When he arrived, he was fifty years old. In a righteous and traditional Daoist sect like Emei, he was considered to be of low seniority and quite young, which is why this long and arduous assignment, akin to a prolonged business trip, had fallen upon him…
If nothing unexpected happened, Yandanzi would be able to return to his sect to report when he turned seventy.
Then, according to the rules agreed upon by the Daoist factions many years ago, the next State Preceptor would be replaced by someone from another sect. After Emei, it would be the turn of Qingcheng, Beihai, Penglai… In short, the role would rotate among the sects, bringing bad luck to whomever's turn it was.
Early that day, Yandanzi was summoned by the Emperor to discuss matters of sacrificial rites when suddenly three uninvited guests broke through the high windows of the palace hall and rushed towards Zhu Li, shouting as they approached, "Your humble citizens have urgent matters to report to the Emperor!"
