Simultaneous Transmigration: From Japanese Anime to American Comics

Chapter 89: Infiltrating the Soul Society

Huang Rong's swift kick struck precisely where Ouyang Ke was already wounded. Adding injury to injury, Ouyang Ke let out a pained cry before he completely lost consciousness. He passed out, and judging from his injuries, Chu Yang estimated he might be bedridden for at least a year, if not longer.

Witnessing Ouyang Ke's suffering, Guo Jing couldn't help but feel a pang of sympathy. He turned to Huang Rong, saying, "Miss Huang, wasn't that a bit too ruthless?"

"Ruthless?" Huang Rong shot back, her expression darkening. "If I didn't have protective items on me, who knows what would've happened to me at his hands?"

"And you—who do you think you are to preach to me?"

Guo Jing turned red with embarrassment. He wanted to retort, but lacking the words, he could only sulk in silence.

With Ouyang Ke's defeat, all of Wanyan Honglie's top five warriors—once his pride—had been thoroughly vanquished. Now, without a strong fighter, Wanyan Honglie could hardly even protect his own life.

Standing on the rooftop, Chu Yang looked down and called out, "Wanyan Honglie, are you still refusing to hand them over?"

Wanyan Honglie responded with sorrowful indignation, "I have no grudge against you, so why are you determined to tear apart my family and force me to the brink?"

Chu Yang sneered. "You're talking about tearing families apart?"

"Eighteen years ago, you were being chased by Qiu Chuji and accidentally stumbled into Niu Village, where Bao Xiruo saved you. But instead of repaying her kindness, you lusted after her. To get her, you bribed the Southern Song general Duan Tiande to lead soldiers after the Guo and Yang families, ruining their lives and tearing them apart. Then, you staged a hero's rescue to win Bao Xiruo's heart. And now you dare to say I'm the one tearing apart your family?"

"Your wife, your son—are either really yours?"

Wanyan Honglie was stunned by Chu Yang's accusations. How could this stranger know the secret he had buried for eighteen years? Was he truly some kind of immortal?

Bao Xiruo, sitting on horseback, heard this and began struggling, glaring at Wanyan Honglie in outrage. "Is it true, what he says?"

Wanyan Honglie was left speechless. Beside him, Wanyan Kang also looked up in shock, unable to process the revelation. The man who had raised him for eighteen years was, in fact, the one who had caused the ruin of his real parents. Such a truth was overwhelming.

Even Chu Yang, who'd previously looked down on Wanyan Kang, couldn't help but feel some sympathy.

Upon hearing the truth, Yang Tiexin was overcome with rage, his old injuries flaring up as he clutched his chest. Despite the pain, he spat at Wanyan Honglie, calling him a "despicable scoundrel!"

Huang Rong, meanwhile, observed everyone's reactions with keen interest, her eyes gleaming with excitement.

Seeing Wanyan Honglie—his father's killer—Guo Jing's eyes turned red with fury. He was just about to attack when Yang Tiexin pulled him back.

Chu Yang was growing impatient. "Wanyan Honglie, this is my third and final time asking. Will you hand them over, or do I have to take action?"

Wanyan Honglie was torn. On one hand, he had his wife and son; on the other, his own life and the lives of nearly ten thousand Jin soldiers, whose deaths would leave Yanjing dangerously vulnerable.

With no other choice, Wanyan Honglie reluctantly ordered his troops to release Bao Xiruo and Wanyan Kang.

Under Chu Yang's watchful eye, the army began a slow retreat. Wanyan Honglie looked back repeatedly, his gaze lingering on his wife and son.

Like a walking corpse, Wanyan Kang was led away by Bao Xiruo, who, despite her joy, found her son unable to share her feelings.

Yang Tiexin's family, finally reunited, broke down in tears, while Guo Jing, seeing this, thought of his own father and felt a surge of emotion.

"Brother Guo," Yang Tiexin said gratefully, "we were only strangers, yet you helped me in my time of need. I'll remember this kindness forever."

