Within the boundaries of the Commandery of Yingchuan, three riders braved the wind and snow, following a map that led them from the relative comfort of the imperial road onto a narrow, winding path that snaked through the mountains.

By midday, the relentless goosefeather snow had blurred their vision, making the already treacherous path even more perilous. Fortunately, their mounts were no ordinary horses, but rather, steeds from the capital’s Taoist Academy, rumored to be descended from mountain dragons. Though the bloodline was faint, they traversed the rugged terrain with surprising ease. Beyond their travel documents, the riders carried with them a crucial piece of official correspondence – penned by the Vice Minister of the Censorate in the capital, sealed by the Guardian of the Nation, and verified by the largest Taoist temple in Ruzhou.

The lead rider was a young woman, her auburn hair pulled back beneath a dark gauze cap. A thick, teal-green Taoist robe, embroidered with silver thread, protected her from the biting cold. Her features were gentle, with full cheeks and a slender yet pleasingly plump figure. She rode a pale yellow steed, her embroidered shoes barely visible as they rested lightly upon the golden stirrups.

Behind her rode a man and a woman. The man, clad in simple indigo Taoist robes, rode a black horse, his face obscured by a bamboo hat. A sheathed sword hung at his back. The woman was a formidable figure, her skin naturally dark, now even more so against the snow. Yet she adorned herself with a flamboyant, crimson gown, embroidered with golden phoenixes on the sleeves. Clearly a handmaiden, she was young, though her frame was unusually robust. A broadsword hung at her hip. She rode a tall, powerful mare, with worn leather chests strapped to either side – one filled with clothing, the other with books. She also carried a priceless object of immense power, entrusted to her by her mistress, a treasure gifted by the family patriarch upon her ascension to the Realm of the Grotto-Heavens.

With this artifact of condensed space, they traveled lightly. Beyond their saddlebags and chests, all manner of necessities – folding stools, food hampers, flower vases, and countless jars and bottles – were safely stored within its seemingly infinite confines.

The woman riding to Changshe County in Yingchuan to become the head of a small Taoist temple was named Jian Su. She had only recently achieved the Realm of the Grotto-Heavens the previous winter and had yet to choose a formal title. Her senior brother, Chai Yu, whose courtesy name was Yuanjia, of the Realm of Observing the Seas, bore the title “Rope-Ink.” Originally from the Kingdom of Gushu, where the Jin Guo Sect’s Taoist center was located, his home was renowned throughout Qingming Prefecture for its ancient, towering forests. Her handmaiden, Su Cheng, nicknamed “Fancy,” was a true flower enthusiast, skilled in cultivating all kinds of blooms, especially peonies. The Jian family’s gardens in the capital owed much of their renown to her expertise.

“The weather’s been odd lately,” Chai Yu commented, adjusting his hat against the swirling snow. “Last summer brought a drought unprecedented in five centuries, causing great distress to the water gods and immortals. Some river deities were said to have suffered the disintegration of their golden forms under the scorching sun. Now, this endless blizzard, even in late spring…” He paused, shielding his mouth with a gloved hand. “Junior Sister, when the Jade Emperor’s City bestows titles next spring, remember to propose a few that resonate with you. Send them to your family in the capital and to the Ancestral Hall of the sect before autumn, so they can prepare and help ensure that one of your favorites is approved by the Jade Emperor’s City. Trust me; don’t attempt any overly ambitious titles. While Taoist officials can propose three, the sheer number hoping for approval during this once-in-sixty-years event is staggering. Millions of titles are submitted, making success incredibly difficult.”

Jian Su laughed, cutting off her senior brother’s rambling. “Appealing to the Jade Emperor’s City is always a matter of chance. Failure is the norm; success, a delightful surprise. If I don’t receive a title, I’ll simply use one of our Kingdom of Nanshan’s backup names.”

The granting of a title marked a crucial step for a Taoist official, signifying that they had found a guiding master, similar to a commoner reaching adulthood and receiving a courtesy name. However, obtaining one in Qingming was no easy task. Each kingdom maintained a vast archive of titles, updated every sixty years. Since all temples, regardless of size, across the fourteen prefectures belonged to the Jade Emperor’s City, no two Taoist officials could share the same title.

