The conversation with her father was tense, but Lu Na convinced him to allow her to bail Hen Li out herself. All it took was the mention of the Wintersweet Elder coming to their Lu compound to request this favor. His face paled and he agreed. He even gave her a hefty bag of silver to pay for the bail and to make sure that the Elder knew of his generosity.

Lu Na set out with Sun Ren to the local magistrate’s yamen. It was a gorgeous autumn day where the leaves were falling off the trees. The cool crisp smell in the air left goosebumps on Lu Na. It’s always fresher when she was outside her own prison.

Of course, it wasn’t the same as it was before when she was running away from the Wintersweet Sect. Sun Ren had a complement of ten bodyguards with her, while six others fanned out in all directions. It was a visual spectacle for others to see such a wall of dark red tunics, all armed with swords, with Lu Na in the middle dressed in white again.

Everyone gave way.

They finally reached the magistrate’s yamen by mid-afternoon. Lu Na was going to take every opportunity to enjoy this freedom as much as she could.

“Young Miss Sun, welcome,” the soldier stationed outside saluted with his right arm across his chest.

Sun Ren acknowledged him with a nod of her head.

“We’re here to see Magistrate Hu.”

“Of course, right away. I’ll escort you inside.” The soldier bowed his head and turned in a crisp motion. He walked ahead and led them into the magistrate’s courtyard. “If you ladies could wait here. I’ll inform the magistrate’s servants to serve you and get Magistrate Hu.”

“Thank you,” Sun Ren said. Her bodyguards fanned out like a red flower with two standing beside her and Lu Na.

“Well, that was different,” Lu Na said.

“Very different,” her spirit said. “When did the lowly magistrate get such beautiful men to guard the doors? I wonder if they make spirit versions of them.”

Lu Na smiled but ignored the comment. If her spirit got her own spirit guard, she would have no rest.

Sun Ren had a large smirk on her face.

“My father sent a messenger back into the city after getting my brother’s message. He was coming back in a month. He had routed the rebels and was expecting an explanation from the governor as to the mistreatment of his daughter.”

“Wow. I wish I could be there when they have that conversation,” Lu Na said. That changed things for them. Everyone from the Wintersweet Sect to this magistrate treated them poorly before, despite Sun Ren’s elevated status. No one knew if the Marquis would come back after going on such a tough campaign and knew he took most of his fighting men with him. Now he was coming back.

But that would mean Sun Ren would leave Lu Na’s home all the sooner.

“I’ll be sure to have you there,” Sun Ren said. “After all, they caused you to suffer too.”

Magistrate Hu came right after tea was served. He wore a long, dark yellow robe.

Lu Na got up and curtsied.

“Greetings Magistrate Hu.”

He nodded and sat down with the two ladies.

“What do you two ladies want? I’m a very busy man.”

“We came to bail out one of our friends,” Sun Ren said.

Magistrate Hu frowned.

“Just because you’re the Marquis’ daughter doesn’t mean I will do everything you want. There are still laws in this city.”

Lu Na poured a cup of tea for him.

“Honorable Magistrate, we seek the proper release of Hen Li.”

“The monk?” Magistrate Hu glanced at the tea, but didn’t touch it.

“Yes, the monk. He was arrested for fighting within Jianye.”

“The law is clear. Any summoner using their spirit to fight within any major city will be punished accordingly. If it was a minor scuffle, he would have been released by now. But he destroyed buildings. He was lucky he didn’t murder anyone.”

“Magistrate, let me cut the niceties,” Sun Ren said. “He is the son of Elder Hen from the Wintersweet Sect. I’m sure they’d appreciate it if you released him, seeing as how you helped them the last time we were here.”

At the mention, her two bodyguards shifted in position.

Magistrate Hu glanced at them, then shifting his gaze away.

“And he still broke a major law. As a summoner, he should know that better than anyone. I can’t let him free. So if there’s nothing else, I have to get back to work.”

Lu Na took out a small bag of silver from her father.

“Magistrate Hu, we are prepared to pay whatever the price is for his release.”

“There is no price you can pay that I would agree to. You two ladies might have run amok in my city, causing terrible issues, and be free of it because one is related to the Marquis and the other is the Young Miss of a rich merchant, but there is still law in this city.”

He got up to leave.

“Magistrate Hu, are you really going to make this difficult for me?” Sun Ren asked. “I only want the release of this one monk that you have no reason to keep. He was merely defending himself.”

Magistrate Hu turned to face the two ladies. His eyes were wide with anger.

