A Pawn's Passage

As August arrived, Qi Xuansu finally found himself with some breathing room.

The restructuring of the Nanyang United Trade Company was complete. The Great Xuan Court formally conferred Chen Jianqiu as the Queen of the Yu Kingdom. On Xu Jiaorong’s side, those who needed to be executed and sentenced were done.

With conclusive evidence, focused oversight, and coordinated efforts from multiple sides, the cases were naturally tried and judged swiftly.

Wang Danqing managed to survive, but he was stripped of his Daoist status and sentenced to 20 years of hard labor, after which he would regain his freedom.

Wang Jiaoying was sentenced to death, while Wang Jiaoyan and Sun Yaozhen were sentenced to permanent hard labor.

Sun Yaoping was stripped of his Daoist status and sentenced to 30 years of hard labor. Although he had not been deeply involved in the affairs of the Nanyang United Trading Company, he had been bullying men and abusing women in his daily life. When everything was tallied up, his sentence was actually harsher than Wang Danqing’s. After all, Wang Danqing still cared about his reputation.

Lin Tianhe, having rendered meritorious service, was not executed, but he was still sentenced to permanent hard labor.

Wang Jiaohe was stripped of his status as an Omniscient Sage, which was equivalent to being reduced to a commoner. This effectively granted the Ghost Kingdom the authority to dispose of him as it saw fit.

Sun Heyu was stripped of his Great Sage status. He did not need to serve hard labor, but was instead locked within the Demon Suppression Tower, unlikely to ever see the light of day again in this lifetime.

The already-deceased Chen Shuhua was likewise stripped of all titles and status. Unlike the low-profile handling of Wang Jiaohe and Sun Heyu, Chen Shuhua was branded as a criminal and traitor, her case openly announced in official bulletins to serve as a warning to all regions. This was clearly meant to condemn her to eternal infamy.

The issues with Wang Jiaohe and Sun Heyu were internal matters. Both men had merits as well as faults. They had also made tangible contributions to the development of Poluo, so their cases could be handled behind closed doors.

However, Chen Shuhua’s case involved the Buddhist Sect and secret societies. Its nature was far more malignant and its harm far greater, necessitating severe punishment and public disclosure as a warning to the world.

Zheng Jiaohe, Sun Jiaofeng, and others received similar treatment—stripped of their Daoist status and various titles. But that was the end of the matter, with no further investigation.

Lin Qingcheng, Wu Burong, Guo Yongyan, and others were dismissed from office. Lin Qingcheng was sentenced to death for colluding with the Holy Court’s Goddess Society, while Wu Burong and Guo Yongyan were sentenced to permanent hard labor.

These were the principal figures. Those secondary figures with blood debts on their hands were sentenced to death, while most others were sentenced to hard labor, with terms ranging from 1 to 30 years depending on the severity of their crimes.

For some cases, where the circumstances were relatively minor, there was no formal conviction. At most, the individuals were removed from office. Some received a demerit, while some were required to return to the Wanxiang Daoist Palace for further study.

In addition, many Spirit Guards were also dealt with.

If one were to ask when Sage Donghua finally made up his mind to act against the Wang family, it was very likely at the moment when Wang Danqing clashed with Qi Xuansu.

It was not because Sage Donghua felt pity for Qi Xuansu, but rather that he saw how the dignified Spirit Guards of the Daoist Order had degenerated into servants of the Wang family. Moreover, the Spirit Guard brought by Wang Danqing actually dared to strike at a Deputy Ziwei Hall Master on Ziwei Hall territory in Jade Capital. One could only imagine what the situation in Poluo must have been like.

Were the Spirit Guards working for the Daoist Order, or had they become the Wang family’s private troops?

Some Spirit Guards clearly stood on the Wang family’s side, as could be seen when Wang Jiaoying stormed Sheji Palace and in the later full-scale confrontation.

Great Sage Lan was absolved for the chaos within the Daoist Mansion, as the responsibility was placed on Mansion Master Wang Jiaohe. But the issues concerning the Spirit Guards could not be handled in the same way.

