Appreciating New Tea with an Inkstone - Chapter 42 Part 1

Ye Qinming felt an overwhelming heaviness in her heart. When Gu Xiyan was still unconscious, she could endure it, but once Gu Xiyan woke up, the feeling doubled in intensity.

In the end, she lowered her head, took out a jade slip, and began engraving it with spiritual energy. Gu Xiyan sensed the fluctuation of spiritual power but ultimately did not ask about it.

Her heart was filled with bitter sorrow, though she had expected this outcome. Even if Ye Qinming had no intention of leaving, she would have urged her to go. If the people of the Immortal Realm found her, an even fiercer pursuit would await. Especially now that the Immortal Realm had discovered that the Demon Emperor was in the human world, they would stop at nothing until the matter was resolved. The people who came after them next would only be stronger, and she feared she wouldn’t be able to help at all.

As long as Ye Qinming returned to the Demon Realm, the Immortal Realm would no longer be able to harm her. Yet, her sudden coldness made Gu Xiyan’s heart ache slightly. Did she regret bringing her along?

But Gu Xiyan couldn’t bring herself to ask. She had never been an outspoken person—like water, both gentle and unyielding. No matter how fierce the storm, the surface of the water would always return to calm. Gu Xiyan was just like that—regardless of the turbulent currents beneath, she remained undisturbed.

Not wanting to reveal too much of her emotions, Gu Xiyan quickly immersed herself in cultivation. As Ye Qinming had said, she could stabilize her mind with ease, no matter how chaotic it was.

When Ye Qinming finally set down her work, she turned to glance at the meditating Gu Xiyan. Her eyes flickered briefly before she continued what she was doing.

By the next morning, as Gu Xiyan heard the birds stirring to life, she realized Ye Qinming was also awake.

“Do you feel better now?”

Gu Xiyan touched her chest. The wound had already begun healing, and the pain had lessened significantly. A night of meditation had also restored some of her strength.

“Mm, much better.”

Ye Qinming handed her a bamboo cup. “Drink this.”

Gu Xiyan took it as instructed. Before it even reached her lips, she caught the tea’s delicate fragrance. It carried Ye Qinming’s familiar scent, but it was richer than what she had noticed before. She hesitated slightly.

Ye Qinming naturally caught her expression and said casually as she stood up, “It’s tea. Drinking it will help you recover faster.”

Gu Xiyan parted her lips slightly before finally asking in a somewhat hesitant tone, “Is this from your true form?”

Ye Qinming ran a hand through her hair. “Mm. I only took a few leaves—it was nothing. They’re of no use to me anyway. No matter how crazy I might be, I wouldn’t go so far as to brew myself into tea.”

Gu Xiyan lowered her gaze, saying nothing more. Yet, she had a faint feeling that it wasn’t as simple as Ye Qinming made it sound. Ye Qinming was, after all, a tea tree spirit. Taking tea leaves from herself was no different from a human cutting off a part of their own body. Moreover, the tea was brimming with spiritual energy—it was not something that could be casually discarded.

“There was no need for this. I’ll recover soon enough. You only need to point me in the right direction.” The tea in her hands felt unbearably heavy. Ye Qinming owed her nothing—there was no reason for her to go this far.

Ye Qinming felt both frustrated and a little sour. “If you don’t want to drink it, I’ll just pour it out.”

Sensing her intention, Gu Xiyan hurriedly dodged her outstretched hand and finally murmured in a low voice, “I’ll drink it.”

It was probably the best tea she had ever tasted—light in bitterness, lingering in sweetness, with an incredibly pleasant aroma. After finishing the cup, her mind became clear, and warmth spread through her body. Spiritual energy coursed through her limbs, but she didn’t dwell on it. Instead, she focused on guiding the surging energy within her.

Seeing her reaction, Ye Qinming’s lips curled into a faint smile. At least it wasn’t in vain—taking those spiritual leaves had come at the risk of balding.

She quietly watched Gu Xiyan for a while before lowering her gaze to the jade slip she had spent all night engraving. Silently, she thought, I hope you can live safely from now on.

Once Gu Xiyan finished circulating her energy, Ye Qinming handed her the jade slip. “There’s a cultivation technique in here. I don’t know who gave it to me, but it doesn’t seem to be from the Demon Realm—it looks more like something from the Immortal Realm. It suits you well, so take it. You don’t need to look at it with your eyes—just use your spiritual sense. But don’t rush. Wait until your cultivation stabilizes before studying it—don’t be greedy for progress.”

Gu Xiyan held the jade slip, her emotions complicated. “So this is what you were doing last night?”

