A Pawn's Passage

Yao Pei flipped open the register. “Divine power and innate qi are two fundamentally different things. Unless someone possesses the Xuan Jade like you or is a Banished Immortal like me, they cannot coexist within one person. But whether they are innate or cultivated Banished Immortals, their numbers are extremely rare. Within the Daoist Order, Banished Immortals have a guaranteed bright future. Within secret societies, they are core figures, unlikely to be sent on high-risk missions to infiltrate the Daoist Order’s stronghold.

“The reasoning is simple. The risk and reward don’t match. The Confucian Sage statue is valuable, but it cannot compare to a Banished Immortal with boundless potential. After all, as long as a Banished Immortal doesn’t die prematurely, they will almost certainly become a Pseudo-Immortal in their lifetime, which is an immense advantage to the Ancient Immortals.

“In that case, let’s first rule out the possibility that the killer is a Banished Immortal. Based on the innate qi remnants left on the flying sword, we can deduce that the individual is a Qi Refiner. Unless they foresaw our investigation and intentionally disguised themself as a Qi Refiner to mislead us, this deduction should be reliable.

“Qi Refiners are the backbone of the Daoist Order, and their numbers are vast. Among the 17 suspects on this list, 7 of them are Qi Refiners. Four of these Qi Refiners are Deputy Palace Masters, and another three are Assistant Deputies, formally known as Special-Rank Golden-Purple Instructors.”

Qi Xuansu was puzzled. “Aren’t the Three Great Cults primarily made up of Shamans? Why would a Heavenly-Being Qi Refiner be among them?”

Yao Pei explained, “The Lingshan Witch Cult, Cult of Fates, and Ziguang Society have two types of members. One type is those they raise, similar to how Wanxiang Daoist Palace trains its Lower Palace disciples. They adopt orphans, select those with the best potential, and have an Ancient Immortal grant them divine power, turning them into Shamans.

“The other method is recruitment. There are many disillusioned people in this world and even more greedy ones. This type of recruitment is akin to bribery. They offer great rewards like Taiping coins, treasures, or other valuable incentives. In most cases, high-ranking Daoist priests are reliable because the secret societies can never offer more than what the Daoist Order provides. But nothing is absolute. The Ziguang Society is particularly skilled in this.

“The Ziguang Society agents not only use their bodies and beauty as tools, but they excel at manipulating men’s desires. Even high-ranking Daoists have fallen prey to them. The highest-ranking victim recorded thus far was an Omniscient Sage.

“Listen closely—you need to be especially careful since you are pretty much a matrilocal husband to Qing Xiao. For men like you with a far more powerful wife and in-laws, you’ll probably feel overshadowed by her, looked down upon by her family, and kept on a tight leash. It’s only natural that you might feel suppressed and inferior. That’s why men like you are prime targets for the Ziguang Society.

“Over time, men like you stop caring about a woman’s beauty, status, or talent. All you seek is proof of your own worth. That is how you’ll fall for a woman far inferior to your Daoist companion just because she offers unquestioning obedience and adoring submission.

“To put it bluntly, most men who spent too long playing the submissive role will find it hard to resist a woman who treats him like a king. That’s because the woman will make him feel like a true, dominant man rather than a helpless husband under his Daoist companion’s control.”

Qi Xuansu frowned. “Why are you dragging me into this? Only overly ambitious fools feel resentful over such things. I’ve always kept a proper mindset. I already know I can’t compare to Qing Xiao in all aspects, so what’s there to feel suppressed about? Instead, I believe that one can find good shade under a big tree. I’m eagerly waiting for Qing Xiao to become Grand Master so I can automatically become a Virtuous Great Sage without much effort!”

It was clear Yao Pei was deliberately provoking Qi Xuansu. But Qi Xuansu was not one to back down and immediately countered. After all, if Zhang Yuelu became Grand Master, then Yao Pei would never get the position.

Yao Pei remained expressionless, revealing nothing of her thoughts. She continued, “So, it’s not unusual for secret societies to have Qi Refiners. This particular Qi Refiner is very likely a double agent—a high-ranking Daoist on the surface but a subservient pawn of the Ziguang Society in secret.”

