A Pawn's Passage

Everyone fell silent.

It was well known that Feng Bo was not a Martial Arts Practitioner but a Qi Refiner skilled in sword qi, not fists.

Therefore, the owner of this eyeball was most likely Feng Bo.

In other words, Feng Bo’s last image was of a fist before he was shattered into pieces by a single punch.

Zhang Yuelu continued, “From the traces at the scene, there were no signs of any spell. If he had died from sword qi, the severed parts of the remains should have been relatively clean-cut, not jagged and torn as they were.

“Therefore, we believe Feng Bo was killed by a Martial Arts Practitioner. Preliminary reconstruction suggests that the two fought mid-air, with Feng Bo shattered by a single punch. The immense force scattered Feng Bo’s remains far and wide—some fragments were found more than 5 kilometers away.”

As she spoke, Zhang Yuelu handed the report she had been reviewing to Lei Xiaohuan. It was not only because Lei Xiaohuan was chairing the meeting, but also because she was the only Martial Arts Practitioner present.

Lei Xiaohuan took the report and browsed through it, which contained numerous on-site pictures, scenes reconstructed through spells, and imprints made using talismans.

She mused, “Martial Arts Practitioners at the Xiaoyao stage could not fly. The fact that they fought mid-air indicates that the opponent was at least a Martial Arts Practitioner at the Wuliang stage. Feng Bo was only at the Xiaoyao stage, so it’s not surprising that he was killed.”

“A Wuliang-stage Martial Arts Practitioner?” Li Mingzhi instinctively turned his head to look at Li Mingcheng beside him.

Li Mingcheng’s expression was grave. “A Martial Arts Practitioner at the Wuliang stage won’t be a nobody; they must have a significant reputation. However, most secret societies primarily consist of shamans, Diviners, and Qi Refiners, with very few Martial Arts Practitioners. That’s because Martial Arts Practitioners are the least dependent on incense power.

“Conversely, many Martial Arts Practitioners can be found among the Black Robes. The few Chief Admirals of the Imperial Court are Wuliang-stage Martial Arts Practitioners. Could it be someone from the Imperial Court?”

The basic consensus within the Daoist Order was that Martial Arts Practitioners were naturally incompatible with secret societies, while shamans were their extreme opposites.

“That’s possible.” Lei Xiaohuan nodded. “After all, the Imperial Court despises the Heavenly Court the most.”

These words carried an implicit meaning.

The Li family maintained good relations with the Imperial Court, which often clashed with the Heavenly Court. This was not contradictory because no major powers were entirely aligned. They cooperated on shared interests but competed and schemed over conflicting ones. They clashed on differences but did not break superficial harmony. Thus, constant friction and compromise were the norms.

Li Mingcheng and Li Mingzhi cleared their throats simultaneously, refraining from expressing their opinions.

Regarding major cases within the Daoist Order, the Imperial Court adhered to the agreements made by the Holy Xuan and Emperor Gaozu—non-intervention, non-involvement, and neutrality.

Thus, even if someone from the Imperial Court acted and targeted the secret society members, no one would admit to it at this time, avoiding unnecessary trouble.

Zhang Yuelu interjected. “While Martial Arts Practitioners are rare among secret societies, it doesn’t mean there are none. The major secret societies are not united or even allied. They compete for territory and incense power, often harboring grudges against each other. We cannot rule out the possibility of Feng Bo’s killer being someone from another secret society.”

Lu Yushu, who had remained silent until now, picked up where Zhang Yuelu left off. “Deputy Hall Master Zhang is absolutely right. When discussing secret societies, one inevitably thinks of incense power and the Big Three Cults, namely the Lingshan Witch Cult, the Cult of Fates, and the Ziguang Society. But as far as I know, there’s another secret society—one with significant strength and potentially no weaker than these three—that shows no interest in incense power.”

“Which one?” Lei Xiaohuan looked at Lu Yushu.

Lu Yushu glanced at the report in front of Lei Xiaohuan and replied, “The Qingping Society.”

Qi Xuansu instinctively lowered his gaze and wrote the words “Qingping Society” in the meeting record.

Judging by Madam Qi’s relationship with Pei Xiaolou and Lei Xiaohuan, the Qingping Society likely had some dealings with the Quanzhen Sect, much like the relationship between the Heavenly Court and the Taiping Sect.

After all, everyone would have a few unspeakable methods.

Lu Yushu’s words carried an implication that directly pointed at the Quanzhen Sect.

Lei Xiaohuan had indeed considered using the Qingping Society’s power to deal with the Heavenly Court. However, she was surprised that Feng Bo was already dead even before Madam Qi arrived in Jinling Prefecture.

Even if it were the Qingping Society’s doing, Lei Xiaohuan would never admit it. Moreover, this was not their doing.

Lei Xiaohuan asked calmly, “Do you have any evidence?”

Lu Yushu lowered her head. “It’s just a conjecture.”

“That means you have no evidence,” Lei Xiaohuan said. “If we start making wild guesses without evidence, we might as well drag in the Eight Tribes, the Seven Treasure Pavilion, and all the other secret societies.”

Qi Xuansu kept listening and noting intently without missing a word. He had not expected that a false assumption would lead to a relatively accurate conclusion.

Feng Bo was killed by Master Wan, but Qi Xuansu summoned Master Wan. So technically, attributing Feng Bo’s death to Qi Xuansu, a Qingping Society member, was perfectly reasonable.

In this regard, Lu Yushu was not wrong.

Qi Xuansu instinctively used his peripheral vision to observe Zhang Yuelu, trying to gauge her attitude toward the Qingping Society.

Although Zhang Yuelu represented Tiangang Hall, she had no intention of getting entangled with secret societies at the moment. She declared, “Who exactly killed Feng Bo is not the key issue here.”

