Chang-li spent the next few days feeling as though he was poised on the edge of a precipice. One push, one wrong step, and he would fall to his death. There had been no word from down the mountain, either from Min's people or the messenger that Magistrate Bao had sent to speak with Inspector Ji'in. He hadn't seen Joshi, either, no doubt because the escaped slave was lying low. He hoped Min had gotten a message to him that help was coming.

Even more cultivators were bustling around the camp than usual since the Inquisitor had closed the tower to anyone who had not at least reached the Peak of Bodily Refinement. The elders of each sect were working on a plan to ensure that the tower was not in imminent danger of an eruption and then allow the lower-ranked disciples back in. Chang-li wanted to get back in himself. He kept hoping for word from Li Jiya and the Moon Whispers sect, but they didn't send him a message. He was starting to suspect they were waiting to hear what Inspector Ji'in had to say.

Meanwhile, his fellow scribes were treating Chang-li as a minor celebrity, pestering him about how exactly he had mastered cultivation enough to reach Bodily Refinement so quickly. He found himself teaching lessons before bedtime in the dark quiet of the junior scribes’ bunkroom. He had intended to teach them how to cycle and then leave them to it, since there really wasn't much else they could do, not being in the tower. He found that they had trouble mastering the Swirling Mists he had tried to teach, and so he went back and taught them the first cycling pattern Joshi had passed on to him.

"You have to distinguish between the colors of lux," he told them. "It's much easier in a tower where the atmosphere is rich with it. Here we've only got what small scraps we all have in our cores. But it's only been a few days since you left the tower. You must have a little remaining to you. If you can't perceive the difference in color, try listening to the lux. They each have their own note," he hummed. A quick scale from red up to violet.

"We're not allowed to touch violet," Scribe Jun said.

"Which is why you must be able to distinguish it from the others," Chang-li pointed out. "None of us want to be guilty of violating the Emperor's divine law." He thought uncomfortably of just how much violet lux he himself had cycled and hoped it didn't leave some sort of permanent stain on his soul. After all, he didn’t want a higher-ranked cultivator somehow to see what he had done and denounce him for it. But there was no helping that now.

Besides, even Inquisitor Zhan Sho was only at the Peak of Spiritual Refinement. Surely that sort of high-level sense would be for the cultivators on the tiers beyond that. And he didn't even know what those tiers were called. Scribe Wulan's journal had nothing to help him past the Peak of Bodily Refinement. He needed to get in with a sect, or his journey would end here.

He was in the scribe house, filling out ledgers for the quartermaster, when Scribe Tu came rushing in, breathless.

"Scribe Wu, the Inspector is calling for you. He's in the forecourt."

Chang-li set down his pen at once and leapt up, heart hammering, hurrying around the counter. "What is it?"

“Arrivals from down the mountain."

Chang-li's mouth was very dry. This was it. The inspector had learned of his deceit and would be turning him over to the Inquisitor. They might even throw him off the mountainside, just as he'd been fearing. Maybe he should go the other way, deeper into the camp. Find Joshi, ask the escaped slave to help hide him, and then sneak out under cover of darkness. Together they might have a chance at braving the wilderness and finding somewhere safe.

But no. There was no hiding from the Empire, and Chang-li was a scribe. Where else would he go?

He straightened his robes, brushed back his hair from his face, and set off to the forecourt. A group of guards were standing around, watching, and chatting idly amongst themselves. Inspector Dah was talking with a newly arrived group of cultivators and their attendants.

The cultivators’ robes were grey and white, with a single slash of pale blue along the sleeves. Not colors he'd seen before. Usually, sects preferred bright patterned robes to ensure that they stood out from the common rabble, who were not permitted to use any of the seven pure colors. Their banner was grey, with white stalks of grain growing up from the bottom, and a red circle behind the grain.

"Ah, Scribe Wu," Inspector Dah called cheerfully, "come on over here and join us. These are the new arrivals from the Sect of Morning Mist."

Chang-li nearly choked. These were Min's impostors? They looked like a real sect. There were three disciples, all male, all a bit older than Chang-li. Now that he looked closely, he saw a broken nose on one, and swollen knuckles on another, signs that these supposed cultivators were brawlers. The servants were mostly older, though there were two young boys among them. Two of them were women, the other six men.

"Since you've been making a good impression on the cultivators, I thought I'd have you accompany me to handle the official record-keeping. We go now to find Young Master Joshi," Inspector Dah said cheerfully. "Come."

Chang-li trailed along, his heart still hammering. He had expected — well, honestly he hadn't dared hope for anything, but he'd been expecting perhaps a messenger with some falsified documents, and maybe one Brotherhood member dressed up to look like a disciple. Other than the lack of a Grand Master, these false disciples looked much like the other sects he had seen.

The foremost of the false disciples, the man whose nose had been broken and healed crooked, said in a low voice, "Greetings from our elder sister."

