Appreciating New Tea with an Inkstone - Chapter 5

Feeling a bit sluggish from sleep, Gu Xiyan stood up and walked over to the tea tree. She gently touched the leaves and stems, murmuring softly, “You’ve recovered well. Although Ah Qi was joking, I truly believe you have a spirit. I just wonder if you’ll sprout new leaves this year.” She spoke quietly to herself, a gentle smile on her face. The warm spring sun bathed her in light, softening the coolness of her white robes and even her hair seemed to glow with a soft radiance, making her appear almost ethereal.

Yet, compared to the immortals in Ye Qinming’s memories, she seemed more approachable and less aloof. Ye Qinming felt an inexplicable irritation. Gu Xiyan reminded her of someone, but she couldn’t quite place who. It seemed she had forgotten something important.

Ye Qinming had been imprisoned in the Northern Wasteland’s Abyssal Prison of Demons for a thousand years, enduring the torment of desolate flames and thunder tribulations. During that time, some memories had faded. But she still remembered that she was once the ruler of the Demon Realm. Back then, for reasons she couldn’t recall, she had been deceived and lured to the heavens, where she was ambushed by Taiyi, that hypocrite, and his followers. Ultimately, she was severely injured by the then Heavenly Realm’s Divine Lord Zhuoqing. 

She had thought her life would end there, but instead, she woke up imprisoned in the Abyssal Prison.

The memories in between were completely lost to her. She remembered ruling the Demon Realm for nearly five hundred years, her cultivation unmatched in the Three Realms. Even Taiyi, that brat, was no match for her. If it hadn’t been for that damned Divine Lord Zhuoqing, she wouldn’t have fallen so low. None of the celestial beings in the heavens were good, yet she strangely couldn’t remember the Divine Lord who had caused her downfall. It was said to be a woman, but what she looked like, Ye Qinming had no recollection.

This puzzled her greatly. Given her vengeful nature, how could she forget her adversary? In the end, she could only attribute it to the loss of memory after being sealed in the Abyssal Prison following the great battle.

Ye Qinming had been absorbing the essence of the tea trees in the garden. As a tea tree spirit herself, she found little to communicate with these ordinary trees. The only thing that kept her from utter boredom was watching Gu Xiyan tend to the garden or brew tea and play the qin in the tea pavilion, exuding an air of elegance. Moreover, the tea Gu Xiyan brewed was truly fragrant, so much so that even Ye Qinming, a tea tree spirit, couldn’t resist wanting to taste it.

***

Days passed, and Gu Xiyan noticed that the tea garden wasn’t doing well. The first batch of new tea leaves, which should have sprouted by mid-March, were still in bud, delayed by half a month compared to previous years. Given the rainfall and sunlight this year, this shouldn’t have happened.

If the tea couldn’t be harvested on time, the tea merchants who partnered with the Gu family would miss their shipments, directly affecting their reputation. The tea intended for other regions would also be delayed. In business, timing was crucial, and Gu Xiyan was puzzled. After breakfast with her parents, Gu Ye and Xie Wan, she headed back to the tea garden.

Gu Xiyan carefully inspected the buds of four selected tea trees. As the tea farmers had reported, while none had sprouted, the trees in the northwest corner were faring much better than those near the southeast tea pavilion.

The trees around the tea pavilion not only hadn’t sprouted, but their leaves felt thin and somewhat wilted when Gu Xiyan gently pinched them.

She straightened up, deep in thought. Ah Qi, noticing her contemplation, didn’t disturb her, hoping she might discover something.

Gu Xiyan was indeed puzzled. This was the first time she had encountered such a situation. While it was normal for tea trees to fall ill, they usually shed leaves or curled up. But not sprouting at all was something she had never seen before.

The lack of sprouting indicated insufficient nutrients, but they had just fertilized the soil, and the sunlight and water were adequate. There was no logical reason for this.

Then she suddenly thought of her favorite tea tree. She walked over to it and touched it, confirming her suspicion.

“My lady, is there something wrong with this tree? It hasn’t been growing as well lately, and its leaves are turning slightly yellow.”

They had noticed the tree’s slight yellowing and lack of sprouting but hadn’t thought much of it. However, upon touching it, Gu Xiyan realized it was different from the surrounding trees. Although Ah Qi mentioned it was slightly yellow, its flesh was still robust, much healthier than the others.

“It’s fine. Arrange for another round of fertilization, but use a smaller amount this time. As for this tree, just give it some water.”

“Yes.”

Although missing the harvest time for the new tea would cause some loss for the garden, it wouldn’t significantly impact the Gu family. As long as the tea produced was of good quality, the Gu family’s tea-making skills and reputation would prevent major losses. The real concern was the unexplained deterioration of the entire garden.

After Ah Qi left, Gu Xiyan crouched down and whispered to the tree, “Although I can’t be certain, I feel this has something to do with you. It’s the season for new sprouts. Could you let them grow properly? If you truly have a spirit, you should understand what I’m saying.”

Gu Xiyan had always believed in the existence of spirits and cultivators. In this world, there were indeed people who practiced cultivation, though many recluses had yet to emerge since the recent turmoil had only just settled. Therefore, she remained calm about the inexplicable appearance of this tea tree, even when she sensed something unusual. This intuition was something she couldn’t quite explain, perhaps as she had once said, this tree had a connection with her.

The tea tree stood quietly, appearing no different from any ordinary plant. Gu Xiyan didn’t say more and sat in the tea pavilion for a while before returning home.

***

In a few days, it would be Gu Xiyan’s eighteenth birthday. The Gu family steward had already begun preparations. However, Gu Xiyan preferred tranquility and didn’t care much for grand celebrations, so the arrangements were modest. Moreover, the atmosphere in the household was somewhat off. Gu Ye and his wife, Xie Wan, seemed unusually anxious.

