A Pawn's Passage

Although it was only a family banquet, Qi Xuansu was in high spirits and repeatedly raised his cup for toasts.

In truth, everyone could see what Qi Xuansu was doing. He was trying to make up for what he had lacked all his life.

Qi Xuansu cared little for beautiful women or wealth, yet he cared deeply about family. The former was now easily within reach, while the latter was precisely what he had always yearned for but could never have.

Simply having a wife and daughter did not make a family complete. There had to be elders as well.

It was as though he had constructed a beautiful dream for himself. If anyone tried to shatter that dream—like Zhou Mengyao, for instance—he would fight them with everything he had.

This time, Qi Xuansu did not serve Zhang Yuelu Dreaming Death, but shaojiu. This was something Zhang Yuelu had requested when they attended the stranger’s wedding banquet together. Back then, her asking whether the restaurant served this strong liquor left quite a few people dumbfounded.

“I didn’t expect you to still remember.” Zhang Yuelu appreciated the gesture and was pleasantly surprised.

Little Yin was curious about everything. Thinking it must be something good, she clamored to have some as well, so Qi Xuansu poured her a cup.

Little Yin downed it in one gulp, only to spit it out immediately. “Blegh! Blegh! Blegh! It’s bitter, and it burns! This tastes awful!”

Everyone burst into laughter.

By the end of the banquet, everyone had thoroughly enjoyed themselves.

After the banquet ended, Madam Wu had other matters to attend to. After all, as a Virtuous Great Sage, she could not spend all day idling around. She still had to make a trip to the Zixiao Palace.

For Virtuous Great Sages, sleep had essentially become unnecessary, so there was no need to distinguish between day and night when discussing official matters. They could get down to business at any hour. Great Sage Jiang was already waiting for her at the Zixiao Palace.

On the other hand, a wandering Daoist like Madam Qi had no official commitments. Since Little Yin wanted to explore Taiqing Market, Madam Qi accompanied her. Qi Xuansu suggested that Zhang Yuelu bring Liu Hu along, so the four ladies could go shopping together.

He would not be joining them because he was not interested in going into the shops that a group of ladies would be visiting. Moreover, he had no money, so Madam Qi could foot the bill.

Of course, Qi Xuansu could not say that outright. Instead, he gave a perfectly respectable excuse that he needed to return home and prepare some documents for his formal appointment as the Wanxiang Daoist Palace Master.

When it came to official business, Zhang Yuelu had always given Qi Xuansu her full support, so she did not insist that he accompany them. She gave Yan Yongzhen the rest of the day off, and the four ladies headed off to explore Taiqing Market.

Qi Xuansu headed back alone.

However, halfway back, Qi Xuansu encountered an unexpected visitor—Zhou Mengyao.

This was somewhat unexpected, but also within reason.

Zhou Mengyao had a problematic history, which prevented her from becoming a Virtuous Great Sage. But like Madam Qi, she was nominally a fourth-rank Jijiu Daoist and was free to enter and leave Jade Capital as she pleased.

Qi Xuansu was not afraid of her. After all, they were in Jade Capital. Would she dare commit murder so openly in a place full of Immortals and formations?

Seeing her, Qi Xuansu walked into a deserted alley. Zhou Mengyao followed closely behind in a large hooded cloak.

When she lowered the hood, her appearance was still remarkably striking. But Qi Xuansu was completely unmoved by her beauty.

He deliberately concealed his hostility and asked in a casual manner, “How are your injuries?”

Outsiders might have thought they were old friends reuniting after a long separation.

Only the two people involved knew how much resentment lurked beneath their seemingly cordial exchange.

Zhou Mengyao replied, “Thanks for your concern. It’s nothing serious.”

Qi Xuansu tugged at the corner of his mouth. “That’s good to hear.”

Zhou Mengyao studied Qi Xuansu. “Pseudo-Immortal stage, huh?”

