Jian held up a finger and requested a moment from the girl in the black cloak. She huffed slightly in complaint, but didn't try to hurry him along as he wrote out a note to leave behind. Shan was out canvassing the cheapest drinking establishments he could find. In theory he was trying to keep an ear out for useful information, but Jian thought it was more likely that he was making friends in low places. Either way, he didn't want Shan to panic upon returning to find him gone.

The girl's complete lack of concern at the delay allowed Jian to relax as well. If she were here intending him harm, he figured she would be at least a little bit keyed up. Instead, she seemed irritated, if anything. He had misjudged Tingfeng, yes, but he wasn't going to let one mistake completely undermine his faith in his ability to read people.

He finished his note and left a rock pinning it in place on the driver's seat while the ink dried. Then he turned and indicated for the girl to lead the way. She set out, not bothering to say anything or even to turn and make sure he followed.

They cut a winding path through Baolei Town, gradually moving from the lower class area to the more exclusive sections. Jian couldn't help but notice that their circuitous route happened to avoid the guards out patrolling the city. He couldn't detect anybody following them specifically, either, although of course his senses weren't perfect.

Eventually, they arrived at the massive walls of the city lord's compound, blocking the end of a deserted alley. Jian watched with a slight sense of disbelief as the girl tugged on something he couldn't see, dislodging a rolled up rope ladder from the top of the wall. It dangled against the stone, made out of knotted thread barely broader than Jian's finger. It was hard to believe that it would hold the weight of a person. It would also be hard to play off climbing into the city lord's compound as an innocent mistake.

Jian reached out and put a hand on the girl's shoulder. She spun around, half moving to smack his hand aside before deciding instead to simply roll her shoulder away from his touch. Her face was still in shadow, but she was clearly glaring at him.

"What?" she snapped.

"Is this wise?" Jian asked, whispering both to disguise his voice and to keep from being overheard.

She laughed, shaking her head. Then she reached into her cloak and withdrew another token. This one was marked with the seal of the city lord, allowing the bearer to act with his authority. With that, she could stroll into the compound through the gates with any guest she pleased, let alone sneak in.

It wouldn't do much for Jian if he were caught, but then with that token she hardly needed to engage in any chicanery. He sighed in acquiescence and climbed up the ladder. The rungs sagged when he put his weight on them, but they held, and soon enough he was crouched in the dark on top of the wall.

The girl fairly flew up the ladder behind him. With a tug, she detached it from the anchor on the outside of the wall, then transferred it to hang down over the inside of the wall. Jian climbed down after her, and then he was standing inside the most heavily guarded compound for hundreds of miles around, just like that.

He was trying to avoid drawing the obvious conclusion as the girl led him through the compound with the surety of a regular guest. They bypassed all of the well lit and heavily populated areas, only coming to a stop before the gate of an isolated courtyard in the back area.

She opened the gate, and he followed her inside. She continued through the ornamental garden and through an open door. Jian paused when he heard a burst of feminine laughter come from within, then braced himself and stepped through.

The receiving room had been decorated with loving care to a level of quality that would have been right at home in the capital. Beautiful murals adorned the walls, while the furniture was upholstered with luxurious fabric. Thick silks covered every surface, while cleverly crafted tools were at hand to attend to any possible need. All in all, it was a room fit to house the city lord's guest of honor. Meirong stood in the center of the room, staring straight at him with an expectant look.

There were several other people in the room, but Jian found his eyes locked on Meirong's as soon as he stepped through the door. She studied him for a moment before wrinkling her nose.

"Wash off that disguise," she said. "It's unsightly."

She gestured towards a small basin off to the side. A jug of clear water and a small pile of folded towels sat next to it. Jian walked in that direction, warring within himself. Part of him wanted to defy Meirong just for the sake of it. The rest of him knew that it was important that he get off on the right foot if he wanted to get anywhere with her.

He poured some water into the basin. He noticed as he set down the jug that a small formation began condensing water to refill what had been used. An extravagant use of spiritual power, if an understandable one in the humid jungle heat.

