Chapter 33: Dispel Doubts

Chapter 33: Dispel Doubts

As Zhang Yuelu and Qi Xuansu walked through the bustling Taiqing Square, Zhang Yuelu suddenly asked, “Tian Yuan, you mentioned you were short on money. If you don’t mind me asking, how much do you make each month? It’s fine if you don’t feel comfortable sharing. Just forget I asked.”

Qi Xuansu did not intend to hide this from her. He replied, “I probably have less than 200 Taiping coins in savings at the moment. Since I’ve never held a position in the Daoist mansions, I don’t have a regular income.”

“No regular income? Why haven’t you taken a position in a local Daoist mansion?” Zhang Yuelu was slightly surprised. She looked astonished at the fact that Qi Xuansu did not have an income from the Daoist mansions, but in reality, she was surprised by his honesty.

Qi Xuansu knew that Zhang Yuelu was no ordinary person, so checking his past records should not be difficult for her. If he lied and tried to evade the question, it would only make matters worse.

Thus, he replied with some hints of truth. “My master was killed in an ambush many years ago. To this day, I still don’t know who did it. I suspect that the person who dared to attack a distinguished fourth-rank Daoist master is likely a big shot within the Daoist Order. Although I was lucky enough to escape at the time, I feared that I would get hunted down. That was why I have been wandering about all these years, afraid to take up positions in the Daoist mansions.”

“Aren’t you afraid now?” Zhang Yuelu raised an eyebrow.

Qi Xuansu laughed bitterly. “Somewhat.”

“What do you mean by that?” Zhang Yuelu inquired.

“I’m afraid that I’ll end up like my master, dying under mysterious circumstances.” Qi Xuansu’s voice was calm. “But I’m also not afraid of death because death is inevitable, and I must avenge my master.”

Zhang Yuelu spoke bluntly. “Well, at least you’re brave enough to want to avenge your master. Otherwise, I’ll look down on you, and we can’t be friends anymore.”

Qi Xuansu coughed awkwardly. “I’m not afraid of death itself, but I fear dying without knowing the reason, like an ignorant fool.”

Zhang Yuelu probed further. “Do you have any clues?”

Qi Xuansu shook his head. “No. When my master died, I was still too young to understand his social connections. I also knew very little about my master’s past. To be frank with you, life has been difficult for me since my master’s death. I’m just a seventh-rank Daoist priest with no power or influence. The incident happened so many years ago, so where would I find those clues?”

He continued, “That’s why I think that the best way for me to avenge my master is to make a name for myself. There’s a Confucian saying that it is never too late to seek revenge. Coincidentally, I heard that Tiangang Hall has a recruitment drive, so I decided to use half of my savings to find some connections to get a position. That way, I can advance to a sixth-rank Daoist priest.”

“Connections, huh?” Zhang Yuelu looked at Qi Xuansu with a smile that did not quite reach her eyes.

Qi Xuansu felt uncomfortable because of Zhang Yuelu’s gaze. He sighed helplessly. “Please don’t look at me like that. It’s just human nature.”

“I don’t like this kind of nature.” Zhang Yuelu frowned. “This type of behavior damages the reputation of the Daoist Order and undermines its foundation.”

Qi Xuansu sighed. “I know, but there’s nothing I can do about it.”

Zhang Yuelu did not stand on a moral high ground to criticize Qi Xuansu. This was one of her strengths. She would never judge others by her own standards.

Being favored by the Great Sage Lunzhi allowed her to climb the ranks without compromising her integrity, but that did not mean others had the same opportunity as she did. If she were to impose her standards on those still struggling, she would be an unempathetic person.

Zhang Yuelu asked, “So, does that mean ‘human nature’ is also the reason you rose to the seventh rank even without taking a position in a local Daoist mansion?”

Qi Xuansu’s heart skipped a beat. He could vaguely sense why Zhang Yuelu was paying special attention to him. However, he put on a helpless, guilty, bitter, and shameful expression as he explained to her using Madam Qi’s words to him.

Qi Xuansu asked, “What’s the difference between them?”

“There’s not much of a difference, but the main focus varies.” Zhang Yuelu casually explained it to him.

“Recently, the Great Sage Lunzhi issued a decree to further suppress all secret societies. Consequently, Tiangang Hall’s priority will be to combat these secret associations. Then it would be criminals, such as pirates, which typically fall under the jurisdiction of the Imperial Court, but we do assist from the sidelines from time to time. There are also the occultists, who are often intertwined with secret societies. Some secret societies are essentially cults.

“As for demons and ghosts, we don’t adhere strictly to the policy of extermination without distinction. They must be discerned first, but there are differing opinions within the Daoist community. Some advocate for the complete eradication of demons and ghosts, while others argue for a more nuanced approach.”

Qi Xuansu continued to inquire, “If some secret societies are cults, does that mean not all secret societies are cults?”

Zhang Yuelu nodded. “Yeah. Some secret societies aren’t cults, like the Qingping Society, the Inn, the Eight Tribes, the Seven Treasure Pavilion, and so on. They’re not cults, but they have numerous ties to the Daoist Order.”

Qi Xuansu was startled. “Do they?”

Zhang Yuelu sneered. “It’s not surprising. Without the indulgence and support of influential figures within the Daoist Order, how could these secret societies have thrived until now? But I’m just an insignificant and powerless minion, so I can’t change anything for now.”

Qi Xuansu did not dare to underestimate Miss Tantai. As a member of the Qingping Society, he had only glimpsed the tip of the iceberg in the organization. He also had a hunch that Madam Qi intentionally asked him to join the Tiangang Hall with a hidden agenda.

Zhang Yuelu sighed. “Everything is intertwined, and that’s where the problem lies. With influential figures from the Daoist Order secretly supporting these societies, we won’t be able to exterminate them no matter how hard we try in another 10 or 20 years. So, the Daoist community’s biggest problem has never been external. It’s right here, on Yuxu Peak, within our own Ancestral Court.”

Qi Xuansu sighed along with her. “In that case, these secret societies are just shadows of the Daoist Order. The real masterminds are hiding behind the scenes, invisible and untouchable.”

“That’s one way to put it.” Zhang Yuelu felt a little dismal. It was evident that Qi Xuansu’s words were the source of her worries.

Qi Xuansu hesitated to delve further into the topic. “Have we perhaps delved too deep into our conversation?”

Zhang Yuelu waved her hand dismissively. “There's no such thing as going too deep when the moment is shared with a like-minded friend.”

She paused and asked, “Do you think that we’re incompatible in conversation?”

“Of course not!” Qi Xuansu hastily denied it.

Zhang Yuelu jokingly remarked, “Let’s not talk about such disheartening matters for now. We can discuss how we can reform the Daoist community when I become the Grand Master one day.”

Qi Xuansu looked around warily and whispered, “Miss Tantai, please be cautious with your words.”

Zhang Yuelu laughed. “These words are meant for your ears only.”

Qi Xuansu was taken aback by her response and could not help but chuckle.

It turned out that Miss Tantai was not completely fearless after all.

Having read Qi Xuansu’s thoughts, Zhang Yuelu rolled her eyes at him. “I’m not dumb, you know. But I know that day will come.”