A Pawn's Passage

Qi Xuansu’s new home had now been fully renovated. It looked different from the last time he had visited. The furniture arranged by the Zhang family had all been put in place, so the mansion no longer appeared empty.

What surprised Qi Xuansu even more was that, while their new home was naturally filled with brand-new furnishings, there were plenty of historical decorative pieces, paintings, and calligraphy. After all, when it came to art, new pieces often could not compare with old. Without some sense of history and heritage, how could the grandeur of the Zhang family be properly displayed?

Although Zhang Yuelu had strongly objected to such opulence, her objections were ineffective. The Zhang family simply went ahead and completed everything on their own. After all, Zhang Yuelu was too busy to get away and could not see what they were doing. By the time she noticed, the wedding would be just around the corner. Would she really throw everything out then?

The Zhang family had also left quite a few staff here, all in preparation for the wedding.

Qi Xuansu suddenly remembered that he had not yet picked his groomsmen. He had simply been far too busy.

The person in charge of the Zhang family’s staff followed beside Qi Xuansu, took out a long wooden box, and presented it to him with both hands.

The box was exquisitely crafted. Even setting aside whatever was inside, the box itself was an antique of considerable value. Naturally, a painting kept in such a fine box could be no ordinary work.

Sage Donghua was highly accomplished in painting and calligraphy. Not only did he enjoy painting himself, but he also appreciated and collected works by renowned masters. This time, Qi Xuansu had specifically asked someone to find him an ancient painting from the Qi Dynasty, the work of a renowned master that was so rare that even money could not buy it.

The person Qi Xuansu had entrusted with this task was none other than Zhang Jucheng. After all, the Zhang family possessed a thousand years of heritage, so he could simply select something suitable from the family’s own collection.

Ever since Qi Xuansu and Zhang Jucheng had joined forces to bring down Li Tianlan, their relationship had improved considerably. Zhang Jucheng’s only regret was that Qi Xuansu was not his own son-in-law but his niece’s husband, which ultimately made their relationship one degree more distant. In a sense, this painting could also be regarded as a gift of thanks, so Qi Xuansu did not have to feel that he owed Zhang Jucheng a favor.

Qi Xuansu was a man who respected the rules. He was extremely cautious when it came to both giving and receiving gifts. There was no need to mention how careful he was about accepting gifts, but even when giving them, he rarely broke convention. The reason he was making an exception by giving Sage Donghua such a valuable gift this time was because of their master-disciple relationship. The Daoist Order constantly said that master and disciple were like father and son, so no matter how valuable the gift was, it could hardly be considered a violation of the rules.

Qi Xuansu accepted the long box without opening it and said, “Please convey my thanks to Uncle Zhang.”

The Zhang family representative replied, “The head of the family specifically said that we’re all one family now, so there’s no need for such formalities.”

Qi Xuansu put the painting away, intending to bring it along when he went to see Sage Donghua later.

Just then, Chen Jianchou contacted Qi Xuansu. “Sage, something has happened.”

More precisely, something had gone wrong on Lu Yujue’s side.

Qi Xuansu had specifically instructed Chen Jianchou to accompany Lu Yujue because he was worried that Lu Yujue might act impulsively. After all, he had endured for so many days. Waiting one more day would hardly make a difference. It would be better to wait until Qi Xuansu had met with Sage Donghua before they plan their next steps.

Of course, Lu Yujue understood this reasoning and had no intention of acting rashly. However, plans could never keep up with changing circumstances.

Under normal circumstances, Zhou Xiaosong should still have been on duty at Tiangang Hall when Lu Yujue returned home. Moreover, Zhou Xiaosong did not know that Lu Yujue had returned to Jade Capital.

This was because the official announcement had only mentioned Qi Xuansu’s return, without saying anything about anyone else. The people from Ziwei Hall had all been preparing to welcome Qi Xuansu. They had not even known about Madam Wu, much less Lu Yujue.

