A Pawn's Passage

Shi Bingyun clapped her hands. Soon, a stream of servants flowed in, presenting an array of exquisite tableware. There was high-quality Guan ware porcelain with a crackled glazed surface that was as thin as paper. At first glance, it was entirely blue, but closer inspection revealed a faint pink hue beneath the glaze. The chopsticks were ivory inlaid with silver, their silver tips polished to a bright shine, and the ivory shafts glowed with a soft golden luster.

As for the delicacies they held, each dish was so refined and delicate that it made one hesitant to disturb their presentation.

To be fair, Qi Xuansu now had a modest fortune. An annual income of 3,600 Taiping coins was no small sum, enough to guarantee an ordinary family a lifetime of prosperity. Even so, it was not nearly enough to afford this kind of luxury.

As a superintendent, Qi Xuansu had only one attendant assigned to take care of daily chores. After all, he could not be expected to do the laundry or cook meals himself because he was busy working day and night while also maintaining his cultivation. He barely had time. But that was the extent of the service he was provided. Everything else beyond that, he had to handle personally. The Daoist Order promoted frugality, so luxuries like personal maids or servants were privileges reserved for court nobles. Even as the Grand Master, such indulgences would be frowned upon.

It was no wonder the Imperial Capital Daoist Mansion had declined so rapidly in the past. Once accustomed to such grandeur, how could one remain grounded?

Just imagine—a Daoist superintendent witnessing court officials of equal rank barking orders at servants, with concubines aplenty. Meanwhile, he was stuck with one attendant and a Daoist companion whom he had to treat as an equal. He could not even throw a tantrum, lest she scold him. How could the Daoist priest not feel envious?

Court officials were no different. They saw lowly merchants living in splendor, surrounded by riches, servants, and beauties, spending without care. Meanwhile, their own modest salaries barely covered their family expenses and a few aging servants. Their sense of imbalance was even more severe than that of the Daoist priests.

The road to corruption often starts when that balance tips. It was not poverty, but inequality, that bred resentment. Comparison was what corrupted the heart.

People often say that women were vain, but men were no better, as vanity was all part of human nature.

Shi Bingyun chuckled. “I wouldn’t dare break the rules by using this many servants. These are all Old Qin’s people. He and I aren’t married. We’re just close friends, so even the Fengxian Hall can’t accuse me of misconduct.”

Qi Xuansu laughed dryly.

Government officials were barred from doing business, so they let their brothers or in-laws run businesses instead, while they simply “provided support.” It was a similar trick that was as old as Earth itself.

Qi Xuansu was still new to power and had yet to taste its subtle temptations. With time, he would come to understand how difficult it was for someone like Zhang Yuelu to remain frugal amidst such an environment.

“I’ve heard Old Shi mention your name many times, Tian Yuan, so I’ve long wished to meet you. But you were busy restoring order. Now that we’ve finally met, I consider this a wish fulfilled.” Qin Quanyi was easygoing and not at all aloof like one would expect a powerful prince to be. He seemed like any ordinary elder.

Meanwhile, Qi Xuansu was just surprised by how they addressed each other. Shi Bingyun called Qin Quanyi “Old Qin,” and he called her “Old Shi.” They gave off the feeling of an old married couple, yet at the same time, like old friends. Their interaction was natural and enviable.

They were also well-matched in status and complementary as partners. Shi Bingyun’s influence within the Imperial Capital Daoist Mansion had grown thanks to Prince Jin’s support. In turn, Qin Quanyi benefited from the Zhengyi Sect’s backing, which helped stabilize his position in the Imperial Court.

Qi Xuansu quickly offered some polite words and adopted a deferential attitude. It was clear both Qin Quanyi and Shi Bingyun were deliberately downplaying their political backgrounds. Thus, Qi Xuansu was tactful enough to position himself as a junior, rather than interacting with them based on his office.

The pufferfish soup was delicious, and so were the eight small plates of pickled vegetables, known as the Eight Treasure Pickles. Said to be pricier than beef, these exquisite pickled vegetables came from the centuries-old establishment called Liuxinju, which had been around since the Wei Dynasty. Multiple emperors over 400 years in the past and present had reportedly eaten their pickles. Naturally, Prince Jin used only the best to host this banquet. Each pickle dish was carefully selected by origin, season, ingredients, sauce, serving ware, and even water source. Each plate cost 10 Taiping coins, making the eight pickled dishes the cheapest item on the table.

Then there was the Dreaming Death, a wine so precious even Zhang Yuelu was reluctant to open it. Yet from Shi Bingyun’s tone, Qin Quanyi had quite a collection in his wine cellar.

Altogether, the meal and the wine had likely cost at least thousands of Taiping coins. What more could Qi Xuansu say? This was what overwhelming luxury looked like. It was a shame Zhang Yuelu did not come along—no wonder Shi Bingyun had said it was Zhang Yuelu’s loss.

After the meal, it was time to discuss serious matters.

Qin Quanyi was also curious about the Gao Mingyin case. He asked, “I heard from Old Shi that someone quite formidable is involved behind the scenes?”