That evening, Gu Xiyan joined her parents for dinner. Gu Ye, who usually discussed business matters during meals, was unusually silent. Xie Wan, who typically urged Gu Xiyan to eat more, was also quiet. After a few bites, Gu Xiyan put down her chopsticks and asked gently, “Dad, Mom, is something troubling you? You seem different today.”

Gu Ye and Xie Wan exchanged glances, their eyes filled with worry. After a moment, Gu Ye spoke, “Yan’er, have you been wearing your jade pendant?”

Gu Xiyan paused, then nodded. “I’ve kept it on, as you instructed.” She pulled out a red cord from around her neck.

Hanging from the cord was a jade pendant carved with the image of a Buddha. However, the jade was black, and upon closer inspection, the Buddha’s eyes seemed to glow red, giving the otherwise compassionate figure a somewhat menacing appearance.

Gu Ye’s face paled as he stared at the pendant. Xie Wan also looked alarmed. “Yan’er, has there been anything unusual about the jade recently?”

Gu Xiyan furrowed her brows, sensing her parents’ unease. Their demeanor had shifted, and their mention of the jade made her suspect something. “No. Has the jade changed in some way? I’ve worn it since I can remember, and you’ve always told me never to remove it. Is there a reason for that? Also, Ah Qi mentioned that you’ve been in low spirits lately.”

Gu Ye hesitated, glancing at Xie Wan, who sighed. “Yan’er will be eighteen tomorrow. It’s time we told her, so she can better protect herself.”

Gu Ye let out a long sigh and revealed the secret they had kept for eighteen years. When Gu Xiyan was born, strange celestial phenomena had occurred, drawing much attention and bringing great joy to the couple.

However, shortly after her birth, a Daoist in a green robe appeared. At the time, Gu Ye was distributing rewards at the entrance of the Gu residence. The Daoist declined the reward and requested to speak with Gu Ye.

Though the Daoist’s clothes were worn, his demeanor was extraordinary. His hair was streaked with white, but his eyes seemed to see through people. The Gu family servants, recognizing his presence, promptly informed Gu Ye.

The Daoist said directly, “I travel the world and happened to pass through Danyang, where I noticed unusual phenomena at your residence. It seems you have been blessed with a daughter. I cast a divination and found that this child is of extraordinary destiny, not of this mortal world. However, she cannot bear such fortune. If left unchecked, she may not survive. As a cultivator, I believe in fate. Since our paths have crossed, it is meant to be. Here is a piece of jade that will protect her for eighteen years. However, I must warn you, her ties to you are shallow. When fate arrives, accept it; when it departs, do not force it.”

At the time, Gu Ye and Xie Wan were overjoyed, but the Daoist’s words felt like a cold splash of water. Xie Wan nearly lashed out, but the Daoist simply handed them the jade and left. Amid the bustling surroundings, the Daoist seemed to vanish into thin air, leaving the couple pale and shaken.

Though they refused to believe it at first, Gu Xiyan had been weak and frequently ill before her first month. Only after wearing the jade did she gradually recover, forcing them to accept the Daoist’s words.

Over the years, they had buried this memory deep, never speaking of it to anyone. They knew their child was no ordinary person, but they still hoped she could live a peaceful life like any other. Thus, they worried about her marriage, wishing for her safety and happiness.

However, as her eighteenth birthday approached, their anxiety grew. Now, seeing the change in the jade, they felt utterly helpless. Gu Ye told her about the Daoist’s warning that the jade would no longer protect her after she turned eighteen, but he couldn’t bring himself to mention the part about their shallow ties.

The Daoist’s actions had marked him as an otherworldly figure, and his claim that Gu Xiyan was not of this mortal world had initially shocked them. Yet, they held onto a sliver of hope that perhaps it wasn’t as dire as he had said. However, Gu Xiyan’s childhood illnesses and the jade’s transformation as she approached eighteen left them no choice but to believe.

Gu Xiyan listened in silence for a long time. Gu Ye and Xie Wan watched her with concern, fearing she might not be able to handle the news.

In truth, Gu Xiyan wasn’t surprised. She had always been different from others. Though blind, she could perceive things that ordinary people couldn’t. As she grew older, she became more composed, and those strange occurrences had gradually faded.

However, she felt a pang of guilt toward her parents. They only had her as their daughter, yet she had caused them so much worry. While she could face this matter calmly, it was undoubtedly a heavy burden for them.

“Yan’er, don’t worry. I’ve already sent word to an old friend who practices cultivation in Dongzhou, asking him to come stay for a while. If… if there’s truly something in this mortal world that threatens you, we’ll send you to Dongzhou.” Gu Ye’s voice trembled as he spoke. All their hopes and dreams had shattered upon seeing the jade turn from black to red. He had truly wished for Gu Xiyan to remain by their side, finding love and living a peaceful life under their protection.

Xie Wan, seeing his reddened eyes, couldn’t hold back her tears. 

Hearing her father’s choked voice, Gu Xiyan felt a pang of sorrow. She stood up, found her parents’ seats, and knelt before Xie Wan, taking her hand. “Dad, Mom, I am fortunate to be your daughter. Since childhood, you’ve cared for me with all your hearts, and I am truly blessed. You know my nature—everything in this world follows its course, and all we can do is face it with our best efforts. Thus, I am not afraid. My only concern is causing you worry. As long as I live, I will fulfill my filial duties to you.”

Gu Ye and Xie Wan felt both comforted and heartbroken. Xie Wan stroked her head. “We are so proud of you. Though our Yan’er cannot see, she has never caused us undue worry. From a young age, you’ve helped your father with the business, and we couldn’t be prouder. We ask for nothing more than your safety and well-being.”