Li Xia's words made father and son turn to look at him in unison.
They had not thought much of it before, considering it merely an accident.
Now that they examined it closely, it really had been too much of a coincidence.
For one thing, how had Ryūkotsusei pinpointed his whereabouts? That fellow was no expert at tracking.
For another, Izayoi had been about to give birth. At a time like that, he could not possibly have wanted a conflict with any great demon, much less deliberately provoked trouble or sought out a fight with another great demon. He had not been so reckless as to lose his mind.
So even if he had encountered an old enemy along the way, he would not have lingered to fight.
He would have found a way to shake them off.
"Besides, it wasn't as though Ryūkotsusei and I had never fought over those past few centuries. We were sworn enemies, but since neither of us could gain a decisive victory, neither side would doggedly keep fighting. Yet that time, Ryūkotsusei acted as though something had gone wrong with his brain. Completely unlike his usual self, he insisted on fighting me to the bitter end."
Suddenly, he had wanted not only to settle who was stronger, but to fight to the death!
And he had chosen the very day Izayoi was about to give birth.
It had been after he himself weakened Tessaiga.
It had been shortly after he achieved his second-stage breakthrough.
Too coincidental.
With so many coincidences piled together, it could not possibly have been a coincidence.
Someone must have been pulling the strings behind the scenes to plot against him.
At that thought, the Dog General's gaze turned cold.
Sesshomaru realized it as well, his expression gradually growing grave.
"Father,