A Pawn's Passage

“I heard back in the study just now that someone wanted to confront me face-to-face. Who is it?” Sage Cihang said with a smile, looking entirely unlike her usual dignified self.

Xiao Yueru immediately reported, “It’s Sister Zhang’s husband!”

Qi Xuansu smiled and admitted, “Sage, I merely want to ask you, how long is my marriage with Qing Xiao going to be delayed?”

Sage Cihang said, “I haven’t delayed anything. I’ve already discussed all the relevant matters with Madam Qi.”

At that, Sage Cihang paused slightly, then abruptly changed her tune. “I already told Madam Qi to pull you out first, but she refused and said we were trying to snatch you away. Now she knows how it feels, doesn’t she?”

The smile vanished from Qi Xuansu’s face in an instant. “Sage...you knew all along?”

“I knew a little,” Sage Cihang didn’t deny it. “But now it seems more complicated than I imagined.”

Qi Xuansu wasn’t surprised that Sage Cihang knew. After all, Sage Cihang was only second to the Heavenly Preceptor within the Zhengyi Sect.

Aside from Zhang Yuelu, everyone else was completely baffled, not understanding what kind of riddling exchange their brother-in-law and master were having.

So, this was what the elders were discussing.

Qi Xuansu finally felt just how formidable the Daoist Order’s upper echelons were for being all-knowing.

Sage Cihang merely reminded him of his place, then ordered the family banquet to begin.

Qi Xuansu quickly steadied himself. To outsiders, he still looked like the same self-assured Chief Deputy Qi.

There wasn’t much to say about the banquet itself. It was mainly about building bonds. Over the years, disciples of the Cihang lineage had scattered across different regions with their own duties. Some had even married and had children. Since it was rare to gather like this, they spent most of the time catching up.

But in the latter half of the banquet, when people were allowed to mingle freely, small circles gradually formed. Those with children naturally shifted the conversation to their kids, and those without focused more on hobbies and interests. There were also the ambitious types who wanted to get ahead, inevitably drifting toward those of higher status.

Which circle did Qi Xuansu belong to?

In the circle led by Sage Cihang, there were Shi Bingyun, Qi Xuansu, Zhang Yuelu, Bai Yingqiong, and several other seventh-generation disciples of the Cihang lineage. In short, the second-rank Taiyi Daoist was the threshold for entry for this circle.

Once in this circle, Qi Xuansu was the only man left because among the male Daoists attending the banquet today, only Qi Xuansu held the title of Sage. Other male family members, such as Qin Quanyi, had not come. The Cihang lineage did have men, but such men of high status and power did not particularly enjoy this kind of sisters gathering.

In truth, Qi Xuansu did not particularly want to mingle with so many women, but he had no choice. He needed something from Sage Cihang and had to attend.

The group moved to a separate hall with a Western-style layout. Zhang Yuelu and Qi Xuansu sat together on a two-seater sofa, each leaning against one of the armrests.

Shi Bingyun sat on a single armchair and lit a cigar without the slightest concern.

Sage Cihang did not sit. Instead, she stood behind Shi Bingyun, resting her hands on the back of the sofa. “The younger generation has reached the age of starting families. The Li family’s Junior Imperial Preceptor is about to marry; Tian Yuan and Qing Xiao cannot delay any longer either. But before that, there is still one issue that needs to be resolved.”

Zhang Yuelu, who had spoken little until now, suddenly said, “At the end of the day, it’s still a political marriage. But I’d like to say something. Master, you’re unmarried, and so is Sage Donghua. You two would actually make a fine match. The strength of that alliance would be far greater than that of us juniors.”

Qi Xuansu, who was sitting beside Zhang Yuelu, was stunned. He thought to himself, Wow...Qing Xiao stayed silent the whole evening just waiting to drop a bomb like this.

However, the other disciples of the Cihang lineage were not particularly surprised. It seemed that Zhang Yuelu making shocking remarks in private gatherings like this was nothing new.

Shi Bingyun even clapped in approval. “Qing Xiao, that’s a good suggestion! Senior sister, you’re not getting any younger. It’s time you got married.”

Sage Cihang did not get angry. She merely chuckled. “Xuan Ji and I have known each other for ages. If I wanted to marry, I wouldn’t need to wait until now. Likewise, if Xuan Ji wished to find a Daoist companion, he wouldn’t need to wait until now either.”

The topic was gently set aside.

Qi Xuansu took the initiative to start a new topic. “I went to see Great Sage Jiang today.”

“What did Elder Jiang say?” Sage Cihang asked casually.

Of course, Qi Xuansu did not mention anything about drawing clear lines. Instead, he said, “Great Sage Jiang said that in times of peace, the centrists and moderates are the greatest common denominator. But as conflicts intensify, the centrists are the first to perish. In the end, every issue becomes a matter of choosing sides.”

Sage Cihang lightly patted the back of the sofa. “Elder Jiang’s words hit the nail on the head. Those without allies will ultimately lose to those with. Only factions can stand against each other.”

Zhang Yuelu sighed. “Factional struggle.”

Shi Bingyun exhaled a puff of white smoke. “Conflict is everywhere. Peace is always brief, while strife is the norm.”