Ye Qinming didn’t respond immediately. After a moment, she spoke in a low voice, “You and I are connected by fate, so I can give you this cultivation technique. It’s so you can protect yourself—it also counts as repaying the debt of you risking your life to save me. But I’ve told you before, you are the reincarnation of a god. One day, you will inevitably ascend and join the Immortal Registry. If they find out, you may even be given special entry into the Immortal Realm. When that day comes, you and I…”

“It won’t happen,” Gu Xiyan interrupted firmly before she could finish.

Ye Qinming chuckled, then lowered her voice. “No one can say for certain what the future holds.”

Gu Xiyan pressed her lips together and returned the jade slip to her. “Then I simply won’t take it.”

“But I’ve already decided to give it to you.” Ye Qinming stepped forward and said softly, “I can place my trust in mortals, so I choose to trust you as well. But, Gu Xiyan, I do not trust the person you will become in the future. So…”

Her gaze darkened, and a thin, emerald-green sprout, as delicate as a silken thread, coiled around her fingertip. In the next moment, she pressed her fingers directly against Gu Xiyan’s chest, and the sprout sank into her body.

A suffocating pressure spread from Gu Xiyan’s heart. She let out a muffled groan, gasping for breath as she tried to ease the sudden tightness in her chest.

She didn’t understand but still managed to ask in a low voice, “What did you do?”

A faint trace of pain flickered across Ye Qinming’s face as she suppressed her emotions. “It’s merely a sliver of my consciousness. But if the day ever comes when you truly turn your blade against me, your life or death will be decided in an instant. Do you understand?”

Gu Xiyan straightened her posture and faced Ye Qinming head-on. Her dark eyes were calm, unwavering. She answered in an indifferent tone, “No, I don’t.”

Ye Qinming: “…”

She was so taken aback that her eyes widened in disbelief, her expression momentarily looking both surprised and oddly endearing.

“What did you just say?” she blurted out.

Gu Xiyan sighed. “Forget it. If this makes you feel at ease, do as you wish. But I want you to know—there are many things in this world that I cannot predict, and many situations where I may have no choice. However, in this matter, I can give you an answer right now. I will never turn my blade against you, nor will I ever harm you. If that day ever comes, then the person standing before you will not be me.”

Ye Qinming didn’t reply. Instead, she stepped out of the cave and looked up at the sun. “Let’s go. I’ll take you across Mount Gan.”

“You’re returning to the Demon Realm?” Gu Xiyan asked, suppressing the complicated emotions surging in her heart, forcing herself to sound calm.

Ye Qinming studied her expression. But Gu Xiyan was too composed, so after a moment, Ye Qinming merely let out a quiet “Mm.”

Gu Xiyan said nothing more and followed Ye Qinming, riding the wind over Mount Gan. The wind was strong, and neither of them spoke throughout the journey. At first, Ye Qinming kept her eyes fixed ahead, but gradually, her gaze drifted toward Gu Xiyan, until in the end, she was watching her entirely.

She pressed a hand against her chest, forcing herself to ignore the sensation there. “We’re almost there. Remember to conceal your talents. A tree that stands out in the forest will be felled by the wind. Before you gain enough strength, don’t draw too much attention. Your body doesn’t just attract demons—once you reach a certain cultivation level, high-level cultivators will also sense your value. That’s why I placed a restriction on you—they won’t be able to detect it.”

Gu Xiyan remained silent the whole time. Ye Qinming couldn’t help but ask, “Did you hear me?”

Gu Xiyan nodded. By now, Ye Qinming could already see the city below, so she continued, “You must remember—no matter where you are, as long as there are people, you must remain cautious. You should have already learned this in Danyang. Especially men—you are far too beautiful. Once they see you, some will inevitably be driven by lust. Don’t be deceived by them. Romance and love… these things aren’t worth it.”

Gu Xiyan had been feeling sorrowful, but upon hearing Ye Qinming fumble through these words, she couldn’t help but laugh.

“What are you laughing at?” Ye Qinming frowned.

Gu Xiyan shook her head, then said, “But in the storybooks I’ve read, though love is bittersweet, it is also deeply moving.”

Ye Qinming’s eyes widened. “That’s because those are ordinary people, lacking ambition, indulging in love all day long. Besides, the stories overly romanticize everything. How can you be like those naive young girls?”

Gu Xiyan seemed to finally understand and nodded, which made Ye Qinming feel somewhat relieved. She glanced down at the city below before leading Gu Xiyan down.

Dongzhou was far grander and more majestic than the human world. The entire city appeared to be floating atop an island, shrouded in mist with distinct layers. At the lowest level were pavilions and towers, rising in tiers until they reached gleaming white jade structures. The most striking feature was the five towering peaks, uniquely shaped and piercing through the clouds, standing tall like five fingers reaching skyward—these were undoubtedly the Five Peaks of Dongzhou.

