Chapter 216: Old Times


    <span style="font-weight:400">Yoruichi pointed at the shadow of a tall oak tree in the dense forest. “Soi Fon, can you dig there?”


    <span style="font-weight:400">She had buried a stash of clothes, rations, and other emergency supplies, just in case someone were to falsely use her of a major crime. It wasn’t umon for people in her line of work to unabashedly shift me onto others. She wanted to be prepared if things took a turn for the worse.


    <span style="font-weight:400">And unfortunately, that framing did happen.


    <span style="font-weight:400">The victim wasn’t her but her childhood friend. At the time, she didn’t have the opportunity to retrieve her belongings as she had to hastily flee the Soul Society.


    <span style="font-weight:400">Soi Fon’s brows twitched at the request, looking visibly annoyed. “I’ll not do your bidding.”


    <span style="font-weight:400">Yoruichi was supposed to fight Soi Fon for her life, yet she acted carefree, clearly not taking the challenge seriously. Although she yearned to meet Yoruichi, she could barely endure Yoruichi’s disregard for everything.


    <span style="font-weight:400">The Captain of 2nd Squad drew dangerously close to her limits.


    <span style="font-weight:400">Yoruichi seemedpletely unfazed by Soi Fon’s growing agitation. “Soi Fon, Kazuya is a talentedd. It won’t be hard for him to write a story detailing the most embarrassing scenes of your life.”


    <span style="font-weight:400">Yoruichi tantly and shamelessly threatened her former disciple — a clear sign of Kazuya’spany rubbing off on her. She was quite unaware about the change Kazuya’s influence had brought in her.


    <span style="font-weight:400">Soi Fon, on the other hand, could clearly see the resemnce between her former mentor and the man who had nonchntly threatened to kill her before.


    <span style="font-weight:400">Gritting her teeth, Soi Fon said, “I have nothing to be ashamed of.”


    <span style="font-weight:400">Yoruichi chuckled, her eyes narrowing dangerously. “Did you forget the time you wet your—”


    <span style="font-weight:400">“I get it!” Soi Fon stopped Yoruichi from revealing her deepest and darkest memory — the only memory that Soi Fon intended to take to her grave. “It’s just digging! I’ll do it for you!”


    <span style="font-weight:400">Soi Fon was thick-headed, brash, and unyielding in her beliefs. But even she wasn’t shameless enough to let the whole Soul Society know about her most vulnerable and embarrassing moments. She couldn’t maintain her dignity if no one respected her character.


    <span style="font-weight:400">Yoruichi licked her lips, baring her fangs. “Thanks! I can’t transform right now, or I’d absolutely help you in digging.”


    <span style="font-weight:400">“Keep your excuses to yourself,” Soi Fon replied with a snort. “How deep do I need to dig?”


    <span style="font-weight:400">“Six feet probably?”


    <span style="font-weight:400">“After this, I’ll bury you six feet under,” Soi Fon muttered under her breath. “I swear.”


    <span style="font-weight:400">Yoruichi giggled. “We shall see about that.”


    <span style="font-weight:400">Soi Fon, the Captain of the 2nd Squad and Leader of Onmitsukidō, clenched her fist and brought it down on the ground. Instead of traditional digging, she pounded the earth, creating small craters. The physical exertion momentarily distracted her from the mixture of frustration, annoyance, and lingering affection that churned within her. Her heart beat steadily in her chest, matching the rhythmic thuds of her fists against the ground.


    <span style="font-weight:400">Despite her previous reservations, Soi Fon didn’t feel any shred of humiliation. There was an undeniable sense of satisfaction in aiding Yoruichi.


    <span style="font-weight:400">The sweat trickled down Soi Fon’s forehead, mingling with the dirt that clung to her skin. Lost in the sweet past, she absentmindedly carved a hole that grewrger andrger, reaching a depth of over ten meters.


    <span style="font-weight:400">“Take it easy, tiger,” Yoruichi warned. “I don’t want my bags to get torn.”


    <span style="font-weight:400">Soi Fon acknowledged with a nod and then loosened her grip, shaping her hands into ws to skillfully excavate the earth. In no time, she discovered a ck piece of cloth sticking out of the dirt.


    <span style="font-weight:400">ncing up, she unconsciously grinned. “Found it.”


    <span style="font-weight:400">“Woah!” Yoruichi almost jumped in excitement. “Come on. Whip it out!”


    <span style="font-weight:400">Soi Fon yanked the bag out of the earth and threw it out of the hole. Getting on her feet, she jumped in the air and caught the bag. With a casual but gracefulnding, she arrived before Yoruichi.


    <span style="font-weight:400">Yoruichi urged Soi Fon to put down the bag and reveal its contents.


    <span style="font-weight:400">Soi Fon took out the knife tucked in her sleeve and sliced open the bag. The sight of the purple clothing at the top caused her serious expression to vanish, and her cheeks turned as red as a tomato.