Therefore, each sixty-year period saw a massive surge of seekers. Receiving a title directly from the Jade Emperor’s City was considered a great honor, a sign of divine favor. Thus, Chai Yu and Jian Su referred to it as “讨封” (“begging for a title”). Furthermore, the Taoist who founded the Jade Emperor’s City was none other than the Grand Master of White Jade City and the Dao Ancestor’s first disciple, which further elevated the significance of any title obtained through this channel. As a result, Grand Master Kou Ming was regarded as a “teaching master” akin to the prestigious examiners in the imperial examination.

To secure a favorable title, on the first day of spring, the Jade Emperor’s City, responsible for managing the registries of all Taoist officials in the world, would “open its gates” at the hour of midnight. Messages and talismans would flood in like locusts, obscuring the sky as they raced to secure a desired title for their respective dynasties’ Taoist officials. Many cultivators who had already attained the Fifth Realm still lacked formal titles and were willing to gamble, hoping to finally receive a proper one, even after failing multiple times.

Fancy brushed snow from her steed’s mane. “Miss, from the White Jade City to Ruzhou, titles reserved by the Censorate always pass through the hands of the Scarlet Gold Dynasty, possibly even filtered through other major dynasties, before finally reaching our Kingdom of Nanshan. That leaves us with barely a hundred or so, leftovers from the leftovers. Their meanings are so-so, and they sound pretty ordinary. Some are so obscure they barely sound like titles. I don’t even recognize some of the characters! And there are even three- or four-character titles – how absurd is that? The decent ones have already been snatched up by the Ancestral Halls of those two sects or bought by those big temples who pulled strings with the Censorate. The few passable titles that remain are fought over tooth and nail.”

Seeing his junior sister’s absentmindedness, Chai Yu sighed, “This often leads to disputes and feuds among powerful families.”

Jian Su caught a snowflake in her palm, musing, “Aren’t titles just external things? It’s understandable for ordinary people to seek fame and fortune, but we are Taoists.”

Chai Yu shook his head, exasperated by her naivete. He was about to argue when Jian Su interrupted with a smile, “Alright, alright, I’ll pay attention.”

Furthermore, the titles of all Taoist officials in the Upper Five Realms, even those who had passed away, could not be reused. Rumor had it that Headmaster Lu had repeatedly suggested opening up the titles of deceased Jade Purity Realm officials for reuse. He even proposed that the White Jade City could temporarily hold and preserve the titles of certain deceased Earth Immortals for a century. If a descendant of a temple or family successfully ascended to the Earth Immortal realm, they could claim the title, essentially inheriting it. Until then, they could follow the standard process and possess a regular title. Upon achieving Earth Immortal status, they could journey to the White Jade City and reclaim their temple’s or family’s title. The two titles would not conflict and could be held simultaneously, like a scholar’s alias. However, both proposals were rejected, with everyone knowing that only Headmaster Yu had the power to overturn Headmaster Lu’s suggestions in the White Jade City.

They heard that in the Great Vastness Realm, there were no such restrictions. Only the titles of register-holding cultivators in the great immortal abodes were strictly recorded and archived by the Central Plains Literary Temple. Smaller sects could quietly take advantage of the situation as long as they didn’t flaunt it or choose famous, “old” titles. The Literary Temple wouldn’t bother, and the local governments wouldn’t care. As for mountain recluses, they could choose whatever title they pleased. The Wilds were best left unmentioned; it was a lawless place with no semblance of order.

Her face clouded, Fancy said, “Miss, Hong Miao left behind a bit of a mess when he stepped down. The origins of that fugitive female ghost are still undetermined, and it hasn’t been captured yet. We need to be careful. Let’s stick to the official roads and avoid these wild paths as much as possible.”

The ancient mountain trails were sparsely traveled and narrow, impossible for carriages to navigate. The ruts were worn deep by generations of tea and salt merchants, making the snow-covered path treacherous. Chai Yu adjusted his hat and nodded, “Fancy is right. We must be cautious.”

Jian Su smiled, “According to the county records, there’s an old, abandoned temple up ahead. Let’s take a look, then get back on the main road.”

Chai Yu sighed, “If I recall correctly, you said the same thing about the Yellow Court Temple at the foot of Jicui Peak, and the two other ancient ruins afterward.”

The Yellow Court Temple, nestled at the base of Jicui Peak, was the most renowned historical site in Ruzhou, a grand temple revered as the ancestral home of the Yellow Court lineage, branching from the Southern Flower City of White Jade City. The temple’s enshrined ancestor was of great virtue and high Tao, none other than the Vice Lord of Southern Flower City, Lady Wei, titled “Violet Void,” the foremost female deity in Qingming.

