A Pawn's Passage

Qi Xuansu had always belonged to the class of Daoist priests. He was now a high-ranking Daoist. Though still beneath the true upper echelons of Sages, he was firmly in the middle ranks.

This granted him a certain level of freedom, like being exempt from certain rules and unrestricted by rigid regulations. In other words, he had gained special privileges.

Everyone despised privilege until they benefited from it.

Qi Xuansu had once felt the same way. But today, he was grateful for this privilege. For a commoner, raising their voice in court was a crime. Colliding with an official’s procession was a crime. Daring to challenge a Garrison Chief Military Officer was not just a crime, but also a direct defiance of imperial law. If Qi Xuansu were a commoner, Zhao Fu’an would not even need to show himself to apprehend Qi Xuansu. His Black Robes subordinates could simply suppress and dispose of the offender.

But as a high-ranking Daoist, raising his voice in court was merely speaking passionately, and colliding with an official procession was just a misunderstanding. Zhao Fu’an would never dare have his men suppress Qi Xuansu because the consequences would be too severe. The Daoist Order would want him killed, and the Imperial Court would not be able to protect him.

Thus, Qi Xuansu stood there boldly, in his fourth-rank Daoist uniform. The Daoist hechang was a broad-sleeved robe with a symmetrical front. He loosened the ties of his robe, leaving it half open, letting the autumn wind rustle his garments. Had this been a formal occasion, it would have been deemed improper attire, and the disciplinary Daoists of the Ciji Hall would have issued him a warning.

But at this moment, no one from the Ciji Hall was present. For the first time in a long while, Qi Xuansu felt the thrill of his old life returning—free, untamed, governed by nothing but his own will.

The two of them stood there, seemingly waiting for someone.

The Black Robes guarding the entrance were puzzled. If these two Daoists were acquaintances of the Garrison Chief, why not present their name cards and enter properly? Were they here for a confrontation?

Ji Jiaozhen took another sip of wine, exhaling a breath laced with the bitter scent of medicinal wine.

Before long, several luxurious carriages approached.

“It seems we’ll have a few more spectators.” Ji Jiaozhen chuckled.

Qi Xuansu slowly rolled up his sleeves. “Perfect! I can’t kill Zhao Fu’an, but I can humiliate him. So the more witnesses, the better.”

Moments later, a towering figure appeared atop the steps of the military office, wearing a second-rank court official’s formal robes.

Originally, the position of Garrison Chief Military Officer was not a permanent office but a temporary appointment, lacking a fixed rank. However, in the current dynasty, this temporary role was made permanent. The Garrison Chief Military Officer was an upper-second-rank military official, subordinate to the Governor, a lower-first-rank official just beneath the first-rank cabinet ministers.

Military officials bore embroidered beasts on their robes as symbols of their ferocity. For second-rank officials, the emblem was the Suanni, a mythical creature resembling a lion with a single horn on its head.

In all of Shuzhong Prefecture, only Zhao Fu’an was entitled to wear this second-rank uniform. Thus, whether one recognized him personally or not, his identity was unmistakable at a glance.

Qi Xuansu’s gaze instantly locked onto him.

Perhaps sensing Qi Xuansu’s intense stare, Zhao Fu’an did not exchange formal greetings with the dignitaries stepping out of their carriages. Instead, he turned his gaze toward Qi Xuansu.

The officials who had just stepped out of their carriages noticed the strange tension in the air. Following Zhao Fu’an’s line of sight, they turned to see what had caught his attention—two Daoists approaching them.

The vast courtyard fell into utter silence. Only the autumn wind could be heard.

Zhao Fu’an had a good memory, instantly recognizing the two uninvited guests. One was the young Daoist whose arm he had broken. The other was the old Daoist who had broken his arm in return.

It was no surprise that these two Daoists knew each other or that the old Daoist had stood up for the young one.

Zhao Fu’an had not been the old Daoist’s match, so he had accepted his broken arm without complaint.

But based on the unspoken rules of the world, that should have settled the score. They were even now. Continuing to pursue this grudge would only exacerbate the matter.

But Zhao Fu’an highly doubted these two had come for a friendly reconciliation.

After their previous encounter, Zhao Fu’an conducted an investigation into the old Daoist who broke his arm. He was a member of the Ji family, one of the noble families of the Quanzhen Sect. He was also an ordinary Sage of the second rank and a Deputy Mansion Master of the Shuzhou Daoist Mansion.

Getting revenge against this old Daoist was not easy because it was equivalent to pulling on a vast, tangled web of power, which would set countless forces in motion.

Zhao Fu’an thought to himself, This young Daoist seems far from ordinary as well. He had been traveling with the Daoist prodigy Zhang Yuelu. Now, he has a Daoist Novice License at his waist, signifying his fourth rank. Given his association with Ji Jiaozhen, this Qi boy is most likely from the Qi family of the Quanzhen Sect. Ugh, the price of impulsiveness...

Zhao Fu’an knew he had acted rashly before, so now, he did not dare speak first.

Instead, Qi Xuansu stepped forward. His voice was calm, yet filled with an unmistakable threat. “General Zhao, we meet again after our last parting in Baidi City.”

Zhao Fu’an’s gaze was fixed on Qi Xuansu. “We have yet to be formally introduced.”

He emphasized “formally” with deliberate weight.

Qi Xuansu replied casually, “I’m Qi Xuansu, fourth-rank Jijiu Daoist master of the Quanzhen Sect currently holding the position of Superintendent in Ziwei Hall. Pleased to meet you.”

