A Pawn's Passage

Chapter 1418: Seating Arrangements and Speech

Qi Xuansu said, “What does forming cliques and carving out territories have to do with me?”

Sun Hewu explained, “As you just mentioned, many people don’t have their roots here. They have their eyes on the position of Deputy Palace Master and Palace Master. Recently, it’s been widely rumored that after your term as Chief Deputy Beichen Hall Master ends, you will likely enter the Golden Tower Council. Since there can only be 36 Omniscient Sages but no fixed number for Great Sages, an old Omniscient Sage can easily move to become a Great Sage, while you take their slot. By then, you will be more than qualified to take the Wanxiang Daoist Palace Master position. Since you’re taking someone else’s position, how could they not resent you?”

Qi Xuansu said pointedly, “Elder Sun, you are the top Deputy Palace Master, second only to the Great Sage. There are also eight Deputy Palace Masters.”

Sun Hewu said, “When you first came to the Upper Palace, you were only a fourth-rank Jijiu Daoist, not even a superintendent. But now, you are a second-rank Taiyi Daoist, the Chief Deputy of the Three Great Halls, only one step away from the Golden Tower Council. You’ve grown over the years. Likewise, the personnel within the Wanxiang Daoist Palace have changed just as much. There aren’t many familiar faces left.”

Qi Xuansu roughly understood. With Great Sage Shi nearing retirement, it was only a matter of time before the Palace Master position was reinstated. The Wanxiang Daoist Palace was one of the few places where a Deputy Palace Master could be promoted directly to a Palace Master. Thus, it became a contest where everyone displayed their abilities by first competing for Deputy Palace Master positions. Sun Hewu’s status as the top Deputy Palace Master was merely customary and not formally recognized by the Daoist Order.

The previous Deputy Palace Masters had fallen from power due to certain incidents or had been quietly sent away.

Such things were common.

After their conversation, Qi Xuansu took his leave and headed to Huasheng Hall. He had already discussed with Xu Dacheng that the Chief Deputy of Huasheng Hall would personally handle the procedure to remove the Steam Power Core from Audrey’s body.

This was also beneficial for Huasheng Hall, as the Steam Power Core inside Audrey’s body was of high specification and would aid their in-depth research into the Steam Evangelical Sect’s technology.

Xu Dacheng was very concerned about this matter and personally formulated the plan.

First, they had to ensure that Audrey would live after the procedure. They could not let her die, as she was to serve as positive propaganda. Second, they had to ensure that the Fallen Apostles would not cause trouble. Considering this was Jade Capital, such a possibility was low. But to guarantee absolute safety, Huasheng Hall decided to move the procedure to Kunlun Paradise, activate protective formations, and request Spirit Guard protection from Tiangang Hall.

After reviewing the plan, Xu Dacheng and Qi Xuansu went to the ward to visit Audrey. She was currently undergoing preliminary preparations, such as removing some prosthetic parts and eliminating various markings on her skin. For those that could not be removed, Huasheng Hall suggested replacing the skin entirely.

At this moment, Audrey felt mostly relieved that she had made the right gamble. Chief Deputy Qi had honored his promise. He had brought her back to Jade Capital and had even mobilized the best resources of the Daoist Order to treat her. She was about to begin a new life.

Seeing Qi Xuansu enter, Audrey was about to stand up, but Qi Xuansu raised his hand to signal she need not do so. “How have you been lately?”

“All is well. Thank you for your concern, Chief Deputy Qi.” Audrey had a talent for languages and could speak the Central Plains official dialect.

Qi Xuansu nodded slightly. “I will soon return to the New Continent. You’ll stay in Jade Capital and focus on your treatment. If there are any issues, consult the Sages of Huasheng Hall.”

Audrey sincerely expressed her gratitude again. If Qi Xuansu were not already married, she would even be willing to devote herself to him. Of course, if he did not mind, she could also become his mistress. But Qi Xuansu had little desire for women. He only wished to make up for the absence of familial affection in his life.

Social conventions and human relationships were unavoidable in both East and West.

When Easterners went to the West and tried to offer money but were refused, they would shake their heads, saying that Westerners did not follow these social conventions and only acted according to rules. Such thinking was naive because Westerners surely engaged in such practices. But there were rules to gift-giving. One could not simply give things as they pleased. Otherwise, there would be no need for intermediaries or brokers.

Simply put, one must first become friends before engaging in such social dealings. Some Daoists did love money, but would they dare accept money from strangers? In front of unfamiliar people, they would always put up an upright and principled front.

The same applied to Audrey. If she wanted to make a deal with the Daoist Order, the issue was not whether she had enough bargaining chips but whether she even had access. As an outsider, the Daoist Order might not trust her or even take her seriously. Without Qi Xuansu’s influence, she would not have received such treatment. After all, it would be much easier to extract the Steam Power Core from a corpse.

Although Qi Xuansu’s original intention was merely to fulfill his promise and uphold the Daoist Order’s reputation, Audrey owed him a debt of gratitude, as it was not a fair transaction.

After arranging matters for Audrey, Qi Xuansu left Jade Capital and headed to the Wanxiang Daoist Palace.

This trip included accompanying Huangfu Ji on a tour and receiving his award. He also intended to settle accounts with certain people.

When Huangfu Ji learned that Qi Xuansu was to be granted an award, he became very interested and strongly insisted that the title be conferred first, making it part of the tour itself.

Great Sage Shi agreed.

The flying ships of Great Sage Shi and the Western Daoist delegation landed at Xingye Lake in the Wanxiang Daoist Palace.

