Chapter 33: Who Doesn’t Know a Bit of Tea Art?

That kind of charm was not the superficial coquettishness of a junior sister, but an innate innocence, docility, and sweetness that made him yearn to meet her. By the time he realized what he was doing, Yu Wenche found he had followed her all the way to the restaurant.

Such uncharacteristic behavior startled even himself. He was not one to hesitate or waver; since he cared, he didn’t want to let the opportunity slip by. He didn’t intend anything untoward, merely wished to get to know her, as a way of justifying his own unusual concern that day.

Yu Wenche kept his eyes on Yan Shu, but Yan Shu seemed at a loss for words. At last, the usually reticent Liu Zhiqing found his conscience and spoke up to rescue her from the awkwardness.

“So it’s Fellow Daoist Yu Wen. Your name is indeed famed far and wide! My junior sister and I are honored to meet you today. We are disciples of the Thunderhold Sect. My surname is Liu, given name Qing; my junior sister’s surname is Yan, given name Tong.”

“So you are Senior Brother Liu Qing and Junior Sister Yan Tong.”

Seeing that Yan Shu said nothing, Yu Wenche was unbothered and turned instead to Liu Zhiqing. “Since you two are in Brahma Heaven City at this time, I presume you’re also here for the Brahma Heaven Secret Realm?”

“That’s right.” Liu Zhiqing regarded him and asked, “Given your cultivation, Junior Brother Yu Wen, are you leading a team this time?”

Yu Wenche glanced at Yan Shu and replied, “I am also going into the Brahma Heaven Secret Realm.”

His words surprised even Yan Shu, who looked over at him in astonishment.

Yu Wenche met her gaze and was about to explain when Dan Zhiqing, standing by, broke in with a laugh. “That’s not it. This is my first time entering a secret realm, and my father was worried, so he asked Senior Brother to lower his cultivation and accompany me.”

Dan Zhiqing was the only daughter of the Sect Leader of the Primordial Sect, and Yu Wenche was apprenticed to that very leader, so such an arrangement was only natural.

Liu Zhiqing glanced at Dan Zhiqing, then at Yu Wenche, whose gaze was fixed unwaveringly on Yan Shu, and gave a faint smile without saying more.

Yan Shu, too, shot a look at Dan Zhiqing but remained silent.

The traces of tears had vanished from Dan Zhiqing’s face, replaced by a look of lively, innocent excitement. “Sister Yan Tong, where is your Thunderhold Sect? I’ve never heard of it before.”

Who knew whether Thunderhold Sect was something Liu Zhiqing had just made up? Hearing the question, Yan Shu replied coolly, “It’s just a small, obscure sect. It’s normal that you haven’t heard of it, Junior Sister Dan.”

Dan Zhiqing blinked, feigning envy. “Then Sister Yan Tong must be very skilled! Not like me, who has just reached the Golden Core stage and had to drag my senior brother along just to dare enter the secret realm.”

Wonderful!

Yan Shu could now be certain that this Dan Zhiqing was indeed a master of the subtle art of mock modesty.

Anyone with even a bit of talent in the cultivation world would have joined one of the four great sects; only those the great sects rejected would end up in minor ones.

And minor sects naturally had poor resources, while Dan Zhiqing, as the only daughter of the leader of the greatest sect, enjoyed the very best of everything. Moreover, the Brahma Heaven Secret Realm only allowed entry up to the late Golden Core stage. She had made a point of mentioning her own stage in front of Yan Shu, who claimed to be a disciple of Thunderhold Sect. If this wasn’t intentional, not even a fool would believe it.

A faint smile played on Yan Shu’s lips as she glanced at her. “Is that so? Then, Zhiqing, you must indeed be lacking in skill. Unlike me, who, at the late Golden Core stage, dares to explore the secret realm alone.”

Late Golden Core stage...

Dan Zhiqing’s smile suddenly faltered. “Is... is that so? Sister, you’re amazing.”

