A Pawn's Passage

Qin Hengde could not help but widen his eyes. What is Qi Xuansu trying to do? Is he planning to clash with the Black Robes?

Ever since the time of the Holy Xuan and Emperor Gaozu, the Daoist Order and the Imperial Court had claimed to be one entity. Though the Spirit Guard and Black Robes belonged to different systems, on a broader scale, they were allies or even comrades-in-arms. If the Spirit Guard and Black Robes clashed, it would be nothing short of internal bloodshed.

Soon, the Spirit Guards had taken control of the entire Oriental Autumn Villa. Guests, prostitutes, and attendants alike were gathered under watch. The rest of the Spirit Guards arranged themselves into formation, using the courtyard’s structure as defense.

These Spirit Guards had only recently been assigned to the Imperial Capital Daoist Mansion. Many were elite soldiers fresh from the Western Region frontlines, seasoned in combat.

Qi Xuansu was so certain the Divine Central Guards would send troops, not because of the reasons he had stated openly, but because he had realized something. Given how cleverly Li Ruoshui had orchestrated everything, she likely ensured nothing was left to chance. Perhaps the moment he led his team out of the Yuhuang Palace, Li Ruoshui had already dispatched someone to inform Commandery Prince Langya that Qi Xuansu was going to strike Oriental Autumn Villa. Faced with such a warning from the Mansion Master, Commandery Prince Langya would not sit idle and would surely come to assert his presence. When the Black Robes arrived to block Qi Xuansu, even if he had not meant to target the prince, he would have a hard time explaining himself.

Not to mention, Li Ruoshui had specifically assigned 300 more Spirit Guards to Qi Xuansu, so who knew if some among them harbored ill intent? When facing the Black Robes, it would be all too easy for a “misfire” to occur, creating an irreversible situation.

This was the complicated entanglement between the Imperial Court and the Daoist Order.

So Qi Xuansu made arrangements to counter this. Of the 300 new Spirit Guards, he left 200 stationed at their original post, far enough from Oriental Autumn Villa to prevent their intervention. If anyone dared to act without orders and caused serious consequences, he could later absolve himself by citing insubordination and unauthorized action. Shi Bingyun and others would then have grounds to retaliate.

Another 100 Spirit Guards were left inside the brothel to oversee the prostitutes, attendants, and guests, not facing the Black Robes directly. The remaining 400 were Shi Bingyun’s men, whom Qi Xuansu could trust.

Qi Xuansu dared to act this way because he had powerful backing. Without the support of Sage Donghua and Shi Bingyun, even if subordinates acted on their own, the blame would still fall on him.

Simply put, facts and logic only mattered when both sides were evenly matched. When strength was lopsided, facts could be ignored, logic became nonsense, and laws became scraps of paper. Only fists held true.

Qin Hengde understood this principle as well.

If Qi Xuansu had no powerful backers, then in the event of a conflict, Qi Xuansu would be branded a rebel, and the Black Robes would suppress the rebellion. Qi Xuansu might even be labeled a cult demon by the end of it.

Unfortunately, Qi Xuansu did have powerful backing. That meant the Black Robes could not define the narrative. After the political wrangling, the incident would likely be labeled a mutual conflict, and both sides would be punished. Qi Xuansu would certainly be implicated, but Qin Hengde’s status as the Commandery Prince’s heir would also be at risk, with a possibility of being demoted to commoner status or even placed under house arrest.

Qi Xuansu was a mad dog who would not let anyone else have peace.

At that thought, Qin Hengde lost his composure and shouted, “Qi Xuansu, though you’re a fourth-rank Jijiu Daoist master and might be influential elsewhere, you’re a nobody in the Imperial Capital! If you stubbornly oppose the Imperial Court, you’ll be squashed like an ant!”

Qi Xuansu could not help but laugh. He could tell Qin Hengde had lost his cool. Otherwise, the noble would not be spouting lines fit for a third-rate villain in a play. Still, Qi Xuansu goaded, “If crushing me is really as simple as squashing an ant, then why not just do it? Why waste your breath? Young Commandery Prince, do you enjoy chatting with ants? How childishly endearing of you to do that.”

When it came to sarcasm, Qi Xuansu certainly seemed to have inherited some of the Li family’s talents.

Provoked by Qi Xuansu’s words, Qin Hengde lost all restraint. “Don’t forget you still have family—parents, wife, children...”

Qi Xuansu scoffed. “Young Commandery Prince, have you said these kinds of threats so often that you forgot I’m an orphan from the Wanxiang Daoist Palace? My master passed away long ago and now rests in the Requiem Division. Deputy Hall Master Zhang is currently investigating a case in the Yuhuang Palace. Are you planning to dig up a grave on Kunlun Mountain? Or use Deputy Hall Master Zhang to threaten me? Honestly speaking, the Deputy Tiangang Hall Master is far more precious than I am. If you want to touch her, you’d better ask the Golden Tower Council if they’ll allow it.”

What Qi Xuansu did not mention was Madam Qi, who was a Pseudo-Immortal in her own right. Even Wu Guangbi and True Lord Siming had not been able to do anything to her. So, Madam Qi was not Qi Xuansu’s weakness; she was his greatest backer.

At the same time, Qi Xuansu silently criticized himself. He had always considered himself a wild Daoist and looked down on those with prestigious backgrounds. How was he any different now? He also had to rely on his backers. In a sense, he had become one of these scions.

But that was the way of the world. Without backing, one could not take a single step upward. At least, aside from Madam Qi, the rest of his support was earned through his own efforts. If he were mediocre, neither Sage Donghua nor Shi Bingyun would back him.

