A Pawn's Passage

When a tree stood out above the forest, the lightning was bound to strike it. Qi Xuansu was that tree, having dealt with Wang Jiaohe and the others.

However, at the height of his power, no one dared to act rashly at that moment. After all, Qi Xuansu was able to shake the Poluo Daoist Mansion because someone was baking him. To smear Qi Xuansu at such a time would not merely be slapping Qi Xuansu in the face but would also be seen as an act of hostility toward his backer.

The situation would become complicated.

Sage Donghua had stood firm for so many years. What good end could there be for those who opposed him? If Sage Donghua were so easy to topple, would it really have taken until now? Was Sage Qingwei, who regarded Sage Donghua as his foremost enemy, really holding back all this time?

Thus, Qi Xuansu’s retreat into seclusion this time allowed many people to glimpse an opportunity.

With Qi Xuansu absent and unable to respond immediately, there was ample room for manipulation. Moreover, Qi Xuansu, as the Chief Deputy Mansion Master, had always maintained a rather delicate relationship with Yao Shu, the Mansion Master. A powerful Chief Deputy would inevitably erode the authority of the Mansion Master. When power was involved, harmony was impossible, let alone warmth and goodwill. This, too, was a point that could be exploited.

On the third day after Qi Xuansu entered seclusion, a female Daoist named Zheng Zaishi submitted a lengthy letter of over 30,000 words to the Mansion Master, Yao Shu. She lodged a real-name accusation against Chief Deputy Qi Xuansu for moral corruption, degenerate conduct, lack of faith, and grave violations of the Primordial Daoist Ancestor’s teachings.

This accusation letter was summarized into five key points.

First, although Qi Xuansu never directly accepted bribes, his methods were far more sophisticated. Through various means, he gained control over most of the shares of the Nanyang United Trading Company. Aside from the 30% directly held by the Daoist Mansion, the true power behind the second-largest shareholder was Qi Xuansu himself. As a result, all personnel appointments were decided according to Qi Xuansu’s will. For example, Chen Shuwen, the chairman of the Nanyang United Trading Company, was appointed solely at Qi Xuansu’s arbitrary decision, without any real deliberation. The so-called election was nothing more than a formality.

Second, Qi Xuansu formed cliques for personal gain and persecuted dissenters. Within the current Poluo Daoist Mansion, a small faction led by Qi Xuansu existed, including Xu Jiaorong, Ji Jiaozhen, Pei Xiaolou, Xie Jiaofeng, Sun Yongfeng, Lu Yuting, Han Yongfeng, and others. This faction suppressed and marginalized fellow Daoists.