A Pawn's Passage

Qi Xuansu was reading through copied case files related to Gao Mingyin when Xu Feiying arrived. Due to the Xiayuan Festival, he had not had time to finish reading before needing to prepare for the festivities.

Ke Qingqing led Xu Feiying straight into Qi Xuansu’s study, which was more private than the reception hall. Seeing the superintendent, Qi Xuansu set aside the file in his hands and stood up to greet her.

With her many years of investigative experience, Xu Feiying immediately sensed something was off. Though this Mage Qi was holding a file instead of a blade or a pistol, there was an intense killing aura about him.

Qi Xuansu stared deeply at Xu Feiying for a long while before finally speaking. “Superintendent Xu, is your full name Xu Feiying?”

Xu Feiying replied, “Yes.”

Qi Xuansu drew a horizontal blade from his magical receptacle and remarked, “This blade is named Flying Shadow. I haven’t had it for long, but it has already claimed quite a few lives since then.”

Xu Feiying felt a chill run down her spine. She could sense the unruly wildness of a Jianghu swordsman from this Mage.

Qi Xuansu continued, “I know your job isn’t easy, especially in a vast capital like this. It’s hard to find your footing without stepping on the wrong toes with so many nobles and elites around.”

Xu Feiying’s expression shifted subtly as she caught the threat in Qi Xuansu’s words. When they last met, this Mage had been reserved and courteous, not much different from other young talents she had encountered. He lacked arrogance and was even gentle, speaking in formalities.

At this moment, she finally realized she had gravely misjudged him. Beneath his polite mask lay a suppressed ferocity. She had a gut feeling that Mage Qi was about to tear off this mask and take her life.

Qi Xuansu added, “I have a rather impolite request to make, so I’d like to apologize in advance if it offends you in any way.”

Xu Feiying trembled slightly, but she still replied, “Please speak, Mage Qi.”

Qi Xuansu said bluntly, “All these years, I’m sure the Office of Arrest is aware of the things Gao Mingyin did. I don’t want to hear excuses, and I want the truth from you, Superintendent Xu. Simply put, you can either stand with me as a friend...or you can stand against me as an enemy.”

Xu Feiying quickly pieced things together. Old Master Gao had likely made a move against Mage Qi, provoking the Daoist Superintendent enough to lose all patience and seek a direct confrontation.

She remained silent for some time before replying, “I dare not become your enemy, Mage Qi.”

Qi Xuansu smiled. “I will remember your help today, Superintendent Xu, and I will be sure to repay this favor in the future.”

Xu Feiying cleared her throat. “I only hope you can strike down the snake in one move, as the consequences will be severe if you don’t.”

The reason she chose to stand with Qi Xuansu was partly due to the pressure he exerted. The other part was due to her conscience. She did not know Mage Qi well, but he had rescued a group of trafficked girls. On the other hand, Gao Mingyin’s brothels were involved in human trafficking. Thus, who was right and wrong was clear as day.

Since Xu Feiying had chosen to side with Qi Xuansu, she naturally hoped he could bring down Old Master Gao without leaving any loose ends. Otherwise, she might be in trouble.

Qi Xuansu nodded. “Rest assured, Superintendent Xu.”

Xu Feiying no longer spoke in official pleasantries as she had before.

She slowly explained, “The Great Xuan Dynasty is different from the previous Wei Dynasty. Now, merchants hold a high status. Gao Mingyin may appear to be just a businessman, but in truth, he’s one of the most powerful figures in the North City. He has a second-tier brothel, two third-tier brothels, and the Green Den you just shut down under his name. Not counting other businesses, just these four brothels alone have a capital base of over 200,000 Taiping coins. He also runs gambling dens, manufacturing plants, pawnshops, and other businesses, with the total value easily exceeding a million Taiping coins. Of course, the money isn’t all his. He’s merely the manager on behalf of others. Those silent partners are the real source of his confidence.

“As for who those powerful backers are, we don’t dare investigate too deeply, so we genuinely don’t know. But Gao Mingyin is extremely skilled at leveraging power. With the backing of those behind the scenes, he has ties with the Wardens’ Office, the local government authorities, and the Green Phoenix Guard. The Shuntian Prefectural Magistrate was appointed by the Emperor and only recently took office, so he shouldn’t have had any connection to Gao Mingyin. However, the administrative officer in the Shuntian Prefectural Office is his sworn brother.

“Mage Qi, don’t underestimate that administrative officer. He’s the head clerk of the Personnel Office and controls the entire staffing of Shuntian Prefecture. Everyone—from county magistrates to common clerks—must bow to his authority. The Shuntian Prefectural Magistrate may hold official prestige on the surface, but in private, he treats this man with utmost respect. At times, just a small handwritten note from him, no wider than two fingers, has more power than a formal document. It’s said he wouldn’t trade that position for even a fifth-rank title, which is equivalent to a Green Phoenix Guard Lieutenant Colonel or a Division Director from the Six Ministries. After all, officials come and go, but scribes are ironclad fixtures—a generational and hereditary craft of bureaucracy skilled in overpowering and manipulating their superiors. Officials needing political advancement can’t do without their support either.

“If that’s the situation in the Shuntian Prefectural Office, the Wardens’ Office won’t be far off. The North City Wardens’ Office Commander is a regular patron of Gao Mingyin’s brothels and gambling dens. Although a commander of the Wardens’ Office isn’t as prestigious as a commander of the Green Phoenix Guard, he is still a third-rank official, not someone to be taken lightly.

