Appreciating New Tea with an Inkstone - Chapter 26

The fire spread quickly, and in the blink of an eye, thick smoke had already engulfed the area. Just then, a gust of wind blew in, fueling the flames and forming a wall of fire. The wind grew stronger, causing the surrounding trees to go from rustling lightly to swaying violently, while the sky darkened ominously.

“Why… why is the sky turning dark?”

Gu Xiyan had already caught a familiar scent in the wind. Her face turned cold as she commanded, “Ah Da, if you still recognize me as your master, take everyone and leave immediately. Don’t worry about anything else—just take them and go!”

Ah Da hesitated, but Ah Qi wiped her tears and shouted, “Xiao Wu, carry the young lady and take her away!”

Gu Xiyan hadn’t expected Ah Qi to be so stubborn, let alone resort to force. Stunned for a moment, she quickly stepped back three paces and said sternly, “Ah Qi, the thing coming isn’t human—it’s a demon! You can be reckless, but are you willing to drag Xiao Wu and Ah Da to their deaths with you? Ah Da, Xiao Wu, if it were bandits or thieves, fighting to the death would be bravery! But this is a demon—knowing it’s suicide and still fighting is sheer foolishness! Go!”

This was the first time Gu Xiyan had ever been so strict. Ah Da, a man of seven feet, was already on the verge of tears. They had grown up with Gu Xiyan—some as her companions, others as her caretakers. Their bond was no longer just that of master and servant; they were family.

“Ah Da, hurry and take them away. That thing is coming for me. But the Yang family and the magistrate are targeting my family—I fear they’ll go after my parents. You must catch up to them and ensure their safe escape. Protect them. That is the greatest loyalty you can show me. Ah Qi, take care of them for me—I’m begging you.”

Ah Da, being a man, was more rational. He gritted his teeth, clasped his hands into fists, and said, “Understood!”

“Xiao Wu, Ah Qi, move!” He wiped his eyes and led the remaining people through the side gate. Ah Qi was practically dragged away by two others. Guards were already blocking the exit, but Ah Da showed no mercy—he charged forward and knocked several of them to the ground. The few remaining guards didn’t even dare to approach.

The scene was utter chaos. Ah Qi’s vision blurred with red as she clenched her fists tightly. At that moment, a deafening explosion erupted from the Gu residence. A voice as resounding as a great bell rang out—

“Demons all deserve to die! Today, I, Nangong Pei, will uphold justice and vanquish you!”

Ah Qi’s heart sank. That demon must be the tea spirit from the tea garden. The young lady wasn’t afraid of her—rather, she was worried about her. Now that Nangong Pei was going after her, it meant there were other demons coming to harm the young lady.

Her mind went blank. She suddenly broke free from the hands restraining her, slipped through the side gate, and swiftly shut it behind her. But just as she turned, she saw Ah Da leap over the wall in a single bound. With a loud clack, the door latch fell into place.

Ah Qi looked at Ah Da, hesitated for a moment, then gritted her teeth and said, “I can’t leave her behind.”

Ah Da said nothing. Gripping his blade tightly, he strode forward. “I’ll hold them off—you take our lady and run!”

Gu Xiyan had originally intended to go to the tea garden, but before she even stepped outside the courtyard, she heard Nangong Pei’s voice. Her heart sank. They must have realized that Ye Qinming was helping her, which was why they sent Nangong Pei to deal with her.

She thought she had stopped dragging Ye Qinming into trouble, but in the end, she had still brought disaster upon her. If Nangong Pei was stalling Ye Qinming, that meant the fox demon had arrived.

The scent grew stronger. A sudden gust of wind swept past—he was here.

The man was dressed in white, tall and slender, exuding an undeniable charm unique to the fox clan. But his face lacked the seductive allure typical of fox spirits. Instead, it was unnervingly sharp and fox-like.

Gu Xiyan couldn’t see him—she could only sense his presence as he stood there in silence.

“You don’t seem afraid,” a slightly high-pitched male voice remarked. It was unpleasant to the ears.

“What’s the point of fear?” Her expression remained indifferent, devoid of sorrow or joy, so calm that Ji Wuyan was taken aback.

“Indeed, there is no point. Such a perfect spirit body… That tea demon was actually willing to let you go? Unbelievable.”

Hearing him mention Ye Qinming, Gu Xiyan frowned. “What do you want?”

Ji Wuyan smirked playfully, stepping closer. But suddenly, his steps faltered. A dark gleam flashed across his eyes, and his voice dropped into a deep, menacing tone. “Heh, you’re blind? Once so glorious, feared across the Three Realms… and now reduced to this pathetic state. How can you still be so calm?”

He was still smiling, but there was a bloodthirsty and cruel undertone to it. In his voice, Gu Xiyan sensed both hatred and twisted satisfaction—it was clear he bore a grudge against her so-called past life.

“Who are you?”

