A Pawn's Passage

After seeing Sun Heyu off, Qi Xuansu returned to his office.

There were three files on his desk—one detailing Sun Yaoping’s profile, one being the Huasheng Hall’s latest medical report on the Yu King, and the last being a progress summary of the dragon qi leakage investigation.

These represented three distinct leads, but they were not entirely separate. They intersected in subtle ways. For instance, the Yu King’s illness was clearly entangled with the dragon qi leakage.

Qi Xuansu picked up the medical record once more and read it carefully.

A comparison between the earlier and current records revealed something troubling. The Yu King’s condition had not improved at all. In fact, it had worsened. The only difference was that he no longer suffered from those bizarre nightmares, no longer dreaming of Wu Luo.

But in truth, whether the Yu King had those bizarre dreams could not be verified. All of it was based solely on the King’s own words. Perhaps he still dreamed, yet now claimed he did not. Or perhaps he had never dreamed at all and had lied about it in the past.

Undoubtedly, there was something amiss here. Qi Xuansu simply could not discern the purpose behind it. He could only hope that Chen Jianchou would make progress soon.

Then, there was Sun Yaoping. After Xu Jiaorong’s reminder and Sun Heyu’s reaction, Qi Xuansu was almost certain that the boy was involved in something. It was no surprise. With his troublemaking nature, it would be even more suspicious if he were completely innocent.

Qi Xuansu had handled no small number of major cases, and they all shared one pattern. They never began at the top. Every investigation started with the small fry, which then led to mid-level operatives, and finally, to the mastermind behind the curtain.

By that logic, Sun Yaoping was clearly a pawn, a loose end on the thread.

Of course, Qi Xuansu’s first priority was to keep Sun Yaoping alive. He could not afford the boy’s death. Though Sun Heyu himself might not be ruthless enough to kill his grandson, others might seize the chance. After all, using Sun Yaoping’s death to provoke Sun Heyu into clashing with Qi Xuansu was a good strategy.

By reason, Sun Heyu should have seen through such petty schemes at a glance. Yet after their encounter, Qi Xuansu could not shake the feeling that the elder had grown disconnected. Perhaps as his life limit drew near, his mind had begun to shift, becoming irrational and volatile, no longer as clear-headed as in his youth. So Qi Xuansu still had to stay wary of the Old Sage.

Those who had attained immortality were serene. Their lifetimes stretched long, so their emotions were steady. But those denied eternal life were constantly bugged by the looming terror of death. The closer they drew to the end, the more their minds faltered, sometimes even drifting toward madness.

The reason was simple—Immortals still had a way of retreat, while mortals had none.

Immortals could still ascend, while mortals could only await death.

When a man dies, all fade to nothing. Few could truly see through that truth, and fewer still could face death with peace.

For this reason, the Daoist Order enforced strict rules regarding the cultivation level and age limits of its senior ranks. At the helm of the Daoist Order, the Grand Master and the Three Deputy Grand Masters were required to be Immortals.

After personally escorting Sun Heyu out of Sheji Palace, Xu Jiaorong made her way to Qi Xuansu’s office.

Qi Xuansu turned to her and said, “Deputy Palace Master Xu, you must see to Sun Yaoping’s placement yourself. I can’t trust anyone else with this.”

Xu Jiaorong replied, “Rest assured, Second Deputy Qi. I’ve already transferred him to the Water Palace. His three months of labor will be carried out here. Certain tasks and maintenance qualify as labor, and more importantly, he’ll be safe here.”

Qi Xuansu nodded. “Good. One mustn’t stumble over the same stone twice.”

Xu Jiaorong understood what he meant. Qi Xuansu was referring to his time in the Imperial Capital Daoist Mansion. Back when he was a superintendent, Old Master Gao had been silenced in prison, and the case had been closed without resolution.

Qi Xuansu continued, “Is three months enough time to break him open?”

Xu Jiaorong replied confidently, “It shouldn’t be difficult. He’s a spoiled brat, not some battle-hardened Jianghu swordsman. He’s never weathered real storms, nor does he possess the depth or cunning of officials. Once we isolate him completely, cut off every means of communication, and leave him uncertain of what’s happening outside, he’ll begin to panic. We’ll let him stew for a few days and act as though we’re in no hurry. He’ll come to us first.”

“You’re right,” Qi Xuansu said approvingly. “But the key is total isolation. He cannot receive any messages from the outside—not a word or a whisper. As the Chief Secretary of the Water Palace, you should know better than anyone who can be trusted and who cannot. This is a sensitive time, so please guard the Water Palace’s gates well. I don’t even want a mosquito flying through.”

Xu Jiaorong answered solemnly, “You have my word, Second Deputy Qi.”

Qi Xuansu would not personally handle this matter anymore, not as he once had when serving as a superintendent. He now had to turn his attention to the upcoming Daoist Mansion Council, a meeting he had orchestrated.

The true purpose was to launch a comprehensive investigation into the dragon qi leakage and to follow that thread, unraveling a deeper conspiracy.

There was no doubt that the dragon qi leakage was rooted within the Daoist Mansion. Without inside cooperation, it would have been impossible to forge two divine-descent vessels in Thanglong Prefecture.

Such a matter could never be passed in an ordinary council, which was precisely why Qi Xuansu had called for a large council.

