A Pawn's Passage

A key of this kind certainly could not be carried around. However, it still differed slightly from Audrey’s description, since she had only heard about it and had never seen it herself. Qi Xuansu had initially thought there would be just a single room containing the key, but he had not expected such a vast underground hall, nor that it contained more than just the key.

Since it could not be taken, Qi Xuansu said without hesitation, “Destroy it.”

This finally aligned with Madam Wu’s wishes. Without wasting time, she exhaled a bout of surging flames, which instantly engulfed the massive steel heart.

This key was somewhat special. Madam Wu’s flames had melted the steam guards and the metal wall instantly. But this key melted very slowly, like ice under the sun. It would take time.

“Oh! That’s quite sturdy,” Madam Wu exclaimed lightly, revealing her true form.

Madam Wu pointed at the Seven Feather Five Fires Fan in her right hand and ordered, “Grow!”

Under normal circumstances, the fan was no larger than a standard feather fan. In this instant, it expanded several times over. The handle became taller than Madam Wu, and the fan itself was larger than her body, like a battle banner.

Madam Wu gripped the handle with both hands and rested it on her shoulder.

Seeing this, Qi Xuansu was startled. “Madam Wu, take it easy! Don’t burn the whole place down!”

“Don’t worry, I know what I’m doing,” Madam Wu said confidently, raising her arms and swinging the massive fan like a banner, fanning the flames.

Madam Wu kept fanning while muttering, “This thing can be burned continuously until it can’t take it anymore.”

The melting speed of the key increased significantly, shifting from ice melting in sunlight to a furnace.

After about half a minute, this steel heart turned into molten metal, conveniently clogging the steam pipes.

This time, Madam Wu put away the Seven Feather Five Fires Fan and took out Green Cloud.

Qi Xuansu, who had been observing all along, chose to split from Madam Wu and merge into Green Cloud, forming a new Liberation Incarnation. This time, his incarnation could only reach the Zaohua stage.

Madam Wu was her own being, so she could maintain a human form even without Qi Xuansu. However, she reverted from Hosea Matthias’ appearance back to her original form, who was dressed as a Daoist nun.

Qi Xuansu said, “Madam Wu, according to our plan, you’ll draw attention and take the sea route. I’ll take Audrey and go by land.”

Madam Wu nodded. “No problem. There’s a kind of fire in Fenglin called the Shiranui that can burn on the surface of the sea. This time, I’ll let these Westerners witness it.”

Qi Xuansu was still a bit concerned and cautioned, “You should be careful too. It’s their territory after all.”

Madam Wu replied confidently, “Don’t worry. I’ve spent so many years in the West. I know what I’m doing. Besides, I don’t have to carry any burden and can leave whenever I want.”

It was precisely because of this that Qi Xuansu devised the plan. With Madam Wu’s Pseudo-Immortal cultivation, she would have no trouble protecting herself as long as no true Immortal intervened.

Madam Wu glanced down at her outfit, then spun once, instantly changing into a shirt, corset, riding trousers, and long boots. Her hair shifted from black to flaxen, and with slight adjustments to her face, she became a Western woman. After all, as a spirit, she could take on any form she wished.

“How do I look?” Madam Wu asked.

Qi Xuansu glanced at her. “Not bad, like a female pirate. You’d probably get along well with Madam Qi.”

Madam Wu rolled her eyes. “See ya!”

Before she even finished her sentence, she vanished.

Qi Xuansu altered his appearance into that of an ordinary Western man, then left through the tunnel.

The two split up. Madam Wu headed straight for the docks, while Qi Xuansu went directly to Audrey’s apartment.

At this moment, Audrey had already changed into travel attire—a shirt, a women’s jacket, a matching long skirt, short boots, white gloves, and a small hat adorned with a long ribbon that trailed behind her. She had also packed her belongings, including a large suitcase and a handbag.

She was reading a book, though she was not focused on it because her mind was far from calm. When she saw Qi Xuansu appear, she froze briefly and asked hesitantly, “Mr. Matthias? Or Mr. Li?”

“I was sent by Mr. Li,” Qi Xuansu said, fabricating yet another identity. “You can call me Arthur.”

This time, Qi Xuansu used the name of an old friend.

“Hello, Arthur,” Audrey said, visibly relieved. “I didn’t expect so many of you to be operating within St. York. Mr. Li must be an important figure in the Eastern world, right?”

Qi Xuansu corrected her, “Not ‘you,’ but ‘us.’”

Audrey froze for a moment, then quickly understood. “Right—us. We’re in the same boat now.”

