Appreciating New Tea with an Inkstone - Chapter 76

After dressing properly, Ye Qinming immediately went to the main hall. Inside, the Bird and Fox Clan leaders were present, along with Liangqu and Menghuai—two of the five generals assisting the Four Great Demon Kings.

Upon seeing them, Ye Qinming’s expression grew solemn. The Bird Clan leader, Liuyu, spoke up. “Your Majesty, you once said that the Underworld Water Line is the barrier of the Demon Realm. But while you were drunk and unconscious over Divine Lord Zhuoqing, it was lost. We have no face to answer to the demon clans.”

However, despite Liuyu’s words, there was little respect or sincerity on her face—it was clearly sarcasm.

Ye Qinming did not take offense. She cupped her hands and said in a low voice, “This was my mistake. If the two clan leaders hold grievances, I have nothing to say. But when I returned to the Demon Realm, I already declared that protecting it is my responsibility. Please rest assured and leave. The Immortal Realm will not step in again. Guiche, escort them out.”

Her words were decisive, her expression solemn and cold, yet she carried herself humbly, making it difficult for those who intended to press her further.

However, the Wolf Clan leader, Mu’ai, bowed and said, “Your Majesty, we would not dare doubt your words. But do you still insist on keeping that woman?”

Ye Qinming lifted her gaze and met Mu’ai’s eyes without speaking. Only when Mu’ai, under pressure, averted his gaze did she softly reply, “She poses no threat to you, and I will ensure she never has the chance to. So, let’s not bring this up again. I must go to the Underworld Water. Please, go.”

Liangqu and Menghuai, being loyal to Ye Qinming, said nothing more and left with the others. Ye Qinming closed her eyes briefly and let out a sigh.

Before departing, Ye Qinming discreetly concealed her presence and went to Gu Xiyan’s place. As she approached, she heard coughing, followed by Mujin’s anxious voice.

“My lady, you’re coughing again?”

“It’s nothing. I’m much better now. Don’t be so tense—just set the tea down.” Her voice was clear, gentle, and fluid like water, but there was a distinct lack of energy.

Ye Qinming infused spiritual energy into her fingertips and traced a circle in the air near the window. Within the glowing circle, Gu Xiyan’s figure appeared. She wore a robe embroidered with white cranes, layered with a sheer outer garment. Her hair was still tied up with a single white hairpin, simple and elegant.

Her complexion was poor—she looked frail and thin, and simply sitting there made Ye Qinming’s heart ache. But as soon as she saw Gu Xiyan’s face, an uncontrollable memory surfaced: the last time she saw Zhuoqing. Instantly, her right hand clenched tightly, shattering the vision.

“Who’s outside?” Gu Xiyan asked, but she quickly fell silent, not pressing further.

Ye Qinming hadn’t expected her to be so perceptive. Realizing she could no longer stay hidden, she suppressed all her emotions and spoke.

“It’s me.”

Her voice was clear and cold, devoid of the usual warmth and softness. Gu Xiyan’s heart tightened. She gripped the teacup in her hands as she listened to Ye Qinming push open the door and step inside.

She sat up straight, all her senses attuned to the other’s every movement, every breath, making the moment unbearably tense.

“I won’t be at Thousand Leaf Palace for a while. Stay here and don’t show yourself and Mujin.”

“…Alright.”

Ye Qinming turned to leave but couldn’t resist asking, “When I was drunk… I didn’t do anything else, did I?”

Gu Xiyan’s heart clenched, but hearing Ye Qinming’s question, she forced herself to remain unnervingly calm. Her fingers tightened around the cup before slowly relaxing. In a steady voice, she replied, “No. You were very drunk. Are you feeling better now?”

“I’m fine. I’m leaving now.”

Hearing Gu Xiyan’s response, Ye Qinming felt a wave of frustration. In a moment like this, how could she still be having such dreams? Looking at Gu Xiyan made her feel shameful, so she quickly left.

Although Ye Qinming felt pain, her mind remained clear. Right now, she truly had no way to face Gu Xiyan. Yet, to say she could completely give up on her or hate her—there wasn’t the slightest relief in that thought. On the contrary, it only made her pain worse. She genuinely, deeply liked Gu Xiyan, but she also hated her for the betrayal back then. Unable to resolve this desperate contradiction, she could only choose to escape.

Gu Xiyan sensed her departure and lowered her head. After a long while, a single tear fell, which she quietly wiped away.

