A Pawn's Passage

Through his conversation with Qi Xuansu, Li Changge came to perceive a hidden truth.

In truth, the differences between Qi Xuansu and himself were not as great as he had imagined.

Although Qi Xuansu was skilled at debate and had indeed left him with nothing to say this time, Qi Xuansu had not directly refuted his views. In fact, Qi Xuansu agreed with most of them. Their main disagreement was still centered on the issue of the Western Daoist Order.

Qi Xuansu’s position hinged on whether the Western Daoist Order should be considered one of their own. That was not the same question as Li Changge’s argument over whether certain factions should be bought over with benefits.

In the end, Qi Xuansu’s conclusion was that the Western Daoist Order was one of their own, so the question of whether they were being bought over did not arise in the first place. This way, he cleverly sidestepped the question Li Changge had raised.

But what if the Western Daoist Order were not one of their own?

Qi Xuansu had not given a particularly clear answer to that.

On the level of debate, Qi Xuansu had seized upon a weakness in Li Changge’s argument and countered it. But on the fundamental issue itself, Qi Xuansu had offered no rebuttal.

Was it because he could not refute it? Or because he did not want to?

That gave Li Changge plenty to ponder.

However, Li Changge did not mention this matter to anyone else, including Sage Qingwei and the Imperial Preceptor.

It was perfectly normal for three generations to have three different ways of thinking.

The most obvious example was the Heavenly Preceptor, Zhang Jucheng, and Zhang Yuelu. The conflicts among the three had already come out into the open and could no longer be concealed.

However, the differences among the three generations of the Li family were more subtle. Their disagreements had not surfaced openly, but that did not mean they did not exist.

Then there were the Earthly Preceptor, Sage Donghua, and Qi Xuansu. As things stood, tensions between the Earthly Preceptor and Sage Donghua had already begun to surface, though there did not yet seem to be any problems between Sage Donghua and Qi Xuansu.

After the Three Deputy Grand Masters effectively deposed the Grand Master, there were long-lasting consequences. They had shattered the greatest consensus within the Daoist Order since the time of the Holy Xuan, directly setting the Daoist Order on a path toward division. The Daoist Order had now reached a critical juncture. Everyone with foresight understood that change was necessary, and the cracks could no longer simply be papered over.

The key question was how to change.

Some were radical, while others were conservative. Some sought solutions externally, while others looked inward.

Li Changge was openly a radical, while Qi Xuansu could be considered a hidden radical.

Qi Xuansu’s current position within the political landscape was not one he had chosen for himself. Rather, it was what remained after everyone else had chosen their positions. In other words, he had no choice and could only follow this path.

As for whether Qi Xuansu truly agreed with this position, at the very least, he appeared to embrace it on the surface.

But Qi Xuansu also knew that when unity could no longer be maintained, and people could no longer be bought over, what was destined to come would eventually come. In the end, one would still have to resort to the most fundamental logic of all—violence.

A person’s worldview was largely formed by the age of twenty.

When Qi Xuansu was 20, he was merely an insignificant nobody struggling at the bottom of society. As a result, many of his views were fundamentally more aligned with those at the bottom, particularly young and able-bodied men of the lower classes.

These people shared one defining characteristic. They were treated like beasts to be worked and firewood to be burned. Sometimes they were nothing more than a number. Whenever those above wanted to maintain their moral facade without sacrificing their own interests, these were the people made to pay the difference. Whenever those in power decided that the common people had to endure some hardship, they were usually the ones who could not escape it.

So how would Qi Xuansu, having grown up in such an environment, view the world?

The world would continue to function no matter who disappeared from it, and the sun would rise as usual. Yet the higher people rose, the less aware they seemed to be of this fact. The illusion created by immense power made them disregard the voices of ordinary people and constantly take their own assumptions for granted.

Qi Xuansu had never spoken to others about his real thoughts and always said things that were considered proper and correct.

However, Zhang Yuelu was an exception.

Back when the Heavenly Preceptor halted Zhang Yuelu’s reforms, Qi Xuansu had said half-jokingly that the old folks were stuck in their ways, so she should not bother arguing with them. They could change the world once they were in charge, and the old folks could not do anything about it.

