socalfunplaces Chapter 234 I Just Don't Like Knocking
Chapter 234 I Just Don't Like Knocking
Chapter 234 I Just Don't Like Knocking
Lunch break is over.
Before the bell rang, everyone returned to their seats, and the homeroom teacher led in an unfamiliar male student.
The male student had shoulder-length short hair and looked like a street urchin. As soon as he stepped onto the podium, he squinted at Ichigo.
Ichigo was bewildered, looking at the other person's unbridled manner, and wondered if he had seen him somewhere before.
"Students, these are the new transfer students."
Write your name on the blackboard.
Upon hearing this, the carefree transfer student turned around and wrote several large characters on the blackboard.
Hirako Mako.
That's his name.
Ichigo muttered it over and over again, scratching his head and racking his brains for a long time, but he still couldn't remember where he had seen the other person before.
The homeroom teacher asked Hirako Shinji to find a seat, and without hesitation, Shinji sat down next to Ichigo, as if he was there specifically for Ichigo.
"Your name is Kurosaki Ichigo, right?"
"Let's get along well from now on!"
Shinji Hirako's lips curled into a wicked smile, making everyone feel very uncomfortable.
Ichigo ignored him and silently turned his head away.
The afternoon classes ended quickly, and still no Hollow signal was received. Ichigo had no choice but to call his companions to go find Chu Yang.
Uryu Ishida did not accompany them.
A group of people left the school, and Shinji Hirako stood by the window watching them.
After a while.
Ichigo rang the doorbell in the entryway. He usually just opened the door and went in, but today he suddenly felt a little uncomfortable.
However, Chu Yang didn't keep them waiting long. The door opened quickly, and Chad and Orihime were both excited the moment they saw Chu Yang.
Orihime greeted her happily, "It's been a long time."
Chu Yang nodded. "Long time no see, everyone, please come in."
The group went inside.
"You should know this place better than I do, so I won't treat you like guests. The food is ready." Chu Yang pointed to the dining table on the other side.
"Don't worry, I don't consider myself a guest." Ichigo chuckled, skillfully taking his seat and preparing to eat, when Rukia slapped the chopsticks out of his hand.
"Have some manners."
Rukia reminded her irritably.
"Yes, Yang went through a lot of trouble to prepare this, shouldn't we thank him?"
Orihime reminded her softly.
Ichigo smiled sheepishly and said, "Yang, thank you for your hospitality."
Chu Yang replied, "We're all comrades who fought together in Soul Society, no need to be so polite. Eat quickly, it won't taste good if it gets cold."
Rukia and the others sat down to eat, chatting about what had happened at school as they ate.
Ichigo remembered the strange transfer student and immediately shared his feelings with everyone.
"You said his name is Hirako Shinji, right?"
"That's right, that kid is really strange. Not only does he look strange, but he also talks strangely."
"Your intuition is right, he is not human."
"ah?!!!"
Everyone stared at Chu Yang in surprise.
"Hirako Shinji is actually a Shinigami, and a former Shinigami captain, who is now in the Fifth Division."
Chu Yang's nonchalant words sounded like a thunderclap to others.
Ichigo stood up in shock. "He's the Shinigami captain? Then why is he at the school?"
Rukia frowned and said, "Wasn't the former captain of the Fifth Division Aizen, the one who defected?"
Orihime covered her mouth, "We didn't encounter this person when we went to Soul Society last time."
Chu Yang sighed and said, "I'm talking about a long time ago, to be precise, 110 years ago. At that time, he was the captain of the Fifth Division, and Aizen was the vice-captain."
"At that time, Aizen was trying to break through the limits of Shinigami and seek a perfect balance between the powers of Shinigami and Hollows. He used Shinigami souls to conduct experiments, and Shinji Hirako became one of his experimental subjects."
"Some Shinigami, including Shinji Hirako, have had their souls infused with Hollow power, allowing them to become Hollowfied."
"They were slandered by Aizen, becoming Shinigami who coveted Hollowfication power, and were even framed for killing their comrades. They were then wanted by the Seireitei and had no choice but to flee to the human world."
"Kisuke Urahara was also implicated and left Soul Society around that time."
That's all I know for now.
Chu Yang explained the whole story to everyone.
"No wonder the old man at the general store always had a melancholy look on his face; it turns out he went through something like this in the past."
Ichigo's face showed a sympathetic expression.
Rukia still felt something was off and asked, "We know who he is, but why is he going to school?"
Chu Yang replied, "Because of Ichigo, they're after Ichigo."
"Ichigo?" Orihime, Rukia, and Chad all looked at Ichigo at the same time.
