Soaking in the hot spring, Kaelith Yurei couldn't help but squint his eyes in satisfaction.
This wasn't the original red and white-hot spring.
To reduce its side effects, he and Yoruichi had modified the spring's formula.
The current hot spring had significantly less healing power and fewer side effects than the original.
Even so, it was more than enough to heal his hand.
Within half an hour, Kaelith felt the vitality return to his fingers.
He clenched his fist gently in the water, stretched his hand a few times, and smiled.
"Great, it's completely healed!"
Yoruichi was fully submerged in the hot spring, with only her head above the surface.
She turned her head to inspect her shoulder.
The wound from before was almost entirely healed.
Placing one hand on her shoulder, she raised her arm and rotated it twice.
"Looks good. I'm fine too!"
Both of them looked over at Shaolin Fēng.
The girl was floating in the spring, eyes closed, looking as though she had passed out.
Yoruichi swam over to her.
Floating beside Shaolin Fēng, she glanced at Kaelith.
"Kaelith, come here and help me hold her steady while I check her arm."
"That's… not really appropriate, is it?"
Even as he said this, Kaelith quickly moved closer.
Yoruichi couldn't help but feel both amused and exasperated at his reaction.
As he drew near, Kaelith's gaze landed on the two of them, and he couldn't help but feel a pang of emotion.
Among their peers, Yoruichi had developed exceptionally well—her figure already showing considerable promise.
Shaolin Fēng, on the other hand, was rather underwhelming even by the standards of her age group.
Still, despite her lack of development, Kaelith found her endearing.
After all, he wasn't a lolicon. (t/n thank god)
Who wouldn't find Sui-Fēng to be a cool and charming girl?
Although Shaolin Fēng didn't yet possess the striking, confident demeanor she would one day be known for, one could already see hints of it.
Kaelith wasn't into younger girls; he simply admired cool and strong characters.
To make it easier for Yoruichi to examine Shaolin Fēng's bones, he gently placed his hands on her shoulders to steady her.
Yoruichi's playful expression faded as she focused intently on her inspection.
Whether it was the effect of the hot spring or Yoruichi's repeated kneading of her arm, Shaolin Fēng's eyes slowly fluttered open.
As her consciousness returned, the first thing she saw was Kaelith's face looming above her.
She blinked in confusion for two seconds before her eyes widened.
"Ka-Ka…"
Her overwhelming shock made her try to sit up abruptly.
Yoruichi's voice rang out suddenly:
"Shaolin, don't move. I'm examining you."
Hearing Yoruichi's voice, Shaolin Fēng froze slightly.
She quickly turned her head and saw Yoruichi beside her, currently gripping her arm.
When she realized what Yoruichi looked like at that moment, her face turned crimson.
"Y-Yoruichi-sama…"
She finally processed that she was in a hot spring with Yoruichi-sama.
This was truly…
…Wait?
The happiness on Shaolin Fēng's face abruptly vanished.
She first looked down at herself.
Then she lifted her head and glared at Kaelith.
Meeting her gaze, Kaelith offered her a smile.
The next thing he knew, Shaolin Fēng used her core strength to lift her body, executing a backward flip-kick aimed directly at his face—
"Ah, what's going on here?"
Kaelith Yurei's figure flickered and reappeared atop the surface of the hot spring water not far away.
Shaolin Fēng immediately stood upright in the water, raising her arms to shield Yoruichi.
The first time they met, she had been far too naive, actually believing this person to be a good man.
In truth, behind that façade of kindness lay the true identity of this scoundrel—a criminal who had bewitched Lady Yoruichi! As a future member of Lady Yoruichi's personal guard (albeit not yet appointed), she had to block this man's vile gaze at all costs!
Seeing Shaolin Fēng raise her arms to shield Yoruichi, Kaelith Yurei couldn't help but let out a small gasp, quickly submerging himself in the water.
Shaolin Fēng found his reaction a little odd. But moments later, as she glanced at her perfectly intact arm, she froze.
"Wait... my arm?"
Her expression shifted to one of disbelief as she repeatedly examined and touched her arm.
After a few checks, she finally confirmed it. Her arm... had been healed!
A huge wave of joy surged through her, and she couldn't help but break into a smile.
Behind her, Yoruichi gave a lazy grin.
"Shaolin, you should properly thank Kaelith this time."
"He went out of his way to research and create this healing hot spring just to cure your arm."
"Without his help, you probably wouldn't be able to stay in the Stealth Force anymore."
Hearing Yoruichi's words, Shaolin Fēng turned to Kaelith Yurei with a grateful look.
Yoruichi then turned her attention to Kaelith.
"Kaelith, the Second Division has suffered a heavy blow after this incident."
"Among all the divisions, we'll probably be demoted from the top tier to the middle tier."
"Even so, would you still be willing to join the Second Division?"
Soaking in the water, Kaelith Yurei chuckled and shook his head.
"I'm joining the Second Division because we made a promise. It has nothing to do with how strong the division is."
"As long as you're in the Second Division, I won't leave."
Yoruichi smiled at his response. Before Shaolin Fēng could catch the subtle implications in his words, Yoruichi put on a serious expression and spoke loudly:
"Shaolin Fēng!"
"Present!"
The girl immediately straightened up in the water without hesitation.
Pointing at Kaelith Yurei, Yoruichi declared, "From today onward, you will serve as the personal guard for Kaelith Yurei, a provisional member of the Second Division."
"You must show him the same loyalty and trust that you show to me."
"You are to carry out his orders with absolute dedication and thoroughness!"
"Any questions?"
A million expressions of reluctance flashed across Shaolin Fēng's face.
However, her years of training in the Stealth Force left no room for hesitation. She responded crisply: "I will complete the mission at all costs!"
Kaelith Yurei was somewhat surprised by Yoruichi's decree.
What was she thinking?
It sounded as though she had just handed him a personal maid.
Although he couldn't quite grasp Yoruichi's intentions, the thought of having Shaolin Fēng under his command made him look forward to life in the Second Division...
---
The next morning, Kaelith Yurei and Yoruichi returned to the Seireitei.
Captain Unohana greeted their unauthorized departure with a chilling dose of killing intent, leaving the two thoroughly "cleansed."
It wasn't until they fervently promised never to repeat their mistake that Captain Unohana finally let them off the hook.
Once she left, Kaelith and Yoruichi exchanged a glance and chuckled sheepishly.
Yoruichi's shoulder was still wrapped in layers of bandages, while Kaelith's hands were entirely bundled up, resembling two large balls.
After breakfast, the two, still sporting their injuries, accompanied Captain Unohana toward the First Division.
The long-delayed captain's meeting, postponed due to Kaelith and Yoruichi's recovery, was finally set to take place today at the First Division barracks.
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T/N: 2/6!