A flash of realization crossed Wang Xun's mind.
It wasn't because of the Kidō Corps, nor was it because of some rule, but rather…
It was because of that lieutenant position. He was stopping him from rising in rank.
Wang Xun fell silent.
'So that's how it is.'
Tsunayashiro Tokinada wanted to strip him of his right to promotion on a political level.
'How truly interesting.'
Pondering this, Wang Xun's footsteps suddenly came to a halt.
He raised his head and looked ahead.
In the twilight, a figure stood at the street corner.
He just stood there, as if merely taking an evening stroll and passing by by chance.
Wang Xun looked at him, remained silent for a moment, and then walked up to greet him.
"Lieutenant Aizen."
Aizen's gaze lingered on Wang Xun for a moment before shifting away, landing in the distant direction of the Kidō Corps.
He spoke in a low voice, carrying his characteristic gentle tone.
"What's wrong? Have you run into some difficulties?"
***
Aizen's secret laboratory maintained its usual precision and order.
The experimental tables were neatly arranged, and the soul fragments suspended in glass vessels emitted a faint glow.
In the central container, the Hōgyoku floated slowly. Its warm blue light permeated every inch of the space, yet it could not dispel the tense atmosphere quietly spreading through the air.
Wang Xun pushed open the stone door of the laboratory, his footsteps extremely light.
His gaze swept across the room. Aizen was standing in front of the Hōgyoku's container, his posture as upright as ever, looking no different from usual.
However, Wang Xun keenly caught a hint of something different.
It was an indescribable, subtle change.
In the past, no matter the situation, Aizen was always surrounded by a calm composure that suggested everything was under his control.
It was as if all things in the world were pieces on his chessboard, and even the most unexpected variables could be easily overturned by him.
But at this moment, Aizen's expression was slightly gloomy, lacking his usual sense of ease.
Tōsen Kaname's capture and the sudden appearance of an unknown faction had ultimately planted a sliver of a crack in his mind.
Wang Xun approached the experimental table, facing the complex Reiatsu fluctuation charts and spell foundations.
His fingers lightly brushed across the foundation, his Reiatsu probing into the nodes to calibrate the experimental data.
The mass of Reiatsu in the petri dish slowly restructured under the Hōgyoku's influence, emitting a faint hum.
The Hōgyoku floated in the central container, casting flickering light and shadows across his face.
This was the Hōgyoku experiment he had been entrusted with.
Even though Aizen had him take over Tōsen Kaname's work and participate in the Hōgyoku's Hollowfication experiments…
…Wang Xun could sense that Aizen's attention was no longer on the experiments here.
At this time, Aizen was sitting on the other side of the experimental table, several ancient texts spread out before him.
The pages of those books were yellowed, clearly quite old.
His fingers lightly traced over the pages, his gaze falling upon the dense text.
Although Aizen's expression hadn't changed much from usual, remaining as steady and calm as ever, Wang Xun could feel a subtle shift in Aizen's mindset.
He was no longer just the lofty mastermind; he had also become a target of surveillance and attacks.
This kind of passivity and disadvantage was perhaps something he rarely experienced.
Wang Xun did not disturb him, simply continuing the work at hand.
"Wang Xun, put the Hōgyoku experiments on hold for now."
Aizen's voice came from the opposite side, calm and deep.
Wang Xun's fingers paused slightly as he looked up.
Aizen was staring intently at the ancient text in his hands.
"There is no rush for these experiments at the moment. The most important thing right now is to investigate that faction hiding in the shadows."
Wang Xun set down his experimental work.
"Do you have any leads, Lieutenant Aizen?"
Aizen did not answer immediately.
He picked up an ancient book.
He flipped to a certain page and lightly tapped the paper with his finger.
"Nine hundred years ago, there was a war in Soul Society. A Quincy army calling themselves the Lichtreich invaded Soul Society."
"They possessed immense strength. The first generation of the Gotei 13, led by Yamamoto Shigekuni, paid a massive price to defeat them."
Wang Xun's brow twitched slightly.
He naturally knew this history; it had been briefly mentioned in the Shin'ō Academy's curriculum. Therefore, Wang Xun merely displayed a perfectly measured look of surprise.
"Quincies?"
Aizen walked back to the experimental table, spread the ancient book open, and pushed it in front of Wang Xun.
"Look at this."
Wang Xun lowered his head and looked at the illustration on the page.
It was an ancient drawing depicting people in white uniforms wielding Reishi bows and arrows.
Although the style and color scheme of the uniforms were slightly different, the overall aesthetic was exactly the same as what Haschwalth wore that night.
White robes with silver patterns—simple and austere.
Wang Xun's pupils shrank slightly.
"The identities of the people who appeared that night… they were Quincies?"
Aizen nodded.
