A Pawn's Passage

The Daoist army pressing down upon Kameyama Castle meant that Taki, Watarai, Ichishi, Itaka, Iino, Anno, and Suzuka Districts had all fallen into Daoist hands.

Only Kawawa, Mie, Asami, Ensho, and Kuwana Districts remained under the control of the Sonno-joi faction. Among them, Kuwana, Asami, and Kawawa Districts were relatively small in terms of land size.

From the map’s perspective, the Daoists already controlled two-thirds of Ise Province, but the remaining one-third was considered the true heart of the region.

Within the two-thirds of territory the Daoists had taken, only four important towns existed—Yamada Castle, long held by the Chancellor’s Office; Hisai Castle, now reduced to ruins; Kameyama Castle in Suzuka District; and Tsu Castle, the port town.

Within the one-third still held by the Jingu, there were also four key towns—Kobe Castle, the gateway to the Jingu; Komono Castle, positioned close to the Jingu itself; Kuwana Castle at the port; and Nagashima Castle on an offshore island.

Among these, Hisai Castle and Komono Castle were large-scale jin’ya, or fortified military strongholds.

Tsu Castle had yet to be taken, but as an isolated fortress, its fall was only a matter of time. Spirit Guard Jia Shen’s army was already marching there with their heavy artillery that was best suited for siege warfare.

Meanwhile, Spirit Guard Jia Chen led the heavy cavalry to eliminate the fleeing and scattered troops. But their main task was to take possession of Kameyama Castle.

Riding side by side, Spirit Guard Jia Chen and Qi Xuansu entered Kameyama Castle. Spirit Guard Jia Chen bore the famed Dragonfly Cutter, hailed as the greatest spear of Fenglin, while Qi Xuansu carried the renowned blade, Monohoshizao.”

The Dragonfly Cutter’s former owner was Amemori Unko, one of the 13 leaders of the Sonno-joi faction.

In truth, he had died somewhat unjustly. On the battlefield, under its unique pressures, he had fought Spirit Guard Jia Chen to a stalemate. But Maeda Masao’s surrender mid-battle allowed Spirit Guard Jia Shen to provide aid to Spirit Guard Jia Chen. Faced with two first-rank Spirit Guards, Amemori Unko’s death was inevitable, and his Dragonfly Cutter inevitably fell into Spirit Guard Jia Chen’s hands.

The Daoist Order had clear rules regarding ownership of such spoils of war, treating them similarly to gifts presented by foreign nations to Daoist leaders.

For example, years ago, the Pope of the Holy Court had presented the fifth-generation Grand Master with a crown inlaid with 72 flawless jewels. That crown was not the fifth-generation Grand Master’s personal property but was, in principle, the property of the Daoist Order. However, the fifth-generation Grand Master retained the right to use it and priority in usage. Today, it rests with other such gifts in the Zixiao Palace.

Spoils captured on the battlefield likewise belonged to the Daoist Order by default. Yet the captor held priority in usage of such spoils. They could use it however they pleased and could even hand them over to the Daoist Order for safekeeping. However, they could not sell them or pass them down. Upon the captor’s death, they would be taken back into Daoist possession and redistributed.

At this moment, Qi Xuansu needed to discuss with Spirit Guard Jia Chen about dividing the spoils.

After all, they both shared half the credit.

To Qi Xuansu’s surprise, Spirit Guard Jia Chen was remarkably generous. With a wave of his hand, Spirit Guard Jia Chen declared that he would not contend with the youngster for merit. Since the item could not be passed down to the next generation, Qi Xuansu was also free to use it as he pleased.

After thinking it through, Qi Xuansu found this reasoning sound. These were not heirlooms, so there was no ownership and only the right to usage. Spirit Guard Jia Chen did not lack high-quality weapons, so there was little point in contesting for it. As for declining merit, that was understandable, too. After all, he was already a first-rank Spirit Guard, and the Daoist Order had no rank higher than that. Thus, further achievements held limited meaning for him, aside from perhaps earning a few more Taiping coins.

More importantly, Qi Xuansu now owed Spirit Guard Jia Chen a favor. For the moment, it seemed minor, but once Qi Xuansu rose to high office, that debt would become extremely valuable.

Why would Spirit Guard Jia Chen not gladly accept such a mutually beneficial arrangement?

By the same logic, Spirit Guard Jia Shen had not contested Spirit Guard Jia Chen over the Dragonfly Cutter, yielding it to him outright.

Such was the magnanimity, humility, and noble detachment from worldly gain that existed between the first-rank Spirit Guards.

As such, the Monohoshizao became Qi Xuansu’s spoil of war.

Qi Xuansu then planned to negotiate with Zhang Yuelu by exchanging his share of merit for her half of the Solar Heaven semi-immortal object. That way, he could exchange it for another semi-immortal object. This would allow Zhang Yuelu to rise more swiftly, giving her a chance to become the youngest second-rank Taiyi Daoist master.

Next, the Daoist army would pause briefly to regroup before launching its final offensive against Mie District.

For this battle, even Sage Qingwei and the Fenglin Daoist Mansion Masters would personally enter the field. In a sense, it would be the decisive battle to determine the ultimate fate of Fenglin.

It was precisely for this moment that Sage Qingwei had gathered so many of Fenglin’s spirits and wild gods beforehand.

By then, Sage Qingwei would even bestow enough divine power upon Suzuka Gozen to allow her temporary departure from Mount Suzuka so she could fight in the neighboring Mie District. Meanwhile, Shuten-Doji’s forces would guard Heian Capital, preventing the royal family from sending reinforcements to the Jingu.