Due to this incident, Great Sage Lan was given a major demerit. Of course, the matter was not publicized, and very few people knew of it. This was still a way of preserving his dignity.

Given his status, he did not need to care much about a single demerit. At his current level, it was either utter ruin or boundless glory. There was no possibility of falling back to the rank of Omniscient Sage or an ordinary Sage. This was more a silent expression of dissatisfaction from the Golden Tower Council and a form of humiliation that was not particularly severe.

Although it was not announced publicly, Great Sage Lan was still furious. But this anger was not directed at the Golden Tower Council. Instead, he launched a thorough internal investigation into the Spirit Guards. Many Spirit Guards were punished and stripped of their armor. In more extreme cases, some were sentenced to death.

Since the Spirit Guards were relatively independent and different from the system for Daoist priests, only the Great Sage of the Daoist Mansion, the Tiangang Hall, and the Spirit Guard Office knew the full details. Therefore, Qi Xuansu did not know much either and only heard vague fragments. Great Sage Lan had personally supervised the process, and two first-rank Spirit Guards personally rooted out the bad eggs. In the end, Great Sage Lan even took the lead in reflecting on the merits and faults of these past years, proposing various new regulations and rules in an attempt to rectify the overall ethos.

Qi Xuansu merely listened and let it pass.

Rectifying ethos was never easy. Even with Great Sage Lan personally taking charge, it was not something that could be turned around in a short time.

After handling these matters, Qi Xuansu began the handover with Xu Jiaorong and the others, as he was preparing to head to the Wanxiang Daoist Palace to attend the courses for Sages. Over the next month, Xu Jiaorong would act on his behalf in overseeing the Daoist Mansion’s affairs. Of course, in name, it would still be under Great Sage Lan, but given that Xu Jiaorong had previously served as Great Sage Lan’s secretary, even if Great Sage Lan took charge, Xu Jiaorong would be the one handling things smoothly.

Qi Xuansu decided to first go to the Lingnan Daoist Mansion to meet up with Zhang Yuelu. Then they would go together to Yunjin Mountain, proceed to Jade Capital, and finally report to the Wanxiang Daoist Palace.

This time, Chen Jianchou would not be accompanying Qi Xuansu, as he needed to stay behind to take part in the August grand examination. Little Yin, on the other hand, could come along. Since the Wanxiang Daoist Palace was not far from the Ghost Kingdom, she could conveniently make a trip home as well.

Thus, Qi Xuansu boarded the flying ship bound for Lingnan with Little Yin.

This was precisely why people said that having an official post made an enormous difference.

Back then, Pei Xiaolou was also a second-rank Taiyi Daoist, but his post was merely that of a Deputy Palace Master, so he could only take an ordinary flying ship. Now, Qi Xuansu was likewise a second-rank Taiyi Daoist, but he was the Acting Chief Deputy Mansion Master, so he had his own flying ship and could have his travel expenses reimbursed by the Daoist Mansion. The benefits were worlds apart.

This round of lectures was personally overseen by Great Sage Shi.

Great Sage Shi understood these newly promoted second-rank Taiyi Daoists all too well. Aside from a very few exceptions, such as Qi Xuansu and Zhang Yuelu, most were seventh-generation disciples of the Jiao-generation, in their prime, generally between 40 and 60. In terms of office, they were either Chief Deputies or Second Deputies. At the very least, they held posts such as Deputy Palace Master, Deputy Mansion Master, or Deputy Hall Master. All of them managed many subordinates, were seasoned in public affairs, and were extremely busy.

To teach a group like this required genuine ability. As such, among the instructors dispatched by the Daoist Order, the lowest rank was that of a Great Sage, while the highest were the Deputy Grand Masters. Their status alone had to be sufficient to command authority. Attendance was mandatory, and all ongoing duties had to be handed over within the stipulated time. The Daoist Order could function perfectly well without any single individual, so no one was to think too highly of themselves.

