"Can't we meet?" Song Wen sighed softly, unable to hide the disappointment in his voice. "I came full of hope, thinking I could see you, but... alas! It seems I'll have to wait for another opportunity."
He paused briefly, then changed his tone and asked another question.
"Has Hong Zhe had something important to attend to lately? You once said he was obsessed with cultivation. Why has he been acting so unusually?"
Qiluo clearly gave little thought to his question and answered along the lines he had suggested.
"Hong Zhe has been going to the Ganchang Wasteland frequently of late. According to him, he took in a disciple there and is helping them reach spirit transformation, so he has no time to cultivate in seclusion."
"He took in a disciple?" Song Wen's voice was full of surprise and puzzlement. "As a member of the Divine Blood Sect, how could Hong Zhe take in a disciple outside the sect? Isn't he afraid of being punished?"
Qiluo said, "I found it rather puzzling as well and asked him about it, but he wasn't willing to say much."
"Do you know who his disciple is?" Song Wen asked.
"No," Qiluo said.
Disappointment immediately settled over Song Wen.
Hong Zhe had most likely taken someone outside the Divine Blood Sect as his disciple with some ulterior motive.
If Song Wen could discover the disciple's identity and capture them, he would have another bargaining chip, improving his chances of coercing Hong Zhe.
Song Wen said, "Since it's inconvenient for you to meet me right now, I'll contact you again in a while."
"I'm afraid I won't be able to go out for some time," Qiluo said. "Send me another message in three months."
"All right."
With that reply, Song Wen put away his communication Jade