There were even rumors that the Imperial Preceptor, who had long held court at the Qizhou headquarters, might personally come to Fenglin to support Sage Qingwei, ensuring that nothing went amiss in this decisive battle.

Even among Immortals, there was still disparity in strength. The last leader of the Confucian School had been slain by the Holy Xuan in the same realm. Within the Daoist Order, it was almost an accepted truth that the three Deputy Grand Masters surpassed the seven Virtuous Great Sages, just as Qi Xuansu surpassed Qi Jianyuan in combat. If the Imperial Preceptor personally intervened, not even the Great Yokai Tamamo-no-Mae could stir up a commotion.

Of course, these were only rumors, never confirmed. If the Imperial Preceptor truly came to Fenglin, he would never notify them beforehand. Some versions of the rumor went even further, claiming that all three Deputy Grand Masters would gather in Fenglin, joined by the seven Virtuous Great Sages and twelve first-rank Spirit Guards, razing all of Fenglin to the ground.

Why not just say they would move the entire Jade Capital over then?

This made Qi Xuansu recall a very old rumor, that Jade Capital itself could fly and the Thirty-Three Heavens were its Dragon Pearls, providing endless power for its flight.

The origin of this rumor lay in the days before the Daoist sects were unified, when Yuxu Peak was still barren. At that time, the various sects often settled disputes there through sword duels, giving rise to the famed Yuxu Sword Duels. But after unification, Jade Capital appeared as if from thin air. Thus, the story arose that Jade Capital had in fact flown there, powered by the boundless divine power stored within the Thirty-Three Heavens.

This rumor had long circulated among Daoist priests but remained unverified. Qi Xuansu clearly remembered that back when he was still at the Wanxiang Daoist Lower Palace, a few youths would stay up late at night, chatting idly about such fanciful things.

If Jade Capital truly could leave Yuxu Peak and hover above Fenglin, what a magnificent sight that would be!

Qi Xuansu did not linger long in Kameyama Castle. After making only a quick inspection, he departed and returned to Yoshida Castle.

At Yoshida Castle, Qi Xuansu met with Maeda Masao and Asai Gishin.

When they met again, the identities of the three had already changed drastically.

Qi Xuansu had gone from a fake Harima Onmyoji to a third-rank Deputy Hall Master of the Daoist Order. Asai Gishin had transformed from a Sonno-joi ronin into an undercover agent placed among them by the Daoists. Maeda Masao, meanwhile, had fallen from being a Sonno-joi leader to little more than a prisoner of war.

In truth, it was not entirely fair to call Maeda Masao a prisoner. The Daoists had only stripped him of military command and restricted his freedom. His dignity and personal belongings were still preserved.

By now, Maeda Masao had shed his haori and donned Daoist robes, looking entirely like a man from the Central Plains.

Qi Xuansu laughed and joked, “I had thought you would choose seppuku. Don’t you people pride yourselves on dying with honor? What, are all those shouts of revering the sovereign just meant to fool the lower ranks, while you leaders don’t actually believe it yourselves?”

Maeda Masao only gave an awkward, humble smile, showing none of the vigor and commanding presence he once had at the Sonno-joi assembly.

Qi Xuansu continued, “That day in Ichishi District—”

Maeda Masao quickly interjected, “That was entirely my fault. I beg you to be magnanimous and not hold it against me, High Mage Qi.”

Qi Xuansu waved his hand dismissively. “On the battlefield, each serves his own master. There’s nothing more to be said of that. What I want to ask isn’t about that. You’re a clever man, so you should already know what I mean to ask.”

Maeda Masao’s expression shifted slightly. “High Mage Qi, you wish to ask about those Westerners?”

Qi Xuansu said, “I hope you can speak truthfully, Lord Maeda.”

Maeda Masao knew that the reason the Daoist Order accepted his surrender, treating it not as capture but as defection, was that he knew too many secrets.

For a villain, laying down the butcher’s knife and instantly becoming a Buddha was not about how much evil one had done, but about whether one was powerful enough.

If a wandering swordsman committed severe crimes one after another, even if he laid down his weapon, the law would still punish him harshly, and he would not escape death.

But if the three Ancient Immortals chose to lay down their weapons and submit to the Daoist Order, then no matter how many calamities they had caused, the Daoist Order would still wipe their sins clean and bestow them the title of a first-rank Tianzhen Daoist master or a Virtuous Great Sage.

The reason was simple. If the three Ancient Immortals did not surrender, more calamities would follow, and more people would die.

As long as they were strong enough that punishing them would require an immense cost, no one would dare punish them lightly.

If they laid down their butcher’s knives, they would inevitably be allowed to become Buddhas.

This reasoning might not be morally correct, but it was certainly practical.

Maeda Masao himself could hardly be called powerful before the Daoist Order, but the secrets he knew could save many Daoist lives.

Thus, it was the same principle.

But Maeda Masao still feared one thing. Once he revealed all his secrets, he would become useless and discarded like a worn-out shoe.

Qi Xuansu noticed the hesitation on Maeda Masao’s face. “The Daoist Order’s credibility is known to all. Since its resurgence, have you ever heard of it breaking any promises?”

Maeda Masao replied, “I have not.”

Qi Xuansu added, “Then what is there to worry about? Since we’ve accepted your surrender, we will not mistreat you. Of course, that is provided you cooperate fully and harbor no ill intentions of playing both sides.”

Maeda Masao exhaled heavily. “That Metropolitan White is merely a pawn out in the open. The real person of influence is the man behind him, Cardinal Deacon Brown. Cardinal Deacon Brown is also the director of the West Shakya Company.”