A Pawn's Passage

Qi Xuansu believed that there were two sides to everything. Take the death of Gao Mingyin, for example—the downside was the loss of a key witness and the severance of many leads. But the upside was that a mole within the Imperial Capital Daoist Mansion had likely revealed themself. If the cause of death could be determined and the killer identified, this could lead to a major breakthrough.

It was like two people locked in a duel. When they were staring each other down, there were openings everywhere and yet none at all. But once someone struck, there would always be a flaw to exploit.

That was why Qi Xuansu focused all his efforts on uncovering the cause of Gao Mingyin’s death.

Meanwhile, Shi Bingyun had yet to receive any word from Qian Xiangyun. Rumor had it that Deputy Mansion Master Qian was currently away from the Imperial Capital and had gone to Bohai Prefecture.

This was not surprising, as the Imperial Capital Daoist Mansion’s jurisdiction covered many surrounding counties and cities. Sometimes, the Imperial Capital Daoist Mansion was also known as the Zhili Daoist Mansion. Since Bohai Prefecture fell under its domain, Qian Xiangyun’s departure did not technically count as abandoning her post.

Shi Bingyun was not too concerned because Qian Xiangyun could not hide out in Bohai Prefecture forever. She would have to return to the Imperial Capital eventually.

What Shi Bingyun did not expect was that two days would pass without hearing from Qian Xiangyun. Instead, she was greeted by the Mansion Master, Li Ruoshui.

Li Ruoshui had never once involved herself in Gao Mingyin’s case since it was not significant enough to warrant the Mansion Master’s personal attention. A Deputy Mansion Master could easily handle it. Unless, of course, she intended to challenge the authority of the Second Deputy Mansion Master through this case.

Thus, Li Ruoshui’s sudden appearance caught Shi Bingyun off guard and even left her somewhat unprepared.

At first glance, Li Ruoshui looked younger than Shi Bingyun, with a calm and aloof demeanor. She was the stereotypical image that the public had of a Daoist cultivator. But for someone to rise to the rank of Mansion Master, Li Ruoshui could not possibly be indifferent to worldly matters.

Li Ruoshui had someone invite Shi Bingyun into her office. The two women sat across from each other before Li Ruoshui slid a formal letter across the table.

“This is a letter from the Daoist Relations Department.” Li Ruoshui leaned back in her chair, her tone unreadable.

Despite the intense rivalry among the three Daoist sects, not every member treated the others as mortal enemies. Outward civility remained intact, and the Imperial Capital Daoist Mansion was a place where unity was necessary for survival. The relationships among the Mansion Master, Chief Deputy, and Second Deputy were generally harmonious. In fact, with the exception of the Kunlun Daoist Mansion, which was nearest to the Jade Capital, most other Daoist Mansions maintained a similarly polite front.

Shi Bingyun quickly scanned the letter, then slapped the table. “Nonsense! It’s baseless slander.”

Li Ruoshui simply said, “This involves someone from the Buddhist Sect, so it can’t be swept under the rug. We must provide a clear and official explanation.”

Shi Bingyun frowned, read through the official letter once more, and asked, “Then what is your stance on this?”

Li Ruoshui’s answer was concise. “We’ll handle it according to the rules.”

Shi Bingyun pressed further. “What does that mean exactly? Technically speaking, everyone in the Imperial Capital Daoist Mansion falls under your authority. Shouldn’t you at least have some basic judgment about your own subordinates, Mansion Master?”

Li Ruoshui replied, “Judgment should be based on evidence, and all the evidence is contained in the letter you’re holding.”

Shi Bingyun shook the letter in her hand. “You’re telling me this one sheet of paper is enough to define the situation? Superintendent Qi officially took office on October 8th, and Gao Mingyin died on November 1st. It’s only November 3rd today. Superintendent Qi has been in the capital for less than a month and handled only one case, but he was nearly assassinated once. Now, someone’s accusing him of being part of a secret society. Don’t you think that’s suspicious? Could someone be targeting him?”

Li Ruoshui replied, “If what’s stated in this letter is true, then Superintendent Qi did not betray the Daoist Order during this past month in the capital. It would have happened while he was still a deacon at the Tiangang Hall.”

Shi Bingyun stared at Li Ruoshui. “So what you’re implying is that Qi Xuansu betrayed the Daoist Order long ago and that he’s actually a deeply embedded operative from a secret society, right?”

Li Ruoshui was not about to leave herself open to accusation. She clarified, “I’m only stating the facts based on current evidence, without any personal opinion. Whether these facts are ultimately true or false and how the case will be finalized are dependent on the investigation. I invited you over today to offer suggestions on this case. You’ll make the final decision.”

Shi Bingyun fell silent for a moment, then slowly said, “Then let’s hear your opinion.”

“Should we temporarily remove Qi Xuansu from his post? If the accusations turn out to be true, it would prevent greater damage to the Daoist Order. If they’re baseless, then it’s simply a way to help him lay low. After all, the tallest tree catches the wind. He’s made too many enemies lately, so it wouldn’t hurt him to stay out of the spotlight for a while,” Li Ruoshui suggested.