Qin Hengde’s face turned from blue to red, utterly embarrassed.

Just then, the sound of steady galloping approached from afar. The Divine Central Guards Qi Xuansu had anticipated had finally arrived, and there were quite a number of them.

The Director of the Divine Central Guards could summon 20,000 troops with a single command. Meanwhile, the Deputy could easily mobilize several thousand.

Mobilizing the Black Robes within the Imperial Capital was not that big a deal.

The Emperor trusted Prince Liao. Moreover, the Divine Central Guards were merely the outermost layer of the Emperor’s security detail. There were also the Green Phoenix Guard, the Tianchen Division, and the Xuanhui Court, among which there were not only Heavenly Beings but even Pseudo-Immortals.

More importantly, the Emperor also had a high level of cultivation. Both Prince Liao and Prince Jin were Heavenly Beings at the Zaohua stage. Having ruled the empire for 42 years with unshakable stability and being able to stand shoulder to shoulder with the Grand Master of the Daoist Order, the Emperor had no reason to fear a so-called mutiny. As long as no one entered the inner city, the Emperor would not bother with the reckless actions of the Divine Central Guards.

The current reign was called the Jiushi Era, which meant longevity and eternal vision. Over the years, many had speculated whether the Emperor was seeking immortality or if he had already attained it. The debate was endless, but one widely accepted view was that the Emperor was at least a Pseudo-Immortal.

Furthermore, the Divine Central Guards had always held the responsibility of patrolling the city. This time, there were simply more of them.

Qi Xuansu grabbed Qin Hengde by the sleeve.

Qin Hengde flinched like a startled cat and shouted, “What are you doing?!”

“Young Commandery Prince, come with me to greet our guests,” Qi Xuansu said as he dragged Qin Hengde along with big strides.

Oriental Autumn Villa occupied a large area with several entrances and exits. The main building faced a bustling street, leaving no room for the Black Robes to stand in formation. Therefore, the main force of the Divine Central Guards had gathered at the south gate, which had ample space outside as it was used for large carriages.

That was the gate Qi Xuansu headed toward.

“Open the gate,” Qi Xuansu commanded upon reaching the south entrance.

Two fifth-rank Spirit Guards slowly pulled open the heavy doors.

Outside, the Black Robes cavalry surged forward like rolling thunderclouds. Dense hoofbeats struck the ground violently, making the earth tremble. Even the tiny pebbles on the ground were bouncing.

As the gates opened, the cavalry arrived. These well-trained horsemen quickly reined in their steeds and halted one after another, forming a semicircle outside the gate. The horses’ legs stood tall, and the soldiers’ spears were raised high, so straight and endless they seemed like a forest. The sound of rifles being cocked rang out from the rear.

At the same time, the Spirit Guards, holding the high ground and using the courtyard walls as cover, aimed their long rifles at the Black Robes.

Tension was on a knife’s edge. Both sides knew each other well. If a fight broke out, neither could claim certain victory. They were disciples trained under the same master, so it was hard to break each other’s moves.

Qi Xuansu stepped outside the gate of Oriental Autumn Villa, still tugging at Qin Hengde’s sleeve, keeping the young commandery prince close at his side. Behind them stood three dense rows of Spirit Guards, raising their long rifles forward from both flanks. If battle broke out, they would form a classic three-stage rifle formation, ensuring uninterrupted volleys of fire.

The two sides were too close for the cavalry to gain momentum for a charge. It was also cramped, so the riflemen risked being forced into close combat. Both had their disadvantages.

Just then, the cavalry in semicircular formation parted in the middle. A general in heavy pitch-black armor slowly rode forward, with one hand holding the reins and the other a riding crop. He advanced unhurriedly, stopping less than 30 meters from Qi Xuansu.

Ultimately, Commandery Prince Langya did not appear in person. Instead, he sent one of his trusted men.

“I’m Gan Longchi, the Garrison Chief Military Officer of the Divine Central Guards.” The man introduced himself.

Among military ranks, the Garrison Chief Military Officer of the Divine Central Guards held a higher authority compared to their counterparts in the local regions.

Qi Xuansu responded curtly, “Qi Xuansu.”

“I’ve heard about what happened between you and Zhao Fu’an,” Gan Longchi said. “It is indeed rare to see a Heavenly Being so young. But I am not Zhao Fu’an.”

There was little arrogance in his tone. He was merely stating a fact.

Zhao Fu’an was a Heavenly Being in the Xiaoyao stage, while Gan Longchi, as a close aide to the Emperor, was a Heavenly Being in the Wuliang stage.

Such was the Imperial Capital, famed for having even more Heavenly Beings than Jade Capital.

Moreover, the jet-black heavy armor Gan Longchi wore was no ordinary item. It was a top-tier treasure named Darkwater Armor, jointly crafted by the Tianji Hall and Divine Armory. Though it weighed 1,500 kilometers and slowed his movements, when paired with his Martial Arts Practitioners’ physique, it enabled him to face off against even the Grade-A Series Six Phoenix Eye Bomb or the Grade-A Series Seven Dragon Eye Bomb.

The horse capable of bearing such weight was, of course, no ordinary steed. It was a rare Dragon Blood Hybrid.

Qi Xuansu asked, “General Gan, are you proposing a duel with me?”

Gan Longchi replied expressionlessly, “I am a man of war, not skilled in debate, only in battle. This is the Imperial Capital, so we cannot spread out and engage in open combat. Why not emulate the generals in novels and duel before the armies? If you win, I’ll leave immediately. If I win, you’ll do the same.”