Chang-li was getting very good at stifling inappropriate responses. He merely nodded his head and calmed his racing heart. That was easier to do than it had been a week ago. He could feel his command over his body had increased. If he could school his features and keep from giving away the truth, he might have a chance here.

Inspector Dah led them directly to the building where, apparently, Joshi was being housed. A servant opened the door. The inspector bowed with the least amount of deference possible to the disciples. “This is where we have settled you, at least until you make other arrangements. You will need to pay the back rent immediately, as well as the next month's in advance. First, let us confer with your Young Master and see to his bona fides."

They all entered the house as Joshi descended from the private rooms above. He looked much better than he had in the tower. Clearly, he'd been shaving and bathing with some regularity. He surveyed the room and crossed his arms. "I expected you two days ago," he said to the false disciples.

"Forgive us, Young Master.” The spokesman bowed low. "We were detained in Golden Moon City."

"Detained?" Joshi's eyebrows rose. "By the beer and loose women, I suspect. Come, let's have the paperwork for the inspector to look over."

He was very deliberately not looking at Chang-li. That was probably a good thing. They might be able to pull it off, if Joshi kept his wits about him and Chang-li didn’t slip up.

The first disciple brought out a satchel and opened it. He handed the contents to Inspector Dah, bowing. “Disciple Yang begs you to inspect these papers and provide your endorsements.”

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Dah opened the oilskin packet. There were a dozen different pages inside, all of which Chang-li recognized because he had written them out himself. At Inspector Dah's gesture, Chang-li came to stand beside him. Together, they scrutinized each piece of paper.

"Here is your sect registration. I see you had it certified in Golden Moon City. That is well done.” Inspector Dah set it down. "And here, your list of cultivators joining this Tower Cull. License for Young Master Joshi. No family name?”

“My sect is my family,” Joshi said stiffly. “That is all.”

The Inspector considered Joshi a moment before nodding. “From outside the Empire?”

“I was. Now I am a subject of his Divine Majesty.”

“Well, your papers are in order. That is all that matters.”

Chang-li allowed him to relax. Foreign cultivators were a staple in the sometimes lurid novels that his classmates at school had swapped behind their instructors’ backs. A foreign prince coming to cultivate, being swept off his feet by a high-ranked noble lady, returning to his home to show his people the light… not that Chang-li had spent much time reading those books. Only a handful. Well, maybe a dozen. Or so.

“You will need to present this to Magistrate Bao at the Office of Cultivation to receive the special endorsement you earned by saving the Indigo Princess. Do not delay there. And your disciples here, Yang, Shou, and Cui. You have your own licenses, gentlemen?"

Each of the false disciples produced their own license, looking suitably rumpled and worn. They were emblazoned with a series of different seals. Chang-li had been able to fake one and had told Brother Stone they would need to add a few more for verisimilitude. He held his breath as the inspector looked over each.

"I have not seen the seal of Tuflang province before. That is far to the west, is it not?"

Joshi bowed his head low. "It is, indeed."

"You studied there?"

"I learned under the famed monks of Harupa Monastery before joining the Sect of Morning Mist."

"Interesting. And here, your application to participate in this Tower Cull." Inspector Dah lifted the final sheet of paper. Chang-li held his breath as the inspector considered it. Then Dah took his seal from around his neck. Chang-li offered up his own ink pad. The inspector rolled the seal in the ink, then applied it to the licenses and to the sect charter paperwork.

"Everything seems to be in order. Welcome to the Tower Cull. I will leave Scribe Wu to make logs of the appropriate documents. He can file them at the Office of Cultivation Headquarters when he's done here. Send one of your disciples with him to pay the appropriate fees, young master."

The inspector bowed to Joshi, much lower than before. Joshi returned the bow gravely. "Thank you for your diligence, Inspector Dah. I am pleased that my paperwork has caught up to me, and somewhat chagrined at my actions. I pray you do not allow my impetuousness to reflect on my sect.”

“Had you not joined the Tower Cull early, Princess Hiroko might well have been killed. I speak for everyone involved in this Tower Cull when I say, we are grateful for Heaven's providence. Welcome again."

Dah left the house. When the door closed behind him, the disciples and Joshi visibly relaxed. Chang-li opened his mouth to speak, but Joshi shook his head and gave a subtle nod toward the woman cleaning the corners of the room. Chang-li got his meaning.

"My thanks for your help, Scribe Wu," Joshi said as Chang-li bent over the paperwork, scribbling copies. Joshi turned to the cleaning woman, clapping his hands. "I will speak with my sect members alone. You may return later," he said imperiously.

Chang-li admired how well Joshi imitated an overbearing young master. Perhaps it was his previous life as the son of a great Khan. The cleaner bowed low and left the house.

Joshi turned to Chang-li, his expression shifting from the mask he'd worn in front of the inspector. "This is your doing?"

