A Pawn's Passage

Zhang Yuelu was all too familiar with Wangyun Pavilion. Back when she had first become Sage Cihang’s disciple, she had not gone to Putuo Island but had stayed on Yunjin Mountain instead. At the time, Sage Cihang was still the Jiangnan Daoist Mansion Master and would occasionally visit the Dazhen Mansion, taking the chance to teach Zhang Yuelu the Cihang Sword Sequence.

Whenever Sage Cihang came to the Dazhen Mansion, she would stay in Wangyun Pavilion. It was in this very courtyard that Zhang Yuelu had studied the Sword Series of the Cihang Sword Sequence. Since her lessons were so intense, she often stayed overnight here. On those nights, Sage Cihang would sit on the stone bench in the courtyard while Zhang Yuelu practiced swordsmanship in the moonlight, so she was very familiar with the place.

But back then, Zhang Yuelu never would have imagined that she would return to this same courtyard years later, under entirely different circumstances.

Zhang Yuelu still stayed in the same room from those days and did not enter her master’s quarters. As she walked around the room, she saw some well-preserved little trinkets from her childhood. This was a small, unexpected joy, like reuniting with an old friend.

She left those keepsakes where they were and planned to head over to Guanyu Pavilion to find Qi Xuansu.

But just as she stepped out, she ran into Tantai Qiong and Zhang Yuyue, along with Zhang Juqi, who clearly did not want to be there but had no choice.

Both women looked visibly upset. Tantai Qiong radiated an aggressive air, clearly intent on questioning her, while Zhang Yuyue seemed a bit lost and dazed.

Zhang Yuelu sighed helplessly, stopped in her tracks, and saluted her elders.

Tantai Qiong cut to the chase. “Qing Xiao, why did you bring that brat here again?”

“What brat?” Zhang Yuelu feigned ignorance.

Tantai Qiong narrowed her eyes. “You know exactly who I mean. Qi Xuansu!”