A Pawn's Passage

When Lingquanzi knocked on the door, Zhang Yuelu and Qi Xuansu subconsciously glanced at each other, feeling a little guilty for some reason.

Fortunately, Zhang Yuelu’s clothes were neat, and there was nothing going on between them. She fixed her hair slightly and answered, “Come in.”

Lingquanzi pushed the door open and asked, “Deputy Hall Master, how are you feeling? The city lord wanted to send two maids to take care of you, but considering your identity as the Deputy Tiangang Hall Master, I figured it was better for our people to attend to you. That’s why I asked Deacon Qi to stay here.”

“Superintendent Lingquan, you did a good job.” Zhang Yuelu nodded. “We should be wary of others when traveling. How is the follow-up on Fort Cimut?”

Lingquanzi came here to report on this. His expression was stern as he said, “After Deacon Qi left with you, I sent a team to thoroughly search the entire fort and found some things related to the Ancient Immortals. I copied the inscriptions and murals personally and destroyed them afterward. No one else was involved in this process, just in case someone couldn’t resist the temptation of the Ancient Immortals and secretly hid these contents for their private use.”

Zhang Yuelu immediately assumed her role as the Deputy Hall Master and asked, “Where is the copy?”

Lingquanzi handed a thick stack of drawings to Zhang Yuelu.

Zhang Yuelu signaled for Qi Xuansu to turn away, as if these drawings were dangerous. Then she explained while flipping through them, “In the past, many Daoist disciples could not resist the temptation of the Ancient Immortals and secretly collected items related to the Ancient Immortals in the name of duty. That’s why we have regulations that Daoist priests below the fourth rank are not allowed to have access to such content.”

Qi Xuansu asked, “Can a fourth-rank Daoist master resist the temptation?”

Zhang Yuelu shook her head and said, “Not necessarily, but they definitely stand a higher chance than lower-rank priests. It’s just like how the probability of adult men being possessed by ghosts is smaller than that of children because men have more yang energy. If anyone is suspected of being tempted by the Ancient Immortals, then they will be interrogated.

“Fourth-rank and third-rank priests will be interrogated by Beichen Hall, and second-rank priests will be questioned by the Great Sage or other Omniscient Sages in the Golder Tower Council. Since the Holy Xuan Era, no first-rank priest has ever defected to the Ancient Immortals, but there is an Ancient Immortal who has been recruited into the Daoist Order, becoming a first-rank Daoist master.”

This was the first time Qi Xuansu heard these secrets. He could not help but ask, “Then does it mean that first-rank Daoist masters are actually on the same level as Ancient Immortals?”

Zhang Yuelu glanced at Qi Xuansu. “According to the Heavenly Preceptor, that is indeed the case. But Ancient Immortals are more special. The Great Sages change from generation to generation, but the Ancient Immortals are still the same faces.

“Take the more famous True Lord Ziguang and True Lord Siming for example. These two True Lords were enemies of the Daoist Order when the Holy Xuan and Donghuang were still alive. To this day, the Holy Xuan and Donghuang have ascended to the Heavens, but these two True Lords are still around as enemies of the Daoist Order. To them, the mortal realm is a huge prison.”

Qi Xuansu did not quite understand what she said, but he did not feel comfortable asking further.

Zhang Yuelu also had no intention of elaborating. She said, “Superintendent Lingquan, please continue.”

Lingquanzi continued to report. “After destroying the inscriptions and murals, I got a team to place gunpowder in several key locations of Fort Cimut, so the fort can be completely destroyed at any time.”

Zhang Yuelu did not raise her head. “Very good. The Daoist Order has been consistent in its stance against heretics. These buildings related to the Ancient Immortals must be destroyed.”

Lingquanzi asked, “Deputy Hall Master, judging from these records, which Ancient Immortal do you think is involved?”

Zhang Yuelu raised her head and hesitated. “Probably True Lord Siming.”

Lingquanzi said, “True Lord Siming is the deity of fates. No wonder that demon was resurrected. By the way, Deacon Qi has played a vital role in successfully wiping out this group of demons.”

“Yes, I have a keen eye for people.” Zhang Yuelu beamed.

Lingquanzi praised. “Given time, Deacon Qi will definitely achieve great things.”

Qi Xuansu quickly chimed in, “Deputy Hall Master and Superintendent Lingquan, you’re too generous with words.”

Zhang Yuelu put away the thick stack of copied inscriptions into her magical receptacle and suddenly asked, “Who touched my magical receptacle?”

Lingquanzi immediately excused himself. “Deputy Hall Master, if there is nothing else, I will order the destruction of Fort Cimut right away.”

Zhang Yuelu nodded. “Thank you, Superintendent Lingquan.”

Lingquanzi left in a hurry, while Qi Xuansu looked at him pleadingly. Clearly, Lingquanzi had no intention of speaking up for Qi Xuansu.

At this moment, Zhang Yuelu’s eyes fell on Qi Xuansu.

Qi Xuansu coughed lightly. “I was left with no choice at the time because you were in critical condition.”

“Tian Yuan, I don’t mean to blame you. You’ve saved my life, so I’m grateful to you. I’d be ungrateful if I were to blame you for something like that,” Zhang Yuelu said softly.

Hearing this, Qi Xuansu breathed a sigh of relief.

Zhang Yuelu changed the subject. “But did you look through anything? A certain box, for instance?”

“Absolutely not.” Qi Xuansu firmly denied it.