"Nine hundred years ago, after they were defeated by Yamamoto Shigekuni, they scattered in all directions."
"A hundred years ago, Soul Society carried out a final extermination of the Quincy remnants in the World of the Living."
"It seems some Quincies did not completely die out, but rather hid in the shadows of Soul Society through other means."
Wang Xun looked up at Aizen, a flash of perfectly timed shock in his eyes.
"They… weren't completely wiped out?"
Aizen's voice was calm, but Wang Xun could hear the chill within it.
"For nine hundred years, no one discovered them, until our Garganta experiments inadvertently touched upon their hidden space."
He paused, his gaze deepening.
"It seems that is precisely why they attacked our experimental base."
Wang Xun fell silent for a moment, his mind racing.
Aizen's analysis was almost identical to the truth, except for the true source of the detection wave.
It seemed that in Aizen's current understanding, it was the Garganta experiments that accidentally brushed against the Wandenreich's secrets, thereby drawing the enemy's attack.
But he still didn't know that it was Wang Xun who had actively initiated the probe.
"Then, are they our enemies?"
Wang Xun asked, a trace of solemnity in his voice.
The corners of Aizen's mouth curled up slightly, carrying a cold and scrutinizing edge.
He paused, his gaze falling on Wang Xun.
"They made a move against my people; that is undeniable."
"But that doesn't mean we must immediately become hostile toward them."
Aizen shook his head.
"At least… not right now."
He stood up and walked over to the petri dish, looking at the Hōgyoku suspended inside.
The blue light reflected on his face.
"The fact that they could hide in the shadows for hundreds of years proves they are not reckless fools."
"Furthermore, their short-term goal aligns with ours."
Wang Xun looked up.
"You mean…"
Aizen turned around and looked at him.
"Defeating the Gotei 13 led by Yamamoto Shigekuni."
Hearing this, Wang Xun's eyes flickered slightly.
"Quincies and Shinigami are blood enemies. They couldn't have hidden in the shadows for hundreds of years just to eke out a meager existence."
"They are waiting for an opportunity—a chance to launch a full-scale counterattack on the Seireitei. And this matter does not conflict with our plans."
A hint of contemplation flashed in Aizen's eyes; he was considering something much deeper.
"Therefore, we can feign an alliance with them for now. We will use the Quincies' strength to wear down the forces of the Gotei 13."
"Once both sides are mutually crippled, we will step in to achieve our own goals."
"This way, not only can we force this hidden enemy out of the shadows early, but such a chaotic situation will also be beneficial to our plans."
Wang Xun looked at him.
"Do you think these Quincies will believe our rhetoric and form an alliance with us?"
Aizen smiled.
"They don't need to believe us. They only need to know that we share a common enemy."
"From a standpoint of pure interest, we have no fundamental conflict."
He paused, his gaze growing profound.
"Of course, this is only temporary."
"Once the Gotei 13 is weakened to a certain extent, and once the Quincies' usefulness is exhausted, that will be the moment we strike."
Wang Xun's brow twitched slightly.
"You want them to slaughter each other, and then reap the spoils as the fisherman?"
Aizen nodded.
"I will use Kyōka Suigetsu's power to convey their existence to the Seireitei."
"The hatred between Shinigami and Quincies does not need me to ignite it."
"I only need to make both sides aware of each other's existence. After that, we just need to watch from the shadows and wait for the perfect moment to arrive."
Wang Xun fell silent.
Aizen's plan sounded absolutely flawless.
Using the Quincies to weaken the Gotei 13, then letting the Gotei 13 wipe out the Quincies, and finally reaping the benefits himself.
It was a classic case of borrowing a knife to kill, driving a tiger to swallow a wolf.
Moreover, with Aizen's capabilities, it was entirely possible for him to pull it off.
But Wang Xun knew that this plan was fatal to him.
If Aizen truly established contact with the Wandenreich, and if both sides sat down to negotiate, then the fact that he had sent the signal to probe the Wandenreich would very likely be exposed.
Not to mention, the Quincy side had Loyd's memory-reading abilities. Even though Wang Xun hadn't made any obvious blunders, if both sides truly delved into the matter, it would be very difficult for him to cover it up.
Wang Xun's fingertips grew slightly cold.
"How do you plan to make contact with these Quincies?"
He asked, keeping his voice steady.
Aizen looked at him.
"That is your next mission. Find that space, and find them."
"If you can make contact, convey our desire to cooperate. If you cannot find them, I believe they will take the initiative to contact us."
Wang Xun lowered his head.
"Understood."
Aizen nodded. He was about to say something else when he suddenly changed the subject.
"Wang Xun."
Wang Xun looked up.
Aizen stared at him, his gaze turning sharp.
"There is one thing I have been meaning to ask you."
"Before Tōsen Kaname was captured, he mentioned something to me."
