could clearly observe the flow of Toushiro Hitsugaya's spiritual power.
As he applied spiritual power, Hitsugaya's spiritual pressure immediately changed, and the cold spiritual power that was originally overflowing gradually disappeared.
"Do you notice any change?" Gao Yu asked.
"So hot…" Hitsugaya said, feeling a bit uncomfortable.
"This isn't heat, but rather the cold spiritual pressure emanating from you has been sealed by me."
"You can substitute it: previously, your grandmother was sleeping while enduring that cold spiritual pressure. As hot as you feel now, your grandmother would have felt that much colder before."
"So, even now, do you still believe you shouldn't become a Shinigami?"
"!" Toushiro Hitsugaya's eyes widened.
Gao Yu then squatted down again, pressing that hand on Toushiro Hitsugaya's chest.
"You can hear a voice, right?"
"Even among Shinigami, only a few can hear that kind of voice. This means that you should become a Shinigami."
"If you don't become a Shinigami, you won't be able to find the source of that voice, and you will continue to harm those around you because you cannot control your power."
"I'll only say this one more time, Hitsugaya."
"Come with me to the Spiritual Arts Academy, control your power, and once you become a Shinigami, you'll realize that everything I've told you is absolutely not a lie."
After speaking, he stood up again.
"The choice is entirely yours. If you've made up your mind, wait for me at the White Road Gate tomorrow morning. I will come to pick you up."
With that, he raised his hand and waved, then walked out the door.
He believed that Toushiro Hitsugaya would make the right choice.