A Pawn's Passage

Not far from Xingye Lake was a designated waiting area, where people either waited to board the flying ship or to pick someone up.

Mo Qingdi was sitting on a stone bench, with a popular novel resting on his lap.

To him, these novels were honestly uninteresting. The authors lacked depth, yet they loved to pepper their tales with random discourse about the Daoist Order, high-ranking Daoist priests, and all sorts of worldly affairs. However, they were often criticisms with sinister undertones.

That said, if one removed the tedious debates, lengthy descriptions, and redundant passages, these stories would at least be passable—good enough to kill time.

Of course, Mo Qingdi was not reading these novels just to kill time. He mainly wanted to scope out his competition so that he could learn from the good parts and discard the bad ones. Perhaps he could one day be able to write one himself.

He had heard that if he could sign with the Qingping Bookstore, he could make money writing novels. If his novels sold well, and he built a reputation, he could even afford to buy a property in the Middle Eight Blocks of Jade Capital.

However, buying a property in the Upper Eight Blocks of Jade Capital was completely out of the question because that place required not just money, but also status.

Mo Qingdi glanced up at the conspicuous large clock in the waiting hall and saw that it was about time, so he closed the book on his lap, stood up, and walked outside.

He was not here to board the flying ship; he was here to pick someone up.

This class reunion was a grand affair, with one successful former classmate after another arriving. The person he was here to pick up was one of the key figures of this reunion.

The reason Mo Qingdi was sent to pick him up was mainly because they had gotten along reasonably well back when they were at the Wanxiang Daoist Palace.

Back then, they had been roommates. However, they were not as close as brothers or best friends. But compared to others, their bond had stood out as rather exceptional.

Mo Qingdi never would have imagined that this guy, who had been so unassuming at the Wanxiang Daoist Palace, would flourish after graduation.

First, the guy caught the eye of the Daoist Order’s youngest Deputy Hall Master, and then he connected with Sage Pei from the Chongyang Palace of Immortality.

Deputy Hall Master Zhang had ties to the Dazhen Mansion, while Sage Pei’s elder brother was Sage Donghua, who oversaw Ziwei Hall. With such connections, rising through the ranks was practically inevitable.

Apparently, Old Qi was now a fifth-rank Daoist priest enjoying the privileges of a Prospective Mage, just one step away from becoming a high-ranking Daoist master. Mo Qingdi would not be surprised if Old Qi were to suddenly be promoted to the fourth rank.

Old Qi’s role was even more remarkable. He was a Superintendent of Ziwell Hall, which was the foremost of the Nine Halls, overseeing assessments and promotions. His future was truly boundless.

No one would have thought that Old Qi, who had once seemed hopeless after offending Yue Liuli and Wan Xiuwu, would end up going the farthest of their batch.

There was a saying that comparing oneself to others would lead to despair. Others had smooth-sailing careers and thriving relationships, while Mo Qingdi was still here pondering how to write a novel.

Thinking of this, Mo Qingdi could not help but let out a deep sigh.

At that moment, a gentle voice resounded in Mo Qingdi’s ear. “Old Mo, why the sigh? Are you lamenting the world’s sorrows or blaming the heavens for your fate?”

It was Shi Yu, a woman dressed as a seventh-rank Daoist priest. She was also a graduate of Class A, Bingzi Year, as well as one of the few women who got along well with Mo Qingdi and his friends.

Mo Qingdi did not answer the question because he did not think it was worth discussing.

“Superintendent Qi hasn’t arrived yet?” Shi Yu asked.

Mo Qingdi shook his head.

Shi Yu looked at Mo Qingdi and sighed. “Over the years, I’ve often wondered if I am too odd, which is why I seem so out of place with everyone else. Look at Yue Liuli—she never bothered with you guys. I’m the only one who’s always hanging around with you all.”

“And now?” Mo Qingdi asked casually.

Shi Yu chuckled. “Now it’s different. I’ve realized I’m not the odd one; it’s the others who are blind. Just look at Deputy Hall Master Zhang. She’s a true goddess with high standards, yet she still chose Old Qi. From this perspective, I’m in the same league as her, far better than Yue Liuli.”

“Speaking of Yue Liuli, she was the leader of the Dragon Camp back then. What does she say about all this?” Mo Qingdi asked.

