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

He did not answer Liu Chuan's question immediately, but remained silent for a moment, recalling the distant past.

“Tenbei…Shusuke…” Captain-Commander Yamamoto murmured the name, his eyes growing clearer as if he were connecting certain clues.

"So that's how it is... It was him. That child was also caught up in the aftermath of this matter, and even used that evil object..."

He sighed, seemingly with endless weariness and heaviness.

This sigh didn't sound like that of a Captain-Commander who commanded respect throughout Soul Society; it sounded more like that of an old man burdened with too many secrets and regrets.

"Since Lord Yanagawa has inquired and agreed to investigate, and as the Zero Division member, I certainly have the authority to ask..."

Captain-Commander Yamamoto slowly began to speak:

"Then I will tell you what I knew back then."

He closed his eyes again, as if sorting through a memory he didn't want to recall, before opening them again after a moment:

"Back then, I did indeed sense a connection between the Xia Dalu family and the 'Mo Yao Dao' (貘爻刀), and that this object was strange and malevolent."

"I originally intended to dispatch the elite of the Gotei 13 to formally intervene in the investigation and thoroughly uncover the secrets of the Kasumioji family and this sword."

“However,” Captain-Commander Yamamoto’s tone suddenly turned cold, carrying a hint of suppressed anger and helplessness,

"The Xia Dalu family, under the pretext of so-called 'extraterritoriality,' joined forces with several upper-class noble families to put pressure on the Central 46th Bureau."

They claimed this was an internal affair of the nobility and a matter of technological research, and that the Gotei 13 had no right to interfere!

The Central Bureau of Investigation… disregarding potential risks, forcibly ordered the termination of my investigation!

"Central 46?" Liu Chuan raised an eyebrow; this was a point he hadn't anticipated.

It turned out that it was the Central 46th Bureau that intervened and prevented the Chief of Staff from conducting an investigation?

“Not bad.” A cold glint flashed in Captain Yamamoto’s eyes. “They suppressed the matter with a single order, causing my formal investigation to come to nothing.”

“However,” Captain-Commander Yamamoto’s tone shifted, becoming increasingly somber, “…”

"Under my command, there is a soldier named Ruyue Qinyue."

He was meticulous and had noticed something about the 'Mo Yao Dao' (貘爻刀) matter, and always suspected that the Xia Dalu family and the Central 46th Chamber were hiding something.

Seeing that his formal investigation was being obstructed, he was resentful and worried that this evil spirit might spread and harm the Soul Society. Therefore, he privately petitioned the old man to allow him to continue the investigation in secret.

Captain-Commander Yamamoto's grip on his cane tightened slightly:

"I... know that this action violates the orders of the Central 46th Bureau and is an illegal act."

However, considering the long-term safety of the Soul Society and worried about the calamity of the 'Baku Yao Dao', after much deliberation, he finally... acquiesced to Kisaragi Qin Yue's request.

The old man instructed him to conduct this secretly and with utmost care. If anything is discovered, report it immediately; he must not act without authorization.

His voice lowered, filled with deep self-reproach and regret:

"However... I underestimated the defenses of the Kasumi family, and I also underestimated the strangeness and danger of the 'Baku Yao Blade'."

Kisaragi Qin Yue… perhaps due to his eagerness to succeed, or perhaps because he underestimated his opponent, he inadvertently exposed himself during the investigation and was captured by the Kasumigaoji family.

The air in the council chamber seemed to freeze. Chojiro Sasakibe lowered his head, unable to bear listening any longer.

Liu Chuan's gaze was calm as he awaited the outcome.

"They...forcibly attached an unfinished 'Mo Yao Blade' to Ruyue's body."

Every word spoken by Captain-Commander Yamamoto carried a chilling intent.

"The evil blade entered the body, frantically absorbing its spiritual power, and further eroding its mind with its chaotic will."

