Bleach: From the moment I was invited by Squad Zero.

That is a mysterious being that transcends the Gotei 13 and directly serves the "Spirit King," the foundation of the world.

I am just an ordinary member of the Ghost Path, how could I have alarmed such a person to come in person?

"Surprised?" Hyosube Ichibei seemed to see through his doubts, a very faint, inscrutable smile curving his lips.

"There is no need to doubt, I have come here for a specific purpose."

He paused for a moment, and then said something that shocked Liu Chuan utterly.

"I am here on the orders of Lord Lingwang to convey an invitation to you."

The Spirit King's... invitation?

Liu Chuan was completely stunned; this was beyond anything he had anticipated.

He initially thought the most likely explanation was that some "out-of-the-box" research had attracted the attention of higher authorities.

Warnings or investigations were drawn, but no one ever imagined it would be an "invitation," especially one from the supreme Spirit King!

Hyōjube Ichibei continued in that calm yet grand voice, "Why did Lord Rei-ō take a fancy to you? Well, even I, an old man, don't quite understand that."

He shook his head slightly, and the Buddhist beads around his neck jingled softly. "But Lord Lingwang must have his reasons. Perhaps you have something interesting about you that you're unaware of."

His gaze swept over Liuchuan from head to toe with great interest, as if he were admiring something new and unexpectedly discovered.

The amount of information was overwhelming. Liu Chuan was processing it at a rapid pace while thinking to himself: The Spirit King has noticed me, but the reason is unknown.

This world is indeed extraordinary; it seems that the Spirit King is truly exceptional.

Before he could even ask a question, Hyosube Ichibei began to speak in a casual tone, almost as if introducing his own unit:

"The Zero Division is independent of the Gotei 13 and reports directly to Lord Soul King. Its main duty is to protect the Soul King Palace."

Several members of the team were individuals who had made remarkable "creations" in the Soul Society in the past, and were promoted after being recognized.

"Creation?" Liu Chuan keenly grasped this key word.

“Not bad.” Hyosube Ichibei nodded.

"For example, the invention of the Shinigami armor, the establishment of the basic theory of Soul Reaper, the establishment of the communication technology system, or the creation of a crucial path of healing and recovery are all cornerstones that laid the foundation for the current form of Soul Society."

Liu Chuan pondered silently.

He remained silent for a moment, not out of fear, but because after being extremely shocked, he quickly composed himself and weighed the situation.

Chapter 3 The Conditions of Willfulness

After a brief silence, Liu Chuan raised his head. His eyes showed neither the fear of being flattered nor the excitement of being full of ambition, but only a calm and clear mind.

"I can accept the invitation from Squad Zero," he said, his voice steady.

Captain-Commander Yamamoto raised his eyes slightly, while Hyosube Ichibei waited quietly for what was to come. Both of them could hear the shift in the otherwise calm tone.

Sure enough, Liu Chuan changed the subject: "However, I have a request."

His gaze swept over the two peak figures of Soul Society before him, and he slowly uttered the following words:

"If that doesn't work, then I'll have to decline the invitation from Squad Zero."

"Oh?" For the first time, a hint of surprise appeared in Hyosube Ichibei's voice.

He had never seen anyone so calmly offer "conditions" in response to the Zero Division's invitation.

Captain-Commander Yamamoto's hand, which was holding a cane, tightened slightly.

“Tell me about it,” said Hyosube Ichibei, his wise eyes fixed on Yanagawa, showing that he was listening attentively and considering his words.

Liu Chuan spoke each word with perfect clarity.

“I need to stay in Seireitei. Unless necessary, I hope to spend most of my time living here rather than residing in the Soul King’s Palace.”

Hyobu Ichibei fell silent; such a request was truly unheard of.

The members of Squad Zero reside in the Spirit King Palace; it is an honor, a status, and a duty.

This person regards this "honor" as a "constraint." Is it arrogance and ignorance, or does he have an extraordinary persistence in his own path?

He recalled the vague will of the Spirit King, which did not specify the method or the form, but only indicated "this person".

Rules... While the rules of the Spirit King Palace are important, the will of the Spirit King is the highest and most fundamental rule.

What Lord Lingwang wants is "this person," so perhaps there's room for flexibility in how he "possesses" this person.

Time flowed slowly in silence, each breath seemingly stretched out.

Captain-Commander Yamamoto seemed to be in a meditative state, but the deep, calm spiritual pressure around him subtly revealed that his inner peace was not as serene as it appeared.

He was also waiting, waiting for an outcome that might overturn his millennia-old understanding.

Finally, Hyosube Ichibei slowly nodded.

"can."

Two words, earth-shattering.

Hyobu Ichibei continued:

"You can remain in Seireitei, but your status, communication, and corresponding responsibilities as a Zero Division will not be reduced. You will need to maintain contact with the Soul King Palace through specific means."

Liu Chuan nodded in agreement, accepting the conditional terms, which meant he would also assume corresponding obligations, something he was already prepared for.

Hyobu Ichibei gave him one last look.

"Specific details will be arranged later. The induction ceremony will still be held at the Spirit King Palace. I will come to pick you up in a while."

