A Pawn's Passage

When Qi Xuansu returned to Tianfu Palace with Little Yin, he immediately saw Zhang Yuelu.

Zhang Yuelu stood on the steps with her hands clasped behind her back, her expression unreadable.

Qi Xuansu shoved Little Yin forward, making her explain herself.

Little Yin shot Qi Xuansu a resentful glance before timidly stepping forward.

“You still know how to come back, huh?” Zhang Yuelu asked.

When Qi Xuansu was still in Lion City, he and Zhang Yuelu each handled their own responsibilities and had sufficient time. But during the days Qi Xuansu was away, Zhang Yuelu had to manage both her own work and Qi Xuansu’s, leaving her short on time, hence giving Little Yin an opportunity to slip loose.

Little Yin tried to dodge the issue. “I always come back to sleep at night... It’s just a bit late...”

“You still dare to talk back?” Zhang Yuelu calmly declared, “Knowing your mistake yet refusing to correct it makes your offence more severe.”

Qi Xuansu finally intervened. “It’s not that serious...”

After all, he had promised Little Yin he would help plead for her.

Zhang Yuelu glanced at Qi Xuansu. “Where did you find her?”

Qi Xuansu replied, “At the opera house. The kid likes to watch performances and got a bit too carried away. It’s nothing major.”

Zhang Yuelu simply said, “Since you don’t think it’s a problem, then you will take responsibility for her in the future.”

Little Yin nodded frantically.

Zhang Yuelu was strict, while Qi Xuansu was soft. Naturally, Little Yin preferred sticking to Qi Xuansu. Whoever did not discipline her was the better person.

In truth, Qi Xuansu and Zhang Yuelu had always played good cop, bad cop with Little Yin.

Qi Xuansu tapped Little Yin’s head, pretending to scold her. “What are you nodding for? Hurry up and admit you’re wrong.”

Little Yin complied immediately. “I was wrong.”

Qi Xuansu continued, “Will you dare do it again?”

“I wouldn’t dare.” Little Yin lowered her head obediently.

Only then did Qi Xuansu turn toward Zhang Yuelu and say, “See, she already knows her mistake.”

Zhang Yuelu looked at the duo with a helpless expression and sighed. “I hope so.”

Qi Xuansu patted Little Yin on the back. “Go inside.”

Little Yin dashed forward and ran into Tianfu Palace ahead of them.

Qi Xuansu walked beside Zhang Yuelu and said, “These past few days must’ve been hard on you.”

“Hardly. You’re the one who’s had it hardest.” Zhang Yuelu began her briefing. “Li Zhuyu made some discoveries. She captured several Westerners alive. These Westerners are willing to cooperate with us, on the condition that we guarantee their safety. I’ve already agreed on your behalf. She’s still negotiating with them, so we should have results soon.”

Qi Xuansu paused briefly and asked, “What’s the Holy Court’s response?”

“They’re protesting our attack on a Western merchant ship, accusing us of persecuting Western merchants without evidence. Their representative has been demanding to see you. To hide their identities, this group that Li Zhuyu uprooted didn’t operate under the West Shakya Company, so it isn’t Marcheno who wants to meet you. Since I don’t have the proper authority, I didn’t meet them in your stead.”

Qi Xuansu nodded. “I’ll arrange a time to meet them.”

Zhang Yuelu asked, “How did your meeting with Great Sage Jiang go?”

Qi Xuansu replied, “The Golden Tower Council has assigned Great Sage Jiang to temporarily take over Great Sage Lan’s position within the Poluo Daoist Mansion. He convened an emergency council session and challenged Wang Jiaohe, but Wang Jiaohe countered smoothly. This just confirms that our strategy was right. Attacking Wang Jiaohe head-on is too difficult. We still need to encircle and flank him.”

He paused, then said, “There’s one more matter I need to discuss with you. Let’s talk inside.”

Zhang Yuelu was slightly taken aback. Qi Xuansu’s tone made her sense something unusual.

The two entered the office and dismissed everyone, including their secretaries, Chen Jianchou and Ke Qingqing. Then, Qi Xuansu activated every privacy barrier and formation to seal the room.

After the office was secure, he finally said, “The Earthly Preceptor had Great Sage Jiang deliver a piece of Xuan Jade to me.”

“Good for you, then!” Zhang Yuelu said.

Qi Xuansu sighed. “Don’t you think it’s too convenient? Who gives favors for no reason? How can there be free lunches in this world?”

Zhang Yuelu froze for a moment. She then said with hesitation, “Are you suspecting Madam Qi?”

Qi Xuansu raised his hand to stop her. “No way. Madam Qi is the last person I’d ever doubt. I’m only worried that Madam Qi herself may have no choice in the matter.”

How could someone as sharp as Zhang Yuelu fail to hear the implication behind Qi Xuansu’s words?

Who could possibly put Madam Qi in such a position? Certainly not Sage Donghua.

When she recalled how Qi Xuansu suddenly questioned her earlier about meeting the Earthly Preceptor, one answer was already surfacing.

Zhang Yuelu dared not name the suspect, as she was afraid the master of divination might sense something. She only whispered, “It can’t be that serious, right?”

Qi Xuansu removed the lotus crown from his head, irritation showing. “I hope I’m just overthinking.”

The two fell into silence.

Both of them had deep ties to the Earthly Preceptor, as they had both accepted his guidance and support.

