A Pawn's Passage

Qi Xuansu’s last visit to Yunjin Mountain was a long trek on foot with Zhang Yuelu. The journey was riddled with twists and turns. Once they finally arrived at Yunjin Mountain, Qi Xuansu could only wait outside the Dazhen Mansion, as he was not qualified to cross the threshold. The antics of Tantai Qiong and Zhang Yuyue only made matters worse. On their return trip to Jade Capital, trouble struck again, forcing him into that infamous leap from the flying ship—an event that had now become a popular talking point.

This time was different. They rode the Heavenly Preceptor’s flying ship to Yunjin Mountain, which was capable of traveling 5,000 kilometers in a day. The journey was smooth and uneventful, without any obstructions. They were spared the hardship of traveling on foot, and Qi Xuansu even had the luxury of stepping onto the deck to admire the night scenery.

The Heavenly Preceptor’s flying ship was not like the ordinary passenger ships. Regular flying ships prohibited movement to the deck once airborne. But this flying ship was equipped with a formation that shielded the entire craft, allowing even those without a Heavenly Being’s cultivation to step outside freely.

After leaving the Heavenly Preceptor’s study, Qi Xuansu and Zhang Yuelu made their way to the deck.

By then, it was late at night. Overhead, the starry sky and bright moon seemed so close, as if they were within reach.

The two stood by the railing, gazing into the distance.

“The Heavenly Preceptor said the hearth lacked a fresh log. Wasn’t he implying that we’re that log?” Qi Xuansu asked.

Zhang Yuelu glanced at him, neither confirming nor denying it.

Qi Xuansu pressed on. “Why aren’t you saying anything?”

“I don’t feel like talking,” Zhang Yuelu replied, seemingly lost in thought since earlier.

Qi Xuansu gasped. “Don’t tell me you’re having second thoughts now that we’re crossing that bridge!”

Zhang Yuelu shot him a glare. “What bridge? What second thoughts?”

Qi Xuansu cleared his throat. “About us becoming Daoist companions, of course.”

Zhang Yuelu did not deny it by saying, “Who wants to become your Daoist companion?”

Instead, she said, “Aren’t you being a bit too hasty?”

Qi Xuansu replied, “So you are having second thoughts...”

Zhang Yuelu could not be bothered to argue. “Second thoughts, my foot.”

Qi Xuansu sighed. “I know it’s a bit hasty since it hasn’t even been two years since we met. But we’re not exactly young. Even if we’re not rushing to get married, we should at least firm up the engagement and begin preparations.”

Zhang Yuelu asked, “Are we that old?”

Qi Xuansu countered, “Aren’t we?”

Zhang Yuelu pursed her lips. “Then give me one more reason.”

Qi Xuansu could not help but glance at Zhang Yuelu. His instinct told him she was not backing out. But she seemed to be hesitant. She was looking to him for a bit of strength to help her make up her mind once and for all.

Qi Xuansu happened to have the perfect reason. He said, “You’re about to reach the Wuliang stage, aren’t you?”

Zhang Yuelu nodded.

Qi Xuansu continued, “I may not be as strong as you, but I can just about keep pace with you. At this rate, we’ll both reach the Zaohua stage eventually before we’re even that old.”

Zhang Yuelu frowned slightly. “So?”

Qi Xuansu said, “The higher one’s cultivation, the harder it is to have children. Just look at the Holy Xuan—he left no descendants. Don’t you want a child? If we wait another decade or more, it might be too late, and there’s no turning back on this. Emperor Gaozu’s case was a rare exception.”

Zhang Yuelu was left speechless this time. No matter how composed she usually was, she had never been intimate with anyone. Jumping straight from the idea of getting married to having children made her face flush slightly, though it was not visible under the night sky.

It was the first time Zhang Yuelu had ever considered this question. Did she even want a child?

In the Daoist community, many desired children. Otherwise, there would be no continuity of the powerful noble families. However, just as many had no interest in offspring for various reasons.

For example, none of the three Deputy Grand Masters had children of their own. That was why the master-disciple relationship was so vital in the Daoist community. Even without direct offspring, their legacies could still be passed on to the disciples. There was also an upside to this, as one could choose their disciples, but no one had a choice in who they gave birth to.

If every Daoist had children, the Daoist population would multiply severalfold.

Zhang Yuelu’s initial reaction was that she did not want children. She wanted to reform the Daoist Order and was even prepared to die for that cause. If she had a child, she would have a dependent and a burden that might prevent her from charging forward full force.

But she hesitated when she tried to give Qi Xuansu that answer.

She was not a rash person and was never the type to make decisions on impulse and then regret them. Every choice had to be considered thoroughly. Do I really not want a kid?

After thinking it through, she realized she was actually wavering, caught between both sides.

In the end, Zhang Yuelu swallowed her original response and gently deflected the question. “It feels a bit too early to be discussing this.”

Qi Xuansu nodded, accepting the response.

He had not figured it all out either. He just mentioned his trump card because he felt cornered by Zhang Yuelu.

Qi Xuansu quietly let out a breath of relief.

If Zhang Yuelu had actually agreed to have a child, he would not have known what to do next.

The two fell into an awkward silence.