Qi Xuansu’s assessment of the old folks was that they were stuck in the old ways.

Old age was a double-edged sword. With rich experience inevitably came a rigid way of thinking. One could not have the former without the latter.

Youth was an advantage, but its drawback was a lack of deep foundations.

If Qi Xuansu were a Second-Tribulation Immortal at this moment, powerful enough to dominate the entire age, he would express his views of the world differently.

As the flying ship descended with a thunderous roar, Qi Xuansu finally returned to Jade Capital after a long absence.

Several months were by no means a short time. The last time he returned, he had come with Huangfu Ji while shouldering enormous responsibilities, having to report on his duties and appear before the Golden Tower Council. This time was different. With no official position to burden him, he felt completely carefree.

That said, others clearly did not regard Qi Xuansu as merely an ordinary Sage now.

A large group from Ziwei Hall, as well as Chen Jianchou, had come specifically to welcome Qi Xuansu. It was quite an impressive reception.

There were even Spirit Guards responsible for clearing the crowds and maintaining security.

Seeing the Spirit Guards and the “flying mansion,” anyone with a discerning eye could tell at once that an important figure at the level of Omniscient Sage had arrived.

Qi Xuansu had not expected such a grand reception either. He initially wanted to criticize them for being overly ostentatious, but then he remembered that Madam Wu was still aboard the ship. Even if he was not yet an Omniscient Sage, Madam Wu was a Virtuous Great Sage. There was absolutely nothing wrong with giving her such a reception, and he could not take it upon himself to cancel the treatment accorded to her.

Thus, Qi Xuansu invited Madam Wu to disembark first, while he followed behind her, with Deputy Hall Master Xu, Lu Yujue, and the others trailing behind.

In truth, these people really had come to welcome Qi Xuansu. After all, his promotion to Omniscient Sage had already been decided. It was only a matter of time.

They simply had not expected Qi Xuansu to be so cautious and yield the honor to Madam Wu. More importantly, none of them recognized her. This was especially true of the people from Ziwei Hall, who prided themselves on having spent years in Jade Capital dealing with personnel matters. They knew every one of the 36 Omniscient Sages and all the Virtuous Great Sages. So who was this woman? They had never seen her before.

They were all somewhat bewildered.

Deputy Hall Master Xu understood what was happening and announced loudly, “This is the newly appointed Virtuous Great Sage of the Golden Tower Council!”

Once he said this, the people from Ziwei Hall immediately understood and even felt a lingering sense of alarm. “Sage Qi is indeed prudent. We nearly caused a serious problem.”

Ignoring a Virtuous Great Sage while going out of their way to welcome an Omniscient Sage would have caused a serious problem. If the Great Sage took offense, she might assume that Qi Xuansu had instructed them to do this deliberately to slight her. Meanwhile, Qi Xuansu would not appreciate their gesture, and they would have ended up offending both sides.

As Chen Jianchou opened the carriage door for Qi Xuansu, his superior instructed, “I’ll ride with the Great Sage. You can accompany Branch Manager Lu.”

Chen Jianchou acknowledged Qi Xuansu’s instruction and walked toward the second carriage.

Qi Xuansu got into the carriage and asked, “Madam Wu, are you returning to Zixiao Palace? Or do you have other plans?”

Madam Wu thought for a moment. “To tell you the truth, I’m thoroughly sick of Zixiao Palace. After living there for more than 100 years, anyone would get tired of the place. I’ve also explored every corner of Kunlun Paradise. By the way, I heard that you have a new residence?”

Qi Xuansu chuckled. “If Madam Wu is willing to honor my humble abode with your presence, it would truly be graced by your visit.”

Madam Wu said, “Very well. Let’s go to your place first.” ℯℯ𝘭.𝘤ℴ𝘮

Qi Xuansu had intended to return home first anyway, tidy himself up, and then meet Sage Donghua.

Poor Little Yin had no idea that her carefree days were about to come to an end.

