Hong Ji

Perhaps for many Zanpakutos at that day, the reception under the cherry blossoms was a rare and deeply memorable existence in their boring and boring first half of their lives when they were masterless swords.

Even though some of the Zanpakuto have officially stood on the opposite side of the Kyoka Shuiyue in the future, they still smile every time they think of the scene of that day.

There is no intrigue, no entanglement of right and wrong, and no entanglement of interests.They put aside all prejudices and personal grievances. Even well-known enemies can drink and chat under the same cherry tree, and even occasionally joked, and then frightened the onlookers.

Those are the most precious days in their lives that can only exist as gods of death.

Fortunately, the place of birth of these Zanpakutos has always been backward compared to the world of souls. They did not have camera products that were rare in the world at that time, and none of them were good at painting .

Otherwise, the picture of them drinking together that day would have been preserved, which might be the greatest shame in Hong Ji's life.

She is unwilling to admit that she can coexist peacefully with Jinghua Shuiyue no matter what.

After the reception that day, the relationship between Hong Ji and Jinghua Shuiyue seemed to be back to the beginning.

Whenever the two meet, Hong Ji's face is always not in a good mood, even if she just heard a joke, as soon as she sees Flowers in the Mirror, Hong Ji's face will immediately turn cold. All Zanpakuto inside are used to it.

After several rounds of seasons, it seems that many years have passed.

Many old faces on this land have long since disappeared, replaced by batch after batch of new Zanpakuto and new forces.

Gradually, the right and wrong between Hong Ji and Jinghua Shuiyue are no longer gossip news passed on by everyone. Stories about other fresh Zanpakuto.

For example, a few days ago, a rebellious Zanpakuto was born; another example is that the Zanpakuto who likes to cause trouble was finally cut off; or a certain Zanpakuto that has not found its owner for a long time suddenly turned into a Lingzi disappeared.

In the world of Zanpakuto, there will always be a lot of news from various sources.

Hong Ji didn't care much about some things at first, but there is Xihua who can keep up with the latest news by her side, so even if she stays at her home every day, she can always know all kinds of things happening in this land from Xihua. things.

Although she didn't deliberately care about anything, but slowly, Hong Ji finally found that her life seemed to have changed subtly.

For example, the number of times a certain annoying guy appeared in front of her eyes became less and less.

Not to mention appearing in front of her eyes, even the number of times he appeared on this land is getting less and less, occasionally he will come back once, and then leave in a hurry.

It wasn't that Hong Ji paid special attention to his whereabouts - it was impossible for her - Xi Hua also knew that she hated that guy, so she never mentioned the whereabouts of Jinghua Shuiyue.

One night later—about dusk, Jinghua Shuiyue suddenly found her, and then had a short talk.

After Jinghua Shuiyue left her house, Hong Ji could no longer feel the spiritual pressure belonging to Jinghua Shuiyue from this land.All the traces of his existence disappeared completely, as if this Zanpakudao named "Jinghuashuiyue" never existed.

This is exactly what his name should be.

The flower in the mirror, the moon in the water, he was illusory from the very beginning.Whether it is existence or the appearance of tenderness.

After Hong Ji realized that Jinghua Shuiyue had completely left, it was as if nothing happened, and she still lived the same life as before.When you want to practice the first solution, you can find a place where there is no one to relax your muscles; if you want to be lazy, you can move a chair on a sunny day, make a pot of tea and sit in front of the house to bask in the sun.

For her, the disappearance of Flowers in Mirror and Moon in Water was nothing more than the absence of an existence she was tired of. Not only did she not have any troubles, she was even happy and at ease.

After all, no matter what, he couldn't resist Ni Fu back then.

Besides, she was more or less clear about the reason why Jinghua Shuiyue would leave, it was simply because she sensed the master's relationship, or she just wanted to know about his future master's situation.

In fact, Hong Ji can more or less guess the future owner of Flowers in the Mirror and Moon in Water.

At least she still insisted on the point of view at the Sakura drinking party back then.

