A Pawn's Passage

The two of them arrived at Zhang Yuelu’s temporary office.

Qi Xuansu asked, “Roughly how much does a Mini Spirit Pill cost?”

“It sells for 2,500 Taiping coins on the open market, but internally in the Daoist Order, it only costs 2,000. High-ranked Daoists even get discounts,” Zhang Yuelu replied. Like Qi Xuansu, she spent 10 months of the year in financial straits and could not afford to treat money like dirt, so she knew prices down to the last coin.

Qi Xuansu remarked, “That’s not cheap. They were really willing to spend on this.”

Zhang Yuelu laughed. “They were willing to spend 20,000 Wuyou coins just to buy you off, so what’s 2,000 Taiping coins compared to that?”

As they spoke, they both tacitly agreed the culprit was someone from within the Daoist Order.

Qi Xuansu sighed. “Don’t bring up the 20,000 Wuyou coins again. I’ve never seen that much money in my life. Every time I wake from a dream at night, I can’t help but feel regret...”

“What next, tears soaking your pillow? Anyone overhearing would think you’re pining for your beloved,” Zhang Yuelu teased.

Qi Xuansu shamelessly replied, “Aren’t you my beloved? When you’re not around, I find it hardest to get through the night. A few cups of watered-down wine can’t ward off the chilling evening winds. How could I bear the darkness alone while sitting by the window, waiting for the day we reunite?”

Zhang Yuelu gave him a light punch. “Even when I’m around, there’s nothing between us.”

After their playful banter, Qi Xuansu recalled something. “You said earlier that the medicinal power could be externally guided. How exactly is it done?”

Zhang Yuelu hesitated, then placed her hand on Qi Xuansu’s lower back. “Since the medicine is released gradually, one must closely monitor the internal flow of innate qi to avoid it being too fast or too slow. That’s why it’s best to have physical contact like this.”

Qi Xuansu asked, “What if the master is a male and the disciple is a female?”

“Why do you have so many questions?” Zhang Yuelu snapped. “Don’t think I don’t know what you’re really thinking.”

Qi Xuansu replied seriously, “You’ve misunderstood me. I’m genuinely asking whether it can be done remotely. After all, propriety matters.”

Zhang Yuelu coughed lightly, trying to hide her awkwardness. “Of course it can—if you don’t care whether the disciple lives or dies. As long as the cultivator’s level is high enough, any method works. But there’s no need to complicate things. If it’s inconvenient, just don’t use the Mini Spirit Pill.”

Qi Xuansu gently held Zhang Yuelu’s wrist, keeping her hand pressed against his lower back. “The Spirit Guards assigned to Gao Mingyin’s cell said that no one came into contact with him, let alone got close enough for this kind of guiding. This guidance must have been done remotely.”

Zhang Yuelu lowered her gaze and released a burst of true essence from her palm, sending Qi Xuansu staggering forward. “Superintendent Qi, your mind truly is meticulous. You spotted the anomaly right away. I’m impressed.”

Qi Xuansu steadied himself and rubbed his lower back. Zhang Yuelu had held back, since this was just a warning and not meant to cause real harm. Still, that spot was the location of the lower Dantian. If not for his love for her, Qi Xuansu would not have let anyone touch him there.

“You’re getting bolder.” Zhang Yuelu snorted. “It’s hard to learn good habits, but slipping into bad ones takes no time at all, I see.”

Qi Xuansu feigned innocence. “What did I do?”

Zhang Yuelu rolled her eyes at him but did not say more.

After all, times had changed. For young men and women with mutual affection, a few intimate gestures were no longer considered scandalous.

Zhang Yuelu returned to the main topic. “Regarding this case, I’ve already sent word to Qian Xiangyun in the name of the Golden Tower Council, ordering her to return to Yuhuang Palace within three days for questioning. If she fails to show up, I’ll issue a formal letter to the Imperial Capital Daoist Mansion and have Li Ruoshui dispatch Spirit Guards to bring her in.”

Qi Xuansu nodded. “The case is progressing quickly. I suppose it shouldn’t be long before it’s resolved. As for my own case, according to Daoist law, I’m allowed to countersue for slander. It’s time to settle the score. That monk Yan Xiu nearly killed me, so I’d prefer to deal with him personally.”

Zhang Yuelu was not obsessed with procedural justice. She simply advised, “Just don’t leave any leverage for others to grab onto again.”

Qi Xuansu accepted her advice, though he sensed a hidden meaning in her words. Could she already know about the Qingping Society? Was her sudden request to meet Madam Qi related to this?

The thought made him uneasy. Zhang Yuelu definitely wanted the best for him, but he worried she might end up at a disadvantage. After all, Zhang Yuelu’s cultivation and experience were still lacking compared to Madam Qi’s.

Moreover, Madam Qi had never said a good word about Zhang Yuelu. But to be fair, Zhang Yuelu was not exactly easy to get along with. Even she admitted that much. She was just too strong-willed, and too much rigidity made one prone to breaking.

On the other hand, Madam Qi only responded to soft persuasions, not force. If Qi Xuansu showed up in tears and with sincerity, she would comfort him patiently. But if he acted out or defied her, she would not go easy on him. She would definitely teach him a lesson so that he would listen to his mother.

So Qi Xuansu agreed half-heartedly but had no motivation to actually arrange their meeting.

After leaving Zhang Yuelu’s temporary office, Qi Xuansu planned to take advantage of his time before resuming his post to pay Yan Xiu a visit. If the opportunity arose, he would not mind killing the monk himself, settling both new and old grudges in one go.

