Tea with a Tiger

A wisp of steam floated up from the small clay cup as Shao Xiaoyan poured tea with the grace of a swan ascending the heavens. A pleasant herbal fragrance filled the air, coyly beckoning the two men sitting cross-legged at the table to drink. Despite the passage of time, her hair look as black as the night, and she had a graceful yet stern beauty that commanded respect and obedience from the household servants.

Shao Wei's eyes stayed on the man sitting opposite him. The past six years saw the addition of a few streaks of gray in his hair, but he retained the air of an upright scholar. However; his aura seemed suppressed before the man in front of him.

Seated before Shao Wei was none other than Shao Ling's master: Yao Hu. The man was a towering two full meters with a body rippling with muscles that pressed against the fabric of his black robe. His head was shaved, and he bore two long scars in the shape of an X across his face. He was an entire head taller than Shao Ling sitting down. If one was courageous enough to look him in the eyes, they would see a vicious gaze of limitless bloodlust promising violence and death- not the eyes of a killer, but of a wild beast. He was truly deserving of a name meaning Demon Tiger.

Yao Hu gave a nod of thanks and took the cup of tea to his lips. An approving expression appeared on his face. Shao Wei released an internal sigh of relief. He had brought out his most refined tea leaves with the hope of pleasing Yao Hu. It was a matter of gratitude. When no other martial arts instructor would answer Shao Wei's efforts to find a master for Shao Ling, Yao Hu had appeared and trained the boy every day for four years.

"Master Yao Hu, how is Shao Ling's progress coming along?"

It had become a tradition for the two men, who were both influential figures in Shao Ling's life, to have tea together at the end of the month, and discuss his progress on the path of martial arts.

"Hmpf, why bother asking? You know what point he's reached."

Despite having a savage look etched onto his face, Yao Hu's tone contained a trace of appreciation for his disciple.

"Haha, Master Yao Hu is too overbearing. I merely wish to confirm my son's progress."

A twinkle of boyish merriment flashed in Shao Wei's eyes, and Shao Xiaoyan's normally cool gaze was brimming with excitement.

"Very well then." Yao Hu took a sip of tea before continuing. "It's the same as I told you last month. The boy's progress is coming along better than I expected. With the right stimulous, I believe that Shao Ling is capable of breaking through to the Qi Gathering stage."

The words Yao Hu unceremoniously spoke sent a rush of exhilaration through Shao Xiaoyan's body. Although Yao Hu had casually remarked this some time ago- resulting in the husband and wife nearly collapsing from shock and happiness- it still lifted the pair's spirits into the sky. What was the Qi Gathering stage? It was the realm that marked the first pronounced distinction between martial artists and a commoner. Just reaching the Qi Gathering stage brought a martial artist a lifespan roughly twice that of a normal human; the effect on Shao Ling, who was originally not fated to be long for the world, would be to give him a lifespan near that of the average human, and possibly slightly more if he could make progress in the Qi Gathering stage. When Yao Hu agreed to take Shao Ling as his disciple, he told them up front that it would be extremely unlikely that he would be able to break through the Meridian Opening stage, and he would likely accelerate his demise by increasing his absorption of Yang Qi. Having Extreme Yin meridians gave a martial artist an edge in surpassing the Body Purifying stage, as they were born with a very pure yin-orientated body; however, the cultivation of Heaven and Earth Qi required to break through the Meridian Opening stage would be wrought with immense agony and danger. It was truly heaven-defying for a martial artist with Extreme Yin meridians to break through to the Qi Gathering stage, and Shao Ling had nearly reached that point.

"Oh, that's very good, very good indeed," Shao Wei exclaimed with the satisfaction of a parent who just heard someone saying their child had become the prime minister.

"I can never thank you enough for the tremendous favor you've done this poor scholar in nurturing Shao Ling to this point. Master Yao Hu is truly a peerless teacher sent by the heavens."

"The heavens had nothing to do with it. It should be said that Shao Ling goes against Heaven and Earth by cultivating. He reached the point he's at through effort exceeding many students of martial arts, along with the limited knowledge I can impart."