Qi Xuansu felt a bit uneasy when he heard the words “double agent.” He quickly changed the subject, “Who are these seven Qi Refiners?”

Yao Pei flipped to the third page of the register and read aloud, “The first on the list is Ning Lingyun, unofficially referred to as the Second Deputy Palace Master. Within the Wanxiang Daoist Palace, he ranks just below the Palace Master and Sage Sun. His older brother is an Omniscient Sage, Ning Lingge, and his wife comes from the Cihang lineage of the Zhengyi Sect. She’s a gentle and virtuous woman. The couple married out of love rather than through family arrangements, and their relationship is still strong. In my opinion, they are unlikely to be the suspect.”

Qi Xuansu agreed. “I’ve met Deputy Palace Master Ning before. He is an ambitious man, and men with ambition are rarely swayed by lust.”

Yao Pei made no comment on Qi Xuansu’s judgment and continued, “The second one on the list is Deputy Palace Master Yao, my paternal uncle.”

Qi Xuansu remarked, “So, he’s a brother.”

He deliberately emphasized the word “brother.”

Yao Pei abruptly lifted and widened her dull, half-lidded eyes.

Qi Xuansu played dumb and grinned. “It’s just a saying from Jianghu. In the Daoist Order, I suppose ‘fellow Daoist’ would be more appropriate.”

Yao Pei lowered her gaze again and said, “Even if he is family, I cannot be careless. I will investigate him personally. Regardless of whether he is guilty or not, our relationship won’t raise any suspicion.”

“What about me?” Qi Xuansu asked.

Yao Pei flipped another page and instructed, “You can visit a Special-Rank Golden-Purple Instructor who’s from the Zhang family. He can be considered an uncle to Qing Xiao, so you can use this connection as a reason to visit him.”

Qi Xuansu sighed. “Why is it always family connections? The Daoist Order is completely dominated by noble clans. Do people like me with no powerful lineage even stand a chance?”

Yao Pei replied coolly, “Why wouldn’t you have a chance? If you can’t be born into a noble family, you can always marry into one or be adopted. You’re already the adopted son of the Yao family and the son-in-law of the Zhang family. All you’re missing now is the Li family. Why not find a Li family daughter to be your confidante? Times have changed. Women are capable of supporting themselves and others now. It’s not shameful to depend on women for success anymore.”

Qi Xuansu detected the sarcasm in her words but pretended not to notice. Instead, he asked, “What are the details?”

Yao Pei picked up a brush and swiftly transcribed a copy, handing it to Qi Xuansu.

It was far more concise than the original document, essentially an abridged version that highlighted the key points.

After Qi Xuansu took the copy, Yao Pei added, “Aren’t you the self-proclaimed experienced wild Daoist? Surely, I don’t need to teach you how to extract information without leaving a trace, right?”

“Of course.” Qi Xuansu had some experience in this field.

“Remember, don’t alert the enemy.” Yao Pei gestured for Qi Xuansu to leave.

But Qi Xuansu did not move. Instead, he declared, “I can’t go empty-handed. I need to bring a gift. Laugh if you want, but I’m completely broke. I don’t even have the Taiping coins to cover the cost upfront, so you can’t just reimburse me.”

Yao Pei cast a disdainful glance at him. “Madam Qi’s wealth is in the millions, yet you’re coinless. Aren’t you embarrassed that people will find out?”

With that, she pulled out a box from her magical receptacle and tossed it to him. “The instructors in the Wanxiang Daoist Palace are all refined scholars who wouldn’t accept money openly, so it’s better to give him something elegant. Inside the box is a fine edition of The Taixu Chronicles. It’s worth a few hundred Taiping coins—perfect as a greeting gift.”

Qi Xuansu caught the box and clicked his tongue. “As expected of a noble young lady of the Yao family—you don’t even blink at spending a few hundred Taiping coins.”

Yao Pei waved him off. “Go already.”

Qi Xuansu left Yao Pei’s study, holding the box in one hand and the document detailing Zhang Juyan in the other.

