A Pawn's Passage

Qi Xuansu sat in his office, bored out of his mind.

At this moment, he had no subordinates, no tasks, and no arrangements, so he was completely idle. In contrast, Zhang Yuelu had subordinates, tasks, and arrangements. She was currently participating in the discussions at the Golden Tower with a group of Sages. Clearly, there was a difference in status and involvement even among the Deputy Hall Masters.

Qi Xuansu’s appointment did not change much for Ziwei Hall. After all, the previous Ninth Deputy Hall Master was also a Qi.

Deputy Hall Masters had considerable autonomy. Except during duty hours, Qi Xuansu did not need to stay in his office all day. He just felt he should not be so flippant since he had just been promoted, so he remained in the office obediently.

In the afternoon, a young Daoist came in to report, “Deputy Hall Master Qi, Deputy Hall Master Zhang is looking for you.”

The young Daoist priest could not hide the envy on his face when he said this. After all, it was rare to see a Deputy Hall Master under thirty being accompanied by a young beauty who was also a Deputy Hall Master.

Regardless of whether one was a commander without troops, what mattered was one’s high rank.

Qi Xuansu perked up, left his office, and went to the courtyard. From a distance, he saw Zhang Yuelu standing alone in plain robes. For the first time, Qi Xuansu realized how lonely she actually was. Her usual strength concealed this loneliness, making others mistakenly think she was never lonely.

Of course, being an orphan, Qi Xuansu was lonely as well. Perhaps that was why the two of them drew closer to each other. They were simply two lonely hearts gradually leaning toward each other.

As Qi Xuansu approached, Zhang Yuelu grinned. “Congratulations, Deputy Hall Master Qi!”

“You’re well-informed!” Qi Xuansu was a bit surprised.

Zhang Yuelu replied, “I’m not particularly well-informed. It’s just that the Golden Tower Council and the official bulletins have both announced it. So it’s hard not to know.”

“I see.” Qi Xuansu changed the topic. “How did the discussions go?”

The meeting had started yesterday afternoon, continued through the night, and lasted until this morning. Only Daoist Sages possessed the vigor to endure such sleepless discussion marathons. Ordinary people would likely have collapsed by now.

Zhang Yuelu said, “Unsurprisingly, the decision was made for Sage Qingwei to serve as Sage Commander. The army will enter Fenglin in four batches. We won’t be in the first group. Typically, the younger, inexperienced personnel will join either the second or third batch.”

Qi Xuansu was not particularly surprised. “It looks like we can still celebrate another Shangyuan Festival then.”

Zhang Yuelu glanced at him playfully. “You seem rather impatient.”

“Do I? I hold no grudges about what happened last time. They’re completely forgotten.” Qi Xuansu blinked innocently. “I can always go after I’ve become a second-rank Taiyi Daoist master. It’ll be the same anyway.”

Zhang Yuelu snorted lightly. “After the meeting ended, I visited the Heavenly Preceptor. He agreed to let us return to Yunjin Mountain together on his flying ship.”

Qi Xuansu was startled. “What kind of treatment is this? First, we sat on the Imperial Preceptor’s ship, now the Heavenly Preceptor’s ship. I guess all that’s left is the Earthly Preceptor’s ship.”

“You’ll have to wait to board the Earthly Preceptor’s ship,” Zhang Yuelu explained. “The Earthly Preceptor is currently on duty, and with the ongoing war, he won’t leave Jade Capital for at least six months. Even if he agreed, you’d have to wait half a year.”

Qi Xuansu changed the subject again. “Actually, the Heavenly Preceptor treats you quite well. I doubt ordinary Zhang family members can ride on his ship, let alone bring along an outsider.”

Zhang Yuelu said, “I never said the Heavenly Preceptor didn’t treat me well. I just don’t like the tension within the Zhang family. I’ve reserved a table at the Phoenix Tower to celebrate your promotion. Surely, you will honor me with your presence, Deputy Hall Master Qi?”

Qi Xuansu rubbed his chin. “If it were someone else, I might have to think about it. But since it’s your invitation, I have no reason to refuse.”

Zhang Yuelu pushed him gently. “Still playing hard to get? Hurry up, let’s go.”

At this moment, they were in the courtyard of the Ziwei Hall, with many eyes around them. Any overly intimate gesture would not be appropriate, so Qi Xuansu, nudged by Zhang Yuelu, conveniently walked toward the exit.

They walked side by side out the Purple Mansion’s side gate, receiving salutes from the attending Spirit Guards.

Qi Xuansu casually asked, “Did you see Su Yi?”

Zhang Yuelu shook her head. “No. She wasn’t present at the meeting. She’s likely still recovering.”

Qi Xuansu nodded, muttering to himself, “She couldn’t really have gone to participate in the Holy Xuan Cards Championship. That person must have been Madam Qi in disguise.”

Zhang Yuelu was amused yet exasperated. “You’re still brooding over this? Whether it’s Madam Qi or not, you’re not getting anything.”

Qi Xuansu sighed dramatically. “You’re right. Even with her immense wealth, Madam Qi wouldn’t share a coin with me. Instead, she’d extort, exploit, and fleece me...”

Zhang Yuelu rolled her eyes. “Stop worrying about Madam Qi. You’d best think about how you plan to respond if the Heavenly Preceptor wishes to see you.”

Qi Xuansu paused for a moment, then asked, “What hobbies does the Heavenly Preceptor have?”

Zhang Yuelu replied, “I advise against trying to cater to his interests. The Heavenly Preceptor loves playing Go. Do you really think your skill can match his?”

