A Pawn's Passage

Zhang Yuelu’s figure bobbed up and down in the lake, and at some point, dark underwater grass had sprouted beneath her feet, silently creeping toward her.

Within the Delusional Realm, Zhang Yuelu could not recall exactly what had happened beneath Wuxing Mountain. She only vaguely remembered that he had died and perished in the earth qi explosion.

But this man’s face grew clearer and more vivid.

That man dying under Wuxing Mountain was false, so it could not shake her obsession with becoming the Grand Master. However, that leap off the flying ship at the Kunlun Pass was real.

Zhang Yuelu glanced around. The once lively Zixiao Palace suddenly froze. Everyone gradually lost their color, leaving only a pale white, as if they were merely paper figures. Then everything around her blurred, like a moon’s reflection in disturbed water.

She murmured, “Mistake the false for truth, and truth is lost; from emptiness arises form, to emptiness it returns.”

Zhang Yuelu paused slightly, then shook her head and added, “What’s true will stand when all else fades; what’s false will fall, however long it stays.”

If she had not lived through such experiences, she truly might have been trapped within this Delusional Realm.

But come to think of it, this was indeed a flaw deliberately left by Xuanji.

Xuanji could have fully replaced Sage Cihang with a lively and charming Qi Xuansu, and perhaps even given Zhang Yuelu a child. That way, Zhang Yuelu would have been the happiest woman alive, with a successful career and a harmonious family. Even if she could eventually wake up, it would far exceed the 2-hour time limit.

Zhang Yuelu’s eyelashes trembled slightly.

The dark grass creeping toward her ankles seemed startled, instantly shrinking back.

When Zhang Yuelu slowly opened her eyes, the dark grass scattered like frightened birds, vanishing without a trace.

In front of her was still the man who called himself the remnant soul of True Lord Gouchen. He let out a heavy sigh and closed his eyes once again.

Zhang Yuelu floated back up to the water’s surface.

But above the water was no longer a wilderness under the starry sky. It was a woman’s boudoir, matching the spring boudoir mentioned in the second hint.

At this moment, Zhang Yuelu was sitting in a wooden tub used for bathing, with flower petals scattered over the water’s surface. It was quite a romantic scene.

This was the third layer of the small world.

Since Zhang Yuelu was fully clothed, she had no concerns and simply stepped out of the tub, glancing around.

This boudoir was very different from her own, as it radiated strong feminine touches, with delicate details everywhere. By contrast, Zhang Yuelu’s room could hardly be called a boudoir. At first glance, it was barely any different from Qi Xuansu’s room—plain and simple. It only had the occasional detail hinting at a woman’s presence.

Zhang Yuelu walked around a folding screen, stepping out of the bathing room into the sleeping area. The first thing that met her eyes was a curtained canopy bed, resembling a small square box with three sides draped, leaving only one side open for entry. It was an enclosed design, unlike the kang bed-stoves of the north.

This was clearly a bedroom, so there were no bookshelves, desks, or guest chairs. Instead, there was a matching dressing table, a carved ebony cabinet, and a small round table with two embroidered stools.

On top of the table was a set of purple clay teaware. Beside the teaware was a delicate incense burner, holding a single stick of incense. Amid the curling smoke, the greenish-blue tip was visible, with no red glow and only a third of its length remaining.

At this moment, Xuanji’s voice finally sounded. “Congratulations on breaking through the Delusional Realm, High Mage Zhang. I must admit, you’re getting closer and closer. I’m even a little nervous. I’m now hiding somewhere in this boudoir, and you cannot leave this place. This is the final test, and I will now give you the last hint.”

Zhang Yuelu still did not know where Xuanji was, but she knew Xuanji could definitely hear her, so she said, “Star Keeper Xuanji, please speak. Let’s not waste time.”

Xuanji chuckled. “Here’s the third hint. From afar, the mountains have color; up close, the waters make no sound. Spring leaves, yet the flowers remain; people arrive, but the birds take no fright.”

Though Zhang Yuelu could not compose poems, she had read plenty of poetry and instantly recognized this as the famous poem, “A Painting.”

The answer to this riddle was simply a painting.

Her gaze quickly swept across the room, where she noticed several paintings. One was of the “Three Friends of Winter,” one was on the folding screen, and one was rather awkward.

In the corner was a small alcove, meant for nighttime use. Between the screen and the wall hung a curtain, not adorned with landscapes or poetic lines, but rather a scroll of erotic paintings.

It was said among the people that the Fire Goddess was a maiden untouched by men, so seeing such erotic paintings would make her blush and flee in shyness. Thus, such paintings were kept for fire prevention.

Though also a maiden, Zhang Yuelu did not flee in embarrassment. Instead, she calmly pondered the differences among these three paintings.

Looking at it now, the three paintings represented three choices. If she chose incorrectly, given the remaining time, she likely would not have a chance to turn back.

Judging by the style of the Ziguang Society, the third painting was, without a doubt, most likely. From Xuanji’s perspective, she would surely assume Zhang Yuelu, being untouched by men, was inexperienced in this area, and hence would not dare pick that painting.

