Who are you calling a stable boy?!

With no time to lose, he could only try to gather all his spiritual pressure to create a protective layer on his raised left hand...

The result was that it was completely useless.

Based on his experience and some knowledge from his student days, Hirako was able to determine that his left forearm was likely comminuted.

Also, two or three of the ribs on the left side are broken...

Can it not only target Zanpakuto, but also the protective layer constructed from spiritual pressure?

No, no...

That's the opposite.

—With his mind racing, Hirako raised his eyes and looked at the piece of iron in Zheng Jing's hand.

This kid's Shikai can even shatter spiritual pressure?

"Oi, you wicked brat."

Hirako spoke up.

His gaze settled on Zheng Jing's face.

"What's with your Instant Step?"

"Hehe, Captain Hirako, it's just a little smokescreen, a matter of returning the favor!"

Zheng Jing was telling the truth.

Although he has mastered the basic Shunpo technique, with his current agility, he still can't match Hirako's speed as the captain in close combat and dodging.

Therefore, he won this move not because of his footwork.

Through repeatedly testing Yoruichi's abilities, Zheng Jing realized that the higher the intensity of the battle, the more easily Yoruichi would rely on her perception of spiritual pressure during the fight.

After inquiring, Zheng Jing learned from Ye Yi that her situation was not an isolated case.

In fact, the stronger a Shinigami is, the more they tend to rely on their spiritual pressure perception rather than their five senses in actual combat.

Clearly, this was the case for Hirako Shinji, who was the team leader.

Zheng Jing took advantage of this.

Based on Yoruichi's breathing reaction, Zheng Jing discovered that when he actively circulated his internal energy throughout his body without leaking an inch, and stopped using his internal energy to simulate the nature of spiritual energy, Yoruichi's spiritual pressure perception could not sense his presence.

He wasn't sure what the projection body the courtyard had given him was all about, but the fact was that after several tests, he was certain that he could indeed use this method to avoid the Grim Reaper's spiritual pressure.

Even Lao Lan (Old Blue) fell victim to it.

However, after being hit by this move, both Lan and Yoruichi quickly found their own tricks to deal with it, and now they are no longer as embarrassed as they were when they first encountered it.

So-called "unique tricks" are indeed like magicians' performance techniques; once the secret is revealed, it's difficult to achieve the original effect.

However, this was the first time Hirako Shinji had ever seen Zheng Jing use this move.

As for why he mistakenly thought Zheng Jing had jumped into the air, it was because Zheng Jing tricked him with his incantationless ghost magic.

If a target you were staring at one second suddenly disappears the next, and then suddenly reappears in your field of vision, wouldn't you instinctively focus all your attention on it?

Zheng Jing took advantage of this possible reaction.

As he used Shunpo to circle behind Hirako, he first released a burst of spiritual energy into the air above the examination hall, which would dissipate rapidly.

To be honest, it's a very crude bait.

But Hirako took the bait.

Because in Hirako Shinji's mind, this was just a graduation test for the geniuses of the Shinigami Academy.

The opponent was a student from the Soul Society who had only studied at the Shinigami Academy for about a month.

Even a genius, a genius enough to be on the captain's mind, to have a captain in charge of the graduation assessment...

So what?

Could they possibly allow the Fifth Division Captain, who can use Captain-level spiritual pressure as an examiner, to get injured?

- Exactly.

Hirako lost this move because of his flawed thinking.

"How about it?"

Looking at the silent Hirako Shinji, Zheng Jing chuckled.

"Captain Hirako, do you take responsibility for this blow or not? Hmm?"

"Alright, alright."

Hirako sighed.

He changed the direction of the sword in his hand and sheathed it.

"Captain Unohana—help me out—"

He plopped down on the floor, and then, drawing out his words, he shouted at the top of his lungs.

"Zheng Jing".

Without moving, Retsu Unohana, standing some distance away, simply raised her voice slightly and said to Zheng Jing, "Aren't you going to heal Captain Hirako's injuries yet?"

"I'm coming!"

Zheng Jing tucked the shrunken Ruyi Jingu Bang behind his ear and flashed in front of Pingzi. Just as he was about to reach out, Pingzi raised his right hand to stop him.

"Who wants you, you brat, to treat me? What if you make things worse?"

"Captain Hirako, don't worry."

Unohana Retsu said with a smile.

“Zheng Jing’s skill in returning to the Dao is now no less than mine.”

"..."

Hirako Shinji glanced at Unohana Retsu, then, with a hint of gloom on his face, extended his left hand toward Zheng Jing.

"You brat, go easy on me—ouch!"

-

A moment later, Hirako, who was healthy enough to do a one-arm push-up with his left hand at any time, left.

As one of the examiners for Zheng Jing's graduation assessment, he also had to go to the college and the head of the department to report the results.

Not only that, he also had to go to the Technology Development Bureau.

