181: Chapter 181 I object!

Byakuya's fingers still rested on the hilt of Senbonzakura, but he did not draw it, merely staring coldly at Mia: "Lieutenant of the 4th Division, do you know what you are saying?"

His voice was suffocatingly calm—not a threat born of anger, but a warning from a superior looking down upon the dust.

Mia was not afraid in the slightest; in fact, her smile deepened: "I know, 'This is the Kuchiki Family estate,' right?"

She gently pinched Rukia's chubby, naturally flushed cheeks, helped her climb into the basket on Ikkaku's back for Yumichika to look after, and then stepped forward, staring directly at Byakuya.

"However—" Mia tilted her head, her gaze icy, "the Kuchiki Family rules don't forbid telling the truth, do they?"

The air stagnated.

The surrounding Soul Reapers unconsciously tensed up—no one would dare be so presumptuous in front of the head of the Kuchiki Family!

Byakuya's pupils contracted slightly, his killing intent spreading like fine snow.

"Are you implying that the Kuchiki Family needs your instruction?"

Mia smiled: "I wouldn't dare, merely… guidance."

She glanced at the sleeping Hisana on the bed, then returned her gaze to Byakuya's face, saying softly: "Rukia is Hisana's sister, not a vassal of the Kuchiki Family. Her future should be decided by her alone. Is the dignified Captain of the 6th Division really going to use noble prestige to pressure a child?"

This sentence struck with the precision of a blade into the most painful part of Byakuya's noble pride!

Byakuya did not draw his sword, but his spiritual pressure erupted suddenly—a storm of pure white spirit particles swept through, shattering the paper doors and scattering utensils all over the room!

Instead of retreating, Mia advanced, the pink light gathering at her fingertips swirling to form a barrier around her, forcefully blocking that terrifying spiritual pressure!

"Oh? So you were hiding your strength." A flash of surprise crossed Byakuya's eyes—a Lieutenant of the 4th Division shouldn't possess such combat power.

Mia smiled: "Not at all. After all, I'm just a 'wild girl from Rukongai,' I have to have some survival skills."

—Mia's provocation continued to escalate! (The survival maintenance system sighed, *Did she learn to be this naughty from Tuaner? Or has the maternal glow in a woman's bones caused a mutation in Mia's stable temperament?*)

Yumichika had already pulled Ikkaku out of the room, while Chojiro Sasakibe sighed silently to the side, preparing to intervene at any moment.

Just as the atmosphere reached its breaking point, a light cough interrupted the clash of spiritual pressure— "Lord Byakuya." An elder of the Kuchiki Family stood outside the porch, speaking in an aged, unquestionable tone: "This is Lady Hisana's sickroom."

One must not resort to violence in a noble residence, let alone at a patient's bedside!

Byakuya's fingertips finally moved away from the hilt, but his eyes remained sharp as blades: "..."

Mia also withdrew her Qi, but she remained standing in front of Ikkaku, who was carrying Rukia, like an impassable wall.

Kenpachi Zaraki picked his ear in boredom, ready to draw his sword at any time.

Captain Unohana looked at the members of the Kuchiki Family with cold eyes, saying nothing.

Yoruichi and Urahara looked helpless; neither of them had expected Mia to care so much about the feelings of a child she had picked up.

The silence was deafening.

Finally, Byakuya spoke coldly: "Three days from now, on the outskirts of West Rukongai."

—This was a challenge!

Mia raised an eyebrow: "Does that mean we're letting it go for today? Let's go home! Ikkaku, Yumichika!"

"This is for the sake of the Kuchiki Family's dignity." Byakuya turned his back to her, his tone stiff, "But this matter will not end here."

Mia chuckled softly: "Fine, then I'll be taking Rukia with me for now—"

"Wait." Byakuya did not turn back, but his voice was chilling as ice, "You may leave, but she must stay. The most important thing in Hisana's life is finding her sister."

Mia didn't care at all: "Suit yourself. Anyway… if she doesn't want to stay, anyone who tries to force her will die!"

Having said that, she gave Yumichika a look and headed straight for the door.

"Alright, we've left the noble residence now. If you want to keep the child I raised, then show me what you're really capable of!"

Mia was still wearing her veil, making it impossible to fully guess her expression or how much of her statement was serious.

The sunset plated the Kuchiki Family estate in blood-colored light. Mia stood below the bluestone steps, hands on her hips, staring at the gate. Behind her, Ikkaku had Yachiru carry the small basket containing Rukia on her shoulder, assuming a battle stance, while Yumichika stood ready to draw his sword at any moment.

"Ha! Noble rules are all bullshit!" Ikkaku's booming voice exploded in the silent noble street, "What about the three days we agreed on?"

With the sound of heavy doors opening, Byakuya stepped out of the mansion alone.

It was quite the effort for him; he had specifically changed out of his captain's haori into a formal Kuchiki Family crest haori and hakama, the scabbard of Senbonzakura at his waist gleaming coldly in the twilight.

"Trespassing into noble territory." Byakuya's voice was colder than usual, "Do you know the consequences?"

Mia slowly removed the red veil from her face, revealing a visage that had long been hidden. The corners of her lips curled into a curve that could only be described as charming: "Noble sir, I'm the type of person who—hates it most when others try to snatch my things."

She suddenly threw three kunai, which nailed themselves precisely in front of Byakuya's feet!

"Tuaner stole these, they really don't feel right…"

"Clang—" Senbonzakura was drawn in an instant, thrusting directly toward Mia's chest.

"Damn it, another Zhang Lingyu." Mia complained under her breath, but her feet didn't falter in the slightest. She stepped directly onto the spine of Byakuya's sword with her silk-clad foot, and immediately followed up by kicking Byakuya in the chest with her fragrant foot, pushing him back a distance.

"Wait, they actually started fighting?! Is this girl that fierce?" Kisuke Urahara had thought that in the end, Mia would give up custody of Rukia and end the dispute.

"Oh! Are you falling for a girl who dares to love and hate so fiercely?" Yoruichi's malicious voice sounded in Urahara's ear, making him shiver. Urahara quickly covered his mouth.

Kenpachi Zaraki and Retsu Unohana did not move. The former was completely unconcerned, wanting to see how much of the strength Mia displayed during their usual sparring she could actually bring to bear. The latter was completely indifferent; only a Soul Reaper with a broken brain would go for the kill against a Lieutenant of the medical division, and she wanted to see if the rumor that this woman could cut down Kenpachi Zaraki in one strike was true.

A trace of disdain appeared on Mia's elegant and charming, tranquil face: "Is that all?!!" (The survival maintenance system warned, *Is this girl possessed by Tuaner? Quick, scan her!!*)

"Fine! I'll just snuff out all your boring noble pride and insincere excuses right at your front door!!"

Mia didn't draw the two zanpakuto at her waist, which were currently just decorative, but kicked off from the ground, using the reaction force to appear instantly in front of the still-unsteady Byakuya. She unleashed a series of flashy yet practical kicks, raining blows upon Byakuya, and Ikkaku, watching from the side, instantly felt that the air around him became fragrant...