Chapter 47

Using Shunpo, Shaolin Fēng appeared directly in front of Kaelith Yurei.

With a flick of her right hand, the Zanpakutō that had been resting at her lower back was now firmly gripped in her palm.

A glint of steel flashed as the blade aimed straight for Kaelith's abdomen.

Kaelith couldn't help but break into a cold sweat.

As expected from someone with Onmitsukidō training—her strike was precise and targeted a vital organ.

Yet, he casually extended his hand.

Clap.

Shaolin Fēng's pupils contracted.

To her disbelief, Kaelith had effortlessly caught her wrist mid-strike.

She had deliberately restrained her power to avoid injuring him, aware that he might lack the strength to counter.

If he couldn't dodge, she planned to halt her blade before it connected.

Even so, her speed was far beyond that of an ordinary Correction Corps member.

If he had dodged or blocked with a weapon, she wouldn't have been surprised.

But this…

Kaelith released her wrist gently.

"No need to hold back. Go all out," he said, smiling calmly.

Hearing this, Shaolin Fēng nodded seriously. "Understood."

Her Zanpakutō, a short blade perfectly suited for close combat, glinted as she flipped her grip into a reverse hold.

Raising both hands slightly, she lunged forward in a combat stance.

Kaelith stood still, calmly observing her blade's trajectory.

Each time, he shifted slightly, evading her strikes by mere millimeters with minimal effort.

In the crowd, a young man with straw-colored messy hair scratched his head.

So this was the famous Kaelith Yurei—effortlessly keeping Shaolin on the defensive.

From his footwork, it was clear he was well-versed in countering Onmitsukidō techniques.

The rumors about his connection to the Shihōin family must be true…

The young man rubbed his chin thoughtfully.

Kaelith's rise was extraordinary. Before enrolling at Shin'ō Academy, he had been virtually unknown.

His entrance exam scores were decent but far from "genius" level.

But within half a year, he began to shine, ranking among the top in his year.

Still, nothing about him was particularly groundbreaking—until the day he accidentally revealed his true strength during a sparring match with a swordsmanship instructor.

In an instant, he went from a "promising student" to a "monster."

Shortly after becoming Yamamoto's disciple, he established ties with the Shihōin family and was now preparing to join the Second Division.

The young man's gaze darkened with unease.

This man had too many mysteries surrounding him.

There was a high chance some hidden force was backing him.

And if that force turned out to be rebels…

The mere thought sent chills down his spine.

Best to stay out of this. Whatever was behind Kaelith, it was beyond him to meddle with.

With that decision, he exhaled, feeling as if a weight had been lifted off his shoulders.

But then, an ominous premonition struck him.

To his horror, Kaelith, who had been sparring with Shaolin, suddenly turned his head and looked straight at him.

Caught in Kaelith's gaze, the young man froze.

Kaelith had sensed something earlier—a sharp, probing presence among the crowd, like a blade cutting into him, dissecting him.

Following the feeling, his eyes landed on the young man.

Recognizing the straw-colored messy hair, Kaelith's lips curled into a grin.

Despite the differences in age and physique, that signature hairstyle gave away the man's identity: Kisuke Urahara, the greatest mind in the Soul Society.

Kaelith had previously asked Yoruichi about Urahara, though she hadn't known much.

And now, here he was, stumbling upon the man himself.

Kaelith's grin widened. Thinking of Urahara's capabilities, he couldn't help but daydream about all the inventions this genius could create to elevate his life.

Gaming consoles—Urahara could make those, right?

One masterpiece after another, tailored to his liking.

And with Urahara's help, he could even rewrite the unsatisfying storylines of certain games. For instance, that awful sequel, where the narrative made zero sense—he could fix it all.

Meanwhile, from Urahara's perspective, Kaelith's expression morphed into something unsettling.

That smile seemed to brim with boundless greed, eventually twisting into a look of malice.

Urahara nearly burst into tears.

What the hell?! All I did was glance at him, and he's already plotting my demise?!

Feeling Kaelith's intense gaze, Urahara swallowed nervously. Should he just quit the Second Division and transfer to another squad before it was too late?

Kaelith, noticing Urahara's sudden anxiety, was puzzled.

What's with this guy? Social anxiety? Is he the type to panic when someone looks at him?

Hmm… a socially awkward recluse researcher… fits the character.

No matter. Once they became friends, Kaelith figured he could help Urahara overcome his social fears.

Satisfied with his plan, Kaelith returned his attention to Shaolin.

After she finished another set of quick slashes, Kaelith drew his practice blade, lightly pressing it against hers.

It was a simple action, yet Shaolin found herself completely immobilized.

No matter how she tried to move her blade, she couldn't escape Kaelith's control.

As she considered abandoning her blade to switch to hand-to-hand combat, Kaelith stepped forward.

"When you strike, your footwork is a bit late," he said calmly.

"For example, during an upward slash, if you follow through with your back foot here…"

Shaolin's swordsmanship and footwork had been honed over years of rigorous training and were near perfect.

But Kaelith's techniques came directly from Aizen's synchronization.

Aizen wasn't just a master of Spiritual Pressure—his skills in Zanjutsu, Hakuda, and Kidō were unmatched.

With Aizen-level insight, Kaelith effortlessly pinpointed Shaolin's flaws and offered improvements.

As Kaelith explained, Shaolin's eyes lit up.

Mentally replaying her movements with his adjustments, she realized her fluidity had improved by at least 30 percent.

The surrounding spectators, attempting to visualize his advice, also showed expressions of astonishment.

When Kaelith finished, Shaolin took a deep breath and bowed deeply, her voice trembling with gratitude.

"Thank you so much! Your guidance is something I'll never forget."

With that, she bowed again and stepped aside, fully focused on absorbing everything Kaelith had taught her.

What a kind and amazing person…

Compared to this man, the unidentified figure who often lured Lady Yoruichi away was nothing more than scum.

As Shaolin finished the sparring session, several other trainees began to look eager, their eyes brimming with anticipation.

Finally, someone stepped forward to request a match with Kaelith.

Kaelith sighed, scratching his head in annoyance.

He glanced at the crowd, clearly reluctant, and then suddenly smiled.

In the crowd, Urahara Kisuke felt a chill down his spine.

Before he could move, Kaelith pointed directly at him.

"You won't learn much from me."

"But that guy over there? He's the real deal."

"If you can learn from him, it'll benefit you for a lifetime."

Feeling the sudden flood of attention directed his way, Urahara froze, his mind going numb.

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T/n hah he really loves outing people who want to stay lowkey.