It wasn't until this moment that Aunt Inoue noticed Su Li was wearing an official Shinigami uniform with a vice-captain's badge.
"A-Li, you are…"
Aunt Inoue's eyes widened, her voice laced with confusion.
"I passed the selection exam, Auntie."
Su Li replied with a calm smile.
Aunt Inoue's gaze shifted quickly to the number "2" embroidered on Su Li's sleeve.
"Then this…"
"I've joined the Second Division, Auntie."
"And the stripes beneath the number…"
"I've been appointed vice-captain."
Aunt Inoue stood frozen for a long while, her mind failing to catch up. She stared at Su Li's vice-captain insignia in disbelief.
Su Li said nothing more, just smiled patiently as she waited.
Moments passed, then Aunt Inoue suddenly inhaled sharply and opened her eyes wide in shock.
"You're the student everyone's been talking about?!"
"I suppose so."
Su Li scratched her nose awkwardly, her cheeks glowing with embarrassment. Being praised in front of family made him especially shy.
Aunt Inoue took another deep breath, her chest heaving exaggeratedly. Then came the scream.
"Wow!! Oh my God!!"
"A-Li, you're incredible!!"
"I knew it! Since you were a child, I always said you'd be someone great!! Wooooooooooooooooooo—!!"
"A-Li, you've made me so proud!!"
She pulled Su Li into a tight embrace, her face full of tears and joy. Su Li's face turned completely red.
"Cough… cough… Auntie… I can't breathe…"
Sometimes, joy doesn't come from pain. But joy often brings pain. Su Li was now experiencing both at once.
Aunt Inoue didn't care. She was lost in excitement.
"My dear nephew! We must celebrate properly tonight!"
"Vice-captain! Do you know what kind of status that is?! Those old men ran straight to the tavern before sunset, trying to fish for gossip about you!"
"Hmph! If they ever learn that my nephew is the one they're asking about, they'll choke on their sake!"
"Hehehe! We drink tonight! No holding back!"
Aunt Inoue threw fists in the air, her excitement boiling over like an old veteran drunk.
Su Li: "…(foaming at the mouth)"
---
Late at Night
After cleaning up the last of the empty sake bottles, Su Li finally sat down to rest. Aunt Inoue had long passed out from excitement and alcohol, so he carried her to her room.
The night was still. After a long day, peace finally settled in.
Su Li looked up at the moon, silently dazed.
It had already been a year since he transmigrated into the Soul Society.
Now, less than two years remained before Aizen's betrayal.
And less than four years until the invasion of the Wandenreich.
There wasn't much time left for him.
Even though his strength had grown considerably, it was still not enough to face what was coming.
Not Kyōka Suigetsu's perfect hypnosis.
Not Yhwach's almighty power.
His Ultra Instinct had just reached the level of Sign — far from true mastery.
Sure, he beat Sui-Feng during her Shunko with pure instinct and evasive ability.
But if she had landed her Jakuho Raikoben, it would've been the end.
His body wasn't yet built like Goku's. He couldn't tank heavy hits. Dodging was still his only defense.
Even his offensive abilities were lacking.
Otherwise, he wouldn't have needed to stall for time in the vice-captain selection match.
"If only I had more techniques…"
Su Li sighed softly. Melancholy washed over his face.
As if heaven had heard his grumble, the quiet courtyard suddenly echoed with a frog's croak.
"Quack! Quack quack!"
Su Li instantly perked up.
"Crap! I almost forgot! The frog cub — my secret weapon!!"
He opened his system interface.
The frog cub blinked drowsily from inside, clearly just waking up.
"Cuck!"
The frog pointed to its mouth.
"Hungry? No problem! Breakfast — no, dinner is coming right up!!"
Su Li dashed into the courtyard, flipping turf and digging rapidly.
Soon, a pile of plump green worms sat before the frog cub.
The frog didn't hesitate. It gobbled them down in seconds.
"Cuck!!"
"Still not enough?! Got it! Wait here!! I'll feed you to satisfaction!"
"You're my precious partner, after all!"
Under the moonlight, Su Li moved quickly across the grass.
Thirty minutes later, the frog cub's belly was round with content.
Excited, Su Li pressed the [Travel Button] on the system interface.
Just like last time, the frog picked up its bundle, leapt up with a boing, and vanished into thin air.
Su Li opened the system's travel page.
"One month this time? That's a bit long…"
He glanced at the travel coupon in his backpack and hesitated.
Forget it. Time to splurge.
He used the expedited travel coupon, cutting the return time to 5 minutes.
Sitting calmly on the steps, Su Li waited.
Soon, a system prompt chimed. A photo appeared.
In it, a desolate ancient battlefield stretched endlessly.
Countless warriors in ninja garb lay dead, the ground soaked in blood.
Above them, a massive moon glowed ominously.
Several figures stood on one side. Facing them was a single man holding a black staff.
And in the center — a man in green surrounded by crimson energy.
Su Li's jaw dropped.
"Holy crap!! That's King Kai!!"