A Pawn's Passage

Although the Beichen Hall handled both internal and external affairs, its overall emphasis had always been on domestic matters rather than foreign ones. This dated back to the early days of the Nine Halls, when there was little need for external intelligence. The only significant external concern was the Buddhist Sect, and there were no overseas continents under the Daoist Order’s control. Instead, instability frequently arose within the Daoist Order itself, with the Zhengyi Sect and the Quanzhen Sect taking turns stirring up trouble.

The present did not necessarily reflect the past, just as the past did not necessarily define the present. Although the Li family now often looked like the villains, during the Holy Xuan’s Era, they had been among his most loyal supporters. That was why the Li family, or rather, the Taiping Sect, had assumed responsibility for the Beichen Hall, overseeing investigations into internal misconduct.

Even after all these years, the Beichen Hall still retained that responsibility, and it was through this function that Li Minghuang and Zhou Xiaosong were exposed.

Had it involved someone else, the Beichen Hall might well have turned a blind eye. But Lu Yujue was one of their own.

So the Beichen Hall did everything it could to thoroughly investigate the entire affair from beginning to end. They even sent him a detailed account of everything that had happened.

Although Zhou Xiaosong had begun wavering long before, indulging herself in this flirtatious game, and both parties understood each other’s intentions, it was only during the Northern-Southern War that they finally crossed the line.

At the time, the Tiangang Hall was making preparations on two fronts by increasing support for the war effort and preparing for the possibility that the Western Daoist Order might be defeated.

As the Deputy Tiangang Hall Master, Li Minghuang was ordered to inspect armories and military supply depots across various regions. He specifically named Zhou Xiaosong to accompany him.

The moment Zhou Xiaosong received the assignment, she more or less knew what was going to happen. She was not a naive young girl, so she understood, but she did not refuse. Instead, she comforted herself by thinking that Lu Yujue had spent so many years in the Southern Continent that he had probably kept countless mistresses, perhaps even fathered illegitimate children. What she was about to do was merely getting even with him.

She was remarkably skilled at deceiving herself. Once she had found an excuse, not only did she feel no guilt, she actually believed herself to be in the right.

Li Minghuang then set off on the inspection tour with Zhou Xiaosong. When they passed through Beihai Prefecture in Qizhou, Li Minghuang, acting as the local host, invited her to go sightseeing. Their first stop was the Seven Treasure Pavilion, where he spent lavishly on a complete set of jewelry for her. Every piece was made from the finest materials—jade from Kunlun, emerald from Nanyang, and various gemstones from the Western Continent. Zhou Xiaosong offered only the slightest token refusal before accepting the gifts.

Even so, she said, “Deputy Hall Master Li, you’ve spent far too much. Once we get back, I’ll repay you.”

Li Minghuang waved his hand dismissively. “Don’t worry about it. As long as you like them.”

Zhou Xiaosong then asked, “Deputy Hall Master Li, why are you treating me so well?”

Li Minghuang answered without the slightest hesitation, “Because I like you, of course. To be honest, Sister Zhou, I’ve liked you for a long time. I simply never dared to say it.”

Rather than feeling embarrassed or offended, Zhou Xiaosong was secretly delighted. It proved that she still had charm. Even so, she said, “Stop flattering me. Is there really anything you’re afraid to do? Everyone knows you’re the boldest person around.”

The usually domineering Li Minghuang unexpectedly put on a humble act. “Now that’s truly unfair to me.”

That evening, Li Minghuang reserved a lakeside courtyard at the pleasure house. Beneath the bright moon, with bamboo shadows swaying in the breeze, he ordered a bottle of authentic Western red wine, creating what could only be described as the ultimate romantic atmosphere.

Zhou Xiaosong was already intoxicated before she even touched the wine. She became drunk on the moment itself.

The two drank until midnight and simply stayed the night at the pleasure house. Zhou Xiaosong became thoroughly drunk and barely resisted advances from Li Minghuang. The two ultimately became lovers for the night.

In doing so, Lu Yujue was cuckolded.