Shi Bingyun understood full well what this meant, but she could not agree outright. “Let me think it over.”

Li Ruoshui added, “This concerns the reputation of the entire Daoist Order, so we must act quickly and minimize the impact. Even if Qi Xuansu is innocent, the longer we hesitate, the more wild rumors will spread. Even if we uncover the truth later, his reputation will already be damaged. I’m sure this isn’t something the Golden Tower Council wishes to see.”

Shi Bingyun fired back. “Since you’ve brought up the Golden Tower Council, I’ll mention this too. Qi Xuansu is only a temporary transfer from Ziwei Hall. While he technically reports to me, in truth, he’s under the direct oversight of Sage Donghua. If something like this has occurred, making any rash decision without notifying Sage Donghua wouldn’t be appropriate. Let’s not forget that Sage Donghua isn’t just the Ziwei Hall Master. He’s also the Chief Omniscient Sage of the Golden Tower Council.”

That was precisely why Li Ruoshui had framed her approach as a consultation rather than a direct order. The key issue was Qi Xuansu’s borrowed status and formal affiliation with Ziwei Hall, as seen from his insignia. It was not just about his personal connections with Sage Donghua.

Li Ruoshui’s tone grew heavier. “I have already thought it through. I am merely suggesting a suspension of Superintendent Qi’s active duties. I’m not suggesting we strip him of his position. It’s simply a matter of putting aside what he’s currently handling. Since he is a Superintendent of Ziwei Hall, I certainly have no authority over whatever duties he has there, so we would need to consult Sage Donghua if we were to formally remove him from his post. But this current case with Gao Mingyin is under the jurisdiction of the Imperial Capital Daoist Mansion. Are you saying that I can’t even handle such a small matter without asking Sage Donghua for permission? Sage Donghua may be the Chief Omniscient Sage, but he’s not the Grand Master.”

Shi Bingyun fell silent for a moment, unable to find a retort.

In terms of rank and status, the Chief Omniscient Sage did outrank an ordinary Sage, but there was no formal hierarchy between the two. Within the territory of the Imperial Capital Daoist Mansion, Mansion Master Li Ruoshui would still hold more command.

While local Mansion Masters needed to maintain cordial relations with the Nine Hall Masters, they were not required to carry out orders from the latter. Setting aside matters of personal allegiance, only the Grand Master and the Golden Tower Council had the authority to issue decrees. Sage Donghua did not represent the entire Golden Tower Council.

But Shi Bingyun was far from willing to concede just yet. For a moment, the two women were locked in a stalemate.

After a while, Li Ruoshui softened her tone. “It took both of us great effort to rebuild the Imperial Capital Daoist Mansion from what was once a complete mess. Getting to where we are today hasn’t been easy. No one wants to see a mistake ruin everything we’ve built. So, in the interest of the greater good, let Qi Xuansu pause his assignments for now. After all, if something does go wrong, it won’t be Sage Donghua who bears the consequences.”

Even Li Ruoshui had to make some concessions when facing Shi Bingyun. She emphasized only a suspension of Qi Xuansu’s current duties, carefully avoiding any mention of further consequences.

Shi Bingyun pressed on, “So how long is this so-called ‘suspension’ meant to last? There must be a timeline.”

“That depends on how soon the truth can be uncovered.”

Shi Bingyun’s anger flared again. “If this accusation had come from within the Daoist Order, I could understand. At least then, it would be from one of our own. But this is from a Buddhist monk. How can we treat his word as valid evidence? The Buddhist Sect has harbored wolfish ambition for years. Mansion Master, you can’t possibly be unaware of the true nature of our relationship with them, right?”

Li Ruoshui was unrelenting as well. “But on the surface, the Daoist Order and the Buddhist Sect have ceased hostilities. We’ve already shaken hands in peace, and the Three Religions Assembly stands as proof. So no matter what we may think in private, we mustn’t treat a Buddhist’s testimony as nonsense in public. We must take it seriously and provide a clear response. As for how the truth is uncovered or how long it takes, that’s not your or my concern. That’s the business of Fengxian Hall. If everything checks out, then we’ll be clearing Qi Xuansu’s name in the process.”

Shi Bingyun rose in fury, with both hands braced against the desk and her body leaning slightly forward. “I don’t agree! I don’t accept this, especially at a time like this. The Imperial Capital is seething with undercurrents, with multiple factions stirring up the waters. Gao Mingyin’s case clearly involves some influential figure. That’s why they’ve resorted to such tactics. If you insist, Mansion Master, then let’s submit both our opinions to the Golden Tower Council and let them decide. As for Qi Xuansu, I’ll be reporting the matter in full to the current Great Sage Lunzhi as well.”

Li Ruoshui narrowed her eyes. “Very well.”

The two female Sages locked eyes, neither willing to yield.

After a moment, Li Ruoshui finally took a step back and softened her stance. “How about this—we won’t let Fengxian Hall get involved for now. We simply suspend Qi Xuansu’s responsibilities as superintendent and keep him within the Yuhuang Palace for the time being while we wait for the Golden Tower Council’s decision. How does that sound?”

Shi Bingyun closed her eyes briefly and exhaled a breath of frustration. “Fine.”