A Pawn's Passage

Zhang Yuelu’s figure appeared on the light screen.

Judging from the background, she seemed to be aboard a flying ship, likely not an ordinary one, but the Yinglong Warship.

They skipped formalities. Zhang Yuelu asked directly, “How’s the situation on your end?”

Qi Xuansu gave her a brief recount of his experiences.

Zhang Yuelu’s first reaction mirrored Qi Xuansu’s. “Are you incompatible with flying ships or what?”

Having weathered too many storms, both were numb to such minor misfortunes. There was no relief in surviving and no lingering fear, just more stories to tell.

“I really think so,” Qi Xuansu replied.

Zhang Yuelu’s second reaction also aligned with his. “Why would the flying ship take a route through Izumo Province? There’s definitely something off here.”

Qi Xuansu said, “I thought the same and already discussed it with Li Changge. He was very clear in denying the Li family’s involvement. What do you think?”

Zhang Yuelu paused to ponder before replying, “I agree. The Taiping Sect, or rather, the Li family, lacks motive. If anything, the Zhang family has more reason to sabotage the campaign. My granduncles aren’t exactly benevolent elders. Being forced to back down this time may well push them to strike back. I alone already pose a threat to the main branch of the Zhang family, let alone adding you to the picture. So I suppose eliminating one of us will be the safer bet.

“There’s also the Yao family. Madam Qi is the seventh sibling, while the Earthly Preceptor is the oldest sibling. There are still five other siblings who have either died or retired. But their children are all in their prime and by no means mediocre. Many of them are Sages. How would they view you? They might think you’re taking what should’ve been theirs. After all, the Yao family has limited resources, so what you take only means that much less for others. Yao Pei might not be lacking anything, but whether the rest can get their fill is another matter.

“Not to mention, you’ve clashed with a fair share of scions—the Qi family from Shuzhou, the Wang family from Borneo, and the Yan family from Wuzhou. Once things escalate, the original cause of conflict becomes irrelevant. What matters is the size of the threat. As you grow in power, you pose more of a threat to them, and they will become potential enemies with clear motives.”

Qi Xuansu sighed. “Thinking it over, it makes sense. At my current position, I’m bound to be an obstruction to others. The further I go, the more trouble I’ll face.”

Zhang Yuelu offered some half-hearted comfort. “You’ll get used to it.”

Qi Xuansu was not too worried or distressed. This path would only get narrower until only one person could walk it. Thus, conflict was inevitable. The absence of conflict would be odd. If he feared strife, then he should not have walked this road in the first place.

“Where are you now?” Qi Xuansu asked.

Zhang Yuelu replied, “I’ve already set out to sea. I should arrive at the Fenglin Daoist Mansion by tomorrow.”

Qi Xuansu grinned. “Perfect! I’m scheduled to depart tomorrow, too. See you in Xiujing!”

Zhang Yuelu teased, “Then you’d better be on time, or I’ll ask Li Changge to hand you over.”

Given that it was wartime, the two did not flirt too much, and the conversation ended.

Qi Xuansu put away the license and began his daily qi cultivation.

The next morning, the flying ship arranged by Li Changge arrived right on schedule. Qi Xuansu boarded with the injured group. They bid farewell to Hita Castle and set course for the Daoist army camp in Xiujing.

The journey was uneventful, and they arrived without incident.

Due to the heavy traffic of flying ships and Xiujing’s coastal location, all crafts were required to land over the sea.

As it happened, Qi Xuansu’s flying ship touched down just as the Tiangang Hall’s fleet appeared on the horizon.

Compared to the Donghai Navy’s fleet, the Tiangang Hall’s fleet was even more awe-inspiring. Wherever it passed, storms followed.

The Tiangang Hall’s fleet consisted of three Yinglong Warships at the center and nine flying ships staggered around them in a wing formation.

The flying ships carried large numbers of Spirit Guards and heavy weaponry. Meanwhile, the Yinglong Warships were like battering rams, especially in sieges, seizing cities with barely any resistance once aerial dominance was lost.

As Qi Xuansu disembarked, he was surprised to see Li Changge waiting in person. The others present were equally astonished. After all, someone nicknamed the Junior Imperial Preceptor clearly had a formidable status. The fact that he came personally spoke volumes about Qi Xuansu’s influence.

After exchanging pleasantries, Qi Xuansu asked, “Brother Yong Yan, what brings you here?”

Li Changge smiled and replied, “In terms of position, I’m just an Acting Deputy Hall Master, so I should handle matters within my duty in person.”

Qi Xuansu said no more and stood alongside him to await the landing of the Tiangang Hall’s fleet.

Seeing both Qi Xuansu and Li Changge staying put, the others dared not leave and remained as well.

With so many flying ships landing simultaneously, the humidity grew so thick it was nearly a downpour. Li Changge’s attendant was well-prepared. He raised an umbrella without needing instruction. It was large enough to shelter both Li Changge and Qi Xuansu from the wind and rain.

A short while later, the wind and rain subsided.

Zhang Yuelu appeared on the deck. She had brought along Lin Yuanmiao, though the elder did not show himself for now.

The landing spots for each flying ship had been prearranged, so the location Li Changge chose happened to be directly opposite Zhang Yuelu’s ship.