"Without a light even the most fearless traveler can only stumble in the dark," Shao Wei said with a grateful smile. A look of eager anticipation appeared on Shao Wei's face as he seemed to be preparing to make some announcement.

What's he going to say? Shao Xiaoyan's puzzled thought was masked with a politely reserved look. Her husband hadn't mentioned any important announcements before their monthly ritual. A cloud of dissatisfaction passed over Shao Xiaoyan's mind as she recalled That Woman clinging to her husband just prior to the meeting. As Shao Zhi's status grew in the Shao residence, That Woman became more and more insufferable; the boundaries of propriety were like leaves in the wind to her. Shao Xiaoyan's stormy line of thinking was slammed into a wall by Shao Wei's next words.

"This poor scholar's thoughts have been occupied as of late with his son's breakthrough. I've spent many sleepless nights thinking about how I can help my son, and my conclusion was this."

At that moment, the narrow wooden door to the small reception room swung open, and two burly retainers- both men fiercely loyal to Shao Wei- entered bearing a three-foot-long chest in the manner of someone carrying something heavy and valuable. There was a strange air about the chest similar to a dam restraining a river.

Yao Hu's expression remained unchanged, save for a swordlike eyebrow slighly rising.

The two men set the chest down beside the table with great care, then bowed reverently.

"After much thought, this ignorant father could think of only one way to help his son."

Shao Wei opened the chest delicately, with a poorly stifled grin on his face. A rush of violent aura struck those assembled, as the open chest released a feeling akin to standing before a ferocious beast. Within the chest was a silky cloth, which he pulled aside to reveal a blood-speckled rib that was nearly a meter long and as thick as his arm. The violent feeling in the air intensified, and Shao Xiaoyan let out a gasp.

"Could it be..." she said under her breath. She usually remained silent during these meetings with Yao Hu due to the social norms of the Zhu Kingdom, and she respected that Yao Hu did not care for the polite discourse that her husband was inclined to engage in.

Shao Wei couldn't resist a satisfied smile at both his wife's gasp and Yao Hu's minute reaction, which was the equivalent of another man's exclaimation of appreciation in Shao Wei's eyes.

"My resources are like a puddle of water compared to the main family of my Shao Clan, but this poor scholar has some means, so how could he not provide his son with an opportunity to break through to the next realm of martial arts. Please have Shao Ling use this Four-Tusked Hazard Boar rib to make a breakthrough," Shao Wei said seriously with a humbling bow."

Even a single rib of a dead Four-Tusked Hazard Boar retained some of the brutal aura that the beast possessed in life.

"... It should be sufficient. I don't guarantee that Shao Ling will break through, there is simply a fair chance."

Shao Xiaoyan was speechless at this turn of events. Hazard Beast meat was already extravagant, but it was incomparable to the cost of Hazard Bones, which held the most beneficial energy for martial artists. She recalled that her husband had liquified a considerable portion of his assets recently, but she did not discuss the matter with him since he neglected to bring the subject up. The surprising reason for his erratic behavior filled her with warmth and giddiness. She was naturally aware of the unpleasant rumors surrounding her son, and that many residents of Shao Manor favored having Shao Zhi become the next family head. It was a constant thorn in her side, and every time Shao Xiaoyan crossed paths with That Woman, she felt an infuriating air of superiority coming from that concubine. But now the wind had completely changed. Shao Wei's willingness to pay the astronomical price to procure a Hazard Bone for Shao Ling was better than a declaration of his intention to make Shao Ling his successor carved into stone.

I can't wait to see the look on That Woman's face. Shao Xiaoyan's heart swelled with pride in her son's accomplishments and the pleasure of getting the better of Xin Rong. Let's see if you can hold your head so high now that the web of rumors and plots you've stood on have been slashed apart.

"With Heaven's blessing and your guidance, I believe Shao Ling will succeed," Shao Wei said with an unrestrained smile.