A Pawn's Passage

Qi Xuansu’s meaning was clear. If it was a misunderstanding, then there was no need to apologize. He also did not need to accept an apology that did not exist. In other words, Qi Xuansu did not consider it a misunderstanding. For Qi Xuansu to accept this apology, they would first have to admit their fault and demonstrate the utmost sincerity.

Someone who valued the bigger picture would not let personal grudges hinder their prospects. Given the Zhengyi Sect’s and Quanzhen Sect’s alliance against the Taiping Sect, it would make sense for Qi Xuansu to yield and form a friendship with Pan Cuiqing and Wuxu Palace. After all, Yue Liuli was not capable of causing much trouble.

However, Qi Xuansu was a petty pawn who was still accustomed to his carefree days as a wandering Daoist. A year in the Daoist Order was not enough to change his mindset and habits. He did not like enduring humiliation, nor did he like to practice forgiveness. He simply wanted to settle his grudges freely. To put it bluntly, he just wanted to vent his anger.

Pan Cuiqing remained silent for a moment. He understood what Qi Xuansu implied and found it utterly baffling. How could such an uncouth wild Daoist earn Zhang Yuelu’s and those Sages’ favor? Did they all get bored of delicacies, so they opted for something plain just for a change of taste?

“Superintendent Qi, are you really not going to drink this cup of wine?” Pan Cuiqing asked again.

Qi Xuansu casually poured the wine in his cup onto the ground. “Since Miss Yue considers it a misunderstanding, there’s no need to apologize.”

Pan Cuiqing’s chest surged with anger as he thought, How dare a mere fifth-rank Daoist act so arrogantly? Did he think he was Li Tianzhen?

However, with Zhang Yuelu sitting nearby, Pan Cuiqing did not lose his temper outright. He suppressed his fury and turned to Zhang Yuelu. “Deputy Hall Master Zhang, is this your opinion as well?”

Zhang Yuelu replied calmly, “This matter is between Tian Yuan and Miss Yue, so it’s his call. I don’t have the right to interfere.”

Pan Cuiqing had assumed Zhang Yuelu would prioritize the bigger picture. To his surprise, she turned out to be just as eccentric and difficult as the rumors suggested, letting this wild Daoist have his way.

Hearing this response, Pan Cuiqing grew increasingly irate. If not for the Earthly Preceptor’s favor, how could a girl from a minor branch of the Zhang family have risen so high?

Then again, an eccentric woman and an unruly wild Daoist did make a well-matched pair.

Disregarding convention, Qi Xuansu picked up the wine jug and filled Pan Cuiqing’s cup. “If I’ve been rude, please overlook my faults and drink this cup of wine, Deputy Palace Master Pan.”

Pan Cuiqing stared deeply at Qi Xuansu, no longer hiding his anger.

Qi Xuansu met his gaze calmly.

While chatting and catching up, many others were secretly watching the main table. Seeing the stalemate between the two men, the entire pavilion fell into an awkward silence.

Many people initially thought this was a power struggle between the Deputy Palace Master and the Deputy Hall Master. However, to their surprise, it was Qi Xuansu who directly confronted Pan Cuiqing, and Zhang Yuelu seemed like an outsider, seemingly enjoying drinking on her own.

If not for the undeniable aura of Zhang Yuelu’s profound cultivation, they were inclined to believe that Qi Xuansu had hired a lookalike to play the role of the famous Deputy Tiangang Hall Master.

At that moment, a group of guests passed by outside the pavilion.

Although they had reserved a standalone courtyard for the class reunion, the pavilion’s lakeside location made it a semi-public area, so other guests would occasionally pass by.

This would not have been noteworthy, except that these guests had a rather special identity—they were the Black Robes.

Moreover, these were not just ordinary Black Robes. They were seasoned troops from the frontier, forged in fire and blood.

As this group of Black Robes walked along the lake, the conversations of other guests instantly came to a standstill.

However, Qi Xuansu’s table was an exception because they were already silent to begin with.

This peculiar scene puzzled a few of the Black Robes, prompting them to turn their heads and look over.

Seeing a familiar face, Qi Xuansu was momentarily stunned.

It was Qin Wubing.

Qin Wubing also recognized Qi Xuansu. After all, when they first met, Qi Xuansu had not yet acquired the white fox face mask from Su Ran, so he did not have a disguise.

As their eyes met, Qi Xuansu suddenly remembered something. Back then, he had told Qin Wubing his name was Wei Wugui. However, Pei Xiaolou had confidently assured Qi Xuansu that he had explained everything to the Commandery Prince of Jiangling. Perhaps influenced by Lei Xiaohuan, Qi Xuansu still found Pei Xiaolou somewhat unreliable.

