Appreciating New Tea with an Inkstone - Chapter 42 Part 2

The two of them entered Qingning Temple, where many newcomers to Dongzhou had already taken residence. A steward in Daoist robes glanced at them with interest. He took the wooden token from Gu Xiyan, glanced down at it, and his eyes immediately lit up. “Level-three spirit power?”

“Yes.”

However, the excitement faded the moment he noticed Gu Xiyan’s eyes, replaced by disappointment. “Blind?”

Ye Qinming’s expression darkened, and the air around her instantly grew cold. But the Daoist seemed oblivious, casually taking the token and handing back both it and a room key. “You’ll be staying in Yellow Courtyard, Room Three. Don’t wander around unnecessarily. In two days, representatives from various sects will come to select disciples. If you miss it, you’ll have no choice but to return home.”

Gu Xiyan accepted the key. “There are two of us.” She had noticed that most people traveling together had been given separate rooms, yet she and Ye Qinming had only been assigned one.

The steward, now impatient, scoffed. “There aren’t enough rooms. Deal with it. Besides, the girl with you doesn’t even have a spirit token.”

Ye Qinming reached out and held Gu Xiyan’s hand. “One room is fine.”

She led Gu Xiyan to their quarters. The Qingning Temple was simple and elegant, with a spacious layout. As they walked inside, they saw four courtyards, each labeled with the characters “Heaven,” “Earth,” “Mystery,” and “Yellow.”

A quick glance made Ye Qinming frown. The four courtyards were built with stark differences in quality—the disparity was obvious at first sight. The Yellow Courtyard was by far the most run-down.

She led Gu Xiyan to their room, pushed open the door, and was immediately met with dim lighting and the musty scent of mold.

Gu Xiyan clearly noticed it too. Ye Qinming waved a hand to push open the window, letting in fresh air. “It’s the same everywhere—you can always find snobs.”

Gu Xiyan shook her head. “It’s all for survival. I understand. If we were in their position, we’d enjoy the privileges that come with it. In the end, it’s no different from what’s happening now.”

Ye Qinming turned to look at her, then touched her chin thoughtfully. “Gu Xiyan, I’m starting to think you’re becoming more and more like one of those immortals.”

Gu Xiyan paused in the middle of wiping down the table but said nothing.

Once the room was cleaned, Ye Qinming glanced outside. “Come on, let’s take a walk.”

Gu Xiyan nodded, but before she could react, she felt a piece of silk gently brush against her face. Ye Qinming had leaned in close and was now tying it securely behind her head.

“You should cover your face with a scarf to avoid drawing unnecessary attention,” Ye Qinming said, stepping back to examine her handiwork. She nodded in satisfaction.

What Gu Xiyan didn’t know was that she was already extraordinarily beautiful. After cultivating, this beauty had only become more striking, and the ethereal aura around her was impossible to conceal.

It didn’t matter if she attracted the attention of ordinary people with impure thoughts, but if someone in Dongzhou with profound cultivation set their sights on her, that would be a real problem.

Ye Qinming had brought her out with a purpose—to help her familiarize herself with Dongzhou. No matter how intelligent and perceptive Gu Xiyan was, arriving in a completely new place for the first time was bound to make her feel uneasy. After taking her around once, with her sharp mind, she should be able to memorize the layout.

Gu Xiyan understood her intention all too well. She quietly followed, holding onto the corner of Ye Qinming’s robe. Every passing moment felt like a gift, one she feared might be taken away at any time.

“Why aren’t you saying anything?” Ye Qinming noticed her silence. She had a vague guess as to why, but she wondered if she was just overthinking it. In the end, she couldn’t help but ask.

Gu Xiyan smiled slightly. “Listening to you is enough for me.”

It was a casual remark, yet it carried an unguarded sense of reliance and joy. Ye Qinming glanced down and unexpectedly found herself smiling as well. She reached behind her and gently pulled her robe from Gu Xiyan’s grasp. Seeing the confusion on Gu Xiyan’s face, she extended her hand instead. “There are more people ahead—hold my hand.”