Guo Jing hurriedly introduced himself, then produced the dagger both the Guo and Yang families had once kept as a token of their bond. Yang Tiexin touched the dagger, memories of eighteen years ago flooding back, and murmured, "My brother has a descendant, after all!"

Guo Jing then recounted his years in Mongolia, which moved Yang Tiexin deeply. Yang Tiexin looked over at Wanyan Kang, now known as Yang Kang, and then at Mu Nianci.

"Back then, I made a pact with your father: if we had a son and a daughter, they would be promised to each other. If two sons or two daughters, they would be sworn siblings."

Yang Tiexin looked between Guo Jing and Yang Kang. "From now on, you two are sworn brothers."

Guo Jing nodded; his mother had told him about this long ago.

But then Yang Tiexin pointed to Mu Nianci. "As for my daughter, the engagement still stands. What do you think?"

Guo Jing froze, instinctively glancing at Huang Rong, who was chattering animatedly with Chu Yang, ignoring him completely. Meanwhile, Mu Nianci glanced awkwardly at Chu Yang.

The two stood in silence until Guo Jing broke it, scratching his head. "Before I left, my mother only asked me to find a sworn brother, not a wife. I'd have to ask her first."

Yang Tiexin agreed. "That's only right. And I should go visit my sister-in-law. But we'll have to wait until after your duel at Jiaxing's Yan Yu Tower."

Speaking of the duel, Guo Jing suddenly remembered, "Oh no, my teachers are waiting for me! They must be worried."

Yang Tiexin suggested they travel together to the Southern Song. As they made plans, Chu Yang quietly slipped away with Huang Rong.

Realizing they were leaving, Mu Nianci rushed over to stop them. Surprised, Chu Yang asked, "Miss Mu, is there something you need?"

Flustered, Mu Nianci suddenly couldn't think of a reason. Sensing potential competition, Huang Rong eyed her with displeasure.

Luckily, Guo Jing arrived in time to ease the tension. "Brother Chu, we're also heading back to the Southern Song, to the town where we last met. My teachers are probably searching for me there."

Chu Yang gave an awkward cough, reminded that Guo Jing's prized horse was still tied up in his backyard…

---

Soul Society

Since making a deal with Kisuke Urahara, Chu Yang had stayed at Urahara's shop, training intensely. Urahara taught him about spiritual pressure and controlling his spirit particles. Chu Yang quickly absorbed all he could.

He learned the four main Shinigami skills—[Hand-to-Hand], [Flash Step], [Kidō], and [Zanjutsu].

[Hand-to-Hand] was familiar; the techniques reminded him of Fish-Man Karate.

[Flash Step] was similar to the [Body Flicker Technique] in ninjutsu, only it required spirit energy instead of chakra.

[Kidō], however, was more complex, comprising [Destruction], [Binding], and [Healing] spells—essentially offensive, defensive, and restorative spells needing chants and spirit energy.

As for [Zanjutsu], Chu Yang had already honed his sword skills across several worlds. However, Kisuke couldn't help him obtain a [Zanpakutō], as that would require Chu Yang to become a Shinigami, abandoning the living world.

But Chu Yang was willing to take that step. Besides, this was part of his deal with Urahara, who needed someone to act as his eyes within the Soul Society.

Time passed, and Rukia Kuchiki was taken back to the Soul Society for giving her powers to a human, where she faced execution. Soon after, Ichigo Kurosaki arrived at Urahara's for training, preparing to rescue her.

When Ichigo saw Chu Yang, he was overjoyed, relieved to see Chu Yang unhurt, which eased his anxiety about the upcoming mission.

What Ichigo didn't know, however, was that Chu Yang intended to become a Shinigami and stay in the Soul Society permanently.

After more time, Ichigo completed his training, achieving his [Shikai] and learning the name of his [Zanpakutō]: [Zangetsu].

Urahara opened the [Senkaimon], the portal to the Soul Society, and the group stepped through, transforming into spirit particles necessary to enter.

