"This kid's perception is sharp."
A voice suddenly emerged from the darkness in the distance.
"Haha, Hallmaster Hongchen, my cult's disciple is still waiting for your answer," Zhongli Wu's figure slowly appeared nearby.
"If my grandson agrees, what's the harm in giving you one?" Jing Hongchen said, his gaze never leaving Lin Xiao in the distance. "It's good for my grandson to face some setbacks. Consider it tuition."
Xiao Hongchen didn't know what Lin Xiao was up to, but upon hearing his words, he waved a hand, summoning a guard to remove the soul tool from his body.
Lin Xiao watched the guard disassemble the soul tool and glanced at Meng Hongchen, who wasn't struggling. Suddenly, he spoke, "What are you waiting for? For me to get poisoned?"
At those words, Xiao Hongchen and Meng Hongchen's expressions changed simultaneously.
"How did you know?"
Lin Xiao glanced at Xiao Hongchen. "I know now."
Xiao Hongchen was momentarily speechless.
Lin Xiao chuckled, casting a fleeting glance into the distance, feeling a sense of relief.
Tonight's events should be coming to an end.
Thinking it over, Xiao Hongchen's presence here wasn't entirely surprising.
In Lin Xiao's memory, Xiao Hongchen's personality wasn't exactly pleasant. Even years later at the Continental Soul Dueling Tournament, he would lose his basic judgment due to emotions, even using his status to pressure the Sun Moon Imperial Soul Engineering Academy's team leader.
Now, not yet twelve and spoiled by Jing Hongchen, his character was even worse—nothing like Lin Xiao, who had grown up cautious in the Holy Spirit Cult.
But… tonight's events might not be as simple as he'd thought.
He had a vague idea of who was hiding in the shadows and where they had come from to be here.
For a task assigned to him to involve so many Titled Douluo, there had to be something strange about it.
Having seen through the siblings' plan with a single remark, the guard finally handed over the disassembled soul tool.
Lin Xiao took it with one hand, stepping back slowly, then examined the soul cannon in his grasp.
From the outside, it didn't look much different from a standard soul cannon, but his senses during the fight hadn't been wrong. This was likely a prototype of the future array soul tools.
Glancing at Wu Yun and Wu Yu, they understood instantly and moved closer to him. Together, they darted toward the capital.
"You—"
Xiao Hongchen started to speak, but then saw Meng Hongchen flying toward him through the air. He hurriedly stepped forward to catch her.
"What are you waiting for? Chase them!"
"Yes!"
The guards rushed after them, but having broken free of their encirclement and with the capital so close, Lin Xiao and his group entered the city and vanished into the streets before the guards could catch up.
They were, after all, just guards, not an army, and lacked the authority to search the city. They soon lost track of Lin Xiao's group.
When Xiao Hongchen confirmed Meng Hongchen was unharmed and returned to the capital, he saw only the streets lit by the illumination soul tools on either side.
With a grim face, Xiao Hongchen returned home, only to be greeted by Jing Hongchen's even grimmer expression at the door.
As night gave way to dawn, the morning sunlight bathed the capital, unchanged from the day before, as if nothing had happened.
But within the imperial palace, in the study where Xu Jing handled memorials, an additional figure was present.
"So, this was indeed the work of evil soul masters?"
"Indeed." Xu Tianran nodded, his hands resting on his wheelchair. "Father, the bandits' methods were identical to those of evil soul masters."
Xu Jing's gaze swept over Xu Tianran's wheelchair, his eyes flickering briefly before returning to the memorials on his desk. "I understand."
"Father," Xu Tianran spoke again.
"What is it?"
Xu Tianran lowered his voice slightly. "Father, though we relied on the power of evil soul masters in the past, we cannot govern the nation with them. If their influence grows further, I fear it will unsettle the people."
Xu Jing finally paused his writing, looking up at Xu Tianran with interest. "What do you propose, then?"
"Father, why not use bandits to control bandits, thieves to catch thieves?"
"How so?"
"Father, the Holy Spirit Cult has our imperial support and is currently managing the underground trade in the capital. That's a lucrative business they won't easily abandon, making them far easier to control than scattered evil soul masters elsewhere."
Xu Jing's expression shifted slightly, catching the implication in Xu Tianran's words. "You mean to have the Holy Spirit Cult deal with those evil soul masters?"
"Precisely." Xu Tianran nodded. "Father, the Holy Spirit Cult is made up of evil soul masters. They understand their methods and behavior far better than we do."
"This time, we found them because of the Holy Spirit Cult's actions. Since evil soul masters cannot be fully eradicated, it's better to gather them under unified management."
Xu Jing looked at Xu Tianran, as if trying to discern something in his gaze. Xu Tianran met his eyes calmly.
"Father, evil soul masters cannot be trusted with heavy responsibilities, but they're perfect for handling such matters," Xu Tianran added.
Xu Jing pondered for a long time before slowly nodding. "Very well. Letting these evil soul masters wreak havoc across the Sun Moon Empire is unacceptable. Better to harness their power for our use. You handle this matter."
"Thank you, Father."
"By the way, have the materials stolen from Illustrious Virtue Hall been recovered?"
"No." Xu Tianran shook his head. "By the time we found those evil soul masters, they had already sold the materials. There's no trace of them."
Xu Jing sighed deeply and waved a hand. "Forget it then. Illustrious Virtue Hall has submitted another request. Go to the treasury, then personally deliver the funds to Jing Hongchen so he can procure another batch."
"I understand, Father."
"Go handle it."
Listening to the sound of the wheelchair rolling across the floor, Xu Jing stared at the study's doorway for a long time before looking away and shaking his head.
"So be it. It's just a batch of materials. If Illustrious Virtue Hall serves diligently, what's the harm in giving them another?"
Outside the study, as Xu Tianran's wheelchair emerged, someone quickly approached.
"Ju Zi, thank you for waiting so long."
"It's my duty," Ju Zi replied.
Xu Tianran smiled. "No need for modesty. I feel like taking a walk. Accompany me."
"Yes."
Ju Zi nodded, glancing at the others behind Xu Tianran. Aside from one palace attendant, the rest stayed behind.
Xu Tianran closed his eyes briefly, feeling the jolts of the wheelchair. When no one else was around, he suddenly spoke.
"Ju Zi, it's just as you predicted."
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