A Pawn's Passage

If Zhou Mengyao had been in her prime, Qi Xuansu would not have been her match even with an immortal object in hand. Unfortunately for Zhou Mengyao, the very reason she had come here was to seek an opportunity to recover from her injuries. She was far from her peak condition and found herself unable to take Qi Xuansu down within a short span of time.

In truth, Qi Xuansu was not having it easy either. Although they had fought for quite some time and appeared evenly matched, Zhou Mengyao had never actually gone all out. Since Qi Xuansu could release an incarnation, Zhou Mengyao could naturally do the same, yet she had been fighting with only her true body all this time. Clearly, she was still holding something in reserve, probably because she feared Qi Xuansu might have some other trump card.

Qi Xuansu had no particularly good solution either. All he could do was hope that Long Xiaobai would hurry up and appear. If she did, they could turn the situation around. Unfortunately, things did not go as he wished.

The next person to appear was not Long Xiaobai, but Su Yuanzai.

Even so, the situation remained favorable to Qi Xuansu. He had already thought everything through before he started fighting. Whether it was Long Xiaobai, Su Yuanzai, or even the Innkeeper, none of them could possibly side with Zhou Mengyao. The first two went without saying. After all, the Innkeeper had no idea that Qi Xuansu was a member of the Qingping Society, much less about his identity as Wei Wugui.

From the Innkeeper’s perspective, Qi Xuansu was an outstanding young talent of the Daoist Order. He had probably heard of Qi Xuansu’s illustrious reputation and were complete strangers. However, Zhou Mengyao was The Inn’s major enemy. First, The Inn’s Cook had killed Zhou Mengyao’s trusted confidant, Drenched Green Robes. Then, Zhou Mengyao personally attacked and wounded The Inn’s Owner, deepening their blood feud. Thus, there was a high probability that the Innkeeper would side with Qi Xuansu since the enemy of his enemy was a friend.

Though Zhou Mengyao could expose Qi Xuansu’s identity as Wei Wugui, the Innkeeper would not believe her empty words.

It was precisely because Qi Xuansu had made these calculations that he dared to engage Zhou Mengyao in battle.

Even if no one showed up for a long while, he still had a Buddha’s sarira that could preserve his life, allowing him to fight it out with her.

Su Yuanzai arrived aboard his multi-decked flying ship. He was still standing at the bow, so he could see Qi Xuansu and Zhou Mengyao locked in fierce combat. He brought the ship to a halt some distance away.

Although Su Yuanzai did not know why Qi Xuansu had appeared here, as a dignified Mansion Master, he was well versed in strategy. With only a little thought, he could arrive at a rough conclusion.

To Su Yuanzai, how Qi Xuansu had gotten in was not important. The key question was how he should handle the situation.

He knew that Qi Xuansu was the son-in-law of his elder cousin Sage Cihang. She had even taken the place of an honored elder at Qi Xuansu’s wedding ceremony. But even so, such relationships were difficult to judge. After all, Pei Shenfu was Sage Donghua’s younger sister, yet she had still fallen out completely with Qi Xuansu.

Su Yuanzai’s relationship with Qi Xuansu was neither particularly good nor particularly bad. It was probably somewhere between Pei Xiaolou and Pei Shenfu.

Qi Xuansu had actually anticipated this as well. He was only certain that Su Yuanzai would not side with Zhou Mengyao, but he could not be sure that Su Yuanzai would side with him. That was why he had only pinned his hopes on Long Xiaobai. Unfortunately, there was no telling where that silly dragon had wandered off to.

Su Yuanzai watched for a moment before suddenly calling out, “You two, please stop fighting and hear me out!”

Qi Xuansu and Zhou Mengyao were already wary of each other. Qi Xuansu was wary because his cultivation was inferior, while Zhou Mengyao was concerned that Qi Xuansu might still have some hidden trump card. Upon hearing Su Yuanzai’s words, the two stopped fighting almost simultaneously and retreated in opposite directions, putting some distance between themselves.

