A Pawn's Passage

Lei Xiaohuan, being from a military family, had always had a habit of using foul language, mixing in a few vulgar phrases at times. She would usually restrain herself in front of Qi Xuansu, but since she got caught up in the moment, she did not hold back.

Qi Xuansu did not say much, merely accepting the goodwill.

Deep down, he knew that he owed them an enormous favor. He lacked the Holy Xuan’s power and cultivation level, but if he ever succeeded in life, he would owe them a great debt of gratitude.

After Lei Xiaohuan finished speaking, Pei Xiaolou chimed in. “By the way, I’ve thought of two options for you. The first option is to wait here while the two of us invite Miss Zhang over, surprising her here. The second option is to surprise her yourself, and we won’t intervene.”

Qi Xuansu did not take any time to consider the two options before replying, “You two have already helped me a lot, so I can’t possibly trouble you further. I’ll go see her myself.”

“Great!” Pei Xiaolou did not insist and only felt pleased to have one less thing to do.

......

Many people knew that Deputy Hall Master Zhang had arrived at Zhenwu Temple and that she was young, beautiful, and exceptionally talented, on par with Li Changge and Yao Pei. She was widely regarded as a paragon of both talent and looks. Moreover, she was the grandniece of the Heavenly Preceptor and was favored by the Earthly Preceptor, earning her an esteemed status.

As a result, Zhang Yuelu attracted many young men, including young Daoists from the Jiangnan Daoist Mansion and scions from the local noble families.

The Jiangnan Daoist Mansion prohibited unauthorized personnel from entering Zhenwu Temple, so these privileged young men often lingered at the entrance, hoping for a glimpse of the young and beautiful Deputy Hall Master.

Since they did not try to enter the Zhenwu Temple, the Spirit Guards could not actually chase them away.

These scions were not short of women. But when they were tired of ordinary young beauties, they turned their attention to women of notable status, taking pride in their pursuits and discussing their exploits among their friends.

They did not expect to win over Deputy Hall Master Zhang. They merely hoped to get close to her and foster some ambiguous interactions, gaining them bragging rights for the future.

There was an old saying that feelings could arise over time through constant contact. Men lust after women, and the same rang true for women. It was not wrong to wish for a devoted husband and a loyal male friend, especially now that the rigid Confucian women’s etiquette had been abolished.

Deputy Hall Master Zhang held herself with dignity, but who could tell what she was actually thinking? If necessary, these scions were prepared to show their unwavering devotion to her.

That was why they pestered her.

At first, Zhang Yuelu showed a rare patience, politely advising these men not to disturb her. However, her restraint was mistaken for weakness, prompting them to escalate their behavior.

After all, most young men were brash and impulsive. They were not afraid, as they were not committing any crimes. What could she possibly do to them anyway?

To her dismay, Zhang Yuelu could not do much. So she simply ignored them and focused on her duties. That was until one young man, egged on by his companions, approached her with a few flirtatious remarks.

Taking the opportunity, Zhang Yuelu gave them a taste of her temper, making it clear to them why so few dared to approach her even in Jade Capital.

The unlucky fellow ended up even worse off than Xu Kou when he had a hand broken.

After that incident, Zhang Yuelu finally enjoyed complete peace, with no one daring to disturb her again.

However, today was an exception. Just as Zhang Yuelu was about to leave the Bai Residence, another visitor arrived. He was a refined and handsome young man of similar age, Su Qingbai.

There were several notable Su families within the Daoist Order—the Qingqiu lineage of the Taiping Sect, the Cihang lineage of the Zhengyi Sect, and another from the Quanzhen Sect with close ties to the Pei family. Pei Xuanzhi and Pei Xiaolou’s mother was from the Quanzhen Sect’s Su family.

Su Qingbai was from the Su family of the Cihang lineage, which was a prestigious family in Jinling Prefecture.

Su Qingbai’s timing was impeccable, as he happened to cross paths with Zhang Yuelu at the Bai Residence.

Seeing the visitor, Zhang Yuelu instinctively glanced at Bai Yingqiong.

Bai Yingqiong merely exchanged a look with her junior sister, as if saying that this was not a coincidence and that she had deliberately arranged this meeting.

This was not surprising. Though they were both Sage Cihang’s disciples, Bai Yingqiong was more like an elder to Zhang Yuelu due to the age gap.

Seniors, especially with a generational gap, were almost always enthusiastic about matchmaking for their juniors. Bai Yingqiong was no exception. From her perspective, Zhang Yuelu was likely to marry sooner or later, so it was better to keep things within the family.

However, Bai Yingqiong was not a strict elder and would not be as forceful as Tantai Qiong. She simply created an opening for Su Qingbai. Whether the young man could seize this opportunity was entirely up to him.

