They didn't speak on the way back to the Quiet Scroll. Mistress Bai set a quick, unhurried pace through the scholar's quarter; Jiang kept half a step behind and tried not to look like he was regretting his choice.

Not only was it pointless, because he could hardly change it now, but it was probably offensive to Mistress Bai. Honestly, even after turning it over in his head endlessly since they'd left the Broker's office, he had to admit that it didn't sound like a bad deal. He still didn't trust her, of course, but if she was willing to follow through on helping him get to his family, he was more than willing to pay back the favour at some point in the future.

A simple, transactional arrangement, with clear benefits for both sides.

So why did it feel like he was missing something?

The question still sat uneasily in Jiang's mind as they crossed the lacquered threshold of the Quiet Scroll. The same woman Jiang remembered from his first visit stepped forward and bowed crisply to Mistress Bai.

"Welcome back, Mistress. Your guest is still waiting outside your office."

"Wonderful," she said, with a slight smile. "Have some tea sent up."

Jiang followed Mistress Bai, vaguely wondering if he was going to get an explanation as to what they were doing here any time soon. To his surprise, the guest waiting outside her office was actually Zhang, standing with his hands folded neatly behind his back, his posture the picture of patience. The picture cracked only slightly when his gaze landed on Jiang. Surprise flickered across his face, quickly buried.

"Mistress Bai," Zhang said politely, bowing. His tone was courteous, but Jiang didn't miss the faint stiffness in it. "I do hope your urgent matter was resolved satisfactorily."

"Disciple Zhang." Mistress Bai inclined her head, "I appreciate your patience and your concern. Rest assured that the matter was simple enough, though I regret having to depart in the middle of our own meeting. I also hope you don't mind my associate joining us?"

Something about her words rang vaguely false, and combined with Zhang's expression, Jiang was starting to think that Mistress Bai was trying to get under the disciple's skin.

"Of course not," Zhang said smoothly, stepping aside to let her pass. "In fact, my junior brother has some first-hand information that may be quite helpful."

Mistress Bai paused for a fraction of a second. "Junior brother? I was under the impression you were an independent cultivator, Jiang, not a disciple of the Azure Sky Sect yourself."

Jiang blinked, suddenly realising that this information might be a problem, considering she'd already said she wasn't going to 'stand in the way' of any sects that came after him.

Actually, now that he thought about it, was he technically still a disciple? He'd left, and considering they'd sent Zhang after him to drag him back to be punished, he doubted they were going to try and hold on to him. Except… maybe they would. Mistress Bai had already explained how, as a Pact-bearer, he was valuable to sects - especially if they could make a solid claim to him. Did that mean the Azure Sky Sect would accept him back?

Or, more pertinently, would they try to take him back?

The silence stretched, thick and uncomfortable. Jiang could feel both pairs of eyes on him, waiting. Zhang clearly expected him to play along, to affirm his connection to the Sect and present them as a united front. Mistress Bai's gaze was more analytical, and he got the feeling their 'deal' was hanging by a thread.

He chose what he hoped was the middle path. "My family is my priority for now," he said, his voice carefully neutral. "But I hold no ill will towards the Sect."

It was the wrong thing to say.

He saw it instantly. Zhang winced, a barely perceptible tightening around his eyes, and while Mistress Bai's expression didn't change, something about her body language shifted ever-so-slightly. Neither of them said anything, but the atmosphere in the room got just a little heavier. Jiang didn't understand the specifics of the politics he was stumbling through, but he knew he had just made a serious misstep.

Unfortunately, there wasn't anything he could do about it now but hope he hadn't ruined his chances moving forward. Hopefully, even if Mistress Bai backed out of their deal she wouldn't stop him from seeking his family, and he still had the information from the Broker. He could do it on his own if he had to.

Mistress Bai was the one who broke the silence, turning her attention back to Zhang. "So, Disciple Zhang," she said, seemingly willing to ignore the implications – whatever they were – of Jiang's comment. "You were petitioning for my assistance in dealing with this rogue, Gao Leng. A former disciple of your Sect, I believe? A matter of internal discipline that has spilled into my city."