After Xu Jiaorong departed, Qi Xuansu sat down once more, mentally sorting the lines of alliance and opposition.

Aside from the Mansion Master, the Chief Deputy, and the Second Deputy, there were seven Deputy Mansion Masters. At least four of them were loyal to the Wang family. The remaining three were not necessarily on Qi Xuansu’s side. They were only sympathetic out of respect for Great Sage Lan. But now that Great Sage Lan was absent, their loyalties had grown uncertain, and their positions were unsteady.

Fortunately, Xu Jiaorong and the two first-rank Spirit Guards were eligible to participate in the large council, and they stood firmly on Qi Xuansu’s side. Among the six second-rank Spirit Guards, at least four were aligned with him. This was not due to Qi Xuansu’s personal charisma or influence but simply because they all belonged to Great Sage Lan’s faction.

However, Wang Jiaohe had built his power base in Poluo for many years, and his influence among the Spirit Guards ran deep. The first-rank Spirit Guards were beyond his reach, but the second-rank ones were, especially those who worked closely with the Daoist Mansion. Many had already been tainted by his influence. Ironically, only the officers stationed at the old Port Pacification Commission Office remained relatively untainted and clean.

Then there were the third-rank Daoists. Each of the Nine Halls maintained branch offices, usually led by a Chief Superintendent. But in more important branches, a Deputy Palace Master would be appointed, ranking slightly above the Superintendent and roughly equivalent to a regular Deputy Hall Master in Jade Capital.

In the Poluo Daoist Mansion, things were more complex. It was a region with flourishing maritime trade, a frontier outpost where dealings with foreign powers were common.

Thus, the Shibo Hall, Tiangang Hall, and Ciji Hall each had a Deputy Palace Master in place. With eleven ships sunk in a single year, the Shibo Hall could hardly escape suspicion.

Fortunately, Tiangang Hall and Ciji Hall were both on Qi Xuansu’s side simply because he was the envoy of the Golden Tower Council.

When he tallied his supporters, Qi Xuansu felt that he had a chance at victory. However, he was still far from a guaranteed win, as too many uncertainties remained.

The very next day after Sun Heyu’s visit to demand his grandson’s release, the senior figures of the Poluo Daoist Mansion arrived one after another, and the large council officially convened.

All of the Poluo Daoist Mansion watched this council intently. Even the kingdoms in Nanyang were all closely monitoring the outcome as well.

Anyone with eyes could see that the council had split into two factions—one led by Mansion Master Wang Jiaohe and the other by Second Deputy Qi Xuansu.

By all logic, Wang Jiaohe’s faction, representing Nanyang local powers, should have held the greater strength. But Qi Xuansu stood as the envoy of the Golden Tower Council, the Daoist Order’s central authority. Thus, it made open opposition a dangerous prospect.

Many who had long resented Wang Jiaohe’s dominance but lacked the courage to confront him now seized this chance to rally behind Qi Xuansu. Those who had once served under Great Sage Lan also stood with Qi Xuansu.

Thus, the two factions turned out to be evenly matched.

Many could sense that Nanyang was on the verge of upheaval, beginning with this Daoist Mansion Council.

The curtain had been lifted. The two great factions began their open confrontation.

Reaching this point, Qi Xuansu could not help but feel a wave of emotion.

A few years ago, he had been a mere seventh-rank Daoist, living day to day without security or hope, scraping by for a meal.

In just a few short years, he had become one of the so-called “great figures” himself.

He had faced the ancient deity of Fenglin and even Sage Qingwei, one of the Three Daoist Heirs. He had rebuked a retired Great Sage, challenged an Omniscient Sage head-on, and now stood in command of an entire military force, acting in place of the Great Sage of the Daoist Mansion. He could stir storms with a mere turn of his palm. Thus, it was no exaggeration to say that he was a man whose will could alter the livelihoods of countless people and the course of their destinies.

This was the power of authority.

If cultivation alone decided victory, the seven-person investigation team back in Jinling could have easily slain Li Tianlan. Yet as the Second Deputy, Li Tianlan wielded the visible and hidden powers of his office. With that alone, he sent the seven investigators away empty-handed without ever needing to lift a hand himself.

If even a Second Deputy could wield such influence, then what of the Chief Deputy, the Mansion Masters, and Hall Masters above him? It was no wonder even Immortals sought to become the Grand Master. After all, the Grand Master wielded the might of the entire Daoist Order, so even if one’s rival were a First-Tribulation Immortal, it would not matter.

When the court grew stronger, it became inevitable that the underworld would wane. Thus, the age of the wandering swordsman was long gone. Those who once roamed Jianghu had vanished into silence, replaced by Daoists in hechang.

This was now an age of Daoists.

Qi Xuansu emerged from the Water Palace, surrounded on all sides by his people like a cluster of stars orbiting their moon.

Meanwhile, Wang Jiaohe stepped out of the Fire Palace, also flanked by his entourage.

The two men, each at the head of his own faction, strode toward the Earth Palace.

They then halted. The two opposing groups resembled the yin-yang symbol.

A Daoist captured the moment with an image recording stone. This picture soon appeared in an internal publication meant only for the Poluo Daoist Mansion. Yet before long, that single image spread like wildfire across the entire Nanyang.