A Pawn's Passage

A Daoist priest asked, “Do you want to inspect the people passing by this area?”

Pan Cuiqing said, “Sure, but let’s not bear high hopes for any results.”

The Daoist priest was silent, knowing that it was indeed unlikely to find the killer in this manner. This place was located on the border between two states, close to Beimang Mountain. It was desolate and unpopulated without a set path to be taken. Thus, the killer could have easily left in any direction, presumably not leaving any traces behind. Inspecting the people passing by was merely a formality to close the case.

Pan Cuiqing pondered for a moment before asking who Wan Xiuwu had interacted with recently. The Daoist priest answered his question, but there was nothing unusual.

They were not afraid of a killer with a motive, such as killing for love, revenge, or wealth. What they were most afraid of was random homicide without any reason. Without a motive, it was difficult to determine the killer’s next target, so finding the murderer was akin to looking for a needle in a haystack.

“How’s the Earth Qi Recalling Technique going?” Pan Cuiqing raised his voice.

A Diviner hurried over, shook his head, and responded. “There are two Guizhen-stage Martial Arts Practitioners. Their blood qi was too strong, so I can only see two vague and intermittent figures using the Earth Qi Recalling Technique. It’s difficult to distinguish their identities, but we can confirm that there is only one killer, and it’s not a sneak attack.”

This was as Pan Cuiqing expected. The higher one’s level of cultivation, the greater the impact on the earth qi. Someone at the Holy Xuan’s level could disrupt the earth’s core veins, dispersing earth qi completely. In such cases, the Earth Qi Recalling Technique would not work at all.

The Daoist priest responsible for inspecting the corpse added, “By the way, we also found the ashes of cash notes on the corpse.”

Pan Cuiqing lightly interlocked his fingers over his lower abdomen as he said thoughtfully, “This means that the killer wasn’t out to rob Wan Xiuwu. He doesn’t have any enemies recently. Does that mean he just got unlucky to meet a serial killer?”

On the way over, Pan Cuiqing asked Yue Liuli some questions about Wan Xiuwu. Yue Liuli had mentioned Qi Xuansu and Zhang Yuelu, but Pan Cuiqing dismissed the idea.

Qi Xuansu was dead. Even if he was still alive, he would not have been strong enough to defeat Wan Xiuwu in a head-on fight. After all, Wan Xiuwu was one level above Qi Xuansu in terms of cultivation.

Zhang Yuelu was more than capable of killing Wan Xiuwu, but there was no need for her to do so. With Zhang Yuelu’s status, there was no need for her to take action personally. Although she had never abused her power, it did not mean that she had no power. Furthermore, judging from Zhang Yuelu’s character, she was the type who would rather send Wan Xiuwu to Beichen Hall instead of killing him in this manner.

If Beichen Hall did not come to a satisfying conclusion, she would investigate Beichen Hall. Zhang Yuelu was a stubborn and inflexible person. However, without this kind of character, she would not have climbed to her current position.

Even if it really had something to do with Zhang Yuelu, the Earthly Preceptor would have suppressed this incident since this incident happened within the territory of the Quanzhen Sect. Even without the Earthly Preceptor’s instructions, the Sages would have tacitly done Zhang Yuelu a favor by covering this up.

Therefore, Pan Cuiqing immediately dismissed these two speculations.

After careful consideration, Pan Cuiqing instructed, “This incident lacks sufficient motives. I’m afraid it will be difficult for us to make any progress regarding the case for now. Take the body back first. We’ll follow up on this matter later.”

The Daoist priests obliged.

Pan Cuiqing paused for a moment before adding, “By the way, secret societies have been running rampant recently. A few days ago, someone openly attempted murder at the Taiping Inn outside Wuxu Palace. There is no guarantee that this incident is also related to the secret societies, so pay more attention to their movements. If necessary, you can seek help from the Sub-Tiangang Hall.”

In a sense, the secret society was the Daoist Order’s cesspool, where they could dispose of all execrable matters.

The Daoist priests went about their duties, cleaning up the scene and transporting Wan Xiuwu’s body back. They departed one after another until Pan Cuiqing and Yue Liuli were the only ones left on site.

Everyone knew about the relationship between Yue Liuli and Wan Xiuwu, so they gave her some space to grieve.

When no one else was around, Yue Liuli sobbed softly. At first, she silently shed some tears, but her sobs gradually grew louder. Her shoulders also started shaking.

Pan Cuiqing murmured, “Li’er, why are you crying again? I’m sorry for your loss.”

The way he addressed her was more affectionate than most.

While talking, Pan Cuiqing took out a white handkerchief from his sleeve pocket and stretched it out in front of Yue Liuli, wanting to wipe her tears.