"It is a matter of our shame, which we intend to correct," Zhang replied, recovering smoothly. He was no longer trying to include Jiang, his tone now that of a formal diplomat. "We do not ask for your direct aid, Mistress Bai, only an assurance that our operations within your territory to remove this threat will not be… misinterpreted."

"Misinterpreted as an overreach of the Azure Sky Sect's authority, you mean?" she asked, her voice dangerously pleasant. "An understandable concern. My own people are quite diligent in maintaining the peace. They can be… protective of our borders." She let the unspoken threat hang in the air. "And what, precisely, do these operations entail? It would be a shame if your disciples were to cause a disruption while in pursuit of this… shame."

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Jiang watched the exchange, fascinated despite his own precarious position. He didn't understand all the rules of this game, but he got the impression Zhang was on the back foot here.

"Our goal is to remove Gao Leng with minimal disruption," Zhang said, his jaw tight. "A single, decisive action. As Cultivator Jiang can attest, the man is a demonic practitioner. His continued presence is a blight on us all."

"Indeed," Mistress Bai conceded, her gaze flicking back to Jiang for a moment. "A blight I am now inclined to take a personal interest in." She gave Zhang a small, sharp smile. "I am prepared to personally lend my efforts to resolving this Gao Leng problem."

Jiang raised an eyebrow. That sounded like she was still sticking to their deal. Which, well, he wasn't complaining about, but why? Unless, of course, she was more interested in that favour than she pretended. Or, of course, there was something he was missing, which was much more likely.

Zhang blinked. Cautious hope slipped into his features. "That is… generous. The Azure Sky Sect won't forget such assistance."

"Oh? They won't?" she asked mildly. "One wonders how many things the Azure Sky Sect expects a newly admitted outer disciple to speak for."

Jiang saw the flicker of colour in Zhang's ears – though his polite smile didn't waver – and had to fight the urge to smirk. He didn't pretend to understand the etiquette at play, but even he could tell that was a slap delivered with gloves on.

"I speak only of gratitude. I'm sure my elders will feel much the same."

"I'm sure they'll feel something," Mistress Bai retorted dryly.

Zhang's polite smile held, but Jiang thought he saw the faintest twitch in one corner of his eye – the kind of tiny muscle movement that screamed I'm restraining myself from sighing. Jiang was starting to admire his composure.

Just as he was resigning himself to another round of passive-aggressive flattery, there was a faint buzzing noise from Zhang's robe. The disciple stiffened, a flicker of genuine annoyance crossing his face this time.

"My apologies, Mistress Bai," he said, rising to his feet. "An urgent communication from my Sect. If you would permit me a moment of privacy…"

"Oh, I assure you, disciple, this room is the most private in the building," Mistress Bai said sweetly. "No one of ill repute will overhear your conversation."

Even Jiang could see the trap there – if Zhang protested that she was still here, he would essentially be calling her a person of 'ill repute'.

Zhang hesitated, then gave her a tight smile. "My thanks for your discretion, then." He pulled the buzzing stone from his robe. "This is Outer Disciple Zhang Shuren reporting," he said briskly.

"Finally," came a sharp, clipped voice from the stone. "Where in the world are you, Zhang? Don't tell me you're still wandering around playing detective."

Jiang blinked. He recognised that voice – that was Li Xuan, the inner disciple Elder Lu had sent him to for lessons back at the Azure Sky Sect. But what was he doing out near Qinghe?

Zhang's jaw twitched. "We're conducting business in the city, Senior Brother. At a reputable establishment in the scholar's quarter."

Mistress Bai's eyes narrowed fractionally at the phrasing.

"Reputable establishment?" Li Xuan snorted. "Is that what we're calling taverns these days?"

Before Zhang could answer, Mistress Bai interjected with syrupy pleasantness. "Do assure your Senior Brother that the Quiet Scroll hardly falls under that category. A refined house of learning and business, not one of drunken revelry."

