A Pawn's Passage

There were two types of morality—one that stemmed from one’s own beliefs and one that was imposed by others.

Morality that stemmed from one’s own beliefs was a source of restraint and power, while morality imposed by others was only constraining.

The Daoist Order had its own standard of moral codes.

These moral codes became the spiritual pillars for those who accepted them, giving people the strength to move forward fearlessly.

However, the same moral codes became shackles to those who rejected them. These people endured constant torment being bound by the chains of morality; thus, they sought to break free from the restraints or bring about change.

At this juncture, it was hard to say how many accepted them and how many did not.

In Jinling Prefecture, it seemed as though more people rejected the moral codes. Otherwise, the two major corruption cases would not have been linked to this place. Or perhaps it was simply because Jinling was too prosperous, making it a lucrative target.

In terms of scale, the Jiangnan Daoist Mansion could arguably be considered the foremost Daoist mansion, especially with its strategic location at the junction of the three major Daoist sects. To the east was the sea; to the south was the Chuzhou Daoist Mansion of the Zhengyi Sect; to the north was the Luzhou Daoist Mansion of the Taiping Sect; and to the west was the Huzhou Daoist Mansion controlled by the Quanzhen Sect. Even the Cihang lineage, with its proximity advantage, could not fully dominate the Jiangnan Daoist Mansion but could only exert substantial influence over it.

Since no single faction could fully control the Jiangnan Daoist Mansion, it lacked a strong and authoritative Mansion Master.

Under such circumstances, the Jiangnan Daoist Mansion resembled the Kunlun Daoist Mansion, making the roles of the Chief Deputy and Second Deputy especially crucial, often having equal standing to the Mansion Master.

By contrast, in Daoist mansions led by strong masters, deputies were often reduced to mere figureheads. As a result, the head of the Jiangnan Daoist Mansion held a relatively low ranking in the Golden Tower Council.

At the moment, Bai Yingqiong served as the Chief Deputy Jiangnan Mansion Master. In terms of position, she was closest to her master, Sage Cihang. Unfortunately, her age was also closest to her master’s. While they were nominally master and disciple, their relationship was more akin to sisters.

By the time Sage Cihang retired, Bai Yingqiong would not have many years left in her own career.

In this situation, if Bai Yingqiong were determined to ascend to power, her true rival would not be her junior sister, Zhang Yuelu, but her own master, Sage Cihang. However, the reality was that Sage Cihang, the second-in-command in the Zhengyi Sect, was a strong candidate for the position of Grand Master. Opposing Sage Cihang would be tantamount to severing ties with the Zhengyi Sect.

Regardless of Bai Yingqiong’s intentions, she had no choice but to accept this reality.

In fact, Bai Yingqiong had realized this outcome over a decade ago and resigned herself to this fate. Her status and position predetermined that she would only become a prominent elder within the Cihang lineage.

If one were to draw a comparison to the Imperial Court, Sage Cihang’s position would be akin to that of the Emperor, and Bai Yingqiong would be akin to a cabinet minister. Thus, when Sage Cihang named Zhang Yuelu as her successor, Bai Yingqiong made no attempt to oppose this decision. Instead, she decided to proactively foster a good relationship with her junior sister, paving the way for the future so as to act as a regent.

Bai Yingqiong did not normally reside in the Zhenwu Temple. Instead, she lived in her own residence within Jinling Prefecture. It was just a simple dual-entrance courtyard that exuded understated elegance, lacking extravagant pavilions or water features that were typical of a Jiangnan residence. Those familiar with Bai Yingqiong’s status referred to it as the Bai Residence.

Although there were certainly others in Jinling Prefecture with the same last name, the Bai Residence was invariably referring to Bai Yingqiong’s home.

A small living room in the backyard of the Bai Residence was cooled by a formation that warded off the oppressive summer heat. In fact, it was like winter inside.

“It’s freezing here!” Bai Xiaojin complained. She was dressed in a thin silk garment, struggling to tolerate the chill. Such formations still had some flaws, unable to automatically regulate the temperature of a room, often making it either too cold or too hot.

Hearing this, Bai Yingqiong smiled. It was natural and heartfelt, a rare sight reserved only for her beloved daughter. She sat tall and dignified, allowing her daughter to tug at her hand as she simply smiled without moving.

