Yon caught sight of the two Shinigami who were probably giving their all into escaping. But how could they when Yon's spirit sense was already locked onto them.
He didn't come to these mountains to have a vacation. It was to train. And Chouji did the best he can to impart as much battle experience to him.
Sensing that the other party has already caught up to them, they stopped and turned while holding their swords in front.
What they saw next dumbfounded them. A kid who appears to be about 9 to 12 years old was standing on a flying sword.
His face was covered with blood of their companions whom he beheaded awhile ago. The blood that spurted out stained his pale face making his already enraged expression more chilling to look at.
This 'kid' was wearing a pair of black long-sleeved shirt and pants. His black hair was standing up due to the wind when he was flying. His expression was that of someone looking at a criminal sentenced to death.
The two Shinigami's first thought was to first fight it out seeing that the other party was just a kid. But this thought left their heads when they heard a cry from the skies.
The two were scared out of their wits looking at the wyvern descending and landed at the kid's back. Not a moment later they heard a hissing sound from the bushes.
The basilisk came out, it's mouth still bloodied from eating one of the soul reapers. It coiled beside the wyvern as if waiting for Yon's command. Yon himself was looking at the two terrified Shinigami in front of him.
"I will ask you both a question. If you answer then I will kill you painlessly but if you refuse, I will have to make you answer." Yon said unhurriedly and smiled at them.
The two were terrified from looking at the kid. The other two beast at his back didn't help especially the basilisk that looked like he just had his dinner.
"W- w- what do you want to know?" asked one of them while the other was too terrified to ask.
"Who killed the man and woman that lived here 10 years ago?" Yon asked.
"We- we don't know." The soul reaper answered.
"Liar! I saw the other guy with you. He clearly was the one responsible for attacking 10 years ago!" the duo concluded together that this kid must be the baby that woman held when they attacked them back then.
"My parents clearly said that they were not quincys. But you still had the guts to kill them?!" Yon was slowly forming killing intent little by little although he's only killed just one soul reaper only.
"We didn't! They were able to get away from us!" reasoned the other Shinigami who was too scared awhile ago.
"What!?" Yon was shooked!
His parents didn't die? Confused by the sudden statement from the other party he asked again.
"Then where- are they?" Yon asked
"We don't know that too. That's why we keep coming back to this place." They answered.
"Useless!" Yon became agitated and almost attacked them, but he stopped himself and asked again.
"Tell me what happened after my grandfather left carrying me. How did my parents get away?" The other two's conclusion was proven. This kid was indeed the baby that day. They still answered Yon's question and narrated what happened.
After your grandfather ran away, your mother fought fiercely. We didn't know she was able to manipulate the elements and even summon some kind of beasts despite her weakened state.
We didn't let up and pursued them since the woman was already exhausted and would probably collapse soon. Even the man was wounded and kept bleeding. It was only time that would determine our victory against them.
But despite their state they actually fought fiercer as time keeps running. It was like they have infinite energy and stamina to the point that we ourselves were starting to get tired.
And then-
Both Shinigami were confused. Somehow their memories stopped there. They didn't know what happened next, their next memories were waking up in the same place.
"And then what?" Yon asked clearly pissed when they cut off the what they were saying.
"Somehow we lost our memories on that part, and we ended up waking up on the same place with no idea what happened."
"He's right, but we still remembered fighting them. Please believe us that's really what happened." Said the other Shinigami clearly flustered not wanting to anger the kid in front of them.
"Hmmmn, I'll believe you after you agree to be my subordinate if not then as promised. I will both kill you painlessly." Yon said as if no longer angry at them.
'I wonder if the Summoning inscription tag will work on them. Well, I can just kill them both if it won't.' Was what he was thinking.
The two Shinigami immediately agreed before Yon could change his mind. It's okay for them to be under somebody rather than dying and cease to exist. Being alive was more important than freedom.
"Good. I will be assigning you both the same way as I have assigned these two at my back." Yon pointed out the basilisk and the wyvern. He pulled out two inscription tags which was the same tags he used to tame his familiars.
Yon activated it and threw it at them. The soul reapers didn't immediately surrender but when they felt Yon's killing intent they gave up and accepted their fate.
A Shinigami is basically a soul the same way as the spirit beasts Yon tamed, so the process of him taming them using the same inscription tag was successful.
It's not that he is forgiving these two but with them tied under him in 100% control then he's got nothing to worry about now. Besides, he's got information from them that his parents might still be alive.
Yon returned to the house with the other two Shinigami in tow and dispersed his summons. When Yon got there, blood was still evident on the floor along with a sword then,
Rainbow poured out from Yon's mouth as he now realized he just killed somebody. Although he's slain a hollow before and a talking one at that, it was still a monster in his eyes.
