Who are you calling a stable boy?!

"Boom!"

The judge brought down the gavel again.

"Zheng Jing, refrain from making a sound in front of Room 46!"

"Oh? What, you're allowed to yell at me, but not me, Old Zheng, can speak righteously and firmly?"

"you--"

"What do you mean, 'you'? You just sit there and start banging on the hammer. Who are you trying to scare? For the sake of the old man, I, Old Zheng, will not bother with your dirty tricks today. Speak your mind!"

"You, you—Yamamoto Genryusai Shigekuni, are you just going to stand by and watch him run rampant?!"

Leaning on his cane, the old man didn't even raise his eyes when faced with the sage's questioning.

"...Today, I am here to observe the proceedings and it is inappropriate for me to interfere with the trial."

"enough!"

One of the judges slammed his fist on the table.

"Zheng Jing, stop making trouble here. A year ago, while you were on a mission in the human world, why did you go to Hueco Mundo on your own? After that, was the attack on Rukongai by the Hollows related to you? Did you betray the court's intelligence in Hueco Mundo, which led to the Hollows' attack? Speak up now!"

"Speak of your mother!"

Zheng Jing hissed, his golden eyes seemed to ignite, and he pointed at the judge who had spoken and cursed him.

"I, Old Zheng, did go to Hueco Mundo. What law in the Imperial Court states that one cannot pursue and kill a fleeing Hollow in Hueco Mundo? You're accusing me of being a traitor and a spy? Humph! Show me your evidence!"

"If you hadn't betrayed the Seireitei, how could you have survived alone in Hueco Mundo for over a year and even managed to return alive?"

A wise man rushed over and said a few words, which immediately made Zheng Jing turn and glare at him.

"How could I possibly survive? I'm powerful enough to make even the King of Hueco Mundo unable to lift his head! According to you, if any heroes from the expeditionary force had returned alive, wouldn't they have been branded as traitors and spies by you the moment they got home? Humph!"

Upon hearing this, Kyoraku Shunsui, who was in the audience, narrowed his eyes slightly.

The sage on the throne trembled all over. Just as he was about to say something more, Zheng Jing put his hands on his hips and stomped one foot on the ground.

"Boom!!"

A muffled thud was heard, as if the entire building had shaken.

"A bunch of shameless, spineless old bastards! Today, I, Old Zheng, will see what solid evidence you can produce! If you can't—"

Then, Zheng Jing actually reached out and tore the Ruyi Jingu Bang apart.

"I'll show you just how real Old Zheng's stick is!"

In an instant, Zheng Jing's domineering fighting spirit surged forth, and genuine killing intent swept from the ground to the top.

Of the forty sages and six judges, how many have ever faced such a blatant threat?

For a moment, no one dared to utter a sound.

They were frozen in place, even finding it difficult to breathe.

—Until an old figure suddenly blocked Zheng Jing's path, the blazing waves of fighting and killing seemed to crash onto a mountain, their momentum abruptly halted.

The one blocking their way was, of course, Yamamoto Genryusai Shigekuni.

Chapter 135: I, Old Zheng, rarely hold grudges.

Upon seeing that it was the old man, Zheng Jing slightly restrained his fighting spirit and his murderous aura faltered. He then waved to the old man.

"Old man, move aside! I've heard a lot about the Forty-Six Chambers. How are you going to manage Soul Society with these insects? Today, I'll clean up these snakes, insects, and rats!"

"Zheng Jing, stop fooling around."

The old man spoke, leaning on his cane.

"This is Room 46. Put away your clubs."

"What? According to you, these old devils are slandering me like this, so I, Old Zheng, am just supposed to surrender without a fight?"

Before Zheng Jing could finish speaking, one of the sages, who had caught his breath after being shielded by Old Master Shan, immediately shouted loudly.

"Yamamoto Genryusai Shigekuni! Seize this madman at once! How dare he act so recklessly in the Forty-Sixth Chamber! He clearly intends to rebel!"

"Old man, did you hear me clearly this time? It won't dirty your hands, I, Old Zheng, will do it right away—"

A tremendous force suddenly erupted from the old man's tall, motionless body.

That was a towering peak formed by the accumulation of killing intent and spiritual pressure, a fearsome and terrifying power that this strongest death god of the millennium had carved out with each and every strike!

"broken......"

Kyoraku Shunsui muttered something.

"Don't you understand what I'm saying?"

His beard and wide robes fluttered without wind, and Yamamoto Genryusai Shigekuni lowered his voice.

"Zheng Jing, put away your stick. Without solid evidence, the 46th Division will not falsely accuse you."

It's hard to say whether Room 46 has any objections to this statement.

After all, they were facing the oppressive aura of Yamamoto Genryusai Shigekuni, and even the aftershocks were enough to render these so-called sages and judges immobile.

But Zheng Jing's side...

"not good!"

Seeing the change in Zheng Jing's expression, Ye Yi couldn't help but exclaim in surprise.

