A Pawn's Passage

Chapter 550: Master Qi

With that, Sun Hewu grabbed Qi Xuansu by the shoulder and hurled him out.

Qi Xuansu felt as if he were flying through the clouds. By the time his feet touched the ground, he was already back on the Star Observation Deck, with Yao Pei standing beside him, still as emotionless as ever.

Sun Hewu lifted Qi Jianyuan as well. Qi Jianyuan was gravely injured, but he was still alive. After all, Qi Xuansu’s punch could not compare to the sheer force of Master Wan’s punch that ended Feng Bo’s life in a second.

The elderly Sage firmly grasped Qi Jianyuan’s shoulders and gave him a few forceful shakes. A series of cracks and pops echoed through the air as the young man’s misaligned bones snapped back into place. Then, Sun Hewu struck Qi Jianyuan’s back with his palm, allowing the latter to violently cough up a mouthful of dark, clotted blood.

“Alright. Go do your job and stop causing trouble here. If this happens again, I’ll throw you out myself,” Sun Hewu said bluntly. “If you’re unconvinced, feel free to tell Pei Xuanzhi or Qi Jiaozheng to find me.”

Although there was no strict difference in ranking between Deputy Hall Masters and Deputy Palace Masters, power within the Daoist Order was not solely determined by titles.

In the Daoist Order, factors such as rank, experience, lineage, and cultivation level all played a role. For example, though Li Tianlan was merely the Second Deputy Jiangnan Mansion Master, he still stood as an equal to the Jiangnan Daoist Mansion Master and the Chief Jiangnan Daoist Mansion Master from the powerful Cihang lineage. His authority was not just based on his title.

In terms of rank, Sun Hewu was a second-rank Taiyi Daoist master, while Qi Jianyuan was merely a third-rank Youyi Daoist master. In terms of experience, Sun Hewu had lived through the reigns of the fourth, fifth, and sixth-generation Grand Masters, so he was a respected elder. In terms of cultivation, he could suppress Qi Jianyuan with a single hand. In terms of authority, he was the Acting Wanxiang Daoist Palace Master, which meant he had the final say on his turf.

Even Qi Jiaozheng would have to respectfully address Sun Hewu as Elder Sun.

The only reason Sun Hewu had never become an Omniscient Sage was that he simply did not care for the title. Like Daoist Ji of the Shuzhou Daoist Mansion, Sun Hewu was one of those free-spirited individuals in the Daoist Order. Ironically, this was exactly the kind of Daoist Qi Xuansu had once aspired to become.

Thus, Sun Hewu had every right to say what he did without qualms.

Qi Jianyuan did not argue. He simply put away his sword in silence.

Meanwhile, Yao Pei glanced at Qi Xuansu and remarked, “I stand by what I said before. Qing Xiao’s keen eye for people is quite admirable.”

Qi Xuansu was not in the mood to talk. Aside from the lingering influence of the Demonic Blade, his mind was riddled with questions—why had his master left the Quanzhen Sect to join the Zhengyi Sect? What had happened between his master and the Qi family?

The theory that his master had been forced out after failing to seize the position as patriarch of the Qi family seemed unlikely. His master’s cultivation had never been particularly high, so it was improbable that he had ever been in direct competition with someone as powerful as the Omniscient Sage, Qi Jiaozheng.

If one were to assume that his master had once possessed high cultivation but later lost his cultivation due to some unforeseen event, that seemed unlikely as well. The Daoist Order did not lower a Daoist’s rank simply because they lost their cultivation. Rank was only reduced in cases of misconduct or dereliction of duty.

His master was merely a fourth-rank Jijiu Daoist master, far from reaching the status of a second-rank Taiyi Daoist master.

Moreover, if his master had once been highly cultivated—enough to rival Qi Jiaozheng and contend for the position of Omniscient Sage—then he would not have been an unknown figure. If so, Zhang Yuelu would not have reacted with complete indifference when she first read Qi Xuansu’s file.

From this, it was evident that his master had likely been an ordinary member of the Qi family. But judging from Qi Jianyuan’s attitude, his master must have had a falling out with the Qi family. This was nothing unusual. Even Zhang Yuelu had once considered leaving her own sect to join the Quanzhen Sect. For many, a family was both a source of strength and a constraint—one that eventually forced them to make a choice.

As Qi Xuansu pondered, Sun Hewu returned, interrupting his thoughts. “Earlier, I was somewhat skeptical when you spoke of your Jianghu experiences. But now, I have no choice but to believe it. You really have no fight ethics whatsoever. It seems the Demonic Blade suits you perfectly.”

Qi Xuansu snapped out of his thoughts and offered an apologetic smile. “I’m sorry for troubling you, Sage Sun.”

“Trouble? It’s no trouble at all.” Sun Hewu waved his hand dismissively. “This is my duty as the Acting Palace Master. Old Shi entrusted the Wanxiang Daoist Palace to me, so no matter what I may be like usually, I must shoulder the responsibility when it matters.

