A Pawn's Passage

Shen Yuqing took the initiative to greet Qi Xuansu. “Greetings, Chief Deputy Qi.”

Qi Xuansu also stepped forward. “Hello, Chief Assistant Shen.”

In formal public settings, it was best to address someone by their official title.

Sage Qingwei was the Beichen Hall Master, while Shen Yuqing’s official title as the chief secretary to the Hall Master was Chief Assistant, making him the superior of the other Beichen Hall secretaries.

The Chief Assistant and the Hall Master’s personal secretary were two separate positions and could be held by two different people. However, this often led to struggles over authority. The Chief Assistant held the higher rank and was the direct superior of the personal secretary but was further removed from the Hall Master. Meanwhile, the personal secretary stayed close to power but held a lower rank, leading to frequent political maneuvering between the two sides.

The reason these two positions were separated was mainly due to workload. One was responsible for the Hall’s affairs, while the other served the Hall Master personally. Although the two roles often overlapped, they sometimes diverged, making it difficult for a single person to handle both simultaneously.

However, considering that those who reached this level were usually Heavenly Beings, stamina was not much of an issue. As such, it was also common for one person to hold both positions simultaneously.

Shen Yuqing handled both roles, since Li Zhuyu often handled some secretarial responsibilities as well. A secretary’s actual influence usually depended on the boss they served. Considering that Sage Qingwei was the Second Omniscient Sage, it was no exaggeration to say that Shen Yuqing was the hidden second-in-command within Beichen Hall.

This was the advantage of being close to power.

The only drawback was that the rank attached to this position was not particularly high. Moreover, the fifth-generation Grand Master had explicitly decreed that in order to prevent the abuse of authority, no one could serve as secretary permanently and regular rotations were required.

That was why Xie Jiaofeng had been reassigned elsewhere, removed from the center of power, and even had to tread carefully around Qi Xuansu. This was also the painful reality faced by many secretaries. While in office, they wielded tremendous authority, effectively acting as the mouthpiece of the Hall Master. Yet they also needed to build good relationships everywhere, because sooner or later, they would be transferred out. Once removed from power, they possessed no real authority of their own.

Today, Qi Xuansu had to show Shen Yuqing some extra courtesy. But once Shen Yuqing was reassigned elsewhere, the next time he met Qi Xuansu, he would no longer receive such treatment and would instead have to learn from Xie Jiaofeng how to bend and take on a humble stance.

Shen Yuqing naturally understood this, so he hurriedly returned Qi Xuansu’s courtesy, almost as though the two were competing to see who could be more polite.

Then Shen Yuqing lowered his voice and said, “The Sage requests your presence, Chief Deputy Qi.”

Qi Xuansu nodded. “Please lead the way, Chief Assistant Shen.”

Shen Yuqing did not step onto the massive stone disc powered by the formations. Instead, he led Qi Xuansu along a nearby mountain path.

Along the way, Qi Xuansu wanted to gauge Sage Qingwei’s attitude through Shen Yuqing, so he asked, “Chief Assistant Shen, what does the Sage want with me?”

Shen Yuqing’s reply did not reveal anything abnormal. “It should be related to the Jiangnan Daoist Mansion’s implementation of the Golden Tower Council’s resolutions.”

Qi Xuansu found it difficult to ask anything further.

Shen Yuqing did not lead Qi Xuansu all the way to the peak. Instead, they stopped around halfway up the mountain, where the scenery was magnificent, with waterfalls, bamboo groves, pools, and flowing streams. The only thing spoiling the beauty was the Daoist priests stationed there, preventing ordinary people from entering.

However, with Shen Yuqing leading the way, they passed through without obstruction. Following the river deeper inward, they came upon a pavilion partially concealed within the bamboo grove, where Sage Qingwei sat waiting.

Shen Yuqing stopped outside the pavilion while Qi Xuansu entered alone.

Sage Qingwei leaned casually against the pavilion’s railing seat and gestured lazily. “Sit.”

Qi Xuansu sat down, but he did not lean against the railing behind him. He was sitting upright and straight, with respectful caution. After all, Sage Qingwei was his superior.

Sage Qingwei spoke in a calm tone. “I’ve already heard about the matters in the Jiangnan Daoist Mansion. I asked you to come over because I wanted to discuss a few of my views with you.”

Qi Xuansu said, “What are your instructions, Sage Qingwei?”

“They’re not instructions, merely some opinions, along with a few questions.” Sage Qingwei’s attitude was rather subtle.

Qi Xuansu could only respond, “Understood.”

Sage Qingwei said, “First, you performed quite well regarding the blockade of Fenglin in the Jiangnan Daoist Mansion. You properly carried out the Golden Tower Council’s resolutions and helped the Jiangnan Daoist Mansion complete the initial phase of the blockade operations.”

He started by praising Qi Xuansu, but Qi Xuansu knew it would inevitably be followed by criticism.

However, contrary to Qi Xuansu’s expectations, Sage Qingwei continued with further praise. “You also handled Li Tianlan’s case well. Your sense of proportion was excellent, neither disrupting the normal operations of Jiangnan Daoist Mansion nor allowing the matter to fester, preventing excessive turmoil.”

This string of compliments made Qi Xuansu suspicious. Would this ultimately lead to an even greater criticism?

