Cyan Town was quiet that morning—a humble settlement of wooden storefronts, narrow dirt paths, and modest homes nestled between rolling hills. Smoke curled lazily from chimneys, merchants shouted halfheartedly about their wares, and the scent of steamed buns drifted across the square.
For Retsu, it was overwhelming.
Her steps stayed soft and controlled, but Yun Che felt the subtle tremor each time her fingers brushed his sleeve. This was her first time walking into a human town since being summoned—a place filled with crowds, voices, and unfamiliar scents. After everything she had accomplished—the Zanpakuto, the Bankai, the Hollowfication—this simple human settlement made her nervous in a way battles never could.
To her, it was more terrifying than facing her inner demon.
Yun Che, on the other hand, was only mildly annoyed. He barely knew this town; the last time he was here, it was midnight, with nothing but candlelight and the moon illuminating the streets. Exploring it in broad daylight felt entirely new.
Before they entered, Retsu carefully sealed Minazuki into Nodachi form and stored it away. No reason to traumatize villagers with a flying one-eyed beast. She dispelled her fox traits as well, letting her long hair braid neatly toward the front—her classical appearance restored. Jasmine refused to appear and went into Yun Che's inner world instead, choosing to "observe" and have him buy whatever she wanted later.
The moment the two stepped onto the main street, the entire town froze.
Men stared.
Women stared.
Children whispered.
Retsu didn't notice the chaos.
But Yun Che did.
Her elegant braid framed her flawless face; her soft eyes and rosy cheeks gave her the appearance of a celestial maiden disguised in human clothing. Her purple kimono shimmered subtly with each step.
To the people of Cyan Town, she wasn't a visitor.
She was a miracle who had wandered into their little world.
Yun Che muttered under his breath, "I knew this would happen…"
He could feel the men glaring at him with pure jealousy.
He could hear wives smacking their husbands for staring too long.
He could see young women tugging their boyfriends away like territorial cats.
Meanwhile, Retsu simply followed him obediently, fingers brushing the tip of her braid as she waited for him to lead. Completely unaware she was causing relationship damage across the entire street.
To the villagers, Yun Che—with his hooded cloak—must've looked like a bodyguard escorting an extremely precious noblewoman.
He privately wished it were the other way around.
He wanted attention.
He wanted admiration.
He wanted to be the handsome protagonist the girls swooned over.
But no. He got overshadowed. Again.
They reached a fabric shop, and Yun Che sighed.
"Retsu, wait outside. I'll be quick."
"Hai, young master."
She stood outside with serene patience while people stared at her like she was a shrine deity. Meanwhile, Yun Che activated the system's design feature inside the fitting room.
When he stepped out minutes later, everything changed.
He now wore slim-fit tactical black pants, a sleeveless black top, high-grade boots, and a crisp white coat with black trim. It fit perfectly—sleek, modern, and sharp.
The clerk froze.
Her eyes widened.
Her face turned pink.
She quite literally forgot he had walked in wearing a cloak.
The outfit wasn't just stylish—it had enhanced durability from the system, making it functional and protective. His old wedding clothes finally retired.
When he returned to Retsu, they resumed exploring the town.
This time, the stares doubled.
Because now the villagers noticed that the hooded bodyguard was actually stunningly handsome. Women stared with hungry eyes—young girls giggling, older ones looking at him like he was ripe fruit. Some widows nearly fainted.
Retsu noticed immediately.
Her smile stayed gentle.
But her killing intent?
It swept through the street like a silent hurricane.
Anyone who ogled Yun Che felt a knife at their throat. The bold instantly backed away. The thirsty ones paled and lost all thoughts of approaching. Even a few cultivators sensed danger and retreated without reason.
To bystanders, Retsu looked angelic.
To anyone eyeing Yun Che, she was a demon smiling sweetly behind a blade.
Yun Che shivered.
He couldn't decide what was more uncomfortable—the lustful stares or the fact that Retsu was murdering people with her aura alone.
One thing was clear.
Retsu may share him with Jasmine.
But strangers?
Not a chance.
Her young master was hers.
And she wasn't about to let anyone forget it.
Most people in Cyan Town didn't know what to make of the pair strolling down the street.
It wasn't just Retsu's ethereal beauty—though that alone made half the town stop breathing. It was their outfits. Sleek, sharp, unfamiliar. No silks, no flowing robes, no sect insignias. The Profound Sky Continent was accustomed to golden robes, embroidered dresses, and ancient-style garb… not whatever modern, otherworldly designs these two were wearing.
Some villagers even hurried to clothing stalls after seeing them, desperately searching for similar outfits. The shopkeepers simply blinked in confusion. No such clothes existed anywhere in town—nor in any kingdom nearby.
