A Pawn's Passage

Zhang Wuyue asked, “What about your wife?”

Zhong Boyu replied with a question of his own, “Do you want the truth, or the nice version?”

Zhang Wuyue’s interest was piqued. “What would each version be?”

Zhong Boyu said, “The nice version is that I couldn’t drag her down with me now that I’m in this state. A cripple like me has no right to see her. I gave her all the money I had left and sent her back to her parents’ home. As men, we have to shoulder our responsibilities. That’s what it means to be a man.”

Unable to resist, Zhang Wuyue asked, “What’s the truth?”

Zhong Boyu said, “The truth is, husband and wife may be birds of the same forest, but when disaster strikes, they fly their separate ways. Forget sharing hardship, she kicked me while I was down. That damned bitch saw I was done for, so she packed up everything of value and ran with all my assets. Before leaving, she even reported me to the local Daoist Mansion as a cult demon. I nearly got hauled off and beheaded. Who knows where that bitch is keeping some pretty boy now? If I ever make a comeback, I’ll wipe out her entire family within three days.”

Zhang Wuyue finally burst into laughter. “Brother, you’ve really had it rough. When it rains, it pours. The rope always snaps at its weakest point, and fate just had to stomp on your one good leg.”

Zhong Boyu asked, “Got a cigarette? Give me one.”

Zhang Wuyue did not smoke, but for the sake of social occasions, he always carried a pack of premium cigarettes, the kind that came in gold-trimmed cases.

He took one out and handed it to Zhong Boyu.

“Good stuff. This one cigarette is worth at least 1 Taiping coin.” Zhong Boyu held it beneath his nose and took a deep sniff before putting it between his lips. “Back in the day, I wouldn’t have thought anything of it. I would’ve figured that accepting a cigarette from you was doing you a favor. But now, I can’t even bear to light it.

“See? That’s what it means to be a middle-aged man. Failure is the greatest original sin. Everything else, like morality and responsibility, is all empty talk, just something people use to fool you.

“Since childhood, we’re taught that we have to be the pillar holding up the family. Nobody ever talks about what happens when that pillar collapses. Now, I finally understand. If the pillar falls, people just move into another house. Men are just tools and beasts for labor, the kind people throw away once they’ve served their purpose. Better yet, once men can no longer work, they should just die immediately. It makes life easier for everyone.”

Zhang Wuyue had been smiling, but upon hearing Zhong Boyu’s rant, the smile suddenly vanished from his face.

Why had he given up his position in the Daoist Order and come out here to make money? That was because he could not afford a house in Jade Capital.

His family already owned a house, so why insist on buying one in Jade Capital? That was because he wanted to get married.

Marriage was something involving two people. So why was he expected to shoulder the burden alone? Because he was a man. From childhood, he had been taught to become the pillar of the family, shielding others from the wind and rain.

Only now did Zhang Wuyue begin to realize something. Wait a minute. What happened to equality? What happened to the saying that female Daoists could also hold up the sky? Why were men suddenly expected to be the family’s pillar?

In that regard, how was Zhang Wuyue any different from Zhong Boyu?

Zhang Wuyue took a cigarette from the pack and put it between his lips.

Zhong Boyu glanced at him. “Looks like you’ve got a story of your own too.”

Zhang Wuyue lit Zhong Boyu’s cigarette first, then his own. Taking a deep drag, he said, “If I didn’t have a story, I wouldn’t be here. But compared to yours, mine is hardly worth mentioning.”

Blowing out a smoke ring, Zhong Boyu said, “Let’s be realistic. A woman’s weakness earns sympathy, while a man’s weakness only earns ridicule, contempt, and more bullying. That’s why a man must never fail. Back when I was riding high, my ex-wife was gentle and considerate, always accommodating me. Once I became useless, I couldn’t blame her for showing no mercy. A woman marries a man to be clothed and fed. It’s an exchange from the very beginning. If I can’t provide what she needs, she’ll naturally kick me aside and find someone who can.”

Zhang Wuyue said, “Not necessarily. My cousin wasn’t like that. She never cared about those things. Back then, my brother-in-law had nothing. We even joked about how he has no family background, no cultivation, and no prospects. All he had was sincerity. As it turned out, we were all blind. My cousin was the only one who truly had an eye for people.

“Outsiders keep saying how domineering she is and how tightly she keeps my brother-in-law under control. In reality, she hardly controls him at all. Whatever comes up, they either discuss it together or simply go about their own business.”

Zhong Boyu did not argue. Instead, he simply asked, “But how many Zhang Yuelus are there in this world?”

Zhang Wuyue had no answer.

After a moment, Zhang Wuyue asked, “Brother, what are you planning to do from now on? You can’t just drift through life like this, waiting to die like a walking corpse.”

Zhong Boyu replied, “I should’ve died long ago. The fact that I’m still alive is already an incredible stroke of luck. I don’t dare ask for anything more. I’ll just live like this.”

The two sat side by side on the steps along the street, smoking in silence.

The glowing red tips of their cigarettes flickered in the darkness.

When the cigarette had nearly burned down, Zhang Wuyue casually stubbed it out. “Old Zhong, come work with me. I’m short on capable people right now.”

“What sort of business are you in now?” Zhong Boyu did not seem particularly interested. He was savoring the last few drags of the cigarette.

