A Pawn's Passage

City God, also known as the God of the City or the Lord of the City, was one of the important deities widely revered in the Daoist community, serving as the guardian deity of cities and towns. It was embodied by eminent heroes and officials who had contributed to the welfare of the local populace.

Jade Capital was also a city, so it had its own City God Temple in Taiqing Square. The temple enshrined the Second-Generation Grand Master of the Daoist Order. Although this Grand Master did not hold office for long and was not as prominent as the Holy Xuan or the Third-Generation Grand Master, during his tenure, he improved the layout of Jade Capital based on the foundation laid by the Holy Xuan.

Therefore, he was regarded as the guardian deity of Jade Capital and received offerings of incense.

Land was precious in Jade Capital, so even the residences of fourth-rank Jijiu Daoist masters were just small two-story buildings. Ordinary Daoist priests and Daoist believers could not afford to host elaborate ceremonies or accommodate numerous guests.

Moreover, many people were orphans without parents or relatives. Thus, over time, it became a custom for weddings to be held at the City God Temple. That way, the newlywed couple could pay respects to the deity, who represented an elder. Since many people were orphans without parents or relatives, it was customary for wedding organizers to invite passersby to witness the ceremony to make it livelier.

Qi Xuansu and Zhang Yuelu happened to receive an invitation to witness a wedding. Generally, invited guests would not refuse and would instead offer their blessings.

Qi Xuansu took the wedding invitation first and congratulated the person.

Zhang Yuelu also accepted the invitation and smiled slightly. “I wish the newlyweds a happy marriage for a lifetime.”

The smile on the female disciple's face brightened as she invited them to the City God Temple and continued to invite other passersby.

Qi Xuansu and Zhang Yuelu exchanged a glance and walked toward the City God Temple together.

The City God Temple had three spacious halls, grand architecture, and magnificent eaves, making it the most impressive temple in the Jade Capital. There were couplets on the pillars at the entrance.

The upper couplet read, “Snow rides the wind’s might, claiming the fields for but a few days.”

The lower couplet read, “Clouds ride the rain’s momentum, veiling the heavens and earth for only a short while.”

The City God Temple was brilliantly lit at this time, with the entire main hall shining brightly, resembling a palace in the sky.

Earlier, when they were in the shop, Zhang Yuelu had her back to Qi Xuansu. After leaving the shop, it was dark until they arrived under the lights of the City God Temple, allowing Qi Xuansu to see Zhang Yuelu’s face clearly.

In the dim light, under the glow of the lamp, Zhang Yuelu’s face was rosy and cheerful, which only added to her charm.

Zhang Yuelu’s naturally attractive face left Qi Xuansu somewhat amazed, though not to the extent of astonishment.

At the same time, Zhang Yuelu also got a clear look at Qi Xuansu’s face.

In all fairness, Qi Xuansu was decent-looking himself, with sharp eyebrows and bright eyes. He even looked mature for his age due to his experience, which chipped away at his youthful na?veté, making him stand out from his peers.

Zhang Yuelu’s first impression of Qi Xuansu was not bad at all.

Qi Xuansu smiled faintly. “My name is Qi Xuansu. It means two conflicting forces clashing and leading to two different paths.”

Zhang Yuelu hesitated for a moment before she introduced herself. “My name is Tantai Chu. It means the beginning of all things.”

This was not Zhang Yuelu’s fake name, but her alternative name. Her mother’s maiden name was Tantai, a last name that traced back to one of the Confucian disciples. The Tantai family was a prominent Confucian family, but after its decline, they began to intermarry with Daoist disciples. Zhang Yuelu’s last name belonged to a prominent family of the Daoist Zhengyi Sect.

Zhang Yuelu’s parents had a debate as to which last name their daughter should inherit, so they each came up with a name, leading to the origin of the name Tantai Chu. Eventually, the matter escalated to the ancestral hall of the Zhang family. The patriarch of the Zhang family, who was a Daoist Great Sage from the Zhengyi sect, personally intervened and made the final decision, decreeing that the girl should bear the Zhang last name.

The reason this Daoist Great Sage even bothered about the affairs of a distant relative was simply because Zhang Yuelu possessed exceptional aptitude and talent. She was also a rare, natural-born Banished Immortal.

Zhang Yuelu’s original name was Zhang Yuexin, but the Great Sage decided to change her name to Zhang Yuelu, after one of the 28 Constellations. This symbolized that she was a descendant of the stars, which befits her identity as a Banished Immortal.

Being a wise woman who understood that resisting the authority of a Great Sage would lead to dire consequences, Zhang Yuelu’s mother did not oppose this decision and went with the flow. Since the little girl was already under the radar of a Great Sage, she was destined for greatness in the future. Whether her last name was Zhang or Tantai and whether her first name was Yuexin or Yuelu were trivial in comparison.

However, being too famous was not necessarily a good thing. In private, Zhang Yuelu still referred to herself as Tantai Chu.

"Nice to meet you, Miss Tantai,” Qi Xuansu replied calmly and politely.

As they spoke, they arrived at the entrance of the hall, where a young female disciple was welcoming guests. When the disciple saw Zhang Yuelu and Qi Xuansu walking together and looking well-matched, she assumed they were a couple.

Thus, Qi Xuansu and Zhang Yuelu were inadvertently ushered into a side hall of the City God Temple. By now, quite a few people had gathered there to witness the ceremony. Since it was not a prearranged event but rather an impromptu invitation, not everyone was dressed formally. Many, like Qi Xuansu and Zhang Yuelu, wore their everyday attire.