Yue Liuli dodged slightly and raised her hand to take it, grazing Pan Cuiqing’s fingers during the exchange. Yue Liuli’s fingertips trembled slightly, but she did not retract her hand immediately. She lowered her gaze shyly and wiped away her tears with the handkerchief. “Thank you, Senior Brother.”

Pan Cuiqing was an attentive and meticulous man. His handkerchief was clean and had a nice refreshing fragrance. Wan Xiuwu was lacking in this regard since he was an orphan who could not be compared with a scion.

He smiled gently. “It’s my duty to care about my juniors, so there’s no need to thank me.”

Yue Liuli lifted her head and happened to meet Pan Cuiqing’s eyes, which were sultry at the moment. She hurriedly lowered her head again to avoid his gaze, like a frightened doe.

Seeing this, Pan Cuiqing coaxed her. “Junior Sister, don’t worry. As your senior brother, I promise to investigate this matter and give you an explanation. I am heading to the Chongyang Palace of Immortality soon. Would you like to join me? You can take this opportunity to relax and take your mind off of things. After all, Difei Mountain is our sacred land and the most blessed place. It’ll be nice to get some of that celestial aura.”

Yue Liuli murmured, “It won’t be appropriate. I’m afraid people will gossip.”

“There’s nothing wrong with this.” Pan Cuiqing smiled slightly and reassured her. “No one will dare to gossip about us. If they do, I’ll deal with them. You don’t need to bother about what others think.”

Yue Liuli kept her head bowed and stopped talking.

She knew that Pan Cuiqing was much better than Wan Xiuwu. Back in the Wanxiang Daoist Palace, Yue Liuli was like a moon surrounded by many stars, and Wan Xiuwu was the brightest among those stars. However, Pan Cuiqing was like a sun that could eclipse the moon and stars. Not only that, the sun could also allow the moon to shine brighter.

Pan Cuiqing reached out to take Yue Liuli’s slender hand and sighed. “Li’er, don’t worry. I will always be there to help you no matter what kind of difficulties you encounter. I promise not to let you suffer in the slightest.”

Yue Liuli’s heart was pounding out of her chest. She wanted to withdraw her hand, but Pan Cuiqing held it tightly. “Senior Brother...”

Pan Cuiqing gently squeezed Yue Liuli’s palm. “Don’t call me ‘Senior Brother’ anymore. Our master has so many disciples, and I’m not the only senior brother you have. Why don’t you call me by my courtesy name, Chun Qing?”

Yue Liuli’s cheeks flushed red as she whispered, “Chun Qing...”

Pan Cuiqing responded with a smile.

Yue Liuli continued, “Senior Brother Chun Qing, I feel very confused right now. Can I have some time alone?”

Pan Cuiqing nodded, but he did not leave. Instead, he stared at her face with affection.

Yue Liuli was shy, but more so, she was playing hard to get. She turned her face away and spoke in a soft voice. “You’re not leaving? Why are you staring at me like that?”

Pan Cuiqing sighed. “Li’er, I have something to say to you.”

“What is it?” Yue Liuli asked.

He looked at her intently for a moment before confessing to her. “Li’er, I fell in love with you the first day you arrived in Wuxu Palace. But at that time, you only had eyes for Junior Brother Wan, and I didn’t want to steal someone else’s love. I had no choice but to endure this miserable loneliness. I was content with you being happy, but now that Junior Brother Wan has suffered this misfortune, I feel the need to tell you my feelings. Li’er, do you want me to continue in my misery?”

Yue Liuli’s heart was beating rapidly, but she remained silent.

Pan Cuiqing smiled and stretched out his fingers to tuck a stray lock of hair behind her ears. He pleaded, “Li’er?”

After a moment of silence, Yue Liuli finally let out a cry and leaned on Pan Cuiqing’s shoulder.

Pan Cuiqing took advantage of the situation and hugged her.

She looked shy, like a little bird clinging to its mother. However, her gaze was like an eagle stalking its prey.

As long as she married this man, she would never have to worry for another day.

She did not marry Wan Xiuwu. Since he was gone, she would not stay single forever. Furthermore, even if they were married, the Daoist Order did not have rules that widowers could not remarry.

Although Pan Cuiqing was in his forties, he was a third-rank Youyi Daoist master. If the Wuxu Palace Master became an Omniscient Sage, his successor would also be promoted accordingly to a second-rank Taiyi Daoist master. It was many times better than Wan Xiuwu, who was not even a fourth-rank Daoist master.

......

At this moment, Qi Xuansu could already see the Ghost Pass of Beimang Mountain in the distance.