In the following days, Yamahiko continued to follow Marechiyo Ōmaeda to understand the duties of the Patrol Corps. He learned about all the patrol points, participated in arranging patrol tasks and rotation assignments.
At the same time, Yamahiko also received his own Hell Butterfly(Jigokuchō). Hell Butterflies are creatures that grow in the Soul Society, and they are scarce in number. Their main role is communication, but they can also provide guidance for Shinigami traveling between the Soul Society and the World of the Living. Without Hell Butterflies, Shinigami could easily become lost in the Dangai.
With his own Hell Butterfly, Yamahiko gained a unique identification skill of the Second Division, used for recognition among the members of the Gotei 13 and the Second Division.
Once Yamahiko had mastered these skills, Marechiyo Ōmaeda started to slack off, leaving all the work to Yamahiko. Task assignments, rotation lists, and changing patrol points—all these responsibilities were now handled by Yamahiko within just three days.
Yamahiko didn't mind this workload. Through setting up patrol points, he gained an understanding of the entire Seireitei—each district, each division, and all the buildings, he knew them like the back of his hand.
...
"How have you adapted to your tasks these days?" asked Suì-Fēng as she stood not far from Yamahiko.
Today was Wednesday, and as agreed, Yamahiko needed to find Suì-Fēng for special training sessions every Wednesday and Friday.
Yamahiko replied, "I've already mastered the lists of all the Patrol Corps members and the locations of the patrol points. I've also efficiently arranged personnel rotations and changes to patrol points."
"That Ōmaeda is being lazy again," Suì-Fēng said through gritted teeth. What Yamahiko described was the responsibility of the Patrol Corps Captain, so now that he was handling it, it indicated that Marechiyo Ōmaeda was neglecting his duties.
"Well, Let's not talk about him. I asked you to meet me every Wednesday and Friday to provide you with special training," Suì-Fēng said as she looked at Yamahiko.
Suì-Fēng continued, "There are three tasks for special training. First, I will help you master the technique of walking or advancing in the air. Second, I will teach you assassination techniques, and third, I will instruct you in Hakuda and Shunpo. The first one is a skill that all high-level Shinigami must learn, the second is a technique unique to the Onmitsukidō, mastered by only a few Shinigami, and the third is a training task I've prepared for you."
Yamahiko understood the walking in the air, allowing Shinigami to suspend themselves mid-air. assassination techniques were techniques involving injecting anesthetics into an opponent's body. Hakuda and Shunpo were also familiar to him.
Suì-Fēng looked at Yamahiko and said, "Today, I'll start by teaching you advance Hohō(Walking on air). It involves gathering Reishi from the surrounding beneath your feet to create a support point in the air. First, try gathering Reishi in the palm of your hand."
Yamahiko reached out his right hand, and the surrounding Reishi gathered frantically in Yamahiko's right hand to form a blue light ball
Suì-Fēng nodded, saying, "Now, place your left hand on the Reishi."
Yamahiko extended his left hand towards the Reishi, but it passed through them, causing the Reishi to disperse.
Suì-Fēng explained, "This is because the density of Reishi is low. To stand in mid-air, you need to create a support point with extremely high density Reishi. Let me show you... Wait, did you just succeed?"
Before Suì-Fēng could finish her sentence, the Reishi in front of Yamahiko began to slowly spread out, forming a square shape with a thickness of about one centimeter. He then leaped onto the Reishi, but it only supported him for a moment before crumbling.
Yamahiko scratched his head and said, "I didn't succeed. It seems my control is still weak."
"Failure?"
'I haven't finished yet, and you've already created a support point that can carry your body for a moment. This can already be considered a success,' Suì-Fēng thought sarcastically but maintained a serious expression. She said, "It's good that you understand. Don't rush it; this isn't something you can master in just one or two tries... Wait, did you just succeed again?"
Before Suì-Fēng could finish her sentence, Yamahiko gathered Reishi once more. He tapped his toe and jumped up, and this time, the Reishi continued to gather and support his body.
Yamahiko stood in the air, swaying his body. Although the Reishi under his feet constantly dissipated, it kept regenerating.
Suì-Fēng squinted her eyes. Had he succeeded? Was it really this simple?
This technique is advance Hoho wasn't something all Shinigami could master. It required a certain level of Reiryoku and excellent control.
However, as long as these two conditions were met, it wasn't that difficult to learn. In the original story, when Zangetsu taught Ichigo this technique, he straightforwardly said that Ichigo could already do it, and Ichigo indeed succeeded easily.
Suì-Fēng sighed. With Yamahiko's Reiryoku, mastery wasn't an issue. She could only admit he was quite clever.
But then, Suì-Fēng was surprised once again. The Reishi beneath Yamahiko gradually formed a path in mid-air, extending into the distance.
The path was straight, smooth, and orderly. Yamahiko stepped on the path and ran towards the distance. At the end, he somersaulted and returned to Suì-Fēng's side.
Suì-Fēng stared at Yamahiko and asked, "How did you do that?"
This wasn't simple moving in air; it was a Reiryoku path, which required extremely high Reiryoku to form. It was used as the main means of travel within the Dangai, a place filled with emptiness.
The demands for Reiryoku in creating a Reiryoku path were strict. It required not only the free Reishi in the air but also the control Reishi of the practitioner. The higher the practitioner's Reiryoku, the wider and smoother the Reiryoku path.
Yamahiko smiled and replied, "I originally wanted to have more Reishi beneath my feet, but the surrounding Reishi couldn't replenish it in time. So, I naturally released my own Reiryoku to stabilize it, and it worked out."
"I see. You did well," Suì-Fēng said with complex emotions. This kid's talent was outstanding, not only did he have high Reiryoku, but his control over Reishi was incredibly strong. No wonder he was considered a Kidō genius.
Yamahiko leaped into the air again. As he jumped, the Reishi in the sky gathered beneath his feet, and he continued to ascend. In an instant, he was jumping higher and faster, soaring through the sky.
However, when he reached a certain height, Yamahiko suddenly leaned backward and began to fall.
"Oh no!" Suì-Fēng saw this and was about to rush up to save him. However, in the next moment, Yamahiko pressed his hands in the air, forming a support point with the Reishi there, holding his body up.
Then, Yamahiko somersaulted and descended again, utilizing the continuously gathering Reishi in the air, performing a mid-air acrobatic move.
Suì-Fēng sighed at his behavior, "I give up."
Seeing this scene, she realized that it took her an entire day to learn advance Hoho, but this kid had succeeded after just two tries. He even extended it into a Reiryoku path and used it so proficiently.
People really can be infuriatingly talented.
Thinking this, Suì-Fēng watched as Yamahiko lightly descended to the ground, standing beside her and asking, "Captain Suì-Fēng, what are we going to learn today?"
What are we going to learn? The instructional content I prepared for you has already been completed ahead of time.
Suì-Fēng looked at Yamahiko helplessly and said, "Since you've already learned walking on air, I'll teach you assasination and detaining techniques directly."