A fourth-rank Jijiu Daoist master led the wedding ceremony, clad in ceremonial robes and wearing a Star crown. He looked formal and solemn.

The couple, dressed in bright red wedding attire, stood nervously in the center of the side hall.

After a while, more people arrived at the side hall, totaling about 200 guests. The wedding ceremony officially commenced. The Jijiu Daoist master recited scriptures and offered prayers and blessings for the couple. Then came the three bows—to Heaven and Earth, to the City God, and finally, between the bride and groom.

Upon the Daoist master’s declaration that the ceremony was complete, the couple officially became husband and wife, witnessed by the gods, the Daoist master, and the assembled guests.

Among the guests were Diviners with the supernatural ability of Spiritual Eyes. They could see a stream of pure energy rising from the couple and intertwining like strands of hair. This signified that their fates were now intertwined. The couple was destined to share both fortune and misfortune in the days to come.

Qi Xuansu did not possess Spiritual Eyes of the Diviners, but as a Rogue Cultivator, his Yin-Yang Eyes had similar capabilities, allowing him to see the couple’s qi. Meanwhile, Zhang Yuelu, who had already reached the Nascent Soul Realm, could manifest her spiritual powers, making divination even easier. Observing this scene, Zhang Yuelu could not help but let out a soft sigh.

Qi Xuansu stood beside Zhang Yuelu, so he could hear her sigh. He could not help but glance at this woman. After a brief hesitation, he asked in a soft voice, “Miss, why the sigh?”

Zhang Yuelu did not keep him at arm’s length. She responded softly, “I’m just feeling a little sentimental. I know you’re not an ordinary Daoist priest. With such a strong killing aura about you, it must be difficult for you to marry and have children like ordinary folks. Unfortunately, I’m in a similar boat. That’s why I feel a little emotional when I see people getting married to their Daoist companions.”

Qi Xuansu was surprised by the first part of Zhang Yuelu’s speech, but after hearing the rest, he relaxed slightly and tentatively asked, “Miss, aren’t you curious about what I do?”

Zhang Yuelu shook her head. “Paths may intertwine, but people are hard to define. After parting ways, another meeting may not coincide. Fate’s fleeting touch is in the ebb and flow of life, playing a part in the dance of existence. So why bother asking? I won’t ask about you, and you need not ask about me. This is for the best.”

Qi Xuansu admired her rationale. “Miss, you see things clearly.”

Zhang Yuelu glanced at him and asked, “Are you flattering me?”

Qi Xuansu was taken aback, then he shook his head. “I speak the truth.”

Zhang Yuelu smiled gently. “Thank you for the praise, then.”

Qi Xuansu asked again, “Miss Tantai, from your tone, it seems like many people flatter you often.”

Zhang Yuelu chuckled. “From a man, not so much, but indeed, I do get flattered a lot when it comes to matters of fame and gain.”

Qi Xuansu nodded in understanding. “It’s not surprising, since the world revolves around gain. It seems that you are either of high status or from a prominent family, Miss Tantai.”

"I’m not of high status, nor am I from a prominent family. Social interactions can get tiresome, but it’s inevitable.” Zhang Yuelu shook her head, showing no signs of arrogance.

Qi Xuansu felt this deeply. Just earlier, he was flattering a fourth-rank Jijiu Daoist master for a spot in Tiangang Hall.

As for Miss Tantai, Qi Xuansu could not help but doubt her words. He figured that she must be from a prominent family.

Although many in the Daoist community were orphans, not all were. Many came from the major families that existed even before the rise of the Holy Xuan. Even the Holy Xuan himself hailed from one of these families, the Li family of Beihai.

The Zhang family of the Zhengyi Sect, also known as the Zhang family of Shangqing Prefecture, was one of the three major families in the world. Another major family was the royal family, also known as the Qin family of Dragon City. The third major family was the direct descendants of Confucius.

The Zhang family of Shangqing Prefecture and the Li family of Beihai were often referred to as the Southern Zhangs and the Northern Lis in the Daoist community. These two families had a long history of cooperation and rivalry, being both old friends and rivals.

Naturally, the children of these prominent families were not orphans.

As Zhang Yuelu and Qi Xuansu conversed quietly, the wedding ceremony came to an end. The newlyweds invited all the guests to proceed to the Phoenix Tower, not far from the City God Temple, to attend the banquet. It was a gesture of gratitude to those who had come to witness the ceremony.

The Phoenix Tower was quite famous in the Jade Capital. Its name meant luck and celebrations, and it was conveniently situated diagonally opposite the City God Temple. Thus, it attracted countless couples to hold their wedding reception there. After the wedding ceremony, banquets were often held in the Phoenix Tower, so its business was thriving.

The Phoenix Tower had four floors and occupied a vast area, far surpassing ordinary taverns. The first floor was a hall for casual diners, where Daoist believers skilled in music were hired to perform. The second floor consisted of small private rooms, while the third floor had larger private rooms. The fourth floor housed the most luxurious private rooms.

The banquet for the newlyweds was arranged on the third floor, which came at a price of approximately two Taiping coins per table, excluding the cost of alcohol.

As the guests arrived on the third floor, the woman in charge of reception made a mistake and assumed that Qi Xuansu and Zhang Yuelu were a married couple. Thus, they were seated together. There was no ill will between them, so naturally, they didn't refuse.

After being seated, a waiter came over to ask the guests what they would like to drink, besides the essential Nu Er Hong[1] for the banquet.

Zhang Yuelu surprised everyone by asking the waiter, “Do you have shaojiu[2]?”

1. Popular Chinese yellow rice wine served at weddings. ☜

2. Strong and colorless distilled liquor, also known as baijiu. ☜