A Pawn's Passage

After the fire broke out, billowing black smoke surged into the sky, transforming into a black dragon that spiraled above the flames.

The fire rose incessantly. Occasionally, loud cracks and explosions echoed through the air.

This was the current state of Zhenwu Temple.

Some of the surviving Spirit Guards were retreating from Zhenwu Temple, all of them battered and bruised, with nearly everyone injured.

Such a commotion naturally alarmed others.

The first to arrive was the Warden’s Office, a military unit responsible for police patrols, maintaining streets and waterways, managing prisoners, and enforcing fire bans. Thus, firefighting was a part of their duties.

However, faced with such a massive blaze, the initial responders were too few in number, and the handful of water carts was no more than a drop in the bucket.

After withdrawing, the Spirit Guards regrouped in one place.

The Jiangnan region had enjoyed long-standing peace. The Spirit Guards from the Jiangnan Daoist Mansion that were responsible for guarding the perimeter were inexperienced in dealing with such upheavals, so they were understandably flustered.

In contrast, the Spirit Guards of the Tiangang Hall had been transferred from the battlefield in the Western Region. Thus, as battle-hardened frontier troops, they remained composed despite suffering heavy casualties during the Heavenly Court’s sudden invasion. They had already begun organizing aid for the severely injured and setting up defenses to prevent a secondary attack.

According to the rules of the Tiangang Hall, if the command system was disrupted, the highest-ranking Spirit Guard or Daoist priest present would take command. At this moment, a third-rank Spirit Guard was in charge.

This was one of the purposes of the Daoist ranking system. It enabled scattered Daoist disciples to swiftly regroup and restore their organizational and combat capabilities.

This system was also a key factor in the Daoist Order’s victory over the Buddhist Sect during their historic conflict. An unplanned and critical encounter between the two sides escalated into a chaotic maelstrom due to terrain constraints, scattering all units.

Generals could not locate their soldiers, and vice versa, plunging everyone on the battlefield into utter confusion. However, the Daoists, leveraging their ranking system, rapidly regrouped and used their numerical advantage to isolate and eliminate scattered Buddhist forces, ultimately securing victory.

During this process, the Buddhists attempted to reorganize but failed due to internal discord. One would boast about their esteemed lineage, another about their superior cultivation level, so how could a group as such be organized? The endless disputes alone threw away any opportunity for a comeback.

In contrast, the Daoist Order adhered strictly to the rules set by the Holy Xuan, where background and cultivation level were irrelevant. Rank was the most practical measure of authority.

Naturally, there were instances where higher-ranked Daoists were less capable than lower-ranked ones, such as lacking experience or skills to command. However, without restoring order, reorganization became impossible, and command became meaningless.

Thus, the most effective solution was to quickly restructure under the highest-ranking individual. The lesser of two evils must be chosen, making the rigid enforcement of this rule essential.

After gathering the remaining forces, the higher-ranked Daoists could delegate command to lower-ranked Daoists skilled in leadership, thereby completing the temporary reorganization.

Once the initial restructuring was complete, the process would snowball, with many scattered mid- and high-ranking Daoists quickly assuming responsibilities according to their ranks.

In such circumstances, the disorganized Buddhist forces were inevitably doomed.

This battle directly prompted the Buddhist Sect to imitate the Daoist ranking system, introducing a nine-rank, twelve-level hierarchy within their organization.

This inferno alarmed all local government offices. Following the soldiers, the Green Phoenix Guard also arrived shortly after. However, they were equally helpless against the blaze and could only disperse some of the onlookers who had gathered to watch the commotion.

Fortunately, Zhenwu Temple was a relatively isolated structure, bordered by a lake on one side and streets on the other three, with no adjacent buildings. This ensured the fire would not spread.

At this moment, a cavalry unit charged forward. Both riders and horses were clad in black armor covering almost every part of their bodies. However, unlike the oppressive aura exuded by the Black Robes’ Cavalry, these soldiers resembled heavily armored infantry on horseback, marking them as elite Spirit Guards of the Jiangnan Daoist Mansion.

Dressed in formal Daoist attire, Bai Yingqiong arrived at the scene, surrounded by more than a dozen high-ranking Spirit Guards.

Faced with such a major incident, Bai Yingqiong could not stand idly by regardless of her stance.

Bai Yingqiong lifted her head, silently observing the inferno at Zhenwu Temple, her face devoid of expression.

One of her attendants murmured, “This is the Zhenwu Temple that once hosted the Grand Master.”

Bai Yingqiong ordered, “Send people to extinguish the fire and rescue the wounded.”

Her attendants responded in unison.

Bai Yingqiong took a deep breath, her exhalation faintly trembling.

At this moment, there was no trace of epicaricacy in her heart, only shock and anger.

