Qi Xuansu could handle his liquor, but he did not like drinking. Sometimes, the point of drinking was to get drunk and loosen up, trading a brief numbness for a moment of peace. Yet what made him strong also held him back. His Martial Arts Practitioner’s physique was resistant to intoxication, so getting drunk was simply not an option.

So after a few cups, Qi Xuansu stopped drinking and focused on his porridge, leaving most of the bottle to Zhang Yuelu.

But Zhang Yuelu poured more wine into his luminous cup.

As she poured, she recited softly, “Fine grape wine in a luminous cup, interrupted by the pipa’s call to ride. Mock not the drunk who sleeps upon the battlefield, for how few come back from war?”

Then she asked, “In your campaign in the Southern Continent, did you ever lie drunk on the battlefield?”

Qi Xuansu clinked his cup against hers and drained it in one go. “No, there was no one I wanted to drink with, and drinking alone is rather dull.”

Zhang Yuelu seemed pleased, though she said, “I’ve long heard that Chief Deputy Qi has three rules: no women, no alcohol, no bribery.”

Qi Xuansu smiled. “That’s nothing. Chief Deputy Zhang, you’re the impressive one that made me abandon all three.”

Zhang Yuelu froze for a moment, then lifted her empty cup and looked as if she were about to smack him with it.

Qi Xuansu avoided women. But after forming a Daoist partnership, he liked to stay close to Zhang Yuelu. Though he usually abstained from alcohol, he would still drink her wine. He did not like to accept bribes, yet he often used her Taiping coins.

Zhang Yuelu rolled her eyes and set down her empty cup. “By the way, did you prepare a gift for Madam Qi? If you forget about her, you’ll suffer for it.”

Qi Xuansu said, “How would I dare forget her? She already looks for faults in me, so I’m not about to give her a reason to nag me forever. I’ve also prepared gifts for your parents and Sage Cihang. I didn’t get anything for Old Lin, Sage Donghua, and Sage Qingwei. They know I’m poor and will understand.”

Zhang Yuelu glanced at him sideways. “You sound like you’re appeasing children. Whoever cries gets a gift.”

Qi Xuansu laughed it off. “Well, that applies to Madam Qi, Little Yin, and your mother. You, your father, and Sage Cihang are all reasonable people. I’m just distributing based on closeness.”

Zhang Yuelu chuckled. “Let’s set Little Yin aside. But my mother and your mother? I should tell them what you just said.”

Qi Xuansu coughed and quickly changed the subject. “Speaking of Little Yin, what exactly went on at the Wanxiang Daoist Palace? Even Sage Huangfu, far away in the Southern Continent, has heard of your domineering style. Why did you back down this time?”

Zhang Yuelu frowned slightly. “First, Little Yin isn’t entirely in the right. Respect for one’s teacher comes first, so she’s still at fault. Second, and more importantly, anyone can see something suspicious behind this. I don’t want Little Yin dragged into it. If there’s an issue, they can come at me.”

Qi Xuansu pointed at her. “Qing Xiao, you may understand strategy and have your methods, but you’re too softhearted. That will cost you dearly.”

Zhang Yuelu sighed but did not argue.

Qi Xuansu continued, “Do you remember that line the Holy Xuan liked most?”

Zhang Yuelu replied, “A man’s heart must be as hard as steel. Watch as I try to mend the cracks of heaven.”

“Only with a heart of steel could one mend the cracks of heaven,” Qi Xuansu said. “The path you’ve chosen is far harder than mine. I deal with Westerners, Nanyang folk, and the Wa people, who have different faces, languages, and ways of thinking. These outsiders can’t touch my family either, so they can’t grasp my weak points. I also feel no guilt in being ruthless.

“But you’re dealing with your own people, possibly even some elders who raised you. So do you act or not? Those whose interests you harm will question you loudly. If reform turns into factional purging and loses moral legitimacy, how will you carry it forward? Everything you’ve done will be undone. Those close to you will stab you in the back, calling you cold and inhuman. Even those who agree with you will never befriend someone like you. You’ll end up utterly alone.

“Since they’re your own people, your interests are intertwined. Your vulnerabilities are also exposed and easy to exploit. Today, they can target Little Yin. Tomorrow, they might target your parents. Who’s to say that the threat isn’t from within the Zhang family?”

Zhang Yuelu fell silent, her expression gloomy.

She understood all this, but she had underestimated certain realities.

Qi Xuansu continued, “I’m not telling you this to make you give up. I’m just saying that if you want to realize your ideals, even if you become the Grand Master, you must be prepared to lose your whole family and have your name cursed. Still, whatever you choose, I’ll always support you.”

