Chapter 52 Special Investigation 4

"You...you've lived this long?!"

Upon learning that Han Zhou had once owned Mikazuki Munechika and Tsurumaru Kuninaga, meaning he was at least over a thousand years old, Ranlu's exclamation drew the attention of everyone present.

"Um, um. I didn't mean what you said..." Ranluo scratched her head, looking somewhat embarrassed. She glanced at Hanzhou, who was sitting at the head of the table. Ever since she entered...

The expression on the other person's face didn't change much.

"I don't care about this matter," Han Zhou said, looking at the young woman, who was in her early twenties and more than ten years younger than Qing Ye and Yu Yuwu.

No wonder he's so "lively"

"We've already investigated what you know. Making enemies of the three major families is dangerous. Are you sure you want to join?"

Things have progressed to this point, and Hanzhou no longer needs help. But if the young woman in front of her is determined, she can agree to let her join their group.

When the discussion turned to serious matters, Ranluo immediately calmed down. Although the blush of embarrassment on her face hadn't faded, her expression was very serious.

"Yes. I want to join. Among the A-rank Saniwa, I still have some say. If Lord Hanzhou wants to purge the Saniwa, I can help you select useful people."

Yu Yuwu and Qingye looked at the young woman, a little curious about why she was so confident.

Human hearts are always ever-changing

As humans, they cannot perceive the purity of spiritual energy, and therefore have no way of judging whether the other party is trustworthy.

Han Zhou's interest was piqued by Ran Luo's words, and she began to sense Ran Luo's bloodline. When she detected the faint aura of the demon race, a look of understanding appeared in her eyes.

"No wonder your mother survived; your father is a fox demon."

The fox spirit clan possesses the ability to see into people's hearts, no wonder this little girl is so confident.

"How could she even sense that?!" Ranlu looked at Hanzhou in shock, knowing that Hanzhou only had a few tsukumogami (spirits/spirits) in her past. It was her mother who told them this when she was still alive.

It seems that Ranluo's parents have put in a lot of effort to ensure her safe growth.

"Although your bloodline is sealed, I can still sense it, because you and I are of the same race."

What?! Our own kind!!!

Fox spirits also have many branches, and Han Zhou belongs to the White Fox lineage, which is rare but powerful. White foxes mostly prefer to wander alone and rarely reproduce.

However... if you truly fall in love, then you will never leave each other until the end of your life.

Do you still remember your father?

Faced with Han Zhou's question, Ran Luo shook her head absently. She had never seen her father since birth. In her childhood, she often complained about why he never came to see her.

“Even we have never met our lord’s father,” Mikazuki explained.

"Lord Hanzhou, is my father... still alive?" Ranlu's eyes held a final glimmer of hope, even though she knew the probability of that possibility was less than one in ten thousand.

Although white foxes are free-spirited by nature, once they form families, they prioritize their lovers and offspring. If Ranluo has never seen them, then there is only one possibility.

The other party was already dead.

"For the White Fox clan, if they are not by the side of their loved ones and children, then death is the only outcome." Han Zhou's light golden eyes turned into vertical pupils as he examined Ran Luo's body for any remaining traces.

——

Mutsu no Kami Yoshiyuki watched with a subtle expression as Nankai-sensei used the remnants of the Time Travel Army to create a trap.

"I never thought it could actually be turned into a trap..."

"While we are spirits of swords and blades, I believe our methods of combat certainly extend beyond just using swords," said Nankai Taro Asahi, while busily constructing the trap.

Just as Xiaoye was about to step forward to help, she sensed that unsettling aura from before. Almost instinctively, she gripped the hilt of her sword.

The quickest-reacting twins drew their swords and shielded Nankai Taro Asahi behind them.

"Have you noticed anything?" Hizen Tadahiro asked the twin wakizashi beside him. Although he was also a wakizashi, he had only just been summoned by the government.

In terms of practical combat experience, they are nowhere near as good as Namazuo and Honebami, who revealed themselves early on and fought the Time Retrograde Army multiple times.

