A Pawn's Passage

Qi Xuansu no longer dwelled on matters of romance. His face turned solemn as he stated, “This is about the Wuxu Palace.”

Hearing this, Pei Xiaolou set aside his flippant attitude and asked, “Are you referring to Wan Xiuwu’s case?”

Qi Xuansu nodded.

Pei Xiaolou did not seem concerned. “I’m representing the Quanzhen Sect in this case, while your girl is representing the Jade Capital. The people handling this case are on your side; moreover, you’ve got my elder brother and wife protecting you. What are you afraid of?”

Qi Xuansu froze, momentarily stunned.

Not long ago, he had been oppressed by those in power. How quickly had the tables turned that he now had a strong backing of his own?

Still, Qi Xuansu said, “But this goes against the rules.”

Pei Xiaolou snorted. “There are plenty of things in this world that go against the rules. Who can possibly account for them all? Back when the Daoist Order resisted the Confucian School, was that in line with the rules? When the three Deputy Grand Masters marginalized the sixth-generation Grand Master, did that align with the rules?”

Qi Xuansu was left speechless.

Pei Xiaolou continued, “If we really want to go by the rules, I should’ve sent you over to Beichen Hall to be tried for being associated with secret societies because you are Madam Qi’s godson. Then my wife and I should go to Fengxian Hall and confess to harboring and colluding with secret societies, implicating Sage Donghua and the Earthly Preceptor while we’re at it.

“If we follow the rules strictly, who in this massive Daoist Order would still remain? We never played by the rules from the start, so let’s not start preaching them halfway. Even the serious Zhang Yuelu understands this. In the end, this is a life-or-death struggle. The victor gets to define what the rules are and whether to follow them or not.”

Qi Xuansu was starting to get a grasp of the Daoist Order’s politics.

The alliance between the Zhengyi Sect and the Quanzhen Sect was like one big ship that was moving deeper into the whirlpool, and he had already boarded this ship.

Everything had its pros and cons. While he now had backing and support, he could no longer remain neutral. The only path ahead was to follow the ship’s course. Whether Sage Cihang or Sage Donghua became the Grand Master meant that the Zhengyi Sect and Quanzhen Sect succeeded. If so, he would benefit and rise alongside them. However, if they failed, there would be no survivors, and he would sink with this ship.

At this thought, Qi Xuansu’s expression became serious.

Pei Xiaolou’s tone softened. “You must always remember one thing—some things can be said but not done, while some things can be done but not said. Those things that can be done but not said weigh nothing off the scales, but once weighed, they become an unbearable burden.

“Take the matter of you killing Wan Xiuwu as an example. You two had a personal vendetta, so your actions were understandable yet not in line with the rules. However, rules are just for show. As long as no one catches you, you can remain free. But if your crime is proven, no one can save you.

“But there is only one rule above all; that is, unless you have the power to break the system, you must abide by it.”

Qi Xuansu was never one to adhere strictly to rules. He already had some understanding of the Daoist Order’s infighting, so he easily accepted Pei Xiaolou’s explanation.

Lei Xiaohuan reassured him. “You don’t need to worry about Wuxu Palace. Even if something changes, we’ll handle it. For now, I have a task for you.”

Qi Xuansu asked earnestly, “Sage Lei, what are your orders?”

Lei Xiaohuan said, “I don’t know if Qing Xiao has told you, but I’ve recently instructed all Deputy Hall Masters to review the case files separately.”

Qi Xuansu nodded. “Qing Xiao did mention it.”

“Do you know why?” Lei Xiaohuan asked.

Qi Xuansu shook his head.

Lei Xiaohuan did not answer directly. Instead, she asked, “We’re here to investigate the case. If you were one of the suspects, what would you do?”

Qi Xuansu thought carefully for a moment before answering, “I would probably cover it up, sacrifice pawns for the bigger picture, and muddy the waters.”

Lei Xiaohuan smiled. “Well said. The best way to get out of this is to muddy the waters. The mastermind will gladly give us more clues for this investigation. But it won’t be just about the Yanqing Merchant’s Association. Jiangnan is vast and prosperous, with so many associations, merchants, and gentry. Whose hands will be completely clean?

“So they will give us an insurmountable problem by dumping a whole load of clues on us. Since we represent the Golden Tower Council and stand for justice and righteousness, we can’t just turn a blind eye to all this. Then it’ll be too much for us to handle.”

Qi Xuansu was dumbfounded by this divulgence.

Lei Xiaohuan smiled faintly. “Of course, this is just the first step. The real show is yet to come. There are three factions among the seven of us investigating the case. Pei Xiaolou, Zhang Yuelu, and I are one faction. Li Mingzhi, Li Mingcheng, and Lu Yushu are another, while Bai Yingqiong remains neutral.

“At this point, the other three will make their move, using those clues to stir things up. They will take the moral high ground, leaving us unable to refute them. With so many cases and limited manpower, we won’t be able to process them all properly and will inevitably miss opportunities. The mastermind will be able to provide as many distractions as possible as long as the attention is diverted from the Yanqing Merchant’s Association.”

Qi Xuansu was truly shocked.