Zhang Yuelu was the first to descend the ramp. This was also part of the reason Li Changge was present, not solely to receive Qi Xuansu, but more so for Zhang Yuelu. After the Zhang family’s main branch yielded and compromised, Zhang Yuelu now stood on equal footing with Li Changge.

Li Changge and Qi Xuansu stepped forward to greet her.

Qi Xuansu and Zhang Yuelu did not embrace like Westerners. Instead, they exchanged a glance in the typical Eastern fashion, conveying everything without words.

Li Changge was tactful, deliberately waiting a moment for the two to finish their silent exchange before greeting Zhang Yuelu.

Zhang Yuelu replied to Li Changge in a gentle tone, showing no trace of any past tensions between them.

Li Changge then got to the point. “Given the urgency, I won’t beat around the bush. Sage Qingwei is waiting for both of you.”

Qi Xuansu and Zhang Yuelu exchanged a glance but said nothing.

Zhang Yuelu beckoned to Mu Jin, who had already disembarked but stood at a distance.

Mu Jin asked, “Deputy Hall Master, what are your orders?”

Zhang Yuelu instructed, “I’m going to see the Sage Commander. Please inform Deputy Hall Master Feng to preside over matters here.”

Mu Jin accepted the order and departed.

Li Changge also pointed to the injured who came with Qi Xuansu and instructed, “Take these superintendents to the Huasheng Hall in the camp.”

The attendant who had earlier held an umbrella for Li Changge quickly carried out the order.

Li Changge then led the two toward Sage Qingwei’s command tent.

The encampment was large, though it was not a traditional military camp. It was more of a temporary command post set up outside Xiujing City rather than within. The main advantage was that it was staffed entirely by Daoist personnel, making security tighter and preventing assassins or ninjas from sneaking in.

Since the assassination attempt, security has been raised another notch. The deeper one went, the stricter the checks. But with Li Changge, the Li family’s third-in-command, personally escorting them to meet the Li family’s second-in-command, they walked through unimpeded.

Sage Qingwei’s tent, or the central command tent, was spacious and divided into several areas. The outermost area was for meetings and receiving guests. There was also a study and a quiet bedroom in the innermost corner.

Sage Qingwei received Qi Xuansu and Zhang Yuelu in the study. Aside from them, there was also a first-rank Spirit Guard and a Sage present.

Judging by the rank of the attendees alone, this was a high-level meeting.

Li Changge introduced the other two to Qi Xuansu and Zhang Yuelu.

The Sage was Li Tiangang, the Second Deputy Fenglin Daoist Mansion Master. Fenglin Daoist Mansion adopted a dual-leader system, with one Great Sage and one Sage presiding over it. Thus, as the Second Deputy, Li Tiangang was effectively the fourth-highest authority in the Fenglin Daoist Mansion.

One of the twelve first-rank Spirit Guards was also stationed in Fenglin Daoist Mansion. Spirit Guard Ding Wei could be considered the fifth-highest authority within the Daoist mansion. However, she only had to report to the Great Sage of the Fenglin Daoist Mansion.

But with Sage Qingwei’s arrival as the Sage Commander, even the Great Sage of the Fenglin Daoist Mansion had to take orders from him. After all, the Sage Commander was in charge of overseeing military affairs, strategic operations, Daoist governance, Spirit Guard administration, and flying ship command in war, which meant that the entire Fenglin Daoist Mansion fell under his jurisdiction.

Spirit Guard Ding Wei differed from Spirit Guard Jia Shen. She was a woman and had her long black hair tied into a high ponytail, exuding a valiant air.

As juniors, Qi Xuansu and Zhang Yuelu took the initiative to salute them, who returned the courtesy.

After the formalities, Sage Qingwei—Li Wugou—inquired about Qi Xuansu’s injuries and well-being.

To speak objectively, leaving aside factional positions, the Li family’s main branch was far more adept at courtesy and decorum than the Zhang family’s main branch.

Qi Xuansu responded politely and thanked the Sage Commander for his concern.

Sage Qingwei was straightforward. “I believe all of you are well aware of Fenglin’s current situation, so I’ll spare the preamble. The urgent matter now is to appoint a new Regent Kampaku to unify the scattered hearts of Chancellor Toyotomi’s Office. While the Daoist Order could take the lead, without a rightful name or title, it would lead to many complications down the line.

“Since it concerns Chancellor Toyotomi’s Office, the successor must naturally come from the Toyotomi clan. Currently, aside from the main branch, there are three other side branches that are eligible to inherit the position of Kampaku. They are known as the Three Noble Houses—the Owari Toyotomi clan, the Omi Toyotomi clan, and the Totomi Toyotomi clan.

“As for the specific candidate—after multiple deliberations and consulting both the Fenglin Daoist Mansion and the Toyotomi clan’s chief elders—I’ve decided that Toyotomi Hidemochi of the Omi clan will succeed the late Toyotomi Hidesugu as Regent Kampaku and lead the Chancellor’s Office.

“However, Toyotomi Hidemochi is currently in Omi Province. Your task is to escort him safely to Xiujing. Deputy Mansion Master Li will explain the specifics.”

Li Tiangang stepped forward and replied, “Understood.”