Bleach: I'm picking up attributes in Seireitei

"Hado #31, Red Fire Cannon!"

The flames surged like meteors, but grazed the edge of the target, almost missing it.

"Concentrate and don't get distracted."

Hearing Wang Xun's voice behind her, Qi Xu composed herself.

Damn it, who do you think is causing all this overthinking right now...?

The next moment, Nana's anger surged uncontrollably.

The target was perceived as Wang Xun's face, and a raging Crimson Fire Cannon instantly shattered it.

"good!"

The proctor, looking at the powerful and accurate Red Fire Cannon, couldn't help but praise it.

Turning around and seeing Wang Xun's approving gaze, Qi Xu felt a warmth rise in her heart.

But recalling yesterday's experience, her mood became unsettled again. She then let out a soft hum and deliberately turned her head away from him.

Wang Xun was somewhat confused.

How come it has awakened the tsundere attribute?

Before long, the candidates left the examination hall one by one, and it was soon Wang Xun's turn.

He had prepared extensively for today's test over the past few days.

Wang Xun looked around. Dozens of elite students had gathered on the sidelines, and a tense atmosphere filled the air.

At that moment, a commotion suddenly broke out at the entrance to the training ground.

Several teachers walked quickly toward the entrance, their expressions instantly becoming respectful upon seeing people.

The students turned to look, and whispers spread like ripples.

"That's... Aizen, the lieutenant of the Fifth Division! Wow, so cool!"

"Why is Lieutenant Aizen at the Spirit Arts Academy?"

"I heard he occasionally comes to check on the new students and provide guidance..."

Under the watchful eyes of the crowd, a figure slowly walked into the training field.

Aizen, dressed in a black shihachi uniform, appeared accompanied by several teachers.

The proctoring teacher bowed respectfully, and the students taking the exam also instinctively straightened their backs.

The vice-captain of the Gotei 13 personally came to inspect the area; this was a rare honor.

Aizen smiled and nodded to the teachers, his gaze slowly sweeping over the students on the training field.

His gaze was calm, as if he were merely glancing around casually.

But when that gaze swept over where Wang Xun was, it paused almost imperceptibly.

Wang Xun maintained the same respect and curiosity as the other students, though he felt slightly uneasy inside.

Aizen, what's he doing here?

Although Aizen would occasionally come to the Spirit Arts Academy to observe and teach, he rarely appeared during this kind of initial assessment.

Aizen whispered a few words to the teacher in charge of the test, and then they walked to the sidelines together.

His posture was relaxed and at ease, as if he had simply come to watch the test by chance.

The test continues.

When it was Wang Xun's turn, he deliberately controlled his performance.

He executed the Crimson Fire Cannon fairly well, keeping both the spiritual pressure output and accuracy at a moderate level.

This was a steady shot he had carefully rehearsed a few days ago in order to maintain a mid-to-lower level of performance.

"Okay," the proctor wrote in his notebook, "Next."

Wang Xun retreated to the sidelines and felt a gaze fall upon him.

He turned his head and met Aizen's gentle gaze.

Aizen smiled slightly at him and nodded, as if in agreement.

Wang Xun nodded and lowered his eyes, humbly returning the greeting.

But his heart was not at peace, and he wondered if he had some preconceived notions.

Although Aizen glanced at the examinees randomly, Wang Xun always felt that Aizen looked at him more frequently.

Is Aizen paying a little too much attention to himself?

As the morning tests came to an end and the students took a break, Aizen stepped down from the viewing platform.

He walked slowly across the training field, talking with several teachers and occasionally stopping to ask about a student's test results.

His gentle attitude flattered many students.

Then, he walked in the direction where Wang Xun was.

Wang Xun was chatting with Qi Xu, whose emotions had calmed down, when he suddenly noticed a commotion around him.

Nanao turned her head and saw Aizen approaching. She quickly bowed and greeted him, "Vice-Captain Aizen."

Wang Xun also bowed in greeting.

"No need for formalities," Aizen's voice was gentle and magnetic. "You're fifth-year students, right? You did well on the test just now."

Aizen turned his gaze to Wang Xun: "What is your name?"

"Wang Xun, Vice Captain Aizen."

Wang Xun looked at the smiling Aizen and felt a chill run down his spine.

At that moment, he finally realized it.

Aizen came specifically for him.

"I just watched your Kido test." Aizen adjusted his glasses. "Your Red Fire Cannon incantation was perfect, and your spiritual pressure control was very stable, but..."

He paused, then smiled and said, "But it gives me the feeling that I didn't use my full strength. I wonder if it's just my imagination."

Wang Xun felt a tightness in his chest, but on the surface he showed a slightly embarrassed expression.

"I apologize for the embarrassing situation, Vice Captain. I am not yet proficient enough in handling the Crimson Fire Cannon. I was worried about making mistakes during the test, so I chose a more stable approach."

"Caution is a good thing," Aizen nodded, "but even Shinigami sometimes have to take risks in battle. Being too conservative might cause them to miss opportunities."

"The vice-captain is right to reprimand me."

"I didn't mean to criticize," Aizen said with a smile. "Besides, being able to restrain one's sharpness to achieve one's goal is a talent in itself."

He paused, his gaze deepening. "Wang Xun, what are your plans for the future? Which squad would you like to join after graduation?"

This question also made Nana, who was standing next to him, perk up her ears.

Wang Xun hesitated for a moment before cautiously replying, "I don't have any concrete ideas yet, after all, graduation is still some time away."

"A very pragmatic attitude." Aizen nodded approvingly. "Each of the Gotei 13 has its own strengths, and finding a path that suits you is very important."

He looked directly into Wang Xun's eyes, his voice gentle yet possessing an irresistible allure.

"The Fifth Division is dedicated to nurturing promising newcomers. If you're interested, you can consider coming here after you graduate."

The surrounding air seemed to freeze for a moment.

Nanao's eyes widened slightly in surprise, and the other students who were eavesdropping also showed expressions of envy or surprise.

These words can be seen as a personal invitation from the Fifth Division Vice-Captain, which is a great honor for a student of the Spirit Arts Academy.

Warning bells were ringing in Wang Xun's mind.

Why would Aizen extend an invitation to a mediocre fifth-year student like him for no apparent reason?

Recalling what happened in the valley of West Second District a few days ago.

Wang Xun was almost certain that the person hiding in the shadows at that time was Aizen.

He still noticed himself.

"Thank you very much for your appreciation, Vice Captain."

"However, as I just said, there's still time before graduation, and I want to think about it more before making a decision."

"Don't feel pressured by what I say, just follow your heart."

Aizen looked at him, a gentle smile still on his face.

"Well then, I look forward to your future performance."

He patted Wang Xun on the shoulder and turned to leave.

Wang Xun stood still, watching Aizen's retreating figure.

That brief exchange just now, every word, every glance, felt like dancing on a knife's edge to him.

His life has been full of twists and turns.

"Wang Xun, it seems that Lieutenant Aizen values ​​you highly, and even hopes that you will join the Fifth Division. What are your thoughts on this?"

The voice of Qi Xu beside him brought Wang Xun back to his senses.

He pondered for a moment.

"I was so scared I cried."

Seven Threads: ?