There were plenty of spineless men within the Daoist Order. Many had become so warped by their pursuit of power that they would even send their own wives into another man’s bed in exchange for advancement. However, most of these people lacked influential backgrounds, so they resorted to whatever means they could.

The aristocratic scions with powerful family backgrounds still had to preserve appearances. They all belonged to the same social circle, whose members had known one another since childhood and later rose together to positions of prominence. People like Zhang Jucheng, Su Yuanyi, Pei Xuanzhi, and Li Wugou had met as early as age 7, or at the latest in their teens. Now, well into their sixties, they still interacted with that same circle.

It was the very definition of a close-knit circle. Anyone who stooped to offering up his own wife would never again be accepted among them. Even if one fell on hard times, one still had to uphold appearances, like a tiger that remained imposing even in death.

From his last name alone, it was obvious that Lu Yujue came from the Lu family of the Taiping Sect, one of the aristocratic families. Having enjoyed a smooth path throughout his life, he had never suffered such humiliation before, and he had no intention of enduring it now.

The moment Lu Yujue learned the truth, he flew into a towering rage. He no longer cared about duty or responsibility. He immediately resolved to return to the Central Plains, gather his own people, and settle matters once and for all with the adulterous pair.

Did Li Minghuang think he was the only one with a network of influential connections?

Qi Xuansu had originally known nothing about the affair. Although he was the Chief Deputy Beichen Hall Master, strictly speaking, he was considered an outsider since he was not from the Taiping Sect. As such, this private matter concerning Lu Yujue would never have been reported to him.

But once Lu Yujue made such a scene, it became impossible for Qi Xuansu to remain unaware. While he was discussing the reconstruction of the Northern Continent’s intelligence network, Lu Yujue decided to cast aside his responsibilities. Ever since Old Qian’s death, Lu Yujue had been the one overseeing affairs related to the Northern Continent as well because neither Qi Xuansu nor Shen Yubing could truly replace him.

By the time Qi Xuansu received the news, Lu Yujue had already arrived at the harbor and was preparing to board a flying ship back to the Central Plains. If Qi Xuansu had not been present, Lu Yujue would have been the highest-ranking representative of the Beichen Hall in the Southern Continent, so he had the authority to requisition a flying ship.

Qi Xuansu and Shen Yubing no longer had the luxury of worrying about the friction between them. The two hurried off together to stop Lu Yujue, making quite a spectacle of themselves in the process.

The Daoists of the Western Daoist Order all began asking questions.

Only after Qi Xuansu managed to stop Lu Yujue did he finally learn the full story.

At first, Lu Yujue refused to say anything out of concern for his dignity. Eventually, however, he realized the matter could not be concealed forever, so he told Qi Xuansu everything. He then demanded leave from Qi Xuansu, declaring that if it was not approved, he would resign on the spot.

Qi Xuansu only put on a stern face and snapped, “Don’t be ridiculous.”

Some people believed that being a superior simply meant exerting pressure and throwing one’s weight around. In the Daoist Order, that was not the case. A direct superior did not actually control personnel appointments. Those powers rested with higher-ranking superiors or the Ziwei Hall, primarily to prevent personal patronage. Daoists were meant to be loyal to the Daoist Order itself, not to individual leaders, thereby preventing the formation of independent power bases.

The same principle applied to dynasties. Once local authorities were granted control over appointments and finances in the late stages of a dynasty, regional warlords inevitably emerged.

Since a superior lacked personnel authority, constantly throwing their weight around would only irritate their subordinates. If those subordinates openly defied them, the superior was the one who lost dignity. Even if the superior could make life difficult for the subordinates or sideline them, it achieved very little in the end.

Once such conflicts became public, they could severely damage a person’s career prospects. The reasoning was simple. If one was incapable of managing subordinates, what important responsibilities could one possibly handle? For this reason, if someone publicly slapped his superior, although he himself would be stripped of his position and severely disciplined, that superior’s own career would also likely stall.