Of course, this was not solely Bai Yingqiong’s intention. Other members of the Cihang lineage were also happy to see this potential match.

Zhang Yuelu did not say much. As long as she still retained the right to refuse, she would not object or cause a scene.

Some people, however, were reluctant to give Zhang Yuelu the right to refuse. An example of that was her mother, Tantai Qiong, leading to significant tension between the mother and daughter.

Bai Yingqiong smiled faintly. “Xiao Su is one of our own from the Cihang lineage. Qing Xiao, you’ve been in Jade Capital for so long that you probably haven’t seen much of him. I think you two can spend more time together while you’re here in Jinling.”

Zhang Yuelu replied calmly, “Of course.”

Su Qingbai smiled politely and said nothing.

Compared to the young dandies lingering outside Zhenwu Temple, Su Qingbai was undoubtedly a true descendant of a prestigious family with impeccable manners. He was neither frivolous nor superficial. Instead, his behavior made him appear as pure and untainted as a lotus root, living up to his name, which meant purity.

Bai Yingqiong went along with the situation. “Xiao Su, please escort Qing Xiao back for me.”

“Sure,” Su Qingbai responded.

Zhang Yuelu had come to strengthen her bond with Bai Yingqiong, not to create conflict. Thus, she could not refuse outright. She merely left without saying a word.

Bai Yingqiong escorted the two young people to the gate of the courtyard.

Su Qingbai glanced back at Bai Yingqiong, meeting her gaze. He recalled her instructions earlier. “Xiao Su, this meeting with Qing Xiao is just an initial interaction. Try to leave a good impression. A woman like her has high standards and a bright future, so you can’t rush things. As they say, good things take time, so be patient.”

Bai Yingqiong’s residence was not far from Zhenwu Temple, so Zhang Yuelu had walked over instead of taking a carriage.

After walking some distance, Su Qingbai finally spoke to Zhang Yuelu, breaking the silence. “I’ve long heard of your reputation, Senior Sister. I never imagined I’d have the fortune of seeing you here. It must be fate!”

Qi Xuansu had mentioned long ago that Zhang Yuelu had a knack for sarcasm.

Her snide response was a testament to that. “Is it really fate? Fate is preordained, but I think this ‘fate’ you speak of is premeditated instead.”

Su Qingbai was rendered speechless.

Zhang Yuelu kept a brisk pace, never walking side by side with Su Qingbai.

She said in a flat tone, “I know the way back to Zhenwu Temple, so there’s no need to trouble you, Young Master Su. Besides, Sage Lei has assigned me a lot of tasks recently. If it’s unrelated to the case, I suggest minimizing our contact.”

Su Qingbai hesitated, wanting to speak but ultimately holding back.

Zhang Yuelu ignored him and continued forward.

Su Qingbai hesitated for a moment, but he still trailed behind Zhang Yuelu. If he were someone who would give up so easily, Bai Yingqiong would not have entrusted him with this task.

Zhang Yuelu stopped speaking altogether. This was the second step in her procedure of deterring pursuers—treating them as invisible. The first step was to advise them politely, while the third step would be to use violence to get her point across.

This was how she dealt with the scions and how she planned to deal with Su Qingbai.

At the end of the day, Zhang Yuelu was quite self-aware. She knew she had a bad temper. While she was attractive, she was not a stunning beauty who was capable of toppling kingdoms. The reason these people swarmed around her like flies was not because of her as a person, but rather her background and prospects.

She could understand their opportunistic intentions, but that did not mean she had to approve of them. She also did not intend to fulfill their ambitions at her expense. So they could all get lost for all she cared.

After walking a bit farther, an unmelodic voice approached from ahead.

♫ In the melody of life,

♫ Find grace in living contentedly.

♫ Contemplate the ebb and flow of creation.

♫ Fortune conceals misfortune; misfortune harbors fortune.

♫ Can wealth and status ever be boundless?

♫ The sun rises and sets, while the moon waxes and wanes;

♫ In the earth’s southeast, in the heavens’ northwest,

♫ Yet cohesion eludes heaven and earth.

♫ Worry not over trifles,

♫ Cease striving for leisure.

♫ Today’s visage ages compared with yesterday’s,

♫ From past to present.

♫ Such is the way it must be,

♫ Whether wise or foolish, rich or poor.

♫ In the end, this mortal frame cannot escape the inevitable.

♫ Enjoyment fleeting with the dawn,

♫ A day’s delight fades swiftly.

♫ A hundred years pass with seventy being rare.

♫ The years rush by like torrential waters.

The singer was likely self-taught, occasionally in tune and off-key, sounding more like poetry recitation.

Su Qingbai, an expert in music and rhythm, could not help but frown at this off-key singing. To his surprise, Zhang Yuelu suddenly halted, her face filled with disbelief.