A Pawn's Passage

Chapter 1453: Surging Winds

For Jinling Prefecture, this was yet another unusual night. In particular, the marching of the Spirit Guard forces kept many people awake the entire night, fearing that some secret society was causing trouble again.

Early the next morning, when people stepped out of their homes, they discovered many fully armed Spirit Guards patrolling the streets in formation. Although full martial law had not been declared, the atmosphere throughout the city remained tense, proving that the disturbances of the previous night had not been a dream. Something serious had happened.

Very quickly, rumors began to spread. Second Deputy Li of the Jiangnan Daoist Mansion had run into trouble. Spirit Guards filled the area outside his residence, looking as though they were preparing to confiscate the property.

Most people had heard of Second Deputy Li’s name, as he was an important person deeply entrenched in Jiangnan. However, he was far removed from the common folk. As such, ordinary people had little idea what he had actually done. Commoners did not involve themselves in high-level struggles within the Daoist Order, so after some brief whispers, everything returned to normal.

However, inside the Daoist Mansion, Li Tianlan’s arrest came as a shock. Li Tianlan had served as the Second Deputy for more than ten years. During that time, several Mansion Masters and Chief Deputies had come and gone, yet Li Tianlan had remained standing throughout.

Outsiders might not have known what Li Tianlan had done, but people within the Daoist Mansion certainly did. As early as the first major Jiangnan case, rumors had already spread that Li Tianlan might get arrested. Yet Fang Linhou ultimately became the scapegoat due to the lack of evidence tying Li Tianlan to the case. During the second major Jiangnan case, the seven-person investigative team arrived with overwhelming force, but in the end, everything turned to ashes. That great fire failed to bring Li Tianlan down.

It was just like the story of the boy who cried wolf. The wolf failed to appear the first two times, so when the wolf really came the third time, people found it hard to believe.

But they had no choice but to believe it. Some still remembered that Qi Xuansu had also participated in the second major Jiangnan case. But at that time, Qi Xuansu had merely been an insignificant assistant to Chief Deputy Zhang and Chief Deputy Lei. No one could have imagined how the tables would turn in just a few years.

Before Chief Deputy Zhang could launch a third campaign against the Jiangnan Daoist Mansion, Chief Deputy Qi had already captured Li Tianlan himself.

Whether they knew the inside story or not, everyone believed the matter was connected to Chief Deputy Qi. The reason was obvious. Before Chief Deputy Qi arrived, everything had been calm and peaceful. The moment he appeared, Second Deputy Li was arrested. How could this be a coincidence?

Li Tianlan still had cronies and allies, but they were all living in fear and anxiety. Without Li Tianlan as their leader, none of them could stir up any real trouble.

Zhang Jucheng oversaw the overall situation and did not personally participate in Li Tianlan’s arrest. Aside from preventing outside forces from exploiting the chaos, he also sought to stop Li Tianlan’s associates from fleeing. Under Zhang Jucheng’s command, all of them were already under strict surveillance. The moment any suspicious movement occurred, they would be immediately arrested. The reason they had not yet been taken in was because Li Tianlan needed to be interrogated first. Once sufficient evidence had been gathered, they could all be swept up in one operation. Since they now held the advantage, there was no need to take risks with improper methods. Everything would be done according to procedure so that no one could find the slightest fault with them.

What Sage Qingwei meant by “stopping with Li Tianlan” referred to people at Li Tianlan’s level or above him, such as Wu Guangbi. These insignificant underlings beneath Li Tianlan naturally did not count.

Zhang Jucheng was now in extremely high spirits. Bringing down Li Tianlan had further consolidated his authority as the Jiangnan Daoist Mansion Master. Achieving complete control within the Jiangnan Daoist Mansion would no longer be difficult, and carrying out the Golden Tower Council’s resolution regarding the blockade of Fenglin would no longer face any obstacles.

This made Zhang Jucheng sigh once more. No wonder Sage Donghua favors Qi Xuansu. The boy is capable and dependable under pressure. He has an excellent reputation, not the type to become arrogant and ungrateful after gaining success. If only I could have a successor or son-in-law like this, I would have no regrets in life.

On the other side, after capturing Li Tianlan, Qi Xuansu immediately contacted Zhang Yuelu.

After all, this had long been Zhang Yuelu’s greatest wish. Ever since she first began to make a name for herself within the Daoist Order, she had become deeply entangled with the major Jiangnan case. The struggle had persisted for years, seeming destined to continue until the day she became a Mansion Master. Yet in the end, Qi Xuansu resolved it ahead of time for her.

“Qing Xiao.” Qi Xuansu used his license to contact her, allowing the two of them to converse through a projection.

It was already deep into the night. On the other side, Zhang Yuelu was still dressed in formal attire, though she had removed her lotus crown. Judging from her appearance, she had likely not slept at all. “Tian Yuan, is something wrong? It’s so late at night.”

Zhang Yuelu’s tone was not relaxed. In fact, it carried a trace of tension. Everyone knew that Qi Xuansu was not someone who contacted others without reason. Under normal circumstances, he did not proactively contact Zhang Yuelu very often either. That was why her first instinct was that something had gone wrong when he suddenly reached out in the middle of the night.

Qi Xuansu chuckled. “Don’t be so serious. I contacted you this late because I wanted to tell you some good news.”

Zhang Yuelu relaxed slightly and joked, “What good news? Don’t tell me the Golden Tower Council has already decided to promote you to an Omniscient Sage?”

Qi Xuansu deliberately kept some suspense. “You should be able to guess what I’ve been doing these past few days.”