Ichigo pointed to his own nose and asked, "Because of me? Why?"
Chu Yang said, "You should know very well that Hirako Shinji possesses the ability to become ethereal, just as I said."
Ichigo's body stiffened instantly as he remembered another version of himself hidden deep within the power of the Shinigami.
"Hollowfication?" Rukia looked at Ichigo, seemingly realizing something, and exclaimed in shock, "The power you suddenly displayed last time was Hollowfication?"
Ichigo's lips were terribly dry, and his throat was starting to itch. Hollowfication didn't sound like a good thing.
"It was Ichigo's Hollowfication ability that attracted him here," Orihime said worriedly. "His motives aren't simple; what exactly does he want...?"
Chu Yang said, "The Hollowfication of a Shinigami is not an easy thing. In Hirako Shinji's view, Ichigo has very strong talent, so it is normal for him to want to recruit Ichigo into his organization."
Rukia exclaimed, "He has an organization?!"
Chu Yang laughed and said, "There are quite a few Grim Reapers who went through the experiments with Hirako and Shinji and escaped to the present world. It's not surprising that they formed an organization."
Perhaps overwhelmed by the sheer volume of information, everyone sat in their chairs, lost in thought, untouched by the table laden with delicious food.
Chad sighed, "I have a feeling something big is about to happen..."
at this time.
A gust of wind swept in from outside the window, causing the curtains to flutter in rows.
A rustling sound rang out.
The man named Hirako Shinji swooped down and landed, appearing before everyone as if by magic.
"Big guy, your hunch was right, something big is definitely happening."
Hirako Shinji's face was gloomy.
"You bastard, you were following us!"
Ichigo stood up, glaring at Shinji Hirako with an unfriendly expression, and rolled up his sleeves, ready to make a move.
However, Hirako Shinji, who clearly regarded him as his target, did not look at him, but kept staring at Chu Yang.
"Young Shinigami, you know a lot." Shinji Hirako's eyes were full of curiosity. "I heard you haven't been a Shinigami for long. Where did you get this information from?"
Chu Yang stood up, his brows furrowed slightly, and said with displeasure, "Remember to knock before entering someone else's house."
Hirako Shinji grinned. "That's going to be troublesome. I just don't like knocking."
No sooner had he finished speaking than his head was slammed hard onto the ground by a tremendous force.
"I like your temper, just make sure you scream less when you get hit."
Hirako Shinji was trampled under Chu Yang's feet, motionless like a dead man.
His head was smashed so hard that it created a large crater.
Fresh blood quickly seeped out and spread around, like a scarlet rose.
Orihime suddenly saw a bloody scene, covered her mouth and took a few steps back.
Everyone else stared at Chu Yang in shock. They hadn't even seen his movements clearly before he had already trampled the person under his feet.
With someone sharing their experience, Ichigo finally understood how he had fainted and died.
He subconsciously touched his face, feeling relieved that he wasn't disfigured.
"I underestimated you. Your strength is truly genuine." Hirako Shinji's deep voice came from beneath his feet.
Chu Yang moved his foot away.
He slowly stood up, supporting himself on the floor, blood streaming down his forehead like a curtain.
Hirako Shinji calmly took out a handkerchief and wiped away the bloodstains, then meticulously put it away. "I'm afraid this isn't very kind of you to your senior."
Chu Yang smiled and said, "Next time you come in through the door, I might treat you to a meal."
"Understood." Hirako Shinji nodded, as if accepting Chu Yang's suggestion, and then asked, "Shall we sit down and talk?"
Chu Yang made a "please" gesture, then slowly sat down, and Hirako Shinji naturally sat down opposite him.
The scene seemed very strange to Ichigo and the others. Just a second ago, this man was being trampled under Chu Yang's feet, but now he was talking around the dining table like a friend.
Isn't he angry?
Ichigo looked at Shinji Hirako with eyes full of incomprehension.
"Since you know so many secrets, you should also know what Aizen is doing," Hirako Shinji said bluntly. "The sharp decline in the number of Hollows is inextricably linked to him."
"I have a feeling that Aizen will soon appear in the human world; there is something he needs here."
Chu Yang continued, "You want to take revenge on Aizen, so you need Ichigo's power."
Hirako Shinji remained noncommittal, but said firmly, "He also needs us to teach him to master Hollowfication. Otherwise, he will be corrupted by the power of Hollows, and I don't need to say more about what will happen to him."
Ichigo looked panicked, his heart pounding. He had already experienced the feeling of Hollowfication going berserk, and the lingering fear after he regained his senses lingered in his heart.