Thus, Qi Xuansu hurriedly said, “Sage, you flatter me...”

“Do not interrupt me,” Sage Qingwei interjected. “I have already reviewed the case files, and I have no particular objections. I merely have one question and hope you will answer truthfully.”

Qi Xuansu looked at Sage Qingwei seriously. “Please ask your question, Sage.”

Sage Qingwei asked, “This key witness, Liu Hu, was never found in the past. How did you manage to find her?”

Qi Xuansu fell silent for a moment before replying, “Madam Qi helped me find her.”

Sage Qingwei pressed further, “How did Madam Qi find Liu Hu?”

Qi Xuansu said, “Madam Qi has always liked making long-term moves and investing in overlooked matters. She probably found Liu Hu during the first major Jiangnan case. But I don’t know how she found her. My guess is that Madam Qi chanced upon her and rescued her along the way.”

Sage Qingwei asked further, “Why did Madam Qi not hand her over to the Daoist Order?”

Qi Xuansu still had a sense of responsibility. Rather than deflecting and telling Sage Qingwei to ask Madam Qi personally, he answered directly. “Probably because she didn’t trust certain people within the Daoist Order. Even Qing Xiao was targeted several times by hired assassins because of this case, much less someone like Liu Hu.”

“Who exactly are these ‘people’?” Sage Qingwei looked directly at Qi Xuansu.

Qi Xuansu answered matter-of-factly, “Naturally, Li Tianlan and his accomplices.”

Sage Qingwei continued, “As far as I know, Liu Hu even passed the grand examination at Wuxu Palace and officially registered as a Daoist. What is your opinion on that?”

“This matter concerns the Ziwei Hall. I have long since left my position there, so I am unaware that she is a Daoist priest,” Qi Xuansu replied.

Sage Qingwei asked his final question, “How have you arranged matters for Liu Hu?”

Qi Xuansu replied, “Liu Hu is the daughter of Liu Shiying. The Daoist Order never pursued responsibility against Liu Shiying, so Liu Hu counts as the orphan of a Daoist priest. Furthermore, she rendered meritorious service this time, so I have temporarily arranged for her to remain in the Jiangnan Daoist Mansion under Chief Deputy Lei’s care.”

Sage Qingwei looked deeply at Qi Xuansu and said nothing further.

For someone of Sage Qingwei’s status, every word spoken had to be politically correct and defensible. Many things could be done, but not openly stated. Once spoken aloud and leaked, they would become major issues of principle and political stance.

That was why Sage Qingwei had to circle around the matter with Qi Xuansu instead of speaking directly.

Qi Xuansu naturally understood what was being implied, but he deliberately played dumb, clinging to political correctness and saying things that sounded proper yet were essentially meaningless platitudes.

At this point, Sage Qingwei finally grew somewhat impatient. He stopped speaking in circles and began directly pressuring Qi Xuansu. “What is your view regarding the Qingping Society?”

This time, Qi Xuansu truly fell silent.

After a moment, Qi Xuansu asked, “Does this matter have anything to do with the Qingping Society?”

“Wasn’t Liu Hu’s adoptive father a member of the Qingping Society? Wasn’t it because of the Qingping Society’s protection that Liu Hu escaped pursuit from certain people within the Daoist Order? How could it possibly be unrelated?” Sage Qingwei was, after all, the head of the Beichen Hall. If he truly wanted to uncover something, he could fully mobilize all resources and uncover the truth in an extremely short time. Previously, Sage Qingwei simply had not known of a minor figure like Liu Hu. But now that she appeared in the official case files, there were no longer any real secrets to hide.

Qi Xuansu felt immense pressure bearing down on him.

Sage Qingwei continued, “Is Liu Hu problematic? How exactly did the Ziwei Hall conduct its background investigation?”

Qi Xuansu took a deep breath before replying, “Members of the Qingping Society all possess dual identities. Liu Hu’s adoptive father could be a member of the Qingping Society, but regardless of whether he was, that did not mean Liu Hu knew the truth, nor could it be proven that Liu Hu herself is a member of the Qingping Society.”

Sage Qingwei’s words struck directly at the heart of the matter. “Are you personally vouching for her?”

Qi Xuansu fell silent once again.

This was not an easy question to answer. If he answered yes, and Sage Qingwei immediately produced evidence unknown to him that confirmed Liu Hu’s ties to the Qingping Society, then Qi Xuansu would instantly fall into a passive position.

Sage Qingwei deepened his tone. “Answer me.”

Qi Xuansu had no choice but to say, “These are merely some of my personal views.”

Sage Qingwei said, “So these are merely speculative remarks? Is this an objective analysis of the situation, or are your personal emotions mixed into your judgment?”

Qi Xuansu said, “Feelings do not arise out of thin air. They also come from analysis. In my opinion, Liu Hu’s issue is fundamentally no different from Li Tianlan’s issue. Li Tianlan was not a member of a secret society, yet that did not prevent him from being close to Wu Guangbi, the Grand Leader of the Heavenly Court, to the point that Wu Guangbi personally intervened to obstruct the Daoist Mansion’s investigation. We cannot simply conclude that a dignified Second Deputy Mansion Master is a member of the Heavenly Court. By the same logic, even if Liu Hu truly received assistance from the Qingping Society, we cannot conclude that she herself is a member of the Qingping Society.”