His figure began to fade, like ink spreading on paper, and his aura quickly dissipated.

Before the words were even finished, the imposing figure of the monk had completely merged into the void, as if he had never appeared.

Only his reply, and that unprecedented privilege, remained heavily in place.

Only after Hyosube Ichibei's aura completely disappeared did Yamamoto Genryusai Shigekuni slowly raise his eyelids, his gaze towards Yanagawa extremely complex.

"He... he actually agreed." His deep voice rang out, as if he were talking to himself, yet also as if he were speaking to Liu Chuan.

"The fact that Lord Bingzhu would agree to such a request... It seems that the King of Spirit values ​​you far more than I expected."

He paused, then took a step forward, leaning on his cane:

"In that case, until you complete the initiation ceremony, you will temporarily return to the Ghost Path Clan, and everything will proceed as usual."

Liu Chuan said no more and walked out of the barracks of this squad.

"Hey—! Liuchuan?!"

A slightly hoarse but powerful and surprised shout interrupted Liu Chuan's thoughts.

He looked in the direction of the sound and saw a tall man with a signature red spiky hairstyle striding towards him; it was none other than Renji Abarai.

He was dressed in a Shinigami uniform, and his whole being exuded a wild and untamed vitality.

"Renji?" Yanagawa stopped in his tracks, a hint of surprise on his face, which quickly turned into a genuine smile.

At the Shinigami Academy, Renji was one of the few friends he had who shared his temperament and with whom he could have a few words.

Although one chose to join the Kido sect, which was considered a "retirement" path, and the other joined the Gotei 13 after graduation, their friendship as classmates was not completely erased.

"Haha, it really is you!" Renji strode forward and patted Yanagawa's shoulder hard with his large hand, the force carrying the roughness characteristic of the Eleventh Division.

"Coming out from the First Division? That's rare! The Captain-Commander summoned you? Could it be that you got caught slacking off with the Kido Clan?"

He grinned, his tone playful.

Yanagawa subtly eased the pressure on his shoulder and smiled, "I have some things to attend to. But you, Renji, seem to be thriving in the Eleventh Division."

He sized up Renji. Compared to his time in the Shinigami era, his friend now exuded an even stronger aura, with a sharper edge honed by years of battles between his brows. Clearly, he had undergone considerable "forging" under the hands of Kenpachi Zaraki, that battle maniac.

"That's right!" Renji puffed out his chest, his tone filled with undisguised pride belonging to the Eleventh Division.

"Following Captain Zaraki, there are endless fights every day, which is much more exciting than chanting incantations from the Kido textbook at the academy!"

He changed the subject, looked at Liu Chuan, and asked with his usual directness:

"But seriously, Liuchuan, your grades weren't bad back then, why did you think of joining the Ghost Path Sect? All you do is fix up barriers and portals all day, it's so boring."

"Everyone has their own ambitions," Liu Chuan replied calmly, without offering further explanation.

He knew Renji's personality; he was straightforward and would find it hard to understand his own interest in the quiet study of the principles of Kido and the essence of spiritual power.

Renji scratched his striking red hair, seemingly realizing he'd been a bit too blunt, chuckled twice, and changed the subject:

"Never mind, whatever makes you happy. By the way, you should know about Izuru and Hinamori, right?"

Yanagawa nodded. Kira Izuru and Hinamori Momo were also his classmates. Kira Izuru had joined the Third Division and was now a seat officer.

Hinamori Momo went to the Fifth Division and was also a seat officer.

"They all seem to be doing well and have established themselves in the team."

"Tch, just a seated official." Renji curled his lip, but there was no contempt in his eyes. Instead, there was a sense of empathy that "everyone has their own difficulties."

"That Izuru guy, he's quite well-behaved, so he'd be suitable for the Third Division. Hinamori, though..."

He paused, his tone unconsciously softening slightly.

"It's good that she's in the Fifth Division. Captain Aizen takes good care of her. It's just that she sometimes overthinks things and isn't as boisterous as she used to be in Rukongai."

The conversation naturally veered toward the person they both cared about, but who was now in a different world.

"...Rukia," Renji's voice lowered, a complex emotion flashing in his eyes, a mixture of nostalgia, and an indescribable sense of alienation and melancholy.

"The Kuchiki family seemed to have some kind of internal ceremony a while ago, and I saw her from afar once."

Wearing a Kuchiki family kimono, she stood quietly beside the icy Captain Kuchiki, completely different from before.

He was referring to Rukia Kuchiki, their childhood friend from Rukongai, and a classmate at the Shinigami Academy.

Now, she has been adopted by the Kuchiki family, one of the four noble families, and has become the adopted sister of Kuchiki Byakuya, the captain of the Sixth Division. Her status is now vastly different from what it used to be.

"Yes, as expected." Yanagawa's tone remained calm. He understood the rules and distance of the aristocratic world more deeply than Renji.

Rukia's choice, or rather, fate's arrangement, led her down a different path.

"The Kuchiki family has strict rules, and since she is already in one of them, it is inevitable that she will change. At the very least, she should be able to live a worry-free life."

"Carefree..." Renji repeated the word, his expression somewhat complicated, but in the end he just let out a heavy sigh.