A Pawn's Passage

At this moment, Chen Jianchou was in the Water Palace. Qi Xuansu had planned to meet the key figure of this investigation in his office.

The current situation had escalated to this level largely because of Chen Jianchou’s involvement. Yet Qi Xuansu felt no blame toward him, since he had tasked Chen Jianchou with investigating the matter. After all, no one could have predicted the way things spiraled beyond control.

Great Sage Lan suffered backlash and was severely wounded, while two vessels of the two most vicious Ancient Immortals had been destroyed. It was a mutual ruin.

None of this was within Chen Jianchou’s control. Not even Qi Xuansu could have controlled it.

Still, Qi Xuansu appreciated the young man.

Qi Xuansu had already discussed matters with Ke Qingqing, seeking her opinion. Though she was grateful for Qi Xuansu’s mentorship, the dynamic of a male superior with a female subordinate was sensitive to rumor. Thus, she also felt it was better to be reassigned to a female superior, especially one as renowned as Zhang Yuelu, whose prestige even surpassed Qi Xuansu’s.

With approval from all sides, the arrangements were settled. He would first formalize Chen Jianchou’s status as a Daoist priest. Then, Chen Jianchou could shadow Ke Qingqing to learn the job, familiarizing himself before eventually taking over as Qi Xuansu’s official secretary.

This was also doing Xu Jiaorong a favor, so she now owed Qi Xuansu one.

Soon after, Chen Jianchou, led by Ke Qingqing, arrived at Qi Xuansu’s office. He was finally meeting the famed Second Deputy in person.

His first impression was that Second Deputy Qi was so young.

Since the time of the fifth-generation Grand Master, the Daoist Order has strictly forbidden excessive anti-aging. No high-ranking Sage was permitted to appear younger than 40.

As a result, most female Daoists appeared around forty—elegant, dignified, and graceful. Sage Cihang, Madam Qi, Zhang Wuhen, Xu Jiaorong, Shi Bingyun, Chen Shuhua, Bai Yingqiong, Tantai Qiong, and even Nun Cui all fit the same mold.

Those male Daoists who wanted to emphasize authority kept themselves looking about 40, like Sage Donghua. Those who wanted to seem like kind grandparents aged naturally, with white hair and a white beard, like the Heavenly Preceptor. Those who wanted a moderate image kept their appearance to about 60, like Li Tianlan.

In such a system, only exceptionally gifted ones like Sage Qingwei naturally looked youthful. Anyone else who seemed young was genuinely young, not the elderly disguising themselves as youth.

Naturally, Qi Xuansu stood out sharply among the fellow Deputy Mansion Masters.

During his time in the Water Palace, Chen Jianchou had seen many high-ranking Daoists. None of them were young. Those who were young had a low rank. This made Qi Xuansu the only person who was young and highly ranked.

More crucially, Qi Xuansu wielded immense power and authority.

Chen Jianchou had heard the rumors of Second Deputy Qi leading troops into the city to seize command of the city’s defenses, shutting Chief Deputy Chen out. Even now, the Yinglong Warship still hovered above the city.

It was hard to say whether Thanglong Prefecture was peaceful overall, but the Water Palace certainly was. Those blocking the gates earlier had vanished without a trace.

“Greetings, Second Deputy Qi.” Chen Jianchou bowed with utmost respect.

“No need for formality,” Qi Xuansu replied while casually picking up Chen Jianchou’s file.

Once upon a time, Zhang Yuelu had reviewed Qi Xuansu’s file, and now, Qi Xuansu was reviewing someone else’s.

|| Name: Chen Jianchou.

Note: Courtesy name—Chouzheng.

|| Age: 22 years old.

|| Rank: Daoist attendant.

|| Background: royal lineage of the Yu Kingdom. Note: Minor branch.

|| Master: Xu Jiaorong.

Note: Third-rank Youyi Daoist master serving as a Deputy Palace Master, also the godmother of Chen Jianchou.

|| Position: None.

Note: Former Green Phoenix Guard of the Yu Kingdom.

|| Address: Thanglong Prefecture of the Yu Kingdom.

|| Lineage: Qi Refiner.

|| Cultivation: Xiantian Being at the Yuxu stage.

Note: Spirit Transformation Realm of a Qi Refiner.

|| Affiliation: Quanzhen Sect.

Note: Not yet received a formal Daoist insignia.

|| Companion: None.

Note: Not formally ordained, free to marry.

|| Children/Disciples: None.