Sage Cihang waved away the smoke. “Tian Yuan is one of our own. Of course, I will speak on your behalf.”

Qi Xuansu was about to offer thanks when Sage Cihang raised her hand to stop him. “No need for such formality among family.”

Though both used a raised hand to signal restraint, Sage Cihang lacked the domineering presence of Sage Donghua. Sage Donghua tended to extend his arm fully, with his palm slightly pressed downward, imposing and distant. Sage Cihang instead kept her hand close to her chest, palm forward, with minimal movement, somewhat like the Abhaya Seal. This also revealed the difference in their styles.

Sage Cihang moved away from the sofa, pacing with her hands behind her back. “At moments like this, our own people must unite against outsiders. We cannot fight among ourselves.”

Bai Yingqiong added, “The problem now is that everyone is so intermingled, so who counts as insiders and who counts as outsiders is still open for debate.”

Sage Cihang said, “There’s no need to rush. It will become clear soon enough.”

At that moment, Xiao Yueru entered and whispered a few words softly into Sage Cihang’s ear.

Sage Cihang nodded slightly. “I understand. Have her wait for me in the study.”

Xiao Yueru withdrew again.

Sage Cihang said to the others, “I have something to attend to, so I’ll step away for a moment. Make yourselves comfortable.”

No sooner had Sage Cihang left than Zhang Yuelu went to the wine cabinet and opened a bottle. Since they were neighbors, and Zhang Yuelu was the designated successor, Zhang Yuelu treated this place like her own home. However, in recent years, Zhang Yuelu had been stationed away at a regional Daoist Mansion and rarely visited.

Shi Bingyun took advantage of the moment to occupy Zhang Yuelu’s seat, sitting beside Qi Xuansu. “Tian Yuan, I heard that two years ago, you and Qing Xiao really did a number on Wu Guangbi? I haven’t seen you both these past two years, so I never had the chance to ask.”

Qi Xuansu laughed. “What, has my former superior come to hold me accountable on behalf of an old flame?”

“Hold you accountable for him? Nonsense! We should be toasting to this instead!” Shi Bingyun laughed. “Qing Xiao, fill our cups—I’m toasting the two of you.”

Zhang Yuelu didn’t refuse. Instead, she asked, “Anyone else want a drink? Say it all at once so I don’t have to keep going back and forth.”

Bai Yingqiong said, “Let’s all have a cup.”

Zhang Yuelu took out the appropriate number of cups according to the headcount, set them on the coffee table, and filled each to about 80% full.

Shi Bingyun kept her word and offered a toast to Qi Xuansu and Zhang Yuelu, who did not refuse.

After drinking, Shi Bingyun resumed puffing out clouds of smoke.

For a fleeting moment, Qi Xuansu seemed to see Little Yin’s future reflected in her.

Not long ago, before he went into seclusion, Little Yin had insisted on raising a white crane, wanting to ride it south over Jiangnan like in the legends. Qi Xuansu patiently explained that Poluo lay even farther south than Jiangnan, so she could not go south and should head north instead. But Little Yin did not care. She insisted on raising a white crane and solemnly swore she would brush its feathers, feed it, and clean up after it.

The Daoist Order did have some great white cranes capable of carrying people, so Qi Xuansu could have obtained one. But he would not indulge a child’s every whim, as that would be spoiling her. So in the end, he gave her a large white goose instead, telling her that refined gentlemen also kept such birds and that it was hardly inferior to a crane.

Thinking back on it now, if he had truly indulged her, she would have flown the crane straight up to the heavens.

Before long, Sage Cihang returned, smiling. “Well now—everyone’s drinking behind my back, huh? It must have been our little alcoholic Qing Xiao who started it.”

“Since we’re drinking, how can we do without moonlight to accompany it?” Sage Cihang took a white jade plate and casually tossed it upward.

Instead of striking the ceiling and shattering, the white jade plate transformed into a radiant full moon, rising higher and higher.

Looking around again, there were no buildings at all. They were above a vast lake, its surface reflecting a brilliant expanse of stars.

Everyone maintained their original seated postures, yet they were rising higher and higher, as though flying toward the moon.

As the moon drew nearer, a palace could faintly be seen within it. That was the Palace of Cold Light.

A host of celestial maidens flew out from the Palace of Cold Light, dancing beneath the moon, indistinguishable from real beings.

The wine pot moved on its own, as if guided by invisible hands, pouring wine for everyone. The liquid never ran dry no matter how much was served.

Sage Cihang leaned back, clouds gathering beneath her to form what seemed like a couch.

All around, rare spiritual beasts appeared, including the great white crane that Little Yin had longed for.

All kinds of auspicious visions appeared one after another in a dazzling panorama of wonders that left the eyes overwhelmed.

Qi Xuansu was deeply shocked.

There was no flaw in such an illusion. At the very least, even a Zaohua-stage Martial Arts Practitioner could detect no inconsistencies. It felt utterly real, as though he were truly present within it.

A sudden thought surfaced in his mind. What if it wasn’t fake? What if this really was the Palace of Cold Light?

This had to be the handiwork of an Immortal.

What did Sage Cihang mean by this display? Was she subtly indicating that she had already attained immortality? What about the other two Omniscient Sages?