A Pawn's Passage

Zhenwu Temple, Jinling Prefecture.

Zhang Yuelu sat behind a desk with many files piled up on the table. She was multitasking—reading a file and listening to Pei Xiaolou at the same time.

Pei Xiaolou continued to dictate the official letter sent by the Golden Tower.

“Letter intended for Deputy Palace Master Pei and Deputy Hall Master Zhang.

......The members of the newly formed investigation team are as follows:

- Deputy Duzhi Hall Master, Li Mingzhi (male)

- Deputy Beichen Hall Master, Li Mingcheng (male)

- Deputy Fengxian Hall Master, Lu Yushu (female)

- Deputy Tiangang Hall Master, Zhang Yuelu (female)

- Deputy Ziwei Hall Master, Lei Xiaohuan (female)

- Deputy Chongyang Palace Master, Pei Xiaolou (male)

- Deputy Jiangnan Mansion Master, Bai Yingqiong (female)

This team will be led by Lei Xiaohuan, and the rest of the members are expected to cooperate closely without the slightest neglect. Please reply promptly upon acceptance.

Golden Tower Council, Jade Capital.”

Pei Xiaolou held the official letter and looked at Zhang Yuelu.

Zhang Yuelu stopped browsing her files and raised her head, meeting Pei Xiaolou’s gaze.

Pei Xiaolou placed the letter in front of Zhang Yuelu and said, “Li Mingzhi and Li Mingcheng are brothers from the Li family. Lu Yushu is also from the Lu Clan of the Taiping Sect. You and the Deputy Jiangnan Palace Master are from the Zhengyi Sect, while my wife and I are from the Quanzhen Sect. This perfectly encapsulates the current situation where the Taiping Sect dominates, while the rest of us will have to join forces to suppress them.”

Zhang Yuelu remarked, “When I was a superintendent in Beichen Hall, Li Mingcheng was my boss, but we didn’t get along very well. Deputy Mansion Master Bai is my senior sister, but we have a generational gap. Moreover, we don’t see each other often since she has been living in Putuo Island for many years working in the Jiangnan Daoist Mansion, while I’ve been living in Jade Capital. So I can’t say that we have a great relationship.”

Pei Xiaolou asked, “Then what are your thoughts on this, Miss Zhang?”

Zhang Yuelu sighed. “I’m just afraid that all of us will be caught in a stalemate, and in the end, this case will be left unresolved.”

“Miss Zhang, you’re worrying too much. After all, Zhuo Jing is the leader appointed by the Golden Tower Council. This time, we’re four against three. I don’t think those three from the Taiping Sect will be able to make a big splash.” Pei Xiaolou sounded confident.

Besides their advantage in numbers, Lei Xiaohuan was the appointed leader of the investigation team. She was a second-rank Taiyi Daoist master with a Wuliang-stage cultivation of Heavenly Beings. Many Omniscient Sages were also at that level. Thus, when necessary, Lei Xiaohuan could use force to subdue the rest.

Zhang Yuelu had a different opinion. “One chunk of rat droppings is enough to ruin a pot of porridge, let alone three. It won’t be easy for us to achieve success in this investigation, and it certainly won’t be difficult for things to take a turn for the worse.”

After all, she had participated in the major Jiangnan case, which was also related to the Jiangnan Daoist Mansion. In the last investigation, Sage Cihang did not come forward in person, but she covertly helped Zhang Yuelu. Moreover, the Cihang lineage had been operating the Jiangnan Daoist Mansion for many years, but in the end, it was still hard to make progress in the investigation, and they had failed to fully accomplish the mission.

That was why Zhang Yuelu was not optimistic about the investigation this time around.

Pei Xiaolou did not disregard Zhang Yuelu’s judgment just because he was older and had a higher rank than her. Instead, he said, “At this point, the investigation team members have been set, so it’s pointless thinking too much about it. Let’s just wait for them to arrive before discussing the plan in detail.”

......

A majestic flying ship was docked at the pier outside Jade Capital, which made the Spirit Guards on the shore seem like ants in comparison.

Several deer carts came from Xuan City and stopped not far from the ramp of the flying ship.

After a Spirit Guard opened the door of the first carriage, the tall and strong Lei Xiaohuan stepped out.

The Spirit Guards behind followed suit and opened the doors of the other carriages. Li Mingzhi, Li Mingcheng, and Lu Yushu got out of their carriages in succession.