“Not all of it,” Chang-li said as the false disciples approached.

"The eldest sister says you will see to our instruction and ensure that we each reach at least the Peak of Bodily Refinement." The one who had given his name as Yang said.

"Who's this eldest sister?" Joshi demanded, "What have you gotten me into?"

"You're the one who claimed the name of the Sect of Morning Mist," Chang-li said. “You should have claimed to be an unaffiliated cultivator there to try to make his fortune.”

"I had just seen the sort of damage unaffiliated cultivators can cause to a tower cull. I did not wish anyone to associate me with them," Joshi pointed out. "But who is this eldest sister, and what bargain is it you've made?"

"These men are from the Oaken Band Brotherhood," Chang-li explained. "I know them. They have a decent reputation among the weak."

Joshi hesitated, clearly not wanting to give away the fact that he'd been a slave a month ago. He looked around at the others, then at Chang-li. "We need to talk," he said in a low voice.

"All of you settle in and take up your roles," Chang-li said. "I will let your new master know what's going on."

As the others dispersed throughout the house, Chang-li kept an eye on the doors and attuned his senses, trying to listen for any sign they were being observed. He could tell from Joshi's tense body language that the barbarian was doing the same.

"One of the nobles in the Court of Gems is also a key woman of the Oaken Band Brotherhood. I've had several dealings with her already, and she is more insightful than I like. She realized I had been inside the tower cultivating and helped me to fake a license for myself. After we encountered you, she offered to assist in providing proof of your claims of having a sect of your own."

"Out of the goodness of her heart?"

"No, of course not. As they said, they want training."

"Are they good men, trustworthy?"

"I've never met any of them before in my life,” Chang-li admitted. “The Brotherhoods operate on their own codes of honor. I know some consider them as criminals. Others think they are heroes. I believe that Lady Min intends to keep her bargains, but also to get every scrap of use out of you and me she possibly can."

"I escaped one slavery for another.” Joshi sighed. “Well, thank you for aiding me. You didn't need to. Now at least I will be permitted back inside the tower."

"You've got your license. Just sneak out in the middle of the night and find another tower," Chang-li suggested. “I did not mean to entangle you against your will.”

Joshi shook his head. "If I remain here and at the end of this cull receive the satisfactory completion notation on my license, I can present myself at other towers as a cultivator. I can tell them that my sect met an unfortunate end and has been dissolved. With a license bearing multiple endorsements, I can join another sect and continue cultivating."

It was a fairly daring path, but as long as Min's people kept up their roles, Chang-li thought it could work. "Then all you need to do is reach the Peak of Mental Refinement here as you teach the Oaken Band men to reach Bodily Refinement.”

"And how do you propose I do that?" Joshi asked. "Do you know the path to Mental Refinement? Did your dead scribe perhaps write it down in his book?"

Chang-li shook his head. "No, he doesn't know anything about it. I hoped you would."

"The monks of Harupa prepared me to reach Bodily Refinement. After that, they told me I would need to find a sect to teach me the next steps. It is not just a matter of condensing your core again. It's an entirely different kind of training. The monks said that reaching the Peak of Bodily Refinement might be compared to watching a man train his muscles day by day until he can lift boulders twice as heavy as he himself is. But that to reach Mental Refinement was like a man learning to walk through a maze of glass, barefooted and blindfolded, without cutting himself.”

“That sounds painful.”

“And dangerous to attempt on one’s own. Not to mention, I don't have any techniques of my own. By Mental Refinement, a cultivator is supposed to be braiding together three different colors of lux to perform his techniques. I've found brute force ways of using two."

"So have I," Chang-li said. He described his Firepot technique, then listened as Joshi explained how he had formed a gauntlet with claws from red and orange lux. He yearned to write it down in his own cultivator's journal and would once he had the chance. This was exactly the sort of thing he longed to learn. "The Moon Whisperers Sect, I think they might invite me to become their sect's scribe. There, I can learn and continue my own path."

Joshi clapped him on the shoulder. "Well done. You have your path ahead. I am glad for you, Chang-li. You have helped me more than ever I expected you would."

"You saved my life and set me on the correct path. That is a debt, and the time we spent together have, I hope, made us friends," Chang-li said. "I am glad to be able to come to your aid. I just hope that this Oaken Band dealing works out for the best. Every time I speak with Min, I find myself in deeper waters," he confessed. "She's clever and drives a hard bargain. Take care if she speaks with you. She's insightful and has a way of finding out your secrets."

"I appreciate the warning," Joshi said. "Now, I had better go down there and speak with my new disciples."

They laughed together, and Chang-li felt better than he had in days. The Oaken Band deal was Joshi's problem now. He had done and upheld his end of the bargain, and now he could pursue his own desires. As Joshi spoke to the Oaken Band servants and false disciples, Chang-li finished the paperwork, returning the original forgeries to Joshi, and taking his receipts to the Office of Cultivation.