Seeing this, Su Yuanzai’s expression relaxed slightly. He said, “Sage Qi and Madam Zhou, you are both pillars of our Daoist Order, and you come from the same sect, so why resort to such violence? Whatever grievances you may have, you can sit down and discuss them slowly.”

Su Yuanzai did not address Qi Xuansu by his courtesy name but instead called him Sage Qi. This showed that he did not wish to assume the airs of an elder and instead chose to treat Qi Xuansu as an equal. On the other hand, he did not want Qi Xuansu to use their familial connection to bind him to one side, wishing to maintain a relatively neutral position.

Qi Xuansu said, “Sage Su, I’m afraid you are mistaken. This Madam Zhou is no pillar of the Daoist Order. She is the infamous Qingping Melody, the true mastermind behind the Qingping Society, an Immortal whose name stands alongside the Golden Patriarch of the Heavenly Court. Previously, Great Sage Jiang personally severed her head with his sword because she was plotting something nefarious. My battle with her today is nothing more than ridding the Daoist Order of a scourge. Even if I could be mistaken, could Great Sage Jiang possibly be mistaken as well? Sage Su, please join forces with me so that together, we may capture and kill this villain!”

Zhou Mengyao sneered. “Rebellious disciple! Why don’t you tell Mansion Master Su about how you betrayed me in pursuit of glory as well? I never imagined that not only would you betray your master, but you would even attempt to kill your own master! How can a heartless, ungrateful wretch like you be worthy of becoming an Omniscient Sage? Some people in the Golden Tower Council must truly be blind.”

Qi Xuansu remained unmoved. “As everyone knows, I have had two masters. My current master, Sage Donghua, is known to all. Sage Su himself was present at my apprenticeship ceremony. My other master was the one who first initiated me into cultivation in my early years. His name was Qi Haoran, who hailed from the Qi family of Shuzhou, a clansman of Sage Wanmiao. Unfortunately, he passed away. Only afterward did I acknowledge Sage Donghua as my master. All of this is documented and can be verified. Zhou Mengyao, when exactly did you and I ever become master and disciple?

“On the contrary, after investigating the matter repeatedly, I discovered that my late master’s death had everything to do with you. According to Sage Wanmiao, the reason my late master left the Qi family and the Quanzhen Sect back then was all because of a woman, who happened to be you, right? Zhou Mengyao, do you dare claim that my late master’s death had nothing to do with you?

“I would dare say these exact words even before the Golden Tower Council and in the presence of the Grand Master. I would dare confront Sage Wanmiao face-to-face and verify every word. Would you?”

For a moment, Zhou Mengyao was left speechless.

No matter how one looked at it, Qi Haoran had indeed been Qi Xuansu’s master. The proper formalities had been followed, and the relationship was clearly recorded in all the relevant archives. Moreover, Qi Haoran had indeed died at Zhou Mengyao’s hands. That, too, was an objective fact. Even if Qi Xuansu swore to it before the Primordial Daoist Ancestor himself, he would not be lying or deceiving anyone. If anyone asked why Qi Xuansu was locked in a struggle to the death with Zhou Mengyao, he could simply say that he was avenging his master.

Zhou Mengyao could hardly tell them that she had assumed Qi Haoran’s identity when taking Qi Xuansu as her disciple.

The moment she admitted that, everyone would know that Zhou Mengyao had harbored some ulterior motive. Moreover, since the premise had been false, it would render the formal process itself invalid, which meant that this supposed master-disciple relationship had even less ground to stand on.

With that, Qi Xuansu had effectively left Zhou Mengyao with no way to respond.

Qi Xuansu himself did not acknowledge this relationship. From the day he discovered the truth, all bonds of affection and obligation between them had been severed, and he viewed her as an enemy. It was only when he wanted to provoke Zhou Mengyao that he would imitate the Li family’s sarcastic style and call her “Master.” Whenever he dropped all pretenses, he would simply call her by name and curse her to death.

