After exchanging glances for a brief moment, the man proactively averted his gaze, turned around, and walked away.
Beside Chen Chuan, Pipariti noticed the movement and followed his line of sight, catching a glimpse of the man's robust, departing back.
Pipariti's expression tensed, a deep apprehension lurking in his eyes. In a low voice, he said, "Mr. Chen, that is Amaru, our Kawatua's Divine Guard."
*A Divine Guard?*
Chen Chuan watched the retreating figure. He knew that on the surface, Kawatua possessed only one Divine Guard, and a Divine Guard was the equivalent of a martial artist at the realm of the Longevity View.
So that was the man.
Pipariti, however, clearly harbored no friendly feelings toward him. That Pipariti could come on behalf of the Grand Chieftain meant he undoubtedly shared close blood ties with him.
Their branch was fiercely opposed to relinquishing power. The reasoning was simple: once the Grand Chieftain reached adulthood and underwent coronation, he nominally held the governing authority over all of Kawatua. To surrender what rightfully belonged to the Grand Chieftain to the Federation in exchange for personal interests was something they would never agree to.
Yet nominal rights were no match for raw martial might. Putting aside the fact that imperial authority was currently waning, if the Divine Guard's stance also tipped toward the other side, and if that faction commanded the support of powerful nobles below, their wishes would hardly matter.
In truth, before Chen Chuan arrived, he had not heard that this Divine Guard took any explicit stance. Now, it appeared the situation was shifting.
"Mr. Chen, we have prepared a banquet for you and your entourage. Please honor us with your presence."
Pipariti's speech patterns and accent carried the cadence of a bygone era in Great Shun, suggesting that the teacher who had tutored him was likely well advanced in years.
Chen Chuan glanced at Deputy Delegation Leader Lu. The latter gave a slight nod, making the situation clear. Chen Chuan then agreed.
The Grand Chieftain—or rather, the nobles on Pipariti's side—evidently placed immense weight on Chen Chuan's visit, having arranged in advance a gilded carriage drawn by eight white horses.
After ushering him inside, the carriage deliberately traveled down the central thoroughfare, the Avenue of All Spirits. At the far end of this great road lay the renowned Hatikan Grand Sacrificial Altar.
Chen Chuan looked forward. Although Kawatua was an ancient city, it had functioned purely as a religious center before the arrival of the defeated First People, making the layout exceptionally orderly and the roadways strikingly straight. From where he sat, he faced directly toward Mount Turama, and the Hatikan Grand Sacrificial Altar stood at the mountain's summit.
Through tens of thousands of years of excavation and construction, the lower slopes had been entirely enveloped by wide mountain paths, religious monuments, and stone ramparts. Viewed from afar, the entire mountain resembled a colossal, stepped trapezoidal structure thousands of meters high. Towering beneath the open sky, it overlooked the Life Plateau with sheer, breathtaking majesty.
Along both sides of the road stood temple complexes erected across various eras, sturdy and methodically aligned. They had witnessed and spanned the thousands of years of historical vicissitudes since the rise of the First People.
At this moment, many First People who seemed to have come to worship stood on the temple steps lining the thoroughfare. Men and women alike were dressed in traditional garb. Noticing the commotion on the avenue, they cast curious glances at the procession, some whispering to their companions in an effort to learn where the newcomers had come from.
A single glance told Chen Chuan that these people belonged to the city's upper class, evident from their vibrant spirits, graceful postures, and neat, spotless attire.
As he observed them, an indistinct sound faintly reached his ears. His heart stirred slightly, and he lifted his head to look upward.
The voice came from that feathered serpent, which seemed to be trying to speak to him.
Perhaps because its true body was exceedingly weak, the voice drifted all around him in disjointed, intermittent fragments.
Chen Chuan listened intently. Through their spiritual connection, he received a torrent of information. Much of it was a convoluted and meaningless jumble, but certain parts were unmistakably addressed to him.
"Mr. Chen, this way, please."
Chen Chuan looked around and saw that the carriage had already turned off the avenue and stopped before a manor. He had learned on the way that this was one of the Grand Chieftain's private estates.
The manor's main building was constructed from grayish-yellow ashlar, giving off a warm overall tone, surrounded by lush green foliage and exotic, blossoming flora.
Most striking was a winding watercourse that seemed to channel clear snowmelt from distant peaks. It flowed through the manor's shallow pools and wound around the gardens, forming a glittering ribbon of water that complemented the vibrant, multicolored highland plants.
Below lay polished, light-colored flagstones, framed by towering stone pillars carved with totems of the feathered serpent god. Their positions had clearly been meticulously calculated, catching the sunlight and cascading mist to cast subtle, shimmering halos of color.
After stepping down from the carriage, the escort guards were led to a reception hall. Chen Chuan and Deputy Delegation Leader Lu, guided by Pipariti and several white-robed attendants who came forward to greet them, walked along a trellis corridor into a hall built of polished wood.
Dusk had already fallen, and the fire braziers flanking the room were lit. Amid the play of firelight stood a mature man in his thirties.
