Yuan Zhong lightly knocked her on the head twice, then glanced at Tang Hua and his party still lingering in the shop. He said, “I’m heading out. You’ve chased me all the way from Yandu to Guixu. Must have been tiring. Want to come to my place for some tea?”
Tang Hua’s expression darkened slightly. “What do you mean by that?”
Yuan Zhong chuckled, “I don’t believe in coincidences like this. Running into you in Yandu was one thing, but now meeting again in Guixu? Come on, Tang Hua, Dingxu sent you to follow me, so why bother pretending otherwise?”
Tang Hua’s face darkened, and he suddenly grabbed Yuan Zhong’s sleeve, dragging him out of the shop and into a dark alley. There, he muttered in a low voice, “You blind, arrogant fool! What makes you think I’d waste my time following you? I have nothing to do with Dingxu—don’t drag me into it!”
Yuan Zhong grinned, “If it’s not true, then why get so mad? Look at yourself, your face is all twisted. If the little maids of Fangwai Mountain saw you now, their perfect, elegant Master Tang Hua would look like a monkey with its tail on fire.”
Tang Hua sighed deeply, “Still, I did have a reason for wanting to talk to you.”
“Oh? What’s it about?”
“The issue with the battle spirits in Yandu.”
Yuan Zhong froze for a moment, “Oh? So you know about it already?”
Tang Hua’s expression turned serious, “It caused such a stir—of course, someone was bound to take notice, even if the gods themselves descended. Dingxu knows too, and he’s likely to send someone to look for you. And the battle spirits won’t let you off easily either. Be careful.”
Yuan Zhong patted Tang Hua’s shoulder without saying a word, then turned to leave. To his surprise, Wanqiu appeared, her face flushed as she approached with a smile and bowed. “Your Excellency.”
Yuan Zhong, ever the flirt, teased, “Wanqiu, it’s been a while, and you’ve become even more beautiful.”
Wanqiu spoke softly, “Thank you, Your Excellency, for your generosity. I have nothing to offer in return except an invitation to a meal. Please don’t refuse.”
Yuan Zhong glanced at her, then at Tang Hua, who shrugged helplessly. The two maids following Tang Hua were more like spoiled noblewomen than servants. Over the years, each maid who had served Tang Hua had been pampered beyond reason, with their noses always held high. Wanqiu was actually one of the gentler ones.
Yuan Zhong’s eyes sparkled with mischief. “I don’t live far from here. Since we’ve met by chance, why don’t you all come to my place for a meal? Wanqiu can cook a few dishes, and I’ll get to enjoy her cooking. What do you say?”
Everyone knew that Yuan Zhong had his own private cave dwelling somewhere, but no one had ever figured out exactly where. Now that he was extending a personal invitation, how could Tang Hua refuse? He gladly accepted.
Yuan Zhong leaped onto the back of his Jile Bird, pulling Tan Yin up to sit in front of him. Leaning close to her ear, he whispered, “When we get back, put that mechanical man away. Don’t let him out.”
“Why?” Tan Yin was puzzled. Was Yuan Xiaozhong really that embarrassing?
Yuan Zhong’s ears turned red, and after a long moment, he muttered quietly, “You made him for me, so… I don’t want anyone else to see him.”
Tan Yin thought about it for a while, half understanding his words. Oddly enough, her mood improved, and she turned to give him a bright smile. She wanted to say something, but couldn’t quite find the words, and Yuan Zhong spent the rest of the journey lightly tapping her on the forehead.
Back at the cave dwelling, things had changed a lot since Tan Yin had moved in. Not only had she built a large irrigation system to bring lake water to the herb fields, but she had also made a mechanism to direct water into the building. Although the bronze pipes would freeze in the winter, it was still much more convenient than before.
Tang Hua, being an immortal, remained calm and composed. However, his two maids, upon seeing the wooden figures sweeping the snow, screamed with excitement and rushed forward to poke and prod them, losing all their usual elegance. Tang Hua could only shake his head in exasperation. “What a bunch of lunatics—absolutely no dignity left!”
When they learned that all these mechanisms had been crafted by Tan Yin, the two maids, Wanqiu and Lanxuan, dragged her off to chat endlessly. Poor Tan Yin, who wasn’t skilled with words, could hardly get a full sentence out amid their chattering.
Tang Hua remarked, “I’ve heard of the ancient legends of master craftsmen. Could it be that this Ji Tan Yin is a descendant of such craftsmen?”
Yuan Zhong, not wanting to discuss Tan Yin in detail, replied offhandedly, “Who knows?”
Tang Hua smiled. “If I’m not mistaken, Ji Tan Yin is from Yuan City. Her parents are deceased, and her family used to sell oil. She doesn’t seem like the descendant of any master craftsmen.”
Yuan Zhong smiled without responding and invited everyone inside. Remembering Yuan Zhong’s earlier words, Tan Yin went upstairs to settle Yuan Xiaozhong in a room. When she came back down, she saw that Lanxuan had opened the bronze incense burner and added a fresh incense cake. Once lit, the fragrance was crisp and elegant, completely different from the usual incense Yuan Zhong used.
Tang Hua explained, “The Withered Tree Blooms incense you usually use is nice, but a bit too sweet. I recently crafted a new scent, called Chill’s Edge. Try it and see what you think.”
As he spoke, Wanqiu served tea. The tea was a deep, dark red, with large, round leaves and an extraordinary fragrance. Just a sip filled the chest with warmth.
Tang Hua continued, “This tea was made from underwater grasses sent by the Dragon King of Wujiang. It’s pressed into tea cakes, and this particular blend is called Melancholy Soul. The name may be strange, but the taste is excellent. If you like it, I have a few more cakes I can give you.”
Yuan Zhong chuckled wryly, “You always come bringing incense and tea, making me feel like a poor host in my own home.”
Wanqiu giggled, covering her mouth. “Our master just loves anything refined, be it tea or incense. He can’t help but show it off whenever he gets the chance, so please be patient with him.”
Tan Yin took a sip of tea, savoring the rich aroma that filled her mouth. What was most remarkable was how the tea, combined with the fragrance of the Chill’s Edge incense, created a harmonious blend that spread through her chest and lungs, leaving her feeling clear-headed and revitalized.
She was about to take another sip when, suddenly, the refreshing clarity in her chest vanished, replaced by an unbearable tightness. Her expression changed as her body went rigid, and she collapsed, the teacup spilling onto the floor.
What was happening? Why couldn’t she move? Panic filled her mind. She was fully conscious but unable to control her body. What was going on?
A second teacup shattered against the ground. Yuan Zhong, trembling as he gripped the chair for support, gasped, “Tang Hua… did you poison us?!”
0 Comments