A Pawn’s Passage

Once the men found their female attendants, the atmosphere grew livelier.

Such a situation was hardly a violation of the rules because everything was consensual. There was no coercion involved, and nothing much was actually happening beyond conversation and drinking. Any small gestures were subtle and discreet.

But rules were only the lowest threshold of morality. Whether this was truly moral or not was a matter of personal judgment.

In short, this was a long-standing phenomenon, even becoming a kind of unwritten rule. Though there was resistance, it was difficult to change.

Qi Xuansu did not enjoy such an environment, nor did he wish to make any advances toward the woman beside him. He could only force a conversation with his senior sister to fill the silence.

But what was there to talk about? Their experiences shaped thoughts and perspectives that were worlds apart. The only possible common ground was their days at the Wanxiang Daoist Palace. However, his senior sister had changed her name and cut ties with her past, so Qi Xuansu felt it was inappropriate to bring up.

In truth, there was always a common topic—the relations between men and women. Or rather, that was the real focus in this gathering. The lofty things like discussing literature were mere pretexts and window dressing.

Qi Xuansu observed the others, seeing human nature in all its variety.

Many men did not truly need a confidante. What they craved was the admiration of beautiful women. As long as a woman could understand what they were saying and, at crucial moments, show admiration and agreement in a worshipful manner, these men would feel deeply satisfied. To such men, that kind of woman was what they called a confidante who truly understood them.

This was not surprising. At home, their Daoist companions were equal in status, evenly matched. It was always one overpowering the other, a rivalry in some sense. So how could such women possibly adopt the coy demeanor of an obedient girl? More often than not, they had no patience for and no interest in listening to their men's ramblings.

If faced with women like Zhang Yuelu, Yao Pei, or Madam Qi, who were exceptional in their own right, they might even be crushed. This was especially true with someone like Madam Qi, whose word was law. Even Sage Donghua found her hard to handle. For an ordinary man, he would not be able to do anything but quietly obey, with no chance to show off. Naturally, such men would seek compensation in other places.

Qi Xuansu, however, did not share such a mindset, since he had always kept his expectations low. Even when he had nothing to his name, Zhang Yuelu was already famous throughout the Daoist Order. To Qi Xuansu, being overshadowed by her was perfectly natural. This situation was entirely different from those talented men who deliberately married into powerful families to secure advancement.

When they were together, Zhang Yuelu always supported him, offering encouragement and affirmation rather than criticism. To be frank, the validation of the top prodigies was far more gratifying than the adoration of any ordinary woman.

After all, there were only two people in the world who had ever tasted a meal cooked by the legendary Zhang Yuelu—the Heavenly Preceptor and Qi Xuansu. Even Zhang Yuelu's parents and master had never enjoyed such treatment. So, this showed that Zhang Yuelu placed Qi Xuansu and the Heavenly Preceptor at the same level of importance in her heart. Could anyone else possibly compare to that sense of fulfillment?

At this moment, Qi Xuansu's gentle demeanor allowed Song Yu to gradually regain her composure. She raised her cup to toast him and smiled sweetly. "I have long admired you, Deputy Hall Master Qi. I hope you will look kindly upon me in the future."

Qi Xuansu brushed it aside with a few ambiguous, perfunctory remarks.

Words spoken in such occasions were never taken seriously by anyone.

The reason Qi Xuansu was so cautious was that he did not want to give anyone the chance to hold something over him, especially since he had just been defamed not too long ago.

At Li Changge's side sat a woman named Jiang Ye, the most beautiful among the group, capable of driving young men mad with infatuation. She came from a moderately respectable family, but compared with the Li family backing Li Changge, her background was not worth mentioning.

In truth, there had been some thought put into these women's seating arrangements. The most beautiful, Jiang Ye, was seated beside Li Changge, while the second-most attractive, Song Yu, was placed beside Qi Xuansu. This was an unspoken acknowledgment that Li Changge and Qi Xuansu were the main characters and the absolute center of attention tonight. It also acknowledged Li Changge as being one step above Qi Xuansu, not because of their official ranks or positions, but because of the vast difference in resources each could command.

Such unspoken rules had no universal standard and were nothing more than the whims of those in power.

Though the Daoist Order had called for equality for years, distinctions of rank and hierarchy still existed everywhere. These invisible yet unmistakable lines divided people into tiers.

Jiang Ye offered Li Changge several toasts. Though he did not refuse, he showed little interest in her. He merely maintained the courtesy and composure expected of a scion of a prestigious family.

She understood at once and no longer pressed him with toasts. Instead, she simply remained by Li Changge's side, holding a glass of red wine and sipping on it delicately. Her lips glistened enticingly, yet she only spoke in response when Li Changge addressed her. She was quiet and unobtrusive, nothing like Zhang Yuelu's domineering presence or Yao Pei's morbid aloofness.

Jiang Ye was the perfect ornamental vase. Since she was pushed to sit beside Li Changge, she certainly had her own strengths. She was well-read and carried with her an air of intellectual refinement and elegance.

