A Pawn's Passage

Beyond the San Francisco Mountains stood the ruins of an indigenous temple. Its architectural style was entirely different from Western temples. It had a trapezoidal base with a square shrine sitting at the very top.

At present, this ancient temple site had been converted by the Western Daoist Order into a temporary stronghold, gathering a considerable number of personnel.

Inside the temple were numerous murals recording the history and mythological legends of the indigenous people.

A man stood there holding a lantern, studying the murals while softly reciting a poem.

From Dongwu, I gaze toward Yuhang.

The sea of clouds in the distant skies, boundless and vague.

When shall merit be fulfilled and fame attained, so I may return home?

How I yearn to drink and laugh with you endlessly,

Without the need to speak of parting cups.

Such drinks lay in a different sorrow.

Tonight, I send you off under the cold light by the river pond.

Shedding tears, though bearing another name.

The man was tall and powerfully built, with Eastern features and attire. His appearance was strikingly handsome. Behind him stood a group of people, all of them with Eastern faces as well.

He paused slightly and sighed. “A century-long dream of returning home—when shall I ascend the heavens?”

At that moment, someone entered the temple from outside and reported, “Sage, he has arrived.”

The man admiring the murals lowered his lantern and turned around. “Let him in.”

A man dressed in clerical robes walked in. Though dressed like a cleric, he did not have blond hair or blue eyes. Instead, he had black hair and a darker complexion, suggesting indigenous ancestry.

The man was well-versed in Eastern etiquette and cupped his hands in salute. “Greetings, Sage Huangfu.”

The man holding the lantern was none other than Huangfu Ji, the youngest among the nine Sages of the Western Daoist Order. He inherited the Huangfu family’s renowned good looks yet bore none of the softness, only a strong, masculine presence.

He waved his hand. “No need for formalities. We’re old friends.”

“Yes, Sage,” the man replied.

“Guangfu,” Huangfu Ji said. Though standing right in front of him, his voice sounded like thunder rolling from the distant heavens, sending a chill down the cleric’s spine. “Do you still remember what I told you when you first went to the Northern Continent?”

“I remember,” the man replied respectfully.

Huangfu Ji said, “Those who possess great courage remain unshaken when faced with sudden danger and remain unangered when wronged without cause. This is because what they hold is immense and their ambitions far-reaching. Though I’ve given these words to you, I use them as a reminder to myself as well. Over the years, you’ve lain low in the Northern Continent. I’ve seen it all, and I understand your hardships.”

“Sage Huangfu...” Guangfu seemed to have countless things to say yet did not know where to begin.

Huangfu Ji’s voice suddenly drew closer, as if right beside his ear. “The first time I came across the name ‘Guangfu’ was in my childhood, reading the story of What The Rooster Sees. It’s a weighty name for people of the Central Plains. I gave you this name in the hope that one day, we may restore the Northern Continent and reclaim the lands stolen by the Western thieves. Guangfu, you are worthy of this name.”

The man was clearly moved. He declared fervently, “Xunzi once said that where righteousness lies, one does not yield to power nor regard profit. Even if the whole state opposes him, he does not waver. To value death and uphold righteousness without bending is the courage of a true gentleman. I have lain low under orders without a trace of regret. For the great cause of restoration, I will give my all—body and soul—without hesitation!”

“You must not die. None of us can afford to die.” Huangfu Ji placed a hand on Liang Guangfu’s shoulder, his voice rising with fervor. “Those who deserve death are the villains who have seized the Northern Continent. If blood must flow like a river, then let that river of blood drive forward our cause of restoration.”

“I understand,” Liang Guangfu said in a low voice. “In truth, many of our brothers have come together not for grand ideals of nation or doctrine, but simply for revenge. Their families were scalped by those Westerners. They survived by sheer luck, and for the rest of their lives, their only purpose is to repay blood with blood.”

“Exactly—revenge.” Huangfu Ji finally moved to the main point. “Tell me what you know.”

Liang Guangfu said, “Sun Zhongnu of the Beichen Hall was not captured by accident. He defected voluntarily. Beichen Hall failed to detect it beforehand, resulting in heavy losses. Fortunately, the Lotus Seat of Beichen Hall received the news early and issued a withdrawal order in time, preventing even greater casualties.”

“The new Chief Deputy of Beichen Hall, Qi Xuansu, or Tian Yuan,” Huangfu Ji muttered. “I’ve heard of him. He’s young, yet already renowned. It’s said Wang Jiaohe, one of the 36 Omniscient Sages, fell at his hands. Even with Sage Donghua backing the young man, it still speaks to his capability. His reputation now surpasses the Three Prodigies. Who knows if he might become the Daoist Grand Master one day? Sage Qingwei clearly holds him in high regard to send him as an envoy.”