"Saya sensed something was off, but we didn't notice anything unusual either," Namazuo replied to Tadahiro Hizen's question while remaining vigilant about their surroundings.

After they remained on guard for a few minutes, nothing happened. The surroundings remained quiet.

Just as Nankai Taro Asahi was about to say something, the sound of a bullet slicing through the air rang in his ears!

He stared blankly at the bullets blocked by the golden barrier, and in an instant, he pulled out his main body from his waist.

"who?!"

"I never expected that woman would actually prepare amulets for you. Even though she's not a spirit from her own citadel..." The person who failed in the sneak attack emerged from the shadows.

That wasn't the Time Travel Army, it was humanity.

Mutsu no Kami Yoshiyuki looked at the unfamiliar man before him, feeling utterly alienated. This was an abandoned world; they hadn't encountered a single person along their journey.

How did he get here?

"People from the three great families?" Mutsu no Kami quickly guessed the other party's identity. Only the three great families could have a grudge against his lord and the ability to conceal their presence and follow them here.

"You're quite clever, but unfortunately, you'll all die here."

The moment the man finished speaking, strangely shaped Time Travelers began to appear around them, emanating a strong aura of malevolence, which startled Mutsu no Kami and the others.

Judging from their imposing presence, you can tell these guys are not easy to deal with.

It seems this special investigation was just a cover.

"You really haven't given up your evil intentions. Aren't you afraid that our lord will find out and hold you accountable?" Kashuu Kiyomitsu looked at the Time Retrograde Army that surrounded them, and even more so at the three families who colluded with them.

"Han Zhou is indeed a very troublesome person, but we also have ways to deal with her." The man said this with great confidence; the three major families were indeed preparing to take action against Han Zhou.

Whether he succeeds or not remains to be seen. But that doesn't stop him from using this to disrupt the mindset of these tsukumogami.

"lie"

Xiaoye held the short sword horizontally against her body, her rebuttal tumbling out. No one knew Hanzhou better than them; no matter how capable the three great families were, they were no match for a high-ranking god.

The short swordsman was the fastest; Xiaoye's figure was too fast for the naked eye to follow, and a whooshing sound filled the air. The man quickly activated his spiritual energy shield.

Click—!

The moment the protective shield shattered, the man's previously calm and confident expression turned to utter astonishment! He immediately retreated, but still couldn't completely evade Xiaoye's attack.

A deep, bone-revealing scar was left on his arm.

"Damn it! Just how many arrays did that woman use on you?!"

Xiaoye's sword was surrounded by a faint halo, and the protective amulet on his body was constantly providing him with power.

To catch the thief, first catch the king. If this human can be captured alive, he will definitely be of great help to our lord.

"Ugh, you've really torn my clothes!" Kashuu Kiyomitsu complained as he looked at the hem of his clothes being ripped by the Time Travel Army's sharp blade, but his hands didn't falter.

While ducking low to avoid the sweeping greatsword, he thrust his own sword towards the enemy's head. The Time Traveler, his head pierced, collapsed to the ground with a thud!

Mutsu no Kami caught a glimpse of the bone snake lurking in the shadows and instinctively called out a warning.

"careful!!!"

Startled by the warning, Kashuu Kiyomitsu turned around, only to catch a glimpse of a flash of cold light and the lifeless bone snake lying on the ground. He breathed a sigh of relief and thanked the white-haired wakizashi.

"Thanks, Bonebur."

"fine."

"That scared me to death! California, please be careful!"

"I know! Mutsu no Kami, you're so long-winded!"

Namazuo watched as the ever-growing army of time travelers surrounded him, cold sweat gradually forming on his forehead. Even with their protective amulets, they would still tire. This seemingly endless army of time travelers could easily engulf them.

"This can't go on! There are too many Time Travelers!!!"

"Xiaoye's situation probably won't be finished anytime soon, so hang in there a little longer!"