Lady Wei was also a candidate for the Ten Best of All Times. Among her disciples was a divinely gifted female recluse who controlled the blooming and withering of all flowers in the world. Historical accounts say that she once commanded “the flowers to remain unrevealed, the human spring to be deprived of color,” which almost led to her imprisonment in the Misty Grotto of Zhenyue Palace by Headmaster Yu himself. However, the Grand Master intervened, and together, they traveled to the various states, restoring the flowers to the world as an act of redemption, thus avoiding the punishment.

Large temples, especially those designated as palaces, often housed countless ancient steles commemorating renovations, donations, or recording the lineage. During temple fairs, merchants would gather in droves. During religious services, immortals and mortals would mingle, with transformed spirits flocking to hear the Taoist officials recite sacred texts.

The three riders arrived at the dilapidated mountain temple, their hopes dashed. The county records described an anonymous “Dragon and Serpent Song” on the inner wall of the side hall, recounting a tale of a young woodcutter who stumbled upon the mountain and received immortal teachings. He subdued dragons and hydras, wedded two immortal maidens, and, after tiring of worldly affairs, returned to the mountains with his companions to build a temple. The temple’s abbot was skilled in painting and erected a screen depicting a thousand horses in various poses, each lifelike. Over time, one horse would “leap” from the screen each year, transforming into a spirit beast roaming the world. The corresponding horse on the screen would fade, until, after a century, all the painted horses would become mere outlines. The abbot also enjoyed traveling in disguise, adding the finishing touch to dragons painted on imperial walls, causing them to soar into the sky with the weather; or painting eagles and sparrows on wealthy families’ walls, so lifelike that they seemed real. Legend had it that this immortal also gifted a deposed king with a dragon painted on white silk, which, when unfurled, would emit swirling clouds, filling the vault with muffled thunder. Eventually, the abbot and his two wives ascended to immortality, leaving the temple deserted. Passersby claimed to hear the sound of horses neighing and pawing at the walls, as if asking for water and fodder…

But the temple was a ruin, devoid of all those wonders. The screen was gone, and the wall of the side hall was marred by countless pickaxe marks. Even the bricks had been stolen, likely carved into inkstones for scholars.

Jian Su sighed, “It’s a pity it was abandoned. It would have been perfect for a grand Taoist academy.”

Chai Yu chuckled, “If the county records are true, and the immortal abbot gifted a dragon to the previous dynasty’s emperor, then the founding emperor of Nanshan would hardly want to rebuild it.”

They paused for rest within the side hall, seeking shelter from the snow behind the crumbling walls. Fancy retrieved a small stove from the spatial artifact and started a fire, preparing a meal and warming a pot of yellow wine for Chai Yu.

Seated on a small embroidered stool, Jian Su asked, “What’s the situation like at Spirit Realm Temple?”

“Ah, Miss, finally remembering business.” Fancy quickly set aside her bowl and pulled out a small notebook, meticulously filled with information gathered from various sources. “With Hong Miao gone, there are no ordained Taoists left, only a few permanent residents. The temple warden, Liu Fang, is fifty-three years old, a local who has lived near the temple for generations. His background is clean. Half of the temple’s property belongs to the Liu family. They have a family tradition of donating a small piece of land to the temple each generation.”

Jian Su nodded with a smile, “Very thoughtful. Once we settle in, we’ll visit the Liu family with a suitable gift to express our gratitude.”

Chai Yu added, “Hong Miao never had an ordination certificate. He was only a candidate, like Fancy. His appointment as abbot was technically irregular.”

Jian Su countered, “Not entirely. Hong was a candidate of the Realm of Observing the Seas. Being sent to Changshe was hardly a plum assignment.”

Fancy grinned, “Ma Zhong, Liu Fang’s distant relative, used connections to get into Spirit Realm Temple. In his transfer document, Hong Miao made a special note that Ma Zhong had potential for cultivation. Of course, there’s an appendix to that document, not for official filing, just for the new abbot’s reference. It says Liu Fang promised the temple two acres of rice paddy and a hillside planted with persimmon trees long ago. The hillside has been handed over, but the rice paddy has been delayed for years, with a hint of unwillingness to pay. Ha, poverty breeds trickery.”

“The registrar, Chang Geng, is a local scholar from a fallen family. He was a notorious playboy in his youth, but he wasn’t skilled at managing assets. As he got older, he became financially strapped. Spirit Realm Temple allegedly owed him a debt from years ago. It was all a confusing mess, and the amount was said to be substantial. The temple couldn’t pay, and Hong Miao didn’t want to push the issue, so Chang Geng was allowed to work at the temple. He’s been quite well-behaved over the years.”

