A Pawn's Passage

Chapter 1361: The Hun Brothers

Huangfu Ji did not respond immediately but laid out his thoughts instead. “There have been quite a number of leaks over the past few years. We treated them as isolated cases, assuming different individuals on different lines were responsible. We even reflected on why there seemed to be so many traitors.

“But now, it seems there is another possibility. These seemingly different lines are not truly independent and ultimately converge at a single point—the upper ranks. We never considered that a traitor might exist at that level. Miss Ale’s intelligence suggests that the leaks came directly from the top, which explains everything. It turns out that there aren’t too many traitors, but this traitor’s position is too high.

“As for the Holy Court, I don’t know if they did it intentionally or out of laziness, but the codename Ape God means something. You may not know this, Brother Qi, but Hun Ahau and Hun Chowen are already known in Tawantin as the Monkey Gods because of their mastery in jungle and mountain warfare. Their troops move through the jungles like apes, and as their leaders, they are venerated.”

Qi Xuansu asked, “Do you think the Holy Court deliberately used this codename to mislead us into suspecting the Hun brothers? That would require them to foresee everything in advance.”

Huangfu Ji replied, “I do have that suspicion, but I also admit the Hun brothers are the biggest suspects.”

Qi Xuansu suggested, “Then let’s test it. What do you think?”

“How do you propose we test it?” Huangfu Ji asked, now intrigued.

Qi Xuansu revealed his plan. “We can deliberately leak information and create an illusion, then observe how the two react.”

After a brief pause, Huangfu Ji said, “I understand your intent. But what if they show no reaction?”

Qi Xuansu replied, “Sun Zhongnu’s case left a deep impression on me. Though I wouldn’t go as far as to say that it’s better to kill the wrong person than let one go, I believe we mustn’t avoid an investigation.”

“Is this your decision, Brother Qi, or is it Sage Qingwei’s?” Huangfu Ji stared at him, trying to read his expression.

Qi Xuansu met his gaze calmly. “It is my decision, and Jade Capital’s as well.”

Huangfu Ji fell silent for a moment before saying, “The Hun brothers belong to the Tawantin Empire. Beichen Hall is one step removed, so it’s inconvenient for you to act directly. If you trust me, you can leave it to Juesheng Hall.”

Qi Xuansu smiled. “Of course, I trust you, Brother Huangfu. Otherwise, I wouldn’t have come to you in the first place.”

......

The two most important cities on the Northern Continent were St. York and San Francisco, while the two most important cities on the Southern Continent were New Paititi and Cusco. The Hun brothers were responsible for guarding Cusco, which showed just how important their position was.

Recently, the atmosphere in Cusco had been tense, not because war was about to break out, but because many familiar faces from Juesheng Hall had appeared in the city.

Whether known for their prestige or their notoriety, many people had fallen into their hands before.

The people from Juesheng Hall came to Cusco to investigate the armory attack from several months ago, and it was said that there had been a major breakthrough in the case.

There was also a more discreet rumor circulating in small circles. Sage Huangfu’s raid on the Evangelical Ministry headquarters had yielded a great deal of classified intelligence, and that the armory attack was in fact the result of a high-level leak.

These members of Juesheng Hall had come precisely for this reason.

Since it was a high-level leak, it meant the scope of suspicion was very narrow, with the arrowhead pointing straight at the Hun brothers.

Among the two brothers, the younger one—Hun Chowen—was furious and ordered a strict investigation into the source of the rumors. However, the elder brother—Hun Ahau—remained indifferent and silent. This was consistent with their personalities, as the older brother was always steady and composed, while the younger one was impulsive and quick-tempered.

Regardless of the truth, such rumors could never be completely eradicated.

If one showed no reaction, people would take it as acquiescence. If one reacted, then people would assume guilt.

Either way, they were trapped.

After realizing this, Hun Chowen confronted Huangfu Ji and demanded a clear explanation. What exactly was going on? Was Juesheng Hall trying to imitate the Central Plains’ Green Phoenix Guard?

Huangfu Ji naturally moved to reassure him, saying they were merely rumors and nothing of the sort was happening.

Hun Ahau remained silent, just as before, seemingly unconcerned by the gossip.

In truth, most people treated these rumors as a joke because no one believed the Hun brothers would betray the Tawantin Empire. They were both Divine Beings, who were equivalent to Pseudo-Immortals. So by all accounts, the Hun family was destined to become the foremost of the great clans within the Tawantin Empire.