Despite his words, Qi Xuansu made no effort to bow. Instead, his hands rested arrogantly on his hips, exuding complete defiance.

Zhao Fu’an sighed. “A fourth-rank Jijiu Daoist master before 30, stationed within the most prestigious of the Nine Halls. You have unlimited potential.”

Qi Xuansu chuckled. “What good is unlimited potential? The future does nothing for the present. Even if I one day become an Omniscient Sage, that wouldn’t have stopped me from getting beaten down like a stray dog before. People say Deputy Hall Master Zhang has a real shot at becoming the eighth-generation Grand Master. But so what? Did that stop her from swallowing her pride in Baidi City? If we’re talking about unlimited potential, no one’s future is brighter than the Crown Prince’s. But even so, you wouldn’t dare treat the Crown Prince as the Emperor, would you? If you do, the Emperor wouldn’t be pleased.”

Ji Jiaozhen remained silent, with his hands clasped behind his back.

Zhao Fu’an’s expression darkened. “Mage Qi, your words are highly inappropriate.”

Qi Xuansu shrugged. “Inappropriate? So be it. I follow the laws of Ziwei Hall, beyond the reach of the local Daoist authorities. If you have concerns, feel free to submit a formal complaint to the Daoist Ciji Hall. They will forward it to the Daoist Fengxian Hall for review. Of course, according to Daoist law, Fengxian Hall has investigative authority but no right to make arrests. If they want to investigate me, they’ll need approval from my direct superiors. If Ziwei Hall declines, this matter must then be escalated to the Golden Tower Council for formal arbitration.”

This was Qi Xuansu’s strength—learning by exposure. A man who once only knew how to swing his blade and travel the world could now speak the language of bureaucrats with ease after witnessing enough of the political world.

Zhao Fu’an gulped but said nothing.

Qi Xuansu continued, “The Daoist Order prides itself on upholding the rule of law, so everything must follow proper procedure. Take our little situation, for example. You broke my arm just to obstruct an investigation. That was rather unruly, don’t you think? But unlike you, I can’t afford to be unruly. If I were to respond in kind, people might say I was no different from you. Worse still, my so-called ‘cultured’ peers might start calling me a brute.”

Zhao Fu’an’s face darkened further.

Even Ji Jiaozhen could not help but laugh.

Qi Xuansu’s words carried the distinct style of the Li family—both mocking Zhao Fu’an and taking a jab at certain Daoists. Of course, if Ji Jiaozhen were to take this seriously, he himself would fall into the same category, since breaking Zhao Fu’an’s arm was equally unruly. But Ji Jiaozhen did not mind. In fact, he found it rather amusing.

At that moment, a woman from among the officials stepping out of their carriages asked, “Just what exactly are you trying to do?”

Qi Xuansu looked in the direction of the voice and saw a young noblewoman. She was not quite at the age of Zhang Yuelu or Yao Pei, still carrying a hint of naivety along with the untempered spirit of the ignorant youth.

He did not smile. Though his gaze rested on the young noblewoman, his words were directed at Zhao Fu’an. “I intend to reclaim what is owed to me, by means that are entirely within the rules.”

Ji Jiaozhen, who had remained silent until now, finally spoke. “General Zhao, if you also wish to reclaim something from me, I would be more than willing to oblige, at another time. Today, I am merely here as a witness.”

Qi Xuansu deliberately concealed his true strength, not revealing a trace of his Heavenly Being aura. He only allowed his Martial Arts Practitioner’s lineage to show. Without his body spirit, even with his intense blood qi, he would appear no stronger than a Guizhen-stage Martial Arts Practitioner.

His advancement to the Xiaoyao stage was known only to a select few. This was precisely why he had rushed to confront Zhao Fu’an before word spread. If Zhao Fu’an discovered the truth beforehand, he would never take the bait.

For a seasoned government official like Zhao Fu’an, bending and enduring when necessary was second nature. Qi Xuansu could not force him into a fight, nor could he kill him outright. Thus, this was the best approach he could devise under these circumstances.

Qi Xuansu cut to the chase. “The Daoist Order has long upheld the tradition of private duels. As long as both parties consent and no one is killed, the fight remains within the bounds of the law. Though you are not a Daoist, I understand that the Imperial Court recognizes this tradition as well. So I’m here today to officially challenge you to a private duel. Surely, you won’t refuse, right, General Zhao?

“With your Heavenly Being cultivation, you would be at least a third-rank, if not second-rank in the Daoist Order. You wouldn’t be afraid of a mere fourth-rank Daoist like me, would you?”

Zhao Fu’an did not answer immediately. He was still uncertain and wary because he could not figure out where Qi Xuansu’s confidence was coming from.

Aside from Ji Jiaozhen, the other bystanders were equally perplexed. To them, a young man like Qi Xuansu could not possibly be a Heavenly Being. Such a title belonged to true prodigies like Zhang Yuelu, Yao Pei, or Li Changge, not a nobody like him.

Zhao Fu’an’s gaze drifted to the black firearm hanging at Qi Xuansu’s waist. “That’s the Dragon Painting Pistol. If it’s loaded with a Grade-A Series Eight Dragon Eye Bomb and fired at a vital point, it could kill me outright. I’m curious—where did you obtain such a weapon? Even a third-rank Daoist would struggle to acquire one, let alone a fourth rank. Did Deputy Hall Master Zhang give it to you?”

Qi Xuansu did not answer. Instead, he removed the firearm from his waist and handed it to Ji Jiaozhen. “Sage Ji, please hold onto this for me.”

Then, he turned back to Zhao Fu’an. “General Zhao, I no longer have my Dragon Painting Pistol.”