He reviewed Zhang Juyan’s information. Like Zhang Yuelu, Zhang Juyan was a third-rank Youyi Daoist master from the Zhengyi Sect and came from a minor branch of the Zhang family. He was Qi Refiner at the Xiaoyao stage of Heavenly Beings. His main cultivated technique was the Five Thunder Celestial Heart Method, and he currently served as a Special-Rank Golden-Purple Instructor at the Wanxiang Daoist Palace.

Not all Third-Rank Youyi Daoists could become Deputy Hall Masters, Deputy Mansion Masters, or Deputy Palace Masters. A considerable number simply held positions as Superintendent. However, the Wanxiang Daoist Palace was somewhat unique. Compared to other Daoist Palaces and Daoist Mansions, its hierarchy was far more structured and stratified.

Wanxiang Daoist Palace categorized its instructors into five ranks: Special-Rank Golden-Purple Instructor, Golden-Purple Instructor, Silver-Green Instructor, Regular Instructor, and Assistant Instructor. These ranks did not directly correspond to the positions of Superintendents and Deacons but rather aligned with their cultivation.

Generally speaking, Special-Rank Golden-Purple Instructors were third-rank Youyi Daoists, Golden-Purple Instructors were fourth-rank Jijiu Daoists, Silver-Green Instructors were fifth-rank Daoists, Regular Instructors were sixth-rank Daoists, and Assistant Instructors were seventh-rank Daoists.

When Qi Xuansu was in the Lower Palace, it was the Assistant Instructors who managed their daily lives and miscellaneous affairs, while the Regular Instructors handled their lessons. The Silver-Green Instructors rarely taught classes because they primarily managed Lower Palace administrative affairs and disciplined troublemaking students. Their role was somewhat akin to the Deputy Palace Masters in the Upper Palace.

Due to this, the Lower Palace students feared the Silver-Green Instructors most and were closest to the Assistant Instructors.

In the Upper Palace, the Golden-Purple Instructors took over the administrative duties. Ning Yuqing was of this rank. However, unlike Assistant Instructors, they did not personally handle every task. They had subordinate instructors under their command. Their primary role was to coordinate with fourth-rank Jijiu Daoists who came to the Upper Palace for training and to delegate tasks accordingly.

Special-Rank Golden-Purple Instructors primarily focused on teaching the Upper Palace students. The Deputy Palace Masters occasionally taught, but mostly handled the Wanxiang Daoist Palace’s affairs.

Understanding the instructor hierarchy of the Wanxiang Daoist Palace clarified why Zhang Juyan and other Special-Rank Golden-Purple Instructors were referred to as Assistant Deputy Palace Masters.

Qi Xuansu quickly arrived at Dui Garden, the residential area for high-ranking instructors. Ning Yuqing did not live here because she resided with her uncle, Ning Lingyun. Her living arrangement was a matter of family ties rather than any explicit privilege granted by the Wanxiang Daoist Palace.

Following the details on the document, Qi Xuansu located Zhang Juyan’s two-entry residence. He looked past the outer walls and could faintly see the two-story pavilion inside. Unlike the densely packed districts of Jade Capital’s Upper Eight Blocks due to the scarcity and value of the land, this place was relatively spacious.

Qi Xuansu stepped forward and pulled the thin cord connected to the bronze bell.

A moment later, a Daoist believer tasked with managing the daily affairs of Special-Rank Golden-Purple Instructors opened the gate and respectfully inquired, “How may I assist you, Mage?”

Qi Xuansu replied, “Please inform High Mage Zhang that Qi Xuansu, the Superintendent of Ziwei Hall, has come to pay a visit.”

The Daoist believer acknowledged the request and turned to go inside. Shortly after, he returned and said, “Please follow me, Mage.”

Qi Xuansu followed the attendant to the main hall on the first floor, where a middle-aged Daoist stepped forward to greet him. This was not their first encounter, but Qi Xuansu was quick to clasp his hands in salutation.

He greeted the middle-aged Daoist. “High Mage Zhang, please accept my apologies for not visiting you sooner. Qing Xiao left for Jade Capital to attend the Three Religions Assembly, so I didn’t have the chance to properly learn of your connection. It was only today that I realized you and Qing Xiao belong to the same family.”

“You are too polite, Mage Qi,” Zhang Juyan replied, gesturing for Qi Xuansu to enter.