A Pawn's Passage

For Daoists, the New Year truly began only after the Shangyuan Festival.

Starting from the 16th day of the New Year, the Daoist Order formally entered a state of heightened tension in preparation for the coming war.

Due to the Shangyuan Festival, the flying ship from the Little Thunder Pool was delayed by a day and did not depart for Jade Capital until the evening of January 16th.

Zhang Yuelu and Qi Xuansu were both aboard this flying ship.

The last time the two of them rode a flying ship from Yunjin Mountain had been an unpleasant memory. However, this time, there was no need for such worry.

After all, traveling with them were several of the Zhang family’s prominent figures, including Zhang Wuliang and Zhang Jucheng.

Zhang Wuliang was a manager of the Taiping Bank. For a major war effort, funds were of utmost importance, so he was required to return to Jade Capital.

As for Zhang Jucheng, he was beginning his groundwork for an external posting. Many crucial connections had to be personally handled, such as meetings with Sage Donghua, Sage Cihang, and the Earthly Preceptor.

Meanwhile, Li Changsheng and Li Minghuang headed north to the main base in Qizhou.

After the Golden Tower Council made its official decision, the enormous machinery of the Daoist Order began to move. Supplies were transported from all corners of the realm to Qizhou and then shipped overseas to Fenglin.

By this time, most of the upper echelon of the Taiping Sect had gathered in Qizhou and had already held the first pre-war council. As one of the seven managers of the Taiping Bank, Li Changsheng was mainly responsible for managing the allocation of funds at the Qizhou base.

After the Shangyuan Festival, high-ranking Daoists from the other two sects, along with the civil and military officials of the Imperial Court, would also head to Qizhou one after another to conduct the second pre-war council with the Taiping Sect.

The Daoist Order was filled with confidence regarding the upcoming war. As such, an atmosphere of tension mingled with excitement, and the lingering festivity of the Shangyuan Festival pervaded the air.

Amidst this atmosphere, Qi Xuansu and Zhang Yuelu returned to Jade Capital on January 17th.

Once they disembarked from the flying ship, everyone went their separate ways.

Zhang Jucheng was already acquainted with Sage Cihang and Sage Donghua, so there was no need for an introduction. A direct visit would suffice since they had already communicated beforehand. However, before that, Zhang Jucheng intended to stop by his residence in Xuan City for some preparations and visit his wife in the meantime.

His wife, who was Zhang Yuyue’s mother, had been living in Jade Capital for the past few years, rarely returning to the oppressive Dazhen Mansion. The official reason was that, as the Second Deputy Huasheng Hall Master, she was required to reside in Jade Capital. The real reason, however, was that her marriage was essentially dead. Though they had not officially separated for the sake of appearances and their daughter, they had not been living together for a long time.

That said, it was common for middle-aged couples to grow distant. But the real reason their relationship broke down was due to Li Minghuang. After their daughter had been abandoned by Li Minghuang, the couple held opposing views on how to handle the matter.

Zhang Jucheng believed that not many knew of the matter, and more importantly, Zhang Yuyue remained untouched, so there was no need to make a public scandal out of it. Regardless of the Zhang family’s reputation, her personal reputation needed protection. If this scandal were to spread, it would almost certainly be a muddy smear that was hard to wipe off. Zhang Yuyue still had a long future ahead of her, so he did not want his daughter to become another Shi Bingyun. He insisted that the key was to shut it down quietly, so they could not retaliate in a high-profile way.

Zhang Yuyue’s mother, on the other hand, believed that no secrets could truly be suppressed, so everything was futile. Since that bastard had ruined her daughter’s reputation, she wanted him to pay the price.

Neither could convince the other. Zhang Jucheng thought his wife was too impulsive and reckless, while she thought him too weak and spineless. The disagreement lit a fuse that detonated decades of pent-up marital conflict.

In the end, Zhang Jucheng was not wrong. Outsiders only spoke of Zhang Yuyue as a heartbroken girl. After all, it was normal for young people to falter in love. There were no rumors of pregnancy or abandonment. Thus, when Zhang Jucheng met Li Minghuang again, he chose not to bring up the past, not because he feared the younger man, but because he was enduring humiliation for the sake of his daughter’s reputation.

Their daughter had become the final thread tying their marriage together.

Meanwhile, Zhang Wuliang had gone to the Duzhi Hall to handle some affairs. In Daoist circles, Duzhi Hall was known as the one that managed money. Shibo Hall was the one that earned money, and Taiping Bank was the one that saved money. These three institutions had the closest working relationships.

Qi Xuansu and Zhang Yuelu also had to part ways. Zhang Yuelu returned to Tiangang Hall, and Qi Xuansu to Ziwei Hall, each reporting back to work.

As soon as Qi Xuansu returned to his office, he found that Ke Qingqing had already arrived.

They had not been apart for long, so there was not much awkwardness between them. Qi Xuansu simply said casually, “You’re here?”

“I arrived on the 15th and spent the Shangyuan Festival in Jade Capital, with the Earthly Preceptor presiding over the event. It was even grander than in the Imperial Capital!” Ke Qingqing chattered on. “Too bad I hadn’t officially started then and couldn’t go to the Purple Mansion. I had to watch the lanterns from the Taiqing Square instead. I just completed my onboarding this morning. Sage Lei looks intimidating, but she’s actually really nice and kind. I heard she’s the sister-in-law of the Hall Master. Is that true?”