Yan Shu smiled back at her. “It’s not much, perhaps just a little better than you, that’s all.”

Dan Zhiqing: ...

Yan Shu noticed the stiffness at the corners of her mouth and casually lifted a lock of hair.

Ha!

Who these days didn’t know a little of the art of subtle mockery?

Yan Shu was naturally alluring, and now, with a smile lingering on her lips, her beautiful, almond-shaped eyes sparkled in the setting sun. Her slender fingers played with her inky hair, making her a vision of breathtaking beauty, impossible to look away from.

Liu Zhiqing coughed heavily. “Why is the food taking so long?”

Yu Wenche was jolted from his reverie by the sound, a touch embarrassed as he looked away.

A wry smile flickered in his heart. He’d actually become lost in gazing at a woman. Should word of this reach the sect, no one would believe it.

The food and wine soon arrived. Since both Yu Wenche and Liu Zhiqing had ordered a great deal, the table was piled high with dishes, and in the end, it didn’t matter whose was whose; they simply shared everything.

As cultivators, they didn’t really need much to eat; it was only for the pleasure of taste. Only Yan Shu seemed to be truly there for the meal, as if she didn’t know when her next proper one might be.

When Liu Zhiqing had earlier mentioned how poor the Xuantian Sect was, Yan Shu had checked her own storage pouch and realized she didn’t have a single spirit stone left!

Yes, she was truly the poorest person in all of Xuantian Sect. So where had she found the nerve to pity Xiao Jihan?

Liu Zhiqing, Yu Wenche, and Dan Zhiqing all finished eating and now looked on in slight amazement as Yan Shu continued her meal.

Her table manners were elegant, yet her speed was anything but slow.

Dan Zhiqing watched her, then suddenly pouted, her voice tinged with concern. “Sister Yan Tong, have you never eaten these things before? We cultivators shouldn’t eat too much mortal food; it contains too many impurities and must be expelled from the body.”

At this, Yan Shu’s hand paused.

Ah, right, she had forgotten. Cultivators didn’t visit the restroom—spiritual energy sustained them, their drinks were spirit water, and their food was spiritual rice, fruit, and plants. The mortal act of excretion was awkward and unclean for cultivators, especially when one was reminded of it mid-meal.

Yan Shu instantly lost her appetite, set down her chopsticks, and said, “Ah, I forgot.”

Liu Zhiqing chuckled and smoothed things over. “My junior sister hasn’t left the mountain for decades; she simply forgot.”

After the meal, Yu Wenche smiled and said, “Since fate has brought us together, allow me to host this meal as thanks to Senior Brother Liu and Junior Sister Yan for joining our table.”

“That won’t do,” Liu Zhiqing protested. “I’m older than you; I should be treating you.”

“Precisely because you are my senior, I must be the one to host,” Yu Wenche insisted, producing spirit stones and calling the attendant to settle the bill.

Liu Zhiqing remained seated, exclaiming, “How could I possibly allow this? I really can’t, I can’t...”

Yan Shu’s lips twitched; she was almost too embarrassed to watch.

If you really object, why don’t you pay up yourself!

After the meal, the four stood at the entrance of the restaurant. Yu Wenche asked, “Are Senior Brother Liu and Junior Sister Yan returning to your lodgings now?”

Though he addressed them both, his gaze lingered on Yan Shu.

Yan Shu wasn’t foolish; she could see that Yu Wenche was interested in her.

Handsome, wealthy, powerful, and well-mannered, he was not at all unpleasant to be around. Normally, she wouldn’t have minded getting to know such a person, but his junior sister was frankly insufferable, and Yan Shu had no interest in engaging in a battle of wits.

She was about to nod and say she was heading back when Liu Zhiqing interjected, “No, my junior sister and I arrived in Brahma Heaven City just last night. Tonight, we plan to visit the black market and the Treasure Pavilion for a bit of excitement.”