(Really, I have nothing to think about what that guy does.)

Thinking of what happened these days, Hong Ji shook her head with a smile, and then refilled her empty teacup with tea—those tea leaves were brought to her by Ni Fu before, from the Soul Realm.

(Thinking of him on such a day that is only suitable for basking in the sun, isn't it intentional to embarrass myself.)

If it were normal, she wouldn't think of that guy whether intentionally or unintentionally, but in the past few days she always felt a little restless, as if something was about to happen.It made her feel a little dazed, and she even thought of someone now.

Although she roughly guessed what this uneasiness might be related to.

"Did I enter menopause early?"

"What are you talking about? What menopause?"

The sudden appearance of a figure startled Hong Ji who was talking to herself, but she reacted quickly.

——After all, he will come to her at this time, and there will be no one else except Xihua.

"It's nothing." Hong Ji signaled him to go into the room to move the chair, and then filled another empty teacup that he habitually prepared, "What news did you bring today?"

Saying so, she handed warm tea to Xi Hua who was sitting next to her.

"You really understand me!"

Xi Hua said with a smile, she didn't know whether she was referring to Hong Ji's tea or her question.

Although Zanpakuto does not need to drink water to eat, and will not feel hunger and thirst, many Zanpakuto regard this as a way of pastime-but most Zanpakuto like to drink alcohol and like to drink tea. It is really in the minority.

"But when it comes to this matter, I'm angry. They actually said..."

Xihua gulped down the tea in the cup, and then slapped the empty teacup on the small square table beside her—this was one of the first pieces of furniture that Hong Ji made, and said angrily, it was just his words Halfway through, it stopped abruptly, and there was no more text.

Hong Ji, who was still basking in the sun with her eyes squinted, glanced at him suspiciously, "What's wrong? Why didn't you continue talking?"

"Don't be angry if I tell you."

"Since you have already spoken, wouldn't it be a disappointment if I don't let you continue talking?"

Hong Ji took a sip of tea, then gently placed the cup in her hand on the other side of the square table, "Besides, is there anything else you can't say?"

"..."

Xihua said nothing, but looked at Hongji with almost resentful eyes, as if dissatisfied with her statement.

Hong Ji was a little chilled by Xi Hua's eyes, but then she seemed to think of something, "Could it be related to that guy?"

If it was someone who could make Xihua think twice, maybe it would be the only guy who had run away without a trace.

"What do those Zanpakuto say?"

Hearing Hongji's question, Xihua no longer concealed it, and even said all her complaints like pouring beans.

"The group of guys actually said that someone saw Jinghua Shuiyue looking for you that night, and then Jinghua Shuiyue disappeared; they also said that you may have been unhappy watching Jinghua Shuiyue for a long time, so you killed him while no one was paying attention! Some people said... ..."

Hong Ji finally understands Ni Fu's previous feelings. It's really not a pleasant thing to keep her name tied to someone she hates.

After Xi Hua finished speaking, Hong Ji handed the cup full of tea to him again so that he could moisten his mouth.

"You said that group of guys can't live too much!"

Xi Hua took the cup and said angrily, causing most of the tea in his cup to spill.

"It's not all speculation."

Hong Ji listened to him quietly and then said slowly, "I was the last person that guy saw before he disappeared. That's true."

It's just that she didn't expect that when Jinghua Shuiyue came to look for her, she would be bumped into by someone.She didn't know whether she saw it by accident or on purpose—but if it was the latter, she was a little curious whether it was on purpose.

After all, with his abilities...

"Eh?" Xi Hua looked at Hong Ji in astonishment, and then screamed, "I've never heard you mention this before!"

"I'm fine to mention what that guy does."

Hong Ji glanced at him angrily, as if to say, "It's not like you don't know that I'm at odds with that guy", "It's not that I'm full and have nothing to do, and I'm deliberately embarrassing myself."

Xi Hua looked at Hong Ji, and asked cautiously, "Then it was really you who disappeared..."

His tone was full of doubts, but more of it was gossip.