Zhang Yuelu scrutinized his expression, trying to see any flaws in it, but failed to see anything. “Tian Yuan, I believe in your character, but if I find out that you’ve been lying to me—”

Qi Xuansu’s expression stiffened.

This was the fundamental reason he did not dare to completely let down his guard with Zhang Yuelu. He was indeed hiding something from her, and that alone was an irreparable mistake.

Seeing Qi Xuansu’s expression, Zhang Yuelu could not help but ask, “What are you afraid of? Even if you looked at it, I wouldn’t actually skin you alive. This isn’t like you at all. You weren’t even afraid of Desmond, so why are you afraid of a demure lady like me?”

Qi Xuansu’s heart trembled. He was afraid that Zhang Yuelu would see through his lie, so he deliberately said, “Miss Tantai, you are as fierce as a tiger and as powerful as a dragon—”

“Stop right there.” Zhang Yuelu rolled her eyes at him. “Are you addicted to your flowerbed priest act? In that case, I’ll give you a new task fit for a flowerbed priest. Write a report detailing how you slayed the demon and hand it to me. I will review and copy it before handing it over to the Hall Master.”

Seeing that Zhang Yuelu’s attention was diverted, Qi Xuansu breathed a sigh of relief. “Copy?”

Zhang Yuelu glared at him. “Do you have any objections?”

“No, Deputy Hall Master. Your word is law,” Qi Xuansu said with a straight face.

Zhang Yuelu chuckled. “What a bootlicker.”

Just when Qi Xuansu felt that he was safe, Zhang Yuelu suddenly asked, “Tian Yuan, are you hiding something from me?”

He froze and asked back, “Why do you say so?”

Zhang Yuelu glanced at him. “Everyone has their own secrets, so I won’t pry into your business. But I just hope that you won’t treat me like I’m a threatening presence.”

Forcing a smile, Qi Xuansu said, “I’ve even told you about revenge. What else can I hide from you? As for a threatening presence, you are my boss, so isn’t it only right for me to be more respectful to you?”

Zhang Yuelu murmured, “You only need to be respectful to me when others are present. When it’s just you and me, there’s no need to be so conscientious.”

“You’re doing one thing in front of others and acting differently behind people’s backs. That sounds very much like when a noble lady secretly dates a poor scholar—” Qi Xuansu blurted.

Under Zhang Yuelu’s gaze, Qi Xuansu swallowed the second half of his sentence.

Zhang Yuelu snorted. “I guess I was worrying for nothing. You’re not afraid of me. You’re just so used to acting and keeping a low profile. You’re actually quite bold.”

Having interacted with Zhang Yuelu for so long, Qi Xuansu gradually got to know her temperament. If she used harsh words, it showed that she was not really angry. On the contrary, he had to be careful when she spoke softly. Therefore, Qi Xuansu was not that afraid. “It’s just a casual remark.”

Zhang Yuelu was clearly not as experienced in dealing with Qi Xuansu as Madam Qi was. If it were Madam Qi, she would have made Qi Xuansu admit his fault right away.

“If there is nothing else, I’ll take my leave.” Qi Xuansu excused himself.

“Wait a minute.” Zhang Yuelu called out to him.

Qi Xuansu looked at Zhang Yuelu and deliberately said, “What other instructions do you have, Deputy Hall Master?”

Zhang Yuelu raised her right hand in a drinking gesture and asked, “Is there any wine? I’ve finished my stash.”

Qi Xuansu hesitated and advised her. “You’re still injured. Is it wise to drink alcohol?”

“You only need to answer yes or no to the Deputy Hall Master’s question.” Zhang Yuelu retorted with a straight face. Since Qi Xuansu addressed her as the Deputy Hall Master, she had to show her authority.

Qi Xuansu said helplessly, “Please wait a moment.”

By the time Qi Xuansu returned to the room, Zhang Yuelu had already gotten out of bed and sat at the table. This scene reminded Qi Xuansu of his young self sitting obediently at the table and waiting for dinner when he was a child back in the Wanxiang Daoist Palace.

Qi Xuansu placed two wine glasses and a crystal bottle on the table. He sat opposite Zhang Yuelu and said, “There is no shaojiu here, only grape wine and malt liquor.”

Zhang Yuelu was not picky. She took the crystal bottle, uncorked it, and poured some wine into the glass in front of Qi Xuansu.

Qi Xuansu held the wine glass with both hands and did not refuse.

While pouring the wine, she said, “This time, we have slain the demon and returned in triumph. You deserve credit for all that you’ve done. Here’s a toast to you!”

As soon as she finished speaking, Zhang Yuelu filled Qi Xuansu’s wine glass. Then she poured herself another glass and drank it all in one gulp. She even overturned the empty glass toward Qi Xuansu to indicate that she had finished the wine.

Qi Xuansu picked up the wine glass and drank the red wine in one gulp. It was a little bitter and astringent when it first entered the mouth. But after the bitterness, there was a sweet and sour aftertaste. It was spicy at first, then it mellowed a little. It was quite amazing how similar alcohol was on the Eastern and Western Continents.

He imitated Zhang Yuelu and showed her the bottom of his glass.

“Great! Let’s have another drink.” Zhang Yuelu continued to pour the wine from the bottle.

Not long after, the crystal bottle was empty. Qi Xuansu was a little drowsy as he looked at Zhang Yuelu with drunken eyes. Her bright eyes and flushed cheeks made her seem all the more charming.