A Pawn's Passage

Qi Xuansu could not help but draw in a sharp breath, a chill running down his spine.

At first, he had been entangled in emotional concerns and moral dilemmas, but after Great Sage Jiang’s pointed explanation today, he finally realized the danger hidden beneath the surface.

If no one spoke in his defense, or if he took a single wrong step and tried to conceal the matter, then he could be branded a traitor or spy. He could even be executed.

One misstep could mean eternal ruin.

Qi Xuansu continued respectfully, “Great Sage, may I ask how exactly I should carry out the second and third points?”

Great Sage Jiang replied, “Whether drawing clear boundaries or exposing the matter, your words alone are not enough. Someone of sufficient standing must speak for you and validate your actions. Think carefully—who would speak on your behalf?”

Qi Xuansu immediately understood the implication. If someone wanted to protect him, they would need concrete grounds to do so. It meant that Qi Xuansu himself must cooperate with his protectors by providing tangible evidence through his actions.

In this way, those defending him could present his deeds as proof of how Qi Xuansu clearly drew boundaries and how he proactively exposed and reported the matter. These would be verifiable facts and grounds to argue that such a fellow Daoist was wrongfully accused.

Within the Daoist Order, those in high positions were often tempered through trials, which were hardships and obstacles—situations like this.

Handled properly, this crisis could even become a distinguished achievement on Qi Xuansu’s record.

Though emotionally difficult to accept, once one stepped into officialdom and power struggles, emotions were often set aside.

If one could not accept that, it would be better to retire early and live a quiet life. Forget about becoming the Grand Master, achieving immortal feats, leaving a mark in history or building a legacy for the ages.

In politics, one must act according to one’s position. At a certain level, morality remained important but was no longer fundamental. Capability mattered most. Once great achievements were made, other matters became minor details.

An example would be Emperor Taizong. If he had not had the resolve to kill his brothers and imprison his father, he would have simply waited to die. Once he became the Heavenly Khan, commanding universal submission and tribute from all nations, killing his brothers and imprisoning his father no longer defined him.

Qi Xuansu looked toward Great Sage Jiang earnestly. Despite his accomplishments, Qi Xuansu was humble and never displayed arrogance before his elders. He knew his place and remained respectful toward seniors, so he was very likable among the elders of the Daoist Order.

Great Sage Jiang chuckled. “Of course, I can speak on your behalf, but that alone will not be enough.”

A smile immediately appeared on Qi Xuansu’s face. “With those words from you, Great Sage, my heart can finally settle again.”

Great Sage Jiang changed the subject. “Before Elder Li ascended, the Holy Xuan sought to overturn heaven and earth. Elder Li was the only one capable of stopping him. It was both a test for the Holy Xuan and a final push forward. The two once had a conversation. Elder Li asked if the Holy Xuan could wait another 10 years before reshaping the world, after he departed from this realm. But the Holy Xuan was resolute on starting reforms immediately.”

Great Sage Jiang concluded, “At that time, the Confucian ideals were still dominant. But it was already clear that the Holy Xuan did not fully accept the rigid hierarchy of ruler and subject, father and son. That laid the foundation for the Daoist Order’s later emphasis on equality. Today, we operate under the Daoist framework.

“The Confucians like to conceal their relatives’ crimes. Failing to accuse or testify against one’s relatives was not punished, whereas reporting could be penalized, aside from treason and rebellion. While the Daoist Order does not oppose concealment in principle, we don’t encourage it. As such, we have established clear rules regarding this.

“Crimes that threaten the Daoist Order’s safety or major interests cannot be concealed. Domestic crimes, such as parents abusing children, children harming parents, and siblings attacking one another, cannot be concealed. The master-disciple relationship, regarded as parent and child, also falls within this category.”

Qi Xuansu’s expression grew solemn.

Great Sage Jiang tapped lightly in the air with a finger. “The key question is this: does it endanger the Daoist Order? If it does, like Chen Shuhua’s case, then you must expose and report it. That is your duty. Failing to do so is not an option. The fundamental reason is that the Daoist Order stands above any lineage and family ties. This is righteousness, placing principle above personal bonds. Since the master-disciple relationship is not one of blood but one formed later, it can be changed. Therefore, the Daoist Order permits severing such ties. If these conditions are met, no one at the Golden Tower Council can raise moral objections against you.”

Qi Xuansu rose to his feet and bowed solemnly. “Thank you for your guidance, Great Sage.”

It was true that experience brought sharp insight. Great Sage Jiang saw through the essence of the matter at a glance. Not only did he provide a solution, but he also analyzed it from multiple angles, explaining why things were this way and even identifying the legal justifications in advance.

