A Pawn's Passage

There were still several hours until sunrise. The long night was dull and uneventful.

If Zhang Yuelu were here, Qi Xuansu could at least chat with her. But with Yao Pei, there was nothing to talk about.

They had only recently met, so discussing anything too deep was inappropriate. Moreover, Yao Pei’s cold detachment after cultivating the Taishang Emotionless Sutra made it hard for anyone to feel inclined to engage with her.

But today was an exception. Yao Pei was awakened from her emotionless state for an extended time. It seemed that resisting the side effects of the Taishang Emotionless Sutra drained a great deal of energy, so her usual half-dreaming, half-awake state was actually a way to conserve strength. She would only fully awaken when needed.

After putting away the cauldron and the forged jade token, Yao Pei suddenly asked, “Daoist Qi, do you like drinking?”

Qi Xuansu countered, “Do all you women like drinking?”

“You women?” Yao Pei’s lips curved ever so slightly—perhaps that counted as a smile. “Are you saying that Qing Xiao also enjoys drinking?”

Qi Xuansu replied, “I wouldn’t say she’s addicted to alcohol, but she is a connoisseur. Her tolerance is high too.”

Yao Pei said, “I don’t actually like drinking. But ever since I started cultivating the Taishang Emotionless Sutra, I drink often. They say alcohol emboldens cowards and that people speak the truth when drunk. I’ve found that drinking helps stir my emotions. Though as my cultivation deepens, its effects are getting weaker, it still helps somewhat. That’s why I often drink before doing certain things—to ensure that I remain awake.”

As she spoke, Yao Pei retrieved a wine jar from her magical receptacle, one that looked very familiar to Qi Xuansu.

Qi Xuansu blurted out, “Dreaming Death?”

“Good eye.” Yao Pei placed the wine jar on the tea table between the two main seats in the hall. “Indeed, it’s the Dreaming Death. After I became a Heavenly Being, only this wine still has some effect on me.”

Yao Pei sat in the left main seat, while Qi Xuansu sat in the right. However, they were not facing each other. They both sat with their backs to the north, facing south.

Since Dreaming Death had an intense aftereffect, Yao Pei did not force Qi Xuansu to drink with her and instead slowly sipped from the jar herself.

With more wine, Yao Pei also became more talkative. “The sixth-generation Grand Master was a good person but not a competent Grand Master. On the other hand, the fifth-generation Grand Master was definitely not a good person by traditional standards, but he was an extremely competent leader. If you had to choose, what kind of Grand Master would you want?”

Qi Xuansu responded, “Right now, I’m obviously not qualified to choose a Grand Master. So, naturally, I would hope for the fifth-generation Grand Master to be in power. At least he could rein in the conflicts between the three major sects and maintain stability within the Daoist Order. Only with a stable Daoist Order can people like me have peaceful days. But if I were ever qualified to select the Grand Master, who knows what I’d choose?”

“What do you mean by that?” Yao Pei continued drinking without pause. While others became more dazed and flushed the more they drank, she, on the other hand, became increasingly sober. Her complexion even turned paler.

Qi Xuansu hesitated for a moment, as if deliberating whether to speak so openly despite their shallow acquaintance.

In the end, he said, “Madam Qi once said that power is a poison that corrupts humanity, and few can resist its corrosion. I don’t know what kind of person I will become in the future, nor can I guarantee that I will remain true to myself. Sometimes, I wonder—when I hold great power in my hands, will I still be the same person? Or will I become like those from the two Jiangnan cases?

“If I ever qualify to vote for the Grand Master, it would mean I have already reached the level of an Omniscient Sage, one of the highest-ranking figures of the Daoist Order. By then, would I still be willing to have someone above me constantly dictating my actions? Would I still be content to work diligently and follow the rules?”

Yao Pei gazed at the night sky beyond the door and murmured, “You’re right. Many people do not truly hate those in power. They hate that they themselves are not in power. When they finally ascend to those positions, they end up doing the same things. Those who can truly remain true to their original selves are few and far between.”

Qi Xuansu nodded. “Since you asked me a question, may I ask you one in return?”

“Go ahead.” Yao Pei continued drinking.

Zhang Yuelu’s and Yao Pei’s demeanor when drinking was completely different. Zhang Yuelu genuinely enjoyed drinking, not to drown her sorrows. For Zhang Yuelu, drinking was more about savoring the taste of wine; 30% was about the pleasure of slight intoxication, and 10% was pure indulgence. Hence, Zhang Yuelu seemed bold and gallant when drinking.

Yao Pei, however, drank out of necessity, no different from taking medicine. Her drinking carried no emotion—neither the boldness of indulgence nor the melancholy of escape. It was just mechanical sipping.

Qi Xuansu took a moment to carefully formulate his words, then asked, “Let’s say you became the eighth-generation Grand Master, would you be more like the fifth- or sixth-generation Grand Master?”

Yao Pei paused for a moment, clearly caught off guard by the question.

After a while, she answered, “Honestly, I wouldn’t want to be either type. The sixth-generation Grand Master lost his lifetime of reputation just because he took the position. Not only did his legacy turn to dust, but he is also now condemned through the ages. Even if he didn’t care about how history would remember him, his rule was constantly restricted, leaving him no peace or satisfaction. What’s the point of suffering like that?