As for why he would not go through official channels was that it was far too cumbersome. Moreover, the doubts Yan Xiu raised were reasonable and not entirely fabricated, making it unlikely he could be convicted of false accusation. The key issue was that Yan Xiu belonged to the Buddhist Sect. Given the sensitivities involved, the Daoist Order might not punish the monk directly but would instead hand him over to the Buddhist authorities. Judging by the monk’s rank and status, he likely held a significant position within the Buddhist Sect, and letting them punish him would be no different than letting him off easy.

Even if there were no false accusations involved, Qi Xuansu still held a grudge against Yan Xiu for the Yulan Temple incident.

Either way, Qi Xuansu was determined to settle the score personally.

The Imperial Capital had a dense population, making it difficult to find someone. This task became even harder after Qi Xuansu was suspended.

But as luck would have it, Li Qingnu had sent Qi Xuansu a message over their paired mother-child talisman just yesterday that the monk he was looking for was residing in the Sycamore Villa.

For Qi Xuansu, this was a classic case of searching high and low, only to find it without effort.

The wretched monk likely assumed that Sycamore Villa, being the Li family’s territory, was beyond Qi Xuansu’s reach since the latter belonged to the Quanzhen Sect. Thus, communication between the two was sparse. Yan Xiu probably believed Qi Xuansu was unaware of his whereabouts, let alone dared to cause trouble on the Li family’s turf. That was why the monk dared to live there so fearlessly.

What the monk had not anticipated was that Qi Xuansu had his own eyes and ears, which belonged to the master of Sycamore Villa, Li Qingnu, herself.

Qi Xuansu snickered. Yan Xiu is a textbook lecherous monk living in a brothel and indulging in wine and women.

After making some preparations, Qi Xuansu left the Taiping Inn branch and headed out of the Haosheng Southeast District.

Generally speaking, the mansions of nobility were located in the Yubao East District, court officials resided in the Duxian Northeast District, wealthy merchants gathered in the Wuliang Northwest District, commercial shops and warehouses were found in the Taimiao West District, the Taiping Bank and some government offices were based in the Xuanzhen South District, while the Imperial Capital Daoist Mansion monopolized the Xuanshang North District. Brothels were clustered in the Tailing Southwest District.

Haosheng Southeast District and Tailing Southwest District were both in the southern section of the city, separated only by the Xuanzhen South District.

Instead of taking the direct route through the Xuanzhen South District, Qi Xuansu circled around to the South City.

The Imperial Capital was laid out in a structure of four outer cities and eight inner districts. The outer cities were arranged in a square, while the inner districts formed an octagonal Bagua pattern, a symbol of the Daoist Order.

As such, each outer city was connected to three inner districts. Only the Xuanshang North, Xuanzhen South, Taimiao West, and Yubao East Districts each connected to only one outer city. The remaining four inner districts were each linked to two outer cities.

The directional terms in each district’s name made it clear which outer cities it was linked to. For example, the South City was linked not only to the Xuanzhen South District but also to the Haosheng Southeast District and the Tailing Southwest District. The Haosheng Southeast District connected further to the East City, while the Tailing Southwest District linked to the West City.

Qi Xuansu looped through the South City before entering the Tailing Southwest District.

This way, he would not draw any attention.

Sycamore Villa covered a vast area of the Tailing Southwest District and was not hard to find, so Qi Xuansu arrived at the gates of the first-class brothel in no time.

Taking precautions, Qi Xuansu found a secluded spot and contacted Li Qingnu using the mother-child talisman.

Soon, Li Qingnu’s languid figure appeared on the shimmering light screen, her collar loose and half her shoulder visible as she reclined on a chaise longue.

Qi Xuansu got straight to the point. “Is that bald crook still here?”

“Bald crook?” Li Qingnu clicked her tongue. “So you are vulgar after all. I thought you always played the polite gentleman.”

Qi Xuansu only let loose around Zhang Yuelu. In front of others, he was careful about his image, especially after becoming a superintendent. He no longer used street slang and presented himself as the archetypal refined Daoist disciple, one with noble ancestry, a spotless background, courtesy, and poise. But this time, Yan Xiu had truly provoked Qi Xuansu, earning himself the titles of “lecherous monk” and “bald crook.”

Qi Xuansu ignored the snide remark. “I’m right outside Sycamore Villa.”

“You actually came to confront him?” Li Qingnu sat up straight in surprise. “I thought you were just venting.”

“Murder is no trivial matter. How could I speak lightly of it?” Qi Xuansu replied. “Since I just got a new blade today, it’s only fitting that I sharpen it on that bald crook’s neck.”

The first half of the sentence was spoken like a Daoist official, but the second half carried the gruff edge of a seasoned thug.

Li Qingnu replied, “I’ve been keeping an eye on him. Everyone in Sycamore Villa—from the courtesans to the servant girls—follows my orders. Every move he makes is under my watch.”

Qi Xuansu asked, “What’s that bald crook up to?”

“Drinking and womanizing,” Li Qingnu answered, utterly unfazed. “In his own words, he’s seeking enlightenment through shared ecstasy.”

Qi Xuansu curled his lips. “He sure is a smooth talker.”

Li Qingnu continued, “He’s in Building A-12—oh, forget it. You won’t know where that is anyway. Just know that come nightfall, the courtyard he’s staying in will have a lantern above it marked with the word, ‘Sycamore.’”

Qi Xuansu responded earnestly, “Thank you.”

Li Qingnu gave him a final reminder. “Remember, I can only buy you an hour at most.”

Qi Xuansu nodded, ended their communication, closed his eyes, and waited for the sky to turn completely dark.