Bai Yingqiong’s age was not far from Sage Cihang’s, so it was not surprising that she had a daughter who was only a few years younger than Zhang Yuelu, just entering adulthood.

The person seated opposite Bai Yingqiong suggested, “Perhaps you should lower the formation’s intensity.”

It was none other than Zhang Yuelu, dressed in formal Daoist attire, exuding an air of authority.

Bai Yingqiong shook her head and sighed. “It’s my fault for being too indulgent with this brat, so much so that she has no manners in front of guests.”

The Chief Deputy Jiangnan Daoist Mansion Master turned to her daughter and chided her. “Wear more layers if you’re cold.”

Bai Xiaojin grumbled. “Why don’t you two wear less?”

“Xiaojin!” Bai Yingqiong feigned anger.

“It’s fine,” Zhang Yuelu said with a smile. “I don’t feel warm at all.”

Bai Yingqiong was momentarily stunned. She probed, “Junior Sister, are you about to become a Heavenly Being?”

Besides being able to fly, Heavenly Beings were completely immune to extreme heat and cold.

“Most likely by this year.” Zhang Yuelu nodded.

Bai Yingqiong smiled. “This is wonderful news! Does our master know?”

“She knows,” Zhang Yuelu replied. “Master frequently writes to me.”

Bai Yingqiong remarked half-jokingly, “We didn’t get such treatment back in the day.”

Zhang Yuelu shook her head. “You’re teasing me, Senior Sister.”

Bai Yingqiong changed the subject to avoid sounding bitter, turning to her daughter and saying, “In that case, shouldn’t you thank your aunt?”

Although somewhat reluctant, Bai Xiaojin did not defy her mother and muttered, “Thank you, Aunt Zhang.”

After that, she walked to a corner of the living room and twisted a wooden mechanism to deactivate the temperature formation. The chill in the room diminished significantly.

Zhang Yuelu’s visit today was to strengthen the bond with her senior sister. She believed in the Daoist moral code but was not rigid about it. She also understood the value of having more allies, and it was clear she needed her senior sister’s support if she wanted to reach great heights.

Bai Yingqiong had already intended to foster goodwill with Zhang Yuelu. Thus, her junior sister’s proactive visit satisfied her wishes. Coupled with their relationship of having a shared master, their conversation flowed easily.

However, these two were not ordinary women. They also had a significant age gap between them, so there was not much trivial chatter. Before long, they began discussing serious matters.

“I’ve heard that another group is coming. It seems the Golden Tower Council has bumped up the importance of this investigation,” Bai Yingqiong remarked. As a local official, she was not as well-informed about the personnel arrangements and movements from Jade Capital as Zhang Yuelu.

“Yes, quite a few people are coming,” Zhang Yuelu replied. “After all, given the precedent of the Jiangnan case, the same mistakes will likely be repeated if not enough people are dispatched.”

Bai Yingqiong smiled faintly, showing no signs of displeasure.

The Jiangnan case had been the very opportunity that elevated Bai Yingqiong to her current position. After the incident, the former Mansion Master, Chief Deputy, and Second Deputy were all transferred out of Jiangnan. The Cihang lineage, led by Sage Cihang, had contributed significantly to resolving the case, paving the way for Bai Yingqiong to take over as the Chief Deputy Jiangnan Daoist Mansion Master. Thus, she had no reason to shy away from this topic.

Bai Yingqiong asked, “Do you know who these people are?”

“The detailed list is in Sage Lei’s hands. I haven’t inquired about it,” Zhang Yuelu replied. “However, Sage Pei mentioned that most of them seem to be disciples of the Quanzhen Sect. After all, Sage Donghua currently oversees Ziwei Hall, giving him the upper hand in personnel arrangements.”

Bai Yingqiong nodded. “That’s for the best. This case originated at Purple Immortal Mountain. Both the Yanqing Merchant’s Association and the silenced Yuan family are in Jiangling Prefecture, which falls within the Quanzhen Sect’s territory. It makes sense for them to take the lead in investigating this thoroughly.”

Zhang Yuelu mused, “I’m only concerned that the two Deputy Hall Masters from the Li family and the Deputy Hall Master Lu Yushu will be difficult to deal with.”

