"Shin...Shinigami?"
"Huh?!"
Under the dim light, Shinazugawa Sanemi's eyes widened, and his mouth twitched violently.
His astonished gaze was fixed on Tsugikuni Yoriichi.
It was the first time he had heard someone utter such a world-shattering term in such a calm tone.
Shinigami… wasn't that a legendary deity?
"Yes… and no," Yoriichi explained faintly, as if sensing the confusion in Shinazugawa Sanemi's eyes.
"To others, a Shinigami might seem extraordinary, but in reality, it's merely a profession."
"Shinigami also experience birth, ageing, sickness, and death. I'm not sure how you perceive me, but I am not noble."
At these words, everyone present instantly fell silent.
Even the souls beside Tanjirou and Yūichirō Tokitō subconsciously looked at him.
—That's a bit too humble.
If even dying and being reborn, and controlling souls, couldn't be called noble, then what could?
No wonder some say that luck is just a strong person's humble remark…
Not far away, Ubuyashiki Kagaya's hand rested unconsciously on his knee, his gentle, light purple eyes observing Tsugikuni Yoriichi's calm expression.
He suddenly felt that this ancestor from four hundred years ago was not as unapproachable as he seemed.
What a pity…
Since he was a god, he likely wouldn't stay long in the mortal realm.
No wonder he had suddenly disappeared last time.
No wonder… Kanzaki Aoi of the Butterfly Mansion had seemingly seen Tsugikuni Yoriichi's figure vanish into the void.
Perhaps he had returned to Takamagahara…
He sighed silently in his heart.
The Pillar Meeting gradually concluded amidst a series of shocking emotional fluctuations.
At the end, Yūichirō Tokitō, whose memories had returned, stood before Yoriichi and bowed solemnly:
"Ancestor Tsugikuni, I greet you on behalf of my father and elder brother."
"As for the question you asked earlier, I'm afraid I cannot answer you now…"
"After all… I joined the Demon Slayer Corps not just to avenge my brother."
"More importantly, I want to repay the kindness the Mistress showed me back then."
"She saved me when I was on the verge of death."
Yūichirō Tokitō slowly turned his gaze towards the woman beside Ubuyashiki Kagaya, who was like a birch tree fairy.
Memories surfaced in his mind like dusty book pages, one by one.
His tone was solemn, clearly recalling the origin of his name:
"The 'Mu' in Yūichirō Tokitō is the 'Mu' of infinity."
"I shouldn't bother you over such a small matter."
"Besides, the Mist Breathing is already enough for me; I shouldn't seek anything else…"
Hearing this, Yoriichi understood his thoughts.
Grateful and repaying kindness, very good.
Knowing when to choose and when to give up… is also very good.
—As expected of a descendant of the Tsugikuni family.
A hint of appreciation appeared in his eyes, and Yoriichi silently nodded: "In that case, let it be."
Children and grandchildren have their own blessings; it was just one attempt. In any case, his legacy had already been passed to Tanjirou, and Tanjirou had also passed it to the Demon Slayer Corps.
The only difference was the lack of his personal guidance. It was not a big deal.
His gaze then turned to Rengoku Shinjuro:
"The meeting is over, Shinjuro, come with me."
"Let's find a quiet place; you wouldn't want to lose composure in front of all these juniors, would you?"
Hearing this, Shinjuro quickly stood up.
Click.
He opened the door and walked alongside Tsugikuni Yoriichi down the corridor.
In an instant, they disappeared from everyone's sight.
Not long after.
Within a secluded courtyard, muffled sobs suddenly echoed.
The sound was suppressed and heavy, like a mournful melody drifting in the deep night, lingering for a long time.
… …
… …
Hueco Mundo.
Whoosh—
As the Garganta opened, Tsugikuni Yoriichi stepped out from within.
He landed on the ground.
He looked at the endless silver desert, at the silver crescent moon hanging high in the sky, and nodded slightly.
—Hmm, this time I didn't come to the wrong place.
It was indeed Hueco Mundo.
He hadn't stayed long after the Pillar Meeting concluded before leaving.
Now that he was back, he felt a faint sense of detachment.
However… this was his world.
Not far away, Gojoshibe Kenpachi was counting people.
When he saw Tsugikuni Yoriichi disappear, the veins on his forehead couldn't help but bulge.
This brat…
Just at that moment, the corner of his eye caught sight of a figure descending from the sky.
He turned to look, cleared his throat, and was about to roar in fury.
But Tsugikuni Yoriichi raised a hand to interrupt him:
"My apologies, Captain Gojoshibe Kenpachi, my purpose for entering Hueco Mundo this time is not entirely the same as yours."
"Therefore, the Captain-Commander instructed that I could act separately from you."
"Let's part ways here."
"What?" Gojoshibe Kenpachi was bewildered.
However, this bewilderment did not give him a chance to ask.
In his wide eyes, he saw Tsugikuni Yoriichi gently step on the ground, and then…
Vanished instantly.
Whoosh…
Although there was no wind around, Gojoshibe Kenpachi could feel…
The intense wind pressure created by the sound barrier being broken due to the extremely fast speed, caused his Shinigami uniform to flap violently.
Before he could react, Tsugikuni Yoriichi had disappeared several kilometres away.
His raging mood instantly deflated.
However…
Immediately after.
Grrr—
He still gritted his back teeth in anger.
This damn brat, was the Captain of the Eleventh Division!
Even if you are the Vice-Captain of the Tenth Division, you can't just ignore me!
Separate actions…
Hmph!
I'll see if you can survive in Hueco Mundo with your strength.
If you're just showing off, I'm sure you'll come back obediently to seek my protection.
When that happens… heheh.
Just thinking about it made Gojoshibe Kenpachi excited.
So much so that…
Not far away.
He didn't even notice the faint red glow quietly rising at the edge of the dune.
… …
"Bang!"
"Bang!"
A series of earth-shattering thuds caused noticeable tremors across the boundless dunes.
Yoriichi stepped on the sand, watching the figure flying backwards in a parabolic arc in the distance.
Seeing it dissipate into dust in mid-air, a slight ripple appeared in his calm eyes:
"The twentieth Adjuchas."
"Almost there."
Scanning the twenty red dots illuminated on the token at his waist, Yoriichi nodded slightly and continued deeper.
Although there was no sunrise or sunset to gauge time, based on his own feeling, it had been about ten days since he entered Hueco Mundo.
For ten days, he had run with all his might, yet he still hadn't reached the edge of Hueco Mundo.
It seemed that this place was indeed as described in the records: boundless.
The reishi in the air was also incredibly dense, at least three times that of the Seireitei.
In other words.
Surviving here, even without food, one could live forever.
Until the soul withered away.
Of course, this was not what Yoriichi wanted; he just wanted to quickly return to the Soul Society.
Hunting twenty in ten days.
At this rate, he should be able to return in less than half a year, right?
Thinking so, before long, he encountered a few more Adjuchas…
However, these Adjuchas were different from the ones he had encountered before.
They were organised and disciplined, relentlessly pursuing someone… or rather, something that looked like a person.
Blonde hair, white bone armour…
A Vasto Lorde?
Only a Vasto Lorde was truly humanoid.