Gu Xiyan blinked, then slowly placed her hand into Ye Qinming’s warm palm. As their fingers intertwined, a subtle sensation spread from her hand to her heart. She resisted the urge to tighten her grip and simply followed quietly. The surrounding noise faded away, and all her senses seemed to center around the woman leading her by the hand.

Their walk through the city was uneventful. Although Dongzhou was home to many cultivators, there were strict rules in place—reckless fighting was forbidden, ensuring a peaceful atmosphere.

Even though Gu Xiyan’s blindness made them less welcome at Qingning Temple, aside from the occasional whispered insult or condescending remark, they were left alone.

***

Two days later, elders from the Five Great Peaks of Dongzhou arrived to select disciples. From early morning, all the hopeful candidates had gotten up to wash and dress, each eager to present themselves in the best possible light in hopes of being chosen as a disciple for one of the main peaks.

Ye Qinming glanced at the crowd in their elegant robes and embroidered sashes and couldn’t help but chuckle. “If you didn’t know better, you’d think they were choosing concubines instead of disciples.”

Standing at the back of the crowd with her, Gu Xiyan laughed at her words. “You really can’t help yourself, can you?”

Ye Qinming smirked. “Tell me I’m wrong.”

Then, as she casually scanned the crowd, her gaze returned to Gu Xiyan. With a playful smile, she added, “But still, the most beautiful one here is you.”

Gu Xiyan was briefly startled, but then she simply lowered her head and smiled softly.

Suddenly, a commotion broke out in the crowd. A bright white light flashed in front of the Qingning Temple’s main hall, and in an instant, a group of people appeared.

Among the eight newcomers, four were elderly men dressed in gray and black Daoist robes, while the other four were younger—two in white martial attire and two in long blue robes, all wearing forehead ribbons.

The head Daoist of Qingning Temple bowed respectfully. “Greetings to Elders Yuheng, Yuxi, Yuqing, and Yujing.”

The nervous candidates immediately followed suit, bowing in unison. “Greetings, Elders!”

The four elders swept their gazes across the crowd. “Let’s begin.”

The disciple selection process for the Five Peaks was straightforward. Each candidate had already undergone an initial spirit power assessment before entering. Since the elders were highly cultivated, a second test to determine their spirit power attributes would be enough to finalize their choices.

One by one, the candidates stepped forward and placed their hands on a jade wall. A faint glow appeared in response—most of the time, two or three colors shimmered, indicating that the person possessed multiple spirit attributes.

The path of cultivation values focus above all else. Those with a single spiritual attribute can progress with half the effort for double the results, making them naturally superior. Throughout history, every immortal who achieved true enlightenment—aside from the legendary Divine Lord Zhuoqing of the Heavenly Realm—was without exception a single-attribute cultivator.

As Gu Xiyan waited in line, she suddenly heard a wave of astonished murmurs. The four elders, who had been silent until now, suddenly became animated, eagerly questioning a test-taker. It turned out they had encountered a rare disciple with a pure fire attribute.

After a heated competition among them, the disciple was ultimately taken in as a direct disciple by Elder Yuheng of the First Peak, earning the envy of all present. Once the testing concluded, the best results included the fire-attribute disciple and two dual-attribute cultivators, all of whom were taken in by three of the elders. Only Elder Yuxi of the Fifth Peak remained silent.

When it was Gu Xiyan’s turn, the person in charge gave her only a perfunctory nod, signaling her to step forward for the test. The four elders briefly focused their gazes on her, but upon noticing her eyes, they all sighed regretfully and shook their heads.

A level-three spiritual power—an exceptional talent, but unfortunately, she was blind. Future cultivation would be severely hindered, and even if she did make progress, it would be riddled with obstacles.

However, Elder Yuxi stroked his beard and studied Gu Xiyan closely. There was something about her—an inexplicable aura that drew his attention.

The test results finally appeared: two distinct colors, green and white, intertwined in perfect balance. The hues were rich and pure—a rare and highly refined dual-attribute spirit, specifically wood and water, which complemented each other perfectly.