After a moment, Zhang Yuelu broke the silence. “What do you plan to do, then?”

Qi Xuansu pressed a hand to his forehead. “I can more or less pinpoint when the Longevity Stone Heart was forged. It’s toward the end of the Holy Xuan’s Era, at the crucial stage of the Daoist-Buddhist war, shortly before the Holy Xuan’s final battle with the Lord Buddha.”

Zhang Yuelu sank into thought. “In order to prepare for his decisive clash with the Lord Buddha, the Holy Xuan chose to undergo a heavenly tribulation. He was in seclusion for a very long period, and during that time, his wife presided over the Golden Tower Council. The Daoist-Buddhist conflict was the top priority then, and everything else stalled, including the plan to merge the three sects. Since uniting the three sects involved enormous vested interests, it would have intensified internal strife, which was harmful when facing an external foe. Not only that, the Daoist Order halted its suppression of the Confucian School and instead attempted to win them over. To counter the Daoist Order, the Buddhist Sect supported numerous Ancient Immortals. That was when the secret societies began to rise. Many of today’s leftover problems were born in that era.”

Qi Xuansu murmured, “With the integration of the three sects halted and the Holy Xuan in seclusion, the three Deputy Grand Masters gained tremendous autonomy. The Daoist Order’s present tripartite structure was shaped during that period.”

Zhang Yuelu nodded. “That’s accurate. Donghuang was the one responsible for winning over the Confucian School. Since the Holy Xuan’s wife was the eldest daughter of Emperor Gaozu, the later Taiping Sect grew close to the Imperial Court. Confucians traditionally entered government service anyway. The Zhengyi Sect was tasked with pacifying Ancient Immortals, so it developed strong connections with several secret societies, like True Lord Taiyin’s Xuanyin Sect and True Lord Ziguang’s Ziguang Society. Later, Zhang Wuhen stole True Lord Taiyin’s legacy because it was long held within the Zhengyi Sect. The Quanzhen Sect governed all creation-related matters.”

Qi Xuansu thought for a moment. Anyone in the Holy Xuan’s position would have faced the same dilemma. They could either let the Buddhist Sect grow dominant or let the internal Daoist factions grow too powerful. Between two harms, one would choose the lesser. After all, it was always better to benefit one’s own people than outsiders.

Thinking of this, Qi Xuansu asked, “As the leader of the Quanzhen Sect, what kind of person was Elder Yao?”

Zhang Yuelu thought carefully and said, “Elder Yao contributed greatly to the Daoist Order, but she was rather eccentric. Even today, there are anecdotes about her. It’s said that Elder Yao once ordered Jianxiu Mountain to forge seven glass orbs, placed them across the world, and publicly announced that whoever gathered all seven would have one wish granted by her.”

Such stories probably circulated among certain great clans, as this was Qi Xuansu’s first time hearing it. He could not help but ask, “Was Elder Yao not afraid someone would fake one?”

Zhang Yuelu replied, “Elder Yao was vicious. She had seven orbs made but only released six into the world. The last one always remained in her hands. So clearly, anyone who dared bring ‘seven’ orbs to claim a wish is lying.”

Qi Xuansu opened his mouth but found himself unable to comment.

Zhang Yuelu sighed. “The Daoist Order’s founding ancestors were undeniably powerful. But they were also eccentric, difficult to deal with, and certainly not benevolent by nature.”

Qi Xuansu asked again, “Since the Holy Xuan survived a heavenly tribulation, why didn’t he remain in the mortal realm for two full centuries?”

Zhang Yuelu shook her head. “I don’t know. That should be the Daoist Order’s top secret. Perhaps only successive Grand Masters and the Deputy Grand Masters know the answer.”

Qi Xuansu sighed and said thoughtfully, “According to Madam Qi, she found the Longevity Stone Heart left behind by Elder Yao inside Lingshan Paradise. If I get the chance, I must go there. Perhaps that’s where our answers lie.”

Zhang Yuelu added, “That was the Ancient Wuist’s main stronghold. Lingshan to them is like Kunlun to the Daoist Order. When the Ancestral Heavenly Preceptor destroyed the Great Witches, the battle devastated the entire paradise. With no one maintaining it, Lingshan has been on the verge of collapse for years and remains sealed. Apart from the Yao family, no one knows how to enter it.”

Qi Xuansu certainly knew what the inside of Lingshan looked like, as he visited it in dreams constantly. Entering the Lingshan Paradise was probably not difficult either. After all, Madam Qi had already gone in, so she would know how to enter.

The real question was how to make Madam Qi divulge the method.

But Qi Xuansu did not voice that thought. Instead, he said, “Not necessarily. You said that Lingshan was shattered by the Ancestral Heavenly Preceptor’s battle with the Great Witches. Wouldn’t his descendants know how to enter it?”

Zhang Yuelu understood the difficulty Qi Xuansu faced with Madam Qi and did not expose him. “The Ancestral Heavenly Preceptor entered through the ‘main gate,’ which has long since collapsed. It’s now sealed shut, so anyone wanting to enter has to do so via the ‘side gates.’ Outsiders can’t possibly know where they’re located. If anyone else knows, it’s probably the Ancient Immortal Wu Luo, the last Ancient Wuist leader.”

Qi Xuansu heaved a heavy sigh. “Forget it. Let’s set this aside for now and focus on the tasks in front of us.”