She knew Zheng Jing's personality all too well—he was the type who wouldn't respond to force but would be easily swayed by gentle persuasion!

The captain's approach, which seemed to be forcing Zheng Jing to submit, only fueled Zheng Jing's inherent madness.

"Old Zheng!"

Just as Zheng Jing picked up the golden cudgel, a figure landed between him and the old man.

"Old Zheng! Don't be impulsive!"

—It was Aizen, looking extremely anxious?!

"Old Lan? Even you're going to stop me?!"

Zheng Jing looked on incredulously.

"Old Zheng, I... I can't watch you make a terrible mistake!"

Aizen's face was filled with grief, and his expression was exceptionally sincere.

Zheng Jing took a deep breath.

"Get out of my way!"

"Old Zheng, don't act rashly. Let's trust the captain here!"

"You—Old Lan! Are you going to give way or not?!"

"..."

Aizen closed his eyes with a sorrowful expression, his hand trembling slightly as he slowly drew his sword from his waist.

"Shatter, you illusion, you mirage."

As the words of liberation were uttered, everyone in the courtyard saw that the Mirror Flower, Water Moon in Aizen's hand began to emit mist, partially enveloping him.

"You...you actually used your Shikai on me for the sake of these old bastards?"

"Old Zheng, I can't watch you like this... Please forgive me..."

"well!"

Zheng Jing tucked the Ruyi Jingu Bang behind his ear, crossed his arms, turned his face, and sat cross-legged on the spot.

"Old Lan, and Grandpa, you'll regret it if you don't get rid of these demons and monsters soon!"

"That's none of your business, kid."

Upon seeing Zheng Jing sit down, the old man immediately withdrew his terrifying aura.

"I am the captain."

Then he struck his cane.

"Captain Shihōin."

"exist!"

Yoruichi's figure suddenly appeared behind Zheng Jing.

“Take Zheng Jing’s team back to your criminal investigation unit, lock him in a solitary cell, and punish him by making him face the wall for half a year to reflect on his mistakes.”

"Yes!"

Bend down and hugged Zheng Jing's waist from behind, Ye Yi whispered in Zheng Jing's ear, "Stop fooling around, come with me!"

Zheng Jing remained silent, letting Yoruichi use her Instant Step to take him away and disappear without a trace.

"Yamamoto Genryusai Shigekuni, are you trying to protect him?!"

Only then did a wise man dare to speak again.

"Covering up? Didn't I already punish him by making him stand in the corner to reflect on his mistakes and change his unruly and irritable nature? Do you all think that half a year isn't enough?"

Those who intend to rebel should be punished, if not executed, at least imprisoned in a worm's nest. How can a simple matter of facing the wall in repentance be enough to gloss over their crimes?!

Moreover, the current head of the criminal police, Yoruichi Shihōin, the head of the Shihōin family, clearly has a close relationship with Zheng Jing.

Is standing in the wall as punishment?!

Just as the sage was about to refute this, the judge above spoke first.

"Then please ask the captain to go back and discipline him more, so that Zheng Jing will not make a big mistake in the future."

"No need for you all to worry, I know what I'm doing."

"Alright, that concludes today's court hearing regarding Zheng Jing, a member of the First Division. All representatives may leave if they have no other matters to discuss."

Seeing that none of the representatives had any objections, he struck the gavel with a loud thud.

"Court adjourned."

-

"Wow, that's terrifying! This young man is amazing. He dared to do this in front of Old Man Shan."

After leaving Room 46, Chunshui sighed repeatedly.

He reached out and put his arm around Aizen's shoulder.

"You're quite something too. Aizen, the fourth seat, actually managed to break in at that time. Tsk tsk... No wonder you were the [Souten] of the Spirit Arts Academy back then."

"You flatter me..."

Aizen managed a weak smile.

"I'm very sorry, captains, I must take my leave now."

"Oh, right, you must be in a bad mood right now. Go on, go on."

Releasing his grip, Shunsui watched Aizen's departing figure and pulled down the brim of his hat.

"Shunsui, don't tease Aizen so much. He just went through something like this..."

Ukitake looked at him with a hint of helplessness.

"Oh dear, what are you saying, Ukitake? I just wanted to comfort him!"

As he spoke, he glanced at Retsu Unohana, who was walking away.

"Anyway, although the process was a bit exciting, the result was good! Come on, this is a rare opportunity, let's have a drink together!"

Chunshui, whose gaze had been withdrawn, suddenly hooked her arm around his neck, and Fuzhu sighed.

"You just want to drag me into this slacking off, don't you?"

"Haha, don't say that, Ukitake. Anyway, I don't think there will be anything else for us to worry about today."

After all, those guys will probably have to spend a lot of time on that young man, Zheng Jing.

She glanced at Room 46 in the distance, but Chunshui didn't say aloud the thought that was on her mind.

And he was right.