The moment Unohana entered the tavern, the aura she exuded instantly vanished, as if nothing had happened just now. Those with slightly stronger perception were so shocked by this killing intent that they dared not move an inch.
When those arrogant bandits saw Unohana, their faces all turned pale.
"Sword of Death, Yachiru Unohana!"
Previously, Unohana was an unruly person in Rukongai. To hone her swordsmanship, she was invincible, having cut down countless people. Even the most wicked individuals would go out of their way to avoid her.
Now that she had joined the Gotei 13, her temperament had not only not reined in but had intensified. She led a group of subordinates, cutting down people in Rukongai day and night. Bandits, horse thieves, even protection-racket gangs were all slaughtered. In recent days, she simply couldn't find any more of these hooligans, so she had to let her squad members rest for a day.
Otherwise, why do you think the security in this part of Rukongai is so good?
Unohana merely glanced indifferently at the man in the straw hat, then slowly dragged her feet and walked directly to the second floor. The bandits, terrified, quickly made way for her.
"Yamabuki, so you were here! I just heard from a squad member that you went out for something, and I was worried about you, so I came by to check," Unohana said with a smile.
How could Yamabuki not know that Unohana was here to catch him?
"Clan Head Tsunayashiro is here too!" Unohana looked at Head Tsunayashiro with a smile, and Head Tsunayashiro nodded, covered in cold sweat.
"Why did you come all the way to Rukongai to drink? Is the Seireitei not big enough for the two of you?" Although Unohana's tone was still gentle, Yamabuki always felt a faint, almost imperceptible killing intent within it.
"I just wanted to bring Chiyo-chan out to experience the hardships of common life. After all, children raised in noble families have never seen what ordinary people's lives are like. She was curious and insisted on coming out to see. I was just about to go back. Don't you believe me? Ask them?" Yamabuki pointed at the staff in the tavern.
"Is that so? Then let's go home together!" Unohana said with a smile. Yamabuki always felt like this was a smile hiding a dagger. I just looked at pretty young ladies; I didn't do anything bad? Why do I feel like I'm heading to the execution grounds?
Just as the two of them were about to leave, the man in the straw hat suddenly called out to Yamabuki.
"That pot of wine earlier, you sent it to me, right? Can I take that to mean you can help me settle the bill? After all, I don't have much money on me," the man in the straw hat said with a chuckle.
"Of course," Yamabuki said. Although he didn't know who the other party was, just because he was willing to help a dancing girl he didn't know, he would pay for this meal.
"That's great! Get me twenty more rice balls! I'll eat them on the way," the man in the straw hat said.
The tavern owner looked at Yamabuki with some difficulty, thinking, aren't you taking advantage of an honest person?
Yamabuki merely smiled slightly, not caring, as it would all be Head Tsunayashiro's money in the end anyway.
Before long, the tavern owner prepared twenty rice balls.
The man in the straw hat took the rice balls and left with a flourish. As he reached the door, he turned to the young lady who had poured him wine and said, "Next time I come for a drink, how about you pour for me again? Of course, that'll have to wait until I have money."
Then he strode away.
After leaving the tavern, the man in the straw hat arrived at a dilapidated small temple. He didn't know what deity was worshipped there.
"Everyone, come out! Uncle brought you something delicious!" the man in the straw hat called into the small temple. More than a dozen children ran out of the temple, circling around the man in the straw hat, who distributed the rice balls to them.
"Uncle, aren't you eating?" a young girl asked.
"I just came back from the best tavern, and someone even treated me to a good drink, so I'm already full," the man in the straw hat said with a smile, then reached out and patted the young girl's head.
The World of the Living and the Soul Society are connected. After people die, their souls enter the Soul Society, and these people carry memories from their lives. Some search for their families, while others form new families. In short, they can barely survive in this world.
However, the World of the Living is currently in turmoil, with many war-dead souls and many children's souls. Most are orphans, desolate and helpless. Although the Soul Society has a much higher spirit particle density than the World of the Living, and consumption is slower, they still need water and food to sustain life.
At some point, the man in the straw hat took on the responsibility of caring for these children's souls.
The children grew more and more numerous, eventually gathering about twenty around him.
However, the man in the straw hat himself was a wanderer, with no fixed job, and he didn't want to resort to robbery. There was no other way; he could only lead these children, sometimes full, sometimes hungry.
"Maybe I should just find a job if it comes to that!" the man in the straw hat thought to himself.
"So sweet!" a child suddenly exclaimed happily.
Sweet? Shouldn't rice balls be savory? How could they be sweet?
The man in the straw hat turned around and saw a woman distributing pastries to the children, who were all smiling happily.
But when the man in the straw hat saw the woman, all the hairs on his body stood on end.
"Sword of Death, Yachiru Unohana! How are you here? Stay away from these children!" The man in the straw hat gripped the sword at his waist tightly.
He had heard that this woman was a complete lunatic. Once she started fighting, she would disregard everything, even children, and cut them down with her sword.
"Don't be so nervous. It would be too easy for the two of us to deal with you," a young boy's voice came from behind the man in the straw hat.
He recognized that voice; it was the young boy who had treated him to a drink at the tavern earlier.
"To be walking with Yachiru Unohana, it seems your identity is also not ordinary! Do you need something from me?" the man in the straw hat asked.
Yamabuki looked at the somewhat wary man in front of him and said with a chuckle, "Actually, it's not a big deal, just to discuss the future of these children. I know you're a good person, but you can't keep raising them forever, right? The growth of souls in Soul Society is very slow; these children will take at least a hundred years to grow into adults…"
"Is that all you want to say?" the man in the straw hat asked.
"No, what I mean is, don't you need a proper job to raise these children? How about trying to interview for Gotei 13? The salary is generous, the benefits are high, there's paid annual leave and insurance, and I can also apply to the higher-ups for aid for these children. Children with aptitude can be sent to the Shin'ō Academy for schooling, and those with slightly less aptitude can be taught to read and write, so at least they can get a job to support themselves in the future. How about it? Aren't you tempted?"
....
The journey continues right now for our Jade Dragons! 🐉
For just $6/month, you can step into the advanced chapters and never face a cliffhanger again. Gain instant access to 50+ chapters immediately, support the story you love, and help decide its course.
🔗 Become a Jade Dragon:https://patreon.com/J_Dragon