A Pawn's Passage

Qi Xuansu concluded his expedition to the Paititi pocket realm and returned to New Xijing.

He received a message from Tantai Ying that Lin Bufan had finally confessed. In the end, Lin Bufan had failed to withstand the pressure. It turned out he had been working for Chak Chel. Strictly speaking, the two were partners. Chak Chel had helped Lin Bufan raise his cultivation, much like the assistance Madam Qi had provided to Qi Xuansu. That was why Lin Bufan had risen so rapidly and naturally. In return, Lin Bufan was obligated to help Chak Chel deal with Ixchel.

Qi Xuansu had already completed the mission entrusted to him by the Daoist Order. In high spirits, he no longer cared much about Lin Bufan’s case. After all, Chak Chel was already dead, so he left the matter to Tantai Ying’s discretion.

For the time being, Qi Xuansu did not immediately turn his attention toward the humanoid insects. After all, it was a deeply entrenched problem that could not be solved overnight. The immediate priority remained rebuilding the Northern Continent’s intelligence network.

The Beichen Hall was unique precisely because it handled both internal security and external intelligence, overseeing affairs both within and beyond the Daoist Order. As a result, its internal organization was extraordinarily vast and complex, far surpassing even the Tiangang Hall. After all, the Tiangang Hall had the Spirit Guard Office, which had already spun off most Spirit Guard-related affairs into an independent department. In comparison, the Beichen Hall had never undergone such separation of duties. Instead, it had absorbed portions of the authority belonging to both the Ciji Hall and the Fengxian Hall, encroaching on the former’s foreign affairs and the latter’s domestic responsibilities.

Working within the Beichen Hall often required multiple internal divisions to cooperate, demanding centralized communication, coordination, and overall management. This was precisely where a leader’s role became indispensable. Originally, this responsibility belonged to Sage Qingwei, but since he had insisted that Qi Xuansu personally take command, the burden now rested squarely on the young man’s shoulders.

That made the task vastly more difficult. When Sage Qingwei spoke, no one dared disobey, so everything operated smoothly and efficiently. However, Qi Xuansu was different. No one dared to contradict him openly, but he was not Li Changge, so behind closed doors, orders were carried out half-heartedly, endless problems cropped up, and excuses of every imaginable sort appeared. They were all intended to make life difficult for Qi Xuansu.

The goal was simple—to take some of the shine off Qi Xuansu’s rising reputation.

After all, Qi Xuansu had just emerged from what was officially hailed as a “great victory.” Although the real heavyweights had been the three Immortals and Ixchel, with Qi Xuansu merely playing a supporting role, Great Sage Jiang and the Heavenly Preceptor had deliberately paved the way for him, emphasizing his contributions. According to the Daoist Order’s official narrative, Qi Xuansu had played an exceptionally important role in the operation.

By now, many people were already saying that Qi Xuansu possessed the bearing of a future Grand Master.

He was simply too dazzling.

Qi Xuansu’s rise to where he was today stemmed mainly from three factors—his own abilities, powerful patrons, and exceptionally good fortune.

Of these, personal ability was actually the least important. Talented people were common, but those who recognized and promoted talent were rare. Having influential supporters was what truly mattered. That was why, throughout history, the gratitude owed to someone who recognized one’s worth had been regarded as nothing less than being granted a second chance at life.

Qi Xuansu had powerful people backing him. As a result, no one could steal his achievements, block his promotions, or tell him to wait a few more years because he was still too young. No one would treat him as a disposable tool, nor did anyone dare placate him with empty promises. After all, the authority to promote him rested in the hands of those at the very top, well beyond the reach of ordinary officials who might otherwise try to string him along.

Qi Xuansu did not have to slave away for others or navigate endless social obligations. As long as he did his job well, he would be promoted on schedule. Additional merit earned additional promotions. The better he performed, the faster he rose.

Only under such circumstances did personal ability truly become meaningful and important.

The reason someone like Qi Xuansu with no familial or personal ties could be promoted was that he was the only one who could stand in Li Changge’s way.

The Longevity Stone Heart was the crucial factor.

It had been given to him by Madam Qi, but it was also something Qi Xuansu had earned through his own efforts.

However, possessing the Longevity Stone Heart alone would merely produce an Immortal. That was far from enough. Li Changge’s pressure, Zhang Yuelu’s marriage, and a web of interpersonal relationships transformed people who had once been strangers into close allies. All of these factors together shaped Qi Xuansu into who he was.

Fate had a peculiar way of arranging things.

For example, when Qi Xuansu was serving as Chief Deputy of the Poluo Daoist Mansion, the Golden Tower Council assigned him the task of replenishing the financial deficit left behind by two consecutive wars. As fate would have it, he happened to encounter the chaotic conflict between the Ibia Kingdom, the Nederland Kingdom, and the Lune Kingdom. By reorganizing the Nanyang United Trading Company and overseeing the overseas sale of military arms and equipment, he made enormous profits, successfully completed the Golden Tower Council’s assignment, and earned official commendation. This laid the foundation for his later promotion to Chief Deputy Beichen Hall Master.

People often spoke of civil accomplishments and military achievements. In Qi Xuansu’s case, it seemed he had made particularly impressive achievements on the civil administration front.

That was pure luck. One could hardly claim that the Holy Court had deliberately started a civil war just so Qi Xuansu could earn merit.

By now, Qi Xuansu’s record was not only dazzling but exceptionally well-rounded. He was also about to become the youngest Omniscient Sage in history. So to say that he possessed the bearing of a future Grand Master was not an exaggeration in the slightest.

Under such circumstances, it was only natural that people would try to create a few obstacles for Qi Xuansu and hinder his meteoric rise.

