Chapter 9 - Muyang's Strength

Early in the morning, as the sun shone through the window, followed by several insects that rose early, hopping through the grass and birds chirping on the tree.

“Shua~shua~shua~” the sound of a sword being swung around interspersed between the birds chirping. It was He Muyang who intensely swung his Zanpakuto under the tree.

As He Muyang swung his Zanpakuto again and again, a faint breeze swirled around him, but He Muyang was too immersed in his training that he didn’t notice anything around him, including the breeze.

Before he realized it, Kimura Kazuya was already behind He Muyang. He nodded in satisfaction upon seeing He Muyang swinging the Zanpakuto in his hands again and again.

“Hm?” Upon perceiving the breeze surrounding He Muyang, Kimura Kazuya frowned: “Is this his Zanpakuto’s power? It seems to be a wind-type.”

“His Reiatsu was already on par or even better than those of a Lieutenant with just a few years of training. He’s also getting better at Shunpo even though his Shunpo was no match to those of Onmitsukidō at his current state. Although I can’t teach him anything about Hakuda, his reflex and physical finesse isn’t bad. It’ll be up to him to learn Kido since I can’t teach it to him either. He may pick it up if he goes to Shin’ō Academy.”

“However, Kendō is a whole different matter,” Kimura Kazuya’s eyes were filled with pride as he looked at He Muyang, who was swinging his sword. “His Kendo wouldn’t fall short to those of a Captain. Heck, he may even come out on top.”

“Oh, how long have you been here, old man?” He Muyang said without looking back while sheathing his Zanpakuto.

“Oho, so you can at least perceive my presence now.”

“It’s no big deal for a genius like me.” He Muyang boasted shamelessly.

“Have you sensed your Zanpakuto’s presence?” Kimura Kazuya casually ignored He Muyang’s boasting and asked him such a question.

The prideful look on He Muyang’s face instantly changed into despair when he heard Kimura Kazuya’s question, “Sigh, no luck on that, why do you have to ask such a depressing question?”

Kimura Kazuya seemed a little puzzled: “That’s not supposed to happen if you really did enter your Inner World around ten years ago and conversed with your Zanpakuto. Although you couldn’t find out its name back then, it stands to reason that you should have qualified to activate Shikai.”

“Moreover, you are more than ten times stronger than when you first came here ten years ago. Although you are still nowhere near a Captain’s level now, you should be able to hold your own against a Lieutenant, except for that fool who always follows Yamamoto Genryūsai around.”

“Huh? Am I that strong?” He Muyang was so excited to hear that he would be able to beat Lieutenant. “Wait, the fool who always follows Captain-Commander Yamamoto? Ah!” Is it Chōjirō Sasakibe ? He doesn’t seem that formidable in the manga!” He Muyang muttered.

“He certainly is one hopeless fool, but I have to say that he is an amazing guy.” Kimura Kazuya said with a hint of nostalgic look on his face.

“Hey hey hey, old man, don’t leave me hanging and reminiscing the past on your own!”

“It was more than 1000 years ago.”

“Again? Just how long has this old man lived?” He Muyang was exasperated

“Back then, he was just a high-spirited and vigorous youngster at the time, and Yamamoto was already a well-known figure in the Soul Society. At the time, Yamamoto was still called Yamamoto Shigekuni. He was the “Genryū” Founder and Genji School’s Head Instructor. Because of the scar on Yamamoto’s forehead, that youngster referred to him as “Eijisai-dono”, which was known throughout the Soul Society.”

“He admired Yamamoto Shigekuni like crazy, and he was determined to become Yamamoto’s right hand. Although he was not Genji School’s student, he almost went there every day to see Yamamoto even after Yamamoto scolded him, which drove others crazy. Despite reprimanding him so often, everyone knew that he really appreciated that tenacious fool.”

“However, Yamamoto once reprimanded him, and he didn’t go to Genji School for a month since then. Everyone thought he gave up, but to everyone’s surprise, he came again after a whole month of training and… Bankai!!! In just one month, he has entered the domain that most Shinigami couldn’t touch in their whole life. Ever since then, he had served as Yamamoto’s right hand, fought for him, and shared his concern with him, making a name for himself throughout Soul Society in the process.”

“The name of that youngster is Chōjirō Sasakibe. He is currently Gotei 13 1st Division’s Lieutenant. He has held this position since Gotei 13 was formed. Although he is only Lieutenant, as a person who has learned Bankai more than 1000 years ago, he is definitely more powerful than some of Gotei 13 Captain.”

Kimura Kazuya glanced at He Muyang before continuing: “Although he has not used his Bankai since 1000 years ago, you’d undoubtedly lose against him in your current state.”

“Hahaha ~~” He Muyang laughed dryly while recalling the plot in anime. As far as he knew from the anime, that old man was nothing special, yet why did Kimura Kazuya value him that highly? He was determined to challenge that old man once he met him because he was convinced that old man was no big deal.

Realizing He Muyang was eager to challenge Chōjirō Sasakibe, Kimura Kazuya sighed and immediately reprimanded him!

“Brat, let me warn you, don’t lay a hand on him! You don’t know the extent of that man’s power!!”

“Hey hey hey ~~old man, that again? Ah! Is it because you’re acquainted with him? Is he your old friend or something? Judging from that nostalgic look on your face earlier, that’s gotta be it, right?” He Muyang said perfunctorily.

Kimura Kazuya suddenly fell silent.

“How about it?? Did I hit the mark??”

“Shut up!!!” Kimura Kazuya yelled but immediately smiled and said, “Come to think of it, you’ve always wanted real combat training, right? Come, I’ll be your opponent. Take your stance!”

“What’s with you all of a sudden…” The sudden change in Kimura Kazuya’s attitude surprised He Muyang, but it was too late at this point.

“Come on, what are you waiting for? Give me your best shot!”

“You’re not gonna draw your sword?” He Muyang was puzzled when he saw Kimura Kazuya just stood in front of him without drawing his sword.

“I’ll draw my sword if I really have to.”

“You’ve done it now, old man!!”

The next second, He Muyang suddenly disappeared from plain sight and appeared right in front of Kimura Kazuya in the next second and thrust his Zanpakuto to Kimura Kazuya’s waist.

“Where are you looking?” A playful laugh came from behind.

“There!” He Muyang immediately tried to strike where the voice came from with his elbow and hit nothing but thin air.

“You’ll never be able to hit me with that speed.” Kimura Kazuya was already about 10 meters away in front of He Muyang with hands behind his back and said: “Let me show you how it’s done.”

Kimura Kazuya disappeared from He Muyang’s sight right after and emerged beside He Muyang in the next second, kicking him on the chest. He Muyang was sent flying, and Kimura Kazuya kicked him once again mid-air before he landed.

He Muyang struggled to stand back on his feet only to see Kimura Kazuya, who stood in front of him with his hands still behind his back. Realizing the gap of strength between them, He Muyang stroked his chest and said: “Can’t you at least hold back, old man? That’s really immature, you know.”

“I am holding back. Otherwise, you would’ve died by now.”

“Now, now, old man, I’m not even serious yet, so don’t think you’ve won just yet.”

“Really?” suddenly overwhelming Reiatsu burst out of Kimura Kazuya’s seemingly fragile body.

He Muyang almost fell due to the sheer pressure of the Reiatsu.

“No way! This Reiatsu is on a whole different level…”

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