Yet precisely because the third painting seemed the most likely, Zhang Yuelu hesitated. Could the third trial really be that simple? Can I guess Xuanji’s hiding spot so easily? Unless Xuanji is deliberately going easy on me.

So Zhang Yuelu turned her attention to the other two paintings.

The second court lady painting on the folding screen seemed to match the Ziguang Society too.

The “Three Friends of Winter” painting corresponded to the season, which was currently the coldest depths of winter.

Thinking carefully, all three paintings seemed to hold some symbolic connection. Yet at the same time, perhaps none of them mattered. It was truly difficult to decide.

Just then, Zhang Yuelu suddenly recalled the first hint. That was also a simple riddle, where the answer was the moon. But Xuanji had misled her, costing her almost half an hour when she tried to chase the moon. The real answer was actually the moon reflecting on the lake.

So, for the third hint, was the answer really just a painting?

Xuanji’s words served both as a hint and a distraction.

What if all three paintings were decoys? No matter which one she picked, the result would still be wrong.

Thinking this, Zhang Yuelu once again swept her gaze across the room, her mind spinning rapidly.

If the moon were reflected on the lake, then what could go beyond a painting?

Zhang Yuelu recalled the first two trials. She extracted a common theme from them: truth and falsehood.

In the first trial, the moon in the sky was fake, while the moon in the water was real. In the second trial, it was Qi Xuansu or the Grand Master’s seat. Again, one was real, and the other was not.

Thus, it became clear to her that truth and falsehood were the key to this game.

What was more real than a painting? Surely not the Daoist Order’s image recording stone.

Thinking of the image recording stone, a spark of realization flashed through Zhang Yuelu’s mind.

Her gaze snapped onto the dressing table, which had a mirror.

This also reminded Zhang Yuelu of another riddle. “I am no painter, but whoever comes is drawn by me. I paint without a brush, surpassing even true artists.”

The answer to this riddle was simple: a mirror.

What was truer than a painting? Naturally, a mirror.

Zhang Yuelu had her answer.

She walked up to the dressing table and examined it carefully. This was a Western-origin glass mirror. Back then, it was a secret art of the West, so it was extremely expensive. But now, the technology had been cracked, so the price had plummeted, and even ordinary families could afford it.

Compared to the ancient bronze mirrors, glass mirrors were much clearer, showing every detail.

Zhang Yuelu glanced again at the incense stick, then sat at the dressing table, where her face was reflected in the mirror.

She reached out and touched the mirror, seeing no abnormalities. She frowned slightly as she scrutinized the reflection of herself.

Zhang Yuelu then tugged at a corner of her mouth in a smile.

The reflection also lifted the corner of its mouth, smiling back.

Zhang Yuelu pressed her lips together to look a bit more reserved.

The reflection likewise pressed its lips, looking reserved and dignified.

Zhang Yuelu raised her eyebrows. Her phoenix eyes, which had left a deep impression on Qi Xuansu, showed a hint of haughty superiority.

The reflection did the same, with not the slightest difference.

Zhang Yuelu furrowed her brow, her face showing doubt, then she lowered her head slightly, dropping her gaze so that she was no longer looking at the mirror, sinking into deep thought.

Her reflection in the mirror also furrowed its brow and lowered its head. But this time, an eerie smile slowly crept up at the corners of its mouth.

At that moment, Zhang Yuelu suddenly snapped her head up. “It’s you, after all.”

Zhang Yuelu slammed her fist into the mirror, shattering it. Her reflection in the mirror fragmented into pieces as well.

The reflection kept staring at Zhang Yuelu, then slowly began to change in appearance, no longer resembling Zhang Yuelu but gradually transforming into Xuanji’s face.

At that moment, the mirror turned interactive. It was no longer an inert object.

Zhang Yuelu grabbed hold of the hidden Xuanji inside the mirror and yanked her out.

Xuanji was not a living person but more like a spirit, dressed identically to Zhang Yuelu except for the face. Even when Zhang Yuelu gripped her by the collar, she still smiled and clapped her hands. “You found me! Congratulations, you’ve won this game. High Mage Zhang, you truly live up to your name. I’m impressed!”

Zhang Yuelu kept holding onto Xuanji’s collar and said in a low voice, “You must keep your promise.”

“Of course,” Xuanji replied with a smile.

At that moment, the massive incense stick finally burned out, crumbling into a pile of ash.

A paper document appeared in Xuanji’s hand, catching fire without wind.

After the document was fully burned, Zhang Yuelu suddenly felt her hand empty. Xuanji had vanished, and everything before her dissolved into nothingness.

When Zhang Yuelu regained her senses, she found herself still standing in the alleyway, in front of a pair of black-lacquered doors, her hand still gripping the green-patina door ring.

Zhang Yuelu suddenly understood that the moment she had grabbed the door ring, she had already entered into a contract with Xuanji.

Fortunately, she had won, so now it was Xuanji’s turn to fulfill the promise.

Just then, the black-lacquered door opened from within. Beyond it was not a bottomless darkness, but a simple courtyard. Xuanji, now dressed as a matron, stepped out smiling. “High Mage Zhang, please come inside so we can discuss the details.”