“I’ll return with the tea, Senior Brother,” Su Qinglian smiled brightly as she left the room.
William had expected something similar to the Phoenix’s Nest. A spacious, isolated room, so it was possible to ignore the world outside once the door was closed.
He didn’t expect to walk past the door and suddenly be standing on beautiful, dark red hardwood floors in the middle of a pristine beach. There was a clear line of separation between the wood floors and the beach, with not even a grain of sand crossing that line. Soft waves rushed inches from the floor before retreating back into the ocean.
Of course, the immersion was broken if William turned around. There was no beach to see there. Only a well-decorated wall with the door leading out of the room.
Mei Lingxi was standing next to the door, the reason Su Qinglian had been so happy before she left. Whatever assumed rivalry she saw with Mei Lingxi was apparently dead when he was referred to as ‘Young Master’ by her.
William wasn’t sure how being a server at a teahouse was better than being an attendant. Still, he didn’t really care to try and understand.
“This chair isn’t here just as a decoration,” the Grand Elder motioned at the empty seat next to William, “You’re welcome to use it whenever you wish, Attendant of Disciple Wei.”
“Er, her name is Mei Lingxi, Grand Master.”
“Attendant Mei,” he smoothly corrected.
Surprisingly, Mei Lingxi didn’t do so immediately. She gave William an asking glance, to which he readily nodded. He didn’t think she would still remember her role when someone with a much higher status gave her permission.
“Hm, Elder Zhou was right when she said your attendant was a good girl,” the Grand Elder stroked a nonexistent beard, “You are her priority even with my presence.”
Mei Lingxi’s face turned bright red, a state she was familiar with in the Grand Elder’s presence.
“Yes, Sister Lingxi has been very reliable,” William agreed with a smirk.
“Good, good, she will be of great help with some of the more combative senior disciples you will meet,” the Grand Elder eyed Mei Lingxi, “Attendant Mei’s cultivation isn’t the strongest, but I can see the fascinating reason she chose to put herself in this position.”
William noticed her stiffen in response. Now, he was really curious about the explanation. It didn’t pass his mind that Mei Lingxi was a little too talented to have been stuck as Prince Yuan’s servant, and now his attendant.
“I’m not accusing you, Young Mei,” the Grand Elder calmed her, “I just didn’t expect to see one such as you again. I met a man with a similar constitution before I was a Grand Elder, but unlike you, he resisted his instincts like no other, eventually meeting his end in a wretched manner.”
Now, it was William’s turn to stiffen in surprise. The Grand Elder had a pleasant tone so far, but there was a slight change that would have been undetected with anyone else, but was far too apparent with someone that never sounded unhappy so far.
“With your talent, you would easily be an Inner Court member of my sect. It would be a miracle if you didn’t become an Elder after that, but you never showed up for the testing for my sect or any other sect in the Empire. You went directly to Xuanjing City, a city you have never thought of before in your life.”
William’s eyes were wide as the Grand Elder practically started to lay out Mei Lingxi’s entire life story, and it looked like he had no intention of stopping. He realized the vague memory the Grand Elder had of her was an act to seem harmless because it was clear her background was investigated thoroughly.
“You followed your instincts. You put yourself in a position that was far beneath you. I say this without offense to you, Disciple Wei, you put yourself in another one when there was no need to,” the Grand Elder leaned forward with a smile, somehow making it look threatening, “You knew what to do when you convinced the foolish Prince Yuan to gift a treasured artifact to Disciple Wei so you left an impression on him, more than you already did.”
The Grand Elder wasn’t wrong. After he had been taken out of the Treasure Pavilion by Elder Yu, he had been ready to forget that experience had ever happened, writing it off as a learning experience. Mei Lingxi showing up at the clinic and gifting him the Elemental Gauntlet left a lasting impression, one that was hard to forget.
“It wasn’t planned,” Mei Lingxi defended herself for the first time, but it wasn’t necessary.
“I know,” the Grand Elder suddenly returned to his pleasant state, “You let your instincts lead the direction of your life. I was just expressing my admiration. Your choices might be ruinous to others, but I look forward to seeing where it will lead you.”
