Chapter 172 171: As a Human Being

Push the door and enter.

Two steps away, the indoor scene is already in full view.

The table and chopping board placed next to the window, the calligraphy and paintings hanging on the wall, and the old man lying in bed, watching him calmly...

The layout of this bedroom can be said to be quite simple.

Just for a moment, Arima Shizuya focused his gaze on the figure not far away.

The contemporary rotten wood is in charge, rotten wood silver mountain.

He sat on the quilt, wearing a pure white robe.

In the sunken eye sockets, his vision had no brilliance at all.

Forty years of spring, summer, autumn and winter.

Stroke by stroke, deeper marks were left on the old man's face.

If we say Yamamoto Genryusai Shigekuni is a vigorous and powerful pine and cypress.

At this moment, the rotten trees and silver ridge are just old dead branches...

A visible sense of decay and fatigue.

But even so, his dry and thin lips slurred for a moment, and he still squeezed out a rather forced smile.

"Long time no see, Shizuya Arima."

The person involved bowed respectfully in return.

"As you said, the master of Kuchiki..."

Since the internal retirement ceremony of Nozomi Ohmaeda, the vice-captain of the Second Division.

"Ahem, we haven't seen each other for two spring and autumn years."

"Yeah, I didn't expect it has been so long..."

The meeting was just for pleasantries and did not get to the point. This is also where etiquette lies. At this moment, the smile on Arima Shizuya's face was extremely dull.

After all, you have to take care of the other person's mood to some extent.

The young man was thinking about finding a topic at this moment.

"Captain Unohana should have diagnosed you some time ago. What's the specific situation?"

Kuchiki Ginling shook his head slightly, without any fluctuation in the expression on his face.

"Still have no clue."

That is, there is no disease.

There is no adjustment at all.

"Excuse me, please pass me a tea cup."

Arima Jing didn't doubt his presence and hurriedly handed over the teacup.

"Thank you."

Seeing the other person carefully sipping it in small sips, Arima Shizuya's eyes became helpless and emotional.

"I want to say that patients can't drink strong tea, but... forget it."

As things stand, happiness is the most important thing.

Kuchiki Ginling's face trembled. At this moment, he raised his head half-way, and the gleam in his eyes was filled with an inexplicable smile.

"I appreciate this kindness."

"You're welcome~ Just don't blame me if you get acid reflux in your stomach later."

"Haha! It's true that you can't eat too much when you get older. After all, digestion can't keep up with when you were young."

"I got some newly cultivated tea here some time ago. It is said that it is still purple after brewing and can aid digestion. Do you want to send some to you?"

"That's something from the Technology Development Bureau, right? I can't stand the torment of these people, so let's forget it."

A friendship of more than forty years.

The relationship between the two has gradually deepened over the years.

This is the so-called year-end friendship.

It seems that because his mood has improved, Kuchiki Ginrei's expression has improved a lot at this moment.

The little old man looked out the window cheerfully, his eyes filled with emotion.

"The weather is... very nice."

Arima Jing also heard the words and said accordingly.

"How about going for a walk?"

No matter how dead and rotten the wood is, it will show some vitality after receiving the warmth of the sun.

However, Kuchiki Ginrei declined with a smile.

"Forget it, rats can't see the light of day. The old man...has no face to appear in the light of day now."

There was a clunking sound.

It was the movement coming from outside the door on the other side.

Arima Shizu also glanced over there calmly at this moment, and couldn't help but sigh deep in his heart.

"Then I won't force you, old man."

"Well, let's get down to business."

Kuchiki Ginrei calmly placed the teacup beside him and slowly raised his eyes at this moment.

Slightly turbid, but firm gaze swept...

Condensed on Arima Shizuya.

"Arima Jingye, why are you here today?"

"..."

The atmosphere suddenly became tense.

This also made Shizuya Arima couldn't help but show a troubled expression.