Pei Xiaolou added, “At the same time, their people in Jade Capital will spread rumors, attacking us from both sides. It usually progresses in four stages.

“Stage one: the Golden Tower Council sends an investigation team to Jinling Prefecture, uncovering various clues with rapid progress and earning widespread praise.”

“Stage two: A reversal occurs. Since the clues are too widespread, progress slows. Without needing deliberate orchestration, someone will take the opportunity to use the Golden Tower Council’s investigation to settle personal scores, fabricate accusations, and hurl mutual slander. The situation becomes increasingly complicated, accompanied by growing criticism.”

“Stage three: The situation spirals out of control, with the investigation impacting normal commerce. People in Jade Capital suggest prioritizing trade and stability, restricting the investigation team’s authority until we’re bogged down and unable to move.”

“Stage four: The situation goes completely out of control, with public outcry surging and everyone in fear. Voices in Jade Capital will speak out for justice, condemning the investigation as excessive. Under pressure, the Golden Tower Council is strong-armed into recalling the investigation team. We’ll leave defeated, and in the end, we’ll bear all the blame because the case will be left unresolved.”

Lei Xiaohuan added, “As the situation evolves, one corruption case becomes insignificant. What’s more important is ensuring stable commerce.”

Pei Xiaolou said, “The logic is simple. If you’re ordered to catch a ghost but don’t want to, and you can’t outright refuse, the best way to muck it up is to start digging up the ancestors’ graves in the name of catching ghosts. This will provoke public outrage and tarnish the whole endeavor. Doing something well is hard, but ruining it is easy.”

Qi Xuansu felt a chill down his spine as he listened.

Now he could finally discern how complex the whole situation was, filled with twists and turns as well as surging undercurrents.

However, judging by Pei Xiaolou and Lei Xiaohuan’s demeanor, they had clearly expected this because they even had the leisure to play the Holy Xuan Cards, indicating the couple was far from defenseless.

Qi Xuansu could not help but ask, “Which stage are we in now?”

Pei Xiaolou replied, “Between the first and second stages. A reversal is imminent.”

Qi Xuansu inquired again, “What’s my task?”

Lei Xiaohuan said, “You’re a fresh face. More importantly, you’re a member of the Qingping Society. I need you to use your connections within the Qingping Society to find out who the mastermind ‘kindly’ providing us with a flood of clues is. Madam Qi will arrive in Jinling Prefecture in a few days, so she will contact you directly.”

Qi Xuansu’s expression turned solemn as he answered, “Understood.”

He now knew why Pei Xiaolou and Lei Xiaohuan had forged such a strong bond with Madam Qi. It was not just about doing business together. They were true allies, with the business partnership being merely a facade.

However, the thought of meeting Madam Qi again made Qi Xuansu delighted.

Lei Xiaohuan continued, “This task isn’t too difficult, but it’s not easy either. You might as well resume using your Wei Wugui identity, which is currently known only to us. But you must be cautious. Those people dared to target Zhang Yuelu, so they certainly wouldn’t hesitate to come after you. They wouldn’t hold back in silencing someone, so your top priority should be your own safety.”

Even without Lei Xiaohuan’s reminder, Qi Xuansu, having traveled alone for years, had always prioritized his own safety.

Pei Xiaolou added as a final note, “This mission is top secret. Apart from the two of us and Zhang Yuelu, don’t disclose it to anyone else. After all, the Quanzhen Sect and the Zhengyi Sect have formed an alliance, and she is someone the Earthly Preceptor values. Considering your relationship with her, you can be completely honest with her. Oh, and you can pick up some Phoenix Eye and Dragon Eye Series ammunition from the Tianji Hall later—free of charge.”

Qi Xuansu nodded once again.

...

A top-grade mother-child talisman revealed the image of Young Master Li seated on a chair.

A slightly distorted voice seemed to echo over the entirety of a certain courtyard in Jinling Prefecture. “Don’t fear chaos. If we keep it under wraps, the chaos will consume us. But if we let it out, the chaos will engulf them instead. Right now, they’re clinging to the Yanqing Merchant’s Association. If we don’t muddy the waters, we’ll lose the last shred of advantage we have. We must remain absolutely clear-headed on this.”

A second-rank Taiyi Daoist master on the other side wore a grave expression.

Young Master Li continued, “Although all blades are currently aimed at Jinling, the true decider of victory lies in Jade Capital. I will handle things over here in Jade Capital, while you all must fully cooperate with my actions on your side.”

The second-rank Taiyi Daoist master reported, “Lei Xiaohuan and Zhang Yuelu have already joined forces. Bai Yingqiong’s stance is ambiguous. She seems to lean more toward Lei and Zhang.”

Young Master Li said calmly, “This is not the time to show mercy. If necessary, ask Old Master Jin to take action. We can’t touch Lei Xiaohuan or Zhang Yuelu, but there’s no need to be polite with their subordinates. If Lei Xiaohuan blocks our path, kill her subordinates; if Zhang Yuelu obstructs the way, kill hers. As for Bai Yingqiong, doesn’t she have a daughter? Find a way to make her reconsider her stance.”

“Yes, sir.” The second-rank Taiyi Daoist master obliged.