A Pawn's Passage

Human nature encompassed a spectrum that included higher, divine qualities and lower, animalistic instincts.

This most primal fight to the death, which had no mercy and no end in sight until someone was brutally slaughtered, was undoubtedly the best way to ignite the latent animalistic instincts within the human body.

The audience dropped their usual pretense and revealed their crazed side. The men, their blood boiling and their voices hoarse from yelling, seemed rejuvenated. The women, with flushed faces, seemed to have reached the pinnacle of ecstasy at this moment.

Zhang Yuelu only focused on the fighting ring for a short time before she turned her attention to the surrounding audience. She frowned slightly when she saw their distorted faces.

She disliked this atmosphere, which felt abnormal to her. It was probably not just due to the fight but perhaps accentuated by other external factors, like spells or drugs. She just could not tell what was off about this place.

In the Daoist Order, the Daoist priests had a higher status than Spirit Guards of the same rank. As such, the Spirit Guards had become accustomed to executing orders without making decisions. Therefore, Spirit Guard Xu did not speak. His earlier remark in response to Zhang Yuelu’s question was just something he had heard from other high-ranking Daoist priests.

On the other hand, Xu Kou just found this boring. His nickname, Little Yama, indicated what kind of person he was. He had seen his fair share of such scenes, some even bloodier than this, and most were the result of his own doing. Only these pampered masters and ladies would think that this fight was interesting.

Of course, Xu Kou was not compassionate. He was also not interested in listening to Deputy Hall Master Zhang’s teachings. Unlike Qi Xuansu, Xu Kou had no interest in this boring and conservative woman like Zhang Yuelu. At most, he would only obey her orders.

Speaking of Qi Xuansu, Xu Kou missed him a little. Although they had a rough start and did not have a close relationship, they were essentially the same kind of people. If Qi Xuansu was around, he would probably feel the same as Xu Kou.

What a pity. Just as Xu Kou was lost in thought, the winner of the match emerged. The loser fell into the ring of ??fire and soon became a charred corpse.

Although the winner of the fight was staggering and covered in blood, obviously seriously injured, he still raised his hands and accepted the audience’s cheers.

Zhang Yuelu said, “Now that the fight is over, I want to meet the mastermind behind this place.”

Xu Kou immediately came to his senses, responded, and left the private room.

Not long after, the butler responsible for receiving the trio followed Xu Kou into the private room with a troubled look on his face. “Young Master Lu, this is not in line with the rules.”

Zhang Yuelu turned around and said, “Rules are set by people.”

Xu Kou took out a golden cash note with a value of 100 Wuyou coins.

The butler’s eyes fell on the golden ticket, and his Adam’s apple bobbed slightly.

That was equivalent to 1,000 Taiping coins. Since gold was more precious than silver, it would be valued even higher on the black market.

This was not a small sum of money.

Xu Kou persuaded him. “Think about it. You will never get a chance like this if you pass this up. It’s not every day you get to earn so much.”

The butler gulped and quickly took the golden cash note. “Young Master Lu, please wait a moment.”

After the butler left, Xu Kou sighed. “Money truly does make the world go round.”

Zhang Yuelu reminded him. “You’d best take that money back. Or else, you can use your own savings to make up for it.”

Xu Kou nodded seriously. “Deputy Hall Master, please rest assured.”

Of course, this golden cash note did not belong to Zhang Yuelu or Xu Kou. It was the property of Tiangang Hall, regarded as a necessary expense. Even if Zhang Yuelu were to take it as her own, no one would say anything. However, Zhang Yuelu had no intentions of doing so.

Xu Kou might be inattentive about other things, but he dared not be careless about money. That was why he and Qi Xuansu were actually the same kind of people.

After all, only those who had gone through poverty would understand the importance of money.

About an hour later, the butler came back and invited Zhang Yuelu to meet the owner of the place. However, there was one condition: she was not allowed to bring her entourage.

Xu Kou heard this and immediately protested. “This is unreasonable! What if something unexpected happens to our young master? It’s not that I don’t trust you, but there are other guests here. What if there is a misunderstanding or some conflict between the guests that implicated my young master? Besides, this is your territory. What are you afraid of? We can’t possibly do anything to your master.”

