A Pawn's Passage

Chapter 443: Taking One’s Life Out of Guilt

About 250 kilometers from Jinling Prefecture was a major port that served as one of the key trade harbors. Many cargo ships docked there, most of them steamships, though some of them retained sails to conserve fuel when the wind was favorable.

During the day, one could see sails billowing like clouds and masts clustered like a forest at the harbor.

About 15 kilometers from this major port was an abandoned small harbor.

This harbor operated outside the control of the government and the Daoist Order, primarily used for smuggling goods, and more importantly, for illicitly ferrying people overseas.

At this moment, a middle-aged man in a casual Daoist robe stood anxiously on the dock at this abandoned harbor.

Ahead was a pitch-black sea, devoid of any lights.

His name was Dongfang Yao, a superintendent under Li Tianlan’s command. Since the investigation team entered Jinling Prefecture, Dongfang Yao had been on edge, jumpy at every shadow.

A few days ago, a friend had tipped him off, saying the investigation team was closing in step by step. The higher-ups could not withstand the pressure any longer and intended to sacrifice a few scapegoats to appease the investigation team. He was among the unfortunate ones.

Dongfang Yao, already paranoid, had no doubts about the news. He was not willing to be a sitting duck, awaiting his doom. Although Fengxian Hall and Beichen Hall were under the Taiping Sect’s control, they would not exonerate scapegoats. Why else would they be called scapegoats?

On the contrary, Fengxian Hall and Beichen Hall would only heap all the charges on the scapegoats and ensure they stayed silent until their deaths.

Thus, Dongfang Yao decided to flee Jinling Prefecture, abandoning his position as superintendent. He planned to sail overseas and escape with the wealth he had amassed over the years.

He was just a minor figure, so surely, the investigation team would not make a grand effort to capture him and the Taiping Sect would likely turn a blind eye, right? That was, of course, if he could get out to sea safely.

At that moment, a light appeared on the pitch-black sea.

A small boat slowly approached, its beam of light sweeping toward the dock.

This small boat was not built to cross the ocean. The main passenger ship was anchored at sea to avoid detection by the Nanhai Navy. The small boat merely ferried passengers to the larger ship.

Dongfang Yao stepped forward, carrying a wooden box in one hand and waving vigorously toward the small boat with his free hand.

“Where are you headed, Superintendent Dongfang?” A voice suddenly asked behind him.

Dongfang Yao froze, his waving hand stopping abruptly.

After a moment, Dongfang Yao turned around reluctantly. Upon seeing a Daoist in a black hechang standing behind him, Dongfang Yao’s face was filled with despair.

Dongfang Yao had seen this Daoist before during the welcoming ceremony for the investigation team’s arrival in Jinling Prefecture. He was the Deputy Chongyang Palace Master, Pei Xiaolou.

Pei Xiaolou patted Dongfang Yao on the shoulder and casually took the wooden box from his hand.

More Spirit Guards emerged from the shadows, silently positioning themselves behind Pei Xiaolou. They lit lamps, illuminating the entire dock.

Pei Xiaolou handed the wooden box to a Spirit Guard, who held it with both hands. The Sage opened the lid of the box, revealing a set of forged identification papers, a set of clothes, a bundle of cash notes, and numerous Eagle coins under the lamplight.

He picked up an Eagle coin and examined it closely.

Though it was a silver coin like the Taiping coin, this Western silver coin bore no characters. Instead, it featured the image of a double-headed eagle that was supposedly the emblem and flag of an ancient Western empire. Originally a single-headed eagle, it was later altered to a double-headed eagle to symbolize the empire spanning two continents. Though the empire had since collapsed, its successors continued to use the double-headed eagle as their symbol.

As East-West exchanges became more frequent, large quantities of foreign silver coins flowed into the Central Plains. These Western coins, marked with single-headed or double-headed eagles, were colloquially referred to as Eagle coins by the populace. It was a fitting name that even the Imperial Court and the Daoist Order adopted the term.

“Wow! That’s a lot of Eagle coins. You’re well prepared, I see,” Pei Xiaolou remarked, tossing the coin back into the box and looking at Dongfang Yao.

Dongfang Yao was drenched in sweat, unable to utter a word.

At this point, Pei Xiaolou noticed that the small boat had not fled but was instead approaching.

As it drew closer, he saw a dignified figure standing at the bow of the boat. It was Li Tianlan, the Second Deputy Jiangnan Daoist Mansion Master.

“Sage Li.” Pei Xiaolou’s expression shifted slightly.

Li Tianlan smiled and cupped his hands. “Sage Pei.”

Pei Xiaolou asked, “What brings you here?”

Li Tianlan leaped onto the dock. “I received word that someone was fleeing to avoid punishment, so I came personally to apprehend them.”

“What a coincidence! I’m here for the same reason,” Pei Xiaolou casually said, though his eyes scrutinized Li Tianlan’s movements.

Logically, Superintendent Dongfang Yao would carry many secrets since he was under Li Tianlan’s command. So Li Tianlan would not want the superintendent to fall into the hands of the investigation team.

In Pei Xiaolou’s view, Li Tianlan was unlikely to let Dongfang Yao leave Jinling Prefecture alive. However, if Dongfang Yao could be made to talk, his testimony might be as impactful as Ye Xiu’s. This was why Pei Xiaolou had come in person to stop the superintendent from fleeing.

