A Pawn's Passage

Madam Qi then proceeded to explain what they had discussed in the last meeting.

This matter did not have much to do with Qi Xuansu personally, but it was of great significance to the Qingping Society.

Simply put, an A-rank member of the Qingping Society had died.

Unlike the Daoist Order, which had nine ranks and twelve levels, the Qingping Society only had four ranks—A, B, C, and D.

A-rank members were the top echelon of the Qingping Society, akin to the seven Moguls of the Seven Treasure Pavilion. Any A-rank member was no minor figure. Though they might not rival Madam Qi herself, they certainly were not far off.

Now, one of them was dead.

For many members of the Qingping Society, it was a devastating loss, akin to the Daoist Order losing an Omniscient Sage.

According to Madam Qi, the Qingping Society’s leadership structure resembled the Daoist Order’s Golden Tower Council. Excluding the head of the society, six A-rank members formed the Privy Council, each holding one vote to decide major matters within the society.

In addition, there were several non-executive A-rank members who formed an Advisory Council, tasked with oversight and auxiliary support for the Privy Council’s management of the society’s affairs.

The six Privy Council members rarely appeared together. Typically, they would select one among them to act as spokesperson and host official meetings on behalf of the council. The spokesperson of the Privy Council happened to be the deceased A-rank member who went by the alias Drenched Green Robes.

Though Drenched Green Robes stood at the pinnacle of the Qingping Society, he was kind, unassuming, and often helped lower-ranked members. He had a stellar reputation. Even those who criticized the Privy Council usually thought that Drenched Green Robes was different.

Still, Drenched Green Robes was not the stereotypical stoic hero. He was never aloof or self-righteous. Instead, he was playful, fond of pranks, and liked mingling with younger members, full of youthful spirit.

Madam Qi loved doing business, but Drenched Green Robes preferred traveling and exploring. He even published a book titled Travels of the Green Robes, with only 300 copies printed and distributed for free on a first-come, first-served basis. Rumor had it that the book marked several ancient cultivation retreats, and some had benefited greatly from the discoveries.

If anyone ever asked for help and he was available, he never hesitated to lend a hand. But that fun-loving man was now dead.

No one knew what the Qingping Society’s upper echelons thought of this incident, but the middle- and lower-ranked members were deeply shaken.

Qi Xuansu had not been present at that particular Dream Meeting when Drenched Green Robes’ death was announced, but judging from others’ accounts, he had a general impression of what happened. Reportedly, the first-floor hall had been packed to the brim, and the sheer number of participants caused the Dream Realm to become unstable. The great hall and even the ground had shown signs of trembling.

Qi Xuansu was astonished. He had originally assumed the Qingping Society was merely a loose alliance. While that was technically true, it was still a group bound together by shared will and sentiment.

Drenched Green Robes had built up his reputation and personal connections over decades, which was one of the reasons he had been chosen as a member of the Privy Council.

He had died in a sudden and unexpected confrontation, so abrupt that by the time the remaining A-rank members arrived, all they saw were two corpses—one was Drenched Green Robes, and the other was his killer. Drenched Green Robes had clearly taken his opponent down with him. However, the latter’s identity remained unclear. Perhaps it had already been discovered but was kept confidential for particular reasons. In any case, the full truth behind the incident was still classified, which was why Madam Qi had not shared further details with the group.

Thus, the next thing to discuss was the succession of this position. Who would take his seat as the sixth member of the Privy Council?

That question was quickly answered.

Madam Qi casually announced, “Starting today, I, Lady Qi, will take the place of Drenched Green Robes and officially serve as one of the six highest members of the Qingping Society’s Privy Council. I will report directly to the Head of Society and be subject to oversight from the Advisory Council. This news will be announced during this Dream Meeting. Should there be any objections, they may be raised with the Advisory Council or the Head of Society.”

Everyone present was among Madam Qi’s closest confidants, so naturally, no one raised any objections. On the contrary, they were all pleased. If their boss advanced in rank, they would rise with her. Considering the scope of Madam Qi’s business and how many depended on her for their livelihood, even if one or two opposing voices existed, they hardly mattered.

Qi Xuansu was even more impressed. Others might not realize it, but he knew full well that Madam Qi held two roles. She had just stepped down as the Acting Mogul of the Seven Treasure Pavilion, only to become one of the six highest decision-makers in the Qingping Society. More crucially, Madam Qi hailed from the prestigious Yao family, making her a peer of the Earthly Preceptor. Within the Daoist community, such status was at least equivalent to an Omniscient Sage.

Madam Qi scanned the room. Seeing no one else had anything to say, she declared, “That’s all for today. Go back and continue gathering intelligence. Crimson Lips and Gold-Plated Knife, stay behind. I’ll have a word with you two.”

The other nine stood up with varying thoughts in mind, bidding her farewell with utmost respect and formality. Clearly, they were not familiar with her.

After the nine others had left, Qi Xuansu leaned back in his chair, no longer bothering with formality. He and Madam Qi were far too familiar with each other, so familiar that she did not even care about appearances when tricking him.