For a prince of his stature, there were not many “formidable figures” in the capital. Aside from the Emperor, others were at best his equals. So his tone held a trace of sarcasm, suggesting that the influence of the Li family had grown widespread.

Qi Xuansu understood the implication. Prince Jin clearly did not get along with Prince Liao. He replied, “A man named Wen Weng. He’s the chief administrator of Prince Liao’s household.”

Qin Quanyi remarked, “So this case involves Prince Liao, then. I’ve heard of him. He handles many matters in the prince’s household.”

Qi Xuansu hesitated, not daring to make a definitive statement. “It’s not my place to comment on the royal family.”

Prince Jin smiled and did not press the issue. Instead, he asked, “Tian Yuan, I’ve heard you use a horizontal blade instead of a sword?”

Qi Xuansu replied, “Yes, I used to follow the crowd and wield a sword. But after a few years as a wild priest roaming around Jianghu, I found horizontal blades to be more practical. So I began using both. After meeting Qing Xiao, I learned the Dayan Spirit Blade Technique from her and gave up the sword completely. Later, when I studied at the Upper Palace, Elder Sun granted me the privilege of learning Song Zheng’s Demonic Blade. That’s when I truly stepped into mastery of blades and gained some real insight.”

Qin Quanyi nodded. “As the saying goes, a fine blade should go to a worthy warrior. Since you like blades, I happen to have a gift for you.”

As he spoke, Qin Quanyi retrieved a sheathed horizontal blade from his magical receptacle that was about 75 centimeters long, ornately decorated with a dragon-and-phoenix ring on the hilt. It was remarkably similar to Qi Xuansu’s own blade, the Flying Shadow.

Qin Quanyi was also a cultivator. He casually unsheathed the blade, releasing a chilling aura that rushed out like a wintry gust. He explained, “This blade is named the Flying White Shadow, a mid-grade treasure.”

Qi Xuansu immediately remembered that when he first purchased the Flying Shadow from the black market, the seller had mentioned that it was part of a pair. The other was called the Flying White Shadow, but it was not in their possession. Qi Xuansu never imagined he would see its twin here.

Qin Quanyi continued, “The Flying Shadow is razor-sharp, able to slice through hairs and metals with ease, but its flaw lies in brittleness. It lacks durability, so it could break against treasure blades, making it unfit for direct clashes. That’s why it’s only considered a spiritual object instead of a treasure. However, Flying White Shadow remedies this. It’s tough and resilient, infused with cold energy. When infused with innate qi, it releases icy power. Wounds from this blade can freeze blood, block meridians, and even snuff out one’s vitality.”

Qi Xuansu’s eyes were already gleaming. To say he was not tempted would be a lie. Since becoming a Heavenly Being, he could handle Xiantian Beings without a weapon. But against other Heavenly Beings, Flying Shadow was no longer sufficient. He badly needed a blade capable of matching such power. The added cold energy made it even more desirable because he still remembered how Qi Jianyuan had died.

But there was a problem. He remembered that Flying Shadow had cost 4,000 Taiping coins. As its higher-grade counterpart, Flying White Shadow would cost even more, at least 8,000 or even 10,000 Taiping coins. That was far beyond the bounds of ordinary gift-giving. If Qi Xuansu accepted it rashly, he would be crossing a line, and if Fengxian Hall caught wind of this, he would be in serious trouble.

Qi Xuansu knew the stakes and respectfully declined, “I appreciate your generosity, but this gift is far too valuable. I truly can’t accept it, Your Highness. I hope you will understand.”

Qin Quanyi had already anticipated this response. He smiled and explained, “I’m already aware of your encounter with the Tianchen Division and have reported it to the Emperor. A few of their superintendents have been punished due to the incident. Consider this Flying White Shadow their apology to you, so you may accept it without worries.”

Still hesitant, Qi Xuansu looked toward Shi Bingyun.

Shi Bingyun reassured him. “The blade has been officially recorded in the books, so it’s not against the rules. Prince Jin is expressing his appreciation for you, so go ahead and accept it!”

Only then did Qi Xuansu receive the blade with both hands. He bowed slightly, all the while holding the blade above his head. “Thank you for your generosity, Prince Jin.”

Qin Quanyi waved it off. “No need for such formality, Tian Yuan. It’s just a blade, nothing grand.”

Qi Xuansu remained silent, thinking to himself, A banquet worth thousands of Taiping coins was ’just lunch,’ and a blade worth 10,000 Taiping coins was ’nothing grand.’ This was what it meant to be truly wealthy.

Compared to these nobles, Qi Xuansu was indeed a bumpkin.

Qi Xuansu stood upright and unsheathed the blade by 10 centimeters. The gleam of cold steel lit up his face, and his eyes were reflected on the narrow blade.

“Tian Yuan, with undercurrents roiling through the capital, I look forward to seeing you use this blade to cleanse the filth from the city.” Qin Quanyi offered his encouragement.

Qi Xuansu felt a sudden clarity and nodded in response.