After all, such a straightforward statement is unreasonable. If you speak like this in normal times, you will inevitably be scolded, laughed at, and said to be ignorant of etiquette.

But this statement also depends on the situation.

The other party is the current head of the Kuchiki family, and he is also a real sick person...

It’s not unusual to have some ‘privileges’ at times like this.

Even Arima Shizu, who accepted the move, felt a bit embarrassed.

"Ahaha, I wanted to be more polite..."

"I don't have much time, and I don't have this spare time."

"It's better not to say anything unlucky, old man."

After saying this, Arima Shizu also took advantage of the situation to adjust his breathing.

Since they choose to get straight to the point, they can only resort to tricks.

"I'm here because of Byakuya."

Kuchiki Ginling stared at the cup in his hand and just responded calmly at this moment.

"Well, I can guess more or less."

So the focus should be on what comes after.

The old man raised his eyes slightly, looking straight at the young man in front of him with an expression that was neither happy nor sad.

"You want to say something."

"Can you help Byakuya's child?"

…

Time seemed to have stood still.

Arima Shizuya watched as the old man in front of him stopped, and after three breaths of pause, he raised his head slightly.

Then slowly, he looked this way.

The old man's eyes were as calm as water, without the slightest trace of fluctuation.

"Do you know the weight of this sentence?"

Answer questions with questions.

From an ethical point of view, this kind of behavior is absolutely undesirable - it can easily lead to unpleasant thoughts.

But at this moment, Arima Shizuo had no emotion at all.

"Of course I understand..."

For the Kuchiki family, which is known for its pride, tradition, and self-respect.

"This behavior throws away your dignity."

"A departure from one's own beliefs and the many views inherited from one's own heritage."

"You even have to bear the infamy and rumors that shouldn't exist."

Soul Society has a long history.

The history of Seireitei is very short.

But even so, the regulations and rules that have been formed have formed a moat of their own that is daunting enough.

The implications of crossing this borderline are... self-evident.

Kuchiki Ginrei's eyes suddenly sharpened by three-thirds. He just stared at Arima Shizuya and spoke slowly.

"Are you asking me to break tradition?"

As these words came out.

The atmosphere, which was enough to make the scene so solemn that it dripped with water, all converged on Arima Shizuya at this moment.

I have to say, it was a lot of pressure.

But having experienced more severe situations than this, how could Shizaya Arima shrink back at such a time?

Arima Shizuya pondered for a moment, then said with a smile.

"Old man, honestly... do you really care about these things?"

Kuchiki Ginling's eyes trembled for a moment.

"What's the meaning."

"Literally, old man."

Arima Shizu also turned his gaze and stared out the window at this moment.

"Old things must be good, and the so-called tradition must be right?"

"You must have thought about these things."

"But the final answer must be self-evident."

It would have been like that if the two of them had communicated in the living room more than forty years ago.

Now that the scene has reappeared, the moods of both parties... seem to have undergone some subtle changes.

"Old man, I can understand that you insist on these things for the sake of family inheritance."

Making compromises for yourself and your family is not a weak move.

On the contrary, this is a responsibility that only those who are responsible can shoulder.

"The reason for disagreeing with that guy Byakuya must not be a righteous statement."

The two are not a good match.

What kind of thinking does this conclusion come from?

"Asymmetry in status."

"It brings rumors and pressure from all sides."

"There will even be other lesser nobles who are eyeing him, waiting for him to ascend to the throne."

The situation is far from as calm as it seems on the surface.

Even within the Seireitei, there are still many intrigues and intrigues - Arima Shizuya has experienced too many in the past forty years.

Although he is a spirit body, he is in the Soul Society.

The individuals living here all have their own long lifespans, but even so, these rigid and stubborn things.

But it will still spread among the people and become popular...

Therefore, there are reasons why Kuchiki Ginling insists on his own opinion.

"After all, essentially, the old man is not trying to make things difficult for others."

If I insist on describing one or two.

Right.

"The word 'protection' should be used to describe it, which is the most appropriate way to describe it."