“And all I wanted was peace of mind and a safe city to manage. But you two ladies not only destroyed that peace, but threatened to take my son. So yes, I know your father is coming back and I know I will probably lose my position as magistrate, but until then I will uphold the law.”

Sun Ren smiled. She got up and bowed to Magistrate Hu.

“I appreciate your candor and your ability to stick to your principles, despite outside pressure. If you were like that when we came the first time, then we wouldn’t be having this conversation. Instead, you betrayed two young women to a summoner sect that caused all this trouble. I have issues with that.”

Sun Ren unsheathed her sword. As one, all her bodyguards unsheathed their swords.

Lu Na shrank back when she saw they were all sharpened swords, unlike the dull ones she had when she first met Sun Ren.

“This is getting a little tense. How about you give them all an alternative, Na Na?” her spirit said.

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What alternative? She thought that with a little money, she’d be able to release Hen Li and get a little free time. But then again, as long as she thought hard enough there was always another way to do something.

“Young Miss Sun, I beg your pardon, but might I have a small chat with Magistrate Hu in private?” Lu Na said.

Sun Ren nodded and sheathed her sword. Her bodyguards followed suit.

“But you’re not going anywhere alone with him. I would hate for him to sell you to the Wintersweet Sect again.”

“Of course.” Lu Na bowed her head. “Shall we step over to the tree then Magistrate Hu?”

He nodded and walked with Lu Na to the tree.

“Your honor, I beg your pardon for Sun Ren’s disrespect but can I be frank with you?”

Magistrate Hu nodded.

“You don’t want to see us anymore than we want to be here. We came here to get the release of one harmless monk. If we get him, we leave, and you will not have to see us again. Sun Ren’s father is coming back so she’ll go back to her Sun compound. I’m a virtual prisoner in mine already. Couldn’t you look the other way just once to preserve the peace of the land?”

“Now that is some good negotiating,” Lu Na’s spirit said.

Lu Na would have cried if she thought that listening and negotiating with her father over and over actually gave her a skill. The man never cared much for her before, but now that he watched over her like a hawk, he had no choice but to interact. It was something, at least.

Magistrate took a deep, halting breath.

“Fine. Take him as long as you promise to never show your face here again.”

Lu Na curtsied.

“Thank you, honorable Magistrate Hu.”

“That’s something we can both agree on. I don’t want to see his face again either,” Lu Na’s spirit said.

A yamen runner led the two ladies and their bodyguards into the holding area. The cells were made of thick, sturdy wood that was secured with a metal lock. They had straw for a bed, a small pot, and nothing else. The smell of human filth was extra concentrated down there, but it was to be expected. This was the inn for the miserable.

Hen Li sat with his legs folded on the straw floor with his long gray hair tied back. He still wore his gray habit and he had his prayer beads in his hands. He was chanting the heart sutra.

“Hen Li, you’re to be released. Time to go,” the yamen runner called into the cell.

Hen Li’s eyes opened. They were bloodshot. He blinked a few times before he got up and bowed with his palms pressed together.

“Amituofo. Thank you benefactor for releasing me.”

“Wow, you look like a mess,” Sun Ren said.

“That’s how he looked when I first met him,” Lu Na whispered. “Maybe not the bloodshot eyes.”

“Amituofo, it’s the venerable Lu Na. I am glad to see you again,” Hen Li said.

“Go tell him how you forgot him and left him to rot in jail for the past few weeks,” her spirit said.

“Oh? That’s alright. You were probably dealing with your own issues after the Wintersweet Sect incident,” Hen Li said. “Everyone in Jianye heard what happened. I am glad that you are alright.”

“I forgot he could hear me. Hello you gorgeous monk! Lu Na didn’t miss you, but I did.”

Lu Na really wished there was a switch to turn off her spirit from time to time. She realized her spirit was special because of her mother’s legacy binding, but sometimes the inappropriate words that went through her mind made Lu Na appreciate the ascetic life of a monk.

“Well, it was your father that asked us to bail you out,” Sun Ren said.

“Him? Then I’d rather spend the rest of my life in this jail cell,” Hen Li said.

“No, no, don’t listen to Sun Ren,” Lu Na said. “He only reminded me of my debt to you. I came on my own to bail you out. I’m so sorry for leaving you in here for so long. I should have asked my father to bail you out sooner for helping me when I was in a dangerous situation.”

“Amituofo. That is the life of a practicing monk. We seek to provide comfort for those that are suffering. But since I am free now, it is fine that we can part ways until we meet again.”

Hen Li stumbled when he took a step forward. Lu Na caught him.

“What happened? Why are you so weak?” Lu Na asked.

Sun Ren turned to the yamen runner.