The group followed Yoruichi, who led them in her black cat form, through the portal between realms.

Inside, darkness engulfed them, with only the path beneath visible, surrounded by twisted, ominous fog. Yoruichi cautioned everyone to stay close and not linger.

Chu Yang observed and realized they were in the Dangai.

The Dangai, or Interspatial Rift, is a spatial gap between the World of the Living and the Soul Society. It's an overlapping space layered with fragmented dimensions, encased by chaotic temporal currents.

Time here flows differently—around 2,000 times faster. A single year outside equates to 2,000 years within the Dangai.

The Dangai is filled with Koryu, streams that restrict the movement of souls. They prevent Hollows from intruding, safeguarding both the Soul Society and the World of the Living.

Without Koryu, it would be far easier for Hollows to invade.

The drawback, however, is that Koryu affects all souls, not just Hollows. If Chu Yang and the others didn't avoid it in time, they'd be trapped in the Dangai indefinitely. This is why Yoruichi kept reminding them to stay close.

The Koryu surged like a released flood, swiftly approaching the group. Just as it seemed they would be swallowed, Orihime formed a shield using Shun Shun Rikka, blocking the Koryu with great effort. The impact expelled them from the Dangai.

Upon landing, Chu Yang surveyed his surroundings, noting the traditional architecture, and realized they had safely arrived in the Soul Society.

They were now in Rukongai, where all souls first arrive upon entering the Soul Society.

Chu Yang smirked with a hint of mockery.

The irony of the world of the Shinigami is that some people, who labored like beasts in life, find that Soul Society is not the paradise they imagined. It isn't a place to finally rest and enjoy peace.

Those souls with hopeful dreams find themselves reliving the hardships of the mortal world here.

Perhaps even worse.

Here, people still age and die, experiencing all the suffering from life again.

The only difference is that souls age very slowly here, meaning they must "live" for many years.

Is this a blessing? For those with the potential to become Shinigami, perhaps. But for others, it merely prolongs their suffering.

Some live in pain, and upon dying, find even greater pain in the Soul Society.

This cycle of suffering is endless, lifetime after lifetime...

It's truly terrifying.

Once they arrived safely, Yoruichi began explaining the Soul Society's structure.

The Soul Society has two parts: the Seireitei and Rukongai.

The Seireitei is its heart and home to the Shinigami. It's also where power and wealth converge.

Rukongai, surrounding the Seireitei, has 80 districts in each of the four directions, and the higher the number, the poorer and more violent the area.

In essence, it's like Manhattan and Brooklyn: one affluent, the other mired in poverty, where order coexists with chaos.

For souls in Rukongai who wish for a better life, there's only one way—to become a Shinigami and live in the Seireitei.

Before Yoruichi finished her briefing, Ichigo Kurosaki charged toward Seireitei, only to be blocked by walls that appeared in the sky.

A colossal figure emerged.

A towering giant wielding an axe-like Zanpakutō struck the ground, creating a deep fissure.

"To enter the Hakutou Gate, you must first defeat me!" he challenged with a cocky grin.

Yoruichi explained, "This is Jidanbō, the guardian of one of the four Seireitei Gates. Each gate has its own guardian."

"To pass through, you must defeat them."

The others looked to Chu Yang, assuming he, the strongest among them, would be the one to challenge Jidanbō.

Chu Yang shook his head disinterestedly; Jidanbō was far too weak—barely comparable to a lower-ranked Gillian Hollow.

"I'll handle this," Ichigo declared confidently, stepping across Jidanbō's line and accepting the challenge.

Chu Yang, knowing the outcome, paid little attention to their fight.

Instead, he closed his eyes and used Observation Haki to sense his surroundings.

In the World of the Living, he couldn't use Observation Haki to track Hollows. But here, in his spirit form, his Haki was effective once again.

He felt numerous powerful presences approaching.

The nearest one was almost at the Hakutou Gate.

Based on the plot, it should be Captain Gin Ichimaru of the 3rd Division.