There was a pause on the other end, then: "The Quiet Scroll?" Li Xuan repeated, incredulous. "You're in her house?"

Mistress Bai's smile was very thin.

"Mistress Bai was gracious enough to meet with me regarding Gao Leng," Zhang interjected hastily. "You're welcome to join us, Senior Brother."

"Might as well," Li Xuan said. "I'll be right there."

For a heartbeat, silence reigned. Then Mistress Bai let out a soft, dangerous sigh. "How very efficient of you, Disciple Zhang, to invite your senior brother to my establishment."

Zhang bowed, the picture of obedience. "It seemed only proper to ensure full coordination, Mistress Bai. I wouldn't want to appear ungrateful for your hospitality."

Jiang could practically feel the sparks between them. Fortunately, the door opened before the tension could deepen further, and a servant glided in carrying a lacquered tray. "Tea, Mistress," she murmured, setting down an elegant pot with three cups and a small plate of pale, delicate sweets.

"Thank you," Mistress Bai said, dismissing her with a nod. She reached for the pot but paused, her gaze flicking toward Zhang. "Would you like the honour, Disciple Zhang? Or shall I risk offending your Sect by doing it incorrectly?"

Jiang blinked. Was there an incorrect way to pour tea?

Zhang hesitated. "I would hardly presume to instruct Mistress Bai in her own domain,"

"Then I shall do the honours," she replied, her tone silk over steel. She leaned forward, somehow making the act of pouring tea seem… graceful. Jiang noticed how she hesitated for a moment before moving to pour some tea for Zhang, which probably meant something complicated that he couldn't be bothered figuring out.

The tea smelled faintly floral, and was presumably high quality – but Jiang was more interested in the small plate of pale sweets. He stared at them for a moment, then decided that if he was going to be stuck watching polite warfare disguised as conversation, he deserved at least one small victory, and he didn't care how impolite it might look.

He reached forward, plucked a sweet from the tray, and bit into it.

The silence that followed was… distinct.

Both Zhang and Mistress Bai glanced at him. Not sharply, not with offence – just long enough for him to be absolutely sure he'd broken some kind of unspoken rule. Jiang met Mistress Bai's gaze evenly, chewing. The sweet was crisp and buttery and definitely worth it.

To his surprise, she didn't say anything. Neither did Zhang. Instead, they shared a look before Mistress Bai set down the teapot and leaned back in her chair.

"If nothing else," she said mildly, "Cultivator Jiang has a refreshing sense of priority."

Not quite the reaction he'd expected, but he'd take it. He took another bite, just to make a point.

For a while, the conversation returned to Gao Leng – or rather, to the dance around Gao Leng. Mistress Bai asked vague, leading questions; Zhang offered careful, guarded answers that said nothing concrete.

Jiang tuned most of it out, nibbling another sweet and wondering if it was worth trying to convince Mistress Bai to skip helping with Gao Leng and jump straight to helping him with his family. Probably not, especially now that she'd openly committed to helping the Azure Sky Sect.

He was halfway through imagining ways to bring it up when a distant clatter echoed from downstairs—voices, hurried footsteps, the unmistakable bang of a door striking the wall. Mistress Bai's head turned, her expression souring instantly.

"Ah," she said flatly. "Your Senior Brother, I presume."

A servant's startled protest rose from below. Then the footsteps grew louder, ascending the stairs at an unhurried, confident pace.

Zhang rose just as the door slid open.

Li Xuan stood framed in the doorway, travel-stained but otherwise immaculate, his sword slung casually across his back. He looked from Zhang to Jiang, then to Mistress Bai, his expression hovering somewhere between annoyance and amusement.

"So," he said, voice drawling. "This is the 'reputable establishment.'"

Mistress Bai's smile was pure frost. "Welcome to the Quiet Scroll, Inner Disciple Li. Do make yourself comfortable – preferably without breaking anything."

Li Xuan inclined his head just enough to be polite. "No promises."

Jiang had to fight the sudden, traitorous urge to laugh.

This was going to go wonderfully.

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