Li Mingzhi had the elegance and loftiness of a businessman, while Li Mingcheng looked sinister. They perfectly reflected the difference between Duzhi Hall and Beichen Hall.

Lu Yushu looked about the same age as Sage Cihang, but she exuded an arrogance that came naturally to ladies from elite families. As such, she looked a bit mean and critical.

In fact, both Li Mingzhi and Li Mingcheng had worked with Zhang Yuelu before. Back then, when Zhang Yuelu first accepted her position as Deputy Tiangang Hall Master, she was invited to the Chiming Palace for a discussion. Both Li Mingzhi and Li Mingcheng attended the meeting, representing Duzhi Hall and Beichen Hall, respectively.

Back then, Ning Lingge was still the Tiangang Hall Master, who personally presided over that discussion.

This time, there were four women among the seven investigation team members. Zhang Yuelu, Pei Xiaolou, and Bai Yingqiong were already in Jinling Prefecture, and the other four people would take a flying ship to meet them. They would then conduct a thorough investigation of the Yanqing Merchant’s Association.

Li Mingzhi, Li Mingcheng, and Lu Yushu stood together, not too far away from Lei Xiaohuan. Although they did not speak, it was clear who stood in which camp.

Lei Xiaohuan did not care too much about it. As the leader of the team, she took the initiative to step forward and say hello.

In any case, Lei Xiaohuan was the person in charge of this investigation and had a higher rank and cultivation level than them, so the Taiping Sect trio had to respond no matter how reluctant. They plastered on polite smiles and greeted the Sage.

Li Mingzhi looked back at Jade Capital and said with emotion, “I haven’t left Jade Capital for many years. People say that Jinling Prefecture is beautiful, but how could it compare to Jade Capital?”

Lu Yushu said sarcastically, “Don’t worry. No matter how perfect Jade Capital is, it can’t compare to the bustling nightlife in Jinling Prefecture. But the Jiangnan Daoist Mansion won’t be as airtight as Duzhi Hall.”

Li Mingzhi felt a little embarrassed by Lu Yushu’s mockery.

This had nothing to do with their camp but the subtle jab from a woman to a man.

Lei Xiaohuan heard this and reminded them. “We are going there to investigate the case, not to have fun.”

Then she took the lead to walk up the ramp.

Li Mingcheng, who had been silent until now, smirked and turned to Li Mingzhi. “Daoist women are all tigresses.”

Li Mingzhi nodded and sighed. “I know, right?”

Hearing their whispers, Lu Yushu rolled her eyes and walked up the ramp.

Li Mingzhi and Li Mingcheng exchanged a look before boarding the flying ship.

Once the four big shots boarded the flying ship, the ramp was retracted, and the ship took off to the skies.

......

This investigation was no less critical than the major Jiangnan case that happened a few years ago. Therefore, the Jiangnan Daoist Mansion attached great importance to it and deliberately emptied the entire Zhenwu Temple.

The Zhenwu Temple was not only the largest Daoist temple in Jinling City. It also had an excellent view, backed by Zhenwu Lake. Thus, it was worthy of hosting the big shots of the Daoist Order. Even Old Master Jin, who had ordered the massacre of the Yuan family, had once stayed in this temple, where he vowed to make a name for himself in the future.

The entire Zhenwu Temple covered an area of ??about 7,000 square meters, with more than 200 rooms, various pavilions, and a beautiful garden with a typical Jiangnan style that was surrounded by fragrant flowers and chirping birds.

Each of the seven investigation team members was allocated their own courtyards and allowed to bring their own subordinates, who also boarded the flying ship with Lei Xiaohuan. However, the full roster was not disclosed. Only Lei Xiaohuan, as the leader of the investigation, had the names of all personnel involved in this investigation.

At this time, Zhang Yuelu and Pei Xiaolou had already moved into their respective courtyards, and the other four members were on their way.

Among the seven team members, only Bai Yingqiong did not stay in the courtyard because she had her own residence in Jinling City as the Deputy Jiangnan Mansion Master. Thus, she would only go over to Zhenwu Temple for discussions.

Since arriving at Zhenwu Temple, Zhang Yuelu spent most of her time reading various files and materials, often staying up all night.

Although the investigation had not officially begun, Zhang Yuelu had already made her attitude clear. She was adamant about resolving this case, so she would not allow anyone to take this case lightly in an attempt to dismiss it.