Zhang Yuelu thought seriously for a moment before replying hesitantly, “Based on the timing, you should still be at the Jiangnan Daoist Mansion. Back in Jade Capital, you mentioned Li Ping’s matter to me. Could it be that—”

Qi Xuansu snickered. “You guessed correctly. Uncle Zhang and I joined forces and successfully took down Li Tianlan. Does that count as good news?”

Zhang Yuelu was stunned for a moment before leaning back into her chair, clearly feeling a sense of relief. “Of course that’s good news. After so many years, that old fox has finally been brought down.”

This sigh was entirely heartfelt. Ever since the beginning of her career, Zhang Yuelu had been fighting against this old man and nearly died in Jiangnan in the process. Now, she has risen to become the Chief Deputy of the Poluo Daoist Mansion. Only now could this chapter finally be concluded.

Qi Xuansu said, “Consider it revenge for you. Li Tianlan and his cronies orchestrated the ambush against you back then. This also serves as a warning to frighten the mastermind who is secretly stirring things up behind the scenes.”

A nostalgic expression appeared on Zhang Yuelu’s face as she said, “Do you still remember those days? The two of us walked all the way from Jade Capital back to Yunjin Mountain. That could probably count as wandering the Jianghu, right? Along the way, I even learned some Jianghu slang and secret phrases from you, though I never really had a chance to use them. You hardly speak that kind of slang anymore either.”

“How could I forget?” Qi Xuansu replied. “Those were the easiest and happiest days of my life. That’s why I wanted to tell you this news immediately.”

Zhang Yuelu sighed. “This calls for three cups of wine.”

Qi Xuansu also drifted back into the memories of when they first met. “I remember that before we left Jade Capital, we even went to see a new play together because Sage Ning gave you the tickets. We had agreed to watch another one someday, but we never found the opportunity. We’ve simply been too busy. Now, we spend more time apart than together.”

Zhang Yuelu joked, “The main problem is that nobody sends us tickets anymore.”

Qi Xuansu said, “I thought you were going to say, if two hearts are meant to last forever, why must they stay together day and night?”

Zhang Yuelu waved her hand. “I could never say something like that.”

The two chatted for nearly an hour before finally ending the conversation. Then, Qi Xuansu returned to Tianxin Daoist Palace before dawn broke.

The Tianxin Daoist Palace was the core of the Jiangnan Daoist Mansion. To those within the Daoist Mansion, there were hardly any true secrets within the palace. Unless it was a private conversation between only two people like Qi Xuansu and Zhang Jucheng, even the most confidential matters would soon leak out in whispers throughout the palace. Wherever these winds blew, those perceptive enough to read the direction could seek advantage and avoid disaster.

Li Tianlan’s arrest in the middle of the night spread throughout the entire Daoist Mansion in less than an hour. Before the sun had risen, the surging winds of change were already sweeping through the Daoist Mansion.

At this moment, the grand hall of the Daoist Palace was already filled with people. Daoist crowns crowded together, and hechangs shimmered brilliantly.

But unlike usual, the factions were now clearly divided. One group wore expressions of fear and anxiety, as though awaiting final judgment, while the other group appeared far more composed.

The entire hall was silent.

A moment later, Zhang Jucheng strode into the hall, his steps swift and full of vigor.

Lei Xiaohuan followed half a step behind on Zhang Jucheng’s left, while a Spirit Guard in black armor occupied the position on his right, which should have belonged to Second Deputy Li Tianlan.

It was extremely uncommon for a Spirit Guard to participate in official deliberations. Back when Qi Xuansu was in Poluo, he could only bring the two first-rank Spirit Guard into meetings during major Daoist Mansion assemblies. Under normal circumstances, Spirit Guards were not permitted to attend regular Daoist Mansion Councils.

This further intensified the unusually tense atmosphere of the day.

The trio entered through the south gate, passed through the corridor separating the two factions, and arrived at the northern wall.

Engraved upon the wall were the Primordial Daoist Ancestor’s Five Thousand Words. Zhang Jucheng turned around, standing before the magnificent scripture as he faced the crowd.

Lei Xiaohuan and the Spirit Guard likewise took their positions to his left and right.

Zhang Jucheng swept his gaze across the hall before speaking. “Fellow Daoists, some of you may already know, while others may not—Second Deputy Li Tianlan is currently undergoing investigation and review by the Daoist Order due to suspicion of serious violations of the law.”

Li Tianlan, who had stood firm within the Jiangnan Daoist Mansion for more than a decade, had fallen overnight. Although rumors had circulated for a long time, those outside Li Tianlan’s faction still harbored doubts, while those in cahoots with him still clung to hope. But now, hearing Zhang Jucheng publicly announce it in the hall felt like a bolt from the blue.

Those who did not belong to Li Tianlan’s faction immediately showed expressions of excitement and exhilaration.

Meanwhile, every face in Li Tianlan’s faction turned pale and listless, filled with fear and confusion.

Zhang Jucheng continued, “If there are others involved in the same case, leniency will be offered to those who confess early. But if anyone remains stubborn and refuses to repent, then once the Daoist Mansion uncovers the truth, it will be too late for regrets. Severe punishment will be imposed without mercy. Do not say that you were not warned.”

As soon as these words were spoken, many people became even more terrified and uneasy.

Zhang Jucheng said, “All Deputy Mansion Masters, Branch Managers, superintendents, and deacons of every department—if any of you have knowledge of unlawful activities committed by Li Tianlan or his associates, you may immediately report and expose them. Depending on the circumstances, such actions will be counted as meritorious service. As for those who previously clung to Li Tianlan, I likewise hope you will awaken and repent. If you surrender and turn against him, the Daoist Mansion will naturally consider leniency according to the situation.”