Qi Xuansu had no time to keep her in line, but Madam Wu had plenty of free time. In some way, Madam Wu was like a grown-up version of Little Yin.

The grand procession of carriages entered Jade Capital and soon split into several groups. After all, they were heading to different destinations, and not everyone lived in Taishang Place.

The carriage stopped in front of the main gate of the Princess Xuanzhen Mansion. At a glance, Qi Xuansu spotted Little Yin walking with a young woman.

Qi Xuansu stepped out of the carriage and called out to Little Yin. The moment Little Yin saw him, she immediately ran over. The young woman with Little Yin remained where she was. After hesitating for a moment, she gave Qi Xuansu a salute from afar before turning around and leaving.

Qi Xuansu found this rather strange. Then he suddenly remembered who the young woman was. It seemed to be Princess Chiying, whom he had met briefly at his disciple ceremony and in the Imperial Capital.

That made things even stranger. Why would Princess Chiying be together with Little Yin? What was Li Changge up to?

Qi Xuansu asked, “Little Yin, why were you with Princess Chiying?”

Little Yin asked in return, “Who’s Princess Chiying?”

Qi Xuansu said, “The woman who was just with you.”

Little Yin said, “She’s a princess?! She told me her name was Qin Henghua, but that it was insulting to call her by her given name. So she told me to call her by her courtesy name, Hua Wan. By the way, Old Qi, what’s your courtesy name?”

Qi Xuansu replied, “My courtesy name is Tian Yuan.”

Little Yin nodded. “Alright. I’ll call you Tian Yuan from now on.”

Qi Xuansu gave her a light smack on the head. “Are you trying to be disrespectful to your father?”

Little Yin always had a remarkable ability to steer a conversation completely off topic. “Hua Wan said I’m still a maiden awaiting a courtesy name, so I don’t have one yet at my age. Old Qi, what’s my courtesy name?”

Qi Xuansu casually humored her. “Your courtesy name is Wan Miao, and your nickname is Da Bai.”

Then Qi Xuansu realized they had gone off track and forcibly dragged the conversation back to the point. “Never mind who she is. Why were you with her?”

“Isn’t she our neighbor? Old Zhang said we should live harmoniously with our neighbors and maintain good relations,” Little Yin declared righteously. Throughout the years, Little Yin had already learned how to use Zhang Yuelu’s words to shut Qi Xuansu up.

Just then, Madam Wu, who had remained silent until now, suddenly appeared and scooped Little Yin up in one hand.

Little Yin was horrified and struggled with all her might. But her meager Wuliang-stage cultivation was no match for Madam Wu’s Immortal-level cultivation, so she could not break free.

Madam Wu held Little Yin up in front of herself and examined her from side to side with great interest, clearly curious about the little imp.

In Madam Wu’s hands, Little Yin was like an oversized toy.

Madam Wu had never seen a child like Little Yin before. Even the previous two generations of Emperor Willow Spirits were not like this little imp.

Little Yin could clearly sense just how powerful Madam Wu was and was visibly frightened. Her mouth began to quiver as though she wanted to burst into tears, yet she did not dare to cry.

As an elder even older than the first-generation Emperor Willow Spirit, Madam Wu would not bully a child. Seeing Little Yin’s frightened expression, Madam Wu hurriedly cradled Little Yin in her arms and soothed her. Surprisingly enough, she looked quite practiced at it.

Once Little Yin was no longer so frightened, her courage quickly returned. “Who are you?”

Madam Wu replied, “I’m Madam Wu.”

Little Yin asked curiously, “Wu, like the number five? Madam Qi is the seventh sister...does that make you her older sister?”

Madam Wu laughed. “What do you think?”

Qi Xuansu rolled his eyes. “No, Madam Wu and Madam Qi aren’t related. Let’s not stand around here and go inside.”

Little Yin continued asking without pause. “Is there a sixth sister? How about a third sister?”

Qi Xuansu was growing rather impatient. “You’re the third in terms of birth order, so you can call yourself Madam San.”

Little Yin was shocked. “What?! How come I didn’t know that?”