A Pawn's Passage

Qi Xuansu felt as though he had been dreaming for a very, very long time.

His mind was conscious yet separated from the real world by a thick barrier, like trying to view flowers through the fog or frosted glass. Everything was hazy and indistinct. He could hear some sounds beyond the barrier, but they were muffled, fragmented, and unclear.

The key point was that Qi Xuansu had lost control of his body. He was merely a spectator.

In truth, after the divine descent, Qi Xuansu’s consciousness had withdrawn into the Longevity Stone Heart. This was why he felt surrounded by a dense barrier. With the protection of the Longevity Stone Heart, even a Pseudo-Immortal would find it difficult to harm his soul, unless they were willing to plunge their own soul deep into the stone to seek him out.

Back then, the Golden Horde Imperial Preceptor had forged the Longevity Stone Heart and used it to survive his first heavenly tribulation. Afterward, his strength was greatly diminished, and he was slain by Xu Wugui and Tantai Yun in a joint attack. His soul then hid within the Longevity Stone Heart until many years later, when the Holy Xuan finally annihilated it completely.

In this respect, Qi Xuansu’s Longevity Stone Heart was no different from Li Changge’s. They both functioned to protect the soul.

This was precisely why Madam Qi and Sage Donghua had no qualms about choosing Qi Xuansu as the vessel for the divine descent.

Just like many elders or parents in the world, they only needed the child to follow the prescribed path. There was no need to explain everything, as they had already calculated all the odds.

Of course, one could put it another way. Sage Donghua and Madam Qi had long anticipated that the Anchor the Monkey operation would leak, just as the Imperial Court’s Wuxing Mountain plan had. That was why only the architects of the plan knew its core details, and everyone else was but a chess piece.

In short, Qi Xuansu had completed a divine descent while being completely unaware and unprepared.

Due to the Manly Immortal lineage’s deep study of the human body, the Daoist Order had long compiled comprehensive principles for every organ, from which they developed various artificial substitutes. As such, the Longevity Stone Heart shared some of the heart’s physiological functions.

Once True Lord Ziguang’s consciousness departed from Qi Xuansu’s body, the Longevity Stone Heart began to beat like a real heart. The difference was that while an ordinary heart circulated blood and qi, the Longevity Stone Heart cycled the soul. When an external consciousness invaded, it would draw in the soul to protect it, and once the intruder left, it would expel the soul and restore it to its rightful place.

Qi Xuansu lost consciousness when his soul was expelled from the Longevity Stone Heart.

When he finally awoke, he had regained control over his body and reestablished his connection with every acupoint and body spirit. What filled his eyes was the vast starry sky.

Not a single wisp of cloud obstructed the sky, and countless stars were scattered above.

The snow and thunder had stopped at some point, leaving the surroundings in utter silence.

Qi Xuansu had not felt this relaxed in a long time. It had also been ages since he last lay on the ground to stargaze. He could barely recall the last time. Ten years ago? Or fifteen? Also, since when did the ground become so soft?

Only then did Qi Xuansu realize that he was not lying on the ground at all. He was resting in someone’s embrace.

To be precise, it was a woman’s embrace. After all, men did not possess this kind of softness.

Who could this woman be?

Based on his general sense of certain feminine attributes, Qi Xuansu could conclude it was neither Madam Qi nor Yao Pei. Though he had never behaved inappropriately with any woman nor had any improper thoughts, occasional glimpses during everyday interactions made it easy enough to distinguish. Generally speaking, Madam Qi was more well-endowed, and Yao Pei much less so. This woman was somewhere in between.

It could only be Zhang Yuelu.

Qi Xuansu was not a lecherous man. If it had been anyone else, he probably would have gotten up right away. But since it was Zhang Yuelu, he felt it was perfectly justified.

Thus, he continued to enjoy the soft embrace and warm fragrance, closing his eyes once more.

Before long, faint sounds of firecrackers echoed from afar.

Qi Xuansu opened his eyes again.

Zhang Yuelu said, “You’re awake.”

Qi Xuansu could no longer feign sleep and responded with a quiet “mhmm.”

“How are you feeling now?” Zhang Yuelu’s tone was gentle and caring.

Qi Xuansu thought for a moment and deliberately said, “My limbs aren’t obeying me.”

Though most of Qi Xuansu’s injuries, like his broken leg, had been healed after True Lord Ziguang descended, Zhang Yuelu did not know the details. She simply assumed that Qin Quanxiao had been too ruthless, and hidden damage still lingered.

So Zhang Yuelu did not urge him to get up and simply adjusted her posture slightly.

She knelt on the ground, letting Qi Xuansu rest his head on her joined knees.

Qi Xuansu lay on the ground with his head resting on Zhang Yuelu’s thighs. If he looked up from this angle, he could see not only the starry sky but also Zhang Yuelu’s face.

Zhang Yuelu had a balanced figure with proportionate curves, nowhere near the point of not being able to see her toes when she looked down while standing.

