The closer they drew to the Imperial Capital, the more spies appeared along the road. Though disaster and chaos raged elsewhere, near the capital everything was festive—red silk draped the trees, and foreign envoys crowded the roads, all hurrying to attend the enthronement.
The new emperor's enthronement was no small event—especially since this new ruler, even before ascending the throne, was already setting himself apart from the previous dynasty. He treated foreign nations kindly and sought friendly alliances.
In the previous dynasty, the Everpeace Imperial Preceptor favored military action, conquering dozens of nations and subduing the surrounding powers, occupying their lands or forcing them to pay tribute—his arrogance was legendary.
Before the Imperial Preceptor waged war on the Great Ruins, Everpeace was at its peak, fighting five major powers at once. Then, after the Preceptor was assassinated, the empire's expansion finally slowed.
But this new emperor was gentle and courteous, respectful to Everpeace’s sects and foreign envoys alike. Not only did he return the lands seized by the ruthless Preceptor to the neighboring states, he even promised reparations and sought to mend broken ties.
He even abolished the old custom of foreign nations paying tribute to Everpeace, which delighted them all. Praise poured in; they called the new emperor Yuxia Ling a once-in-a-millennium wise ruler in the fifteen centuries of Everpeace history.
Beyond that, before even ascending the throne, the new emperor invited sect representatives to attend the ceremony. Rumor had it he planned to issue a penitential edict on the day of his enthronement—taking responsibility for the anger and suffering caused by two centuries of Everpeace reforms, begging Heaven to punish him alone and spare the common people.
"That move is the cruellest."
Quinn Shepherd marveled, turning to the Imperial Preceptor and Emperor Evan: "You two spent two hundred years reforming, struggling to change old ideas, advancing Dao arts and divine techniques, and bore endless blame and hardship. So many fought and bled for this, shaping Everpeace into what it is today. Now, with a single penitential edict, the new emperor can wash away two centuries of effort and sacrifice—every soldier who died for reform—all swept aside. That move... it’s ruthless. Truly ruthless!"
Emperor Evan gave a muffled groan, a stabbing pain in his chest as if he might cry but could not. Hoarsely, he said, "Yuxia, my good son—this blow, you’ve driven straight into my heart..."
The Imperial Preceptor wore a mask of calm, his voice steady: "Once we're inside the capital, within a few days I can reconnect with my old network. Seven or eight out of every ten senior ministers will support His Majesty. Add to that the Dragon Guard troops hidden in the nine dragon veins, and we can seize the city at any time! The only problem now is that Great Thunderclap Temple and Dao Gate have left so many monks and Daoists in the homes of princes and nobles, calling it 'karma conversion' but in truth acting as surveillance. Cult Master Quinn, I'll need you to use the power of the Cult of the Heavenly Demon to get me into the city to meet them."
Quinn shook his head. "No need to make it so complicated."
The Imperial Preceptor paused, slightly taken aback.
"Great Thunderclap Temple and Dao Gate have spread themselves too thin. In trying to control everything, they've left cracks everywhere."
Quinn stopped and looked around. They were now at Houji Market, less than a hundred li from the capital. He paused in front of a pancake stall, buying breakfast as he explained, "It's like making a pancake—spread it too thin and it falls apart. The wider they spread, the weaker they get. When the prince ascends the altar, they won't have enough strength left to protect him. All those monks and Daoists stationed in the noble houses will end up pinned down by the nobles themselves, unable to support the imperial city."
The pancakes were ready. The stall owner wrapped them in yellow paper; Quinn took them and handed the first one to the Imperial Preceptor’s wife.
She took a bite, her eyes alert and watchful. In a low voice she asked, "Aren't you worried, talking so openly? There are prince’s spies everywhere along this road!"
"Not worried," Quinn replied, smiling faintly.
Suddenly, every passerby, vendor, vegetable seller, customer, butcher, and drinker in the market fell silent. As one, they turned to look at Quinn’s group, their gazes landing on them with eerie precision.
"Cult Master!" they all intoned in unison.