A Pawn's Passage

The banquet ended hastily.

With Qin Wubing’s level of composure, he would not be displeased by such an outcome.

Having met the legendary Zhang Yuelu, Qin Xiang felt she had gained much, so she did not mind the abrupt ending.

When Qi Xuansu and Zhang Yuelu left, they noticed that the gathering at the pavilion had also dispersed.

What had begun with such fanfare ended rather dully, similar to how life rarely unfolds according to expectations.

Qi Xuansu was a petty man accustomed to the ways of Jianghu. He had originally thought he could trample that venomous-hearted Yue Liuli underfoot and vent his pent-up frustration over the years. However, things took an unexpected turn.

What should have been a decisive confrontation ended up being a game of breaking chopsticks with Xie Jin. Though he managed to dampen Xie Jin’s arrogance, he had not gained any real advantage.

His only takeaway was gaining insight into Zhang Yuelu’s stance regarding the Qingping Society.

Even after learning that Zhao Xuanting and Xie Jin were members of the Qingping Society, Zhang Yuelu did not react with pure hostility or aggression.

This was understandable since the Qingping Society had deep ties to the Quanzhen Sect, which was an ally of the Zhengyi Sect. Zhang Yuelu herself had countless connections to the Quanzhen Sect, making them inseparable.

Given their backing, it would be inappropriate for her to take action against these two. So she had no choice but to let them be and only left them a warning.

Zhang Yuelu’s desire to change the Daoist Order did not mean she was an untouchable saint. She was also not a reckless hothead who charged forward blindly.

The Daoist Order believed in the philosophy of yin and yang, that nothing was purely black or white, but a balance of both. She understood the importance of weighing the situation and adapting accordingly.

When Qi Xuansu and Zhang Yuelu returned to the pavilion, there were still a few people who remained, including Mo Qingdi and Shi Yu.

Qi Xuansu casually asked, “Where are Deputy Palace Master Pan and Yue Liuli?”

“They left soon after you did. Once the main figures departed, the rest slowly trickled away,” Mo Qingdi replied.

Qi Xuansu nodded and pondered for a moment before inquiring, “Are they staying at the Taiping Inn?”

“Yeah.” Shi Yu confirmed.

Qi Xuansu exchanged a glance with Zhang Yuelu before they left the pavilion together.

An hour later, Qi Xuansu arrived alone outside Yue Liuli’s room and knocked on the door. Zhang Yuelu was nowhere to be seen.

A moment later, the door opened. Yue Liuli appeared before Qi Xuansu, dressed in a simple yet elegant outfit, with a touch of makeup to enhance her features. Her eyes carried a seductive charm.

She was stunned to see Qi Xuansu. But soon after, her gaze became suggestive.

Yue Liuli spoke in a gentle tone. “Superintendent Qi, it’s you. Where is Mage Zhang?”

Seeing Yue Liuli act in such a manner, Qi Xuansu could not help but marvel at her duplicity.

Back in the Wanxiang Daoist Palace, Yue Liuli had been unapproachable, as cold as frost. She was especially indifferent toward men like Qi Xuansu.

Yet earlier at the banquet, she had seemed so delicate and dependent on Pan Cuiqing—playing the role of an innocent, fragile woman, as if she were the victim, while Qi Xuansu was the aggressor.

At this moment, she had transformed yet again into a graceful and alluring seductress.

Qi Xuansu maintained a righteous expression as he replied, “Qing Xiao had an urgent matter and had to head to the Zhongzhou Daoist Mansion.”

Only then did Yue Liuli step aside to make way for him. “Please, come in and talk.”

Qi Xuansu nodded and stepped into Yue Liuli’s room.

The summer heat outside was stifling, but her room was pleasantly cool.

Qi Xuansu glanced around. It was just an ordinary room of an inn with no remarkable features.

However, when he turned back, Yue Liuli had already slipped off the sheer outer shawl she had been wearing, revealing her pale, slender neck and the edge of a plain white undergarment.

Qi Xuansu kept his gaze straight ahead, maintaining the demeanor of a proper gentleman.

Yue Liuli’s enchanting eyes studied Qi Xuansu. She softly asked, “Superintendent Qi, what brings you here alone?”

Qi Xuansu avoided answering. “Where is Deputy Palace Master Pan?”

“Superintendent Qi, what kind of person do you take me for?” Yue Liuli’s brows furrowed slightly, showing a trace of displeasure. “Senior Brother Pan has his own room. Why would he be in mine?”

Qi Xuansu chuckled. “My apologies for being presumptuous. Old Wan has indeed just passed not long ago—”

Yue Liuli cut him off. “Superintendent Qi, you still haven’t told me what you came here for.”

Qi Xuansu dropped the pretense of formality, his gaze briefly sweeping past Yue Liuli’s chest before saying, “Old Yue, we’ve known each other for nearly 20 years. I don’t want to push you into a corner, so I came here to settle this matter with you.”

Yue Liuli narrowed her eyes slightly. “I wonder...how do you intend to settle it?”

Qi Xuansu vaguely replied, “I ought to see some sincerity.”

“You were relentless and aggressive earlier at the pavilion. What exactly do you consider as sincerity?” Yue Liuli’s eyes shimmered brightly.

Qi Xuansu responded, “This sincerity depends on you, not me.”