“Haha, does it matter? Sooner or later, you’ll find out. I just wanted to know—do you like my gift? How does it feel to be hunted and hated by everyone?” He sounded delighted, even though his actions were petty and meaningless.

“I’m asking about you, Ji Wuyan, not this fox demon. A demon who prefers scheming and manipulating from the shadows—how pathetic. And me? I’m just a blind woman, yet even so, you still hide behind a fox demon, stirring up trouble from the dark?” She knew she was completely at his mercy, but she refused to let him have his way so easily.

“Oh? You’re angry? How rare.” He chuckled, then sneered. “Humans truly are the most foolish and overconfident creatures.”

With a swift turn, he caught Ah Da’s incoming blade with a single hand and effortlessly sent him flying.

Ah Da struggled to his feet. “My lady, run!” He lunged forward again.

At the same time, Ah Qi rushed over, grabbing Gu Xiyan’s arm and pulling her away.

A chill crept into Gu Xiyan’s heart, and her voice trembled with despair. “Ah Qi, Ah Da… why won’t you listen to me?”

“I can’t just stand by and watch you die! I won’t abandon you!”

“How touching. Truly, it’s moving.”

The gap between an ordinary human and a demon was an insurmountable chasm. Ji Wuyan sidestepped lazily, then suddenly clenched his fingers in midair. An invisible force wrapped around Ah Da’s hand, crushing his grip on his sword. With a sharp twist, his bones snapped.

The sickening crack, followed by Ah Da’s agonized scream, rang in Gu Xiyan’s ears, making her stumble.

Yet despite the pain, Ah Da wasted no time—he lunged forward and locked his legs around Ji Wuyan’s, his voice hoarse as he roared, “Ah Qi, hurry!”

Irritated by Ah Da’s tenacity, Ji Wuyan gathered a mass of demonic energy in his palm and slammed it down. The force sent Ah Da flying. His body convulsed on the ground before falling deathly still. Ji Wuyan scoffed.

Gu Xiyan couldn’t see what had happened, but she knew what fate had befallen Ah Da. Not all demons were like Ye Qinming—the bloodthirsty nature of the demon race was ingrained in their very bones.

She suddenly shoved Ah Qi away, her voice hoarse as she screamed, “Why are you being so foolish? Go! Run!”

Ji Wuyan’s robes were now stained with fresh blood, the crimson stark against the white fabric. Ah Qi’s face was streaked with tears as she bit her lip and whispered, “My lady… will the one from the tea garden come to save you? She’s helped you so many times.”

Gu Xiyan didn’t answer. For the first time, despair and pain twisted her expression. I did not kill Bo Ren, yet Bo Ren died because of me.

(T/N: a proverb from the Book of Jin, its meaning should’ve been self-explanatory already)

***

Meanwhile, Ye Qinming had intended to head toward the Gu residence as soon as chaos broke out. But throughout the day, she found herself unable to focus on cultivating. The mere thought of Gu Xiyan unsettled her.

She had been furious at Gu Xiyan’s plan that day, yet when she saw her distressed over Gu Ye’s condition, she couldn’t help but expend her own spiritual energy to heal him.

The more she thought about it, the more restless she became. From the very beginning, she had only seen Gu Xiyan as a valuable spiritual vessel—if she had consumed her back then, none of this would be happening. But now, killing her wasn’t an option, nor could she simply walk away.

Frustrated with herself, she decided to wait at the tea garden for Gu Xiyan to come to her. But when she sensed not only an uprising but also a surge of demonic energy, she immediately set out—only to be blocked by Nangong Pei.

As she faced the man whose power had significantly increased since their last encounter, Ye Qinming’s brows furrowed. He was deliberately trying to stall her.

Glancing back at the Gu residence, she sensed the demonic presence growing stronger. A murderous glint flashed in her eyes. “Get out of my way!”

Nangong Pei glared at her darkly without a word and raised his Seven-Star Sword, charging forward again.

Ye Qinming, caught between urgency and fury, gathered a surge of emerald-green spiritual energy. In an instant, a long sword of the same hue materialized in her hand. She spun and struck out—each slash carried the force of thunder, forcing Nangong Pei to retreat step by step.

Seizing the opportunity, she turned to dash toward the Gu residence, but Nangong Pei was unnaturally fast and quickly caught up.

Ye Qinming had anticipated this. She dodged to the side, her sword flashing in a swift arc, slicing open his abdomen. Yet, to her astonishment, he showed no sign of pain—his movements did not slow in the slightest.

At the last moment, Ye Qinming narrowly evaded the Seven-Star Sword, but Nangong Pei’s palm strike landed squarely on her. She narrowed her eyes and took the hit head-on, then immediately twisted around, locking onto his arm. A cold sneer curled her lips as she wrenched his sword hand, snapping his right arm with a sickening crack.

“A puppet curse? Clever trick.”