Generally speaking, a superior could not rely on authority alone. They also needed compassion and flexibility. When necessary, they had to lower themselves, soothe their subordinates’ emotions, motivate them, and sometimes even defend their interests. Only by balancing firmness with leniency, combining authority with goodwill, could one properly manage superior-subordinate relationships.

At this moment, Qi Xuansu’s job was to calm Lu Yujue down. If Lu Yujue really rushed back to the Central Plains and caused a massive scene with Li Minghuang, Sage Qingwei would hold Qi Xuansu accountable.

Qi Xuansu managed to restrain Lu Yujue for the time being, giving him a chance to cool off before personally sitting down with him for another conversation.

“Old Lu, you’ve been with the Daoist Order for many years. How can you act so impulsively?” Qi Xuansu personally poured a cup of tea and placed it into Lu Yujue’s hands.

To be fair, Qi Xuansu had a favorable opinion of Lu Yujue. The two had worked together harmoniously for quite some time without any significant conflicts. Qi Xuansu was genuinely satisfied with him and instinctively took Lu Yujue’s side.

Lu Yujue cradled the teacup in both hands, his face dark and sullen as he remained silent.

Qi Xuansu continued, “Something like this certainly deserves an explanation, and I support your right to seek one. But we have to go about it the right way. We can’t simply charge recklessly. If you abandon your duties and rush back to the Central Plains, they’ll immediately accuse you of putting personal grievances above official responsibilities. Even if you’re in the right, you’ll end up looking like you’re in the wrong. Do you still want a future in the Daoist Order? You didn’t get where you are today easily. What you carry now is no longer just your own hopes and efforts but the expectations of many others as well. You need to think that through.”

Lu Yujue’s expression softened somewhat. “I know you’re looking out for me, Chief Deputy, and I appreciate your concern. But I just can’t swallow this humiliation.”

Qi Xuansu said, “We’re both men. I understand how you feel. Old Lu, we’ve worked together for quite a while now and have gotten along well. Since it’s just the two of us here, I’ll skip the official talk and speak frankly. Is a woman like that really worth throwing everything away for?”

By now, Lu Yujue had calmed down considerably. “Of course she isn’t.”

Qi Xuansu nodded. “You’ve earned merit, and you’ve proven your ability. You’ll only continue moving up the ranks. First as a Deputy Hall Master, then a posting elsewhere. Those opportunities will come. A true man need not worry about finding a wife. But if you throw away your future, what will you have left? Go into business like Zhang Wuyue?”

Lu Yujue set down his teacup. “I understand the logic. But am I really just supposed to let this go?”

Qi Xuansu replied meaningfully, “What exactly do you want to do? Bring down Li Minghuang? Don’t take this the wrong way, but the Li family values him immensely, so they’ll go to great lengths to protect him. Even if he is punished, it’ll amount to little more than a symbolic slap on the wrist. You haven’t seen just how arrogant he can be. He even dared to make things difficult for Zhang Yuyue’s Daoist companion right in the Dazhen Mansion, in front of members of the Zhang family. He acts that way because he knows he has powerful backing.”

Lu Yujue slammed his fist heavily onto the tea table beside him, his chest heaving as he breathed hard.

Deep down, however, he knew Qi Xuansu was telling the truth.

Li Minghuang was not yet 40 and had already reached the Xaohua stage, much like Lei Xiaohuan. Although he could not compare with prodigies like Zhang Yuelu, he still had a genuine chance of becoming an Immortal in this lifetime. Decades from now, he might very well become a Mansion Master. Naturally, the Li family regarded him as an invaluable asset.

Lu Yujue was self-aware enough to know that he had likely already reached his ceiling. At best, he might become a Second Deputy Mansion Master or a Chief Deputy Mansion Master. He simply could not compare to Li Minghuang. If he made too much of a scene, the Li family might very well silence him outright.

Qi Xuansu’s words also reminded Lu Yujue of something important. Li Minghuang had not only offended him, but he had also offended the Zhang family. Zhang Yuyue was Zhang Jucheng’s daughter, Zhang Yuelu’s elder sister, and Qi Xuansu’s sister-in-law. How could those people possibly not resent Li Minghuang?