Ruyi was right. Behind a grand wood desk sat the footman, smiling as genially as when he helped her off the carriage at the Banquet.

His smile froze on his face.

“It is you!” she exclaimed.

For a moment every muscle in his face was still.

“Why,” he said. “What an unexpected delight. Miss—”

“Nala,” said Ruyi, her eyes flicking to Mei. “Call me Nala.”

He seemed amused. “Very well. Nala it is. If I had known it were you coming I would have made tea.”

***

“You know Cao?” said Mei, incredulous.

“We’ve met. I’ve sat on him.”

“You what?”

“Oh, it was no trouble,” said Cao. “Our dear Nala is not very heavy at all. And I live to serve. I must say, I was expecting an Alchemist. But not you. Mei, will you kindly leave us?”

“No,” said Nala before Mei could even stand up. Her voice was so firm Mei did a double take. “She stays.”

Where had this girl gotten this sudden spurt of bravery?! And at the worst time—she had no idea who she was speaking to.

“It’s no trouble. I’ll go,” said Mei, affecting a nervous laugh. She tried to say a thousand things to Nala with her eyes, but by her befuddled blinks the girl got none of it.

“No, no need,” said Cao, a hint of a smile on his lips. “Mei, kindly sit.”

Mei did, awkwardly.

“I take it Mei here doesn’t know who you are?” said Cao.

“Oh, people here don’t know who I am. Just like how people there don’t know who you are,” said Nala, grinning.

Cao chuckled. “I hope that isn’t a threat.”

Mei felt her stomach drop out.

“What?” said Nala, painfully oblivious. “Oh. Oh. Oh, no, I didn’t mean it that way—I would never! I actually think it’s quite nice what you’re doing here. Very noble.”

“Do you? How very flattering.”

Mei spotted her chance to jump in before Nala’s tongue got them both kicked out. The girl was blundering into walls she couldn’t see. A less easygoing man than Cao would’ve punished her already. “Actually, Cao is most interested in your Alchemy work.”

“Yes. I was fascinated to hear of a rogue brewer seeking to experiment with demon’s flesh. But I would’ve never thought it was you.”

“And you, a cult member? I would’ve never thought you had it in you. You were so mannered!” How was Nala so relaxed?

“Ah, not merely a member. I happen to lead this humble operation.”

“Really.”

“Mm. It’s an afternoon for pleasant surprises. Ah—how is your brother, by the way? Does he ever visit these parts?”

Nala blinked. “No,” she said curtly.

“Shame. He could do a lot of good here, you know.”

“I’m sure.”

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“Please do let him know we’d welcome him graciously should he ever wish to visit.”

“I will.”

Something Mei couldn’t detect had shifted in the conversation.

“So,” said Nala. “What do you need me for, mister cult leader?”

“Need? As I recall it was you who requested this meeting, no?”

“You gifted me demon’s flesh. And you’ve promised much more to get me here. You must want something, and bad,” said Nala, grinning lazily.

“Well, larval flesh is cheap,” said Cao, like a tutor correcting a child. “Though yes. We could use your talents. What do you know of demon summoning?”

The conversation had utterly run away from Mei. She could only hope Nala could bumble her way out of this.

“Mmm…nothing.”

“Then let me give you a primer. When sufficiently powerful demons die—that is, demons of the Demon King stage—their souls go to Hell. It is possible, with certain arcane Techniques and the right ritual, to summon the spirit of such a Demon King to possess a vessel—if only for a short time.”

“You’re speaking of soul binding.”

“Precisely.”

“So is it a Soul Bind Elixir you want from me? To prepare this ‘vessel’?” Nala cocked her head. “That’s a grandmaster level brew.”

“If only it were that simple.” Cao drummed his fingers on the tabletop; they echoed all the way through like the desk was hollow, just a prop. “We must make certain modifications to the Soul Bind elixir—so that it may accept demonic essence.”

“So you can summon a Demon King level demon. In the middle of Jade Dragon City.”

