A Pawn's Passage

It was said that a short separation ignited more love for a couple than a new marriage. Although Qi Xuansu and Zhang Yuelu were not formally Daoist companions, the sentiment still applied.

Having been apart for some time, they had endless things to say.

Zhang Yuelu led Qi Xuansu out through the side door of her office into a small, secluded garden. It was quiet and private, with no one else around.

Qi Xuansu did not long for a life of mundane routine, but he cherished brief moments of peace like this—like a long drought met with sweet rain, nourishing the heart that might otherwise dry up and go numb from living so long on the edge of life and death.

There was a small pond in the garden with a pavilion on its shores. Qi Xuansu led Zhang Yuelu to the pavilion, where the two of them sat side by side against the railing.

Qi Xuansu turned to look and saw Zhang Yuelu’s bright, beautiful eyes fixed on him, her face lit up with a calm, gentle smile.

Noticing him turn toward her, Zhang Yuelu asked, “How was your time in the Upper Palace?”

“Not bad,” Qi Xuansu replied. “I learned the Demonic Blade, got myself a Dragon Painting Pistol—oh, a Xuan merit too.”

Zhang Yuelu’s curiosity was piqued. “The Dragon Painting Pistol is extremely rare. Tianji Hall doesn’t sell it to the public, so even with money, it’s not something you can just buy. How did you get your hands on it?”

Qi Xuansu explained, “I helped Yao Pei with something, so she gave it to me as a thank-you gift.”

He then briefly recounted his experience at Tianshui Core Tower.

Qi Xuansu added, “As for the Xuan merit, you’ve probably heard about the incident that involved Qi Jianyuan, Zhang Juyan, and Zhang Wuhen. In the end, I got it thanks to Yao Pei as well.”

Zhang Yuelu looked at him with a faint, amused smile. “Ah, no wonder Mu Jin told me to keep a close eye on you. She said some other girl has taken a liking to you.”

Qi Xuansu cleared his throat and waved it off. “Don’t listen to those gossipy friends of yours. You know what kind of person Yao Pei is. There’s absolutely nothing between us! At most, we’re just allies.”

Zhang Yuelu had not taken it seriously and only mentioned it as a joke, so she changed the subject. “Speaking of Zhang Wuhen...she’s technically one of my ancestors, though her lineage is quite distant from mine, so there’s hardly any connection. She disappeared many years ago, rumored to have been purged by the Heavenly Preceptor. I don’t remember her, but my master interacted with her and said she was extreme in temperament. Her current path may be unexpected, but it’s not entirely surprising. Now that she’s returned to the mortal world, she may stir up more trouble.”

Qi Xuansu said, “She’s a descendant of an Ancient Immortal, and now she holds their legacy. Given time, the world may see another Ancient Immortal arise.”

Zhang Yuelu could not help but let out a quiet sigh.

Qi Xuansu did not want to talk about work while they were alone, so he changed the subject. “Let’s not talk about all that. How have you been lately? The last I heard about you was from Old Xu. He said you couldn’t even enjoy your leave properly and that you were always dropping by for inspections every few days, making the whole Yaoguang Division grumble with complaints—”

Zhang Yuelu interrupted him. “Grumble with complaints? That doesn’t sound like something Xu Kou would say. It sounds more like something you made up!”

Qi Xuansu laughed heartily. “I’m just being empathetic. If I were Old Xu, I’d be cursing you behind your back too. Why don’t you rest at home during your leave? Why did you have to wander around the office for no reason? Are you trying to show off? But of course, on the surface, I’d praise the Deputy Hall Master for being a hardworking model of our generation and that we must all learn from you!”

Zhang Yuelu gave Qi Xuansu a light punch and scoffed. “Get lost!”

After a brief pause, she added, “Actually, I didn’t intend to inspect anything. It’s just that being alone at home sometimes feels boring, so I got into the habit of coming by. I guess this habit became an instinct. Ever since I left home, it’s been one case after another, so I’ve always been running around. Now that things have slowed down, I feel...uneasy...”

Qi Xuansu smirked. “If you had me to keep you company, you wouldn’t feel lonely anymore.”

Zhang Yuelu raised an eyebrow. “Three months of training, and look at you—if nothing else, your silver tongue has leveled up. Did Sage Sun teach you this too?”

Qi Xuansu coughed awkwardly. “Speaking of Sage Sun, he really holds you in high regard. He said that Yao Pei and I combined still wouldn’t match up to you.”

Zhang Yuelu remained silent.

Qi Xuansu continued, “Thanks to Sage Sun, I not only learned the Demonic Blade, but I also advanced to the Xiaoyao stage!”