There was certainly a reason Great Sage Jiang had stood firm for many years, rising to become the fourth Virtuous Great Sage, second only to the Three Deputy Grand Masters. His reputation was not gained without merit.

From beginning to end, Great Sage Jiang never directly answered whether Qi Xuansu should accept a new master. He merely revealed the root causes and analyzed the situation for Qi Xuansu.

Sage Donghua had surely seen this as well, though he had not explained it in such detail.

Zhang Yuelu was still young, so her analysis had not reached such depth of clarity.

Great Sage Jiang trusted that Qi Xuansu already had his own conclusion. If Qi Xuansu lacked even this level of judgment and decisiveness, then there was no point in continuing his career in the Daoist Order. He might as well return to being a wandering Daoist.

Great Sage Jiang finally said, “In truth, all problems ultimately become questions of alignment. When the situation is calm, centrists are the greatest common denominator. But once conflict intensifies, the first to fall are the fence-sitters. When others band together, the lone operators die first. So you must judge the times and act accordingly.”

Qi Xuansu felt a sudden chill, nearly breaking into a cold sweat.

After leaving Great Sage Jiang’s residence, Qi Xuansu returned to Zhang Yuelu’s house in Taishang Place.

He got ready with Zhang Yuelu and prepared to attend Sage Cihang’s family banquet that evening.

Among the seven Virtuous Great Sages, Jiang Hedao, Lan Hexu, and Shi Hesheng already accounted for three seats. Among the Three Deputy Grand Masters, the Heavenly Preceptor had taken the initiative to help expose the matter, suggesting that he stood on Qi Xuansu’s side. Thus, having him, Sage Donghua, and Sage Cihang safeguarding Qi Xuansu would be more than sufficient.

There was also a hidden thread running beneath all this.

His support from the Heavenly Preceptor and Sage Cihang was through a marriage alliance.

Sage Donghua came from Holy Xuan’s faction. The Pei family’s ancestors were Holy Xuan’s direct disciples, essentially an extension of the Grand Master lineage. The Pei family’s attitude toward the Yao family was not as harmonious as it appeared on the surface.

According to Xu Jiaorong, Great Sage Lan had grown very close to Holy Xuan’s faction and the Grand Master lineage, while his relationship with the Earthly Preceptor was comparatively ordinary.

The Wanxiang Daoist Palace represented by Great Sage Shi maintained close ties with the Quanzhen Sect, largely because most Daoists from the Wanxiang Daoist Palace had joined the Quanzhen Sect, and the Palace itself lay within Quanzhen Sect territory. Yet at its core, the Wanxiang Daoist Palace remained part of the Grand Master lineage.

These figures coming together was neither a coincidence nor an artificial unification. There was an underlying foundation to it.

Of course, Qi Xuansu had not reached the level where he became the key figure holding these people together.

The key figure was Sage Donghua, Pei Xuanzhi.

If he could become the Grand Master and refused to act merely as a transitional figure for the Yao family, or even chose to break with them, then he could no longer rely entirely on the Quanzhen Sect. In that case, the Grand Master lineage could seize the opportunity to return to the glory it enjoyed during the era of the fifth-generation Grand Master.

Qi Xuansu realized that the Grand Master lineage had already placed its bet. But why would the Zhengyi Sect choose to ally with Sage Donghua?

In this case, Qi Xuansu himself was the key factor.

The Zhang family would support Sage Donghua for one term as Grand Master. Since it would be difficult for him to pass the position directly to a disciple, his faction could step aside in the next election and fully support Zhang Yuelu as the new Grand Master. The Zhang family would lose nothing. This would simply be the return on their investment in supporting Sage Donghua.

Qi Xuansu would not be at a loss either. As Daoist companions, it made little difference which of them held the position of Grand Master.

No wonder Sage Donghua was unafraid to reveal his hand. This was effectively a forced confrontation with the Earthly Preceptor.

The Earthly Preceptor could not possibly support the Li family or Sage Cihang. Sage Donghua was essentially saying that he would not become another sixth-generation Grand Master, so the Earthly Preceptor should give up hopes on controlling him and using him as a transitional figure. What masterful calculation!

Qi Xuansu could not help but marvel that Sage Donghua was indeed worthy of being the Chief Omniscient Sage and the leading candidate for Grand Master.

With this understanding, Qi Xuansu began to grasp why the Heavenly Preceptor had allowed him to learn the truth. It was, in essence, a move against the Earthly Preceptor.

Did anyone truly think the Heavenly Preceptor was merely a kind old man?