Chapter 545: 545
The city, which used to be bursting with activity, looked as if it was deserted . Few ghosts could be seen on the streets, but none of them were interested in lingering .
Although the common ghost was not too familiar with what had happened between the branch leader and the overlords of the city, they had sensed the dreadful energy fluctuations during the battle .
Some had been brave and tried to fish in troubled waters, but most had hidden away at home, trying to minimize their presence in an attempt at avoiding any danger that might befall them .
As they thought that the battle outside had ended, and that they were safe to exit their homes, the ghosts found that the streets were littered with guards from the Whispering Oak Inn, looking for a traitor .
These ghosts did not care much about traitors . They understood that in this Ghost Realm, everyone was acting for their own benefit, so if anyone betrayed another, it was not such a shocking thing .
However, when they realized that it was the branch leader who had gotten betrayed, they were all somewhat surprised .
Everyone knew about the Whispering Oak Inn, and that this place was the most beneficial place to belong . Everyone wished to become a part of this lone faction within the Ghost Realm, but their recruitment requirements were simply hell-like .
Not many managed to enter the Whispering Oak Inn, so for someone to betray them, the benefits had to be exceptional .
The common citizen could not help but begin questioning themselves what treasure the branch leader had gotten his hands on . Not only had the overlords turned against him, even his own subordinate had tried to grasp it for himself .
These ghosts could not guess that the treasure in question was actually not a thing at all, but a genuinely living being .
There were many theories of what it could be, and even more were dreaming of how lucky they would be if they could pick up such a treasure that others envied to such a degree .
But, everyone understood that they could not mention this treasure out loud . Looking at the frantic search that the branch leader had ordered, they understood that they wished to find the traitor with all their might .
Meddling in such affairs would naturally result in their death, so the ghosts did not venture out of their residences more than necessary .
Those who did have something urgent would hurry to their destination before finishing their business swiftly, and rush back home to their safe lairs .
The guards had not found the traitor that they had been looking for, but they continued to search the city . Many days had passed since then, but the tense atmosphere did not lessen . Instead, it seemed to intensify .
The reason that the guards had not withdrawn, even after failing to find their target for so long, was that Li Zhiqing, or Mo Lian as she was called now, was about to arrive .
The leaders from various cities were not meeting up very often, and when they did, they would almost overturn the entire Ghost Realm .
It was not that this city's branch leader feared for their safety . He knew that all of the ghosts that were present within the city would be committing suicide if they attempted to attack a regional leader .
However, while Xue Wei and Lan were not like them, they were easy to kill, and the two leaders' future depended on them .
Xue Wei and Lan had not shown their faces much in the past few days either . They had been entirely focused on cultivating . While the branch leader was assuming that it was the thrashing they had received by his subordinate that had caused this sudden desperate cultivation, he felt very relieved that they were staying within their courtyard, not taking any risks .
Like this, time flowed slowly, and one day an elegant and refined woman appeared at the teleportation array .
She looked gentle and innocent, but none of the ghosts present dared to take her lightly .
"We greet Region Leader Mo!"
The voice of the guards reverberated through the building as they greeted Li Zhiqing .
She looked so sweet, but everyone knew that she was actually a real devil in disguise . If this world had been different, then she would, without a doubt, have been known as a true seductress .
The guards had been waiting at the teleportation array ever since they got a message of her departure from her own city, and now that she had arrived, they bowed deeply and respectfully .
Li Zhiqing could not help but raise an eyebrow at their polite behavior and chuckled slightly .
"What has that old man planned for me since he has invited me from so far away and even asked his guards to show such respect towards me?"
Although they were both leaders in their own right, and had a decent relationship with one another, they were not so close that they would treat each other with such favor . The only reason that he would show such a display of respect was if he wanted her to do something for him .
She could not help but narrow her eyes as a smile flitted across her lips . It was rather amusing to see this old guy paying such attention to her .
"Well, lead the way to that old man's mansion . "
The guards dared not delay . They gathered around the woman, with a respectful distance between them, and led her towards the mansion where the branch leader resided .
As soon as they entered the hall, Li Zhiqing did not even care about the subordinates that were present in the hall, as she stared at the old branch leader .
"Were you honest when you said that you have a way to leave?"