Before leaving, Ye Qinming tried once more to circulate the demon power within her body. To her surprise, it flowed smoothly—without any trace of the exhaustion caused by her emotional collapse and the subsequent loss of power days ago. In her hurry to reach the Underworld Water, she didn’t dwell on it. She only remembered Zhijin mentioning that Wuyin had been treating her injuries these past few days and couldn’t help but marvel at how Wuyin’s powers had grown—even managing to mend damage to her core.

***

After Ye Qinming left, Wuyin arrived at Thousand Leaf Palace. Seeing Gu Xiyan sitting quietly and lost in thought, she recalled the rumors circulating recently and shook her head slightly.

Without announcing her presence, Wuyin walked straight over. Hearing the unfamiliar footsteps, Gu Xiyan, slightly puzzled, asked softly, “May I ask who is there?” The sound of the steps didn’t match Mujin or Zhijin’s.

“Wuyin,” came the cool response. Wuyin sat down beside Gu Xiyan and, without further explanation, took her hand to check her pulse.

“So it’s Master Wuyin. I apologize for the rudeness, but… what brings you here?”

Recalling the instructions from Zhijin, Wuyin gave a soft scoff. “Someone is worried about you and forced Zhijin to order me to come.”

Gu Xiyan was stunned for a long moment, her mouth slightly open. Once she gathered herself, she withdrew her hand and offered a respectful bow. “I appreciate your trouble, Master Wuyin. I am fine.”

Wuyin gave her a glance before continuing matter-of-factly, “Your energy is weak, your liver is stagnant, and your mind is overburdened. Yet your spiritual energy is abundant—you do not seem like someone who is physically frail. As for the fever, I’m sure you know the reason.” After a pause, Wuyin added, “You don’t need to speak in her favor. I’m not here because of her orders.”

Gu Xiyan froze for a moment, then hesitantly asked, “Is it because of Zhuoqing?”

Wuyin chuckled softly, the usual indifference in her eyes replaced by a rare trace of sincerity. “Seeing you again brings back many memories.”

“I am not Zhuoqing.”

Wuyin didn’t argue, simply sitting upright as she replied, “Whether you are or not, no one knows better than you. There’s plenty of criticism about you in the Demon Realm. I was surprised by what happened back then, but personally, I don’t dislike you. You are not like Taiyi and the other celestial beings.”

Gu Xiyan remained silent. Wuyin’s lips curved faintly before she continued, as if speaking casually, “Two days ago, when I checked Her Majesty’s pulse, I found that her spiritual power had greatly increased, and even her old injuries had healed by seventy to eighty percent. I wondered what had caused such a change, but now it seems the answer is you.”

Gu Xiyan turned her head in surprise, but, as if realizing something, quickly shifted her gaze back, her ears flushing slightly red. Watching her calm expression, Wuyin laughed again—it was always like this with Gu Xiyan, hiding everything beneath a composed exterior.

Wuyin quietly sipped her tea. Gu Xiyan, even more composed, poured herself a cup and drank in silence. Wuyin studied the girl beside her—the girl who could not see. Compared to Zhuoqing, she carried a more human warmth, but her quiet, restrained nature remained unchanged.

“With a temperament like yours, facing situations like this will only leave you more passive,” Wuyin finally broke the silence. Gu Xiyan’s ears twitched slightly, a sign she was listening. “Her Majesty’s feelings for you back then—others in the Demon Realm may not have seen it clearly, but I know a bit. Her hatred for you stems from her inability to accept what you did. But have you ever thought about this? You’ve already been reborn. If she no longer cared, she wouldn’t be so conflicted. And, naturally, she wouldn’t act proud in front of me. Even when her demon core shattered, she didn’t use her authority to pressure me—but when you cough and run a fever, that’s when she truly loses her composure.”

Gu Xiyan had already set down her teacup. After a moment of silence, she lifted her head slightly, listening to Wuyin’s words, and asked in a quiet voice, “Why are you telling me this?”

Wuyin clapped her hands together, stood up, and sighed softly. “You owe Her Majesty—but, to be fair, I owe you. It doesn’t matter if you remember or not—consider this my way of repaying that debt. Calm down and have an honest talk with her. And besides, being caught up in the situation clouds your vision. You may not remember who you truly are, but Her Majesty certainly does. Even I can’t understand why someone like you would have done what you did back then.”

Gu Xiyan lowered her head as Wuyin leisurely walked out. Just before stepping through the door, Wuyin remarked lightly, “Taking advantage of something so beautiful without even realizing it—truly, Her Majesty is pitiful.”