Meanwhile, Zhang Wuyue had been spending his time in New Port familiarizing himself with the work instead of rushing to make a name for himself. After all, this opportunity did not come easily. It had only been secured after falling out with his cousin, something he later regretted.

Everyone in New Port knew about Zhang Wuyue’s relationship with Qi Xuansu, so they treated him with exceptional courtesy, almost to the point of flattery. They frequently hosted banquets and invited him.

Within the Zhang family, Zhang Wuyue was nothing particularly special, so he had long since learned how to read people’s expressions and navigate social situations. As such, handling this sort of occasion came naturally to him.

Someone contacted him again today. It was a man from the Western Daoist Order named He Shaoyang.

The two agreed to meet that evening and have a chat.

The Western Daoist Order had not built New Port from scratch on empty wasteland. There had already been a settlement here, albeit a very underdeveloped one. This project was a comprehensive renovation and expansion, with only the newly added sections built on previously undeveloped land. As a result, New Port had already begun to take shape.

Many merchants and nobles had seized the opportunity, investing large sums of Taiping coins to develop a bustling entertainment district similar to those of the Central Plains.

He Shaoyang invited Zhang Wuyue to spend the evening enjoying music in the entertainment district and sent a carriage to pick him up.

At the appointed hour, Zhang Wuyue stepped out of his temporary residence and saw an unremarkable carriage waiting outside. However, once he climbed aboard, he discovered that its interior was lavishly furnished, even featuring a small wine cabinet.

He Shaoyang poured Zhang Wuyue a cup of wine as the carriage slowly moved forward.

Zhang Wuyue lifted the curtain and looked outside. Although the undeveloped land in the distance lay shrouded in darkness, with only scattered lamplight from laborers working through the night and the silhouettes of unfinished buildings visible, the district they were headed toward was brightly illuminated, crowded with people, and full of life.

There were also establishments catering to men, with women openly soliciting customers along the streets. The Western Daoist Order had never prohibited this oldest of professions. After all, preaching morality required those at the top to set a genuine example. The Western Daoist Order likely lacked confidence in doing so and saw no reason to cloak such matters in lofty rhetoric about duty or virtue. Instead, it simply chose to tolerate them.

Before long, the carriage entered a quiet, spacious estate. A plaque above the entrance read, “Peach Blossom Spring.”

Zhang Wuyue figured it was a pleasure house. He was no stranger to such places, which offered every imaginable form of entertainment and hospitality. It was far more than merely music performances or female companions.

The carriage came to a stop, and attendants hurried over to open the door for Zhang Wuyue.

After stepping out, Zhang Wuyue surveyed the surroundings. This place lay near the edge of the bustling entertainment district and was considerably quieter, with fewer lights and less noise. The architecture was exquisitely crafted in the style of Jiangnan gardens. Numerous elegant carriages were already parked outside, suggesting that their owners were people of considerable status.

He Shaoyang led Zhang Wuyue inside, where an attractive, mature woman approached them. “Master He, everything has been arranged.”

The woman was quite beautiful, carrying the allure of a mature woman. Her voluptuous figure was especially striking.

He Shaoyang gestured toward Zhang Wuyue. “Our guest tonight is an honored visitor from Jade Capital. Make sure he is well taken care of, lest you damage this establishment’s reputation.”

The woman smiled. “Of course. Gentlemen, this way, please.”

She swayed her hips as she walked and led them to a private courtyard, where a middle-aged man was waiting.

He Shaoyang was merely the intermediary. This middle-aged man was the one who truly mattered.

He Shaoyang introduced him to Zhang Wuyue. “This is High Mage Qian Xisheng from the port authority.”

Qian Xisheng was a stout man with a naturally cheerful expression. His eyes were like narrow slits, yet they gleamed with shrewd intelligence. He extended his hand and said, “Young Master Zhang, I’ve long heard of your reputation. It’s an honor to finally meet you.”

The handshake was a Western custom, originally meant to show that one carried no weapon. It was a gesture of trust and peaceful intent.

Accustomed to greeting people with a cupped-fist salute, Zhang Wuyue paused for a moment before reaching out to shake Qian Xisheng’s hand.

Qian Xisheng’s hand felt slick and unpleasantly soft, almost like touching some kind of mollusk. A wave of disgust rose instinctively in Zhang Wuyue’s heart, though he was careful not to let it show on his face. “High Mage Qian, the pleasure is mine.”

Qian Xisheng chuckled. “I’ve wanted to visit you for quite some time, Young Master Zhang, but I never found the right opportunity. When Old He suggested we get together, I thought it was the perfect arrangement. At last, I can meet the Young Master I’ve been longing to see.”

Zhang Wuyue laughed. “I’m hardly some great beauty. It’s a bit much to say you’ve been longing to see me, isn’t it?”

“Not at all, not in the slightest,” Qian Xisheng replied. “In my eyes, no beauty can compare to you, Young Master Zhang.”

Meanwhile, He Shaoyang was speaking with the woman. “No need to pick anyone in particular this time. Just bring a few girls who understand the rules and know how to behave. Don’t try to fool me. Everything else stays as usual.”

The woman smiled. “Rest assured, Master He. I would never fool you.”

He Shaoyang waved her off.

The woman swayed her hips as she departed. Soon after, a line of graceful young women arrived at the courtyard and waited outside.

Zhang Wuyue glanced at them and asked, despite already knowing the answer, “I thought we were here to listen to music.”

He Shaoyang smiled. “Of course we’re listening to music. But the performances here are private—one singer for one guest. That’s the local custom.”

Zhang Wuyue chuckled. “There’s such a custom here? I suppose I’ll just do as the locals do.”

He Shaoyang gestured for the women to come inside.

Several attendants followed behind them, carrying an assortment of food trays.