“Have you been torturing him?”

“No, why would we?” the yamen runner said. “He’s like this because he stopped eating food after he realized it was sent by Elder Hen of the Wintersweet Sect.”

“We can’t let him go back to his temple like this.” Lu Na helped Hen Li sit back down. “Why don’t you stay at my home until you recuperate?”

“No, not if it’s requested by Elder Hen.” Hen Li’s eyes were closed, his breathing was ragged.

“No, it’s repaying you for helping me. Besides, my father is a practicing Buddhist. Where else do you think I learned the heart sutra? He invites monks to his home all the time. I’m sure he would love to hear about your experiences.”

“Amituofo, then you have my thanks.”

With the help of Sun Ren’s bodyguards, they carried Hen Li upstairs. Lu Na then paid for people to wheel him home on a wheelbarrow.

“I’ll meet you back at your home later. I have something to do,” Sun Ren said.

“Of course. I’ll take care of Hen Li.”

The head servant, Cui Yi, was waiting for Lu Na when they arrived.

“What time do you call this? Your parents are worried you got kidnapped again. I was about to head out to find you.”

Lu Na clenched her jaw. She would not make it any worse for herself. Besides, she had to take care of Hen Li first. Here she missed Sun Ren’s presence.

“I apologize head servant Cui. There was a slight issue at the yamen. However, we have come back with the monk. Could you please set up a space for him?”

Cui Yi eyed Hen Li.

“That’s a monk? Are you sure? Because your father would be very upset if you invited a false monk into the compound.”

“Yes, head servant Cui. He’s the one that helped me all those weeks ago. Besides, he’s the son of Elder Hen. Do you really want our Lu family to offend such a person?”

“Fine, bring him in.”

“Amituofo, I don’t want to impose upon your family, Young Miss Lu. I can make my way back to my temple,” Hen Li said.

“No, you’re coming with me,” Lu Na said. She pushed past head servant Cui Yi as servants wheeled Hen Li into the Lu compound. “I have to first apologize as my home is still under construction from when the Wintersweet attacked.”

“Your stalkers are back,” her spirit told her.

Lu Na looked back and saw the two bodyguards in black tunics that her father assigned to her. They were recently hired from another summoner sect that rivaled the Wintersweet Sect outside of Jianye. Her father, Lu Tien, had become paranoid about another attack.

Bodyguard was a loose term. They were more her jailers where one kept her in place while the other usually reported back to her father. She pointed at one.

“You, go tell my father that we have a very important guest.”

“Yes, Young Miss,” the bodyguard responded.

Lu Na continued past the destroyed courtyard leading to the main hall. Trees were uprooted, leaving gaping holes in the ground. The walls had mismatched layers that were used to repair the gaping holes as quickly as possible. And worst of all, one of the pair of guardian lions had its head smashed. They had been in the Lu compound since before she was born.

“Amituofo, the Wintersweet Sect went too far,” Hen Li said as he surveyed the damage.

“There are sections that look worse. So I apologize again, as the only guest space we have is going to be mostly bare, but it will be away from everything else to allow for meditation.”

“Thank you, Young Miss Lu. Your generosity and compassion are too much for one such as me.”

“You saved me. It’s the least I could do.”

After a few minutes of walking, they reached an empty courtyard with a small shack. When they entered the small shack, it had only a small bed to the side and a hearth for a fire. It was neatly maintained otherwise.

“I apologize as I must leave you here,” Lu Na said. “I have to report to my father about today’s events.”

“Amituofo. Thank you, but might I speak with you privately before you go?” Hen Li looked over at the bodyguard.

“Wait for me outside of the courtyard,” Lu Na ordered.

“But Young Miss, I was told to always be beside you,” the bodyguard said.

“This Young Miss promises to not go anywhere today. I can’t promise anything tomorrow, but for today you get to pretend that I’m just like all those other spoiled sons and daughters. I just want to talk with him and then I’ll go with you back to my room.”

The bodyguard hesitated.

“Amituofo. I will guarantee that she won’t leave. Will that be enough?” Hen Li said.

“I don’t know you.”

“Know that I am a monk and that I don’t lie. It’ll be quick.”

“Fine.” The bodyguard turned toward Lu Na. “But if you attempt to leave, I’ll be sure to accidentally break one of your inventions.”

Lu Na bowed her head.

As soon as the bodyguard was out of earshot, Hen Li’s hand shot up and grabbed Lu Na by the arm.

“You’re in grave danger. That hairpin you have hidden inside your chest pocket is calling out like a beacon. We have to leave before other summoner sects flood this city in search of it.”