The other three elders widened their eyes slightly, their regret deepening.

“Girl, what happened to your eyes? Have you sought treatment?” one of them asked.

Gu Xiyan lowered her head slightly. “It was a congenital condition. I lost my sight as a child. I’ve sought countless doctors and remedies, but they all said it was incurable.”

As soon as she finished speaking, Elder Yuheng suddenly appeared before her, pressing his fingers against the center of her forehead.

Ye Qinming, standing nearby, instinctively gathered power in her hand, ready to react, but in the end, she restrained herself.

Elder Yuheng carefully observed Gu Xiyan’s calm and composed demeanor. A blind girl, yet she showed no panic at all when he suddenly reached for her. This level of composure was rare and commendable.

Unfortunately… After examining her, he could confirm that the meridians in her eyes had completely atrophied—something beyond human intervention. Such a shame to waste such a promising seedling.

He withdrew his hand, glanced at the other three elders, and shook his head. Seeing that none of his peers spoke up, he deliberated for a moment before saying, “Although your blindness will make cultivation difficult, you are undeniably talented. If you are willing, you may join the First Peak as a registered disciple under my tutelage. You would be allowed to remain on the peak—what do you say?”

His words caused a ripple of surprise throughout the crowd, but many also sighed in admiration—she was lucky to have encountered such a benefactor.

Gu Xiyan was silent for a moment, just about to accept when Elder Yuxi, who had remained quiet until now, suddenly let out a chuckle and spoke up.

“Shixiong, don’t steal what I’ve set my sights on. The three of you have all taken disciples today, but I have none. I can’t return empty-handed this year. Don’t fight me for this child.”

(T/N: Shixiong/Shige: Older martial brother. For senior male members of one’s own sect.)

The three other elders looked at him in astonishment. Elder Yuheng, in particular, couldn’t help but inwardly grumble. This guy has attended every disciple selection for decades, seen plenty of talented seedlings, and never once accepted a single one. Even my fourth disciple originally wanted to study under him but was turned away. So why is he suddenly so interested in this one?

“You’re serious?” Elder Yuheng asked.

Elder Yuxi flicked his sleeve. “Not a shred of falsehood. Girl, your name is Gu Xiyan, correct?”

“Yes,” Gu Xiyan replied.

“I wish to take you as my personal disciple and bring you to the Fifth Peak. Would you be willing?” His gaze burned into her, his voice carrying a persuasive charm.

Gu Xiyan cupped her hands in a respectful salute. “Forgive my boldness, Elder Yuxi, but as my blindness greatly hinders my cultivation, may I ask why you would choose me?”

At her words, the crowd gasped in disbelief.

Is she an idiot? A blind girl being offered a place under Elder Yuxi, and instead of feeling grateful, she actually questions him? What a foolish question!

Even Elder Yuxi was momentarily taken aback before he suddenly burst into hearty laughter.

“Wood and water attributes are naturally attuned to spiritual plants,” he explained, his tone carrying a trace of indulgence. “The Fifth Peak is home to countless rare spiritual herbs and precious flora, but they’re quite temperamental and difficult to tend to. You, however, I believe, are a perfect match for them.” Then, his smile deepened. “Besides, girl, this old man likes your personality. You suit my taste—at first glance, I knew you were meant to be my disciple. Is that answer sufficient?”

At that moment, Ye Qinming sent Gu Xiyan a private voice transmission.

This old man is not bad. He had his eye on you the moment you stepped forward, and his temperament seems decent—not the kind to harbor ill intentions.

Gu Xiyan lowered her gaze before turning around and bowing deeply to Elder Yuheng. “Thank you for your kindness, Elder Yuheng. I am truly grateful. However, I have always had a fondness for tending to flowers and plants, so I believe the Fifth Peak would suit me better.” With that, she turned to Elder Yuxi and respectfully called him “Shizun”.

(T/N: Shizun: Teacher/master.)