Upon seeing Chen Chuan's party, a warm smile spread across his face. He opened his arms and said, "Welcome to Kawatua, distinguished guests. I am Xin Hongtu, greeting you on behalf of the Grand Chieftain."
Chen Chuan nodded in return. Before arriving, he had reviewed this man's file. His original name was Heriel Silapak, with Xin Hongtu being his Great Shun name. He held another identity as well: he was the Grand Chieftain's elder full brother.
This man had been sent by his father to study in Great Shun, spending over fifteen years in the Eastern Continent before returning to Kawatua upon reaching adulthood.
Had the council of priests not passed over him back then, he would be the one sitting on the throne today.
He was a staunch pro-Shun loyalist. In truth, setting aside his attire, his mannerisms and accent alone would lead almost anyone to mistake him for a native of Great Shun.
Deputy Delegation Leader Lu addressed him then. "Advisor Xin, before I departed, Delegation Leader Xie informed me that Section Chief Chen is authorized to make all decisions on his behalf. Section Chief Chen's intent represents his own."
A fervent light entered Xin Hongtu's eyes. In an impassioned yet thoroughly respectful tone, he said, "Yes, I have long heard of Section Chief Chen's deeds, including everything you accomplished since arriving in the Ying Continent."
As a pro-Shun partisan, he closely followed developments within Great Shun and had known of Chen Chuan for some time. He had also made a point of studying Chen Chuan's string of actions following his arrival in the Federation. In his heart, this was a true powerhouse, a man who practically stood shoulder-to-shoulder with deities. Great Shun dispatching such a figure here was proof enough of their commitment.
"Please, both of you, take a seat."
Chen Chuan and Deputy Delegation Leader Lu sat on a cushioned couch on one side of the hall, while Pipariti, having guided them inside, stepped behind Xin Hongtu.
Several maidservants stepped forward and served tea at their low tables.
Chen Chuan took a look. He noticed that despite Xin Hongtu's noble stature, his garments were remarkably plain, and even the tea presented was quite ordinary—hardly fitting for a prominent noble. This was likely not an intentional slight, but rather done for a specific reason.
"My apologies," Xin Hongtu offered ruefully. "These are extraordinary times. I am observing tradition merely to cater to the preferences of those old fossils. This year marks our First People's Year of Dormancy. During the first half of the year, commoners are forbidden from wearing formal finery outside or indulging in lavish banquets. Such things are permitted only during a few specific festivals. That stubborn bunch of old fossils insists that during the Year of Dormancy, one must obey the divine will by doing nothing at all, refusing to permit any form of political transition this year."
A trace of mockery colored his tone. "I usually despise them, viewing them as the most incorrigible reactionaries. But because we oppose integration with the Federation, those old fellows have actually taken our side for once, so I must show them some deference."
He paused, then added apologetically, "Which is why I can only offer these humble provisions to receive you."
Chen Chuan nodded. "Understandable. Advisor Xin, you are pragmatic and true to your word. No wonder our country chose to support you."
Xin Hongtu smiled. While he knew that someone of Chen Chuan's stature cared little for material indulgences, that did not exempt him from demonstrating proper respect. Hearing these words assured him that Chen Chuan was also a man of action, which suited him perfectly.
Chen Chuan said, "Advisor Xin, my purpose in coming here is to prevent Kawatua from reaching an agreement with the Federation. But we are outsiders after all. As our host, what thoughts do you have on the matter?"
Hearing them turn to the main subject, Xin Hongtu's expression turned solemn. He remained exceptionally cautious; even within his own estate, he personally rose, stepped outside to survey the surroundings, and only then returned to take his seat. In a grave voice, he said:
"We cannot allow those politicians to keep lobbying more people. They are like blood-sucking leeches, draining our blood and wealth before devouring our very flesh and bones!"
He looked directly at Chen Chuan. "Mr. Chen, in my view, the simplest solution is to kill them all right here!"
Deputy Delegation Leader Lu asked, "Kill them? In Kawatua?"
"Yes! A once-and-for-all solution!"
Xin Hongtu stated fiercely, "Once those politicians are dead, our ties with the Federation will be completely severed, forcing those dissenters to abandon their pathetic illusions!"
Chen Chuan pondered this. Whether in the memories of his past life or the historical records of this world, such drastic measures were not without precedent; this man had clearly studied his history thoroughly.
Yet specific circumstances demanded specific analysis. One could not simply assume things would unfold as intended.
He asked, "If they are killed, can Advisor Xin guarantee that you will be able to maintain control over the situation?"
Xin Hongtu hesitated for a fraction of a second before saying, "With Section Chief Chen present, I believe we can keep the situation under control."
Hearing that, Chen Chuan knew the man lacked absolute certainty. He said, "Advisor Xin, your status is vital. If your actions cause you to be ostracized by the council of priests, stripping the Grand Chieftain of his greatest support, the losses will far outweigh any gains."
Xin Hongtu thought it over, his fingers gripping the wooden armrest tightly. With a trace of anxiety, he said, "But if we don't do this, there might not be a future for us at all."
"There will be," Chen Chuan said calmly. "Because I am here."
Chapter 1226