Hearing this, Shi Yu’s smile faded. Her tone carried a trace of mockery. “What else can she say? The leader of the Dragon Camp is yesterday’s news. Even the leader of the Tiger Camp is dead now. Once you officially enter the Daoist Order, it’s all about positions and ranks. They’re both fifth-rank Daoists, so they’re on par in rank, but in terms of position, Ziwei Hall outranks hers. She can only wait humbly for Old Qi’s arrival.”

Mo Qingdi was just about to say something when he noticed two figures approaching. He hesitated. “Isn’t that Old Qi?”

Shi Yu followed his gaze and saw a man and a woman walking side by side.

One’s living conditions and cultivation would influence one’s demeanor and aura. Though Qi Xuansu’s appearance had not changed much, his bearing was entirely different. Years of life-and-death experiences had stripped away all traces of immaturity and naivety, leaving him with a stern, killing aura. Even Zhang Yuelu had remarked upon first meeting him that his killing aura was intense, like a sword partially drawn from its sheath.

Compared to the Qi Xuansu who had just graduated from the Wanxiang Daoist Palace, the current Qi Xuansu was a completely different person.

Even Zhang Yuelu found it hard to imagine how terrified Qi Xuansu must have been when he first faced the assassins from The Inn.

Qi Xuansu had only developed his current resilience through countless brushes with death. If he were still the same person he had been back then, no amount of support from Madam Qi could have gotten him to where he is today.

For a moment, Shi Yu hesitated. The man before her looked familiar, but she could not quite match him with the Old Qi from her memories.

While the two hesitated, Qi Xuansu recognized and greeted them. “Old Mo! Shi!”

Back at Wanxiang Daoist Palace, most children did not have formal names. However, those who excelled might be pre-selected by high-ranking Daoist priests as disciples and given names, like Qi Xuansu.

Some, like Yue Liuli and Wan Xiuwu, already had names given by their parents before entering Wanxiang Daoist Palace. These were children whose families had suffered misfortunes, leaving them orphaned. Thus, they would usually keep their original names and would not take on their master’s last name.

In such cases, those from the Wanxiang Daoist Palace usually did not address each other by courtesy names but rather by their last names.

Hearing the familiar voice, the two finally confirmed that the man before them was indeed the Old Qi of their past. That meant the woman beside him must be the legendary Deputy Hall Master Zhang!

The two quickly stepped forward, instinctively trying to help the guests with their luggages, only to realize that they were both empty-handed.

Seeing this, Mo Qingdi remarked with awe, “Old Qi, you even have a magical receptacle now? That’s no small feat!”

Qi Xuansu smiled slightly and introduced them to Zhang Yuelu. “Qing Xiao, these two were my friends back at the Wanxiang Daoist Palace. His name is Mo Qingdi, and her name is Shi Yu.”

Zhang Yuelu spoke graciously. “Hello, my name is Zhang Yuelu. You can call me by my courtesy name, Qing Xiao, just like Tian Yuan does.”

“Deputy Hall Master Zhang, your reputation precedes you,” Mo Qingdi said somewhat nervously.

Although Zhang Yuelu had allowed them to address her by her courtesy name, he did not dare take it seriously and still addressed her formally as Deputy Hall Master Zhang.

Shi Yu shot Mo Qingdi a disdainful glance, making no effort to hide her contempt for his awkward demeanor. She then said in a sweet voice, “Nice to meet you, Senior Qing Xiao.”

Zhang Yuelu chuckled and said, “If you’re the same age as Tian Yuan, you should be my senior.”

Mo Qingdi immediately returned the disdainful glance to Shi Yu, as if saying, “You’re not much better yourself!”

Shi Yu pretended not to notice and shamelessly replied, “In learning, age doesn’t matter. Whoever excels holds seniority.”

Zhang Yuelu gave Qi Xuansu a helpless glance.

Qi Xuansu laughed. “Just do whatever floats your boat! As long as there are no unwarranted nicknames.”

Mo Qingdi sighed in relief.

The four left the area together, heading outside.

Qi Xuansu asked, “Is everyone here?”

“Everyone who could come is already here, waiting at the Taiping Inn,” Mo Qingdi replied.