Any ordinary man who encountered her would find himself completely under her sway.

A woman like her naturally had greater strength to uphold her principles and even the right to be somewhat aloof. However, when weighed against the overwhelming temptation of leaping across several tiers of social standing, that kind of resolve seemed pitifully insignificant.

In truth, among those present, aside from Li Changge and Qi Xuansu, no one really had the qualifications to treat Jiang Ye like a canary that could be summoned or dismissed at will. Even Qi Xuansu himself fell somewhat short, not so much because of family background, but mainly because he already had the famously domineering Zhang Yuelu, who was regarded as a leader among many women. After all, few would dare risk snatching food from a tiger's mouth. Thus, Qi Xuansu's value in such matters was greatly diminished.

Men and women had always been each other's prey, so no one should speak of objectification nor think themselves as lofty or pure.

At that moment, Qi Xuansu's chance to slip away finally arrived.

The door suddenly opened. This time, it was not a server, but a small head peeking in.

It was Little Yin.

She still carried the insignia given to her by Sage Qingwei, and in recent days, she had become a familiar face around the field camp. So, it was hardly a challenge for her to slip into the banquet.

The little girl's gaze scanned the room before finally settling on Qi Xuansu. Only then did she step in fully. This time, she no longer called him "Xiao Qi" but timidly addressed him as "Big Brother."

All eyes in the room once again turned toward Qi Xuansu.

Everyone knew Qi Xuansu was an orphan, so how did he suddenly gain a little sister?

Qi Xuansu had not expected Little Yin to come looking for him at such a moment. His first thought was that she had caused some trouble and wanted him to clean up the mess, but his expression betrayed nothing. Instead, he asked calmly, "What is it?"

Little Yin immediately replied, "Sister Zhang sent me to fetch you. It seems the Sage Commander has something urgent to tell you and asks that you go over."

Qi Xuansu knew at once that it was a lie, but he did not expose it. He simply rose from his seat and said, "I'll go at once."

Aside from Li Changge, no one else had the standing to verify this with Sage Qingwei. Even Li Changge would not stoop to something so petty.

Qi Xuansu bade farewell to the others and addressed Li Changge. "Brother Yong Yan, I'll take my leave first."

Li Changge turned to Cheng Lixue and said, "Escort Brother Tian Yuan on our behalf."

Cheng Lixue was only too eager, accompanying Qi Xuansu all the way to the door.

Qi Xuansu had thought Cheng Lixue might have some request of him, but what his senior brought up was another matter entirely.

Glancing at Little Yin, Cheng Lixue sent a voice transmission. "Tian Yuan, what do you think of Junior Sister Song? Shall I arrange another day for you to invite her out so that you two can reminisce about old times?"

Of course, Qi Xuansu understood what this meant. He had long heard of such things, but he had not expected that he, too, would encounter them one day. Power and position were truly wonderful things. What others dreamed of day and night yet could not obtain would be delivered straight to his door.

Song Yu's greatest advantage did not lie in her looks, but in her status as a senior sister. For many men, she represented a chance to make up for the regrets of their powerless youth.

Qi Xuansu had no such intentions. However, he did not wish to appear like an oddball among men, so he declined with an excuse. "Surely, it would cost much to meet with a beauty. I've long been accustomed to poverty, so I'm afraid I can't spare the coins for such endeavors."

Cheng Lixue replied, "Now, you're being distant. Why would you have to trouble yourself with such a matter? I'll make all the arrangements. You need only agree. That alone is a great honor."

Qi Xuansu pressed down on his hand and said half-jokingly, "Senior Brother Cheng, you're forcing me to speak plainly. Are you trying to have me killed? Surely, you know well what kind of temper Deputy Hall Master Zhang has."

Cheng Lixue suggested, "Then just don't let Deputy Hall Master Zhang know. She's so busy. Surely, she can't watch you every single day."

But Qi Xuansu still refused. "I truly have no such thoughts, nor the time for it. I appreciate your kind intentions, Senior Brother Cheng, but I must decline."

Seeing the firmness in Qi Xuansu's tone, Cheng Lixue did not press further. After a few polite words, he finally turned and left.

After Cheng Lixue departed, Little Yin came up to Qi Xuansu, her expression odd as she huffed, "Senior sister, huh? I'm gonna tell Deputy Hall Master Zhang about this!"

Cheng Lixue had never imagined that Little Yin's cultivation was so high that she could hear loud and clear every word he had spoken through the mind's voice.

Qi Xuansu was not the least bit afraid. "An upright man has nothing to fear. Say what you will."

Little Yin raised an eyebrow. "Don't be so stubborn. All the novels have the same plot. The protagonist falls for his senior sister, but she's in love with another senior brother. Years later, the protagonist has become a hero revered across the land, but he still cannot forget her. He wins in Jianghu yet loses his senior sister."

Qi Xuansu rolled his eyes. "There's another kind of story, where the protagonist doesn't like the senior sister but instead becomes the personal guard of his female superior. Have you read that one?"