Asuka Qin Yue's spiritual power spiraled out of control, her mind gradually fading. Ultimately... driven by the evil blade, she returned to the Seireitei like a puppet, her target nonetheless—me.

"I am forced... to fight against my former loyal subordinates." Captain-Commander Yamamoto's voice trembled almost imperceptibly.

The ferocity of that battle and the inner torment it caused remain vivid in my memory, even after countless years.

"His remaining sanity, in the gaps between the erosion by the evil blade, kept pleading with the old man..."

"I beg you, old man, to end his suffering, to slay him who is controlled by the evil sword, and more importantly, to not allow him to live in this state, tarnishing the honor of the Gotei 13 and the Shinigami."

"Finally..." Captain-Commander Yamamoto closed his eyes, as if he did not want to see that last scene again.

"I... personally killed Ruyue Qin Yue, fulfilling his request before his last shred of consciousness dissipated."

A long silence followed. In the council chamber, only Captain-Commander Yamamoto's slightly heavy breathing and the pervasive sense of sorrow could be heard.

"Because this investigation was an illegal action taken by me in violation of the orders of the Central 46th Bureau,"

The truth about Ruyue's death, and part of the truth about the 'Baku Yao Dao', cannot be made public.

Captain-Commander Yamamoto opened his eyes again, his gaze now calm as before, but beneath that calm lay a deep, unfathomable regret and hidden pain.

"I can only suppress this matter and announce to the outside world that Ruyue Qinyue died in the line of duty."

As for the Kasumi family, after this incident, they seem to have become much more restrained, and the clues to the 'Baku Yao Knife' have become even more secretive.

This matter...became a wound in my heart that the Gotei 13 would never heal.

Liu Chuan listened quietly, and understood what was going on.

Kisaragi Hata, the father of Amagai Shusuke, the Grim Reaper obsessed with the truth, ultimately fell under the darkness he pursued, and was even killed by the Captain-Commander himself.

Captain-Commander Yamamoto did not order the silencing to protect the Kasumioji family; on the contrary, he was trying to investigate.

However, he was obstructed by the Central 46th Bureau and ultimately had to endure the pain of personally killing the students controlled by the evil sword. He also had to bear the dual pressure of disobeying orders and not being able to reveal the truth, so he buried the matter in his heart.

No wonder all the clues that Tenbei Shusuke found subtly pointed to Captain-Commander Yamamoto—

Because it was indeed the captain himself who ultimately came forward to "deal with" Ruyue Qinyue.

Meanwhile, the Kasumi family and the Central 46 cleverly hid behind the scenes, using rules and power to push Captain-Commander Yamamoto to the forefront, making him a scapegoat and a target of hatred.

"I see." Liu Chuan spoke slowly, his voice calm, yet carrying a profound and insightful understanding.

"Kisaragi Qin Yue... was the father of Amagai Shusuke. His death was a tragedy."

Captain, you... are also a victim, and even more so, a forced executor and the one who buried the truth.

Then Liu Chuan paused, his gaze sharpening: "I will continue to investigate this matter."

Not only must we give Captain Tenbei an explanation, but we must also uncover the truth about the Kasumi family and the 'Baku Yao Dao' (a type of sword), and more importantly, we must see what disgraceful role the Central 46th Bureau played in all of this back then.

Captain-Commander Yamamoto gave Yanagawa a deep look and slowly nodded:

“The Zero Division has its own way of doing things, Lord Yanagawa, I’ll leave this matter to you.”

If you require any support from me, or wish to access the encrypted files from that year, please inform the Sparrow Division at any time.

"Thank you, Captain." Liu Chuan nodded in thanks.

Liu Chuan turned around and, with Asido, whose expression was complicated, and Stark, who remained indifferent, left the somber council chamber.

The hall doors closed, and Captain-Commander Yamamoto sat alone, his gaze fixed on the eternal sky of Seireitei outside the window, remaining silent for a long time.