"I'd like to do that."

Hong Ji snorted softly, but Xi Hua understood that the disappearance of Jinghua Shuiyue had nothing to do with Hong Ji.

Secretly heaving a sigh of relief, Xi Hua seemed to have remembered something and asked, "Then why did he come to you?"

This question made Hong Ji coldly snort again angrily, her expression that was passable turned gloomy in an instant, just when Xi Hua was frightened and was thinking about changing the subject, Hong Ji spoke up.

"It's nothing, I just talked nonsense and showed the lower limit by the way."

She thought she might need to revise what she said about the future owner of Flower in the Mirror and Water Moon.

His future master is not only a hypocritical careerist who is full of lies, he must blurt out nonsense, and maybe he will give a speech calmly when the two sides are at war.

Although what he said definitely didn't have any real content, it was nothing more than shaking people's hearts and showing a sense of superiority in IQ.

When she thought that the owner of Flower in Mirror and Moon in Mirror might put on a leisurely attitude like Flower in Mirror and Moon in the future, she suddenly felt a little inexplicably uncomfortable.

"Huh? What's that?"

Xi Hua looked at Hong Ji blankly, he still knew what the nonsense in the front was, but the show lower limit in the back... what was that?

Hong Ji waved her hand perfunctorily, "No, it's just a slip of the tongue."

Seeing that Hongji didn't want to mention this matter, Xihua didn't say anything more, but changed the topic.

"Then do you know why he disappeared?"

"I don't know, but I can probably guess." Hong Ji looked away and looked into the distance, "Speaking of which, that guy was born around the same time as me."

"Eh?"

For a long time, Xihua only knew that Hongji and Jinghua Shuiyue were at odds, but she had never heard of those things back then, so now she just feels a little surprised, "Why didn't I know?"

"Because I never said that."

Hong Ji spread her hands.

"Even if there is a discrepancy, it will not be a few years."

"But what does this have to do with the disappearance of the Flower in the Mirror and the Moon in the Water?" Only then did Xihua remember his question at the beginning—although he was indeed interested in those things in the past, he could still guess the pair from Hongji's appearance. Hong Ji is not a good memory.

"Because I have also felt it recently," Hong Ji sighed, "Master's feeling."

As soon as these words came out, Xihua immediately looked at her in surprise, and the shocked look on her face somewhat pleased Hongji.

"What did you say?!"

"I said, I sensed the master's spiritual pressure."

Even today, she understands what Ni Fu said back then. When the god of death... or the soul that has self-control to become the god of death reaches a certain age, Zanpakuto can sense them even in the place where he was born. Reiatsu.

Of course, it's just a feeling, it doesn't mean Zanpakuto must submit to them at this time.

"What do you mean...Jinghuashuiyue also sensed the spiritual pressure of his future master?"

"Maybe so, but who can say exactly what it is."

Hong Ji sat up, and smoothed her loose hair bun because she was leaning on the recliner, "It's just that if it's him... I think he might be able to do something extraordinary just to test Master. .”

Although Xi Hua trusted Hong Ji, she felt that her description was a bit exaggerated, "You are here again."

After all, Jinghua Shuiyue did not give them the impression of such a person on weekdays. Perhaps no one in this land, except the former Ni Fu and today's Hong Ji, could imagine what "unbelievable things" the usually gentle Jinghua Shuiyue would do. "come out.

"Sure enough, the truth is often in the hands of a few people."

Hong Ji sighed half-truthfully, but she didn't care about Xi Hua's distrust.

If she really wanted to say it, maybe she could only say that Jinghua Shuiyue's superficial skills are too good on weekdays. If it wasn't for his unwillingness to continue pretending, most people would probably continue to be deceived by him.

"Since it happened to be mentioned today."

Having said that, Hong Ji's expression gradually became a little more serious.

"Then I also have something to say to you."

Xi Hua was startled by Hong Ji's expression, but she still pretended to be relaxed and said, "Just say what you have to say, it's too scary to put on such an expression."