Though Li Changge had indeed informed Beichen Hall that Lu Yujue was returning so that they could make the necessary preparations, a matter like this did not warrant being reported all the way up to Sage Qingwei. As one of the candidates for Grand Master, Sage Qingwei had no time to personally deal with matters like these. Therefore, Li Changge had merely instructed Shen Yubing to notify Li Zhuyu.

But for personal reasons, Li Zhuyu did not immediately tell Li Minghuang about it.

When Lu Yujue arrived home, he found the front gate tightly shut.

After the Daoist Order began emphasizing equality, even the great Daoist families could no longer keep dozens of servants at their beck and call as the Confucians had done in the past. The rules were especially strict in Jade Capital, where a household was permitted only one or two attendants. Only Lu Yujue and his wife lived in the household, and since Lu Yujue rarely returned home, they normally kept just one attendant.

But even with only one attendant, there was no reason for the gate to be locked in broad daylight.

Lu Yujue sensed that something was amiss.

He had originally intended to restrain himself, but now that trouble had come knocking on his own door, he could no longer tolerate it. He broke straight through the door.

The people inside noticed the intrusion, but they did not attempt to flee.

When Lu Yujue entered the living room, he saw two people inside—Li Minghuang and his Daoist companion Zhou Xiaosong.

Both were fully dressed, so it appeared that they had not yet gotten to the main act. Thus, he had not caught them in bed together.

At some point, the Chinese-style furniture in the living room had been replaced with Western sofas. Li Minghuang was sitting on one of them, looking completely at ease without the slightest trace of guilt. When he saw Lu Yujue glaring at him, he even smiled and nodded in greeting.

Lu Yujue’s face darkened. He could feel the fire raging inside him becoming almost impossible to suppress.

Zhou Xiaosong was startled. “Y-You... Why are you back?”

Lu Yujue replied coldly, “What? Am I not allowed to come home? Were you hoping I’d die out there?”

Zhou Xiaosong was immediately angered by his words and raised her voice. “What do you mean by that?”

Lu Yujue said, “I mean exactly what I said.”

Zhou Xiaosong shrieked, “Lu Yujue! You barely come home, and the moment you do, you start acting like a madman. What exactly do you want?”

Lu Yujue shot back, “What do I want? What’s going on here?”

“What do you mean, what’s going on?” Zhou Xiaosong showed not the slightest trace of guilt. Instead, she replied self-righteously, “I invited my superior over for tea. What’s wrong with that?”

Lu Yujue finally lost his temper. “I’m afraid it’s not that simple, is it? Even all the way in the Southern Continent, I’ve already heard about what the two of you have been up to. What do you think I came back for this time?”

For a moment, Zhou Xiaosong looked flustered, but she quickly regained her composure. To conceal her guilty conscience, she erupted with even greater anger. “A dirty mind sees filth everywhere. Lu Yujue, you’re the one who hasn’t been clean while you’re away, so don’t judge others by your own standards. You’re so petty that you’re even spreading rumors about me. Please, don’t stoop so low and grow up.”

This was a perfect example of gaslighting.

Lu Yujue was so furious that he only managed to scoff.

He had spent many years in the Southern Continent handling external affairs for the Daoist Order, so he was not a poor speaker. It was only because he was so enraged at this moment that he found himself unable to speak.

He could not understand whether he had simply been blind back then, whether Zhou Xiaosong had concealed her true nature too well, or whether circumstances had changed her, transforming the gentle young woman she had once been into the person standing before him today.

Lu Yujue’s entire body trembled slightly as the urge to strike overwhelmed him.

Chen Jianchou immediately grabbed Lu Yujue by the wrist and said softly, “Branch Manager Lu, don’t give them anything they can use against you.”

Just then, Li Minghuang, who had remained silent all this time, finally spoke. “Chief Secretary Chen, I hear you’re about to be promoted to Deputy Mansion Master. Congratulations on finding yourself a good master. You’ve certainly risen through the ranks quickly.”

Chen Jianchou replied calmly, “The Daoist Order advocates equality, so I’m not sure where this talk of a ‘master’ suddenly came from. Sage Li, you should choose your words carefully and avoid accidentally voicing what you truly think. Of course, I don’t deny that Sage Qi has promoted me. Sage Qi and I have a perfectly legitimate superior-subordinate relationship. It’s still better than finding myself a new father.”

