"This is only my guess, and I actually don't want to believe it. But if Grand Marshal Mo Ya truly colluded with the Chu Yun Empire, then our Jia Ma Empire's current situation during this period becomes understandable, doesn't it?"
During the time he spent rushing toward the border frontlines, Xiao Lin had not been idle.
At the very least, he had gained a fairly thorough understanding of the war's progression between the Jia Ma Empire and the Chu Yun Empire over the past year. It was precisely because he understood it that he suspected there was a traitor within the army.
In fact, it wasn't just Xiao Lin; others in the military also had their suspicions. However, they had never suspected their own Grand Marshal. After all, who would believe such a thing if it were said aloud?
One must know that the Yinter Clan had been established in the Jia Ma Empire for over a hundred years, and even Yinter Mo Ya had been the Empire's Grand Marshal for decades. If you claimed he committed treason, what would he be after?
Could the Yinter Clan obtain a higher status in the Chu Yun Empire than they already held in the Jia Ma Empire?
This was clearly impossible. Therefore, before Xiao Lin brought it up, no one had ever suspected the Grand Marshal could be that traitor!
At most, Mu Chen had only suspected that Grand Marshal Mo Ya wanted to suppress the Mu Clan, Nalan Clan, and Xiao Clan. Beyond that, Mu Chen truly did not dare to think further, nor would he.
Thus, at this moment, Mu Chen was unwilling to believe the guess Xiao Lin had proposed.
"Is there evidence?"
However, thinking of his earlier promise, Mu Chen could only ask this question in return.
"Not yet, but I can go look for it immediately. If my guess is correct, Grand Marshal Mo Ya will definitely take action right now to notify the Chu Yun Empire of our intelligence!"
"And if the Grand Marshal doesn't act?"
"Then it proves I guessed wrong, and everything was just me worrying over nothing. That would be the best result."
After a few brief sentences of dialogue, Mu Chen fell silent.
To put it plainly, Xiao Lin actually wanted to go find evidence that Grand Marshal Mo Ya had not committed treason.
Mu Chen understood this point clearly.
But, what if?
What if Grand Marshal Mo Ya really did betray the country?
Thinking of that possibility, Mu Chen instantly felt a chill run through his entire body.
"Whew~, I understand. Brother Xiao, then go ahead and do it. If you need my cooperation for anything, just speak up. I only hope that your final guess turns out to be wrong."
Sighing, Mu Chen eventually agreed.
Although he was unwilling to believe Grand Marshal Mo Ya committed treason, if he thought about it carefully, many things would be very easy to explain if this guess were true.
For example, the Chu Yun Empire had clearly just been defeated six years ago; how could they suddenly launch such a massive invasion again?
Also, during this year of combat, whenever the Jia Ma Empire had any movement, the Chu Yun Empire always found out in advance. It could be called a coincidence once or twice, but when it happens many times, isn't there something fishy going on?
Finally, there was the current situation where Nalan Jie was supposed to ambush the Chu Yun Empire, yet ended up being counter-ambushed, requiring him and Xiao Lin to lead men to the rescue. No matter how you looked at it, there was a huge problem here, right?
Furthermore, their Three Clans happened to be the rising stars of the Imperial Capital.
To outsiders, it seemed highly likely that their three families could become Dou Wang level clans within ten years. All of this—every single bit of it—could be explained if it was because Grand Marshal Mo Ya had committed treason.
Therefore, after Xiao Lin proposed his guess, although Mu Chen was emotionally unwilling to admit it, his rationality forced him to accept the other party's logic. After all, for some things, it is better to believe they might exist than to ignore them!
If Grand Marshal Mo Ya hadn't committed treason, then it was fine; at most, they would have just wasted a bit of time investigating. But if the other party really had betrayed the country, the consequences would be unimaginable.
Mu Chen could naturally distinguish which side carried more weight.
"Good, Brother Mu, I was waiting for those words. Next, you only need to do this..."
Very quickly, Xiao Lin explained his arrangements to Mu Chen. After Mu Chen finished listening to Xiao Lin's plan, his eyes instantly flickered.
"Fine, everything will be done according to Brother Xiao's wishes. I will cooperate with you to the best of my ability!"
Nodding, Mu Chen also agreed.
"Then I'll leave things to Brother Mu."
"Don't mention it. The responsibility on Brother Xiao's shoulders is much heavier than mine."
After speaking, the two looked at each other and smiled.
At this moment, the relationship between the two had also improved. While it couldn't compare to the bond between Nalan Jie and Xiao Lin, it was much better than the earlier business-like attitude. Perhaps this was what they called "true feelings revealed through hardship."
Afterward, Xiao Lin quietly left the team alone, while Mu Chen continued leading the thirty Da Dou Shi toward the place where Nalan Jie and the others were trapped.
Regarding Xiao Lin's solitary departure, although those thirty Da Dou Shi felt surprised, since Mu Chen didn't say anything, they naturally didn't dare to say much. As soldiers, their main priority was of course to follow orders!
However, after Xiao Lin left, the speed at which Mu Chen and the others traveled actually slowed down considerably.
The reason for this was also part of Xiao Lin's arrangement.
Because according to his guess, if Grand Marshal Mo Ya truly committed treason, his goal was definitely not limited to just Nalan Jie's group; it surely included him, Mu Chen, and the others who were coming as reinforcements!
Since that was the case, then Nalan Jie and the others were definitely just bait. If Grand Marshal Mo Ya and the Chu Yun Empire wanted to catch them all in one net, they certainly wouldn't endanger the lives of Nalan Jie's group at this time.
After all, only when the bait is there will the fish take the hook, right?
If the Chu Yun Empire swallowed Nalan Jie's people first, why would Xiao Lin and Mu Chen bother rushing to the rescue?
They would probably just turn around and run back. Therefore, as long as they didn't take the bait, Nalan Jie and the others would definitely not be in mortal danger!
Thus, after Xiao Lin left, the thirty Da Dou Shi led by Mu Chen were no longer in a hurry to travel. On the other side, Xiao Lin, who had left the team alone, went directly into ambush near the Jia Ma Empire's military camp.
With his Heaven Realm soul power and his cultivation as a Four-Star Dou Huang, even if someone walked right past him, they wouldn't be able to discover him, let alone when he was hiding.
Not long after Xiao Lin had hidden himself—roughly about two hours after he and Mu Chen had led the thirty Da Dou Shi away from the camp—a mysterious figure wearing a Jia Ma Empire military uniform quietly left the base.
Seeing this, Xiao Lin's gaze froze, and he decisively followed. The reason he didn't reveal himself immediately was to prevent any mistakes just in case. After all, what if the person was just a scout?
He might accidentally be treated as a spy himself.
Therefore, Xiao Lin merely followed quietly behind the other party. It wasn't until this mysterious person was about to arrive at the Chu Yun Empire's military camp that Xiao Lin finally revealed himself and blocked the person's path directly.