Even though his right arm was broken and he felt no pain, his movements remained unaffected. Ye Qinming showed no mercy. Seizing the moment when he hesitated, she immediately crushed his left shoulder, her eyes flashing with ruthless intent as a sharp burst of spiritual energy slashed toward his head.

Just then, a powerful incantation shot down from the sky, forcibly intercepting her attack. Ye Qinming swiftly retreated, her eyes instantly reddening with fury as she fixed her gaze on the figure dressed in white Daoist robes.

The newcomer furrowed his brows and stepped in front of Nangong Pei, shielding him. “Vile creature, cease your violence!”

Ye Qinming’s heart burned with urgency. She transformed into a streak of light, rushing toward the area of the Gu residence where the demonic energy was at its strongest.

The Daoist’s expression shifted as he, too, realized the severity of the situation. “This is bad!”

***

“Ah Qi, Ah Qi! Let her go! She’s just an ordinary person—I beg you, let her go!”

Gu Xiyan’s face was deathly pale. Though she couldn’t see, she could hear the suffocating sounds of Ah Qi being strangled. To her ears, it was like being tortured by a thousand cuts.

Ah Qi hated her own helplessness. She glared fiercely at Ji Wuyan and struggled to speak. “My lady, go! Find her—she’ll be there!”

Ji Wuyan sneered, his expression darkening. He threw Ah Qi aside. “Go? Where do you think you’re going, hmm?”

As he approached, Gu Xiyan raised her hands in defense. Ah Qi, despite her injuries, crawled forward, shielding Gu Xiyan with her body.

“Ah Qi, no!” Gu Xiyan screamed hoarsely.

The dark energy in Ji Wuyan’s eyes deepened. “Such a loyal little servant,” he mocked.

With a single motion, he yanked Ah Qi off the ground. Then, with a chilling smile, he plunged his hand straight through her chest.

Ah Qi clutched his arm, her fingernails digging into his skin as blood gushed from her wound and mouth. “You hurt me… my lady… even as a ghost, I won’t… let you go…”

Ji Wuyan scoffed and, without hesitation, tore her heart out.

Gu Xiyan staggered and collapsed onto the ground. The thick stench of blood filled her nostrils, and the sickening sound of tearing flesh made her head spin.

“Ah Qi… Ah Qi…” Her chest felt like it was about to explode—she was suffocating. Her usual calmness and sharpness had completely vanished.

She fumbled forward blindly, and the moment her hands touched Ah Qi, she froze. Her fingertips were coated in something warm and slick—Ah Qi’s blood, seeping deep into her bones. It should have been burning hot, yet it felt deathly cold, filled with despair.

Nearby, the demon marveled at the still-beating heart in his hand. “It’s been a long time since I’ve come across such a pure heart. I imagine it tastes far better than the others.”

Gu Xiyan trembled violently. She held Ah Qi’s lifeless body close, gritting her teeth to hold back her screams, but tears streamed down her face uncontrollably.

Ji Wuyan reveled in her anguish. His eyes gleamed with a twisted madness. Then, as if putting on a grand performance, he bit into Ah Qi’s heart right before Gu Xiyan’s eyes.

The sound of him devouring it was like knives slicing through Gu Xiyan’s soul. Her nails dug into the ground until her fingertips bled. Her bloodshot eyes burned with hatred. “What do you want?!” she hissed.

“Gu Xiyan, isn’t it?” Ji Wuyan’s voice was laced with malice. “A different identity, yet still the same damn name. The gods always preach about having hearts as still as water—free from greed, free from wrath. Especially you, with that saintly compassion, that foolish pity for all beings. I just want to see… now that you’ve fallen into the Mortal Realm, can you still hold onto that pure, selfless heart of yours?”

He grabbed Gu Xiyan’s chin, forcing her mouth open. “Here, taste it. Taste the heart of this girl who devoted everything to you.”

The raw, bloody flesh was shoved past her lips. The metallic tang of blood filled her mouth as she struggled violently, her pale fingers scraping the ground, leaving behind a trail of crimson. The veins in her neck and forehead bulged from the strain, and even her tears had turned red.

Ji Wuyan’s eyes had completely darkened, consumed by his own insanity. He had lost all awareness of his surroundings, wholly intoxicated by the pleasure of tormenting her.

A chilling numbness spread through Gu Xiyan’s limbs, as if she had fallen into an abyss of ice. But then, that frozen despair suddenly ignited into a blazing inferno, consuming her from the inside out.

Her fingers twitched, then slowly lifted. In an instant, a surge of white spiritual energy shot from her fingertips, piercing straight through Ji Wuyan’s abdomen. A burst of blood mist exploded into the air.

Ji Wuyan roared in pain and struck her with a powerful blow, sending her flying. But as he lowered his head and saw the blood gushing from his wound, his eyes blazed with feverish excitement.

“I knew it! Hahaha!”

Just then, an urgent, furious voice shattered the moment of madness and despair—

“Xiyan!”