Chapter 68: Infighting?

The reason Zhang Chi was so confused was because he had always believed that Daoist Shouyin was a member of the Five Pecks of Rice Sect, yet now he was openly opposing them. If it were an internal conflict within the sect, why choose this time and place for it?

In truth, Zhang Chi did not know that Daoist Shouyin had never been a member of the Five Pecks of Rice Sect. Although Zhang Chi had learned during their first meeting at the Daoist temple that Shouyin claimed descent from the Immortal Ge Hong, the many branches of Daoism made it difficult for Zhang Chi to distinguish between them. Shouyin’s lineage was renowned for its alchemical practices, distinct from the Five Pecks of Rice Sect, with a different line of succession: beginning with Zuo Ci of the Three Kingdoms, then passing through Ge Xuan, Zheng Yin, and Ge Hong, before finally reaching Shouyin.

Back when Zhang Chi fought Gao Yazhi’s Northern Provincial Army north of Jiankang, Daoist Shouyin had been among Gao Yazhi’s troops, but in the chaos of battle, Zhang Chi had not taken notice.

“You murdered your master, betrayed your ancestors, and deceived the faithful. Now, driven by selfish desire, you have concocted a false Holy Maiden and placed countless disciples of the Daoist faith in peril. How will you answer for this?” Daoist Shouyin demanded sternly of Sun Tai.

“Baseless slander! You’re simply spreading wild rumors to confuse the people,” Yan Yicao interjected coldly before Sun Tai could respond, his words confidently unwavering.

Outwardly composed, Yan Yicao was inwardly alarmed. As High Priest, he was at the very core of the Five Pecks of Rice Sect, and he knew all too well that the so-called Holy Maiden had been sent from Jiankang by Cang Huai’s men. She was not the true Holy Maiden. But who was this Daoist? How could he possibly know the truth?

“If I dare to speak, naturally I have evidence,” Daoist Shouyin replied, unshaken. With a gesture, he summoned his soldiers, who dragged someone from the crowd.

It was none other than Manager Wu. Wu had come seeking wealth and status, but upon finding Daoist Shouyin in Shanyin, he was promptly taken into custody and hidden away until today. Terrified, Wu dared not utter a sound.

“The so-called Holy Maiden in your care is, in fact, this man’s adopted daughter. He is the manager of a tavern in Jiankang, and his adopted daughter is a refugee from the north. How could she possibly be the Holy Maiden of the Celestial Masters’ Sect?” By now, the soldiers had surrounded the area in front of Misty Rain Pavilion. Although Sun Tai had a force of over a hundred thousand, no one dared act rashly. Daoist Shouyin spoke with absolute confidence.

Everything Shouyin said was true. Yan Yicao knew it as well, but he also knew that this truth must never be admitted. If, in front of this crowd, it became known that Sun Tai had murdered Du Zigong and the present Holy Maiden was a fraud, the Celestial Masters’ Sect would disintegrate in an instant. After so many years of plotting, how could Yan Yicao let his dream of universal harmony collapse at its very first step?

“Just bringing out some random person and making such claims—does that make them true?” Yan Yicao narrowed his eyes to slits, murderous intent rising in his heart.

“Do you dare bring the Holy Maiden here to confront us? If she is genuine, I will take my own life here to atone. But if she is an impostor—well…” Daoist Shouyin’s words were met with a chorus from his soldiers: “Bring out the Holy Maiden! Let her confront us!”

The Celestial Masters’ Sect controlled its followers through superstition, and Sun Tai’s claim that the Holy Maiden could command eight hundred and ten thousand ghost soldiers was what made his people fearless in battle. Without this, the refugees would never have become such a formidable force. Sun Tai and Yan Yicao were all too aware of this.

Daoist Shouyin’s move was brilliant. The tavern girl was weak and frail; if Sun Tai truly brought her out to face questioning, the truth would surely come to light—and her life would be in grave danger. Zhang Chi realized this and fretted inwardly.

At this moment, the false Holy Maiden was not in front of Misty Rain Pavilion but still inside a carriage at the rear of the procession. Glancing around, Zhang Chi knew that unless he acted soon to rescue the tavern girl, the situation would spiral out of control. He decided to take the risk and whispered to Daoist Xuanzhen of the Three Pines and Miss Ruoshui, “Come with me.”

“What are we doing?” Santong asked, still confused.

“We’re going to rescue the tavern girl.”

Zhang Chi had already taken note of the carriage’s location when the Holy Maiden entered the city—it had remained there ever since, and he remembered exactly where to find it.

Shanyin was in chaos, and no one paid them any attention. When Zhang Chi led the group to the spot from memory, the carriage was still there, surrounded by many soldiers, making it difficult to approach.

Zhang Chi surveyed the area, then asked the young Xie Lingyun, “You’re from Shanyin. Do you know any hidden places nearby where we could take shelter?”

The child shook his head, clearly knowing little about such matters.

Zhang Chi sighed. The city gates were under the Five Pecks of Rice Sect’s control. Even if they managed to rescue the tavern girl, escaping would be difficult. But rescue her they must—if they didn’t, she would soon be in grave danger. The rest could be figured out later.

He pointed to a narrow alley and instructed, “Santong, take Miss Ruoshui and Young Master Xie to find a safe hiding place down there. Don’t wander off. Daoist Xuanzhen and I will go rescue the tavern girl. If we succeed, we’ll come find you.”

Bringing along a child and a woman would only make things more difficult if it came to a fight, so he left Santong to look after them, keeping the skilled Daoist Xuanzhen at his side.

Miss Ruoshui knew that rescuing the Holy Maiden would be no easy task. She gently tugged Zhang Chi’s sleeve and whispered, “Be careful.”

Zhang Chi nodded and exchanged a glance with Daoist Xuanzhen before heading toward the carriage where the tavern girl was held.

“Brother Zhang, are we going to fight our way in?” There were many soldiers guarding the Holy Maiden, making approach difficult.

Zhang Chi smiled and pointed to his own robe. “We’re dressed as members of the Five Pecks of Rice Sect. Let’s try to blend in first and see if the Holy Maiden really is the tavern girl.”

As fellow sect members, they had no reason to act suspiciously. In fact, moving with confidence would arouse less suspicion. Zhang Chi strode straight toward the carriage. A guard stepped forward to block their way, about to speak.

But before the man could get a word out, Zhang Chi spoke first: “May the Supreme Lord preside!”

“Orthodox Unity prevails!” the guard replied reflexively.

Zhang Chi had memorized this password during the journey with Miss Ruoshui to Mount Kuaiji, never expecting it would prove useful today. Amused, he kept his expression stern.

“The Master has ordered me to bring the Holy Maiden to Misty Rain Pavilion at once. Lead the way!” Zhang Chi commanded imperiously.

Ordinarily, the guard should have challenged Zhang Chi for the password, but here Zhang Chi had reversed roles. Sensing Zhang Chi’s authority, the guard assumed he must be a high-ranking priest or at least a trusted aide of the Master. Not daring to question further, he complied.

Meanwhile, the shouts of “Bring out the Holy Maiden!” grew ever louder. Though indistinct at this distance, the words “Holy Maiden” could be faintly heard.

The guard, unaware of the situation up front, dared not delay and quickly led Zhang Chi to the ornate carriage.