A Pawn's Passage

After leaving St. Paul Church, Qi Xuansu said nothing, since Strauni did not need to know everything.

Although St. York lay under the watchful gaze of a Patriarch, there was no need to worry too much. After all, Jade Capital itself was under the observation of several Daoist Immortals, yet the Ancient Immortals had still managed to infiltrate it.

Gods and Immortals might be capable of closely observing everything, but that did not mean they wished to do so or that they had the leisure to bother.

Take Great Sage Lan, for example. Thanglong Prefecture was under his watch, yet he still knew nothing about what was happening there and nearly had his entire stronghold uprooted.

After returning to Strauni’s residence, Qi Xuansu set up a restriction to isolate the inside from the outside, then took out the Seven Feather Five Fires Fan.

Madam Wu, who was already several hundred years old—even older than the Three Yin Beings—appeared before Qi Xuansu.

Qi Xuansu promptly told Madam Wu about his idea.

Madam Wu did not object. “That could work. I can hand over control of the body to you while I remain merely an observer. Of course, when necessary, we can switch roles—I’ll take control of the body while you become the observer. You’re my superior now, so you get to decide.”

Qi Xuansu did not stand on ceremony. “Let’s do that.”

“Use your Liberation Method, and I will cooperate fully,” Madam Wu said with a wave of her sleeve.

As soon as she finished speaking, Madam Wu slowly vanished.

Qi Xuansu began to perform the Rogue Cultivator’s Liberation Method. Back in Poluo, he already had experience of being a Zaohua-stage Rogue Cultivator through the Scripture of Zuriel, so using it again now came naturally.

The Seven Feather Five Fires Fan began to change, gradually transforming into the form of another Qi Xuansu.

However, this Qi Xuansu was dressed the same as Madam Wu—wearing a starry crown and feathered robes, looking every bit like an ancient Daoist priest.

“This won’t do. It still needs some fine adjustments,” Qi Xuansu said as he stepped before the Liberation Incarnation and brushed his fingers across its face.

As Qi Xuansu moved his hand, the incarnation began to change. Its features gradually shifted from those of an Easterner to those of a Westerner. However, it was not the same disguise as the Western gentleman Qi Xuansu currently wore. Instead, the new face now had a full head of white hair, a face lined with wrinkles, and no beard.

His clothing also changed into that of a Western adventurer. The Daoist crown became a soft felt hat, and the Daoist robe became a knee-length coat. Underneath, there was no waistcoat, only a somewhat dirty blue-striped shirt and suspenders, along with leather boots fitted with spurs, riding gloves, and an outer belt with holsters on both sides. There was no pocket watch, handkerchief, brooch, ring, or anything unnecessary.

This was the appearance of a typical outlaw.

“What should he be named?” Qi Xuansu pondered briefly. “Let’s call him Hosea Matthias and equip him with two pistols and a bandolier.”

In an instant, Qi Xuansu’s consciousness split into two and began gradually taking control of the incarnation.

This was different from the Three Corpse Incarnation, as it was simply Qi Xuansu himself—one self with two bodies. Even if they spoke to each other, it was essentially him talking to himself.

However, unlike a normal Liberation Incarnation, Qi Xuansu’s incarnation also had an observer within it—Madam Wu.

Due to Madam Wu’s presence, Qi Xuansu felt a power within the incarnation far greater than that of his original body. His incarnation was at the Pseudo-Immortal stage. This power was derived from the Grand Master’s immortal object, the Seven Feather Five Fires Fan.

Qi Xuansu allowed his original body to remain in Strauni’s residence. Meanwhile, the incarnation named Hosea Matthews turned into a wisp of smoke and left the place, drifting into the wind and blending into the billowing steam outside.

Soon, Qi Xuansu drifted out of the Richmond District’s wealthy residences and arrived in the commoners’ district.

In a deserted alley, he once again took on a human shape, then stepped out and walked along the streets of the commoners’ district.

Suddenly, Qi Xuansu noticed that Madam Wu had appeared beside him, walking shoulder to shoulder with him, in her full Daoist nun fit.

Qi Xuansu was slightly startled. Before he could say anything, Madam Wu explained, “From now on, we share the same senses. I am illusory, existing only within your consciousness. In other words, aside from you, no one else can perceive my existence, and only you can converse with me.”

“Understood.” Qi Xuansu breathed a sigh of relief and continued walking forward.

Compared to the quiet wealthy district, the commoners’ district was far more lively. People were brushing shoulders with each other in the crowded streets.

Clergymen could also be seen in the commoners’ district. However, these were lower-ranking missionaries. They would find a crate to stand on and begin preaching to passersby, with the occasional pedestrian stopping to listen.

At that moment, a missionary was preaching to the crowd about the dangers of arcanum and magic, saying that arcanum had been abused by humans to corrupt hearts. It had exhausted precious resources and caused civilizations to collapse.

Qi Xuansu listened for a while, clearly unimpressed. “That argument could be applied to anything—Daoist arts, magic, creations, machinery, and steam. Anything abused will cause problems. The key factor is the people using these things. He might as well say that human desire has no limits. It may be a cliché, but at least it’s true.”