Shinigami however has the appearance of a human. Yon's body was still that of a young kid coupled with his mind set from a peaceful era, this kind of reaction to first kill was only normal.
"Find the other two sword and bring them to me." Yon commanded after throwing up and the other two just followed without question. Not even bothering to point out that their master threw up.
Moments later they came back carrying the sword their companions left behind.
"Good. Now sit down and we'll talk about what you guys will be doing from here on out."
Both the Shinigami looked like middle-aged men. Their strength was that of an ordinary Shinigami with a few years of experience. The first one was called Sanji and the other was called Zoro.
'What the hell, I'm not even in one piece. But now that I think about it even my grandfather's name feels like it came from Naruto and so did my teacher and principal in school.' Yon thought for a moment.
[Author san was sweating nervously while typing as his protagonist seems to have catched on his style of naming characters.]
Yon forgot what he thought about and focused on his plan for his two new subordinates.
"You will both report back to soul society, but you will not be telling them that your companions died."
"Why master?" Sanji asked.
"So that they won't send out stronger ones. Just tell them that they went missing. Make the same excuse as you did 10 years ago that you have no memories of what happened when you came to."
'Hopefully they could still make it through and come back here since I will be asking them to get something for me' Yon obviously have something in mind.
"We will follow your command master." Answered both his new subordinates or slaves? He assigned a few task for them to do when they return to soul society as well task for them to do if they can still come back to the world of the living.
They told him that they were scheduled to return in a few days' time so they will be staying here at the moment to which Yon agreed and have them continue wash the dishes and clean the house.
Yon himself went inside his room along with three reishi residuals and 3 Asauchi which he brought with him. These were from the other three Shinigami he and his familiar killed earlier.
He's already instructed the other two not to disturb him no matter what happen. After preparing himself he started absorbing the 1st reishi residual.
Even though Yon was training with his grandfather for a year all this time. They focused more on experience and techniques. He had no time to hunt down hollows and cultivate. His cultivation has been stuck at the early 3rd order of Xiantian Realm since.
Upon absorbing the first residuals, Yon's cultivation improved once again after a year of being stagnant. Yon already made it to the peak of 3rd order Xiantian realm. Yon didn't stop and proceeded to absorb the next one giving him enough to break through the next realm.
'Break for me!'
Yon made it to the 4th order of xiantian but the residue was not yet finished so he didn't stop until it was fully absorbed. His cultivation stopped at the mid 4th order of xiantian realm.
Along with his newfound strength was a martial ability the same way he got one when he broke through the 4th order Houtian realm.
The ability was immediately recorded inside his head the same way his first ability was uncovered. And this time somehow, he heard a low growl from the depths of his soul. It didn't last long so Yon paid no attention to it and began comprehending his new martial ability.
Space movement!
Complementing his first ability which is space concealment. His next ability enables him to pass through anything.
In comparison, his new ability is almost the same as Mirio's in My Hero Academia minus the naked part and the pushing force when he emerges. It was a great addition to his arsenal that he experimented only from the start.
With the last residue remaining Yon continued to cultivate until nothing was left. It was enough to have his cultivation at late peak of 4th order Xiantian realm. If he wanted to, he could have arrived at the 5th order but Yon refrained himself from doing so.
It's one of the strategies of someone who cultivates. Just because you can make consecutive breakthroughs doesn't mean it's a good thing. Sometimes being less greedy also have it's benefits.
Although Yon was still at the peak of 4th order. His battle strength was comparable to that of someone at the peak of 5th order. Shinigami reference wise, he can take on at least a 2nd seat officer.
If he were to fight it out with a lieutenant, he would have great difficulty in defeating one but would have no problem escaping.
Yon used the time remaining to train more and consolidate his strength. He used both his subordinate as his punching bag and even spent time to have them improve themselves by giving pointers.
Surprisingly, even though Sanji and Zoro had long since graduated. Their experience in battle and their strength pales in comparison to him.
"I can't believe Soul Society agreed to have you both come to the living world and investigate with this kind of strength! I don't like a weakling to be my subordinate." The two Shinigami were ashamed that a 10-year-old kid was lecturing them of being weak.
What can they do about it? Even back in soul society, a white-haired kid became a captain and surpassed them.
"For the remaining time that your scheduled return is not yet due, you will both train with these guys." Yon declared with a serious expression making Sanji and Zoro scared out of their wits. Soon after a giant snake and a creature that almost resembles a dragon appeared.
"Uhm, master. You don't mean to train us with them, are you?" Sanji asked with his legs dancing. Yon smiled at this and answered with a question.
"What do you think?" Both Sanji and Zoro were horrified as the basilisk and wyvern began attacking them.
"Master! Noooooo!!!" 2x
The mountain that was once so gloomy didn't sound that way anymore, as the screams of two middle age man revibrated for a long time every day.
End of chapter 9
Volume 2: Exorcist Arc