Naturally, Qi Xuansu did not dare to be presumptuous or negligent.

The Poluo Daoist Mansion and the Lingnan Daoist Mansion were neighbors, and Qi Xuansu had departed from the Yu Kingdom, making the distance even shorter. In less than an hour, his flying ship descended at Dongdu Prefecture.

Dongdu Prefecture was not the capital of Lingnan, but Zhang Yuelu was stationed there. As Chen Shuwen had once said, although the Nanyang United Trading Company appeared to be a Nanyang company, in essence, it was rooted in the Central Plains. The Great Xuan Dynasty was vast. Liaodong and the northwest were worlds apart. More specifically, the Nanyang United Trading Company was anchored in Lingnan, with Dongdu Prefecture serving as a crucial transit hub. This was also why the case involving the company had first ignited from Lingnan.

When Qi Xuansu reorganized the Nanyang United Trading Company in Poluo, he also needed the cooperation of the Lingnan Daoist Mansion. That was why Zhang Yuelu had a say in the matter. It was not because Qi Xuansu was favoring personal ties with his future Daoist companion. Rather, Zhang Yuelu represented the Lingnan Daoist Mansion. If she did not agree, Qi Xuansu truly would have found it difficult to move forward.

Zhang Yuelu had also completed her handover. As soon as Qi Xuansu’s flying ship arrived, she boarded it and set out for Yunjin Mountain in Wuzhou, which bordered Lingnan.

Aboard the flying ship, Qi Xuansu found himself filled with emotion. The first time he had gone to the Zhang family, he had traveled on foot, crossing countless mountains and rivers, and nearly losing his life along the way. On the way back to Jade Capital, they encountered Wu Luo, who crashed their flying ship. That was when he was forced into a shocking leap that changed the trajectory of his life.

Now, by contrast, he rode a dedicated flying ship toward Yunjin Mountain, no different from the various Sages of the Quanzhen Sect who had once visited Shangqing Palace. Even Wu Luo no longer seemed so terrifying. Though Qi Xuansu had not taken revenge with his own hands, he had still crossed paths with Wu Luo indirectly. Wu Luo had descended twice, yet neither time ended well. Both were crushing defeats.

Qi Xuansu felt that the day he would face Wu Luo head-on might not be very far off.

If the Ancestral Heavenly Preceptor had been able to kill Wu Luo once back then, there was no reason she could not be killed again.

What had once seemed an utterly unattainable goal now, upon closer reflection, no longer appeared impossible.

The journey from Lingnan to Wuzhou was not far. Before long, Yunjin Mountain came into view in the distance.

Zhang Yuelu had already coordinated matters with the Shangqing Palace and the Wuzhou Daoist Mansion, so the journey was naturally unobstructed. As the flying ship entered the mist-shrouded Yunjin Mountain, Qi Xuansu looked through the window and saw the traces of shattered mountain ranges, stirring new reflections within him.

In the past, he could discern nothing from such sights. Now, having witnessed many battles among Immortals, he could better appreciate just how high the Holy Xuan’s cultivation had been to change the terrain of a massive mountain.

When the flying ship descended, Zhang Juping and Tang Jiaohua were already waiting.

Zhang Juping was Zhang Yuelu’s uncle and the first elder to have evaluated Qi Xuansu. Seeing Qi Xuansu again now, all Zhang Juping could do now was welcome him.

Tang Jiaohua was the Heavenly Preceptor’s secretary—low in rank, yet high in authority.

Qi Xuansu was fairly familiar with both men and took the initiative to offer his greetings.

“Deputy Palace Master Zhang, how have you been of late?” Qi Xuansu greeted him.

Zhang Juping did not put on airs and returned the greeting. “All is well. Thank you for your concern, Tian Yuan.”

Tang Jiaohua said, “The Heavenly Preceptor is waiting for the two of you.”

Zhang Yuelu gave a slight nod. “Then let us first pay our respects to the Heavenly Preceptor and discuss the rest afterward.”