He didn't want to put Byakuya in an embarrassing and dangerous situation.

I don't want this 'incompetent' grandson to bear pressure and risks that he shouldn't have to bear.

It seems inhumane and filled with considerations of rationality and gains and losses.

But in the final analysis, this is love in another sense.

Old and skinny rotten wood.

Before losing his life and completely collapsing...

It will also bring the last trace of shade to the seedlings around you.

When he stopped talking, there was another knocking sound outside the door.

However, there was no reaction from the two of them at this moment. They just looked at each other calmly and allowed Arima Shizuya to continue speaking.

"This feeling is indeed sincere and straightforward."

"But..."

"Seedlings will grow up too, old man."

As an elder, your perception in this area may seem a bit slow.

"Byakuya has grown up. Although he may not be able to assume the position of head of the family yet, I quite recognize his potential."

"So try to believe him, after all..."

"He is the next generation head of the Kuchiki family."

Is it because I can't let go, or is it just disgusting? What the reason is, it is impossible to find out at this moment.

But no matter what.

Kuchiki Ginling's expression became a little melancholy at this moment.

The old man seemed to suddenly become much weaker again, and even the corners of his mouth drooped.

"Yeah……"

Just like Arima Shizuya's behavior just now.

Kuchiki Ginling was staring out the window at this moment.

"I'm a little bit..."

"I don't know what to do..."

"This is the right way..."

A whisper like a dream.

"The child I taught so carefully went astray and could not find his way back."

"The child I forced to teach died in battle at a young age."

"I have done too many wrong things, and I don't want to let this mistake continue..."

So.

"I have never really forced Baiya to do something he was unwilling to do."

"I think this should be the right choice."

"But... now, I find that I am still wrong."

There is no universal theory, only the right medicine.

It's a pity.

"I didn't understand this truth until the end..."

After a moment of sighing, Kuchiki Ginling turned his head. The skin on his face trembled slightly for a moment, and then...

He showed an extremely plain smile.

"Choose to believe that Byakuya..."

"To be honest, it's really worrying."

"This kid is extreme and stubborn. In many cases, he just looks easy to talk to, but in fact, he has a lot of ideas and doesn't even listen to other people's advice."

If you want to talk about it, it can be said that he has a lot of bad habits.

It would take a day and a night to finish.

"But as you said, this may just be that I think too much."

Maybe Byakuya can handle it.

Maybe...

I really shouldn't worry so much.

"Ahem, ahem... Arima Shizuya."

"Old man, I'm here."

Wipe away the embarrassment at the corner of his mouth, Kuchiki Ginrei straightened his back slightly.

"Can I ask you for a favor?"

Although I really want to say it, it doesn't matter.

But after all, I'm facing the head of the Kuchiki family, so I still have to think about it at this time.

"You tell me, I'll try my best."

"What a conservative statement, it's not something you would say."

"Hehe... people have to grow up after all."

Kuchiki Ginrei nodded without comment, and said in a sincere and accurate tone.

"Can I ask you... to help that child before he can stand on his own?"

Arima Shizuka did not answer immediately, but scratched the corner of his mouth in distress.

He folded his hands over his chest.

"You asked this question forty years ago..."

"But the meaning is different, I think you can understand it without me emphasizing it."

That's true.

For the current situation, this statement is closer to the feeling of entrusting an orphan to someone else.

Whether it is rational or emotional, Arima Shizuka at this moment has no reason to refuse.

But at this moment.

Arima Shizuka still wants to know other things.

He frowned slightly and spoke in a deep voice.

"Do you...really trust me so much?"

Faced with this self-doubting statement, Kuchiki Ginrei responded with a calm smile.

"Well, I believe in you."

"I have misjudged many people and things in my life, but this last time..."

"I still believe in my own judgment."

Kuchiki Ginrei took a deep breath and spoke word by word at this moment.

"Arima Shizuya, I'll leave Byakuya to you, okay?"