Hong Ji smiled, but she didn't look relaxed at all.

"Actually, I've been thinking about this matter for a long time, and it's almost time to do it these days."

"Huh? What's the matter?"

"I plan to go to the areas behind Liuhun Street to practice."

Hong Ji paused for a moment, then continued with Xi Hua's disapproving eyes, "By the way, I'll go find my future master and see what that person looks like."

"But that's not going to go to the districts behind Liuhun Street."

Although they are Zanpakuto, they are not completely ignorant of the information in the world of souls, at least they all know what the districts behind Liuhun Street are - that may be more cruel than the land they are in world.

"It's not like you don't know where..."

Hong Ji shook her head and interrupted Xihua, "It's because I know that, so I want to go there to see. Maybe it's because I have encountered a bottleneck in my practice recently. I think if I go to Liuhun Street to see , might find something."

The role of the Zanpakuto is to assist the god of death. Except for some Zanpakuto with healing properties, most of the rest of the Zanpakuto will follow the owner on the battlefield from now on.

Although the birthplace where they are now is cruel, it is still not as strict as the law of survival in the back area of ​​Liuhun Street.Here, she can lie on a deck chair and enjoy the sunshine and refreshments, and even chat and laugh with Xihua; but in the few districts behind Liuhun Street, there may be no other way to survive except fighting.

At the beginning, she always felt that something was missing in her initial understanding.

Now she understands that in her original understanding, what is missing is the desire and fear of fighting.

What she lacks is Zanpakuto's instinct and human nature.

Perhaps it was because of the Zanpakuto she met when she first came to this world, which caused some deviations in her cognition of Zanpakuto's instinct, so that she deliberately avoided " Instinct" this one.

She sticks to her instincts as a human being, but ignores the way she lives as Zanpakutō now.

But at the same time, she reminded herself all the time that she is a Zanpakutō that can only survive by relying on the god of death, and her life is not in her own hands, so life and death are up to her, so she no longer fears fighting and doesn't care about it. Whether one's own ability affects one's own life and death.

This has caused her to lose both Zanpakuto's instinct to fight and the human nature to be afraid of fighting.

To put it bluntly, she is not a human being, but she is also not a qualified Zanpakutō.

If she wants to correct this before she finds her master, the only thing she can do is to arouse her instinct as a knife in battle—if she doesn’t want to become a tool only for shedding blood, she must find human reason to restrain her at the same time .

And the only place that can allow her to achieve these two goals at the same time in a short period of time is the back area of ​​Liuhun Street.

Of course, these are not things she can tell Xi Hua.

Xi Hua looked at Hong Ji for a long time, and his intuition told him that this was not the real reason for Hong Ji to go to the back area of ​​Liuhun Street, but he couldn't see any flaws in Hong Ji's face.

If Hong Ji wants to hide her emotions, she can hide them perfectly.

——That's why he was so surprised when he first saw Hong Ji showing her undisguised distaste for Kyoka Shuiyue.It's because it's so obvious that it doesn't look like Hong Ji's style.

"I want to know if going to the back area of ​​Liuhun Street is really necessary for you."

He asked, the hearty smile was long gone, and Xi Hua's expression was unprecedentedly serious.Hongji suddenly discovered that once the usually cheerful and optimistic people become serious, they may be the scariest.

"Yes."

Without thinking too much, Hong Ji nodded and replied.

"What I want to do, only there can help me accomplish it."

Perhaps even the virtual circle is not as effective as the areas behind Liuhun Street. After all, the Daxu Ruji Lian are just some existences with fighting power but no thinking ability, how can they compare with humans—especially for What about human beings who survive and fight constantly?

It's just that even if she wants to go to the virtual circle, it's not so easy.

Not to mention whether it will be discovered by people from the Soul Realm, especially Seireitei, when going to Xuquan, only Xu knows how to open the black cavity.Even the god of death has not yet researched the principle, what can she do with Zanpakuto?

"I see."

Xi Hua nodded, her expression was still serious, but it seemed that something had been decided.