“On top of that, the North City Beggar King was personally elevated by Gao Mingyin, commanding over 100 thugs. Within the North City, everyone in the underworld takes orders from him. Any out-of-town gangs wanting to open up business in his territory must pay sufficient tribute. It’s said he has a dozen lives on his hands and collects 4,000 to 5,000 Taiping coins in annual tribute alone. We’ve long wanted to take him down, but the situation is too complex, and we lack concrete evidence...”

Upon hearing this, Qi Xuansu scoffed. “To think, I—a fourth-rank Jijiu Daoist master—don’t even earn as much in an annual stipend as a Beggar King, and my salary is already considered top-tier among the fourth rank.”

Xu Feiying paused briefly, then continued, “Gao Mingyin’s ties within the Green Phoenix Guard are highly secretive. He has many connections within the Six Ministries as well. What’s worse, he’s also linked to The Inn, so hiring assassins is a routine matter for him. But he never carries out anything personally, so it’s extremely difficult to catch him with direct evidence.”

At this point, Xu Feiying hesitated for a moment before saying, “He likely had connections within the Imperial Capital Daoist Mansion as well, but with the recent restructuring, most of his old allies have probably been transferred out of the capital. In short, he’s like a spider weaving an enormous web. Anyone who crosses him is like a moth caught in the threads, unable to escape.”

Qi Xuansu fell into deep thought.

Though he managed to win in a duel against Zhao Fu’an, the fight was based solely on cultivation level. Moreover, Deputy Shuzhou Daoist Mansion Master Ji Jiaozhen had acted as a witness. Thus, no matter how much power Zhao Fu’an held, he could not make use of it in that situation and certainly could not dispatch the Black Robes to hunt down Qi Xuansu.

However, if Qi Xuansu did not have his Daoist fourth-rank status, Zhao Fu’an would never have agreed to a duel. The Chief Military Officer would have simply sent the Black Robes to kill Qi Xuansu, employing all kinds of firearms. Qi Xuansu had seen the Black Robes’ siege against Feng Bo of the Heavenly Court using the Grade-A Series Six Phoenix-Eye Bomb, forcing even a Heavenly Being into retreat.

Since Zhao Fu’an had agreed to a duel, he was humiliated and lost an arm. But if he had dared to order the Black Robes to hunt down a Daoist Superintendent and a Deputy Mansion Master, he would have forfeited not only his position, but his life and family fortune too.

Moreover, Qi Xuansu’s duel with Zhao Fu’an was ultimately a petty squabble to vent his anger. There had been no real conflict of interest between them. The situation now between Qi Xuansu and Gao Mingyin was entirely different.

Just then, Wang Chongnian rushed in.

Qi Xuansu snapped out of his thoughts and asked, “Did you manage to bring the body back?”

Wang Chongnian returned Qi Xuansu’s badge with both hands. “Yes, we have brought the body back and temporarily placed him in the Nether Prison.”

Qi Xuansu took back his badge and hung it at his waist again. “Any issues?”

Wang Chongnian answered truthfully, “The North City Wardens’ Office tried to stop us, but they were no match for us.”

Qi Xuansu nodded. “Good. Let’s head to the Huasheng Hall. Summon a coroner to inspect the body in the Nether Prison.”

This was the extent of Qi Xuansu’s influence. Other Superintendents in the Imperial Capital Daoist Mansion respected his authority. So whether it was the Nether Prison or the Huasheng Hall, he could command them as he pleased.

“Yes, Superintendent.” Wang Chongnian replied.

When Qi Xuansu arrived at the Nether Prison, Song San was already there, staring blankly at his comrade’s corpse with a look of sorrow.

The coroner was a ninth-rank Daoist, standing with his hands at his sides, gaze fixed on Qi Xuansu, awaiting his command.

Qi Xuansu instructed, “Begin the autopsy.”

The coroner brought out a full set of tools and responded, “Yes, Superintendent.”

Xu Feiying stood beside Qi Xuansu. Since she had handled many cases over the years, she was no stranger to such scenes and was not squeamish.

Qi Xuansu kept his eyes on the coroner’s movements, his face utterly expressionless.

Soon, the coroner opened Wu Si’s chest cavity and paused.

Qi Xuansu stepped forward, only to see that Wu Si’s heart had been shattered into several pieces. This was the true cause of his death, which meant Wu Si had already died before the crowd trampled him.

Narrowing his eyes with a frown, Qi Xuansu remarked, “A single palm strike to the back killed Old Wu, yet no marks were left on the surface. The person who struck him must be at least in the Guizhen stage.”

No one dared to speak rashly. This was a warning from the enemy—a show of power meant to intimidate them.

Qi Xuansu understood one thing very clearly. If he backed down now, no one would ever follow his orders again. Gao Mingyin had trampled on Qi Xuansu’s authority to preserve his own as the local overlord.

“Superintendent Xu, can you find out who killed Wu Si within two days? I only need the killer’s trail. No need for evidence or arrest. I’ll handle the rest.”

Xu Feiying was momentarily stunned, then replied, “If all you want is the killer’s trail with no need for evidence or an arrest, then it shouldn’t be difficult.”

Qi Xuansu nodded. “Then I’ll have to trouble you with this.”