Qi Xuansu said, “You shouldn’t be surprised.”

“Of course I’m not surprised. After all, this is the Longevity Stone Heart that Elder Yao created with the greatest effort,” Zhou Mengyao said. “It would be very difficult for me to kill you now, let alone once you advance to the Immortal stage. I’m afraid by then, you’ll be able to kill me instead.”

Qi Xuansu asked, “Did you come to see me today because you resent me for not inviting you to my wedding banquet?”

“No,” Zhou Mengyao replied calmly.

Qi Xuansu was somewhat surprised by Zhou Mengyao’s calm demeanor. She was no longer condescending, nor was she infuriated. Had Great Sage Jiang’s sword strike actually knocked some sense into her? Could getting one’s head cut off really have such an effect?

If Zhou Mengyao really had come to her senses after that beating, then she would be much harder to deal with.

Qi Xuansu said, “That’s good. If there’s something you want, just say it outright. After all, we were once master and disciple, and you know what kind of person I am.”

Zhou Mengyao laughed. “If I said I merely came to see you, would you believe me?”

“No,” Qi Xuansu answered frankly. “You chose to come at a time like this, after my wedding banquet. It seems more like a threat to me. You know how much I value my family, so you want to threaten me using the people close to me, right? By all means, give it a try. After all, you’re not the only member of the Zhou family, are you?”

Qi Xuansu made no attempt to conceal the threat in his words.

Most of the time, Qi Xuansu was willing to follow the rules. But under certain exceptional circumstances, he did not mind resorting to unconventional methods, or even extreme ones.

Zhou Mengyao said calmly, “I’ve heard all about what you did in Nanyang. Both Pei Shenfu and Li Tianqing fell at your hands. Of course I believe you’re capable of doing such a thing.”

Qi Xuansu sneered. “Then what do you want?”

Zhou Mengyao replied gently, “I merely came to offer you a word of advice. You’d best know when to stop.”

Qi Xuansu immediately caught the implication and asked, “Are those your words, or the Earthly Preceptor’s?”

Zhou Mengyao countered, “What difference does it make whether they’re mine or the Earthly Preceptor’s?”

Qi Xuansu said, “There really isn’t much difference. In the Daoist Order, once you reach a certain level, whether a person falls from power has little to do with whether they are flamboyant or low-key. What matters is whether they backed the right person. If you choose the right side, you can be as arrogant and overbearing as you please and still live freely. If you choose the wrong side, no matter how low a profile you keep, you may still end up behind bars.

“Do you really think that if I stop now, we can simply shake hands and make peace? I’m not a toddler. It would be best if you didn’t waste your breath on words meant to fool children. Better yet, go back and tell the Earthly Preceptor that I intend to control my own destiny. I will not be her puppet, and we’ll just have to wait and see who wins.”

Zhou Mengyao was surprised by Qi Xuansu’s resolute attitude and by how clearly he understood the situation. She gave him a long, deep look before turning around and leaving.

Qi Xuansu returned home alone and did not mention this encounter to anyone else.

Madam Qi stayed in Jade Capital for a few days before leaving again. For her, Jade Capital was far too restrictive, and she never felt quite at ease there.

Qi Xuansu did not insist that she stay.

It seemed that Madam Wu would soon receive an official appointment, so she hardly made an appearance over the past few days.

Half of Zhang Yuelu’s wedding leave had already passed, and Qi Xuansu’s appointment was also about to be announced, so the newlyweds decided to make the customary visit to the bride’s family.

According to folk custom, the third day after the wedding was the day the newlyweds were to return to the bride’s family, which would have sent someone to escort them back.

However, considering the distance between Jade Capital and Yunjin Mountain, as well as Qi Xuansu’s and Zhang Yuelu’s special circumstances, the Zhang family did not insist on following the custom strictly. They allowed the couple to arrange the visit as they pleased, so long as they came back at least once.