Madam Qi shot him a sidelong glance. “Look at the others, then look at you—utterly useless!”

“Right.” Qi Xuansu shot back. “They get merits and Taiping coins, but I didn’t get any of that.”

Madam Qi poked him in the chest. “You ungrateful brat! Look deep within your heart and tell me, how have I treated you? All I did was take a bit of your measly salary, and you’re upset? You haven’t even become Grand Master yet. What if someday, I fall on hard times after you’ve become the Grand Master and married your precious Zhang Yuelu? If I come begging for help, will you and your wife throw me out like trash?”

Qi Xuansu was at a loss for words. He mumbled, “I mean, I’m a proper superintendent now, and yet my pockets are emptier than ever. It’s hard to explain.”

Madam Qi replied righteously, “There are three virtues—kindness, frugality, and humility. Where’s your frugality?”

Qi Xuansu dared not talk back. He was clearly no match for her in an argument.

Li Qingnu found the whole exchange hilarious and could not help but laugh.

But her laughter backfired. Madam Qi immediately turned her firepower on her. “Oh, you think it’s funny? I told you to investigate Taiping Sect’s movements, but you dragged your feet for half a month before arriving in the Imperial Capital. Do my words mean nothing now? Are you two plotting a rebellion or something?”

Li Qingnu instantly dropped her gaze and assumed the humble demeanor of a little handmaid.

Having put them both in their place, Madam Qi led them out the door.

Qi Xuansu and Li Qingnu exchanged a look—no words were necessary.

Madam Qi walked in front, with the two following behind, not knowing where they were headed. She said, “Now that I’ve been promoted to the A rank and become one of the six Privy Council members, the two of you rise with the tide as well. But Qingnu is already a B-rank member. This is mostly about you, Tian Yuan.”

Madam Qi was not worried about being overheard, so she called them by name without reservation.

Qi Xuansu asked, “What’s the benefit of being a B-rank member?”

Madam Qi replied, “You can use merits to exchange for things from the Society, like the Divine Dragon Pistol I gave you or the pill I gave to Qingnu. As long as you have enough points, you can trade for anything. It’s far more convenient than the Daoist Order without all their restraints. That’s why Heavenly Fairy, Drunken Whip, and Red Robes Lover are all so motivated.”

Qi Xuansu pursued further. “Can I exchange it for a Xuan Jade?”

Madam Qi replied, “Of course you can, but it’s expensive. The Xuan Jade you brought back from Fengtai County last time is worth 6,000 merits.”

Qi Xuansu was stunned at first. After coming to his senses, he exclaimed angrily, “That’s outrageous! I only got a few points for acquiring that jade, and now you’re reselling it by marking it up by more than tenfold!”

Madam Qi fired back. “Besides the merits, I arranged for you to get into Tiangang Hall. Without that, would you have met your beloved? You’re like someone who eats from the bowl then curses the cook!”

Qi Xuansu opened his mouth, but nothing came out. He could only quietly admit he was in the wrong.

Li Qingnu did not dare gloat this time, but she struggled to stifle a laugh.

Madam Qi continued, “I’ll upgrade your silver-crimson fish talisman to a golden-purple fish talisman. With that, you’ll be able to redeem what you want through the Dream Meeting. The items will be delivered directly to your hands using the Five Ghost Transport Method.”

The Five Ghost Transport Method referred to a mystical technique using the Five Gods of Pestilence—Zhang Yuanbo, Liu Yuanda, Zhao Gongming, Zhong Shigui, and Shi Wenye. This spell drove these ghosts to transport wealth from others’ homes without opening doors or breaking locks. The delivery system of the Dream Meeting worked on the same principle. But whereas most such spells were limited by distance, the Dream Meeting could cover the entire realm, which was an astonishing feat.

Madam Qi added, “Oh, the Dream Meeting’s Five Ghost Transport Method doesn’t currently support the Western Continent, the New World, Shakya Kingdom, Borneo Island, the Golden Horde, Rus Kingdom, or Fenglin. The furthest we can reach in the Western Region is the ruins of Juandu Kingdom.”

Qi Xuansu nodded to show he understood.

As they spoke, Madam Qi led the two to a staircase.

Needless to say, the staircase led to the third floor, which was accessible only to A-rank members.

Li Qingnu hesitated. “Madam Qi, are we allowed up there?”

Madam Qi answered coolly, “I’m one of the six Privy Council members. If I don’t even have this level of privilege, what’s the point of holding the position?”

With that, she led the two up to the third floor.

Compared to the second floor, the third had no labyrinth of corridors. Instead, it was a massive square hall, with tables and chairs lining the walls. Several staircases led down to the second floor. The one they came up with was just one among many. All around the perimeter of the hall were doors.

Madam Qi brought them to one such door, above which hung a couplet.

The first line read, “Who decides the rise and fall of empires?”

The second line read, “Is there no cause for prosperity or decline?”