Aizen's voice was calm, yet it carried a different underlying implication.
"He said you were making some little moves during the experiments. But when I asked you at the time, you said you weren't."
Wang Xun's fingers clenched slightly.
Aizen stood up and walked over to him.
"Is what happened back then connected to what is happening now?"
Wang Xun fell silent.
His mind raced.
'Tōsen Kaname really did dig a pit for me.'
He had complained to Aizen beforehand, and Aizen had remembered it all along. Now, he was linking it directly to the current situation.
Aizen looked at him, his gaze as deep as an abyss.
Wang Xun could feel the Reiatsu around Aizen shifting.
That oppressive feeling was exactly the same as that day at the barren mountain experimental base.
But Wang Xun could sense that Aizen's killing intent wasn't strong.
He wasn't trying to kill him; he was probing.
Probing his loyalty, testing whether he was still worthy of trust.
Countless thoughts churned in Wang Xun's mind.
Aizen was too sharp. Even if he desperately denied it now, once they actually established contact with the Wandenreich, given Aizen's caution, this matter couldn't be kept hidden.
If Aizen learned the truth through other channels later, his situation would be even more dangerous.
Confessing everything… was out of the question, of course.
He couldn't mention Urahara, and he couldn't admit that he had actively initiated the detection wave.
He needed to find a middle ground…
Admit to part of the truth, but withhold the key information.
Wang Xun took a deep breath, then slowly exhaled.
"I did indeed hide something."
Aizen's eyes narrowed slightly.
Wang Xun did not avert his gaze; he merely lowered his head, his voice calm and sincere.
"During the previous Garganta experiments, I detected a strange spatial fluctuation."
"I didn't think much of it at the time, but out of curiosity, I probed it a few more times."
"I never expected there to be people inside, much less that they would turn around and attack us."
He paused.
"This was my mistake. I didn't know it would lead to such a result. This is my responsibility; please punish me."
The laboratory fell quiet.
There was only the hum of the experimental equipment and the faint crackle of the Reishi lamps.
Aizen stood there, looking at Wang Xun, silent for a long time.
His gaze swept back and forth across Wang Xun's face, as if evaluating him.
Wang Xun didn't look up. He just stood there, waiting for Aizen's judgment.
Time ticked by, second by second.
Finally, Aizen let out a shallow breath.
His Reiatsu slowly retracted, and the oppressive feeling dissipated with it.
"Considering this is your first offense, I will forgive you this time."
His voice was calm, but it carried a trace of a chill.
"But remember this: next time, consider the consequences yourself."
Wang Xun bowed his head.
"Thank you, Lieutenant Aizen."
Aizen turned around, walked back to the experimental table, and sat down.
He picked up the ancient book, flipped back to the previous page, and let his gaze fall upon the ancient text.
"Find that space and convey our intentions. If you can rescue Tōsen Kaname, it will count as redeeming yourself, and I will no longer pursue your responsibility in this matter."
He looked up at Wang Xun.
Wang Xun nodded.
"Understood."
Aizen said nothing more.
He lowered his head and continued to leaf through the ancient book.
Wang Xun stood in place, looking at his back, and secretly breathed a sigh of relief in his heart.
He hadn't expected this matter to be brushed over so lightly.
Aizen didn't press for details or delve into the reasons for his concealment. He merely gave a warning and let him continue his work.
Wang Xun turned around, walked back to the experimental table, and resumed his tasks.
But his mind was no longer on the experiments.
Aizen's leniency was not out of trust, but calculation.
He needed Wang Xun right now; he needed his abilities.
Killing him now would do more harm than good. In his plans, Wang Xun still had utility value.
Moreover, Aizen had already begun thinking about how to utilize the Quincies' power.
Aizen sat at the experimental table, turning the pages of the ancient book one after another, but his gaze wasn't actually on the text.
He was thinking.
Wang Xun was indeed hiding something; there was no doubt about that.
Aizen could understand such motives, and he could tolerate them.
Unlike Tōsen Kaname, who truly understood his ideals and his path, the only thing about Wang Xun that Aizen cared about was his value.
His Hollowfied constitution, his talent for spatial spells, his understanding of the Hōgyoku—these were all irreplaceable.
Tōsen Kaname had already been captured. If he lost Wang Xun now, his plans would suffer a severe blow.
Therefore, he chose to temporarily tolerate Wang Xun.
Not because he trusted him, but simply because he still needed him.
After all, things hadn't reached such a dire state yet.
Aizen closed the ancient book, stood up, and walked over to the petri dish.
The blue light reflected on his face, casting his expression in shifting light and shadow.
"Wang Xun."
Wang Xun looked up.
"Once you find that space, do not act rashly. Wait for my orders."
Wang Xun nodded.
"Understood."