A Pawn's Passage

Qi Xuansu released his innate qi, drawing the tropical pitcher plant into his palm. He put down the candlestick and opened the lid of the pitcher plant. As expected, there was also a rolled-up note inside.

At the same time, Qi Xuansu smelled the unique scent of the tropical pitcher plant again.

This time, there was another name written on the note: Yue Lian.

At this moment, there was a flurry of chaotic footsteps outside the door.

Qi Xuansu put the note into his sleeve pocket and turned around to see a lantern approaching through the door.

“Surround them all.” A stern voice immediately silenced the whispers. The lantern then made its way into the room. Behind this lantern was the superintendent of Ecstasy Paradise and his entourage.

Before Qi Xuansu could speak, Liu Futong’s eyes were already locked on Qi Xuansu. “It’s you again! Guards, arrest him!”

“I’d like to see who dares touch me!” Qi Xuansu shouted. Several guards who were about to make a move stopped abruptly.

Qi Xuansu stared at Liu Futong. “Superintendent Liu, how could you arrest me without first getting to know the situation? I’m afraid you won’t release me once you arrest me, right?”

Liu Futong took a deep breath and narrowed his eyes at Qi Xuansu. He said solemnly, “Even if you are Sage Pei’s subordinate, you can’t just openly kill people in Ecstasy Paradise.”

Qi Xuansu smiled. “Superintendent Liu, sorry to burst your bubble, but you can’t just blame this series of murders on me. I came from the Wuxu Palace in Xijing Prefecture and traveled through the Ghost Pass to get to Longmen Prefecture, with clear records at every checkpoint. If anyone investigates, they will know that the timing of my arrival does not match up with the murders.

“Moreover, the senior major of the Green Phoenix Guard Seventh Lieutenant Colonel’s Office can testify for me. You accuse me of being the murderer before asking any questions. Do you really think that higher-ups are all fools? Or are you saying that you can hide the truth from the Daoist Order?”

Qi Xuansu paused, his tone turned solemn. “Superintendent Liu, tell your people to stand down.”

All the guards looked at each other and subconsciously took a few steps back.

Although Liu Futong was furious, he knew what Qi Xuansu said was justified, so he could only suppress his anger. “Fine. I made a mistake by accusing you.”

The superintendent turned to the guards and ordered them to retreat.

The guards quickly retreated, afraid of further offending Qi Xuansu.

“But—” Liu Futong no longer kept an air of elegance. His eyes were hostile, revealing a hint of his violent temper. “Even if you aren’t the murderer, you broke into the Jade Tower without permission to cause trouble. I can take you to the Chongyang Palace of Immortality and hand you over to Sage Pei.”

Qi Xuansu remained calm as he warned. “Superintendent Liu, the killer openly committed another murder under your nose and blatantly walked away. This case can no longer be suppressed. I advise you to solve the case before it worsens. If you can apprehend the murderer, you can still make up for your dereliction of duty. If you wait for the higher-ups to pursue the case, I’m afraid you won’t just be dismissed from office. You may even have to go to Fengxian Hall.”

Liu Futong’s face turned pale, and his voice even trembled. “Nonsense!”

Qi Xuansu added, “You would know best whether what I’m saying is nonsense. How many people are eyeing your position as the superintendent of Ecstasy Paradise, hoping to replace you? You may be able to take me down today, but can you take down those people too?”

There was a deadly silence in the room, as no one dared to speak.

Liu Futong looked stern. “Do you mean to say that you have a solution? If so, I am all ears.”

Qi Xuansu nodded. “I’m just here to solve the case. If solved, I can get the credit, while you can continue assuming your position. It’s a win-win situation for both of us.”

Liu Futong stopped hesitating and said with determination, “Fine. You can come here to solve the case, and I will allow you access to Ecstasy Paradise and the morgue. But I will only give you three days to solve the case. If not—”

Qi Xuansu interrupted him. “I will definitely give you a suitable explanation in three days, Superintendent Liu.”

Liu Futong snorted coldly, tossed a badge to Qi Xuansu, then turned around and strode away, with his entourage and that floating lantern in tow.

Qi Xuansu looked back at Hua Qi’s body expressionlessly and left the Jade Tower.

It was already dark by the time Qi Xuansu returned to Shimen County. The Green Phoenix Guards stationed at the checkpoint recognized Qi Xuansu and hurriedly led him to Eighth Tianyang.

When Eighth Tianyang saw Qi Xuansu, he immediately asked, “How was it?”

Qi Xuansu briefly recounted what happened, including his fight with the person wearing the white fox mask as well as Liu Futong’s reaction.