Elder Yuxi’s face broke into a wide smile, his earlier solemnity completely gone. Without hesitation, he handed Gu Xiyan two bottles of Replenishing Spirit Pills and a ring.

“There are some good things inside,” he whispered to her. “Take a look when you’re able to open it yourself.” Then, waving his hand, he turned to Liancheng and instructed, “Liancheng, take your junior sister to the Fifth Peak.”

The onlookers exchanged glances, unable to hide their envy. Although Elder Yuxi was the elder of the Fifth Peak, his cultivation was said to be among the very best in Dongzhou—perhaps even surpassing Elder Yuheng. To become his disciple was nothing short of an extraordinary blessing.

The steward from Qingning Temple, who had previously dismissed Gu Xiyan, now wore a look of deep regret. But at this point, there was nothing he could say—he could only blame himself for his poor judgment.

Liancheng, the one Elder Yuxi had called, was not actually his disciple. He was under the Fourth Peak’s elder, who had been in seclusion for many years, leaving Elder Yuxi to oversee his training. Seeing that Elder Yuxi had finally accepted a disciple, Liancheng was thrilled—especially since his new shimei, along with the companion she brought, were both strikingly beautiful.

(T/N: Shimei: Younger martial sister. For junior female members of one’s own sect.)

All the way to the Fifth Peak, Liancheng enthusiastically introduced various aspects of their sect to Gu Xiyan. Although she wasn’t particularly excited, she remained polite, nodding quietly as she listened.

Despite carrying two people, Liancheng’s flight was steady, a testament to his cultivation level. With two beauties beside him, he couldn’t help but show off a little. “This is the Wind Control Technique, something you’ll have to master once you enter the sect. The cultivation method itself is simple, but it requires fine control over spiritual energy. I managed to learn it within a month after joining. I can teach you later, Shimei. Though… your eyes…” He hesitated briefly before quickly adding, “But it’s fine! As long as you don’t fly too far and get familiar with the routes, it won’t be an issue.”

After speaking, he turned to Ye Qinming, who had remained silent the entire time. “Oh, right, Shimei, your maid—”

“She’s my friend.” Before he could finish saying maid, Gu Xiyan’s expression tightened slightly, and she quickly corrected him.

Liancheng looked momentarily awkward, scratching his head with a sheepish smile. “Ah… I figured as much. You carry yourself with such grace, miss. I don’t believe I caught your name?”

Gu Xiyan’s lips pressed together unconsciously, her brows knitting slightly. This senior brother is a little too enthusiastic.

Ye Qinming cast a sidelong glance at Liancheng, also finding him a bit too chatty. However, he didn’t seem like a bad person, so she casually responded, “Gu Ming.”

Gu Xiyan was momentarily taken aback and instinctively turned her head to look at Ye Qinming. But Ye Qinming showed no sign of thinking there was anything odd about it.

Liancheng, taking it at face value, chuckled, “Oh? You share the same surname as Shimei. Are you family?”

Ye Qinming raised a brow and answered, “Something like that. Hm?”

That last sound was directed at Gu Xiyan.

Gu Xiyan hesitated for a moment before softly replying, “Hm, yes.” Her expression remained calm and unreadable, but as she lowered her head, the corners of her lips couldn’t help but curve up slightly.

Author’s Note:

Green Tea’s tsundere nature is on full display.

Green Tea: You must cultivate diligently and not follow the ways of ordinary mortals, indulging in love and romance.

White Lotus: But in storybooks, love is always so moving.

Green Tea: That’s just nonsense, deceiving fools! Those who want to be with you have ulterior motives—they’re just drawn to your beauty! You’re not allowed to fall in love with them!

(Much later…)

Green Tea: Ah Yan, stop meditating. Keep me company.

White Lotus: I must cultivate diligently.

Green Tea: You’re already strong enough—you can even defeat me! Let’s do something else.

White Lotus: Ming’er, you must not indulge in love. Such aimless pursuits should not be mentioned.

Green Tea: …I don’t care! I am an ordinary mortal! I am aimless! (Face hurts.)