Thus, after seeing Madam Qi off, Qi Xuansu and Zhang Yuelu decided to return to the Dazhen Mansion on Yunjin Mountain.

For Qi Xuansu, this visit felt like returning home in glory.

The first time he visited Yunjin Mountain, most of the Zhang family looked down on him. But now, no one dared to do so.

The Zhang family’s representative was Zhang Wuyue, Zhang Yuelu’s cousin. He was there to symbolically escort Zhang Yuelu home while also inviting his brother-in-law over for drinks.

Yet in the end, Zhang Wuyue was the one riding aboard Qi Xuansu’s flying ship.

Qi Xuansu teased him. “Did you come to escort us back, or were you here simply to hitch a ride?”

Zhang Wuyue was thick-skinned enough not to care and simply brushed it off. “Same difference.”

After the kidnapping, Zhang Wuyue had become considerably more composed and was no longer as impetuous as before. Qi Xuansu’s and Zhang Yuelu’s impressions of him had improved greatly. Zhang Jucheng had also praised him and told him to work hard under Qi Xuansu. The implication was clear. Zhang Jucheng intended to entrust Zhang Wuyue with greater responsibilities.

Zhang Wuyue had completely transformed himself. In the past, he had benefited from his association with Qi Xuansu and Zhang Yuelu, but deep down, many people still looked down on him and did not truly take him seriously. Whatever respect they showed him was merely for the sake of his cousin and brother-in-law.

This time, however, Zhang Wuyue had managed to withstand the Li family’s torture, so everyone in the Zhang family now regarded him in a new light. They would praise him whenever his name was mentioned, saying that he was indeed worthy of being a descendant of the Zhang family. Even without relying on Qi Xuansu and Zhang Yuelu, Zhang Wuyue could now be considered a figure of some standing in his own right.

With the Daoist Order having developed to its present state, innate talent still mattered greatly, but its influence was no longer as overwhelming as it had once been. The fact that Qi Xuansu had managed to pull ahead of Zhang Yuelu was proof of that. Thus, one’s temperament and capabilities were often just as important.

Zhang Wuyue’s character had earned recognition, at the very least from Zhang Jucheng, the head of the Zhang family. Thus, even without Zhang Yuelu and Qi Xuansu looking out for him, Zhang Wuyue’s future prospects were now exceedingly bright.

This was precisely why relying on oneself was better than relying on others.

The journey went smoothly, and they arrived at Yunjin Mountain without incident.

The newlyweds headed straight to the Dazhen Mansion, going first to the Ancestral Temple to pay respects to the first three generations of Heavenly Preceptors, who were the principal founders of the Dazhen Mansion of the Zhengyi Sect.

Afterward, they went to the main residence to pay respects to the Heavenly Preceptor and the various elders of Wu-generation in the Zhang family.

There were far too many members of the Ju-generation, so only Zhang Juqi and Zhang Jucheng were present as representatives. The former was Zhang Yuelu’s biological father, while the latter was the heir of the Zhang family’s main branch.

The Zhang family elders each prepared a valuable gift for the couple, including precious elixirs, talismans, ancient texts, and other treasures that money alone could not buy.

Qi Xuansu and Zhang Yuelu politely declined at first, but the elders insisted that they need not refuse, so they ultimately accepted these gifts.

There were also many younger members of the Zhang family who came forward to pay their respects to the couple.

As newlyweds and seniors, Qi Xuansu and Zhang Yuelu had to give gifts to these juniors.

Qi Xuansu had no money, so Zhang Yuelu and Madam Qi had prepared and arranged all the gifts beforehand.

Only after all that did the Zhang family hold a banquet to entertain their new son-in-law.

After the banquet, Qi Xuansu and Zhang Yuelu did the calculations. Although they had handed out red envelopes to the many juniors, the Zhang family elders had been exceedingly generous. After accounting for everything they gave and received, the couple had actually gained 20,000 Taiping coins.