It was a beautiful village, Ministry Agent Kang Yun thought. Nestled among the misty vales and high stone hills that lay between the true Peaks of the capital, shrouded in greenery and bustling with life. It was the very image of what an imperial town should be. His black robes swished over the dusty road winding its way among the farms. He passed villagers, soldiers and beasts, all engaged with their small lives. None looked at him. None noticed his tread. This was as it should be. Knowledge of his presence could only bring distress and anxiety to these good, simple people.

He cataloged every face with barely a thought, every line of posture, every miniscule twitch of expression. Around him, every man, woman, and child was like unto a book, open for his perusal. He stayed his attention, only briefly peering at their covers, thumbing through the first pages. There was a good harvest this season, things were well. A minor outbreak of disease spirits had damaged a number of herds, but neighbors and the local Ministry of Commerce were helping the victims stabilize their fortunes.

Taxes had nudged higher, as the viscount of the region had begun to draw on more manpower, supporting the clearance of local pockets of Strife Era corruption. Some felt put upon, but there was no feeling of privation yet. They were proud of the imperial projects, the new paved roads that had been announced for this decade, of the construction of a handful of schoolhouses, to prepare the driven for entry into the ministries, and fulfill new licensing requirements. The relationship between the garrison and the people was good.

He gave a small nod of his head, satisfied, and turned his eyes to the city center, rising from behind the defensive wall that enclosed it. It was truly unfortunate, what the divinations whispered. Plague and pain. Death in this peaceful valley. But he was here to resolve that, one way or another.

There was a young man here, his name was Yang Chen, and he had a great deal of potential.

***

Yang Chen felt amazing today. It felt like all the spirits were smiling on him. He held the paper missive from the examination center in his trembling hands, all too aware of how easy it would be to crinkle the fine paper. He had completed his preliminary course as an Imperial Apothecary. The new license system for the medical arts had made things harder, since he couldn’t apprentice to his Father right away, but now, now it would pay off.

He would be able to help Father out again, and in the future, he might even qualify for a new mortal physician’s commission. Things had been so hard, since his older brother had died on duty in the Viscounts army, but now, things would get better. With the license, business would improve and father would be able to rest more.

And, oh. Mei Hua’s father might even allow him to approach her!

He smiled and did his best to keep his stride steady as he wove through the street, heading for his Father’s shop. He couldn’t wait to show him the placard for the shop and the little jade badge he was allowed to wear as a certified apprentice!

He didn’t even allow himself to worry as he cut through an alley to avoid congestion on the street ahead, where a cart’s wheel had fallen off. It was just a short jaunt to go around.

At least until he felt a cold prickle on the back of his neck. That was all it was at first. Then the light dimmed, at first it seemed like a cloud had just fallen over the sun. But the breeze was far too cold to be natural. Halfway down the alley Yang Chen’s eyes widened as the shadows darkened and the entrance and exit alike seemed to stretch off far away. What was…

He blinked, and there was a man in front of him. Tall, a little gaunt. In billing black robes embroidered with white at the hems. Staring down at him was a pale white mask, utterly featureless, without eyes or mouth. Surrounded by a halo of silky black hair.

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His breath caught in his throat, and his letter dropped from nerveless fingers.

It stopped before it hit the ground, and then flicked back up in front of him. He stared at it. Stared at the shadow man in front of him.

“Yang Chen. Do you recognize what I am?” the man's voice was cold and clinical, and sounded like it was emerging from the bottom of a well.

He nodded rapidly, taking his letter back from the force that held it midair. “Y-your honor is an Agent of Integrity.”

They had been taught this, taught to recognize the mask of those who spoke with the authority of the Empress, and could audit any office in the Celestial Peaks without warning. “Sir, this humble student doesn’t understand. I promise that I-”

Father had some disputes with the town's magistrate, but surely…

“You have done no wrong. This is not an investigation,” the agent said plainly. “Be calm, young man.”

It was easy to say that! Yang Chen wanted to say, but thankfully he was able to keep silent his foolish thoughts.

The agent observed him, or Yang Chen thought he did, there was no way to tell beyond the tilt of his head. “You have potential. A talent. It is my duty to inform you that you qualify for the Great Sect program.”

He stared blankly. “I…”

He had heard of this, everyone had really. But he wasn’t…

He thought of his older brother, grinning, crouching down to ruffle his hair, and tell him he would see him soon. It had been a lie.

“As you are a diligent young man, you are likely aware of the basics. Nonetheless by protocol, I must inform you of the details of the contract. In exchange for cultivation materials and access to a Great Sect of the Realm, you will owe the throne eight years of service in the military… or an equivalent branch…”

***

Kang Yun lectured, and Kang Yun observed. Elevated heart rate and other signs of agitation and stress. Within expected parameters. Theatricality of entrance had the desired effect. It was best to approach candidates alone and unattended. There were two reasons for this. The agitation and fear would result in subjects already corrupted by malign cultivation to lash out, allowing easy identification and judgment of salvageability.

The second reason was the absence of immediate familial and social pressures. Many candidates were subject to harmful home conditions. This would not be acceptable among nobles, among the commons certain things could be bypassed. He saw no signs of either condition on this young man’s ledger...

He wondered then what the source of calamity was. A collapse in familial fortune? A social entanglement? Spirit possession? Even the powerful divination arts of the Ministry could not determine such fine details.

“Do you accept?”

The young man, with his rounded honest face and carefully groomed short black hair, looked up at him with wide eyes. He swallowed once, then twice. Building courage. Would he…

“Your honor, t-this one will have to decline.”

Kang Yun tilted his head far to the side, and the boy trembled. “Do you understand the finality of this?”

“I-I can’t leave mother and father alone, even… even if they would understand, even if they would tell me too, and I don’t want to fight so…”

He considered whether to speak further to explain benefits and alternative methods of service. However, he had many such children to see too today, and little enough patience. He held up his hand. “You do not owe me an explanation, only an answer. Do you understand that this decision is irreversible? That I will remove your talent if you do not intend to use it for the Empire?”

The boy, white faced, nodded. The full implication, of what he was giving up, was likely beyond a child. However…”

“Very well then. Please do not move. You will feel a slight pinch, and feel lethargic for two to three days,” Kang Yun said. He stood in front of the boy, extended his hand… and tapped a finger against the boy's sternum.

The pulse of qi was icy cold, and the boy grunted, squeezing his eyes shut as the yet imaginary foundations of cultivation in his body scattered, and were unmade.

One way or another, there would be no calamity here. He had six more to head off today alone.