A Pawn's Passage

Zhang Yuelu understood very well that many of the ideals advocated by the Primordial Daoist Ancestor and the Holy Xuan had yet to be fully realized by the Daoist Order and perhaps never would be. However, she still used them to counter the Confucian scholars. It was not just for the sake of a fleeting argument but rather because, in her view, having a standard and failing to meet it was fundamentally different from not setting any standard at all. At least in the former case, there was a guiding principle to restrain behavior, whereas in the latter, there were no limits to wrongdoing.

The Daoist Order had established a standard of equality. Though in reality, most people failed to adhere to it, the mere existence of such a standard ensured that no one dared to openly violate it. Wrongdoings were committed in secrecy, and once exposed, the offenders faced severe consequences—just like the third-rank Youyi Daoist master who was demoted for mistreating a helper. As a result, no one dared to act recklessly in broad daylight.

On the other hand, the Confucian School did not even acknowledge the concept of equality, emphasizing strict social hierarchy and class divisions instead. In their system, there was no standard for equality at all. Those within the Confucian School did not even need to pretend. They would openly command slaves and servants. Even beating them to death was merely a matter of rolling them up in a straw mat and disposing of them. No one would hold the masters accountable in terms of law or moral scrutiny.

Failing to meet a standard and refusing to set one were two different matters altogether, so it was clear which institution had the lower moral baseline.

Though it might seem like a competition of the lesser evil, Zhang Yuelu, having been born and raised in the Daoist Order, deeply believed in Daoism. Despite its many flaws, she did not feel disillusioned or hopeless about it. Instead, she was driven by a desire to reform and correct its imperfections.

Furthermore, Zhang Yuelu knew she had to refute her opponents verbally first. Only if they remained obstinate would she resort to physical action, lest others accuse her of bullying.

Of course, her status played a role as well. As a rising star among the younger generation of the Daoist Order, many knew who she was and dared not stop her. If it had been a lower-ranking Daoist who clashed with the Confucian scholars, even if the Confucians had instigated the conflict, both sides would still be punished equally—fifty strokes each, no questions asked.

Disregarding right or wrong, prioritizing harmony and stability—was this not a Confucian-influenced mindset? It was an inevitable consequence of Daoism’s integration with the Three Religions.

This reminded Zhang Yuelu of an incident from her childhood. One of her cousins got into a fight at the Zhang family academy, and the teacher summoned his father. Upon meeting the teacher, the father did not ask for any details and immediately assured the teacher that he would discipline his son at home.

From beginning to end, her uncle never asked who was right or wrong. He simply administered punishment first.

Even in fights, there were cases where someone was provoked and forced to retaliate, but the adults did not care about such nuances. All they cared about was that fighting was forbidden. Why the fight happened and how conflicts should be resolved without violence were irrelevant. The priority was unity and harmony. This way of thinking had been passed down unchanged, from governing the Daoist Order to managing a household, deeply ingrained in their very bones.

Thus, Zhang Yuelu had no intention of opposing the Confucian School outright. She could not change it. Even if the Daoist Order were to vanish, this deeply ingrained way of thinking would likely never be erased. Her only objection was to the continued use of Confucian principles to govern the world.

Zhang Yuelu entered Yuxu Palace, where the hall was brightly illuminated. Compared to the solemn and austere atmosphere during the Three Religions Assembly, there were far more lanterns now. Delicate translucent veils embroidered with auspicious clouds hung around, reflecting the candlelight. Whenever a breeze passed through, they fluttered like rolling mist and clouds.

Everyone who entered the hall had an individual table. The entire seating arrangement resembled a horizontally placed chessboard. The central avenue aligned directly with the hall’s entrance was akin to the dividing river, while the seats on either side were neatly arranged like squares on the board.

Zhang Yuelu’s seat was relatively close to the front, requiring her to walk some distance along the central avenue.

Midway through, Zhang Yuelu stopped in her tracks, her gaze landing on a young man.

In terms of appearance alone, this man was no less handsome than Qin Lingge, with sharp brows and starry eyes. However, his presence was not valiant, sharp, or arrogant. He was rather calm.

This man was none other than Li Changge, who had gained great fame in the martial arts competition. It was hard to believe that he hailed from the Li family.

In many people’s perception, the Li family was never short of ambitious schemers, conspirators, or reckless madmen. However, once in several generations, the Li family would produce an outstanding figure who could change its reputation—the most famous being the Holy Xuan.

In this generation, Sage Qingwei maintained a fairly good reputation without any notable scandals. Or rather, the Li family had mastered the art of keeping appearances and reality separate, ensuring that their public image remained spotless.

As for Li Changge, he was far from the arrogant brat many imagined. Instead, his presence made Zhang Yuelu, who had boldly expressed her opinions during the Daoist debate, seem the more audacious one.

Li Changge was the type whose deeds sounded over the top, yet his actions and demeanor were reserved and understated. His humble and low-key demeanor created a striking contrast among the noble scions of the Daoist community. It was no wonder so many people praised him. If he lacked true ability, the Li family’s support alone would not have been enough to elevate him.

Sensing Zhang Yuelu’s gaze, Li Changge, who had been soul-traveling, returned to reality and offered her a gentle smile. His expression carried no provocation or hostility, nor any inappropriate or suggestive intent. His eyes were clear, conveying nothing more than a simple and courteous greeting as if the two were not opponents from rival factions.

Zhang Yuelu responded with a faint smile, acknowledging his gesture.

She never underestimated the Li family or stereotyped them as entirely corrupt just because they were her adversaries. Li Tianlan’s lack of integrity was undeniable, but so was his cunning and strategic mind. Li Changge was also a formidable opponent, whether he was adept at concealing his schemes or truly magnanimous.

