"Reporting to you, Magistrate Li: the two Daoists from Mind-Calming Gate have entered Prince of Nankang's Residence and settled in."
In the house of the Secluded Courtyard, Li Duoshou sat in the seat of honor, listening to his subordinate's report.
Beside him sat a woman draped in gauze. She smiled. "Just as you predicted, Lord Li, those two Daoists went to Prince of Nankang's Residence for help."
Li Duoshou waved the constable away, then glanced at the woman. "When they left, the informant who'd deliberately approached them earlier dropped a hint. Of course they thought of asking for help."
The woman smiled. "Those two Daoists have an old connection with Prince of Nankang. Bringing them in would be as natural as water finding its course. Why make things difficult for them, Lord Li?"
"They need a warning. Otherwise, who knows what trouble they'll stir up once they're inside?" Li Duoshou shook his head. "When Gaozu founded the Attendant Tower, he knew the court had too few cultivators to hold off the northern kingdoms' designs. He also meant to establish Legalism to restrain cultivators in Jiankang, so they could be governed. Now the turmoil in the north has spread to the Cultivation World. When you take charge of the Attendant Tower, you mustn't forget that."
The woman laughed softly. "Old Daoist Yunmiaozi seemed sincere about joining."
"He sincerely wants to enter the Tower. Whether he'll submit to its authority is another matter." Li Duoshou sneered. "The Tower has Records on him. He saw the Buddhist School growing close to the powerful and reaping rewards, and envy got the better of him. Now he wants to follow their example. Unless we rein him in, he'll use public power for private gain—borrow our hen to lay his eggs."
"With your methods, you can't