Zhang Yuelu was momentarily stunned. She then looked at Qi Xuansu with focus, a flash of purple energy flickering in her eyes. She exclaimed in surprise, “You really are a Heavenly Being! When we first met, you were only in the Kunlun stage. You’ve advanced so much in just a year[1]. That’s unbelievably fast! Even Donghuang couldn’t have done better.”

When Sun Hewu, Yao Pei, and the others first met Qi Xuansu, he had already reached the Guizhen stage, just one step away from becoming a Heavenly Being. So his final leap into the Xiaoyao stage was not all that surprising to them.

But Zhang Yuelu had witnessed his journey from the very beginning, so she naturally felt it more deeply than anyone else.

Qi Xuansu took the opportunity to say, “My advancement was largely thanks to fate and fortune, and you were my greatest stroke of luck. If I hadn’t met you, I wouldn’t have gone to Yishan City and obtained the first Xuan Jade. If so, none of what followed would have happened.”

Zhang Yuelu could not help but laugh. “I’m your lucky star? I thought I was your jinx. Since meeting me, you’ve had several brushes with death.”

Qi Xuansu said earnestly, “How could you be a jinx? As the saying goes, fortune and misfortune come in turn. If one can survive a disaster, one is bound to have great blessings.”

Zhang Yuelu sighed softly. “If not for me, you wouldn’t have been drawn into this massive storm. Maybe you’d still be a carefree bird of the forest, not a caged sparrow.”

Qi Xuansu reached out and gently held her hand. “We are but the creations of nature, sculpted by fate and transformed through our experiences. Who in this world can truly have a carefree life? I was always going to return to the Daoist Order. Even before meeting you, I had the ambition of becoming a Sage and wearing the Sword of Wisdom. I’ve never been one to shy away from fame or fortune.”

Zhang Yuelu’s palm turned slowly, holding Qi Xuansu’s hand in return.

As their hands clasped, Qi Xuansu felt that nothing in his entire life had been more precious than this moment. He felt as if he was floating amidst clouds, carried along by the light spring breeze. He wished this feeling could last forever and that life could always be like this.

Zhang Yuelu leaned gently against Qi Xuansu’s shoulder, sighing softly. “Tian Yuan, wouldn’t it be wonderful if there weren’t so much conflict?”

Qi Xuansu replied, “It would be. But that doesn’t sound like something you’d say.”

“Then what does sound like me?” Zhang Yuelu murmured. “I just want to change the Daoist Order. But if it were already good to begin with, I wouldn’t mind being a Deputy Hall Master for life and doing what little I can.”

Qi Xuansu remained silent for a while, not knowing what to say. He then suggested, “By the way, the shopkeeper said this type of accessory is for the famous Plum Blossom Makeup. Do you want to try it?”

Zhang Yuelu did not refuse. She sat up straight, took out the small box, and opened the lid. She hesitated for a while between the three colors before finally picking out the red sticker with her fingertip. She then pressed the sticker gently at the center of her brow on her forehead.

A tiny red plum blossom pattern appeared.

“How does it look?” Zhang Yuelu did not have the habit of carrying a mirror, so she simply turned her face toward Qi Xuansu.

Qi Xuansu gazed at her intently, then nodded. “Beautiful.”

Zhang Yuelu smiled. “As long as you like it! But I’m guessing these cost you quite a bit, didn’t they?”

Qi Xuansu laughed and waved it off with a show of grandeur. “I get 300 Taiping coins a month now. This was nothing.”

Zhang Yuelu knew Qi Xuansu too well. Seeing his reaction, she was sure he had spent a fair amount, which was why he dodged the question.

She muttered, “You’re always so thoughtful. Last time it was the Dreaming Death, and now these stickers. But I have nothing to give you in return.”

Qi Xuansu shook his head. “Gifts or no gifts—it doesn’t matter. You introduced me to Sage Xu Xiaoying and Sage Sun Hewu. That was the greatest gift I could ever hope for. I received all the benefits, and yet you’re the one who owes them a favor. Compared to that, what I’ve given you is nothing. And honestly, I don’t want anything from you. I told you before. I like you not because of your name, your family, or for any gain. I may not be extraordinary, but I still have that bit of pride. I like you because you’re my Qing Xiao. That’s all that matters to me.”

Zhang Yuelu looked up at him, her eyes shimmering like the stars. “Tian Yuan, are you telling the truth, or are you just coaxing me?”

Qi Xuansu grinned. “I’m coaxing you with the truth.”

1. Xiantian Being: [Kunlun stage —> Yuxu stage —> Guizhen stage] —> Heavenly Being: [Xiaoyao stage] ☜