Qi Xuansu shook his head. “Madam Qi once told me that if both players fully utilize Heavenly Calculation without any mistakes, the game will always end with a half-point difference. In other words, victory or defeat is determined immediately after deciding who goes first. That seems pretty dull. It’d be better to play cards. At least there’s some luck involved.”

Zhang Yuelu continued, “The Heavenly Preceptor also enjoys drinking tea, especially green tea from Shifeng Mountain. There are only eighteen tea trees in total, and the annual production is less than a kilogram. Can you even afford a few grams with your meager stipend?”

Qi Xuansu raised his hand. “Stop right there. I can’t afford even half a gram.”

“That’s why I advise against catering to his tastes. The cost is too high. You’d be better off thinking of something else.”

Qi Xuansu fell into deep contemplation.

The Heavenly Preceptor was different from the Imperial Preceptor. With the latter, formal courtesy was sufficient, given their distant relationship. However, the Heavenly Preceptor’s opinion was crucial for Qi Xuansu’s lifelong happiness. If the old man did not agree to their marriage, no amount of support from any mother-in-law or even Madam Qi would matter.

Simply put, the Heavenly Preceptor would not force Zhang Yuelu to marry. Since he was the head of the Zhang family, if he truly disagreed, no one could do anything about it. Flattering the Heavenly Preceptor might not guarantee success, but he would have to be careful not to ruin things.

As they talked, the two left Xuan City and walked along Shangqing Street to Taiqing Square, arriving once more at Phoenix Tower, the place where they had first met.

Zhang Yuelu entered the restaurant first, and a waiter promptly approached them.

“Tantai Chu.” Zhang Yuelu once again used the alias she had not used for a long time, just like Qi Xuansu’s alias, Wei Wugui. She had reserved their table under this name.

“Please follow me, honored guests.” After verifying the reservation, the waiter led them to the second floor.

Zhang Yuelu had reserved a private room. Besides the two of them, there was no one else.

After sitting down, they ordered some dishes that were common in Jade Capital. But the most notable item was the bottle of Dreaming Death that Zhang Yuelu took out.

Qi Xuansu immediately realized the evening would not end so simply. Perhaps they would end up sobering up in the square outside, just like their first encounter.

Zhang Yuelu filled two wine cups, passed one to Qi Xuansu, and then raised hers. “Here’s to your promotion!”

Qi Xuansu clinked his cup with Zhang Yuelu’s before they both downed their drinks.

After finishing her cup, Zhang Yuelu’s fair face flushed slightly. She looked at Qi Xuansu, raised the cup again, and asked, “Care for another?”

Before Qi Xuansu could refuse, Zhang Yuelu filled his cup again, saying, “The point of drinking is to get drunk. If you neutralize the alcohol, it defeats the purpose and wastes good wine. You might as well not drink then.”

Qi Xuansu felt as if he had heard these words before.

He raised his cup, resigning himself to accompany his beloved.

They clinked cups again and drained their drinks in one go.

They drank swiftly, and soon enough, the bottle of Dreaming Death was empty.

By evening, Zhang Yuelu supported Qi Xuansu out of Phoenix Tower, stopping at the statue of the Primordial Daoist Ancestor. Qi Xuansu’s head felt heavy, and his steps were light, as if stepping on cotton.

Qi Xuansu sat down on the first step of the pedestal, cradling his head. “When we first met here, you said you wanted to drink Dreaming Death. Today is your second time fulfilling that wish. Even though my cultivation has improved, the wine’s quality is much higher, so I still got drunk. I remember clearly that you had an especially melancholy air, talking mysteriously and wanting to forget all worldly troubles. You were so enigmatic, arriving and departing under moonlight, just like a goddess.”

He had already begun his drunken ramblings.

Zhang Yuelu had a decent alcohol tolerance and remained somewhat sober, though barely. She said, “I was neither melancholy nor sorrowful. I was just annoyed by my family’s constant pressure to marry me off.”

Qi Xuansu chuckled. “So that’s why you set your eyes on me.”

Zhang Yuelu grabbed Qi Xuansu’s collar, lightly patted his cheek, and asked teasingly, her breath thick with alcohol. “Do you object then?”

Qi Xuansu wrapped his arm around Zhang Yuelu’s neck in return. “No objections here.”

Zhang Yuelu allowed Qi Xuansu to hold her as she stood up, saying, “It’s getting late. I’ll take you home.”

Qi Xuansu waved his hand vigorously, but his mouth was uncooperative, unable to speak clearly for a while.

Just when Zhang Yuelu thought Qi Xuansu was going to refuse as he had previously, he finally said, “That sounds wonderful.”

Zhang Yuelu vaguely sensed that Qi Xuansu had ulterior motives, but she still headed toward Haichan Place.

Initially, Qi Xuansu did have some sneaky intentions. However, by the time they reached home, the alcohol got to his head. He became completely drunk and fell into a deep sleep.

When Qi Xuansu woke up the next morning, he found himself lying fully clothed on the floor.

Qi Xuansu sat up and noticed Zhang Yuelu curled up on the bed, still asleep.

He could easily imagine the scene from last night. Zhang Yuelu dragged him home, casually tossed him aside, then climbed into bed and slept soundly.

Qi Xuansu staggered up to the bedside and suddenly noticed Zhang Yuelu holding something very familiar. It looked like his fish talisman.

This realization was like a jolt out of the blue for Qi Xuansu. Only one thought raced through his mind. He had truly shot himself in the foot this time, inviting disaster upon himself.