"In that case, let me go to Liuhun Street with you."

He said.

It was Hong Ji's turn to be dumbfounded by this answer.

In the end, Hongji still couldn't defeat the stubborn Xihua, and left their homeland with him.

Although they can come back here at any time as long as Zanpakuto is willing, Hong Ji went there with the belief that "you must fully experience the life in the last few districts of Ruhun Street", which also caused In addition, they can't go to Ruhun Street during the day and go back to the birthplace of Zanpakuto at night like going to work.

That is because knowing that Hongji has been planning to go for a long time, it is even more impossible for Xihua to let her go alone.

Even though Hong Ji stated countless times that she is Zanpakuto and has enough strength to protect herself, in the end Bi Xihua dismissed them one by one on the grounds that she is a woman and needs more protection.

Of course, Xihua also paid a heavy price for his slightly biased speech.

The living conditions in the last few districts of Liuhun Street are more difficult than Hongji imagined.

The barren land and the barren grass are still within her acceptable range. After all, the world of Zanpakuto also has places similar to wilderness. Many Zanpakuto, such as her, occasionally choose to practice there.

The lack of water and food is nothing to her and Xihua, because they are Zanpakuto, and they don't need much food.

But for the soul, such an environment can only be described as harsh.

The sky there seemed to be always gray during the day, which reminded Hongji of the day she was born. The sky was also leaden gray, gloomy as if it was about to collapse.

However, the situation in the areas behind Liuhun Street is even more serious, because there are almost no trees there, and the land is also cracked, and one can tell at a glance that there is no water there.The desolate land and gloomy sky seem to make the mood of those who arrive there suddenly change a lot.

If there is a good environment and resources, the living environment and security will not be too bad; but once the living environment becomes harsh, then only the strong can continue to survive.

"In the final analysis, the laws of this world were originally formulated by the strong."

After a day of practice, Hong Ji sat by the fire and sighed to Xi Hua.Although the battle with everyone during the day was fierce, for her as Zanpakuto, it was just a practice in the final analysis. She only brought a shallow sword bought in the front of Liuhun Street, but it was useless. to one's own abilities.

She came here only to find the two things she lost, not to kill.

"It's really like what you said."

Xihua held a piece of firewood in her hand and stirred the fire in front of her. The red light of the fire was reflected in her eyes, which brought a bit of warmth in this cold night.

"So did you find it? What you were looking for here."

Hongji glanced at Xihua in surprise, she only said that she had to come here, but she never mentioned to him that she was looking for something here, but she didn't expect that Xihua would find out about this matter in the end.

"Maybe."

Her answer was a little vague.

She thinks that she should be able to answer very accurately, yes is yes, no is no, but even she herself doesn't know why her answer is so vague, so vague that it doesn't look like she said that she must come here that day. That's her.

"Is it the wrong direction?"

Xi Hua asked, but Hong Ji shook her head.

She didn't think that her decision to come to Liuhun Street was wrong. On the contrary, she had indeed experienced a lot here these days, but it was a pity that these were not what she wanted.

"perhaps……"

——Because she hasn't found any existence that can truly scare her.

Hong Ji lowered her eyes, recalling the experiences of these days, although she felt a lot, the souls here are probably those without spiritual power, even if she can hone her fighting skills here, she can't feel afraid no matter what And the desire to fight.

—Is she really wrong?

"perhaps?"

Xi Hua looked at Hong Ji with some doubts, he always felt that Hong Ji must have found something.

"No, nothing."

Hong Ji shook her head lightly, and began to think about whether she really should choose another path to achieve her goal—although she felt sorry for Xi Hua who had been with her all this time, but...

"Hey, Xihua."

She spoke suddenly, but her voice was very soft, so soft that Xi Hua could hardly hear her.

"what?"

"Let's go to the front areas of Liuhun Street."

Maybe she could go and see her future master first, and wait to observe him for a while before deciding what to do next.

The author has something to say: Strive to be the store manager in the next chapter