“Chen Cong, sixteen years old, is a relative of Chang Geng. They both entered Spirit Realm Temple the same year.”

“Lin Shu.”

“Mm?”

“The ‘Shu’ with the hand radical, plus the ‘think’ radical. His family owns three shops in the county and is fairly well-off. His ancestors were clerks in the county government, but they couldn’t survive after the Kingdom of Nanshan downsized clerical staff. Now they’re merchants, and their connections with the county office are still pretty good. They’re basically local bullies, but just barely.”

“Tu Gao. The ‘Earthly Balm’ like in ‘when yang energy rises, earth moves, ten thousand flowers come to bloom.'” Fancy paused, chuckling, before continuing. “Tu Gao’s family isn’t anything special. His ancestors migrated here from another commandery. They ran a martial arts school for a few years, but it didn’t work out. They probably saved some money to get Tu Gao into the temple.”

Chai Yu mused, “Even the surname is rare.”

Jian Su frowned, “Even for a small temple, Spirit Realm Temple is an officially registered one, built with government funds. Surely you can’t just get in by paying a bit of money.”

Chai Yu suppressed a smile, “It’s understandable. Yingchuan isn’t a wealthy commandery, and Changshe is one of the poorest counties. It’s remote, and the temple must be struggling.”

Such situations weren’t uncommon. But her junior sister, born into a noble family and raised in cultivation from a young age, wasn’t familiar with such local customs. Every country, prefecture, and county had its own challenges. Some counties were overflowing with wealth, while others struggled to make ends meet. Many seemingly vast prefectures remitted less taxes annually than a small, prosperous county elsewhere.

Jian Su asked, “Did Hong mention if he taught them any basic cultivation techniques?”

Fancy nodded. “Yes, but with limited results. Ma Zhong is the only one with a slight chance.”

Becoming a Taoist official was never easy. Without the right aptitude, passing the imperial exam to become a “lesser” official was even harder, requiring exceptional literary talent.

Jian Su sighed, “The fact that Hong didn’t take any of them with him when he left says a lot.”

Temples and noble families had many secret methods for assessing potential. Jian Su then asked, “What are their personalities like?”

Fancy hesitated. “Lazy.”

“They’re all indolent. They avoid their duties and chores whenever possible. None of them are diligent.”

“Miss, you can’t rely on them. Don’t worry, I’ll take care of the daily chores. I wouldn’t trust them to do it right anyway.”

Chai Yu smiled, “It’s a land of rice and fish, with many scholarly families. There’s some literary talent, but it’s scattered.”

Chai Yu then added mentally, “Hong Miao and Tan Sou were fairly experienced. With Tan Sou’s feng shui assessment, Changshe should be relatively safe, at least in the temple’s vicinity.”

Fancy grinned. “Tan Sou was only at the Realm of the Grotto-Heavens at thirty, not even close to Miss. He’s no genius.”

Chai Yu shook his head, “The Tan family is a powerful clan. Tan Sou is the family head’s chosen successor. He’s more than meets the eye. You can’t judge him solely by his realm.”

Chai Yu clearly remembered the time the Tan family head visited the Jin Guo Sect. The sect master, who disliked social engagements, personally welcomed a Golden Core Earth Immortal, considered a junior in terms of Taoist age, at the mountain gate. Furthermore, the Tan family possessed a renowned private altar, a rare treasure in Ruzhou. Only about twenty families in the vast region had the qualifications for a private register.

Jian Su said, “Fancy, when we get to Changshe, find a house in the county to buy. I’ll visit you when I have time.”

As the abbot of a temple, she had the power to decide the fate of the temple’s residents. Beyond her position, a properly ordained Taoist was worlds apart from a resident who wasn’t even a candidate.

But Jian Su didn’t see the need for a “new broom sweeps clean” approach. The temple could remain as it was. She would quietly study and cultivate, and they could continue their lives.

Hearing this, Fancy became anxious, “Miss, without me by your side, you won’t have anyone to take care of you! That won’t do! Besides, you’re the only woman in Spirit Realm Temple, and a beautiful one at that. Those lazy boys might not have any ambition, but they’re still at that reckless age. Who knows what they might do? You’re a cultivator and wouldn’t be afraid, but daily life would be inconvenient: bathing, using the restroom, washing and drying your clothes…”

Chai Yu immediately agreed, “Fancy is right. It’s best to let Fancy stay at the temple, even if we have to pay extra. I’m sure the county government won’t mind such a small matter.”

