A Pawn's Passage

This time, Zhang Yuelu did not bring her secretary when she came to Jade Capital because the Nine Halls Joint Council was top secret. Secretaries were not allowed inside and could only wait outside, so there was no point in bringing one along.

The Nine Halls Joint Council finally concluded, so Zhang Yuelu did not need to rush to Beichen Hall early in the morning. Instead, she had the leisure time to read a book. Of course, it was not a novel but a Western text. Ever since Great Sage Shi had required her to strengthen her Western studies, Zhang Yuelu had been steadily reading related materials over the past two years. After all, she either did things properly or not at all, never half-heartedly.

On the other hand, Qi Xuansu was quite busy today. Since he had finally made the trip to Jade Capital, besides meeting Sage Donghua, he also needed to visit others, like Great Sage Jiang of Zixiao Palace.

Given Qi Xuansu’s status, he was certainly qualified to directly request an audience with a Virtuous Great Sage. However, he could not be too casual about it.

This morning, he had been debating whether to go in an official capacity or a more personal one. Qi Xuansu preferred the latter, since it implied a closer relationship between both parties. But if Great Sage Jiang did not see it that way, Qi Xuansu would come across as presumptuous.

On matters like this, Zhang Yuelu would not offer advice.

Qi Xuansu was not a child, nor someone who needed a partner to control every aspect of his life. He disliked the notion that only one’s mother or wife should hold ultimate authority. What happened to equality and mutual support? Why should someone need to dominate him just to prove he was a “good man”?

If “virtuous wife and loving mother” was a form of conditioning and discrimination against independent women, then “good man” was hardly praise for men either.

To put it bluntly, strength was not an objective standard but a subjective one. If one willingly kneeled and abandoned equality, then no matter how powerful or wealthy one was, some would still see one as weak and spineless. Betrayal and humiliation would then follow.

Even the ancients had a saying that kind people were bullied, while the gentle horse was ridden.

That was why Qi Xuansu and Zhang Yuelu had jokingly labeled each other “bad” yesterday.

In the end, Qi Xuansu decided to go in a personal capacity. Thus, he removed his lotus crown and hechang and dressed in ordinary robes. He bade Zhang Yuelu farewell and headed out to cultivate connections.

“Cultivating connections” might sound crude, but that was the reality. After all, Great Sage Jiang and Qi Xuansu had not instantly become close friends. There was a large generational gap between them, and Great Sage Jiang was not that casual a person. Qi Xuansu also knew his place.

Zhang Yuelu did not accompany Qi Xuansu since she was not subordinate to him. To a certain extent, she represented the Zhang family, so if she went as well, it might change the meaning of the visit. Rather than risk Great Sage Jiang misunderstanding or overthinking the situation, it was better for her not to go.

Though Great Sage Jiang was the Zixiao Palace Master, he did not reside there. Zixiao Palace was the residence of the Grand Master and the Grand Master Consort. Thus, for Great Sage Jiang, Zixiao Palace was merely a workplace where he reported for duty. Now that there was no Grand Master, he did not even need to clock in to the office. Instead, he was more like a fire brigade commander, constantly rushing around to handle crises.

Great Sage Jiang had a residence in Xuan City that was close to the Purple Mansion.

Ordinarily, Qi Xuansu should have made an appointment through Great Sage Jiang’s secretary in advance. But his trip to Jade Capital had been entirely unexpected, so he had no choice but to appear as an uninvited guest.

If Great Sage Jiang liked him, such a minor breach of etiquette would not matter. If Great Sage Jiang refused to see him because of it, then Qi Xuansu would stop entertaining unnecessary hopes and simply focus on becoming Sage Donghua’s disciple.

The closer he got to the Purple Mansion, the tighter the security became. Still, Qi Xuansu’s current status was sufficient to allow him passage this far.

At his level, with such intricate networks of connections, he had effectively been accepted by the upper ranks of the Daoist Order. He was now an insider, an ally to be courted.

Outside Great Sage Jiang’s residence, Qi Xuansu unexpectedly encountered an acquaintance named Zhao Yongcheng.

Back when Qi Xuansu had overseen the division of the Nanyang United Trade Company, Zhao Yongcheng had used Great Sage Jiang’s name to claim a share. Qi Xuansu had investigated him and confirmed that he truly was Great Sage Jiang’s grand-disciple, though he was unsure whether Great Sage Jiang himself knew about it. After careful consideration, Qi Xuansu had ultimately granted him a portion.

This created a small debt of gratitude between them. Although they did not keep in close contact, they still exchanged greetings during holidays, maintaining a degree of goodwill.

The young man was socially adept. Upon seeing Qi Xuansu, he immediately approached with enthusiasm and exchanged pleasantries.

“Chief Deputy Qi, are you here to see the Old Master?” Zhao Yongcheng asked.

Qi Xuansu nodded. “Since I’m in Jade Capital, I must pay my respects to Great Sage Jiang.”

Zhao Yongcheng immediately turned to the attendant who had escorted him out. “Did you hear? Chief Deputy Qi is here to see the Old Master. Go report it at once!”

Judging by his age, the attendant had likely served Great Sage Jiang for quite some time. He acknowledged the instruction and hurried off.