Zhang Wuyue said, “What else could it be? I’m running errands for my brother-in-law, of course. But as you said yourself, my brother-in-law is one of the biggest names around now. Even serving as his assistant or aide is no small career. I wasn’t lying to you earlier. I really did just finish discussing a business deal. We’ve reached a preliminary understanding, but there’s still a lot to do, so I need someone to help me.”

Zhong Boyu flicked away the cigarette butt, its ember still faintly glowing. “Do you think I can do it?”

Zhang Wuyue said, “The fact that you made it into the core ranks of White Jade Hall proves you have ability. Besides, times have changed. Losing your cultivation isn’t something permanent anymore. It can be restored. Life always has its ups and downs. Didn’t you say you still wanted revenge on your ex-wife?”

Zhong Boyu said, “My background is a sensitive one. You’d better ask Sage Qi before making any decision.”

Zhang Wuyue did not press the matter. “I’m staying at the Taiping Inn in New Port. You can come find me there.”

Zhong Boyu acknowledged him with a nod.

Zhang Wuyue stood and left.

As he walked down the street, Zhang Wuyue looked up at the full moon hanging high overhead and silently made up his mind. He had to do this job well. He did not want to end up like Zhong Boyu, a worthless man in everyone else’s eyes.

What Zhang Wuyue did not yet realize was that human desire was never satisfied. Even if one gained power and wealth, there were still trials that one could not escape from.

......

Lu Yujue had been having a rough time lately. Given his age, position, rank, and authority, no one could say he was unsuccessful. He was among the elite of the Daoists. As a Beichen Hall Branch Manager in the Southern Continent, he had both prestige and real influence. His only drawback was that he spent the entire year stationed away from home and could rarely return.

The problem was that Lu Yujue was married. His Daoist companion was named Zhou Xiaosong. Such prolonged separation inevitably took a toll on their relationship. At first, it had not seemed like much, but as time wore on, Zhou Xiaosong grew increasingly dissatisfied. She felt lonely and resentful toward Lu Yujue, believing he had no idea how to comfort her. She even berated him, saying she could never rely on him for anything and had to handle everything herself. Living like this was no different from being a widow.

Naturally, Lu Yujue felt deeply wronged. He had spent years away from home for work. When the wars broke out, he had to accompany the army and go to the front lines under Western artillery fire. How could his wife say that he was unreliable? If he quit his job and stayed home with her every day, she would despise him for being incapable and look down on him.

He also felt that his wife was being unfair for relying on him for comfort. She was not the only one in a bad mood. He was exhausted every day from dealing with the Westerners and his superiors. Who would comfort him?

That was how Lu Yujue saw things, but his wife Zhou Xiaosong did not accept that reasoning. As a result, the conflict between the two only continued to escalate.

At this point, things had become rather dangerous. Many women, once they reached this stage, would begin seeking emotional fulfillment outside the marriage.

It happened during the Northern and Southern War, when Lu Yujue was at his busiest. Zhou Xiaosong ended up cheating on him.

The story itself was not complicated. Zhou Xiaosong served as a superintendent in the Tiangang Hall, and her immediate superior was Deputy Hall Master Li Minghuang.

Due to their superior-subordinate relationship, Zhou Xiaosong frequently visited Li Minghuang’s office to give reports. Over time, the two became involved in an affair.

Li Minghuang was an exceptionally charismatic man, and a very domineering one at that.

By contrast, Lu Yujue was not particularly forceful at home and tended to indulge Zhou Xiaosong.

Accustomed to having things her own way at home, Zhou Xiaosong found it intoxicating when she encountered a domineering man who completely overpowered her. In particular, the way Li Minghuang looked at her was intensely aggressive, as sharp as a knife, as though he could see straight through her and strip away every layer of pretense. That gaze awakened long-suppressed desires within her.

From time to time, the two would have brief physical contact, and each time, it made her heart tremble.

Li Minghuang was a notorious womanizer. Zhang Jucheng’s daughter and Li Tianlan’s wife had been among the women he pursued. However, he was also a very shrewd man. He knew exactly which women he could pursue and which he absolutely could not. Zhang Yuelu, for instance, was firmly in the latter category. Only a fool like Li Tianzhen would dare provoke her.

Leaving aside the fact that the Tiangang Hall was Sage Cihang’s territory, anyone who dared harass Zhang Yuelu would suffer for it.

Not to mention, Qi Xuansu only appeared magnanimous, but he held grudges and was utterly ruthless when necessary. Crossing him was dangerous.

In Li Minghuang’s eyes, Zhang Yuelu barely even counted as an ordinary woman. Her temperament was simply too unusual. No one could guess what went on inside her head, and she could not be judged by common standards. Getting involved with her was courting disaster and public outrage. Thus, the wisest course was to stay as far away from her as possible.

In short, Li Minghuang was genuinely wary of Qi Xuansu and Zhang Yuelu as a couple.

There was also Yao Pei, who, in his opinion, also had more than a few screws loose.

But in Li Minghuang’s eyes, Lu Yujue was nothing worrisome. Sleeping with Lu Yujue’s wife was no big deal because Lu Yujue could not possibly do anything to him. At most, he could only smash his own head against the ground in futile frustration.

Lu Yujue had come from the Beichen Hall, the Daoist Order’s intelligence division. Although he was stationed far from the Central Plains, he still had many former colleagues, old friends, and even relatives within Beichen Hall. It did not take long for someone to learn of the affair, and the news was soon passed on to Lu Yujue.

Visit and read more novel to help us update chapter quickly. Thank you so much!