Where had these two come from?
And what sort of background allowed them to dress like that?
Yun Che ignored the rising murmurs and headed for a small inn with a diner beneath it. They had attracted enough attention already, and the last thing he wanted was to step into a high-class tavern swarming with noble idiots and arrogant young masters.
He wanted to eat.
Quietly.
In peace.
Of course… fate laughed in his face.
The moment they entered, heads turned. Conversations faltered. Spoons froze midair.
Who wouldn't stare?
Retsu's gentle smile instantly melted the hearts of every young man within sight. Yun Che could practically see halos forming around her head. And this time, instead of jealousy directed at him…
Now both genders were glaring.
Jasmine was safely hiding in his inner world.
Yun Che wished he could join her.
Maybe they should have stayed in the forest.
He paid extra for a VIP room the moment they stepped in, practically dragging Retsu away from wandering eyes. Once inside, they ordered dish after dish—more out of curiosity than hunger. This was his first time tasting true cooked food of this world. Aside from that apple Little Aunt forced on him months ago… everything else had been his own cooking in the forest.
A small pang tugged at his chest.
Xia Qingyue…
He shook his head quickly. Not now.
When the dishes arrived, Yun Che dug in happily—and froze as he turned toward Retsu.
Sure enough, the beautiful, well-mannered Retsu… was a terrifyingly efficient eater.
Prim, polite, dainty in manner—but her plates stacked up like she was feeding a small army. The staff had to fetch more waiters just to keep up with her consumption.
Yun Che gulped.
Good thing his adoptive father had money.
They conversed softly in Japanese, partly to avoid unwanted attention, partly because Retsu found the language comforting… and because Yun Che wanted to keep others from eavesdropping. The villagers stared strangely at them. A foreign tongue in this world always drew attention.
Between bites, Yun Che summarized what he'd learned:
Yachiru was Retsu's original dominant self—the violent, ruthless Kenpachi. With time, she had mellowed, and when she died, her soul fell into Hell and earned the title "Death Sword." She had suffered endlessly until the system summoned her and rebirthed her within Retsu.
Retsu became the Yin soul.
Yachiru became the Yang soul.
Light and dark.
Angel and demon.
Together, they made Unohana Retsu.
And it showed.
Yun Che noticed it in her subtle reactions.
Sometimes she was serene, gentle—pure Yin.
Sometimes the air around her sharpened, becoming colder—Yachiru's edge flaring through her.
Occasionally she let a dangerous glint appear in her eyes when someone looked at Yun Che for too long.
That last one?
Definitely Yachiru.
And definitely a yandere trait.
Yet she remained the same Retsu—sometimes clumsy, sometimes timid, sometimes bold.
And unbelievably cute.
Retsu herself was a mess of emotions. Her cheeks were red. Her hands fidgeted in her lap. Being alone with Yun Che—just the two of them—felt different somehow. Warmer. Closer. Intimate.
Is this… the date he promised me?
No… it couldn't be. The real date should be special. Romantic. Perfect.
This was only lunch.
…And yet, her heart fluttered anyway.
Because he was here.
Because he had confessed.
Because they were a couple now.
Even a simple meal with him felt like a dream she was terrified to wake from.
She watched Yun Che quietly with a soft smile, feeling that tiny spark of happiness bloom again.
Her new life had just begun.
And she wanted every moment of it… with him.
Retsu's blush warmed her cheeks until they glowed like soft petals.
They were a couple now… then she could sleep beside him.
Every night.
In his arms.
Her heart thumped so loudly she feared Yun Che might hear it.
Just imagining it—
—sleeping pressed against his chest, feeling his warmth, hearing his heartbeat—
Her fox ears would twitched in excitement, and her tail swayed happily… until she remembered she wasn't currently in fox form.
She immediately straightened herself, smoothing her kimono as if that would hide her flustered thoughts.
Her smile was radiant—so radiant that the other customers in the VIP room nearly fainted from the sheer beauty.
The waitress delivering food momentarily forgot she was supposed to leave the plates and go back.
She simply stood there, jaw slack, lost in the sight.
Everything was perfect—
Until it wasn't.
Retsu was just about to shift closer to Yun Che, sliding quietly along the seat to sit beside him, when—
"HOHO~ This young master heard there's a pretty lady in this tavern.
Mind pointing me in her direction?"
The grating voice cut through the warm atmosphere like a rusty blade.
The entire tavern fell silent.
Eyes widened.
Faces paled.
Utensils clattered onto tables.
"Oh no…" someone whispered.
"It's him."
"Poor girl… She's done for."
"That bastard Wang again…"
"Keep your head down or he'll drag you out too."
The murmured conversations filtered into Yun Che's ears easily thanks to his honed senses.He didn't need to hear more to know what kind of person was approaching.