Zhang Yuelu snorted softly. “Don’t try to sweet-talk me. You can only choose one between waging war externally and reforming internally. You’re walking your own path, so how will you support me?”

Qi Xuansu said, “Fine, then let me put it another way. Let’s make a bet.”

“A bet on what?” Zhang Yuelu asked.

Qi Xuansu said, “Let’s see which of us becomes the Grand Master. If I do, you’ll follow my lead. Likewise, if you become the Grand Master, I’ll follow you and be your vanguard. At worst, we’ll both crumble together.”

Zhang Yuelu clicked her tongue. “Grand Master? That’s a bit far off, isn’t it?”

Qi Xuansu said, “But that’s realistic. If we are already Chief Deputies of the Three Great Halls by 30, we can become Omniscient Sages before 40, so competing for Grand Master is only natural. Even if I claimed I’m unqualified, no one would believe it. Some already think I’m the preselected eighth-generation Grand Master.”

Zhang Yuelu had to admit that what Qi Xuansu said made perfect sense. There was no point in deceiving herself anymore.

Zhang Yuelu asked, “What if Li Changge or Yao Pei wins?”

Qi Xuansu chuckled. “Then there are only two paths: accept fate or flip the table. If we accept fate, then there’s no point in discussing ideals. We must first ensure our survival. Everything else comes later.”

After a moment of thought, Zhang Yuelu said, “I won’t abandon my ideals. But if you become Grand Master, I will follow the Daoist Order’s rules and obey your command.”

Qi Xuansu nodded in satisfaction. “Then it’s settled. Well, I, the future Grand Master, have had enough to drink and shall retire. I would like to issue an advance order—”

Before he could finish, Zhang Yuelu pointed toward the door and cut him off. “Chief Deputy Qi, your residence has been arranged in the Wood Palace.”

The Wood Palace was reserved for honored guests. When Great Sage Jiang visited Poluo, he stayed there as well. The Fire Palace, where Qi Xuansu had lived for two years, now belonged to Zhang Yuelu.

In a sense, they still shared the same bed.

The only one unaffected was Little Yin. When Qi Xuansu was Chief Deputy, she lived in the Fire Palace. Now that Zhang Yuelu was Chief Deputy, she still lived there. To Little Yin, Fire Palace was her home.

Qi Xuansu looked around at the familiar furnishings and sighed. “Just a few months ago, the Fire Palace was my residence. Who would’ve thought that in such a short time, everything would change, and there would no longer be a place for me here?”

With a sweep of her sleeve, Zhang Yuelu said, “See yourself out.”

Qi Xuansu could only leave the Fire Palace.

Being Zhang Yuelu’s soon-to-be Daoist companion was like being a Pseudo-Immortal. That one step seemed insurmountable.

When Qi Xuansu arrived at the Wood Palace, he happened to run into Huangfu Ji, who was taking a stroll in the courtyard.

As usual, Qi Xuansu exchanged a few pleasantries and asked how the tour went.

Knowing that Qi Xuansu had gone to see Zhang Yuelu, Huangfu Ji was curious. “Everything on my end went well. Mansion Master Yao personally accompanied me. The port trade was quite enlightening. But Brother Qi, why are you here so late? Is there something you need?”

“What kind of question is that?” Qi Xuansu replied casually, since they were already familiar with each other. “Where else would I go if not the Wood Palace?”

Huangfu Ji said matter-of-factly, “You and your wife have been apart for so long. People say absence makes the heart grow fonder. So shouldn’t you be with her?”

In Huangfu Ji’s view, Qi Xuansu already had a child, so he must have already married Zhang Yuelu.

Any other member of the delegation would not have made such a mistake, as they would have done their homework on the relationships between the important figures. But Huangfu Ji was an exception. Not long ago, his mind had been entirely occupied with the situation at Monclova, so he had no time for such preparation. Since he got along well with Qi Xuansu, he believed he already knew Qi Xuansu well enough and did not bother finding out more.

Naturally, no one dared point it out, so the misunderstanding turned into an awkward joke.

For a moment, Qi Xuansu did not know how to respond.

Huangfu Ji nodded knowingly. “Oh, I know. Brother Qi, your wife kicked you out, huh? It’s quite common. Women love to do this. If they’re upset, they’ll kick us out. But I suppose that’s what the study is for, to deal with such situations.”

Qi Xuansu chuckled. “Brother Huangfu, it sounds like you have quite a bit of experience.”

Huangfu Ji waved it off. “I’m indifferent to it now. After all, we Daoists believe in equality. We can’t possibly go back to the Confucian way where the husband rules over the wife.”