"Pfft."
Lao Xie let out a short, amused breath. "I'll be sure to write my name on it when that day comes."
Elder Yao raised a brow. "Cheeky." She swirled her teacup slowly, eyes half-lidded. "Well? You've got your silver. Why are you still here?"
"I could ask the same," Lao Xie replied, leaning slightly on the counter. "You're not usually this free, are you?"
"Hmm… fair point." She tapped her brush twice against the inkstone, then set it aside again. "Most mornings are noisy. But the rush has passed. What, you trying to keep me company now?"
Lao Xie didn't answer immediately. His eyes drifted to the steam rising from her cup.
"You always drink the same tea?"
Elder Yao tilted her head, a faint smirk playing on her lips. "You know what kind of tea I drink? That's impressive."
"Want a taste?" she added and without waiting for a reply, she reached behind the counter, brought out a second cup, and poured it with practiced ease.
The liquid was a soft amber color, its aroma layered earthy with a faint floral sharpness beneath.
Lao Xie accepted the cup, giving it a slow swirl before raising it to his lips. He didn't drink right away.
Just as the rim brushed his mouth, a flicker of panel passed appeared in front of his eyes.
Ding~
[??? Triggered - Fragment]**
Task: Pique Elder Yao's Interest.
Reward: Elder Yao registered in your Affinity.
Bonus Reward: ???
Accept? [Yes] / [No]
He blinked once, then lowered the cup slightly. "Now?"
Elder Yao doesn't seem to be bothered by it, meaning that she could not see that panel.
With surprised face, he calmly clicked the [Yes] button.
Seeing Lao Xie act strangely, Elder Yao couldn't help but be slightly creeped out.
"What are you doing?" she asked.
"Huhh?... Nothing..." Lao Xie lied with a straight face while his hand was still seems to be hovering on the air.
Instantly, after clicking the button, the system's interface vanished.
He brought the tea closer again, inhaling it deeply this time.
"This is not just a simple tea blend," He thought.
He could catch hints of Soothing Leaf, a rare calming herb from the south east, and Jade Cinnamon Bark, used for sharpening focus. There was something else too… Clear Peach Petal, it's faint but it's there almost nearly imperceptible.
"All this ingredients, it's imported... Even the tea used was originate from the east." he said inwardly.
He took a small sip.
Elder Yao watched him over the rim of her cup. "So? How is it?"
"Tastes better than it smells," Lao Xie said calmly, setting the cup down.
"Hmph. Still rude, even when complimenting," she said, clearly amused. "Your expression shows that you knew the ingredients, not bad though."
Lao Xie didn't respond right away. Instead, he asked softly, "What's the Clear Peach for?"
For the first time, Elder Yao's expression paused. "Clear Peach?" she answered.
"Clear Peach Petal, known for its faint qi-cleansing properties when steeped lightly."
Again, Elder Yao's expression paused.
A second passed. Then another.
Her smile slowly returned.
"You really are impressive as ever," she murmured. "It should be nearly impossible for you to notice that even if you know what's the Clear Peach Petal are."
She didn't elaborate, but her eyes lingered on him a little longer than before.
Cling~
Same familiar panel appeared again.
[??? Triggered - #### Fragment]
Task: Pique Elder Yao's Interest.
Reward: Elder Yao registered in your Affinity.
Bonus Reward: ???
[System Notification: ??? Mission Completed]
Followed by another panel.
[AFFINITY - UPDATED]
Ling Ruxin
Interest: 1 Star
Relationship: Fellow Disciple
Age: 17
Cultivation Stage: Qi Refinement, 2nd Stage
Affiliation: Silver Crescent Mountain Peak, Inner Disciple.
Yao Yue (NEW)
Interest: 1 Star
Relationship: Elder - Disciple
Age: 32
Cultivation Stage: Qi Refinement, 9th Stage (Weakened State)
Affiliation: Silver Crescent Mountain Peak, Elder.
[Rewards have been distributed.]
"Would you like to check the bonus reward now, host?" came the system's voice in his mind.
"Right now? I'll check it later," Lao Xie replied inwardly.
He stared at the interface for a moment. "Yao Yue... Is that her real name?"
Then another line caught his eye. "Qi Refinement, 9th Stage... Weakened State? What does that mean?"
Out of sudden, "Lao Xie, what's wrong with you? This is the second time you've spaced out."
He blinked, her voice pulling him back. "Hah? Nothing. Just thinking about something," Lao Xie said, expression unreadable as he resumed sipping the tea. The warmth settled into his chest with a calming pulse.
"So…" Elder Yao set her cup down with a soft clink, "you've clearly changed. And I don't just mean your strength."
Lao Xie stayed quiet.
"I remember you used to hate tea," she added. "Said it tasted like old leaves soaked in river water."
His lips tugged faintly. "Maybe I've grown used to bitter things."
A beat passed. Elder Yao didn't respond right away. The air between them settled into something less playful, more thoughtful.
Then she leaned slightly closer, folding her hands beneath her chin. "Tell me the truth, Lao Xie. Did someone teach you recently? A hidden master? A wandering cultivator? You weren't like this before. You couldn't even cultivate at all."
Cling~
Lao Xie sighed internally. Again...?
Another task panel appeared.
[System Task - Side Task]*
Task: Manipulate Elder Yao into believing you got this far on your own.
Completion Reward: 30x Spirit stones, Random First-Grade Pills (x3), +1 Star Interest
Failure Penalty: None
"So it doesn't want her thinking a master taught me... or maybe it just wants to hide itself. Either way..." Lao Xie shrugged inwardly. "Not like I was planning to share anything."
He let the silence stretch a little longer.
Half a minute passed where Lao Xie was seems to be spacing out again...
Just as Elder Yao parted her lips to say something else, Lao Xie met her gaze.
"Would you believe me if I said I figured it out myself?"
Elder Yao's brows rose slightly. She didn't answer right away, instead leaning back and studying him with a thoughtful gaze.
"On your own?" she echoed, the corner of her lip twitching faintly. "It's not that I doubt your words… but I remember a boy who couldn't even sense qi no matter how hard i teach him."
Lao Xie gave a slight shrug. "I also remember an old hag who made me clean the floor with a toothbrush."
She gave a small laugh. "Huh, where did that come from?" she mused, "But well, it's not like I can deny it."
"Believe it or not, I figured things out along the way." Lao Xie said with a calm tone.
Elder Yao narrowed her eyes. "No books. No scrolls. No teacher?"
"None," he replied. "Unless the wind and the wild beasts count."
For a long second, she said nothing. Then, slowly, she picked up her teacup again. "If that's true... then..."