Qi Xuansu replied, “It’s true. Sage Lei was once my superior. She looked after me quite well. If anything comes up while I’m away, go report to her. But remember, Jade Capital isn’t like the local Daoist mansions. It’s best to mind your words and actions.”

“Understood,” Ke Qingqing replied with a serious expression.

She truly felt this difference. Back in the Imperial Capital Daoist Mansion, there were fewer than 10 Sages. But being here in the Ziwei Hall, she had seen over 13 Sages in just two days, including two Omniscient Sages who held ranks equivalent to the Hall Master. Not to mention the many third-rank Youyi Daoist masters and the countless fourth-rank Jijiu Daoist masters. Ironically, a sixth-rank deacon like her had become something of an oddity. Fortunately, many people knew she was Qi Xuansu’s secretary, so they treated her with respect, and some even approached her proactively. At first, she was flattered and caught off guard, but later, she understood what was happening. They were not being nice to her. They were showing deference to the man behind her, Qi Xuansu.

Qi Xuansu did not forget to check in on his subordinate. “Has your lodging been arranged?”

“I’m temporarily staying in Chunyang Place,” Ke Qingqing replied.

Qi Xuansu nodded. “One of the Middle Eight Blocks, not bad.”

Ke Qingqing asked, “Superintendent...Deputy Hall Master, is there anything else I should be aware of?”

Qi Xuansu sat down behind his desk. “Nothing special. Just carry on as usual. Oh, I might be going to Fenglin soon. Sage Lei won’t be going. So if you need leave for anything, you may speak to her.”

Ke Qingqing nodded and inwardly sighed. No wonder Deputy Hall Master Qi rose through the ranks so quickly. He barely had a moment’s rest! He had just returned from the Imperial Capital and is now already preparing to head to Fenglin.

......

At Tiangang Hall, Zhang Yuelu met with Sage Cihang.

Sage Cihang dismissed the attendants and got straight to the point. “I’ve met with Yao Qi.”

Zhang Yuelu was briefly startled before coming to her senses. “How did the conversation with Madam Qi go?”

“We’ve actually known each other a long time,” Sage Cihang said, not answering directly. “Back when she was a Daoist priest, she was always a step behind the rest of us, not because she lacked ability, but because she was fundamentally out of place in the Daoist Order and was simply not suited for it. So one day, she left without a word to become a wandering Daoist. She went to make her way in Jianghu, and she successfully made a name for herself there. First, she became the leader of the Seven Treasure Pavilion, and now, she’s a high-ranking figure in the Qingping Society. It’s not an exaggeration to call her a behemoth in the underworld. But she’s also picked up a lot of Jianghu habits, so her temper’s even worse now.”

At this point, Zhang Yuelu was starting to understand.

Sure enough, Sage Cihang continued, “So our meeting wasn’t pleasant. Madam Qi was very resistant. She wasn’t outright opposed, but she had many objections. In the end, we both had to compromise. Regarding Tian Yuan leaving the Qingping Society, we both agreed to let it happen naturally. I won’t force him to leave, and she won’t force him to stay. It’s all up to his own will now.”

Zhang Yuelu remained silent.

From what she knew of Qi Xuansu, he had always wanted to leave the Qingping Society because he was afraid of being found out. But now, he had come clean. Not only did she know, but even the Heavenly Preceptor, Sage Donghua, and Sage Cihang knew, and none of them seemed to care much. As such, that guy’s confidence had evidently grown quite a bit.

The key issue was that she had also become entangled with the Ziguang Society. Qi Xuansu had always had a strange sense of equality. He would want the same as whatever Zhang Yuelu had. If she had the Ziguang Society, then he needed the Qingping Society. That was fairness. Otherwise, it would be a double standard.

Thus, hoping Qi Xuansu would willingly leave the Qingping Society was likely not going to be so simple.

Zhang Yuelu was also not in a position to pressure Qi Xuansu on this either. Though she was not a member of the Ziguang Society, she had indeed benefited from it. She could not expect Qi Xuansu to leave the Qingping Society while she still greatly benefited from the Ziguang Society.

When it came to understanding Qi Xuansu, probably no one could rival Madam Qi. Perhaps that was exactly what she had counted on. Knowing him this well was what gave her the confidence to compromise.

......

Qi Xuansu carried a jar of wine, several prepared dishes, a small bundle of regular incense sticks, and a stack of spirit money as he headed out of the city.

Outside the city, the wind and snow howled, biting to the bone.

Braving the wind and snow, Qi Xuansu made his way to the cemetery under the Ciji Hall and found his master’s grave.

The tombstone bore only the simple inscription written in Madam Qi’s delicate script that read, “Grave of Qi Haoran.”

Qi Xuansu first laid out the food before the grave, then placed the jar of wine in the center and lit the incense. The tips of the incense sticks flickered in and out of brightness. Then, he remained silent for a long time.

At that moment, he heard someone knocking ash from a tobacco pipe nearby.

Qi Xuansu turned around in surprise.

Madam Qi stood there, leaning against another tombstone as she tapped out the ashes from her pipe.

In that instant, Qi Xuansu was overcome by a faint, illusory sense of warmth, like this were his home.

His father was asleep, while his mother was idly smoking tobacco, and he was the weary traveler returning home on a snowy night.

“Madam Qi...” Qi Xuansu felt he had a thousand things to say, yet did not know where to begin.

Madam Qi casually tucked the tobacco pipe into her waistband and said, “When you head to Fenglin this time, don’t count on me swooping in to save you if danger comes. Just promise you’ll come back safe.”