am-books Chapter 403: Four Stages
Chapter 403: Four Stages
Chapter 403: Four Stages
Qi Xuansu no longer dwelled on matters of romance. His face turned solemn as he stated, “This is about the Wuxu Palace.”
Hearing this, Pei Xiaolou set aside his flippant attitude and asked, “Are you referring to Wan Xiuwu’s case?”
Qi Xuansu nodded.
Pei Xiaolou did not seem concerned. “I’m representing the Quanzhen Sect in this case, while your girl is representing the Jade Capital. The people handling this case are on your side; moreover, you’ve got my elder brother and wife protecting you. What are you afraid of?”
Qi Xuansu froze, momentarily stunned.
Not long ago, he had been oppressed by those in power. How quickly had the tables turned that he now had a strong backing of his own?
Still, Qi Xuansu said, “But this goes against the rules.”
Pei Xiaolou snorted. “There are plenty of things in this world that go against the rules. Who can possibly account for them all? Back when the Daoist Order resisted the Confucian School, was that in line with the rules? When the three Deputy Grand Masters marginalized the sixth-generation Grand Master, did that align with the rules?”
Qi Xuansu was left speechless.
Pei Xiaolou continued, “If we really want to go by the rules, I should’ve sent you over to Beichen Hall to be tried for being associated with secret societies because you are Madam Qi’s godson. Then my wife and I should go to Fengxian Hall and confess to harboring and colluding with secret societies, implicating Sage Donghua and the Earthly Preceptor while we’re at it.
“If we follow the rules strictly, who in this massive Daoist Order would still remain? We never played by the rules from the start, so let’s not start preaching them halfway. Even the serious Zhang Yuelu understands this. In the end, this is a life-or-death struggle. The victor gets to define what the rules are and whether to follow them or not.”
Qi Xuansu was starting to get a grasp of the Daoist Order's politics.
The alliance between the Zhengyi Sect and the Quanzhen Sect was like one big ship that was moving deeper into the whirlpool, and he had already boarded this ship.
Everything had its pros and cons. While he now had backing and support, he could no longer remain neutral. The only path ahead was to follow the ship’s course. Whether Sage Cihang or Sage Donghua became the Grand Master meant that the Zhengyi Sect and Quanzhen Sect succeeded. If so, he would benefit and rise alongside them. However, if they failed, there would be no survivors, and he would sink with this ship.
At this thought, Qi Xuansu’s expression became serious.
Pei Xiaolou’s tone softened. “You must always remember one thing—some things can be said but not done, while some things can be done but not said. Those things that can be done but not said weigh nothing off the scales, but once weighed, they become an unbearable burden.
“Take the matter of you killing Wan Xiuwu as an example. You two had a personal vendetta, so your actions were understandable yet not in line with the rules. However, rules are just for show. As long as no one catches you, you can remain free. But if your crime is proven, no one can save you.
“But there is only one rule above all; that is, unless you have the power to break the system, you must abide by it.”
Qi Xuansu was never one to adhere strictly to rules. He already had some understanding of the Daoist Order’s infighting, so he easily accepted Pei Xiaolou’s explanation.
Lei Xiaohuan reassured him. “You don’t need to worry about Wuxu Palace. Even if something changes, we’ll handle it. For now, I have a task for you.”
Now he could finally discern how complex the whole situation was, filled with twists and turns as well as surging undercurrents.
However, judging by Pei Xiaolou and Lei Xiaohuan’s demeanor, they had clearly expected this because they even had the leisure to play the Holy Xuan Cards, indicating the couple was far from defenseless.
Qi Xuansu could not help but ask, “Which stage are we in now?”
Pei Xiaolou replied, “Between the first and second stages. A reversal is imminent.”
Qi Xuansu inquired again, “What’s my task?”
Lei Xiaohuan said, “You’re a fresh face. More importantly, you’re a member of the Qingping Society. I need you to use your connections within the Qingping Society to find out who the mastermind ‘kindly’ providing us with a flood of clues is. Madam Qi will arrive in Jinling Prefecture in a few days, so she will contact you directly.”
Qi Xuansu’s expression turned solemn as he answered, “Understood.”
He now knew why Pei Xiaolou and Lei Xiaohuan had forged such a strong bond with Madam Qi. It was not just about doing business together. They were true allies, with the business partnership being merely a facade.
However, the thought of meeting Madam Qi again made Qi Xuansu delighted.
Lei Xiaohuan continued, “This task isn’t too difficult, but it’s not easy either. You might as well resume using your Wei Wugui identity, which is currently known only to us. But you must be cautious. Those people dared to target Zhang Yuelu, so they certainly wouldn’t hesitate to come after you. They wouldn’t hold back in silencing someone, so your top priority should be your own safety.”
Even without Lei Xiaohuan’s reminder, Qi Xuansu, having traveled alone for years, had always prioritized his own safety.
Pei Xiaolou added as a final note, “This mission is top secret. Apart from the two of us and Zhang Yuelu, don’t disclose it to anyone else. After all, the Quanzhen Sect and the Zhengyi Sect have formed an alliance, and she is someone the Earthly Preceptor values. Considering your relationship with her, you can be completely honest with her. Oh, and you can pick up some Phoenix Eye and Dragon Eye Series ammunition from the Tianji Hall later—free of charge.”
Qi Xuansu nodded once again.
...
A top-grade mother-child talisman revealed the image of Young Master Li seated on a chair.
A slightly distorted voice seemed to echo over the entirety of a certain courtyard in Jinling Prefecture. “Don’t fear chaos. If we keep it under wraps, the chaos will consume us. But if we let it out, the chaos will engulf them instead. Right now, they’re clinging to the Yanqing Merchant’s Association. If we don’t muddy the waters, we’ll lose the last shred of advantage we have. We must remain absolutely clear-headed on this.”
A second-rank Taiyi Daoist master on the other side wore a grave expression.
Young Master Li continued, “Although all blades are currently aimed at Jinling, the true decider of victory lies in Jade Capital. I will handle things over here in Jade Capital, while you all must fully cooperate with my actions on your side.”
The second-rank Taiyi Daoist master reported, “Lei Xiaohuan and Zhang Yuelu have already joined forces. Bai Yingqiong’s stance is ambiguous. She seems to lean more toward Lei and Zhang.”
Young Master Li said calmly, “This is not the time to show mercy. If necessary, ask Old Master Jin to take action. We can’t touch Lei Xiaohuan or Zhang Yuelu, but there’s no need to be polite with their subordinates. If Lei Xiaohuan blocks our path, kill her subordinates; if Zhang Yuelu obstructs the way, kill hers. As for Bai Yingqiong, doesn’t she have a daughter? Find a way to make her reconsider her stance.”
“Yes, sir.” The second-rank Taiyi Daoist master obliged.