A moment later, Zhang Yuelu broke the silence. “I agree that we should settle the engagement, since this can’t be avoided eventually. It’s just that neither of us has truly settled down yet. But let’s talk about children some other time.”

Zhang Yuelu was decisive, not the type to hem and haw.

Qi Xuansu remarked, “It takes two hands to clap.”

Zhang Yuelu stared at Qi Xuansu again but said nothing. Her gaze was not sharp or scrutinizing. Instead, it carried a tinge of nostalgia.

Feeling a bit uneasy under her gaze, Qi Xuansu could not help but ask, “What are you looking at?”

Zhang Yuelu smiled faintly. “I was thinking about the last time we went home. How did a fake act turn into something real?”

Qi Xuansu chuckled. “They say the true becomes false when the false is taken as true.”

Zhang Yuelu snorted, “Don’t quote something if you don’t know how to use it properly. What truth became false? Are you implying I had someone else before I met you?”

Qi Xuansu sure had a very lopsided education. He could recite Daoist classics with ease, but when it came to Confucian teachings, he often made a fool of himself. At this moment, he could only admit his mistake awkwardly.

Thank goodness Yao Pei was not around. Otherwise, she would have mocked him with the Jianxiu Mountain Grain Person again.

Zhang Yuelu said earnestly, “I think you need to read more in your spare time and improve your classical knowledge. Don’t spend all day reading brainless novels.”

Qi Xuansu suddenly felt like they were back at Tiangang Hall, with Zhang Yuelu unconsciously stepping back into the role of his superior.

Influenced by Madam Qi, Qi Xuansu had learned early on to stay humble and lower himself in front of women since she was so domineering. Coincidentally, Zhang Yuelu was also a strong-willed person, so Qi Xuansu had become adept at using the same tactics he used with Madam Qi to deal with Zhang Yuelu, overcoming sheer strength with softness. But if Madam Qi and Zhang Yuelu clashed directly, both unyielding, there was simply no solution.

Qi Xuansu did not argue with Zhang Yuelu. Instead, he replied, “I will surely remember your advice, Deputy Hall Master Qing Xiao. I shall read more classics and learn to love learning. I’ve come to deeply understand that the process of learning is one of insight, not just superficial reading. If one reads hastily and seeks no deeper understanding, the result is only a shallow grasp of knowledge. Thus, reading should not be mere reading, but rather a meditative, repeated study. Only then can one truly enhance one’s cultivation and better serve the Daoist Order.”

Zhang Yuelu was stunned for a moment, clearly not expecting Qi Xuansu to say something like that. After a while, she laughed and chided, “Your knack for official talk seems to come naturally now, huh? No wonder they say it’s hard to learn proper knowledge but easy to pick up bad habits.”

Qi Xuansu said earnestly, “Not at all. If one reads 300 poems a day, one will be able to chant them even if one can’t write them.”

As the two chatted idly, the Yinglong Warship flew swiftly through the sky.

In fact, this was not the Yinglong Warship’s full speed. By dawn, they had already entered the borders of Wuzhou.

The Wuzhou Daoist Mansion, Shangqing Palace, and the Dazhen Mansion all sent personnel to welcome the Heavenly Preceptor. Three flying ships escorted the massive Yinglong Warship in a grand and imposing fanfare.

Qi Xuansu could not help but sigh inwardly. One would never experience this level of treatment by riding an ordinary flying ship.

Soon, they reached Shangqing Prefecture, and Yunjin Mountain could be seen in the distance.

Yunjin Mountain did not have a natural lake. But with the rise of flying ships and the Holy Xuan altering the original terrain of the mountain, the Dazhen Mansion had specially excavated a lake outside the Shangqing Palace for docking flying ships. Since the Zhang family was famous for their mastery of thunder techniques, the lake was named the Little Thunder Pool.

The Heavenly Preceptor’s flying ship descended into the Little Thunder Pool.

All the prominent figures of the Zhang family, including the high-ranking Daoists of the Dazhen Mansion and Shangqing Palace, were already waiting by the shores of the manmade lake. Among them were Zhang Juqi and Tantai Qiong.

Ordinarily, the couple would not have come simply because it was unnecessary. However, with Zhang Yuelu returning alongside the Heavenly Preceptor this time, the two of them had no choice but to show up.

Zhang Yuyue was also present. She actually wanted to skip it, but she was from the main branch of the Zhang family, so she had to return to the Dazhen Mansion for the Shangyuan Festival. Her father had given her a strict order that if she dared to skip the holidays, he would personally tie her up and drag her back home. Never mind parental or official authority; just based on cultivation level alone, his threat carried full weight, and Zhang Yuyue had no room to resist.

Since Zhang Yuyue had returned to the Dazhen Mansion, she had to come and greet the Heavenly Preceptor.

The Yinglong Warship came to a steady stop, and a ramp was lowered.

The Heavenly Preceptor walked at the front. But instead of having his two secretaries walk beside him, he placed Qi Xuansu and Zhang Yuelu at his left and right, just half a step behind him, while the two aides followed behind them. This made the Heavenly Preceptor appear like a blessed elder enjoying familial bliss.

But in the eyes of the other members of the Zhang family, this scene conveyed an entirely different meaning.