“Besides, I understand the situation now. That punk insulted your master. If I recall correctly, you’re from the Lower Palace. For an orphan with no parents, the master-disciple bond is akin to a father-and-son relationship. Losing your temper over someone insulting your master is completely understandable. The Daoist Order is not like the Confucians. We’re not so rigid and heartless, so you need not worry. Pei Xuanzhi is not a petty man, and Qi Jiaozheng is not the type to blindly protect his own. Both of them are relatively fair.”

Qi Xuansu felt slightly relieved. Once again, he found himself inwardly agreeing with Zhang Yuelu’s assessment of this elderly Sage. Sun Hewu was indeed a kind and honorable elder.

Since his return to the Daoist Order, Qi Xuansu has encountered many villains but also a fair share of good people like Sun Hewu, Pei Xiaolou, and Lei Xiaohuan. His definition of good and evil was not strictly determined by morality, but by how these people treated him.

Qi Xuansu glanced down at the field of white reed flowers below. Qi Jianyuan was nowhere to be seen.

He knew that their conflict was far from over. Sun Hewu could only suppress things for now, but not forever. There was no way Qi Xuansu could kill Qi Jianyuan in front of so many people, and Qi Jianyuan would never willingly accept defeat. One day, he would seek revenge, and there was no doubt that the two of them would cross blades again.

Thinking of this, Qi Xuansu unconsciously rubbed the bell hanging from his waist.

This was the Nine Yang Fiery Dome Replica, Qi Xuansu’s final trump card and a safeguard he had prepared just in case.

Still, Qi Xuansu was certain that Qi Jianyuan also had his own desperate or life-saving methods. At first, Qi Jianyuan had probably considered it unnecessary. After all, why go all out against a mere Xiantian Being? Later, when Qi Jianyuan was completely suppressed by Qi Xuansu, he never got the chance to use these life-saving treasures. When he finally resolved to risk everything for one last stand, Sun Hewu intervened.

In the end, Qi Jianyuan’s downfall stemmed from his own burdens. He chose the wrong time and place for this duel. He wanted to win gracefully to maintain his dignity, but his plan failed.

The spectators were thoroughly satisfied, having witnessed such a high-level duel during the Zhongyuan Festival. Each of them left with their own reflections.

The fourth-rank Jijiu Daoist masters in higher positions were mostly shocked by Qi Xuansu’s formidable strength. Those who were unaware of the full picture might have even mistaken him for one of the legendary prodigies of the Quanzhen Sect who stood alongside Zhang Yuelu, Li Changge, and Yao Pei.

However, those who knew the details began to reevaluate Qi Xuansu. They finally understood why Qi Xuansu had advanced to the fourth rank at such a young age. His reputation was well-earned, and his future was limitless.

Several Deputy Palace Masters shared Yao Pei’s sentiment, feeling more admiration for Zhang Yuelu’s keen judgment in recognizing talent.

There was a saying that outstanding horses were common, but a discerning scout was rare. The ability to recognize and use talent was the most important skill a leader could have.

Thus far, Zhang Yuelu’s appointments have been without major missteps. At the very least, she had avoided the embarrassment of being betrayed by her subordinates. Her ability to judge talent was commendable, especially with Qi Xuansu as a prime example.

For the many high-ranking Daoists who maintained a neutral stance between the three sects, this was an additional point in Zhang Yuelu’s favor.

They remained silent, never easily revealing their true stance, but they each carried a scale of judgment in their hearts.

Yao Pei understood this perfectly, which was why she repeatedly brought it up.

She saw Zhang Yuelu as her rival. Though neither of them was old enough to compete for the position of the seventh-generation Grand Master, they would most likely clash head-on in the struggle for the eighth-generation Grand Master.

The disciples of the Lower Palace had originally come just to watch the spectacle. However, some of them overheard snippets of conversation from the high-ranking Daoists. Upon learning that Qi Xuansu was also from the Lower Palace, they felt a surge of pride.

This was an instinctive allegiance because it was only natural to take pride in a Lower Palace disciple surpassing a well-resourced noble heir. Reputation took time to build. Qi Xuansu defeating Qi Jianyuan was no different from Zhang Yuelu defeating Li Tianzhen.

Soon, the Zhongyuan Festival celebration neared its conclusion, and the crowd gradually dispersed.

Sun Hewu headed back to Kun Garden, while Qi Xuansu and Yao Pei took the same path back to Zhen Garden.

The path was lined with lantern-looking street lamps, though their glass covers made them shine brighter than traditional paper lanterns. As they walked, the flickering light cast alternating shadows on their faces.

Qi Xuansu hesitated for a moment before asking, “Daoist Yao, how much do you know about the Qi family?”

Yao Pei seemed to have anticipated this question.

She answered directly, “I don’t know much about Sage Qi’s generation. Why don’t you ask Madam Qi? Or perhaps Sage Pei? They’re from that era, so they should know more.”

Qi Xuansu sighed. What a waste of breath...