Note: Not qualified to accept disciples.

|| Past Disciplinary Records: None.

|| Past Commendations: None.

|| Overall Evaluation: Grade A.

Note: Classified into four grades.

|| Superintendent’s Opinion: Recommended hire.

|| Deputy Mansion Master’s Opinion: (Empty.)

Truth be told, when Qi Xuansu was at Chen Jianchou’s age, his rank and background were superior to the latter’s, but his cultivation was far inferior. He had been a Rogue Cultivator, and Madam Qi never cared much about such things. With the Longevity Stone Heart, she had long planned for his rise, focusing more on teaching him how to conduct himself.

As for how Chen Jianchou received a Grade A evaluation, it was due to his respectable cultivation, pending merit, and Xu Jiaorong’s influence.

The superintendent’s opinion was actually Ke Qingqing’s recommendation.

Qi Xuansu did not approve it immediately. Instead, he said, “It’s already mid-May, only two and a half months until August.”

The Daoist examinations took place in August for three consecutive days, from the 1st to the 3rd. The results would be announced on the 15th of August, the Mid-Autumn Festival.

This was the major exam for Daoists seeking to join the Order.

Before that, every June was a minor exam for Daoist attendants. Chen Jianchou was already an attendant, so he no longer needed that.

Qi Xuansu asked, “Chou Zheng, do you have confidence in passing the August exam?”

Chen Jianchou answered immediately, “I dare not claim absolute certainty, but I’m 99% confident.”

“So confident, huh?” Qi Xuansu chuckled. “I’ll have to remind you that neither Deputy Palace Master Xu nor I will open the back door for you. You must rely on your own true ability.”

Chen Jianchou replied, “If I wanted shortcuts, I’d already be a seventh-rank Daoist. But I wanted a proper entrance into the Daoist Order, so I remained a Daoist attendant, waiting for the major exam held once every three years. I failed last time because some of my statements were too inappropriate. I’ve learned my lesson since then, so it won’t happen again.”

Qi Xuansu nodded. “Good. Once your Daoist priest status is finalized, this file can be completed. Discovering Wu Luo’s divine descent will earn you an Earth merit at the very least.”

At that, Qi Xuansu recalled something Madam Qi once said.

He continued, “From an attendant to a ninth-rank Daoist requires a three-year probation. With Deputy Palace Master Xu as your mentor, that step can be waived. After probation, you must reach the eighth rank within two years, then advance to the seventh rank within five more. If you reach the sixth rank before the age of 30, you will be listed as an Apprentice Jijiu Daoist Master. But with the merit you’ve earned, it’s more than enough for such a title.”

Once upon a time, these words were spoken to Qi Xuansu. Now, he was the one relaying it to a subordinate. Oh, how the times have changed.

Of course, without Xu Jiaorong’s influence, Qi Xuansu would not bother saying any of this. Without connections, Qi Xuansu would not have been a Second Deputy Mansion Master lecturing Chen Jianchou. He might instead call the former Green Phoenix Guard “Brother Chen.”

Still, one’s connections only granted more opportunities. One must still be capable enough to stand firm. Many people lacked this chance. With such opportunities, they could soar, and without them, they could waste half their life in frustration.

Thus, most would treat a favor of recognition as a rebirth, no less than the debt one owed one’s parents.

Qi Xuansu set down the file. “Then I wish you success. May you stand out in the examinations.”

At this point, Qi Xuansu paused and shifted his tone. “By the way, I’ve read the report you wrote, so I have a basic grasp of the incident. Do you think the Yu King’s illness is related to Chief Deputy Chen?”

Chen Jianchou had not expected such bluntness. He froze for a moment before replying, “It should be related. According to my godmo—”

Ke Qingqing softly interrupted, “Use her title in formal settings.”

Chen Jianchou immediately corrected himself. “According to Deputy Palace Master Xu’s analysis, the reason two Ancient Immortals could construct vessels for their divine descents using dragon qi lies in those seven dead eunuchs. They are Yin-Yang People, with no innate qi, magical power, or divine power. They live purely by dragon qi, carrying it in their bodies. In other words, they are perfect vessels of dragon qi. Sacrificing seven ordinary people might not yield a proper vessel, but seven dragon-qi eunuchs certainly would. Their bodies became brittle husks after death, as if drained dry, proving this theory. I even suspect they were not buried posthumously but immobilized and buried alive, then drained completely by a formation or ritual.”