Suspicion

To be honest, the two brothers were rather tragic. Rota had caught them while they were discussing their plan. Before their plan had even begun, it had already come to a complete end.

Rota had an idea. If the intelligence was accurate, he intended to retrieve that Soul Bone. Naturally, handing it over was out of the question. Wouldn't it be better to keep it for himself?

Although Rota himself had no use for it, if he took on a disciple in the future, it would make a fine gift.

Rota did not know how powerful an eighty-thousand-year skull bone might be, but judging by its age, it certainly would not be weak.

"The gathering place is actually that little village. Looks like this old man has to make another trip back there~"

Based on the information provided by the brothers, obtaining this Soul Bone might not be so easy. There was something rather intriguing about it.

There was no point in Rota making wild guesses here. He would know everything once he got there. He did not need to prepare anything else—just bring some money and set off.

He slowly arrived at the gates of Spirit City. This place was guarded as tightly as the Spirit Hall Sacred Hall. It was the entrance to Spirit City, and if its defenses were weak, it would be easy for enemies to break through.

When a patrol of knights saw Rota, they hurried over and bowed to him.

"Elder Kizaru, are you leaving the city?" the captain of the knights asked.

"Yes, this old man is heading out to take care of something."

"Understood. Please wait a moment. I will have the city gates opened for you at once!"

At the knight captain's command, the gates slowly opened. Then all the knights stood at attention, seeing Rota off as he left the city.

After leaving Spirit City, Rota transformed into a flash of light and flew toward the Star Dou Great Forest.

Not long after Rota departed, inside the Spirit Hall Sacred Hall, a knight came before Qian Xunjie and reported Rota's recent movements.

"Oh? Elder Kizaru went out to handle some business?"

Qian Xunjie was slightly surprised. He had not expected a lazy fellow like Kizaru to have matters requiring his attention. That was certainly new.

"Do you know where Elder Kizaru went?"

"This... this subordinate does not know."

He could not blame the knight. Qian Xunjie knew Kizaru's speed well. Forget the knights—even he himself could not keep up.

It seemed impossible to track Kizaru. Qian Xunjie had originally planned to send someone to watch him and see what exactly he intended to do.

But upon careful thought, he realized it was simply unrealistic. No one in Spirit Hall could match Kizaru's speed.

"Forget it. You may leave." Qian Xunjie waved a hand, dismissing the knight.

Kizaru could be said to be the elder Qian Xunjie had the least control over. Although Kizaru had ostensibly joined Spirit Hall, he could not be controlled.

This had always been a source of frustration for Qian Xunjie. It was not easy to find such an immensely powerful elder, yet this elder did not particularly like following his orders. Or rather, whether he listened or not depended entirely on his mood.

"Kizaru, can you truly be used by Spirit Hall? If not, then this Pope can only..."

Every word of Qian Xunjie's muttering was overheard by a graceful figure hidden in the darkness.

"Elder Kizaru, what kind of person are you, really?"

"Someone, summon Ghost and Yue Guan." After thinking it over, Qian Xunjie still felt that he needed to be wary of Kizaru.

Though Kizaru was powerful, power that could not be controlled would only bring about destruction. He had to devise a foolproof plan.

Not long after Qian Xunjie's order was issued, an orange figure and a black figure appeared before him.

"Your Holiness, Pope!" Ghost and Yue Guan said in unison.

"Enough, rise. I summoned you this time because of Elder Kizaru."

Ghost and Yue Guan had more or less guessed why. There was a reason Qian Xunjie had chosen them as his confidants. Being able to promptly understand the Pope's intentions was the most basic requirement.

"I will not beat around the bush. What do you two think of Elder Kizaru?" Everyone present was one of his own, so there was no need for roundabout words.

"This subordinate believes that apart from being somewhat lazy by nature, Elder Kizaru is excellent in every other regard," Ghost was the first to state his opinion.

"I share Old Ghost's view. Though Elder Kizaru can be a little frivolous at times, he is extremely reliable when it truly matters."

Yue Guan had experienced it firsthand and had a very favorable impression of Elder Kizaru.

"Is that what you both think?"

Ghost and Yue Guan exchanged a glance, then nodded.

"Alas, it seems you still have not seen Kizaru's true nature. Your vision is still somewhat shallow."

Qian Xunjie shook his head, clearly disappointed. He had not expected either of his confidants to notice the threat Kizaru posed.

"This subordinate is foolish. Please enlighten us, Your Holiness."

"Though Kizaru is powerful, he clearly does not submit to my control. I fear that if I cannot keep him in hand, he will inevitably threaten my rule."

On the surface, Kizaru looked like someone uninterested in worldly affairs, but what such people revealed was merely an outward appearance. Qian Xunjie always felt that Kizaru's thoughts were not so simple.

"Then what does Your Holiness intend for Yue Guan and me to do?" Ghost asked in confusion.

"You do not need to do anything for now. Simply help me monitor that fellow Kizaru in secret. Report to me immediately if he makes any unusual moves."

"By your command, Your Holiness!"

Ghost and Yue Guan agreed.

"That's all I needed to tell you. You may leave!"

Ghost and Yue Guan did not linger, immediately leaving the Spirit Hall Sacred Hall.

"Old Ghost, what do you think of Lord Qian Xunjie?" Yue Guan noticed that his close friend's mood was off and took the initiative to ask.

"No opinion. He's just a selfish man." Leaving only those words behind, Ghost turned into a phantom shadow and departed.

Yue Guan stared in the direction Ghost had left for a long while before coming back to himself. It seemed his old friend had truly undergone a tremendous change.

Yue Guan now faced a serious problem of choosing sides. His friend had come into conflict with Qian Xunjie. If Ghost and Qian Xunjie truly reached that point, which side was he supposed to stand on?

After a long time, Yue Guan let out a sigh. "Old Ghost, it seems I really can't do without you..."

"Teacher, is there anything I can help with?"

Just as Qian Xunjie leaned back in his chair, lost in thought, a soft voice rang out.

"Teacher, is something troubling you?"

Hearing the voice, Qian Xunjie slowly opened his eyes and looked at the beautiful, captivating figure before him. "Bibi Dong, you came at the right time. Help me think of a way to completely control Kizaru."

"This... In this student's opinion, we could start with the people important to him." After a brief moment of thought, Bibi Dong gave her view.

"I forgot to tell you. In the days since returning to Spirit Hall, I've already sent people to gather information on Kizaru, but they found nothing. It's as though he appeared out of thin air."

Bibi Dong's brows furrowed slightly. Looking thoughtful, she said, "Teacher, could he be an expert from some secluded family?"

Bibi Dong's suggestion was not impossible. Although Spirit Hall possessed immense power, it still could not thoroughly uncover information across the entire continent.

"Forget it. No matter where Kizaru came from, if he does anything detrimental to Spirit Hall, then I can only get rid of him!"

Bibi Dong made no comment upon hearing Qian Xunjie's words. Yet a faintly unusual glimmer appeared in her eyes.

"Teacher, then this student will take her leave first." Bibi Dong gave a slight bow before leaving the Spirit Hall Sacred Hall.