Li Minghuang narrowed his eyes, and a terrifying aura erupted from him in an instant.

For a brief moment, Chen Jianchou felt as though he could barely breathe.

In all fairness, even if Lu Yujue and Chen Jianchou joined forces, they would still be no match for Li Minghuang.

However, Lu Yujue was not afraid of Li Minghuang. After spending this period alongside Qi Xuansu and becoming accustomed to seeing Pseudo-Immortals such as Hun Ahau and Utu, it was difficult for lesser displays of power to impress him anymore.

Lu Yujue took a deep breath and warned, “Li Minghuang, this is my home. Please leave!”

Zhou Xiaosong immediately said, “Half of this home belongs to me too. Sage Li is my guest. It’s not your place to tell me who I can or can’t invite!”

Li Minghuang finally stood up, but he did not move from where he was. “Lu Yujue, why are you with Sage Qi’s secretary? Have you managed to latch onto the powerful Donghua lineage?”

Chen Jianchou said, “Sage Li, I would like to clarify one point. Branch Manager Lu returned on approved leave and traveled aboard Sage Qi’s flying ship. After all, Branch Manager Lu was once Sage Qi’s subordinate, so Sage Qi has no reason to refuse him passage. Chief Deputy Li is aware of this and approved it. Didn’t he tell you?”

Li Minghuang frowned slightly, seemingly having thought of something.

Lu Yujue shouted, “Li Minghuang, why are you still shamelessly lingering here? Once I’ve divorced this woman, it won’t be too late for you to come back.”

Li Minghuang smirked. “What if I refuse to leave? What can you possibly do to me?”

Just then, another man said, “If you refuse to leave when you’re being given the chance, then I’ll throw you out myself.”

As he finished speaking, Qi Xuansu strode into the living room.

Chen Jianchou finally breathed a sigh of relief.

Li Minghuang’s expression turned grim. “Sage Qi, this matter has nothing to do with you.”

Qi Xuansu said, “Branch Manager Lu was my subordinate in the Southern Continent. As his former superior, there’s nothing inappropriate about me coming to visit him, is there? Surely Superintendent Zhou isn’t the only one allowed to invite her superior over for tea. Can’t Branch Manager Lu invite his superior over to his home as well?”

Zhou Xiaosong was about to say something when Qi Xuansu glanced at her. “Superintendent Zhou, I’m not one of those old-fashioned people who think male Daoists should always yield to female Daoists. That’s far too derogatory for female Daoists. I believe in equality, and I have great respect for female Daoists. So, I will treat female Daoists exactly how I treat male Daoists.”

Zhou Xiaosong immediately fell silent, not even daring to breathe too loudly.

Qi Xuansu turned his gaze toward Li Minghuang. “Sage Li, you sure are something.”

Li Minghuang narrowed his eyes. “What exactly do you intend to do?”

Qi Xuansu replied coldly, “I already told you. I’m going to throw you out.”

Before he had even finished his sentence, the two Sages struck almost simultaneously. Even within the confines of such a small space, their moves carried an imposing and forceful power.

Qi Xuansu opened with Future Infinity from the Three Sacred Fist.

He did not underestimate Li Minghuang. After all, Li Minghuang was also at the Zaohua stage.

The two brushed past each other. Qi Xuansu emerged completely unscathed, while a distinct fist imprint appeared on Li Minghuang’s chest, sending him staggering back several steps.

Qi Xuansu immediately followed with another punch. After all, his abilities had been honed through actual combat. He had even faced Zhou Mengyao head-on, much less someone like Li Minghuang.

Li Minghuang roared furiously and struck with all his strength.

When the two attacks collided head-on, the space between them briefly distorted.

The next moment, Li Minghuang was sent flying backward. He smashed through a wall, then through the courtyard wall, before hurtling out onto the street and landing face-first on the ground in an utterly miserable state.

Qi Xuansu stood with his hands clasped behind his back. “You’re nowhere near Yong Yan’s level.”