A Pawn's Passage

The port of Lion City was lively today, with Wang Danqing arriving aboard Wang Jiaohe’s flying ship and Li Tianzhen leaving Nanyang in utter disgrace.

It was rather ironic. One was the young master of the Wang family, while the other was the young master of the Li family. Both had once harbored thoughts toward Zhang Yuelu and thus viewed Qi Xuansu as a rival. But now, they had to bow their heads before Qi Xuansu.

Without question, this was an announcement of Qi Xuansu’s absolute victory.

After the meeting concluded, the three Daoist prodigies left Lion City as well, heading straight for Thanglong Prefecture.

Upon disembarking, Wang Danqing used old connections to secure a meeting with Xie Jiaofeng. In the past, he had never taken Xie Jiaofeng seriously, considering him a timid, submissive coward, someone who would not dare offend the mighty Young Master Wang.

The two once clashed in Xie Jiaofeng’s office because Wang Danqing berated him on something minor in front of others. Being a Deputy Mansion Master, Xie Jiaofeng had to show his authority, so he pushed back with a few retorts, enraging Wang Danqing, who stormed away. Afterward, Xie Jiaofeng pretended to fall ill and even complained to Sage Donghua, begging to leave Nanyang for fear of Wang Jiaohe’s retaliation.

In the end, thanks to Sage Donghua’s intervention, the matter concluded with Wang Jiaohe forcing Wang Danqing to offer a token apology. The two had little interaction afterward.

But seeing Xie Jiaofeng now, their fortunes had turned.

Xie Jiaofeng left Wang Danqing waiting for four hours before appearing leisurely. He offered some perfunctory remarks about being terribly busy and half-heartedly apologized for making Young Master Wang wait.

Wang Danqing was furious, but he remembered his father’s instructions and endured everything.

After Wang Danqing explained his purpose, Xie Jiaofeng intentionally made things difficult, saying he dared not offend anyone and that this matter was complicated. He came up with all sorts of excuses, forcing Wang Danqing to humble himself repeatedly.

Finally, Xie Jiaofeng begrudgingly said he would try to reach out to Qi Xuansu.

Even after Qi Xuansu did agree to meet him, Xie Jiaofeng did not let Wang Danqing off easily. After all, Xie Jiaofeng was tasked with the arrangements since Qi Xuansu had other matters to attend to.

As such, Xie Jiaofeng made Wang Danqing wait another two hours at the Taiping Inn.

Xie Jiaofeng was originally a secretary, which suited him far more than being Deputy Mansion Master. When it came to manipulating people through procedural delays, Chen Jianchou could not compare to Xie Jiaofeng.

In the past, it was always others waiting on Young Master Wang. When had he ever waited for someone else?

One could only imagine the humiliation and frustration Wang Danqing felt. Worst of all, he had no outlet to vent his anger.

When Qi Xuansu finally arrived unhurriedly, Wang Danqing wanted to fake a smile, yet found he could not.

But Qi Xuansu did not put on airs. He took the initiative to speak. “Brother Wang, long time no see. How have you been lately?”

Those unaware might have thought Qi Xuansu and Wang Danqing were old friends,

with not a shred of conflict or hostility between them.

Wang Danqing was about to speak, but Qi Xuansu did not give him the chance and continued, “You may not know these people, so let me introduce them. Deputy Mansion Master Xie, our host; Chen Jianchou, my secretary; and Yin Wanmiao. We usually call her Daoist Yin or Little Yin. Don’t be fooled by her appearance. She’s actually a fourth-rank Jijiu Daoist. Her credential was personally signed by Sage Qingwei.”

Each time Qi Xuansu introduced someone, Wang Danqing would step forward, bow, and offer polite words.

In truth, Little Yin had insisted on tagging along because she had heard of the delicious food served at the Taiping Inn, though normal food did not do much for her. She needed large quantities of blood and flesh. She had little interest in humans and much preferred dragons, wild beasts, and creatures full of blood qi. But that was for nourishment. She still enjoyed the taste of delicious food.

Qi Xuansu could not stand against her stubbornness, so he had no choice but to agree.

When Wang Danqing saw Little Yin, he shivered in fear.

He had already heard a little girl had saved Qi Xuansu when he was ambushed. She was also the one who captured Li Tianzhen.

This girl was certainly not ordinary.

In the end, Qi Xuansu sat at the main seat, and Wang Danqing sat beside him. As the occasion was not appropriate for outsiders, no waiters were kept to serve them.

Chen Jianchou was about to pour wine when Xie Jiaofeng snatched the pot. Despite his rank as Deputy Mansion Master, he personally filled Qi Xuansu’s cup to the brim. Anyone watching would have thought Xie Jiaofeng was Qi Xuansu’s secretary.

One had to admit that Xie Jiaofeng was excellent at serving others. Many believed women were best at attending to men. But in truth, men understood other men’s desires far better. Ordinary men simply lacked the status to make another man bow willingly, and thus, never experienced such service.

To have a woman attend to a man, sweet words often sufficed. But to have a man attend to another man, that required power and wealth.