The Daoist Palace held a grand ceremony to welcome the Western Daoist delegation.

Huangfu Ji had a purpose in visiting the Wanxiang Daoist Palace. The Western Daoist Order planned to establish its own Daoist Palace to develop more talent, and Huangfu Ji intended to serve as its first Palace Master, eventually spreading his students far and wide.

In fact, the Daoist Palace held significant influence and was an excellent place to cultivate one’s own faction. If entrusted to powerful figures like Qi Xuansu or Huangfu Ji, it might give rise to a new faction, with disciples continuing to address them as great instructors even after leaving. If given to others, however, the Daoist Palace would merely become a place to stay idle, with the Palace Master reduced to little more than a decorative figure in the Golden Tower Council. The gap between potential and reality was enormous.

After the brief welcoming ceremony, there was no rest. They proceeded directly to the grand hall.

Since Great Sage Shi and Old Sage Sun had gone to Jade Capital for the ceremony, arrangements were left to the other Deputy Palace Masters. This led to a mistake in the seating order.

The seating arrangement showed someone’s importance, going from the center, left, and right. For example, the Mansion Master would sit in the center, the Chief Deputy to the left, and the Second Deputy to the right.

The Daoist Palace arranged it so that Great Sage Shi sat in the center, Huangfu Ji to his left, Sun Hewu to his right, and Qi Xuansu further to the left of Huangfu Ji. This effectively placed Qi Xuansu fourth.

At first glance, there seemed to be no issue. Great Sage Shi, as a first-rank Tianzhen Daoist, held the highest status and sat in the center. Huangfu Ji was equivalent to an Omniscient Sage, save for participation in the Golden Tower Council, so he ranked next and sat to the left. Qi Xuansu and Sun Hewu were both second-rank Taiyi Daoists, but Sun Hewu was older and more respected, thus sitting to the right.

It seemed correct, but it was actually problematic.

That was because it involved the distinction between host and guest. This was not merely an internal arrangement. It also involved the Western Daoist delegation.

Since ancient times, guests have been honored above all. Huangfu Ji, as both a guest and a quasi-Omniscient Sage, should theoretically sit alongside Great Sage Shi at the center. Then, following the rule of honoring the left, Great Sage Shi would sit on the center left and Huangfu Ji on the center right.

Based on their shared central position, the sides would then be arranged accordingly. Qi Xuansu, as a guest, would be on the left, and Sun Hewu, as the host, on the right, upholding the principle of honoring the guest.

Great Sage Shi and Huangfu Ji should be positioned closer together in the center, with others spaced further apart. Even if additional people were added to fill the arrangement, it should be symmetrical around these two as the focal point.

This way, Great Sage Shi and Huangfu Ji would form the first tier, while Qi Xuansu and Sun Hewu would form the second tier.

But now, Great Sage Shi alone occupied the center, forming the first tier by himself. Huangfu Ji and Sun Hewu were placed together in the second tier, and Qi Xuansu, along with another Deputy Palace Master, was pushed into the third tier.

On the surface, such matters could be overlooked and dismissed as an unintentional mistake. But if taken seriously, it could be seen as a deliberate slight by certain people who were dissatisfied with Qi Xuansu, using this method to belittle and insult him.

People who had spent half their lives in this arena of power would certainly understand such basic etiquette.

Qi Xuansu did not believe this was an honest mistake. Since he had come to reclaim his standing in the Wanxiang Daoist Palace, this incident conveniently gave him an excuse.

However, Qi Xuansu did not react immediately and remained calmly seated in his position.

Great Sage Shi and Sun Hewu naturally noticed this as well, but with so many eyes watching, it was not appropriate to address it on the spot. They could only let it slide for now and hold those responsible accountable afterward.

Soon, the preliminary proceedings concluded, and Qi Xuansu was invited to speak. Great Sage Shi had already asked him to prepare in advance.

Qi Xuansu spoke in a relaxed tone. “A few days ago, our great instructor, Great Sage Shi, asked me to prepare for this. I felt both honored and apprehensive. As a disciple from the Wanxiang Daoist Lower Palace, this speech is both my honor and my duty. Beyond that, I truly have much to say to my juniors.

“One of the key reasons the Daoist Order has achieved success is its emphasis on cultivating talent. Among the many Daoist Palaces, Wanxiang Daoist Palace stands at the forefront. Every Daoist child takes pride in studying here, and I am no exception.

“It is not wrong for students to take pride in the Daoist Palace. But I want to make one point. Do not let your life be stuck in your time at the Daoist Palace.

“At 20, your greatest achievement may be gaining admission to Wanxiang Daoist Palace, becoming one of its elite graduates. That identity is your most prominent label, and there is nothing wrong with that. It is an honor worth celebrating.

“If your greatest achievement is still the Wanxiang Daoist Palace at 30, that is also acceptable. Life has just begun, so temporary setbacks and failures are inevitable. The road ahead is still long.

“But by 40 or 50, if the Wanxiang Daoist Palace is still your only defining label, then there is a problem. It means half your life has passed without achievement. You are stuck in the past, and the most you can boast about is having graduated, nothing more.

“Do not forget why the Daoist Palace cultivates you. Is it so you can flaunt its name to show superiority? No—it is to build and develop the Daoist order or, at the very least, to pursue a better future for yourselves and realize personal ambitions, even hobbies. Ask yourselves if you have done so. If not, have you wasted the resources invested in you?

“So, do not treat entering and graduating from the Wanxiang Daoist Palace as the endpoint of your life. See it as a new beginning. Your ship has only just set sail.”