Audrey was visibly emotional. “Just now, I felt like some connection was severed. You did it, didn’t you?”

Qi Xuansu did not deny it. “The key has been completely destroyed, reduced to molten metal. From now on, no one can control you anymore. We must leave immediately. There’s no turning back.”

Audrey could no longer contain her excitement. “Oh, thank you, thank you! Mr. Li is truly a great man. Come, let’s go. We mustn’t waste a single minute! I’m afraid they’ll come.”

Qi Xuansu asked, “Who will come?”

Audrey shook her head. “I don’t know—Sophia’s lackeys, or the theater manager, or...who knows? In any case, they’re all monsters the Supreme Will would never bother to create. They’re terrifying.”

Qi Xuansu reassured her, “Alright, Miss Ale, calm down. I will ensure your safety, and Mr. Li will secure your future.”

Audrey took a deep breath. “Right...calm down, Audrey...calm down...”

She asked again, “Where are we going?”

Qi Xuansu replied, “To the train station. We’ll take the land route to San Antonio. Mr. Matthias will go by sea to draw their attention.”

“Mr. Matthias is truly a kind soul.” Audrey sighed, then went to retrieve her luggage.

Travelers carrying luggage was normal. It would even help conceal their identity better.

This time, Qi Xuansu took out the long-unused White Fox Face Mask and handed it to Audrey. “Put this on. It’ll change your appearance. Too many people recognize Audrey Ale.”

Audrey accepted the mask and expressed her gratitude again. “Arthur, you’ve thought of everything. How considerate!”

While waiting for her appearance to change, Qi Xuansu asked, “Is this outfit new? No one has seen you wear it before, right?”

“No,” Audrey replied. “I’ve been careful. These clothes aren’t expensive. They’re just ordinary.”

“That’s good,” Qi Xuansu instructed. “From now on, you are no longer Audrey Ale. Your name is Penelope Adler, and I am Arthur Adler. Remember that.”

Audrey had already completed her transformation—from the dazzling Queen of White Avenue to an ordinary Western woman who was neither particularly beautiful nor ugly. Thus, she was unlikely to draw any special attention.

“Are we husband and wife?” Audrey asked.

Qi Xuansu handed her the forged identification. “Yes. It’s just a temporary cover. I don’t particularly like it either, but a married couple is the best disguise for two people traveling together by train.”

“Alright, Arthur. I’m Penelope Adler,” Audrey said, placing the documents into her handbag.

Qi Xuansu said, “I’ll make the people outside sleep for a while. By the time they wake up, we’ll already be in Harrisburg.”

The two went downstairs and took a hired carriage to St. York’s steam railway station.

Tickets were divided into four classes. First-class offered spacious private compartments, free from disturbance; second-class had comfortable seating; third-class was crowded with hard seats; and fourth-class passengers could only stand.

The agents had purchased first-class tickets for Qi Xuansu so that it would be private and suitable for conversation.

Everything—from entering the station to boarding the train—went smoothly. With the sound of the whistle, the steam train slowly set off.

Audrey looked out the window at the rapidly receding station and let out a breath. “We did it!”

Qi Xuansu said, “This is only the beginning.”

Audrey smiled. “Everything will go smoothly.”

Qi Xuansu said, “You don’t seem as afraid compared to before.”

“Of course, I’m afraid!” Audrey gasped, pressing her hands against her chest.

Qi Xuansu said, “It doesn’t show.”

Audrey sighed. “What do you want me to do? Scream? Cry? It wouldn’t help anyway, so I’ve decided to stay optimistic.”

Qi Xuansu chuckled. “That’s a good mindset. It reminds me of someone.”

“Are you married?” Audrey asked.

Qi Xuansu replied, “Sort of. I have a fiancée. We’ll marry once I return.”

Audrey glanced at him. “Sorry, I don’t mean to jinx it, but in stories, people who make promises like that rarely end well.”

Qi Xuansu scoffed. “I don’t believe in that. It doesn’t matter.”

Curious, Audrey asked, “Then what do you believe in?”

Qi Xuansu said, “I believe... Actually, I don’t know what I believe in. Enough about me—tell me about you. How did you meet Sophia August?”

Audrey replied, “She’s a very deceptive woman. When I first met her, it was at the academy. She took an interest in me, supported me, cared for me, befriended me, and confided in me. I almost came to see her as a mentor and even a mother. But later, I learned the truth—there’s no such thing as love without reason. After all, there’s no such thing as love at first sight.”

Seeing that Qi Xuansu remained speechless, Audrey asked, “Why aren’t you saying anything?”

Qi Xuansu pursed his lips. “I suddenly thought of my mother...”