How could Su Yuanzai possibly fail to understand? He had simply made up his mind to smooth things over, so despite knowing perfectly well what was going on, he deliberately played dumb. “As far as I know, Sage Wanmiao’s clansman died at the hands of The Inn, whereas Madam Zhou is the Head of the Qingping Society. The Inn and the Qingping Society have always been bitter enemies. One of the Qingping Society’s leaders was even killed by The Inn. Therefore, in my view, this claim that Madam Zhou killed your master is most likely a misunderstanding.

“Sage Qi, you might not be aware of Madam Zhou’s background yet. Madam Zhou’s ancestor was a direct disciple of the Holy Xuan. Although Madam Zhou has no ambitions within the Daoist Order and does not hold the title of Sage, your adoptive mother, Madam Yao, is much the same, Sage Qi. So you would surely understand. Moreover, Madam Zhou possesses profound cultivation and extraordinary abilities. She is highly valued by the Earthly Preceptor as well.

“So, I ask the two of you to grant me this small honor and let the matter end here. If each of you can take a step back, wouldn’t this turn into a harmonious resolution?”

Qi Xuansu and Zhou Mengyao both fell silent.

Although Su Yuanzai could not compare with either Qi Xuansu or Zhou Mengyao individually, at this particular moment, he had the power to tip the balance of victory. If he sided with Qi Xuansu, Zhou Mengyao would be in danger. If he sided with Zhou Mengyao, Qi Xuansu would be in danger. As a result, both Qi Xuansu and Zhou Mengyao had to seriously consider Su Yuanzai’s proposal.

Qi Xuansu slowly said, “Sage Su, I’m afraid Sage Cihang would not approve of what you are doing today, neither would Sage Donghua or Great Sage Jiang.”

Su Yuanzai chuckled. “Sage Qi, if we were to follow your wishes and put Madam Zhou to death, then the Earthly Preceptor would not approve.” ℴ

He had dragged the Earthly Preceptor into the matter. Since the two sides had not yet openly torn relations apart, Qi Xuansu kept silent.

Su Yuanzai continued, “There’s no best of both worlds, but if both sides of a dilemma can somehow be accommodated, that would naturally be best. I have never cared for fighting in my life. What I prefer is putting an end to fights. Since I am here today to reconcile the two of you, why don’t we make a wager?”

Qi Xuansu asked, “What sort of wager?”

Su Yuanzai said, “I have a method. We shall leave it to fate. You will know shortly.”

Zhou Mengyao also asked, “What do you have in mind, Sage Su?”

Su Yuanzai said, “There is an enormous misunderstanding between the two of you. Though I am hardly worthy, allow me to act as mediator and reconcile you both. I ask that you dispense with this fight and each hold back. What do you say?”

Qi Xuansu replied evenly, “Sage Su, this is not some petty feud in the Jianghu. This is a matter of principle. When principles are at stake, how can there be any bargaining?”

Zhou Mengyao said, “Sage Su, since Qi Xuansu is so unwilling to see reason, why don’t you and I join forces and take him down? Even if any problems arise afterward, the Earthly Preceptor can speak with Sage Donghua, and I will personally explain matters to Sage Cihang.”

Qi Xuansu said nothing, but he was already grasping the Buddha’s sarira.

Su Yuanzai continued to maintain his neutral stance. He raised a hand and pointed toward a distant mountain peak jutting out from the sea of clouds like a solitary island.

He said, “In the art of the flying sword, one can only be considered accomplished if one can command a sword across hundreds of kilometers. It is roughly 500 kilometers from here to that mountain peak. Within this boundless sea of clouds, any living person who enters will be assailed by layer upon layer of illusions. Should one fall into it, there will be no hope of return. A flying sword is an inanimate object and is therefore unaffected. Today, we shall use the flying sword as our wager.

“If I can strike that mountain peak with a single flying sword, the two of you will end your fight here. If my flying sword fails to reach it, then you may continue fighting to the death, and I will not interfere. Should either of you go back on your word, I will join forces with the other to strike that person down. What do you say?”

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