They were interrupted by the door opening. Su Qinglian had returned, holding a large tray in her hands with three cups filled with gently steaming tea.
“Here you are, Senior Brother,” Su Qinglian said cheerily, which quickly changed when she saw Mei Lingxi sitting at the table with them, “… And these are for you, honored guests.”
The Grand Elder thanked her and took a sip of the tea before releasing a relaxed sigh. “Excellent as always, Little Qinglian.”
“Thank you, Senior Brother,” Su Qinglian bowed, obviously wanting to say something else, but her professionalism eventually won out, “Let me know if you wish to order anything else.”
They waited for her to close the door behind her. Mei Lingxi was the first to speak, surprisingly.
“Am I under suspicion, Grand Elder?”
“Not at all,” he replied firmly before looking at William, “I wanted to let Disciple Wei know more about his attendant. Her potential. Especially when you barely know yourself, Young Mei.”
Mei Lingxi nodded slowly, thinking over what was said. Eventually, she asked, “May I ask you another question, Grand Elder?”
“Feel free.”
Mei Lingxi glanced at William momentarily, then continued, “Why do none of the Inner Disciples we met recognize you? And why does the hostess call you senior brother?”
That had been a question burning inside William. With the Grand elder extolling the virtues of Mei Lingxi, he wondered if she had one that picked up on what he wanted to know. Then again, anyone would like to know the reason behind the strangeness of something like that.
“When I mentioned that I don’t see the need to be involved in sect in most matters, it was not an exaggeration. Most disciples do not know their Grand Elder’s appearance. As for Little Qinglian, I encouraged her to start this teahouse a few decades ago when I discovered her talent for brewing tea. I wait for the time when her cultivation increases, and I will be able to enjoy some of the rarities in the world. I’m simply a supportive older disciple to her, and it will stay that way.”
That last sentence was said with a clear warning. They both nodded rapidly in agreement to keep it quiet.
“Now, enjoy the tea before it loses its essence!” The Grand Elder said with a clap, “You will especially enjoy it, Disciple Wei.”
William picked up the cup by the handle, brought it to his lips, and took a small sip. A spicy flavor filled his mouth before he swallowed, spreading a feeling of heat through his body. He remembered the tea had the name Crimson Flame Lotus Tea, and the taste matched it.
His eyes closed as he took a longer sip, sighing when it felt like all the worries inside him were burned away.
“I see it’s helping.” The Grand Elder’s voice felt far away with how soft it was.
William hummed in agreement before tilting the cup again and drinking more.
“I sensed that you were still troubled by what you experienced. The feeling the tea gives is only temporary, but it will let you think freely without doubt or rage consuming you.”
He opened his eyes to see the Grand Elder looking intently at him. That explanation wasn’t wrong, but he truly didn’t feel any different when thinking about Zheng Tao, and that was precisely what he said.
“Thank you for trying to help, Grand Elder, but it wasn’t necessary. My resolve to bring Zheng Tao to justice hasn’t changed, even without anger. I have seen what cultivators like him turn into, the demons they become. They need to be eradicated.”
It felt strange to William, hearing himself talk about killing with such indifference.
“I look forward to it, Disciple Wei,” the Grand Elder chuckled happily.
William nodded before taking another sip of the wondrous tea, eyes wandering over the brim to Mei Lingxi. It wasn’t fair that a simple change in expression made her so much more attractive. He realized that might mean she actively attempted to make herself unattractive to avoid looking like this.
“Sister Lingxi, you’re far too pretty.”
He didn’t realize that was said out loud until he heard the Grand Elder laugh hysterically, somehow making even that sound elegant. But he focused more on Mei Lingxi, who reached over and pinched his cheek.
“You’re so sweet, Little Brother Liang,” she cooed.
“Disciple Wei,” the Grand Elder said between chuckles, “You are a talent the sect is proud of having, but your Attendant Mei is beyond you at the moment.”
William didn’t get flustered by their amusement. He studied Mei Lingxi before deciding something. He had attempted it before only to give up when he saw the warning, but this might be the best time to try it and have it be excused.
[Use Observe? | Cost: 150 Spiritual Energy]
[Warning | Factoring Luck, there is a 99.985% chance of the target sensing Observe]