The butler knew that Xu Kou was right, so he pondered for a moment before suggesting, “Alright, then. We can each take a step back. I’ll allow one escort.”

Xu Kou took a step back. “I won’t go then.”

Spirit Guard Xu volunteered. “I will accompany the young master.”

The butler glanced at Spirit Guard Xu, who had been silent all this time. He thought to himself, Young Master Lu’s attendants have such clearly defined roles. One is responsible for talking, and the other is most likely responsible for the young master’s safety. Only a young master from a noble family will have servants with such specific tasks.

The three of them returned to the ground level, where the butler assigned another servant to lead Xu Kou to a side hall to wait for them. There were drinks, other guests, and some ladies there. However, the quality was slightly lacking because this place was specially used to entertain the guests’ entourage.

Zhang Yuelu and Spirit Guard Xu followed the butler through the layers of security and walked toward a three-story green and black pavilion deep inside the manor’s grounds.

This pavilion was way bigger than Zhang Yuelu’s expectations. It was about 17 meters deep and 30 meters wide, which was typically the specifications of the pavilions in the Imperial Palace.

Emulating the Imperial Palace only indicated the courage and ambitions of these people.

People who had access to this building were either rich or noble. The first floor was a gambling room with all kinds of games. The second floor was divided into dozens of smaller compartments for romantic escapades.

The third floor was the highlight. Since it was the top floor, the ceiling was much higher than the bottom two floors. Below the ceiling was a fighting ring with a relief of two dragons playing with a pearl in the middle. There were nine lanterns adorned with tassels hanging above the fighting ring. Upon closer look, the style of the lanterns was somewhat similar to the floating lanterns in Taiqing Square of Jade Capital.

At this time, there were two bloodied corpses on the fighting ring, their blood slowly flowing along the lines of the relief. It looked mesmerizing under the lights.

There was a circle of tables and chairs around the ring, but they were nicely spaced out.

The main seat in the middle was particularly eye-catching. Under the lights, the huge chair shone with a golden glow, comparable to the Dragon Throne. This was a blatant challenge to the Emperor.

Zhang Yuelu looked around, her eyes sweeping over the guests one by one. Finally, she stared at the young man sitting in the main seat.

The guests consisted of the gentry and wealthy businessmen. Zhang Yuelu also had no doubt that there were court officials and Daoist disciples among them.

The young man frowned with displeasure as soon as he noticed Zhang Yuelu’s direct stare.

Before he could speak, Zhang Yuelu said, “Are you Du Longtan, the master of this place? You’re younger than I imagined. It seems the rumors that the Lingshan Witch Cult can reverse aging aren’t groundless after all.”

Du Longtan was sipping wine. When he heard this, he suddenly threw out the wine glass in his hand, showing his anger.

In their society, only elders and superiors could address someone by their full names. Otherwise, it was akin to swearing. Moreover, Zhang Yuelu also mentioned the Lingshan Witch Cult, which was Du Longtan’s fatal weakness.

Without Du Longtan’s instructions, a guard had already walked over, ready to capture this daring young man.

Similarly, without Zhang Yuelu’s instructions, Spirit Guard Xu, who was standing behind Zhang Yuelu, also took a step forward.

Suddenly, these two guards appeared on the fighting ring between them at the same time.

The second-rank Spirit Guard grabbed Du Longtan’s Guizhen-stage guard by the throat, incapacitating him.

After all, not every Guizhen-stage master could be like Zhang Yuelu, who had the power to fight against Heavenly Beings.

Zhang Yuelu did not look at the two people in the fighting ring. Instead, she looked up at the nine lanterns hanging on the ceiling, feeling somewhat enlightened.

Why did these people abandon Daoism? That was because the Three Religions advocated for kindness and frugality. The various precepts, morals, and rules were also invisible shackles that restricted desires. What these people wanted was freedom—the absence of restraint and the release of their desires. Since the Daoist Order could not fulfill their needs, they abandoned Daoism and turned to heretical cults that could satisfy their wishes.