    <span style="font-weight:400">Yoruichi couldn’t help butugh at Soi Fon’s innocent reaction. “My old panties. They were an article of luxury when everyone used to wear loincloths.”


    <span style="font-weight:400">“Why would you put it on top?!”


    <span style="font-weight:400">“To tease innocent people like you,” Yoruichi said. “Take the bag. There is a hot spring nearby. We’ll get a quick dip before starting our match.”


    <span style="font-weight:400">Yoruichi''s invitation to Soi Fon was heartfelt, as she desired Soi Fon to be in her prime during the duel. Martial artists of their level often had one or two undiagnosed injuries. The special hot springs would alleviate Soi Fon''s fatigue and help her with any injury.


    <span style="font-weight:400">However, Soi Fon showed apletely unexpected reaction — her cheeks turned so red that Yoruichi could almost imagine steaming from her head.


    <span style="font-weight:400">“You little pervert,” Yoruichi remarked, apanied by a roll of her eyes. “What were you fantasizing now?”


    <span style="font-weight:400">Soi Fon stomped her feet, frustrated at her uncontroble embarrassment. “It was no fantasy... I was recollecting my first time visiting the hot springs. I got injured during a dangerous mission, and you dragged me there to enhance my recovery.”


    <span style="font-weight:400">Back in the day, Soi Fon was a rookie, barely any more powerful than the low-ranked Seated Officers. Despite her inferior status, Yoruichi had treated her kindly and made her feel like a friend.


    <span style="font-weight:400">Such a moment would never ur after Kisuke ruined Yoruichi’s life. She never felt the urge to torture anyone, but she’d absolutely make an exception for Kisuke. Being condemned to Hell would be worth it for a chance to torture the perverted, maniptive childhood friend of Yoruichi.


    <span style="font-weight:400">Sensing a growing killing intent, Yoruichi patted Soi Fon’s thigh. “Can’t wait to kill me?”


    <span style="font-weight:400">Soi Fon nodded nkly. “Yoruichi-sama, would you be willing to change the conditions of our duel?”


    <span style="font-weight:400">Yoruichi blinked, taken aback by the shift in Soi Fon’s demeanor. “What do you have in mind?”


    <span style="font-weight:400">“I… If I were to defeat you, you’d expose Kisuke Urahara’s current location. He—he must be held responsible for his vile crimes.”


    <span style="font-weight:400">“I can’t believe you are still jealous of Kisuke.” Yoruichi sighed, shaking her head. “I have full faith in my victory, however, I’ll never ept your condition. Do you want to know why? Because it’s disrespectful towards him.”


    <span style="font-weight:400">Soi Fon gritted her teeth, looking vexed about Yoruichi defending Kisuke with passion. “You’re only stalling for time. His recent deeds gave us plenty of leads about his trail. His sins are catching up to him.”


    <span style="font-weight:400">“Stop being a dramatic bit—” Yoruichi paused, eyes widening at thetter part of Soi Fon’s words. “What recent deeds are you talking about?”


    <span style="font-weight:400">Soi Fon looked a bit confused at Yoruichi’s exaggerated tone. “The invasion of Arrancars. Captain Yamamoto has proof that Kisuke Urahara pulled the strings to make everything happen. Many lives would be lost without your friend Kazuya.”


    <span style="font-weight:400">Kazuya''s actions cleared him of any suspicion from everyone. Soi Fon believed that Kisuke Urahara orchestrated everything without the knowledge of Yoruichi and Kazuya — since they were both in the Soul Society the entire time.


    <span style="font-weight:400">Yoruichi snarled. “Believe what you will. But the truth is way crazier than your wildest dreams.”


    <span style="font-weight:400">Yoruichi didn’t have the energy or patience to clear Soi Fon’s decades of pent-up hatred. It hadn’t worked out before, and it won’t work out today either. She had long epted that Kisuke and Soi Fon would never get along in any timeline.


    <span style="font-weight:400">Soi Fon felt like Yoruichi held a big revtion — a truth that might change everything. “Fine, I’ll change my condition.” She cleared her throat. “Once I defeat you, you’ll reveal this truth you speak of.”


    <span style="font-weight:400">Yoruichiughed. “Alright. What if you lose, though?”


    <span style="font-weight:400">“You earn your freedom.”


    <span style="font-weight:400">Yoruichi waved her paw. “Uh uh. You’ll never bother me again and keep my identity secret. Aaaand you’ll keep Kazuya out of everything regardless of our duel’s oue. He doesn’t deserve to lose sleep over my stupidity.”


    <span style="font-weight:400">Soi Fon closed her eyes and let out a sigh. “You always consider him before yourself. Just what did he do to deserve this?”


    <span style="font-weight:400">“A lot more than you can imagine,” Yoruichi said without a change in her casual tone. “For starters, he wants to protect me from harm. You, my former disciple, are looking to murder me. It’smon sense to choose him over you, right?”


    <span style="font-weight:400">“…”