Qi Xuansu vaguely recalled that Xie Jiaofeng had once served as Sage Donghua’s secretary for a few years. He was not entirely sure, so he made a mental note to ask Yao Pei.

Xie Jiaofeng was being extremely deferential toward Qi Xuansu.

In Xie Jiaofeng’s view, although Yao Pei was Sage Donghua’s disciple, Qi Xuansu was the successor Sage Donghua truly favored.

The reason was simple. Qi Xuansu was not a Yao. No matter how close Yao Pei was to Sage Donghua, she was far closer to the Earthly Preceptor. Thus, when her name was mentioned, people thought first of the Earthly Preceptor and the Yao family, and Sage Donghua afterward. Just as when Zhang Yuelu was mentioned, the first thought was always the Heavenly Preceptor and the Zhang family, rather than Sage Cihang.

Put simply, the imprint of the Yao family was too heavy on Yao Pei, making Sage Donghua seem more like a transitional figure between the Earthly Preceptor and Yao Pei. But if Qi Xuansu inherited Sage Donghua’s mantle, then he would form a lineage of his own. That subtle difference could not be ignored.

Given Sage Donghua’s temperament, he would hardly be pleased to serve as a mere transitional placeholder.

In other words, Sage Donghua’s vigorous support of Qi Xuansu was not solely because of Madam Qi. He also had his own calculations. Even if one argued that Qi Xuansu was affiliated with the Yao family, his ties to them could never outweigh Yao Pei’s.

In the political sense, Qi Xuansu was Sage Donghua’s “legitimate eldest son” whom he had raised personally. Most importantly, Qi Xuansu was capable enough to bear the weight of succession.

Qi Jianyuan was the second-in-line, with insufficient ability—unable to shoulder burdens and crushed under pressure. Meanwhile, Yao Pei was more like an adopted daughter, having the status without much power.

Put plainly, if Sage Donghua wished to be an emperor, he needed a legitimate heir.

Thus, whether from Sage Donghua’s interests or Qi Xuansu’s, having Qi Xuansu replace Yao Pei was an excellent move. Or rather, even if Qi Xuansu could not replace her outright, the two could still be developed in parallel.

If Sage Donghua became Grand Master, the factions beneath him must not be too united, as he would risk being sidelined. He needed two competing factions to counterbalance one another, with himself presiding above as mediator. Only then would he remain supreme.

That was the purpose of having two parallel lines of development.

From this, it was clear that Sage Qingwei and the Imperial Preceptor were not the only ones with unresolved tensions. Sage Donghua and the Earthly Preceptor did as well. But with the intensifying internal struggle between the three sects and the approaching ascension of the Three Deputy Grand Masters, these disputes had been forcibly suppressed.

Yet these subtle tensions created room for Qi Xuansu to maneuver. He could ally temporarily with Li Changge, and he might later fall out with Yao Pei. The cycle of alliance and estrangement was unpredictable.

This was why Xie Jiaofeng flattered Qi Xuansu so earnestly. As someone aligned with Sage Donghua’s faction, he naturally had to make a choice. Since he already had a rapport with Qi Xuansu, choosing him was the only path.

Qi Xuansu lifted his wine cup and said, “Speaking of which, you truly are my benefactor, Brother Wang. Not long after our meeting in Ziwei Hall, I went to Fenglin and earned merit by sheer luck, which led to my assignment as a Second Deputy in the Poluo Daoist Mansion. Don’t you think this makes you my lucky star?”

Xie Jiaofeng was the first to nod in agreement.

Wang Danqing’s smile looked worse than a cry. If this was Qi Xuansu’s good fortune, then it was his own misfortune.

Not just anyone could have achieved what Qi Xuansu did. If someone else had taken Qi Xuansu’s place, Poluo’s situation would likely not have evolved into what it had become today.

Qi Xuansu continued, “So, I must offer you a toast, Brother Wang.”

Wang Danqing dared not accept it and quickly said, “No, no, I should be the one to toast you, Brother Qi. Back then in Ziwei Hall, I was at fault. That’s why I’m here now to apologize to you.”

Qi Xuansu set down his cup. “I already said, you’re my benefactor and lucky star, so there’s no need for an apology.”

Sweat seeped from Wang Danqing’s forehead. He understood the meaning behind Qi Xuansu’s words. Qi Xuansu was refusing to accept his apology.

Reading the room, Xie Jiaofeng immediately said, “Young Master Wang, you keep saying you’re here to apologize, yet all you offer is one cup of wine? Don’t you think you’re a bit lacking in sincerity?”

Wang Danqing hurried to say, “No, no. My father instructed me to bring several gifts.”

As he spoke, he had already taken out a magical receptacle disguised as a jade box.

Qi Xuansu did not even glance at it. He said coldly, “Young Master Wang, do you think I am extorting you?”

Wang Danqing was infuriated, yet he still had to respond meekly. “H-How could that be? I would never dare harbor such a thought...”

Qi Xuansu said, “Then put it away. I already said that I don’t need your compensation or apology.”

Wang Danqing felt completely hopeless.