In terms of tact and experience, Zhang Yuelu still could not quite compare to Bai Yingqiong. Her visit today was partly to seek advice.

Bai Yingqiong did not disappoint her expectations and promptly advised. “Sometimes, it’s best to fight evil with a borrowed hand. If they’re difficult to handle, you can use others to deal with them.”

“And whose hand should I borrow?” Zhang Yuelu immediately asked.

Bai Yingqiong replied, “Ning Lingge.”

Zhang Yuelu fell into contemplation.

Bai Yingqiong continued, “Among the three sects, most will say that the Taiping Sect is the strongest. But that’s not true. The strongest is actually the Quanzhen Sect. The difference is that the Taiping Sect is the most unified, with a single cohesive voice, like five fingers clenched into a fist. That unity, combined with their support from the Imperial Court, gives them the dominant position and forces the other two sects to form alliances to counter them.

“Before the Holy Xuan unified the Daoist sects, they were divided into five regions—north, south, east, west, and central. The northern Daoists took over the Imperial Capital and became the royal family and nobility. The southern Daoists became the Zhengyi Sect. The eastern Daoists became the Taiping Sect. The central Daoists became the Quanzhen Sect.

“The western Daoists were split into two groups—some followed Tantai Yun to foreign lands, while others from the former Gezao Sect integrated into the Quanzhen Sect. By right, the Quanzhen Sect has always surpassed the Zhengyi Sect and the Taiping Sect.

“The Zhengyi Sect and the Taiping Sect are ruled by the Zhang family and the Li family, respectively. Their advantage lies in being bound by familial ties, making them exceptionally united. However, the downside is their tendency to form family-oriented cliques, hindering upward mobility and leading to stagnation. Over time, these disadvantages have become increasingly apparent.

“By contrast, the Quanzhen Sect lacks a single dominant family. With a constant influx of new blood from the Wanxiang Daoist Palace and its inclusivity, the Quanzhen Sect has consistently produced countless talents in recent years. However, they also have drawbacks. Instead of family-oriented cliques, they have developed cliques based on master-disciple relationships. Additionally, their numerous internal factions prevent them from acting cohesively. They have immense strength but lack the unity to wield it effectively.

“Ning Lingge is from the Quanzhen Sect. He was ousted from his position as the Tiangang Hall Master through the machinations of the Li family. So it’s certain he will bear a grudge against them. An Omniscient Sage carries significant weight, and his faction holds considerable influence in the Jiangnan region.”

Zhang Yuelu finally understood what was implied. “Thank you for the guidance, Senior Sister.”

There was a saying that corrupt officials must be cunning, but upright officials must be even more shrewd to overturn the corrupt.

If Zhang Yuelu wanted to carve a path for herself within the Daoist Order, she could not rely solely on passion. Without cunning strategies and intricate schemes, she would not get anywhere.

The social fabric of the Daoist Order was interwoven with overt etiquette, implicit relationships, unwritten rules, favors, connections, and networks. Everything was intricately linked.

In such an environment, anyone seeking to accomplish their goals must conform to these rules, at least outwardly.

If one insisted on standing apart by adhering strictly to integrity and principle, the system would reject them, leaving them with nothing but passion and ideals.

Unless the system could be dismantled from the outside, one must acknowledge and exploit its rules to climb upward. Only by reaching the pinnacle could one bring about real change.

In the Daoist Order, one could only reform the system by becoming the Grand Master.

In short, to serve the greater good, one must first learn to protect oneself.

That said, the mundane world was rife with temptations. Using compromises to achieve lofty ambitions would easily lead to losing oneself and forgetting one’s original purpose.

The truly rare individual was one who understood the ways of the world without getting tempted by worldly pleasures, whose methods were ruthless but whose heart remained pure, who outwardly went with the flow but inwardly refused to compromise their principles.

In this regard, Zhang Yuelu ticked the boxes. She had not forgotten her original aspirations, nor had she displayed such sharpness that it alarmed others. Most people only saw her as a capable and diligent worker.

Zhang Yuelu did not overly emphasize procedural justice or fairness. She also did not mind using certain means to achieve her ideals.