Qi Xuansu had not expected such a pleasant surprise. This saved him considerable effort and confirmed that Zhao Yongcheng truly had close ties with Great Sage Jiang.

Before long, the attendant returned, saying that Great Sage Jiang had agreed to receive Qi Xuansu.

Zhao Yongcheng smiled. “I just met the Old Master, so I won’t go in with you.”

After bidding Zhao Yongcheng farewell, Qi Xuansu followed the attendant into Great Sage Jiang’s residence.

The elderly attendant led the way while Qi Xuansu followed calmly behind. He was not nervous or overly cautious, nor did he treat every detail as though it carried hidden meaning.

When he was younger, Qi Xuansu believed that the number of lanterns that were hung, the length and incline of corridors, the number of steps, and so on bore special meaning. Later, he realized that unless it was related to feng shui, it was most likely just aesthetics and mystification.

Mystery and sanctity often went hand in hand. Cultivating an aura of secrecy and feigned profundity helped elevate one’s image and could be quite intimidating.

Similarly, anyone who constantly avoided plain speech in favor of lofty-sounding words fell into the same category. While great figures might occasionally speak in riddles, they did not do so all the time.

Great Sage Jiang had just finished receiving another guest when Qi Xuansu arrived seamlessly afterward. Upon entering the main hall, he saw Great Sage Jiang already seated there, so there was no need to wait.

This visit proceeded unusually smoothly.

Qi Xuansu offered a formal salute.

Great Sage Jiang gestured for him not to stand on ceremony. “Tian Yuan, what brings you to Jade Capital? Surely you didn’t come all this way just to visit me.”

Qi Xuansu replied, “To be honest, I came to Jade Capital for another reason. Today’s visit is because there is a matter on which I hope to seek your guidance, Great Sage.”

Great Sage Jiang said, “Go on then.”

Qi Xuansu said, “Then I will be direct. My former superior, Sage Donghua, wishes to take me as his disciple, but I do not know how to decide. Since you are a respected elder of the Daoist Order, I hoped you might help clarify matters for me and point me toward the right path.”

Before coming, Qi Xuansu had thought carefully about this. If he were to become Sage Donghua’s disciple, the matter would be made public, so there was no point in keeping it a secret.

Great Sage Jiang frowned. “Don’t you already have a master? Is Pei Xuanzhi trying to use his authority to snatch another’s disciple? That is a serious taboo. Logically, he wouldn’t make such a mistake, so I assume there must be hidden circumstances.”

“You’re very perceptive, Great Sage,” Qi Xuansu said respectfully. “Recently, certain events led me to suspect that my deceased master, Qi Haoran, had been hiding some secrets, so I took the risk of opening his grave and found only an empty coffin with a sword left behind through the Liberation Method. This shows that he may be a Corpse Liberation Immortal. Yet none of the current Immortals within the Daoist Order practice that lineage. Therefore, I immediately reported the matter to Sage Donghua...”

Great Sage Jiang had already grasped the situation. “So Sage Donghua took the opportunity to propose taking you as his disciple. He certainly knows how to seize an advantage.”

Qi Xuansu found it difficult to respond and remained silent.

Great Sage Jiang continued, “I have served as a high-ranking Daoist for more than 60 years and have seen many storms. Outsiders infiltrating the Daoist Order is nothing new. True Lord Ziguang’s infiltration is merely the most famous, but not the only one. There have also been traitors appearing among the upper ranks. If your master Qi Haoran truly was such an outsider, hiding his identity with ulterior motives, then the one most affected is you.”

Qi Xuansu was taken aback.

Great Sage Jiang spoke bluntly, striking at the heart of the matter. “If someone were to make an issue of this, your master would be labeled a spy or traitor. If so, where would you stand? Would people question whether you were elevated through outside backing? Should the Golden Tower Council launch an investigation into you? Perhaps you could ultimately prove your innocence and retain your current position, but once such a scandal occurs, its damage is severe. Any further advancement would become a distant dream. Have you wondered why Chen Shuhua risked refining the Longevity Stone? Setting aside deeper reasons, the immediate cause was that she had been restricted. Her career was capped at Chief Deputy Mansion Master. That was why she took desperate measures.”

Qi Xuansu took a deep breath. “That is precisely why I seek your guidance, Great Sage. Thank you for showing me a clear path forward.”

Great Sage Jiang said, “I know your character well enough. You are upright, so I don’t believe you were elevated by outside forces. If you were, the Heavenly Preceptor, the Earthly Preceptor, Sage Cihang, Sage Donghua, and Sage Qingwei, as well as Great Sage Shi, Great Sage Lan, and even I, would have noticed.

“Since you asked me, I will share my view. Reporting this matter immediately to Pei Xuanzhi without concealment was the right move. Leaving principles aside and speaking purely from self-preservation, it is always better for you to lift the lid yourself rather than let others do it. When you control the revelation, you control the narrative and the initiative. The key question is what you do after the lid is opened.”

Qi Xuansu did not dare say much more and simply looked at Great Sage Jiang with a humble, learning attitude.

Great Sage Jiang suggested, “First, do not admit fault, because you are innocent and have committed no crimes. Second, draw a clear boundary and prove that you had no prior knowledge. Third, emphasize that you exposed and reported the matter yourself. That way, not only are you without blame, but you also have merit for placing justice above personal ties.”