Li Mingzhi probed, “Then what is the key issue in your opinion, Deputy Hall Master Zhang?”

Zhang Yuelu pointed to Ye Xiu’s confession. “The Sage mentioned at the end of the confession.”

Li Mingzhi gave Zhang Yuelu a deep look. “Are you suggesting that our investigation team invite Sage Li, the Second Deputy Jiangnan Daoist Mansion Master, to clarify some matters?”

Zhang Yuelu stated, “We’ll follow the rules. If Sage Li is unwilling to come, we cannot force him.”

At this moment, Lei Xiaohuan chimed in. “I agree with Deputy Hall Master Zhang’s proposal.”

She then turned to Bai Yingqiong. “Sage Bai, since you are the Chief Jiangnan Daoist Mansion Master and a colleague of Sage Li, please convey the message and invite him over.”

Bai Yingqiong did not refuse, standing up and nodding. “Noted.”

What followed was a long period of waiting.

Everyone remained silent.

Some people closed their eyes to rest, while others stared blankly into the void. Some lowered their heads and used this opportunity to examine other files and documents.

Pei Xiaolou was the most irreverent among all attendees. He took out a cedarwood box that contained a special tobacco product from the New World, about as thick as an adult man’s finger with ashes that burned as white as snow, called a cigar.

He pinched off one end of the tobacco roll with his fingernail and conjured a small flame at his fingertip, rotating the cigar’s body evenly over the flame to toast it slightly before lighting the foot.

Finally, he took a deep puff. As he exhaled, smoke instantly filled the meeting room.

If not for Lei Xiaohuan’s stern gaze, Pei Xiaolou might have gone as far as propping his feet on the table.

Maritime trade not only brought Western goods but also introduced Western customs to the East. It even influenced members of the Daoist Order.

Qi Xuansu, being seated near Pei Xiaolou, was also enveloped by the smoke. He squinted instinctively, unaccustomed to such Western goods since Madam Qi preferred traditional smoking pipes and filling her own tobacco. However, the haze provided Qi Xuansu with an opportunity to openly observe Zhang Yuelu.

At this moment, Zhang Yuelu seemed deep in thought, her gaze fixed straight ahead.

After an indeterminate amount of time, Bai Yingqiong was the first to push the door open and enter.

Everyone looked up.

Pei Xiaolou paused mid-puff, then extinguished his cigar with his fingers.

“Sage Li has arrived,” Bai Yingqiong announced.

Lei Xiaohuan slowly stood up, and the others followed suit. After all, they were equals, so standing to welcome him was customary etiquette.

Following Bai Yingqiong was an old man dressed in the formal attire of a second-rank Taiyi Daoist master—a lotus crown on the head and a Sword of Wisdom pendant hanging from his waist. He appeared to be in his fifties.

As soon as he entered the room, he bowed to everyone present.

Everyone, including Lei Xiaohuan, returned the bow.

Sage Li’s face showed no expression as he said perfunctorily, “I am unworthy of such a greeting.”

The other observers, including Qi Xuansu, only took their seats after the seven deputies and Sage Li were seated. Sage Li sat between Bai Yingqiong and Pei Xiaolou.

Bai Yingqiong, being a colleague of Sage Li, introduced him. “Some of you, such as the two Deputy Hall Master Li, have long known Sage Li. Others, like Junior Sister Zhang, are meeting him for the first time. So allow me to introduce you two. Sage Li’s full name is Li Tianlan, a figure of great prominence in the Li family.

“My junior sister, Zhang Yuelu, is my master’s favorite disciple and a promising talent valued by both the Heavenly Preceptor and the Earthly Preceptor.”

The two exchanged glances.

Zhang Yuelu was the first to speak. “It’s an honor to meet you, Sage Li.”

Li Tianlan smiled faintly. “A pleasure to meet you.”

There was no doubt that Li Tianlan was a senior figure of absolute authority with deep qualifications. From the way Li Mingzhi and Li Mingcheng treated him, it was clear he held a significant position even within the Li family.

The reason he was only the Second Deputy while Bai Yingqiong was the Chief Deputy was that the Jiangnan Daoist Mansion sought a balance among the three sects. Placing Li Tianlan as Chief Deputy would make him too dominant due to his seniority and prestige, hence disrupting the balance. By placing him as a Second Deputy, his authority was moderated, maintaining equilibrium among the three sects.

This way, Li Tianlan and Zhang Yuelu formed a stark contrast. One was near retirement, while the other was still considered a young adult, mirroring the shift in the Daoist Order where the younger generation was taking bold actions against the old-timers.

However, between the elderly and the young were the middle-aged group, represented by Lei Xiaohuan and Pei Xiaolou as its outstanding members.

At this moment, Lei Xiaohuan spoke. “Sage Li, I’m sure Sage Bai has explained the reason we invited you here. We are looking forward to your guidance.”

Li Tianlan responded slowly. “I am acquainted with Ye Xiu, and he has indeed helped me manage some businesses. After all, even before the Holy Xuan revitalized the Daoist Order, the Li family was already a prominent family. As a member of the Li family, I used some of my inherited wealth to invest in properties in Jinling Prefecture. I didn’t steal or rob anyone, nor did I misappropriate the Order’s funds. That’s not breaking any rules, right?”

“Of course not!” Lu Yushu immediately replied, as she represented Fengxian Hall, who had the most authority on such matters.

Li Tianlan continued, “As for what other businesses Ye Xiu might conduct and what dealings he had with others, I had no knowledge nor the means to control him. After all, Ye Xiu is not my servant. Such master-servant relationships are not practiced in the Daoist Order either. My relationship with Ye Xiu is purely cooperative. He manages my assets while I give him a share of the profits. That’s all.”