It was difficult to believe that this composed and refined Li Changge was from the same family as the brash Young Master Li whom she had bore a tiny hole through outside the hall. But that was the Li family—full of both remarkable talents and reckless fools, a truly mixed bag of dragons and pests.

The two only exchanged a brief greeting without words. Just as Zhang Yuelu was about to move forward, a slender, jade-like hand gently rested on her shoulder.

Zhang Yuelu instinctively turned her head to the back and saw a Daoist priest in a lotus crown, with the Sword of Wisdom token hanging at her waist. A long sash draped over her arm, and she cradled a horsetail whisk.

The Daoist priest was tall and elegant, with charming features. She was an undeniable beauty, with a delicate floral ornament adorning the space between her eyebrows.

“Martial Aunt!” Zhang Yuelu exclaimed in surprise.

Zhang Yuelu had many fellow martial siblings, including Bai Yingqiong and Junior Sister Xiao. Naturally, Sage Cihang was the same. Over the years, many of Sage Cihang’s senior and junior sisters had passed away, retired to seclusion in the mountains, or even married and left the Daoist Order. However, a significant number still remained. Otherwise, the Cihang Lineage would not be recognized as its own entity. As a result, Zhang Yuelu had numerous martial aunts.

Zhang Yuelu had not expected to encounter this particular martial aunt at Yuxu Palace.

This martial aunt was a legendary figure in the Cihang Lineage. Her real name was Shi Bingyun, and she was famously known for being a hopeless romantic. However, unlike Zhang Yuyue, who was notorious for being on the losing side of love, Shi Bingyun was always the one who abandoned others. No one had been able to break up with her.

It was said that Shi Bingyun once had a strong chance to compete with her senior sister for the position of Sage Cihang. However, she voluntarily withdrew for the sake of a man.

The Cihang Lineage did not prohibit romantic relationships, but they required adherence to certain rules. Simply put, mutual affection and formal marriage were acceptable, but clandestine affairs were not. Shi Bingyun had once privately pledged herself to a man, even surrendering her body to him. Naturally, this drew the ire of many conservative elders. Instead of struggling against them, she simply left it all behind and devoted herself entirely to love.

From that point onward, the two martial sisters took entirely different paths.

Sage Cihang swore never to marry and steadily climbed the ranks. Now, she stood as a strong contender for the position of Grand Master. No one knew what Shi Bingyun truly thought of this. However, in the eyes of many, Shi Bingyun had chosen to throw away her future for a man—only for that man to die on the battlefield in the Western Region not long after.

Shi Bingyun mourned for three days, personally traveling to the Western Region to recover his remains. Afterward, she isolated herself for a long time.

By then, her fate was sealed, with no possibility of change. To cope with her grief, Shi Bingyun left Putuo Island and wandered the world. By chance, she saved a man who had lost all his cultivation. Upon learning that he had been betrayed by his lover and left in such a state, Shi Bingyun took the initiative to heal his wounds and help him regain his strength.

Over time, her sympathy turned into love, and their experiences together were filled with hardship and dramatic twists. However, she later discovered his true identity. He was the prized disciple of the Heavenly Court’s Golden Patriarch—none other than the current Grand Leader of the Heavenly Court, Wu Guangbi. Thus, the two were forced to part ways.

Though it was Shi Bingyun who willingly let go, it was still not a pleasant affair, and her reputation suffered once more.

What was even more astonishing was that Shi Bingyun later had a romantic affair with a mysterious woman, which caused a great uproar. In the end, whether due to pressure from her fellow martial siblings or simply having grown tired of the relationship, she separated from the woman.

Unexpectedly, after a few years of relative silence, Shi Bingyun became involved with an Imperial Prince and nearly ended up in marriage discussions. The prince had recently lost his wife, and Shi Bingyun was no maiden herself, so neither had reason to look down on the other. However, due to various obstacles and pressures, the marriage never came to fruition.

Even so, they never fully severed ties. Over the years, their relationship remained ambiguous. Shi Bingyun did not seek out other lovers, nor did the prince take another wife. The intricate details were not for outsiders to know, but many understood the situation, and it became widely discussed gossip.

It could be said that Shi Bingyun brought quite a reputation—whether good or bad—to the Cihang Lineage. However, likely out of their sisterly bond, Sage Cihang did not intervene too much, only stepping in when things became truly outrageous.

Zhang Yuelu’s acquaintance with this martial aunt was purely coincidental. Back when she was still a Superintendent of Beichen Hall, she frequently visited Sage Cihang’s residence in Jade Capital. One day, she happened to meet Shi Bingyun, who was visiting her senior sister. Thus, they became acquainted.

It had been quite some time since Zhang Yuelu last saw this martial aunt. From what she had heard, her master had arranged for her martial aunt to take up a permanent position at the Imperial Capital Daoist Mansion. Unexpectedly, they met again today at the Zhongyuan Festival celebration.

Shi Bingyun had a straightforward and cheerful personality. “It’s true that one should look at a person with fresh eyes after a few days apart. It hasn’t been that long since we last met, yet you’ve already become a third-rank Youyi Daoist master. It looks like you’ll soon catch up to me!”

Zhang Yuelu merely smiled and said nothing in response.

Since Shi Bingyun had once abandoned the chance to compete for the position of Sage Cihang, she clearly had no real interest in ranks. In some ways, she still retained a childlike innocence, far more invested in matters of romance.

She changed the subject. “By the way, I heard about you and a young Daoist named Qi Xuansu…”