The plants in the garden were flourishing beyond expectation.
Calling them vigorous barely did justice to the vitality they possessed.
Originally, they had been nothing more than ordinary seeds purchased from outside the academy.
However, after growing for years within the dense Reishi environment of Shin’ō Academy and under Chigusa Rin’s meticulous cultivation, they had gradually undergone subtle spiritual mutations.
Within Rin’s perception, the life force contained inside these plants had already reached the level of a first-year Shin’ō Academy student.
They were the very crops he deliberately cultivated to steadily increase his own Spiritual Pressure.
Originally, these plants were intended to serve as nutritional supplements.
Once mature, they could be processed into delicate pastries commonly consumed by noble families from childhood, allowing young Shinigami to establish a solid spiritual foundation early in life.
After years of researching medicinal herbs and pharmacology, Rin further improved their usage by creating medicinal cuisine from the roots and stems.
Compared to ordinary pastries, these dishes were even more effective at strengthening the body and consolidating Spiritual Pressure, producing noticeable results even for upper-year students whose Spiritual Pressure had already reached Levels Nine and Ten.
This had also become one of his most important sources of income.
Naturally, selling those products depended greatly on Nanao’s assistance.
As a member of the prestigious Ise Clan, she enjoyed certain conveniences within Shin’ō Academy.
At the very least, senior students wouldn’t dare openly deceive her.
Furthermore, Nanao also held a minor position within the student committee, making buyers trust the products she sold far more readily.
With that arrangement, everyone benefited.
Whenever Nanao handled the sales, she received a fair share of the profits, further strengthening her position within the student committee.
Meanwhile, Rin earned a considerable amount of money while continuously increasing his own Spiritual Pressure through cultivating the plants.
Everything had been progressing smoothly.
Unfortunately, success inevitably attracted envy.
Before Rin had even reached the garden…
“O Lord!
Mask of flesh and bone, all creation, flutter of wings, ye who bears the name of Man…
Hadō Number Thirty-Three, Sōkatsui!”
A crimson pillar of spiritual fire streaked across the sky before crashing into the garden like a blazing meteor.
Boom!
The carefully maintained flower garden was instantly engulfed by the explosion.
Moments later, two seventh-year students leisurely emerged from the smoke with Zanpakutō hanging at their waists, both wearing exaggerated expressions of false concern.
The fact that they possessed true Zanpakutō rather than ordinary Asauchi meant they had already completed Jinzen and awakened their swords.
Upon graduation, they would certainly qualify to join one of the Gotei Thirteen divisions and even possess the potential to become seated officers in the future.
Rin refused to believe such students would accidentally lose control of a basic Hadō while practicing.
Much less have that attack just happen to land on his hidden garden.
“Sorry about that,” one of them said casually.
“We were practicing Kidō and accidentally lost control.
You’re not hurt, are you?”
Although he apologized, there wasn’t the slightest trace of guilt on his face.
Rin knew perfectly well that Kidō training had designated practice grounds inside the academy.
This secluded corner rarely saw visitors unless instructors specifically came searching for someone.
The excuse of practicing Kidō here was laughable.
The moment the two appeared, he understood they had come with ill intentions.
The other student smiled as well.
“You’re alright, aren’t you?
Thankfully the Kidō aftermath didn’t injure you.
Flowers can always be replanted, but if someone happened to wander into the wrong place…” His words carried an unmistakable threat.
Rin slowly turned around and calmly looked at the two seniors.
His gaze briefly swept across the Zanpakutō hanging from their waists before a faint smile appeared on his face.
Unfortunately, that smile never reached his eyes.
“I’m fine.”
“Thank you for your concern, seniors.”
“I’ll be more careful in the future.”
His composed attitude greatly satisfied the pair.
The two exchanged amused glances before turning around and leaving while laughing among themselves.
Only after they had walked some distance away did Rin quietly whisper an incantation that he had personally developed.
“Perceive the distant threads of sound and discern the hidden whispers carried upon the wind…
Bakudō, Eavesdrop.”
The gentle breeze shifted.
Moments later, fragments of the two students’ conversation were carried back to his ears.
He wanted to know exactly who was behind today’s events.
“Honestly, that kid from Rukongai only needed a little warning.
Was there really any need to destroy the whole garden?
We could’ve dug those plants up and sold them ourselves.
I heard they’re worth tens of thousands of Kan.
That would’ve improved our meals for quite a while.”
The other student snorted.
“That trash happened to get close to someone from the Ise Clan.
That’s one of Seireitei’s old noble families.
When Furunji paid us, he specifically warned us not to drag Ise Nanao into this.
Otherwise…”
Before finishing, he seemed to remember something about the nobles of Seireitei and instinctively shivered.
His companion swallowed nervously.
“It…
it shouldn’t be that serious, right?
I’ve never heard that Nanao has much influence.”
“Shut up!”
The first student immediately rebuked him.
“You think we’re qualified to pry into noble family affairs?
Do you want to die?
Anyway, it’s better to stay out of trouble.
The garden’s destroyed now, so he won’t be able to rebuild it anytime soon.
Once we graduate and join the Gotei Thirteen, this whole matter will be finished.”
The other sighed.
“That kid really is unlucky.
Just because a pastry business backed by a noble family doesn’t like him, they have to cut off his livelihood.
If he’d had any background, things never would’ve ended up like this.”
“Forget it.
Hasn’t Seireitei always worked this way?
Once we’re inside the Gotei Thirteen…”
The rest of their conversation gradually faded as they walked farther away.
Even so, Rin already understood everything.
Someone from the Furunji family had discovered that he was cultivating the ingredients used in his medicinal cuisine.
Although his production was limited, the superior quality had already begun affecting their own business.
After investigating him and confirming that he was merely an ordinary commoner from Rukongai with no backing, they decisively chose to act.
Originally, they had intended to purchase his formula.
However, because of Ise Nanao’s involvement, directly approaching him became inconvenient.
Instead, they chose to destroy the garden first before issuing a warning.
At the same time, this was also a test.
If Rin quietly accepted today’s humiliation, it would prove that his relationship with Nanao carried little real weight.
They could then approach him openly, purchase the recipe at a ridiculously low price, and accomplish two goals at once.
If Nanao intervened instead, then it would simply mean the Ise Clan was secretly supporting the business.
In that case, they could always pretend today’s incident had been an unfortunate misunderstanding.
Rin quietly looked at the ruined garden.
His expression remained perfectly calm, without the slightest ripple of emotion.
What those two students had failed to notice was that when Sōkatsui obliterated the flower garden, mud and shattered earth had exploded in every direction.
Yet not a single speck had touched Rin.
Had they been more observant, they would have discovered an almost invisible fan-shaped barrier standing before him.
It was Bakudō Number Thirty-Nine, Enkōsen.
Moreover, Rin had cast it instantly without any incantation.
Its nearly transparent appearance was the result of countless improvements he had personally made to the technique.
Had those two known that an ordinary fifth-year student from Rukongai possessed such mastery over Kidō, they never would have underestimated him so casually.
After all, despite being seventh-year students who also originated from Rukongai, their Kidō proficiency was nowhere near Chigusa Rin’s level.