Earlier, her subordinates had questioned a few surviving Spirit Guards. According to their accounts, the attackers who ambushed Zhenwu Temple were equipped with Sun-Shooting Rifles and Grade-B Series One Dragon Eye Bullets, which rendered the guards powerless. Although Tiangang Hall also had such weapons, they were issued only before battles. Under normal circumstances, Spirit Guards were not equipped with such high-powered firearms.

Bai Yingqiong was infuriated at the attackers. How dare they break the rules so blatantly?!

The timing of the ambush was perfectly chosen, coinciding with Zhenwu Temple’s vulnerability. It was hard to believe there was no collusion from within.

At the same time, Bai Yingqiong realized the immense ambition and determination of the Taiping Sect. Their resolve to achieve their aspiration far surpassed that of the Zhengyi Sect and Quanzhen Sect.

At this point, her minor disputes with Zhang Yuelu no longer mattered. After all, none of them would remain unscathed if their shelter that was the Zhengyi Sect collapsed. By then, even becoming the next Sage Cihang would be meaningless.

A Daoist Order that operated like a hereditary empire would be a disaster for those not part of the Li family’s direct lineage.

Even setting aside these broader implications, based on the situation alone, if the Taiping Sect dared to make a move against Zhang Yuelu and Zhenwu Temple and target her daughter, would they not target Bai Yingqiong tomorrow?

As this thought crossed Bai Yingqiong’s mind, she gripped the handle of her horsetail whisk tightly. A tangle of emotions surged within her.

At that moment, a Spirit Guard reported, “Sage, we have found Deputy Hall Master Zhang.”

Bai Yingqiong was momentarily stunned, but she did not know if she felt more joy or disappointment.

She immediately said, “Where is she? Take me to her.”

Just then, a voice responded, “No need to trouble yourself, Senior Sister.”

A team of intact Tiangang Hall Spirit Guards approached, led by none other than Zhang Yuelu.

Following Zhang Yuelu were Qi Xuansu and Mu Jin. Qi Xuansu, in particular, had left a deep impression on Bai Yingqiong due to his association with Sage Donghua.

The next thing Bai Yingqiong noticed was the decapitated head Zhang Yuelu was holding, its eyes still wide open with terror.

For a moment, Bai Yingqiong did not know what to say.

Perhaps because of her complicated emotions, she did not even bother to ask the superficial question of whether Zhang Yuelu was injured. Instead, she asked, “Junior Sister, who is this?”

Zhang Yuelu raised the head in her hand and stated, “This is Marshal Thunder of the Heavenly Court. I killed him.”

Bai Yingqiong was taken aback.

The Wind and Thunder Marshals of the Heavenly Court were no insignificant figures. Bai Yingqiong had heard of them, but she never expected Marshal Thunder to die here, let alone at Zhang Yuelu’s hands.

She quickly realized something. “Junior Sister, are you a Heavenly Being?”

Zhang Yuelu nodded.

Bai Yingqiong opened her mouth, but in the end, she could only say, “Junior Sister, you truly are a genius above all your peers.”

Zhang Yuelu, however, showed no joy for the praise. “The Heavenly Court dispatched two Heavenly Beings. The other one, Marshal Tianpeng, is currently unaccounted for. I only managed to kill Marshal Thunder due to sheer luck.”

At this moment, more people emerged from Zhenwu Temple, carrying a gravely injured man.

Qi Xuansu was the first to look, his gaze froze.

The man appeared to be in his forties, his face weathered and marked by a prominent scar. His abdomen was covered in blood, and even his intestines were exposed. He was clearly at death’s door.

Qi Xuansu recognized him as a former colleague from Tiangang Hall.

When Zhang Yuelu first assumed her position, she appointed six deacons. This man, named Zhou Bai, was the eldest among the deacons and a sixth-rank Daoist priest.

He had also followed Zhang Yuelu to Jinling Prefecture this time, only to meet his end at Zhenwu Temple.

Zhou Bai could barely keep his eyes open, his pupils shifting slightly as he weakly turned to look at Zhang Yuelu, his lips moving with difficulty.

Zhang Yuelu recognized Zhou Bai as well. She stepped forward, leaned down, and asked softly, “Deacon Zhou, do you have any unfulfilled wishes?”

After a long pause, a feeble voice finally emerged from the injured man. “I—I have only one daughter...still a child. She lost her mother long ago, and now...she’s about to lose her father. Please, Deputy Hall Master...look after her...”

Zhang Yuelu closed her eyes briefly, then reopened them. She said in a calm and reassuring voice, “I promise.”

Zhou Bai slowly closed his eyes. Before long, his breathing ceased completely.

Zhang Yuelu stood up and bowed to the deacon’s limp body. Her Tiangang Hall subordinates also followed suit and bowed in respect.

Mu Jin knelt down, took out a handkerchief, and gently wiped the soot from Zhou Bai’s face.