After seeing Jiao Yao leave, the Daoist boy stood there for a while before taking a flying carriage back. Before long, he arrived at a Dao Palace upon the Clear Vault Cloud Sea, built around a clear spring where flower petals drifted along the water.
Without needing to announce himself, he entered directly and made his way to a pavilion beside a lotus pond in the rear hall. Two Daoists were playing chess there.
The Daoist boy stepped forward. After a piece had fallen and he found an opening, he bowed to one of them, a middle-aged Daoist in a vermilion robe. "Master, Venerable Jiao said that Guardian of Rectitude Palace had assigned him a matter to handle, so he had no time to come here. This boy then saw him hurry away."
Daoist Shen gave a cold laugh. "That old dragon is playing dumb."
The Daoist opposite him wore an ink-black robe. His long beard drifted lightly, and his refined features seemed removed from the dust of the world. Smiling, he said, "That old dragon made a mistake last time and stuffed one of his juniors into Guardian of Rectitude Palace. Now he has found himself a way out. Having finally managed to curry favor with them, how could he possibly stand on our side? Rather than count on that old dragon, we might as well count on his juniors."
Daoist Shen said, "I merely had the boy ask him. That old dragon truly cannot be propped up. Forget it..." He swept his sleeve, lifted his head, and said, "Fellow Daoist Tong, this matter cannot be taken lightly. If we allow Guardian of Rectitude Palace to gather people like us and assign us duties, where will we find peace to cultivate?"
Daoist Tong stroked his beard. "But this is