If Qin Wubing exposed him as Wei Wugui in front of Pan Cuiqing, Qi Xuansu would be in big trouble.

Qin Wubing stopped walking and turned toward the pavilion.

Qi Xuansu and Pan Cuiqing stood up simultaneously. Pan Cuiqing had also recognized Qin Wubing.

Pan Cuiqing took the initiative to greet the passerby. “General Qin.”

In terms of rank, Qin Wubing was on par with the late Deputy Tiangang Hall Master, Shangguan Jing, who was a second-rank Taiyi Daoist master. Thus, a Deputy Palace Master like Pan Cuiqing dared not look down on Qin Wubing.

Qin Wubing was not close to Pan Cuiqing, so he merely greeted, “High Mage Pan.”

Then he turned his gaze to Qi Xuansu and said, “Brother Qi, you’re here too!”

“General Qin.” Qi Xuansu secretly exhaled in relief. It seemed like Sage Pei was reliable after all, just like Madam Qi—they only seemed capricious, but they could be quite dependable at times.

At that moment, Zhang Yuelu slowly rose from her seat.

Qin Wubing did not recognize Zhang Yuelu, but seeing her extraordinary aura, he could not help but ask, “Who might this be?”

Zhang Yuelu smiled faintly and introduced herself, “General Qin, we have never met, but we’re certainly no strangers. You’ve sent me a letter asking for guidance before. I wonder if you recall our interaction.”

Qin Wubing was momentarily stunned before suddenly realizing her identity. “Ah, you must be Mage Zhang.”

He glanced again at Qi Xuansu before turning back to Zhang Yuelu, hesitating to say more.

At the time, Zhang Yuelu was looking for Wei Wugui because that fellow had been flaunting the Black Robes badge Qin Wubing had given him. That was why Zhang Yuelu wrote Qin Wubing a letter asking for Wei Wugui’s whereabouts. However, uncertain of her intentions, Qin Wubing had evaded the answer.

Later, Qin Wubing received a letter from his father telling him that Wei Wugui was actually Sage Donghua’s subordinate named Qi Xuansu.

Qin Wubing had plenty of question marks in his head. What’s going on now? How are these two sitting together? Does Zhang Yuelu still not know that Qi Xuansu is actually the Wei Wugui she had been seeking? Or was there some sort of misunderstanding?

What Qin Wubing never could have guessed was how tangled this situation was.

If Mo Qingdi knew the full story, he would have been able to write a novel with hundreds of thousands of words.

Before Qin Wubing could speak, Zhang Yuelu continued, “What happened at the time was a misunderstanding. I have already reported the matter of Beichen Hall and Sage Shangguan to my master. However, with the successive events of the Purple Immortal Mountain, Yanqing Merchant’s Association, and the calamity in Jinling Prefecture, I didn’t have time to reply to your letter, General Qin.”

Zhang Yuelu’s response was skillful. She glossed over the part about Wei Wugui and only addressed the other issue concisely. To others, it seemed like the two had exchanged views on Shangguan Jing’s incident.

In truth, Qin Wubing did not care much about Wei Wugui. What he cared about was precisely the part about Beichen Hall. Hearing his old friend’s name, he fell silent for a moment before he asked softly, “Where was Brother Shangguan buried?”

Zhang Yuelu replied, “At the Requiem Division.”

Qin Wubing closed his eyes briefly and nodded.

The four of them stood together, exchanging pleasantries while the others watched.

Based on their conversation, it was clear that General Qin had some prior connection with the three of them. However, General Qin addressed Pan Cuiqing as “High Mage” and Zhang Yuelu as “Mage,” indicating that he was not very familiar with them.

The only exception was Qi Xuansu. From the tone of their exchange, it seemed General Qin had known Qi Xuansu for quite some time.

This sparked various speculations among the onlookers.

General Qin was clearly not an ordinary figure. Perhaps Qi Xuansu was not just riding on Zhang Yuelu’s coattails. Otherwise, how could Qi Xuansu be acquainted with such a prominent person while Zhang Yuelu had never even met General Qin?

Qin Wubing was about to take his leave when he suddenly remembered something. “By the way, the District Princess is also here. Brother Qi, if you have time, why don’t you come with me to visit her? She has been wanting to thank you personally.”

Qi Xuansu felt as though his luck had run out. He had planned to stand his ground against Pan Cuiqing, but everyone who knew about his identity as Wei Wugui seemed to be popping out of nowhere like bean sprouts. This left him in a passive position.

Put on the spot, Qi Xuansu had no choice but to say, “Sure, I should go and see her.”