Even though he didn’t anticipate any… competition, the thought of those young lads staring at a woman’s clothes drying on a bamboo pole made Chai Yu uncomfortable. He needed to teach those small-town boys the difference between immortals and mortals.

Jian Su teased, “You can only blame yourself. If you had a proper ordination, I could bring you along as a ‘preceptor.’ But you fall asleep as soon as you open a book. Everyone else reads it, but you seem to just be washing it with your drool. If you put half the effort you put into gardening and martial arts into studying, you’d have passed the exam by now. You’re still only a candidate.”

Hong Miao had been in a similar situation, powerful enough but unable to pass the final exam for his official ordination certificate.

Fancy grumbled, “If I really can’t, I’ll just buy a private ordination. I’ve saved some money, and I can pay for it myself…”

Jian Su snapped, “You’re already a candidate! You’re just one exam away! Can’t you be more ambitious? I’m telling you now, when we get to Changshe, you’re going to study, no slacking! I’ll test you every month, and if you fail twice, you’re going back to the capital! Not even Grandfather can save you!”

Being ordained by a private altar was considered “unorthodox” in Qingming. But it was quite common in the fourteen states. Throughout history, many peak cultivators had established their own altars and passed down their teachings, creating lasting legacies. The Tan family, where Tan Sou was born, was among them, possessing a private altar.

Therefore, there was a saying in Qingming: “Rather provoke a direct disciple of a sect than make an enemy of a private altar.” Without exception, the ancestors of those with private altars were once wealthy, and not just moderately so, but at least Jade Purity Realm Taoists. Some independent cultivators, even after reaching the Earth Immortal realm, remained private ordinands. Though their certificates weren’t recognized by the White Jade City, it unofficially turned a blind eye. These unauthorized Taoists couldn’t hold official positions in any government, but they could still freely claim to be Taoists, and their certificates would allow them to travel unhindered through the fourteen states. However, in kingdoms that strictly prohibited private registers and viewed private altars as rebellious, they would have to make a detour.

Historically, the largest private altar was the Rice Thieves of Yanzhou. But that had become a forbidden topic for all Taoist officials.

Fancy pouted. She shouldn’t have mentioned private ordinations. She hesitated.

Chai Yu looked over the notebook, impressed by how meticulously she had cataloged every detail. Despite her “robust” appearance, she was quite detail-oriented. Recently, she had been wearing such bright colors because she was constantly asked for directions or greeted as “strong fellow” on the streets.

Fancy complained, “Miss, the incense offerings at Spirit Realm Temple… there are none! It’s truly poor! If it weren’t for the renovations from two years ago, we’d be in dire straits. Literally! A heavy snowstorm collapsed several buildings. Hong Miao had to beg local gentry for donations. Other temples near Changshe aren’t this strapped for cash. The Spirit Officer Hall and the teaching academy were just expanded last year. It’s infuriating to compare!”

Generally, temples had property, and the scriptures and ceremonies would bring in offerings. With enough devotees, temples wouldn’t lack funds. Well-known abbots could become preceptors, which meant the temple had its own disciples. But Spirit Realm Temple lacked everything!

Aside from the renovations under Hong Miao, the temple hadn’t received a single tile in nearly three centuries after a charitable individual had renovated it.

Jian Su couldn’t help but laugh, “To look at it from another perspective, the temple must have been exceptionally well-built originally. The craftsmen must not have cut any corners.”

Chai Yu drank his wine. His junior sister always had a positive outlook.

Jian Su added, “This is fine. It’ll be quiet without all the social calls.” She had come here to escape the city’s bustle. Otherwise, with her family background and cultivation talent, she could have easily secured a coveted, albeit powerless, position in a larger government-sponsored temple with her family and sect’s influence.

Chai Yu recalled that temples, especially those at the prefectural level, were expanding their Spirit Officer Halls.

“The snow’s stopped,” Jian Su said. “Let’s get going and try to find an inn in Xu County, next to Changshe, before dusk. Tomorrow, we’ll check out the temple there before heading to Spirit Realm Temple.”

Most temples followed a similar layout: the Spirit Officer Hall, the main hall enshrining an image of the Dao Ancestor and three White Jade City Grandmasters, and so on. The side halls varied depending on local traditions, housing the God of Culture, Medicine King, Thunder Department Heavenly Officials, Dragon King, Love and Marriage Temple, or God of Wealth.