At this time, Zhang Yuelu leaned down slightly, lowering her head to gaze at Qi Xuansu.

Even in the dead of night, her eyes still shone brightly.

Behind her was the vast starry sky. Her eyes mirrored the stars, as if about to merge with the cosmos.

To Qi Xuansu, those very eyes were the brightest stars in the night, and his absolute favorite. He found them utterly mesmerizing. As he stared into them, he felt like a drowning man slowly sinking into gentle waters.

Zhang Yuelu reached out with both hands, cupping Qi Xuansu’s face. Her fingertips were slightly cold.

The cool sensation seeped into his skin, while his warmth passed into her fingers.

Qi Xuansu did not know if it was his imagination, but Zhang Yuelu’s head seemed to lower slightly. The distance between them shrank just a little more.

Even the cold night breeze softened, tiptoeing quietly for fear of disturbing such rare serenity.

Their faces drew closer and closer until they could feel each other’s breath.

Zhang Yuelu gazed into Qi Xuansu’s eyes as if reminiscing or perhaps marveling at the moment.

This time last year, they had parted in life and death. A year later, they were still together.

Not long ago, she had nearly believed she would lose him again, repeating the same painful mistake.

At that moment, overwhelming regret nearly consumed her. All she could think was, Why didn’t I insist on taking the key? Why did I let him take that metal disc?!

It might sound cliché, but in that moment, countless thoughts flashed through her mind. She even thought that if only he survived, she would no longer hold it against him for keeping secrets or even lying to her.

Fortunately, the outcome turned out well in the end. She had not lost him.

“Tian Yuan...” Zhang Yuelu whispered, “Don’t risk your life like that again. We still have to go to Zixiao Palace together.”

Qi Xuansu replied in a murmur, “I’ll take you to Zixiao Palace.”

In the direction of the Imperial Capital, a massive Yinglong Warship was slowly ascending into the sky.

Countless vapors rose, turning into snow and wind, intertwining with the fireworks.

“I don’t want you to die.” Zhang Yuelu stared straight into Qi Xuansu’s eyes.

“I won’t die.” Qi Xuansu returned her gaze, looking into her eyes just as intently.

Zhang Yuelu’s lashes quivered faintly as her eyelids closed.

She leaned down.

Amid the colorful, booming fireworks and under the star-filled sky, their lips met.

The bright moon seemed to shy away, vanishing from sight.

The grand fireworks display over the Imperial Capital reached its climax, its brilliance nearly eclipsing the entire night sky.

So soft. This was Qi Xuansu’s first impression.

A little cold, too. This was Qi Xuansu’s second impression.

It was not a fleeting touch. It lingered for just the right amount of time, long enough for Qi Xuansu to savor it.

Yet Qi Xuansu did not seize the initiative by wrapping his arms around Zhang Yuelu’s neck or trying to deepen the kiss. He simply held her face gently in return.

This was Zhang Yuelu’s moment, and he respected her will.

He did not know how long it lasted, but their lips eventually parted.

A faint blush rose on Zhang Yuelu’s face, accompanied by a subtle smile. Zhang Yuelu was conservative, but she was not shy or coy. She met Qi Xuansu’s gaze boldly, without a hint of retreat.

Qi Xuansu teased, “I once read a line somewhere, I don’t remember where exactly, but the gist of it was this: when a young man and woman’s unspoken crush is exposed, there’s one part embarrassment, one part denial, two parts joy, three parts worry, and three parts longing for the future.”

Zhang Yuelu asked, “Do we have an unspoken crush?”

Qi Xuansu replied, “No, we share mutual feelings. But we traded the denial and shyness for double the joy.”

Zhang Yuelu asked softly, “What are you worried about, then?”

Qi Xuansu answered matter-of-factly, “Naturally, I worry about the classic conflicts between mother-in-law and daughter-in-law, or father-in-law and son-in-law.”

Zhang Yuelu wanted to retort, but upon thinking it through, she found herself at a loss for words.

Qi Xuansu turned his head toward the direction of the Imperial Capital’s countless fireworks and asked, “Are we on the summit of Wuxing Mountain?”

“Yes.” Zhang Yuelu nodded.

Qi Xuansu asked again, “Where are the others?”

Zhang Yuelu replied, “They’ve gone their own ways. I saw Madam Qi earlier, but we didn’t speak. She left with Su Yi.”

Qi Xuansu suddenly realized why Madam Qi had always been cold toward Zhang Yuelu. Ideological differences were one thing. It was more likely because Madam Qi could not bear seeing him risk his life for Zhang Yuelu over and over again. Most mothers in this world felt the same. They did not want the child they raised through hardship to throw away their life for another woman. Thus, resentment was inevitable.

But Qi Xuansu quickly brushed the thought away, sat up, scooted back a bit, and then wrapped an arm around Zhang Yuelu. “Forget them. I prefer it when we’re alone. Just as well, we can watch the fireworks together.”

At the base of the mountain, Lin Yuanmiao was silently sniffing his snuff bottle, his expression blank.