In a deserted little village in northern Yue Province, at the Cloud-Vue border, several invested Daoists in Cloud-Pattern Brocade Robes walked beneath oil-paper umbrellas. Fine rain drifted around them, and a white, smoke-like mist shrouded heaven and earth, blurring everything in sight.
Before long, someone came flying toward them just above the ground. He was a youthful-looking Investiture Dharma Master with Foundation Establishment cultivation.
He landed, cupped his hands in greeting, and said gravely, "Hall Master, the trail seems to end here."
Su Yongdao nodded slightly, a thoughtful look crossing his face. "Those Dragon-Seeking Society members couldn't have vanished for no reason. It seems their destination must be somewhere nearby."
The young Dharma Master said, "The contact is very likely a Core Formation Cultivator. They don't need to stay too close to support each other."
Su Yongdao said, "True enough. As long as communications remain clear, they can provide timely support even from several hundred or a thousand li away. They could easily hide themselves among the surrounding mountains, river valleys, and places rich in spirit resonance.
"Pass down the order. Begin tightening the encirclement. All departments' covert agents and sentries are to take their positions."
Ever since its founding, the Great Qian Dynasty had been deeply entangled with cultivators. Its campaigns had involved considerable slaughter, but it had also recruited followers who sought refuge with the Three Sects and served under their command. Most were now stationed in the Three Offices and Two Departments, monitoring the realm and hunting down lawbreakers.
Beyond knowing which way the wind blew, most of these people possessed special gifts or knowledge and abilities that ordinary rogue cultivators lacked. In particular circumstances, they could prove no less useful than Core Formation cultivators, which was why they received provisions and support.
The two great departments,