Chai Yu pulled out several pouches, “Here, take these. You’ll need them. The makeup is from a female warrior from Crow Mountain. She passed by our sect once, and I met her by chance. According to Crow Mountain’s genealogy, her grandmaster is Lady Qi.”

One pouch contained gold leaves, another contained broken silver, and the third held a meticulously crafted “mask.” It was unlikely that Junior Sister had ever had much to do with such things.

Jian Su smiled, “I’ll take the gold and silver, but I don’t need the mask. Am I really that unpresentable?”

Chai Yu smiled, “It’ll help avoid unnecessary trouble.”

Fancy exclaimed, “Lady Qi! A Realm-Breaking warrior! She’s Master Lin’s second disciple!” All of Ruzhou was proud to have produced a “Master Lin,” be it Taoists or warriors.

The muscular maid was always drowsy when hearing stories about deities, but she perked up when talking about Ruzhou’s martial arts masters.

Jian Su stepped out of the ruined temple, offering a respectful bow. After reaching the main road, the three riders traveled swiftly to Xu County, where they found an inn.

The Changshe County government had received word from Yingchuan that the new abbot would arrive that day. By law the County Magistrate had to be a Daoist official, but Magistrate Han had a poor relationship with Spirit Realm Temple and rarely interacted with it. He complained that the previous abbot, Hong Miao, had never visited the county office, even though he was just a candidate. So this time, the Changshe government gave Spirit Realm Temple some face by sending the County Secretary and the County Commandant. Such officers, unlike common clerks, were recorded by the Censorate and had to be at least candidate Daoist officials.

Early the next morning, two distinguished guests arrived at Spirit Realm Temple. It might have been the first time either had set foot there. After the snow stopped, the weather became freezing, and the temple boys huddled together like quails, shivering and shuffling their feet. With two high-ranking officials from the county office present, they dared not bring out charcoal heaters for warmth.

Lin Shu, sensing an opportunity, forced himself forward and greeted the County Commandant, “Uncle Huang.”

The Commandant looked confused. It was the County Secretary, who had formerly held the office of Secretary of Personnel and kept up with everyone in the county, who gave a nod. Overjoyed that the Secretary remembered him, Lin retreated.

He found himself the object of envy from the rest of the temple boys, but could only wonder where Chen Cong had gotten to. He was surprised to learn that he was in the Registrar’s room getting warm.

The two visiting officials drank tea, unable to have wine since they were working. But by noon, the new Abbot had not yet arrived. But the registrar of the Temple offered a quick lunch to the officials who ate little. It would give them sustenance to wait until the arrival of the new Abbott.

By nightfall, they had still not arrived and the registrar continued to bring tea. But the officials decided that they would stay no longer. They had been stood up by the new Abbott. As the officials were about to leave, Liu, the Temple Warden was lamenting about the situation. This was the first time the Temple had made such an impression on the county office.

The county officials left, and just as they were passing the Temple gate, they saw three people approaching, clearly from out of town. Lin recognized the trio and surmised that one of them was their new Abbot.

The Commandant looked ready to take them on, but the Secretary restrained him. The trio approached and the lead one was a fair young woman, the new Abbot! The fury was sapped from the Commandant, they had to be cordial.

It turned out to be the woman, she gave a gesture and then began to give her name, she was from the capital! All was understood!
Having seen everything, the County Secretary and Magistrate understood. In the morning, they would stop by and visit the Temple and the new Abbot. Perhaps she had seen a chance to improve her status? After speaking with the registrar, it turned out that the new Abbot had prepared a dinner for them! They agreed to visit in the morning, as they had county business to take care of and had missed dinner.

Jian offered an apology, and presented her documentation to the two officials. As the sun was setting, she had them escorted to the foot of the mountain, where they said goodbye. She secretly sent Fancy to order a new set of refreshments and to buy a few items for the Temple.

Having dropped off the officials, Fancy went to the market and bought a few items to improve the residence of the new Abbot. When she was returning, she had a fright for there were figures standing near the gate! It was the registrar and Chai.

Back at the temple, Jian Su inspected the facilities. It was spartan and basic. With the assistance of Fancy, it would improve. It may have had ancient traditions, but there would be a new regime here soon enough.

Chai Yu, who had helped secure this post for Junior Sister, could only wonder what she was planning. As a member of a sect, she was now becoming the ruler of a territory.

And thus the night commenced.