Eighth Tianyang looked pensive. “Does it mean that the murderer is from the Taiping Sect?”

Qi Xuansu shook his head. “I dare not make this hasty conclusion. The Wanhua Divine Sword Palm is not an exclusive technique. It’s just a basic palm technique for the disciples of the Li family, so I won’t be surprised if it has spread to the outside world. There is also a possibility that the murderer is deliberately trying to muddle the investigation.”

“You’re right, Brother Wei.” Eighth Tianyang nodded. “Who do you think it could be?”

Qi Xuansu shook his head and did not answer the question. Instead, he took out the new note with another name written on it and placed it side by side with the note with Hua Qi’s name.

“There is nothing obvious about the handwriting. Were there notes like this previously?” Qi Xuansu asked.

“Absolutely not.” Eighth Tianyang was confident in his answer.

Qi Xuansu pondered aloud. “This means the murderer has only recently started to act like this. But why? Is this provocation? Or do they have a hidden agenda?”

Eighth Tianyang glanced at the new note.

Qi Xuansu asked, “Who is Yue Lian? Is she also a courtesan?”

“She used to be.” Eighth Tianyang had not been here for long, but he did a lot of groundwork for the investigation. “But she quit when she got older. Now, she’s working as a manager in Ecstasy Paradise and is highly valued by Liu Futong.”

Qi Xuansu took out the badge given by Liu Futong and said, “It looks like we’ll have to head to Ecstasy Paradise again. Brother Eighth, please select a few experienced fighters to come along with us. We can’t let the murderer escape again.”

Eighth Tianyang quickly picked four of his guards, three at the Kunlun stage and one at the Yuxu stage. Qi Xuansu also brought along Liu Hu this time. They could surely defeat that person in the white fox mask as long as their opponent was not a Heavenly Being.

Their group came to Ecstasy Paradise at night. This time, they were not stopped because they had the badge given by Liu Futong. Qi Xuansu also did not need to pretend to be a Daoist priest sent to investigate the case to gain access to the Jade Tower.

After the fuss earlier, many of the guards recognized Qi Xuansu. They were also in awe at how Qi Xuansu could make Liu Futong rein in his temper. Thus, they thought that Qi Xuansu was a big shot from Jade Capital. As such, they even took the initiative to greet him.

Qi Xuansu casually pointed to the leading guard. “Take me to see Manager Yue Lian.”

The guard had an awkward expression, but Qi Xuansu did not give him a chance to refuse. “Lead the way!”

In fact, Qi Xuansu and Zhang Yuelu were similar in many aspects. However, Qi Xuansu did not have Zhang Yuelu’s background.

The guard had no choice but to lead Qi Xuansu and his group to the highest point of the Jade Tower.

......

The highest point of Jade Tower was the Ecstasy Palace, which used to be the residence of the Purple Immortal King. The superintendents in the past dared not use it casually.

The main hall was huge, supported by 12 large lacquered red pillars decorated with intricate gold patterns. The relief of two dragons playing with a bead was exquisite. Privacy curtains made of various colored silks and satins hung on the beams.

After entering the hall, there was a straight passage covered with red carpet. On both sides of the passage were two large pools with white jade walls and green jade floors. The pools were filled with clear water, and a small channel of water surrounded the main hall to connect the two pools. Fish could be seen swimming in the pools, while lotus lanterns floated on the water, illuminating the entire hall.

At the end of the passage was the deepest part of the hall, barricaded by a twelve-panel screen with a majestic painting titled The Ascension of the Heavenly Preceptor.

In the painting, countless white clouds supported the nine-layered celestial gate with a vast lake below. Purple mist swirled beneath the celestial gate, while 99 cranes on the lake were poised to take flight. The entire composition was grand and awe-inspiring. Between the sky and earth, a single white figure gazed upward at the swirling purple mist and the celestial gate. This figure was the Heavenly Preceptor.

This painting was not a copy, but the work of a master painter who had the honor of witnessing the ascension of the Zhengyi Sect’s Heavenly Preceptor.

Behind this screen was a large flatbed about three meters long and wide and no more than eight centimeters tall. A small square table that resembled a chessboard was placed in the middle of the bed. All of these were made of red sandalwood.

An antique censer and a chopstick holder from the Jin Dynasty with painted flowers on them were placed on the small table to the side, and the best and most expensive ambergris burned in the censer.

A wine jar and a wine glass were placed on the table. A mature woman with a voluptuous body was sitting on her knees in a thin tulle dress. Her gaze was lowered as she gently stirred the incense in the censer with a long golden chopstick.

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