“No matter the race, the more powerful they are, the more they revel in using grandeur and extravagance to showcase their status,” Ye Qinming remarked, gazing at the place that looked like a celestial paradise.

“What about where you live?” Gu Xiyan asked.

Ye Qinming chuckled. “The former Demon Emperor built the Thousand Leaf Palace, which is no less magnificent than this. But… I prefer a simple bamboo house.” The moment the words left her lips, she abruptly stopped speaking and stole a glance at Gu Xiyan, trying to gauge her reaction.

By now, Gu Xiyan had already noticed the murmurs around them. The two of them stood at the city gate, their striking appearances naturally drawing attention. Even in a place like Dongzhou, where beauty was abundant, they still turned heads.

Seeing the curious and scrutinizing gazes, Ye Qinming felt uneasy about leaving Gu Xiyan here alone. But she had no choice.

“Let’s go.”

Dongzhou was home to ordinary people as well, most of whom had family members who had joined cultivation sects. Those who remained in the city ran small businesses.

To enter the city, one needed a recommendation. Without one, the only other way in was to pass a spirit power test at the city gate.

Gu Xiyan and Ye Qinming walked up to the testing platform at the entrance. A round stone was placed there, and Ye Qinming immediately recognized it as a Spirit Testing Stone.

These stones reacted to human contact, emitting light based on the density of the person’s spiritual energy—the brighter the glow, the stronger the spirit power. However, they were rarely used for screening newcomers. Ordinary people, even if exceptionally gifted, could usually only reach level two without prior cultivation. More often, cultivators used these stones to show off their strength.

Ye Qinming led Gu Xiyan forward, registered their names and places of origin, and then gestured for Gu Xiyan to take the test.

Remembering Ye Qinming’s advice, Gu Xiyan deliberately suppressed her spiritual energy and lightly placed her hand on the stone. A faint light gradually spread across the surface, illuminating the entire stone with a soft glow, visible even in daylight.

The examiner glanced at it, slightly surprised, before handing Gu Xiyan a wooden token. “Level three. Have you cultivated before?”

Gu Xiyan shook her head. “Not formally. An old friend of my father’s once gave me some guidance.”

The registrar nodded. Reaching level three even with prior training was decent, though… he furrowed his brows. “Are you blind?”

Gu Xiyan nodded. “I have an eye condition.”

“What a pity. Take this and wait at Qingning Daoist Temple in the city. In a few days, sects will come to select disciples.” After saying this, he glanced at Ye Qinming. “Does she need to be tested as well?”

“No need. I’m just accompanying her,” Ye Qinming replied.

The registrar seemed unfazed, simply nodding. However, once the two had walked away, he shook his head with a sigh. “A level-three spirit power, but what a pity—she’s blind. At most, she’ll end up as an outer disciple.”

Even though they had moved far away, Ye Qinming still heard him clearly. She frowned in displeasure. Gu Xiyan seemed to guess what she was thinking and whispered, “It doesn’t matter. You’ve already taught me a great deal.”

Hearing this, Ye Qinming let out a huff. “They won’t be able to teach you much. Just focus on improving your cultivation and thoroughly absorbing the jade slip’s contents—you have a great future ahead.” Most people in Dongzhou would never even come close to achieving immortality in their lifetime. A Daoist like Ji Changsheng, who could slay demons and exorcise evil, was already a rarity.

And as for Gu Xiyan now, while her spirit power was not yet on Ji Changsheng’s level, in certain aspects, he couldn’t compare to her. If she could fully refine that thousand-year demon core, let alone ordinary cultivators, even most demons and monsters—aside from the great demons of the Demon Realm—wouldn’t be able to touch her.

Thinking of this brought Ye Qinming some relief. If she couldn’t always be by Gu Xiyan’s side, at least Gu Xiyan would be able to protect herself.

Ye Qinming had originally planned to leave once she escorted Gu Xiyan inside. But looking at Gu Xiyan’s dull, lifeless eyes and recalling all the stares they had received along the way, she couldn’t bring herself to go just yet.

She had never hesitated to assume the worst of humanity. Though humans were the weakest beings in the Three Realms, they were also the ones who suffered the most—plagued by disasters, endless wars—yet they never ceased to multiply.

Their resilience was admirable, yet their cruelty was equally formidable. If not for their inherent weakness, the Three Realms would have long been thrown into chaos.

She made up her mind—she would wait. She would only leave once Gu Xiyan had entered a sect.

Gu Xiyan, on the other hand, opened her mouth several times as if to ask when Ye Qinming would leave but hesitated each time. She was reluctant to let go of these last moments together.