Now that the two sides had crossed paths, Li Tianlan’s expression suggested he was not surprised to encounter Pei Xiaolou. Could this, too, have been within Li Tianlan’s schemes?

Thinking of this, Pei Xiaolou tentatively said, “This person is deeply implicated in the case and should be handed over to the investigation team for questioning. What do you think, Sage Li?”

Li Tianlan replied, “Even I must answer the investigation team’s questions, let alone him. I naturally have no objections, but—”

“But what?” Pei Xiaolou glanced at Dongfang Yao out of the corner of his eye.

Dongfang Yao’s face was pale, his lips trembling, and large beads of sweat rolled down his forehead.

Pei Xiaolou could not help but find it odd. This man was, after all, a superintendent. Even if he could not compare to that brave boy, Qi Xuansu, he should not be this weak, right? They were not even at Fengxian Hall or Beichen Hall yet, nor were they on the frontlines of a battlefield. This was far too unbecoming even for a flowerbed priest.

However, Pei Xiaolou quickly noticed something amiss when Dongfang Yao clutched his chest. His body trembled violently, and his bloodshot eyes bulged outward.

Li Tianlan feigned shock. “Oh no, he’s attempting to take his own life out of guilt to avoid punishment!”

Despite his words, Li Tianlan did not move one bit.

Pei Xiaolou quickly reached out to hold Dongfang Yao. But it was too late. Dongfang Yao collapsed to the ground, his face ashen and eyes lifeless. He was already dead.

Having missed when Li Tianlan had made a move against Dongfang Yao, Pei Xiaolou glared daggers at Li Tianlan. “Sage Li, you owe me an explanation!”

Li Tianlan glanced at Dongfang Yao’s corpse and lamented. “I personally nurtured him. He was once a diligent and capable young man, so hardworking and conscientious. How did he end up like this? His greed was insatiable. He forgot the people who guided him, ignored the Holy Xuan’s teachings, and lost the integrity expected of a Daoist priest. Let this serve as a warning to others.”

Pei Xiaolou coldly said, “He’s dead.”

“Yes, dead and gone...” Li Tianlan sighed. “Honestly, I’m at fault too. It was my negligence for failing to notice his actions early on. I didn’t take timely measures to rectify them, which allowed him to make mistake after mistake, leading to his untimely death. This has also caused significant losses for the Jiangnan Daoist Mansion, so it’s all my fault.”

Pei Xiaolou remained silent for a moment before saying, “Dongfang Yao was personally nurtured by you, Sage Li. This could be called a debt of gratitude, even akin to a second lease on life. It’s a debt equivalent to one’s savior or parents.”

Li Tianlan narrowed his eyes. “Sage Pei, I’m not sure I understand what you’re saying.”

Pei Xiaolou spoke slowly. “There’s no greater matter in life than death. Dongfang Yao committed suicide to avoid punishment, unafraid of death itself. So, what was he afraid of? What was he trying to hide? Or perhaps, who was he trying to protect?”

Li Tianlan’s expression turned icy. “Sage Pei, are you suggesting that Dongfang Yao took his own life to protect me, repaying the debt of gratitude he owed me?”

Pei Xiaolou replied solemnly, “I didn’t say that. I’m merely asking you for a reasonable explanation.”

Li Tianlan did not answer immediately. Instead, he took a pocket watch from his sleeve, opened the lid, and glanced at it.

Pei Xiaolou did not rush him since both of them were second-rank Taiyi Daoist masters, equal in position.

After a moment, Li Tianlan put away the pocket watch and suggested. “How about this? I am willing to accept the investigation team’s scrutiny, including a search of my residence and office. This is the explanation I offer. Are you satisfied, Sage Pei?”

However, Pei Xiaolou remained silent.

Li Tianlan continued, “If I truly had any improper dealings with Dongfang Yao, or to put it bluntly, if I were the one backing him, then I am willing to accept any punishment. However, if I am innocent and have nothing to do with Dongfang Yao’s death, then I ask that you give me an explanation. What do you say about this arrangement?”

Pei Xiaolou found himself caught in a dilemma.

At this moment, a Spirit Guard hurried to Pei Xiaolou, hesitant to speak.

Li Tianlan tactfully stepped aside, walking to the other end of the dock. He faced the sea and stood with his hands clasped behind his back.

Only then did the visibly anxious Spirit Guard whisper to Sage Pei, “There’s been an incident at Zhenwu Temple.”

Pei Xiaolou thought he had misheard and frowned. “What did you say?”

The Spirit Guard repeated, “We’ve just received news that Zhenwu Temple has been engulfed in a sea of flames.”

Pei Xiaolou felt a chill rising from the base of his spine and shooting up to his scalp. His skin prickled, but he quickly suppressed his shock and forced himself to remain calm as he asked, “What exactly happened?”

The Spirit Guard lowered his head and reported, “The report said that a secret society attacked Zhenwu Temple.”

Pei Xiaolou immediately understood. He stared at Li Tianlan—who stood with his back to him—and spat through gritted teeth. “Well played.”

Li Tianlan remained unmoved, as if he had not heard Pei Xiaolou’s words.

Pei Xiaolou did not bother entangling himself with this old fox any further. He turned away and barked orders. “Let’s go! Spread the word for everyone to aid Zhenwu Temple immediately!”