He'd read this archetype in countless novels before.
Young master Wang…
Random scumbag number thirty-seven.
Typical arrogant idiot who thinks he can do anything with a backing.
He closed his eyes briefly.
"…Here we go again."
But before Yun Che could decide how to handle the situation, a dark chill slithered up his spine.
Retsu was smiling.
No—
Not smiling.
Smirking.
The kind of smirk that promised violence, bloodshed, and a "heavenly phenomenon" the tavern would never forget.
Yun Che swallowed.
"…This might not end well," he muttered. "For them."
He quietly offered up a moment of condolence to the soon-to-be deceased fools.
Young master Wang strutted into view, wearing gaudy silks, his hair styled like he thought he was the protagonist of a cheap romance tale. The moment he laid eyes on Retsu, he froze.
And then his jaw slackened.
Then his tongue practically lolled out.
That one, his eyes seemed to say.
That one will be mine.
Retsu didn't even turn toward him.
She didn't need to.
Her aura—soft one moment, razor-sharp the next—radiated unrestrained murderous intent.
Not enough to kill.
Just enough to terrify.
Yun Che recognized the warning signs immediately.
He relaxed, leaning back as if he had seen this scene a thousand times.
"Your call," he whispered to Retsu. "Just try not to repaint the tavern in blood."
She gave him a soft, ladylike smile—that somehow felt far more frightening than her Bankai.
Young master Wang, dizzy with delusion, waved two fingers at his attendants.
"Bring her," he ordered arrogantly. "Young master has decided."
His lapdogs puffed up their chests, emboldened by their master's presence.
They puffed and strutted, barking orders at the staff, pointing aggressively toward the VIP room.
Both men swaggered toward Retsu confidently, certain she was just another helpless beauty to drag away like so many others.
They were wrong.
They were so wrong.
Retsu's eyes lowered, her lashes fluttering in a deceptively gentle manner.
And then—
Her smile curled.
Yun Che sighed again.
"…They're dead."
The two attendants swaggered up to the table, their greasy grins stretching wider the closer they got to Retsu. Both held themselves back from touching her only because even their pea-sized brains understood—touching a goddess without permission meant losing a hand.
"Hello, beauty," one of them crooned, eyes crawling over her body like filthy insects.
"Our young master has taken an interest in you. Why don't you ditch this bastard"—he jerked his thumb at Yun Che—"and come with us? Our master will take real good care of you."
The word bastard hung in the air like a death sentence.
Retsu's expression shifted.
The soft, sweet smile on her lips didn't change.
But her aura—oh, her aura—darkened so abruptly that even Yun Che felt the temperature around them plummet.
He didn't move.
He didn't need to.
He simply leaned back and let his partner do whatever she pleased.
The tavern patrons collectively winced.
It's over.
That girl is doomed.
Her lover is doomed.
Everyone who sits near Young Master Wang is doomed.
Those whispers died the instant Retsu stood up.
The attendants froze mid-step.
Up close, they finally saw her full beauty—her braided hair, her pristine kimono, her delicate features that radiated an almost ethereal softness. She looked like the daughter of the heavens themselves. Their jaws slackened. Their breath hitched.
They were already imagining what they'd do once they dragged her to their master.
Or maybe… maybe even keep her for themselves…
But fate—
and Retsu—
had very different plans.
She stepped forward with a serene, angelic smile. Tilted her head, lashes fluttering.
Then, in one smooth motion, she lifted her right hand.
Her fingertip lightly tapped—no, brushed—the forehead of the first attendant.
A playful flick.
Barely a touch.
"You're an eyesore," she whispered sweetly, her smile glowing like sunlight through cherry blossoms.
flick
The sound was small.
The result was catastrophic.
BOOM.
His head snapped backward as if hit by a charging spirit beast. His skull didn't crack—it collapsed. His body spun like a ragdoll, smashing through three tables before piling onto the floor in a twitching heap.
The tavern fell completely silent.
People forgot to breathe.
The second attendant's legs turned to jelly.
He hadn't even processed what happened before Retsu turned her gentle smile onto him, her eyes soft and kind—
so kind it made him feel like he was standing before Death embodied.
She leaned forward slightly.
"Ara, I am sorry... What about you?" she asked, voice as tender as a lover's whisper. "Do you wish to follow?"
The man collapsed onto his knees violently.
"S-S-Spare me! PLEASE! I-I-I didn't mean— We didn't— I-I-It was him! HIM!!" he shrieked, pointing at his unconscious companion like a desperate rat scrambling for survival.
Retsu's smile didn't change.
Not even a little.
"No," she said warmly. "You're both eyesores."
Before he could scream, her left hand flicked.
flick