Cao spread his hands, offering up a wan smile, all innocence. “So we can have the capability to summon one, rather… I see your concern. It’s a nasty business, but it is better to have a sheathed blade than to be left defenseless. I know from painful experience what it is like to have my wishes trampled over by the Emperor. Most everyone in the Lower City does. And… something tells me you do too.”

“Yeah,” said Nala. Her voice was suddenly thick. “Yeah.”

“I do not think it will come to that,” said Cao gently. “Our offer is this. Lend us your mind, and we shall reward you handsomely—in demon flesh, if you like. We already have dozens of Alchemists on the project, spread across several provinces. They compose six teams. So far, each team has made little progress. But taken together it is starting to become significant. It would be… ideal… if we could complete this task before the winter, so that we may have leverage when the Emperor seeks to impose his taxes.”

Nala scratched thoughtfully at her neck. “I…suppose that sounds agreeable.”

“Excellent. Then let us draw up a contract and hammer out the finer details.”

“You use contracts? As a cult?”

“We are an organization, child, and we run as one. We have legal storefronts, one of which is an elixir distributor. You’ll sign with them.”

“Huh.”

“I shall have Han introduce you to our Jade Dragon City Team—”

“I won’t work on a team,” said Nala. She leaned back, crossing her arms. “They’d just slow me down. As a matter of fact, feel free to fire them. Give me two months and you can consider the task done.”

Mei felt like a spectator at some lightning-fast duel; the exchanges went so fast she could hardly perceive them. Where did her bubbly little friend go? Was this the same girl who’d sobbed in her lap over Nightshade mushrooms? It was like some arrogant old master had suddenly taken over her body, complete with the haughty smirk.

“That seems…unwise,” said Cao, smiling weakly.

“Oh?” Nala raised a brow. “If you really think so, you don’t know who I am.”

“On the contrary, I do. One friend in particular is a…fan… of your work, shall we say. He is in the business of knowing.”

“Then you know what I can do.”

“You have a reputation, yes.”

“If you want me to work for you, you’ll give me enough flesh to fill 10 Yin veins’ worth of demonic essence. Every week.”

Cao winced. “That is a lot. We pay our other alchemists a third that value, and several are Masters, R—Nala.”

Nala leaned forward, this knowing slant to her lips. “Let me guess. You’ve picked up some motley crew of washed-up Masters and newbies, folk on the fringe. Not many respectable alchemists want to associate themselves with the demon cult, surely. If you were willing to give away flesh to bait in any random alchemist you must be truly desperate.”

A pause.

“Alas,” said Cao dryly. “You’ve caught me. It is as you say.”

“If you want a world-class mind, you’ll have to pay for it. I know my worth.” Nala leaned back. She’d said her piece.

“Still—10 Yin veins—”

“Didn’t you just say larval flesh was cheap?”

It occurred to Mei that she really knew nothing at all about the girl sitting before her, staring defiantly.

Cao shook his head, but he seemed more amused than displeased.

“Very well,” he sighed. “10 Yin veins it is. Though should we not see the results we desire, we reserve the right to terminate your contract at any time.”

Nala snorted, muttering something under her breath. But she said, “Deal.”

“I’ll have Han prepare your portion shortly.”

Nala stood to leave, but stopped before she made it to the door. “One more thing! Every week when I come to get my flesh, I will also come with two tankards of healing elixir. You will distribute them to your field hospitals. I want it as a condition of my contract.”

Rarely had Mei seen the Prophet speechless. “What a strange one you are,” he chuckled. “Have it your way.”

***

“What was that?” said Mei as soon as they stepped out.

“Heh?” The arrogant old crone had melted into a wide-eyed girl.

“That was incredible! I didn’t know you had it in you!”

“He was trying to bully me,” said Nala, puffing out her cheeks. “I will not be bullied.”

“No, you won’t.” Mei ruffled her hair, and she beamed. “Just who are you, really?”

Nala winked. “It’s a secret.”

“Secret,” muttered Mei, snorting. This girl. “Want some fried dough strips before you go? My treat.”

“Eh. Thanks, but I had, uh, another snack in mind…”