He pulled a little vial of solvent from his pocket and poured a small measure into the basin. He put the vial away and then used his hands to stir the water around. When he pulled his hands clear, they had lost their wrinkles. After that it was a simple matter of washing his face and patting it dry with a washcloth to restore his natural appearance.

His hair had been dyed permanently and would require a complete counter dye to reverse. Meirong would just have to put up with it.

He turned to find that he was the target of several scrutinizing stares. Meirong was watching him like a hawk. The girl in the black cloak was standing next to her, the cowl of her cloak thrown back to reveal a face that would have drawn second glances in any room without Meirong in it, also studying him closely. On the other side of the girl in the black cloak was a third Heavenly Sword Sect disciple, softer in appearance, but also strangely intent on Jian.

"That's better," Meirong said, before turning to the other girls. "Jingfei, Jinghua, this is my fiance."

Jian held his tongue and bowed politely in greeting. There was no point in saying anything until he figured out her angle.

"He's the one who outsmarted brother Tingfeng?" the girl in the black cloak asked.

She was the one Meirong had addressed as Jingfei. She sounded more curious than angry. Even so, Jian thought it best to be circumspect.

"To be fair, he largely outsmarted himself," Jian said. "I simply assisted him in making a mistake."

He reminded himself once more that he had only survived his encounter with Tingfeng because of the other boy's arrogance. If Tingfeng had been more careful and cautious, then Jian would be dead. He didn't intend to descend into a spiral of paranoia over the matter, but he did want to keep the lesson in his heart even if he spoke lightly of the matter to other people.

Jingfei reacted with an amused snort. Meanwhile, Jinghua's attention hadn't wavered, staring at him intently the whole time. A moment later, her eyes widened.

"Ah," Jinghua said, "is that tempered skin? I thought your fiance had a peasant's constitution."

Jian hesitated for a moment, not sure what to say. Meirong took the choice out of his hands, waving her hand airily as she spoke. "Obviously something like that wouldn't trouble my fiance."

Jian had wondered how Meirong would react to the news that he had broken through the limits of the Essence Gathering stage. He knew she wouldn't feel threatened by somebody who was still so far behind her own cultivation, but he'd entertained the thought that she might feel a hint of concern.

It had never occurred to him that she would somehow take the credit for what had happened while minimizing his achievement. He felt a twinge of irritation, but stifled the urge to speak with the ease of long practice.

All he had to do was get through this conversation and convince her to come back to the Wang estate with him and call off their engagement. He wouldn't have to deal with her after that.

"I'm sure you're wondering why you're here," Meirong said.

Jian nodded, still not quite trusting himself to speak.

"I've been sent here to lead the expedition into the Verdant Doom," Meirong said. "But my real mission is to investigate the suspicious behavior of the city lord."

Jian nodded again.

"My master wants me to prove I can solve a problem that I can't just cut down with my sword," Meirong continued, pouting.

Jinghua cleared her throat. "That is how you solve most of your problems.

Meirong gave her a look before she continued. "So, I called you here because I want you to handle the investigation."

Jian blinked. He hadn't anticipated quite this level of shamelessness. "It's your mission."

"Naturally, my fiance should be counted among my resources," Meirong replied. "This task is perfect for a twisted mind like yours."

Jian crossed his arms over his chest. "And why should I help?"

He had expected her to be offended and perhaps resort to physical threats. Instead, she smiled and reached into a pocket, withdrawing a fist sized piece of green stone that seemed to glow with an inner light. Jian sucked in a breath at the unmistakable sight of living jade, enough to fetch a small fortune in the auction houses of the capital.

"You're looking for this, aren't you?" she asked. "If you can complete the investigation, it's yours. Otherwise, good luck fishing any out of the jungle."

Jian stared into her eyes. He didn't see any hint of deceit. She should consider it beneath her to trick him, although that hadn't stopped her when they both were children. In any event, he didn't doubt her ability to follow through on her threat and prevent him from retrieving the living jade that he needed from the jungle.

In principle, he didn't mind helping Meirong increase her status in the sect. It could even rebound to his benefit if it made her more willing to dissolve their engagement quietly, without embarrassment. Of course, the promised rewards were irrelevant if he wasn't capable of carrying out the assigned task.