192: Chapter 192 Bee Sting and Blood Rose

The afternoon sun scorched the training grounds of the Shinō Academy of Spiritual Arts. Mia yawned lazily and rubbed her slightly sore lower back.

"If I'd known, I wouldn't have slacked off this morning... I'm exhausted now..."

Mia stretched, her gaze sweeping over the students standing at the edge of the training ground—the vast majority were newly enrolled rookies. Only a few students from the elite class would be chosen by the 2nd Division for practical Hakuda training.

And today's instructor...

"Click-clack!"

Accompanied by the crisp sound of wooden clogs, a slender figure appeared in the center of the training ground. A black bodysuit outlined her well-proportioned figure, her short hair clung neatly to her cheeks, and her amber eyes carried an undisguised sharpness—

The new captain of the 2nd Division, Soi Fon.

"Line up, everyone!" Her voice echoed across the training arena. "Today, I will personally evaluate your level of Hakuda."

The students stood straight instantly, their breathing becoming cautious.

Mia sighed inwardly—that look... tsk, it looks like today is going to be tough.

Soi Fon's gaze locked onto Mia like a falcon's, the fighting spirit in her eyes practically overflowing, threatening to melt Mia.

"Mia, step forward."

The whole crowd was in an uproar.

—A dignified lieutenant, actually being called out? Isn't this a public execution?!

Mia blinked, looking innocent. "Me? I'm just here to audit..."

Soi Fon lifted her chin coldly. "As the big sister of the 11th Division and the lieutenant of the 4th Division, surely you don't lack the courage to spar with a colleague?"

(Subtext: Yoruichi-sama said your Hakuda completely destroys mine; I remember that, woman!)

Mia's mouth twitched, and she finally understood—Soi Fon was holding a grudge; she didn't know who had stirred up trouble for her.

Furthermore, she couldn't really use her full strength...

After all, her current identity was a "student," and the other party was a captain.

If she won, it would seem like she didn't respect her superior; if she lost too miserably, it would make the 11th Division look bad. As for being the 4th Division lieutenant, losing wouldn't be a big deal, as few people knew about Captain Unohana's past.

—Balancing this degree of effort was harder than pole dancing!

Mia walked slowly to the center of the field, stretching her wrists and ankles. Then she revealed a lazy smile. "Well then... please advise?"

Soi Fon narrowed her eyes, not waiting for her to be ready at all—

"Suzumebachi!"

She lunged forward instantly, her speed so fast she almost turned into a streak of black light, her sharp fist thrusting straight at Mia's throat!

Mia's heart skipped a beat. While dodging to the side, she blocked with her left hand, her right hand instinctively wanting to counterattack—but she abruptly held back, turning it into a light push.

"Thwack!" Mia's hand habitually pushed against her opponent's chest, and for a moment, she couldn't tell if Soi Fon was facing away from her.

After the clash, Mia looked down at herself, feeling that familiar sadness of not being able to see her own toes.

The two passed each other, and Soi Fon's eyes narrowed slightly.

—Did she... hold back her strength just now? (The survival maintenance system reminds you, in a way you cannot hear, that even without holding back, you are still a "washboard"! )

"Is this your full strength? The lieutenant of the 4th Division?" Soi Fon said coldly.

Mia rubbed her wrist and said with a smile, "Captain, you're so serious, I was afraid I wouldn't be able to hold back my strength~"

—This tone was practically a provocation!

A flash of anger crossed Soi Fon's eyes, and the next moment, her figure suddenly blurred.

"Hōmonka: Flash!"

A faster surprise attack than before! The spiritual particles flickering at her fingertips condensed into a needle shape, heading straight for Mia's flank!

This time, Mia couldn't rely solely on dodging and was forced to use Hakuda techniques to block, but she still carefully controlled it to the level of "barely coping."

"Bang! Bang! Bang!"

The crisp sounds of collision echoed in the training ground as the two figures constantly crossed.

Fine beads of sweat seeped from Mia's forehead—she had to control her spiritual pressure, making the battle look like "Soi Fon has the advantage, but Mia has extreme resilience."

However...

Mia's body had already been "embroidered" with several beautiful "Hōmonka" patterns by Soi Fon; Soi Fon was not so easily fooled.

"Are you looking down on me?" Soi Fon's voice suddenly dropped, and the next second—

"Hōmonka: Double Sting!"

Spiritual particles erupted from her fingertips, attacking from both left and right!

Mia's pupils shrank—she couldn't pretend to be weak anymore! If she were actually hit, she would surely die! Even if she survived, it probably wouldn't be pretty.

She sank her waist, her right hand tracing an arc like a swimming fish, precisely gripping Soi Fon's wrist, borrowing force to redirect it to the side—

[Taiji - Cloud Hands]—"Thwack!" (Thanks to Daoist Wang Ye for the simple pointers.)

Soi Fon was thrown off balance by her, stumbling a few steps before steadying herself.

The whole arena fell silent instantly.

The students widened their eyes: The lieutenant... neutralized the captain's attack?!

After steadying herself, Soi Fon did not immediately pursue. Her eyes became incomparably cold.

"So that's how it is..." she said softly, "You think I can't even force out your true strength?"

—Oh no, hurt her pride! This girl is going to get serious!

Mia screamed inwardly, hurriedly raising her hands in surrender. "No, no, no! I just happened to use a bit of leverage..."

Soi Fon ignored her, instead slowly pulling off her glove, revealing the sharp blade fitted onto her right middle finger.

"She's angry now, revealing her zanpakuto, right? At least it was hidden in the glove earlier." Mia ranted internally.

"Since that's the case, don't blame me for being impolite." Soi Fon began to grind her teeth.

Mia: "...Wait, Captain Soi Fon, are you using something strange?! Can that thing be used on a weak girl like me?"

The corner of Soi Fon's mouth curled into a dangerous arc. "Come! Let me see your true strength!"

"Hum—!"

The air in the training ground trembled instantly, and Soi Fon began to move rapidly within the limited space, leaving afterimages all over the field!

Mia: "Hey?! This isn't something that should be in a Hakuda class!"

Soi Fon sneered, "2nd Division specialized teaching."

Mia: "???"

The next second, Soi Fon's attacks rained down!

—Crap, I have to fight seriously now!

Mia activated her [Ruyi Strength - Kaiten], focusing on a turtle-shell defensive strategy, and began to wear Soi Fon down...

Mia ultimately "lost"—but not because she couldn't win, but because she cleverly allowed Soi Fon to hit her, while using minimal movement to dissipate the impact, then pretended to "barely collapse."

"Tsk, I concede..." She lay on the ground, feigning weakness. "As expected of the 2nd Division captain... truly... amazing!" (The survival maintenance system reminds you that this move is a bit better than the one Sister Baoer used, but only by a little.)

Soi Fon stared at her for two seconds and snorted coldly. "Your acting is too fake."

Mia: "..."

But at least she gave her face, and Soi Fon's mood seemed to improve slightly.

She turned to leave, but before leaving, she dropped a sentence:

"Next practical training, don't hold back."

Mia was stunned, then smiled silently.

—This person is unexpectedly straightforward...

Renji, wearing split-crotch pants (whispering): "Big Sister Mia lost?!"

Rukia, with two little blushes on her face (tilting her head in thought): "It feels strange..."

Little adult Toshiro (with an all-seeing look): "She's acting. You two aren't even ten years old combined, what do you know?"

Rukia, Renji: "Toshiro, how old are you...?"

Toshiro: "..."