“As for the fifth-generation Grand Master, he was glorious and held immense power. But unlike the Holy Xuan, he lacked unparalleled prestige. How did he manage to centralize power? Aside from sheer ability, it boiled down to two words—pure dedication.

“It’s said that out of 24 hours in a day, he spent 18 hours handling various affairs. He knew the ins and outs of every palace, Daoist mansion, and the Nine Halls, so no one could deceive him in the slightest. Only by doing this was he able to completely control the Daoist Order and consolidate power in his own hands.

“But if one lacks ability or diligence, power will inevitably slip into the hands of others. Even for an Immortal, ruling in this manner is too exhausting. It consumes too much mental and spiritual energy. That’s why there has only ever been one like him throughout history.

“The fifth-generation Grand Master’s methods—whether through ruthless crackdowns, reforming internal discipline, or pushing for new policies—made him countless enemies. His legacy is slightly better than the sixth-generation Grand Master’s at best. But history views him with mixed praise and criticism.

“After his ascension, his policies weren’t entirely undone, but many were overturned, making all his efforts seem futile. The marks he left behind are faint.”

Qi Xuansu sighed. “If it’s all this difficult, then why do you all still fight so fiercely for this position? If not for justice, not for a lasting reputation, then is it purely for self-interest?”

Yao Pei countered, “Does this ‘you all’ include Zhang Yuelu? Does it include you too?”

Qi Xuansu did not answer directly and only laughed. “Daoist Yao, you think too highly of me. I am merely a common wild Daoist. What does the prosperity of the Daoist Order have to do with me?”

Yao Pei replied calmly, “If I were to become the Grand Master, I would follow the example of the Primordial Daoist Ancestor—ruling through non-interference. No right, no wrong; no merit, no fault; no good, no evil.”

Qi Xuansu chuckled. “The Holy Xuan once said that one who is purely yang will have no desires and no fears, which makes one unstoppable. One who is purely yin will not act, yet leaves nothing undone. I suppose I can never comprehend ruling through non-interference. All I see is the unchecked rule of those who stop at nothing.”

Yao Pei remained expressionless and simply tilted her head back to drink.

The entire jar of Dreaming Death was soon emptied without a single drop remaining.

From beginning to end, Qi Xuansu did not touch a single drop of alcohol, nor did he overstep any boundaries. He remained faithful to the promise he made to Zhang Yuelu.

In truth, Sun Hewu’s words had served as a warning to Qi Xuansu. He even suspected that although the old Sage seemed to be addressing Yao Pei, his words were actually a veiled caution for him, telling him not to entertain any improper thoughts. After all, considering that Zhang Yuelu had been able to ask the old Sage for a favor to keep an eye on Qi Xuansu, their relationship must be quite strong. The old Sage was clearly biased toward Zhang Yuelu.

Qi Xuansu did not believe that Zhang Yuelu and Yao Pei were kindred spirits. From Yao Pei’s use of the Subtle Bewitching Technique and her method of forging the Palace Master’s token, she was clearly no benevolent figure, just like Madam Qi.

As such, Yao Pei would certainly have no qualms about using Qi Xuansu as an entry point to target Zhang Yuelu.

Whether or not Yao Pei took an interest in him was not important. But whether Qi Xuansu himself harbored any improper thoughts and whether he could maintain his distance was his responsibility. All he had to do was focus on doing what was right.

Yao Pei casually set the empty wine jar aside and closed her eyes to meditate and rest.

Qi Xuansu’s mind wandered through a mess of thoughts—about Zhang Yuelu, about Madam Qi, and about his own uncertain future.

He suddenly realized how limited his own perspective was. His concerns rarely extended beyond his own little world. The fate of the world or the plight of the common folk seldom occupied his thoughts. How could someone like him ever become the Grand Master?

The two sat in silence for most of the night until the sky brightened and dawn arrived.

Yao Pei opened her eyes, rose to her feet, and retrieved the talismans and red threads she had placed at the four corners of the room. “It’s about time. Let’s go.”

Qi Xuansu stood up.

The two left Zhen Garden separately and made their way to Gen Garden. As usual, they headed straight for the archive towers. Even if someone saw them, no one would find it odd because, for the past half a month, they had followed this same routine without fail, rain or shine.

Qi Xuansu did not practice his Demonic Blade today. Instead, he sat idly in the same stone chamber, staring at his pocket watch. After 7:00 a.m., he exited the library and met up with Yao Pei.

With the experience from the previous night, the two were now familiar with the process.

However, they chose a more remote alleyway this time. Just as Yao Pei had claimed, the forged token was indistinguishable from the genuine one and could effortlessly unlock the restrictions. However, after a single use, the imitation jade token became noticeably dimmer.

Upon entering the alley, Yao Pei retrieved a talisman and cast an illusion at the entrance, forming a semi-transparent crystalline wall, complete with the Eight Trigrams symbol. The illusion was identical to the original restriction, so unless someone physically touched it, they would never realize it was merely a mirage. However, at this hour, no one would come to test whether the restriction was real or fake.

Qi Xuansu could not help but sigh. “You really planned this for a long time, huh?”

Yao Pei replied indifferently, “Only after thorough planning can one increase the chances of success.”

Then, the two entered the Tianshui Core Tower once again. Since they were pressed for time, they headed straight for the staircase leading to the second floor.