The Hun family was considered a newly risen clan, essentially consisting of these two brothers. In this regard, they had more Divine Beings than the Huangfu family. However, even if Huangfu Ji and his father were to die, the Huangfu family would not collapse overnight. Their foundation, connections, and legacy would remain. Given a few generations, they could rise again. But the Hun family was different. If the two brothers were gone, the Hun family would cease to exist.

The Li and Zhang clans were on an entirely different level. They were the kind of giants that produced their leaders, rather than being defined by them. Over the years, perhaps only the Holy Xuan was a partial exception. Even without him, the Li family would still be a dominant power. But the Holy Xuan undeniably elevated and transformed the Li family’s status.

The Hun family desperately needed time. Given 100 years, it would surely grow into a deeply rooted, flourishing clan.

The Hun brothers were the most unexpected prodigies since the founding of the Tawantin Empire.

By all accounts, their future was bright, so how could these prodigies betray the Tawantin Empire? It simply did not make sense.

However, Qi Xuansu did not dwell on this. There were many things in this world that seemed illogical, often because the deeper reasons remained hidden.

This world had never lacked fools, fanatics, obsessives, madmen, and ambitious schemers who often did things that defied common understanding.

Take his own experience, for instance. At first, Qi Xuansu could not understand why Madam Qi would save him for no reason and give him the precious Longevity Stone Heart. Later, he realized it was not without cause. It was deeply rooted in past ties, essentially Madam Qi’s second chance. However, Qi Xuansu still lacked sufficient information on why Qi Haoran decided to take him as a disciple.

Some people seemed unfathomable simply because they stood at a higher vantage point and possessed more information. There was no need to mystify them. True skill lay in deducing truths from limited information that others could not perceive.

Qi Xuansu did not dare claim such ability. But from the brothers’ reactions, he picked up subtle clues and grew increasingly suspicious of the older Hun Ahau.

Hun Ahau’s silence was somewhat abnormal, while Hun Chowen’s reaction was more in line with someone falsely accused.

Although Hun Ahau was known for his deep composure, maintaining such restraint in this situation felt out of place. Even if he were innocent, upright, and unafraid, had he not considered the possibility that it could be a deliberate smear campaign meant to destroy him?

Qi Xuansu himself had gone through such an ordeal of having people damage his reputation with baseless rumors to hinder his progress. At the time, Qi Xuansu responded, and Zhang Yuelu helped him deal with it immediately. They did not remain silent.

The only exception was if Hun Ahau had known from the very beginning what was truly going on and possessed enough information to understand the full picture.

Only those directly involved could possess sufficient information.

Qi Xuansu decided to meet Hun Ahau, but not with his true body, only with an incarnation. That way, he would not be putting himself in jeopardy even if something went wrong.

Qi Xuansu’s true body had also arrived on the Southern Continent after killing Sun Zhongnu. However, he remained hidden, constantly changing his appearance so that his movements were difficult to track.

Qi Xuansu’s private meeting with Hun Ahau took place in Cusco’s former royal palace. Now, it was the Hun brothers’ Commander Residence.

The Tawantin military had undergone deep sinicization, and the Hun brothers, as high-ranking generals, were even more so. Though they retained the facial structure of the natives, their attire was entirely in the Central Plains style, and they spoke fluent official Mandarin.

Hun Ahau received Qi Xuansu in his office. Needless to say, the decor was also in the Central Plains style, with no Western elements, as Westerners were seen as invaders. Though Western items were not officially banned, no one dared use such things openly, as they had to draw a clear line or risk being labeled a traitor. This was a form of political correctness.

“I’ve long heard of your name, Sage Qi. I didn’t expect you to come see me,” Hun Ahau said, personally serving him a cup of tea.

Qi Xuansu took the cup and smiled lightly. “I didn’t realize I had gained such a reputation that even you have heard of me far away on the Southern Continent, General Hun.”

Hun Ahau said, “I’ve heard that Sage Huangfu’s success in destroying the Evangelical Ministry headquarters was largely thanks to you. Without you drawing Joseph’s attention, it wouldn’t have been so easy.”

Qi Xuansu smiled. “You flatter me, General Hun.”

“By the way, speaking of Sage Huangfu destroying the Evangelical Ministry headquarters, there are recent rumors that he obtained a great deal of classified information. Is that true?” Hun Ahau asked casually.

Qi Xuansu said, “I thought you wouldn’t care about such matters, General Hun. At the time, only Sage Huangfu entered the headquarters, so only he would know whether it was true or not. Personally, I lean toward it being false. Given the urgency, he simply wouldn’t have had time to search for these classified secrets.”

Hun Ahau fixed his gaze on Qi Xuansu. “If it’s not true, then why have you and Sage Huangfu come to Cusco?”