Yue Liuli asked, “You came to see me alone. Aren’t you afraid that Mage Zhang will get jealous?”

Qi Xuansu replied, “Of course, I’m afraid. But if she doesn’t know, then there’s no problem, is there?”

Yue Liuli could not help but laugh. “Hah! Keeping it from her, huh? You men...”

“What about us men?” Qi Xuansu smirked.

“Men are always eating from the bowl while eyeing the pot.” Yue Liuli scoffed lightly.

Qi Xuansu burst into laughter. “Qing Xiao is great, with a prestigious family and great tutelage. She lacks neither guidance nor opportunities and has a boundless future. If I cling to her, I will surely soar like a phoenix. But she only has one flaw—that domineering temper of hers. Sometimes, it can be quite suffocating. All I can say is I feel like I’m walking on thin ice all the time.”

This did not surprise Yue Liuli. Being a kept man was never easy. Noble young masters were rarely kind, so these noble young ladies should not be any different.

Yue Liuli remarked, “In that case, you and I are kindred spirits in suffering.”

As she spoke, Yue Liuli leaned toward Qi Xuansu.

Qi Xuansu placed a hand on Yue Liuli’s shoulder and asked, “Do you have wine?”

Yue Liuli smiled, turned around, and left the room.

Shortly after, she returned with a jug of wine and two cups, setting them on the table.

They were seated across from each other at the table. Yue Liuli picked up the wine jug and poured a cup for Qi Xuansu before filling her cup. She lifted her cup for a toast. “Superintendent Qi—”

Qi Xuansu interjected. “Don’t call me Superintendent Qi. It sounds too distant. Just call me Tian Yuan.”

“Alright.” Yue Liuli’s eyes sparkled as she smiled sweetly. “Tian Yuan, here’s a toast to you.”

Without hesitation, Qi Xuansu raised his cup and gulped down the wine.

The two drank continuously until the wine jug was nearly empty.

Qi Xuansu was already somewhat intoxicated.

At this moment, Yue Liuli no longer sat across from Qi Xuansu but moved to sit beside him, smiling seductively as she asked, “Tian Yuan, do you know why I schemed against you back in the Dragon and Tiger Camp?”

Qi Xuansu shook his head. “I don’t know.”

“Do you want to know?”

Qi Xuansu still shook his head. “I don’t want to know.”

Yue Liuli’s smile deepened. “You’re lying to yourself. Didn’t you come here for this? Even though you say you don’t want to know, I insist on telling you anyway.”

Qi Xuansu remained silent. His eyes were half-closed, leaving only a sliver open as if he could no longer resist the drunkenness.

Yue Liuli spoke unhurriedly. “The reason is quite simple. Back at the Wanxiang Daoist Palace, all our classmates longed for me day and night. They were infatuated with me, either openly or secretly. Even those esteemed instructors would steal glances at me when they thought no one was watching.

“But you were the only exception. You were just a nameless, lowly wretch, but you acted as if you were above it all and ignored me. Not only did you not fawn over me, but you even dared to go against me. That was why I had to teach you a lesson to show you my power.

“You were lucky for not dying. But I suppose a lowly wretch will never change. I mistakenly thought you were a man of unyielding character, but in the end, you just groveled at Zhang Yuelu’s feet anyway. Besides her noble family background, how is she any better than me? You’re a hypocrite with false morality—that’s exactly what you are.”

Qi Xuansu remained motionless as he allowed Yue Liuli to insult him.

“Are you trying to move but find that you can’t? Hah! You brought this upon yourself. You insisted on drinking, so I added some Soul-Returning Incense to the wine. It’s quite the rare find, said to revive the dead just by its scent. But if the living breathes it in or consumes it, even a Heavenly Being will feel their qi dissipating and be left completely paralyzed for at least half an hour.”

Yue Liuli curled her lips into a smirk. “No man can resist temptation. You’re using the Dragon and Tiger Camp’s incident to blackmail me and force me to yield to you. Since I refused, you wanted to take me by force. If Zhang Yuelu were to witness this scene, would she still stand by you?”

As she spoke, Yue Liuli tugged her sleeve, revealing a fair, smooth shoulder. “They say that scandal is best spread from a woman’s lips. Even if Zhang Yuelu believes you, will others? This is the Daoist Order. Once your reputation is ruined, you will have no place here. By then, whether you killed Wan Xiuwu or not no longer matters.”

Qi Xuansu struggled to open his eyes. “That’s quite the scheme.”

Yue Liuli smiled faintly, stood up, and removed the jade hairpin that bound her hair. Her long, black silky locks cascaded down her back like a waterfall, flowing past her waist.

Then, she untied her sash, her expression growing even more sultry as her voice softened to a purr. “Tian Yuan, don’t blame me for being ruthless. Blame yourself for being too greedy—eating from one bowl while eyeing another. You walked into this trap on your own. There was a path to heaven, but you refused to take it. Instead, you came knocking on hell’s gate.”

Qi Xuansu struggled to ask, “Soul-Returning Incense doesn’t have an antidote. How are you still able to move freely?”

Yue Liuli giggled. “You drank more than I did. My innate qi has also been suppressed, and I don’t have much strength left, but I can still move my limbs. That’s all I need.”

“I see,” Qi Xuansu murmured.

Yue Liuli’s expression turned cold. “Alright, enough talk. Now, just accept your fate.”