Chojiro Sasaki stood silently to one side.

Chapter 98 The Unusual Ghost Path Clan

In the Seireitei, the area where the Kido sect resided, which was originally relatively independent and quiet, was now faintly filled with a greater commotion and spiritual pressure fluctuations than usual.

When Liu Chuan led Ashido and Stark through the gate covered with defensive ghost runes, the sight before him did indeed make him pause slightly.

It is clear that the number of young Shinigami dressed in brand-new Shinigami uniforms has increased significantly.

They either walked in small groups toward the expanded training ground, or hurried through the corridors carrying thick books on the ways of the demons.

In addition to the familiar subtle spiritual fluctuations left over from various demonic experiments, the air was filled with a vibrant energy.

Some previously unused barracks have been renovated, and new buildings can be seen rising from the ground in the distance, clearly an emergency expansion to cope with the surge in personnel.

"Liu Chuan! You're finally back!"

A loud voice, filled with hearty laughter, rang out, its strength instantly drowning out the surrounding noise.

Liu Chuan turned his head and saw a middle-aged official with a stocky build and a broad face striding towards him.

It was none other than Toyama Shigeyoshi, a senior member of the squad to which Yanagawa belonged when he first joined the Kido Clan.

“Senior Toyama,” Yanagawa said with a genuine smile, “it’s been a long time. You’re as charming as ever.”

"Stop with the nonsense. You're a big shot in Squad Zero now."

Toyama Shigeyoshi laughed heartily and patted Yanagawa's shoulder heavily with his large, fan-like hand, the force showing his closeness.

His gaze then fell on Asido and Stark behind Liuchuan, sensing the sharp aura of Asido honed by life and death in Hueco Mundo.

When he saw Stark's unfathomable yet strangely restrained immense spiritual pressure, a glint of shrewdness and solemnity flashed in his eyes.

However, he was experienced in the ways of the world and knew that anyone who could be personally brought back by Yanagawa and directly join the Ghost Path Clan was no ordinary person. So he did not ask any more questions and turned his attention back to Yanagawa.

"Look at this scene," said Toyama Shigeyoshi, pointing to the endless stream of young faces around him, his tone filled with emotion yet unable to hide a hint of pride.

"They're all here for you. This year's graduation season at the True Central Spiritual Arts Academy has been a real triumph for us Kido Sect members. The number of applicants has more than quadrupled compared to previous years!"

Several of the elite recruits, who were sought after by various squads, specifically requested to come to the place where 'Senior Yanagawa' had stayed.

Hey, the skill you showed off back in college really got all these guys fired up.

Saying things like 'the path of the demons is not merely supplementary,' and 'the infinite possibilities of using spiritual power'... tsk tsk."

He paused, then pointed to the area under construction in the distance and several main buildings that had clearly been reinforced and expanded:

"The senior members of the Ghost Path Sect were both happy and troubled. They were happy because the Ghost Path lineage was thriving, but troubled because of the budget and venue. They had to worry about everything."

During your absence, headquarters was almost overwhelmed with applications for new recruits, but thankfully we had the financial assistance you received from the Tsunayo family.

So, they worked through the night to expand the training ground by 30%, adding a new meditation room, a spiritual manipulation training center, and two new dormitory buildings.

At least these new little ones didn't have to sleep in the hallway.

Liu Chuan listened quietly, his gaze sweeping over the energetic young Grim Reapers who looked at him with either curiosity or admiration.

He certainly hadn't anticipated that his remarks at the True Central Spiritual Arts Academy, which stemmed from his own insights, would lead to this outcome.

And that high-level sparring match with Shiba Isshin, which was more of a mutual verification, actually produced such a profound and specific chain reaction.

This is not just about personal reputation; it's more like planting a seed in the hearts of these younger generations, which has now sprouted and grown, and is even beginning to influence the flow of Shinigami power in Soul Society.

A complex emotion quietly began to grow in his heart.