Madam Wu sneered. “People are experts at shifting blame. If it’s not something else’s fault, should they admit it’s their own? If a child isn’t raised well, they blame the teacher, the environment, the Holy Xuan cards, and novels. They even blame the child for being stupid or rebellious—anything except themselves.”

Qi Xuansu suddenly thought of Little Yin. “You’re not wrong.”

The two continued forward, searching for a path leading to the Lower District.

This place was far from the ideal image promoted by the Holy Court. Even in the commoners’ district, there were many vagrants. Grueling labor left people exhausted and damaged their health. Meager incomes filled them with anxiety, so everyone here looked drained and unpresentable.

Compared to the Central District, Jade Capital was a paradise.

Qi Xuansu continued speaking with Madam Wu. “From a sage’s perspective, one naturally hopes for a world of universal harmony where everyone prospers. But that’s unrealistic. From the standpoint of an enemy, the more corrupt St. York’s upper class becomes and the more miserable its lower class grows, the more advantageous it is for us. If one day, we destroy it or conquer it, wouldn’t that also count as doing a good deed?”

Madam Wu mocked him. “More importantly, it would become your great achievement. Your name will go down in history.”

Qi Xuansu replied half-jokingly, “If so, I will die without regret.”

Madam Wu clicked her tongue. “Still, when you think about it—stepping on the bones of nobles and burning the imperial treasury to ashes—wouldn’t that be rather satisfying?”

“That’s a dangerous way of thinking. Such words are inappropriate. The Daoist Order of today is no longer the same as that during the Yellow Turban Uprising. When you speak of nobles and ministers—who exactly do you mean?”

Madam Wu sounded somewhat surprised. “You’re quite vigilant, Sage Qi.”

Qi Xuansu remained calm. “Disaster often comes from the mouth. Without vigilance, it’s easy for others to pull you down from your position.”

Madam Wu appeared on Qi Xuansu’s other side again. “But this isn’t Daoist territory.”

Qi Xuansu asked, “What exactly are you trying to say?”

“Let’s...” Madam Wu pointed around them. “Burn St. York to ashes!”

Qi Xuansu had begun to understand. On the surface, Madam Wu appeared aloof and unapproachable, but in truth, she was born with a fiery disposition. She seemed to have a particular fascination with burning things. She was a true pyromaniac who wanted to turn everything to ashes.

Qi Xuansu stopped arguing with Madam Wu and pushed open the door of a tavern.

The place was loud, filled with the murky stench of cheap alcohol mixed with sweat.

Qi Xuansu walked straight to the counter. Being accustomed to the life of a wandering Daoist, he shoved others aside and rested his elbow on the counter like a rogue. Since it was not high society, this behavior was considered normal.

The men who had been pushed aside saw the gleaming pistol at Qi Xuansu’s waist and wisely chose to keep their mouths shut.

Clearly accustomed to such behavior, the mountain of flesh that was the bartender behind the counter asked, “What do you want?”

Qi Xuansu went straight to the point. “I want to go to the Lower District.”

The bartender probed, “What for?”

Qi Xuansu replied rudely, “None of your business.”

“You a drifter?” The bartender asked again.

“None of your business,” Qi Xuansu repeated.

The bartender shrugged. “I know nothing.”

Qi Xuansu offered, “How much?”

The bartender paused. “What did you say?”

Qi Xuansu said impatiently, “Give me a straight answer.”

The bartender stopped wiping the glass he was holding. “Five Gold Crowns.”

Qi Xuansu frowned. “Just for pointing out the way?”

“That’s the price.” The bartender resumed polishing the glass in his hand. “No bargaining.”

Qi Xuansu did not actually care about the 5 Gold Crowns. He simply did not want to look like a gullible fool, as it would attract trouble.

Of course, as a temporary Pseudo-Immortal, Qi Xuansu could easily fly away or burrow underground and infiltrate the place by force. But he did not know whether this place had special surveillance techniques in place. After all, this city had a Patriarch stationed within it.

Thus, Qi Xuansu chose to be safe and enter the underground city through more ordinary means, avoiding the attention of the Steam Evangelical Sect as much as possible.

Such black-market channels clearly violated the laws of St. York, but they would not attract the attention of high-ranking clergy.

Qi Xuansu asked, “Can you guarantee it’s reliable?”

“Of course!” The bartender lowered his voice to a whisper. “It used to be a smuggling tunnel. But the city council discovered it a few years ago and blew it up. Later, someone dug it open again. You can’t move goods through it anymore, but it won’t be a problem for people to walk through.”

Qi Xuansu pretended to hesitate and think for a moment before finally taking out 5 Gold Crowns in coins and banknotes, giving the impression that he had emptied his pockets so as to avoid unnecessary trouble. After all, wealth should not be flaunted in such a place.

He then rested his hand on the grip of the pistol at his waist and threatened, “If anything goes wrong...”

“Full refund guaranteed,” the bartender quickly said, pocketing the money. “Follow me.”