Chu Yang said calmly, "He is the Grim Reaper."
Hirako Shinji laughed and said, "I used to be a Grim Reaper too."
Chu Yang said, "He will only be the Grim Reaper."
Shinji Hirako's smile vanished.
"That means there's nothing to talk about."
"Couldn't the senior be more generous and teach him without expecting anything in return?"
"Do I look kind?"
"At least he's much kinder than I appear."
"..."
Looking at the impenetrable Grim Reaper before him, Hirako Shinji felt as if he had punched cotton.
He wasn't entirely confident about using force; the kid's move just now had really startled him. There weren't many Grim Reapers whose movements were so fast that he couldn't react at all.
"I'll make a deal with you, senior. Next time you run into Aizen, I'll let you stab him twice."
Hirako Shinji paused for a moment upon hearing this, something seemed off.
"Two stabs aren't enough! I'm going to kill that bastard!"
Hirako Mako sneered.
"That won't do. Aizen must die by my hand. Even if Captain-Commander Yamamoto comes, I won't let him."
Chu Yang shook his head and refused. He was determined to get the Hogyoku from Aizen and would not give it to anyone.
Shinji Hirako raised an eyebrow and said with a strange expression, "Are you overestimating yourself or underestimating Aizen? Confidence is a good thing, but being overconfident can be your downfall."
Chu Yang chuckled and said, "Then I won't trouble you with that, senior. Just tell me whether this deal is valid or not?"
Hirako Shinji isn't a child; he wouldn't be easily fooled. He clicked his tongue and said, "I have to check the goods first."
Inspection?
Chu Yang suddenly laughed, a very happy laugh.
"As you wish."
……
The two found a secluded spot in the suburbs to "inspect the goods".
Ichigo and the others watched the battle from the sidelines.
"A battle between the former and current captains of the Fifth Division is rare even in Soul Society..."
Rukia had a serious expression, but when she turned her head, she saw Ichigo staring excitedly at the two of them.
"Why are you making that face?" Rukia said speechlessly, "It's not funny at all."
"I know," Ichigo explained. "I just wanted to see how Yang beats people up, since I was unconscious last time and didn't feel much of it."
"And I'm also very curious about what that guy meant by controlling the ethereal."
Orihime laughed and said, "Shouldn't the latter be more important?"
Ichigo took a deep breath. He had been feeling the Hollowfication's effects on him more and more lately. Whenever he used the power of the Shinigami, the shadow of that Hollow would always appear deep in his consciousness.
Every word it utters pierces Ichigo's heart.
Although he doesn't say it, Ichigo desperately needs a way to control his Hollowfication, otherwise one day he will lose control of this power.
Those around them will also be harmed as a result.
This is something Ichigo absolutely cannot allow to happen.
"It's about to begin."
Chadu's deep voice reminded everyone that he had keenly sensed the killing intent.
It originated from Chu Yang.
"That's really frightening." Hirako Shinji slowly drew his Zanpakuto and said meaningfully, "You are one of the people I've ever met with the strongest killing intent."
"Apart from the Captain-Commander and that guy from the Fourth Division, there are probably few people in the entire Soul Society with a stronger killing intent than you."
Hearing this from afar, Ichigo asked in confusion, "Isn't the Fourth Division the medical team? If we're talking about killing intent, shouldn't it be Kenpachi Zaraki...?"
Rukia was also a little confused.
However, at this moment, Chu Yang spoke up.
"You're wrong. I'm not one of the people with the strongest killing intent."
【Fengdu】 quietly appeared in Chu Yang's hand. His previously restrained aura suddenly erupted, and countless sword lights transformed into fireflies, blooming in the deep night and rippling in the void.
"I am the strongest!"
Chu Yang unleashed a sword strike, and time seemed to stand still.
The sword intent of the Heaven-Destroying and Earth-Shattering Sword Twenty-Three poured out.
This sense of stagnation can even affect the soul!
Hirako Shinji's expression changed drastically, and the veins on his temples bulged out in anger.
He can't move!
The next second, [Fengdu] was already pressed against Hirako Shinji's forehead, gently pushing him forward.
As the aura of death descended, Shinji Hirako's spiritual pressure suddenly erupted, and he regained control of his body.
The entire process took only a few seconds.
but……
Chu Yang's Zanpakuto had already pierced his soul.
Hirako Shinji's vision went black, as if he had fallen into a strange space.
When he woke up, he found himself standing on a covered bridge.
A chilling whisper echoed from the darkness.
The sound came from afar, its hollowness sending chills down one's spine.
"who I am?"
"Where am I...?"
(End of this chapter)