The crack on the reverse-handled sword needs to be repaired.

As for Zheng Jing, now that he has finished this exam, all he needs to do is wait for news.

"Outstanding performance."

While pouring tea for Zheng Jing, Unohana Retsu smiled and said to him, "I didn't expect you to grow up so quickly..."

"Hehe, it's all thanks to you, sister, for teaching me so well!"

"All I've taught you is how to return to the Way."

Looking at Zheng Jing as he picked up his teacup, Unohana Retsu asked softly, "What are your plans for the future?"

"This... I wonder what you mean, sister?"

"Naturally, when you leave the First Division and are sent to another team by the Captain-Commander, where will you go?"

Zheng Jing rolled his eyes.

"I don't have any ideas yet. Perhaps you could give me a few pointers, sister?"

In my opinion...

When their eyes met, Unohana Retsu's gentle and kind smile seemed to subtly reveal a hint of allure.

"The Eleventh Division is the most suitable."

Chapter 83: The Story You Write

It really is.

Putting aside the fact that Zheng Jing, wielding the Ruyi Jingu Bang, is indeed well-suited to wreak havoc in a team like the Eleventh Division, where killing is king, just considering his professional inclination, Zheng Jing would certainly be happy to join the Eleventh Division, a team dedicated to combat.

It wouldn't matter who said it, but the fact that it came from the mouth of the person in front of him made Zheng Jing think about it more.

Turning his face away, Zheng Jing scratched his ears and cheeks a few times, then rolled his eyes.

"Sister, you're joking. I, Old Zheng, have received so much care from you, how could I possibly go to another team? Of course, I'll go to the Fourth Division to share your burdens and solve your problems!"

"Ah, the Gotei 13, each with its own duties. No matter which squad you join, you are sharing my burdens and helping me out of trouble."

As he spoke, Retsu Unohana narrowed her eyes slightly.

"But... it's fine, the Fourth Division is fine too."

Zheng Jing suddenly tilted his head back and drank the entire cup of tea in one gulp.

"Good tea! Sister, you're busy with team affairs, so I won't bother you any longer. I'll be going now!"

Setting down his teacup, as if afraid that Unohana Retsu would try to persuade him to stay, Zheng Jing somersaulted to his feet and, using Shunpo, disappeared from Unohana Retsu's sight in a few moments.

Watching Zheng Jing leave, Unohana Retsu remained silent for a long time before suddenly picking up the teacup Zheng Jing had used.

"Zheng Jing".

Her fingertips pressed tightly against the rim of the cup, tracing the marks left by Zheng Jing as she murmured aloud.

"You're a good child..."

She moved her fingertips to her lips, as if applying rouge, her fingertips rubbing against her lips, and Unohana Retsu's lips curled up in a smile.

"It will definitely get better."

-

Zheng Jing passed his graduation exam.

The Shinigami Academy welcomed its first student in its thousand-year history to successfully graduate after only one month of enrollment, having completed the assessment.

Zheng Jing, on the other hand, had a graduation ceremony attended by only one graduate.

“Graduate, Zheng Jing, step forward.”

As the headmaster of ceremonies called out, Zheng Jing, who was standing alone in one corner of the stage, walked to the center of the stage.

"Well done, Zheng Jing."

After receiving the graduation certificate from Quebu, the old man looked at Zheng Jing in front of him. His usually stern face now showed more satisfaction and appreciation than authority.

"Of course, of course!"

With a grin, Zheng Jing clasped his hands together in a gesture of respect, then extended the other hand forward, taking back the graduation certificate from the old man's hands.

"Good lad, today is your special day, don't be shy."

"You said it yourself!"

Upon hearing this, Zheng Jing immediately rushed to the front of the stage, raised his graduation certificate with both hands, and waved it from side to side to the teachers and students who had come to watch the ceremony.

"Old Lan! Hajime! I, Old Zheng, will go out and scout ahead first! I'll come back and get you two later!"

"Sigh... the gorilla scripture..."

Yoruichi covered her face and sighed.

Aizen looked up, his smile tinged with helplessness.

Most of the teachers and students in the college seemed to know Zheng Jing's lively and mischievous style. Hearing his shout, the auditorium, which was originally somewhat serious, immediately became more cheerful.

The graduation ceremony was not long, since Zheng Jing was the only graduate.

However, precisely because Zheng Jing was the only graduate, people who came to congratulate him surrounded him as soon as the formal part of the ceremony ended.

The first to arrive was naturally the old man who was the captain.

The old man didn't say much, but he told Zheng Jing to remember to report to the First Squad's barracks on time tomorrow, left a congratulatory gift, and then left with the Sparrow Club.

After that, came Unohana Retsu.

She came to congratulate Zheng Jing, and after exchanging a few gentle words with him, she presented him with a bouquet of flowers that she had made herself.