A Pawn's Passage

Chen Jianchou gazed at Sikong Guang before him, emotions churning beneath his calm exterior.

Sikong Guang did not regard Chen Jianchou seriously. He leaned lazily against his chair, filing his nails while smirking. “I didn’t expect there’d be a rat sneaking about in the dead of night. Who sent you?”

Naturally, Chen Jianchou did not respond.

Sikong Guang chuckled softly. “No need to answer. I already know. Chen Jianqiu must have put you up to this, didn’t she? You men are all the same. All it takes is a pretty face giving you a few words of admiration for you lot to march through fire and blades for her, risking your lives. Should I call it stupidity or naivety?

Hearing this, Chen Jianchou finally spoke, “You talk as though you’re a man. Oh wait, you’re not one, are you?”

These words were a jab to any eunuch’s pride. Chen Jianchou had said this deliberately to provoke him. Since he knew he had no means of escape for now, he would not just sit by and wait for death. To survive, he had to create a disturbance and force a change, however slim the chance.

But Sikong Guang’s reaction caught him off guard. He did not flare up or show any anger, not even the faintest ripple of emotion, as if he had long accepted that he was no longer a man. Thus, the insult no longer pierced him at all.

Sikong Guang said coolly, “You do have some skill, I’ll grant you that. You’ve already realized something was off about the deaths of those chief eunuchs. In that case, you must have been to that place, huh?”

Chen Jianchou instantly understood which “place” Sikong Guang referred to. It was the underground hall.

“You’re a eunuch too. Aren’t you afraid that you’ll end up like them?” Chen Jianchou asked.

Sikong Guang scoffed. “Are you trying to get me to talk? Well then, I’ll tell you the truth. Seven deaths are all that’s required.”

Chen Jianchou’s heart sank like a stone.

As he had suspected, the last eunuch, Wu Fu, had been killed to make up the number seven.

Sikong Guang stared at him for a moment, then suddenly said, “Hmm...seems like I was mistaken. It wasn’t that little girl who sent you. Someone else did.”

Chen Jianchou purposely replied, “That’s right. Sage Wang sent me.”

“Wang Jiaohe?” Sikong Guang gave a derisive snort, clearly unconvinced.

However, the eunuch was certain that Chen Jianchou was connected to the Poluo Daoist Mansion. That was not hard to deduce, as they were the only ones with the power, standing, and motive to interfere in this.

Sikong Guang, who commanded the Green Phoenix Guards, was no fool. He immediately sensed something amiss. The Poluo Daoist Mansion had always maintained a neutral, hands-off stance. Why had it suddenly chosen to intervene at this time? With every other condition unchanged, the only new variable was the arrival of a new Second Deputy Mansion Master—Qi Xuansu.

Thus, the problem lay with this Second Deputy Qi.

Sikong Guang asked again, “Was it Second Deputy Qi who sent you?”

Chen Jianchou’s heart lurched, but his face remained expressionless. “Actually, it was Great Lan who sent me. The Great Sage already knows of your schemes. Just you wait. You all will be reduced to ashes when his wrath falls like thunder!”

Sikong Guang did not deny it. After all, Great Sage Lan was the Daoist Order’s Immortal guardian of Poluo who also possessed an immortal object. Throughout the vast Nanyang, no one dared to speak lightly of him.

However, Sikong Guang did not fully believe the claim. He was still skeptical as he asked, “If the Great Sage already knows, then what’s the point of all this investigation?”

Chen Jianchou replied solemnly, “The Great Sage said that we must be lawful. If one must kill, it should be justified, reasonable, and legitimate so that everyone will be convinced. That’s why we need to gather evidence.”

Sikong Guang let out a dry laugh. “You’re talking to me about the law? Don’t make me laugh.”

“I’m not talking about law. I’m telling you the truth. Great Sage Lan already has eyes on you. So if you value your lives, you’d better flee before the truth comes out.” Chen Jianchou confidently said.

Of course, Chen Jianchou was bluffing. He had never met Great Sage Lan and had only heard a few fragmented tales from his godmother. Even if he knew a little more than most, his story was bound to fall apart sooner or later.

Just as Chen Jianchou wavered in desperation, a shadow burst through the window without warning.

The figure was wearing all black and a pitch-black metal mask.

In the next instant, two cold streaks of light left the intruder’s sleeves.

The two Green Phoenix Guards restraining Chen Jianchou suddenly jerked backward and fell. A bloody hole bloomed in each of their foreheads, from which protruded two black spikes. This was the Spirit-Locking Nails in The Taiping Essential Arts. The nails had pierced clean through their skulls, embedding deep into the wall behind them. The shafts quivered faintly, and drops of blood rolled slowly down their sides.

Sikong Guang’s body flickered like smoke as he moved, his left hand wielding the Flowing Smoke Spike while employing the Yin Slaughter Technique with his right to attack the masked intruder.

This chief eunuch was from the Yin-Yang School with a high level of cultivation.