Huangfu Ji paused slightly before continuing, “It’s said there have been developments in Fenglin. The Chief Deputy of Beichen Hall was transferred there, conceding his position to Qi Xuansu. But Qi Xuansu went to Fenglin, delaying his departure for the New Continent. But how could he know about the situation in the Northern Continent if he’s far away in Fenglin? Even earlier than Li Mingzhen, at that? Perhaps it was merely a feint that he went to Fenglin. In fact, he is already here.”

Liang Guangfu said, “I think so too. While the Lotus Seat’s actions prevented greater losses for Beichen Hall, they also exposed the fact that he was on the Northern Continent. Not long ago, there was a massive explosion in the Lower District of St. York. Someone single-handedly repelled four senior councilmen. I suspect it was the Lotus Seat. Though powerful, he is still in enemy territory, which is why the Evangelical Ministry has stirred up such a commotion. Their willingness to leak information in advance and let many Beichen Hall spies escape likely means they’ve discovered some clues and are using this method to confirm their suspicions. Killing countless spies is nothing compared to capturing the Lotus Seat.”

“How compassionate,” Huangfu Ji sighed, his tone somewhere between admiration and mockery. “Compassion cannot command armies, and righteousness cannot manage wealth. But then again, Sage Qingwei didn’t send Qi Xuansu to wage war. He has to halt it. In that sense, it makes some sense.”

Liang Guangfu continued, “The Evangelical Ministry is trying to capture the Lotus Seat, but so far they haven’t found any trace of him. What’s worth noting is that Sophia August, the Chairman of St. York, has been acting very abnormally of late because a female actress, Audrey Ale, went missing. Sophia made a huge fuss, reportedly even dispatching a flying craft to intercept the actress midway, causing a massive commotion. In the end, the flying craft was snapped in half with a single hand, and none of those sent survived. From this, it seems the Lotus Seat is not alone. He has assistance.”

“Snapping a flying craft in half with one hand? That’s not something an ordinary Heavenly Being could do. At the very least, they have to be a Pseudo-Immortal.” Huangfu Ji pondered aloud. “But that shouldn’t be Qi Xuansu, since he doesn’t have that level of cultivation. Did Jade Capital send a guardian to accompany him? Now that’s interesting. Such treatment is fitting for a Grand Master’s heir. No wonder Qi Xuansu acts without fear. But according to you, this Pseudo-Immortal has already appeared at sea. So why would the Evangelical Ministry stir up such trouble on land instead of searching the sea?”

Liang Guangfu said, “That means the Lotus Seat and that expert from Jade Capital are not together. They’ve likely split into two groups.”

Huangfu Ji said, “If one were trapped in enemy territory and outnumbered, it would be best to concentrate forces into a single fist. Splitting forces rashly is a grave mistake. This Chief Deputy Qi rose to such a high position at a young age, so surely, he is no fool and would understand this principle. If he still chose to divide his forces, there must be a reason. It now seems likely that the Pseudo-Immortal took the sea route while he traveled by land.”

Someone next to Huangfu Ji immediately praised. “Sage, you’re just as insightful as always.”

Unmoved, Huangfu Ji continued, “Whether it’s Chief Deputy Qi or the Pseudo-Immortal, covering thousands of kilometers in an instant is no difficult feat. Even if they split up, why would they need to take ships or trains?”

“The missing Audrey Ale!” Liang Guangfu suddenly realized. “It was Sage Qi who took her. That would explain why Sophia August is so anxious. Audrey Ale must be hiding some kind of secret, so both Sage Qi and Sophia are competing for her. That actress must be a burden with no cultivation, so Sage Qi can’t return directly to the Southern Continent and must conceal his movements.”

Huangfu Ji nodded. “It seems that’s the case. Audrey Ale is the key. We should give Chief Deputy Qi a hand. But we don’t know where he is right now. Did Lu Yujue say anything?”

Someone replied, “He likely doesn’t know either.”

Huangfu Ji suddenly shifted the topic. “Why did Sun Zhongnu defect voluntarily?”

Liang Guangfu hesitated. “I’ve heard it was because Manager Qian wanted to transfer him back to Jinling Prefecture, and he refused to go.”

An intelligence officer beside Huangfu Ji said, “As far as I know, Sun Zhongnu’s ancestral home is Jinling Prefecture. Old Qian transferring him back should be a good thing, so why would he refuse? Even if he disagreed, it shouldn’t have led to outright defection. How could he go so far as to harm Old Qian, who treated him almost like a personal disciple?”

Liang Guangfu sighed. “That’s why people say the human heart is unpredictable. Though his ancestral home is Jinling, he didn’t grow up there. He was raised in St. York. Though he still has black hair and black eyes, inside, he’s no different from those Westerners. To him, St. York is home, and Jinling is the foreign land.”

Huangfu Ji said expressionlessly, “He’s nothing more than a traitor. Kill him when the opportunity arises. His family as well—eliminate them all to avenge our fallen comrades.”