The intruder flipped both hands, revealing two Emei thorns, each about 30 centimeters long, resembling a woman’s hairpin. Though they were short and thin, they were extraordinarily versatile, combining the strengths of several weapons with the closeness of a dagger, the agility of a staff, and the speed and precision of a sword.

The masked figure wielded both Emei thorns in a graceful yet lethal dance. The movements were dazzling and fluid, effortlessly deflecting Sikong Guang’s strikes.

Without needing any signal, Chen Jianchou seized the chance to dash toward the door and made his escape.

The intruder followed close behind.

Sikong Guang flew out of the gravekeeper’s hut, landing in the courtyard.

At that moment, the black-clad figure raised a long cylindrical device. A streak of firelight shot into the sky before bursting into a brilliant display of fireworks.

Moments later, the earth trembled as a large cavalry force was galloping toward them.

One of the sentries shouted, “Eunuch Lord, it’s the Nanting Protectorate’s Black Robes Cavalry!”

Sikong Guang frowned deeply. “The cavalry? Why would they be here?”

The intruder let out a hoarse laugh and spoke in an androgynous voice. “Naturally, it was arranged in advance, just to kill you all.”

Sikong Guang snorted coldly. He did not believe a mere cavalry detachment could capture him, but he also knew better than to underestimate them or charge recklessly into direct conflict.

Though this land belonged to the Yu Kingdom, which was the strongest kingdom in Poluo, its proximity to the Grand Xuan Empire and to the Poluo Daoist Mansion’s headquarters meant that Yu Kingdom dared not openly challenge the Nanting Protectorate.

However, if he withdrew now, the secret in the underground tomb would be exposed to the Daoist Order, which would trigger their wrath.

He had to choose the lesser of two evils.

At last, Sikong Guang made his decision and withdrew.

As he departed, the Green Phoenix Guards retreated, flowing away like a receding tide.

Only Chen Jianchou and the mysterious black-clad figure remained.

Steadying his breath, Chen Jianchou clasped his fists. “Thank you for saving me.”

The black-clad figure smiled faintly, sheathing both Emei thorns before lifting the metal mask.

Chen Jianchou instantly froze, his eyes widening in disbelief. “Qiu’er?!”

Under the starlit sky, the young lady in full-black attire let out a soft giggle. “Of course it’s me, Brother Chou. Are you surprised?”

The stars around him seemed to dim compared to that smile.

The intruder earlier was Chen Jianqiu.

Chen Jianchou had never imagined such an outcome, nor did he think that Chen Jianqiu had such formidable cultivation.

After a moment, he recovered from his shock and asked, “Qiu’er...how did you know I was here?”

Chen Jianqiu replied, “I didn’t know you were here. I was actually tracking Sikong Guang. Ever since he became the Chief Scribe of the Ceremonial Office, he’s been acting mysterious and secretive. So I kept my eyes on him, waiting to see what he’s up to. The moment he left the palace, I got word and followed him here. By sheer luck, I ended up saving you.”

This made sense to Chen Jianchou. As the thunderous hooves grew louder, he asked again, “By the way, how did you manage to mobilize the Nanting Protectorate’s Black Robes?”

The Nanting Protectorate’s headquarters might be in Lion City, but that did not mean they only had troops stationed there. Their garrisons were stationed all across Poluo, including within the Yu Kingdom. Their presence was the strongest in the capital regions. When necessary, these Black Robes could even “protect” the royal families, effectively controlling them.

Chen Jianqiu quickly waved her hand. “I can’t mobilize them. I just asked them for a favor. After all, I’m Commandery Princess Furui, officially ennobled by the Grand Xuan Court. So technically, I’m one of their own. They were willing to help because of that.”

Chen Jianchou finally understood. This was how this “meek woman” had remained unscathed all this time. It was not solely due to her impressive cultivation, but also because of her title. As a Commandery Princess of the Great Xuan Empire, she had some authority, enough for the Black Robes to show her deference.

Over the years, she had moved gracefully through the courts by relying on her title, building ties with influential figures of the Nanting Protectorate. Thus, with such a powerful backing, she could come and go freely even within the Yu Court.

As they spoke, the cavalry arrived. They were an endless sea of dark armor under the night, like a storm of black clouds pressing down upon the city, impossible to count their numbers.

At the forefront was a towering general, his body entirely encased in ink-black armor and his face completely covered by a mask, save for two glints of divine light in the eye sockets. He was a presence that radiated an oppressive aura.

The general sat unmoving upon his steed as the armor upon his body began to melt, flowing like molten mercury, sliding away from his limbs and gathering into his palm until it condensed into a black Armor Pellet.

This eliminated the need for cumbersome donning or removal of heavy armor. Thus, the armor could manifest instantly and cover the body even in sudden battle. When idle, it would shrink into a small orb, about the size of a longan fruit, perfectly compact and portable.

Chen Jianchou remembered something his godmother had once told him. This kind of artifact was known as the Darkwater Armor, a special-grade military armor granted only to high-ranking officers within the Black-Robes.