Gu Xiyan nearly choked on those words. She covered her lips, her face finally gaining some color, but she soon fell into deep thought. Wuyin’s words seemed to awaken something in her long-dead heart. Regardless of whether Ye Qinming could ever forgive her, she had to understand—who exactly had she been in the past?

But from that moment on, there was almost no news of Ye Qinming. Zhijin remained at Thousand Leaf Palace, caring for Gu Xiyan, yet for half a month, aside from updates on the ongoing battles, there was no word about Ye Qinming—nor did she return. The water mirror remained in Gu Xiyan’s room, but it showed not the slightest ripple.

Though Gu Xiyan had lived in her palace, she felt as if she had never truly been by Ye Qinming’s side. Running her fingers over the mirror’s surface, she felt a dull ache in her chest.

Just half a month ago, she could hear Ye Qinming’s voice through it every day. They had been wrapped in intimacy within the bedchamber, yet in the blink of an eye, it had all disappeared like a fleeting dream.

She did not blame Ye Qinming. From the conversation she had overheard through the stone mirror, she knew this was what she deserved, and she ought to be content with it. Once, she had only wished to steal whatever time they could still have together, to love her silently from the shadows. But Ye Qinming had given her so much more than she had ever dared to hope for.

When her identity was exposed, she had thought it was her death sentence. Yet Ye Qinming, despite her hatred, had still chosen to protect her—defying the controversy of the Demon Realm, shielding her with all her strength. How fortunate she was to have been treated this way by Ye Qinming.

“My lady…” Mujin stood by, watching Gu Xiyan sit dazedly before the water mirror once more, her nose stinging with sorrow. She couldn’t help but remember the first time she had met her mistress.

Back then, Gu Xiyan had been dressed in white silk, exuding an air of gentle refinement, her faint smile radiating effortless grace. Though she could not see, she carried herself with a carefree confidence unmatched by anyone. And yet now, she had been broken down to this. It made Mujin’s heart ache unbearably.

“My lady, please don’t be like this. That Ye woman isn’t worth it at all. We don’t need her,” Mujin whispered as she knelt beside Gu Xiyan, pressing close to her like a small, wounded animal. “Seeing you like this—it makes me so sad.”

Gu Xiyan had spent many days lost in thought, but upon hearing Mujin’s words, she finally smiled for the first time in half a month.

She gently stroked Mujin’s hair and said softly, “Ah Jin, don’t worry. What is meant to be will be, and what is not meant to be should not be forced. I understand that well. Though I suffer now, the happiness I once had was real. It was I who wronged her—her resentment and hatred are justified.”

“My lady, you…”

“I don’t know what the future holds. But the war between the Demon Realm and Immortal Realm has already begun, and the Four Exorcising Swords remain a lurking disaster. And then… there is also my old enemy from my past life. I still have much to do, so I won’t stay like this forever. I will speak with her properly. If she needs me, then I will stay by her side, through life and death. If she does not…” 

She trailed off, then rose to her feet and walked out of the hall. A leaf drifted down, and she caught it in her palm. Her lips curved into a faint, bittersweet smile.

“I must go where I am needed.”

“My lady, you’re leaving?” Mujin gasped in shock.

Gu Xiyan’s smile faded. Her dark eyes dimmed, and as she lowered her gaze, a quiet sorrow filled her expression. “This is her home. If she cannot face me, then I should be the one to leave. And if she truly hates me, she is free to take back what she has given.”

Hearing this, Mujin felt tears well up. Her mistress had suffered too much.

***

Meanwhile, Ye Qinming was faring no better. Taiyi was furious, and for half a month, the war between the Demon Realm and the Immortal Realm had raged on without cease. The Underworld Water was now flooded with restless souls, their numbers growing so vast it sent chills down one’s spine.

Among the Four Demon Kings, Jiuying was still recuperating and unable to fight, while the Immortal Realm had deployed several of their high gods. Worse still, they wielded divine weapons, resulting in devastating losses for the Demon Realm.

Ye Qinming faced both the fire god and the wind god alone, unable to spare a single moment’s rest. For half a month, she had sustained injury after injury, large and small alike.

Despite all efforts, the breach from the initial battle remained open. The Immortal Realm had seized control of the Underworld Water’s riverbank—and they refused to yield even an inch.

That single step’s difference left the Demon Realm struggling, barely able to catch its breath. Watching the swarm of immortal soldiers outside, as dense as locusts, Ye Qinming’s gaze grew dark and heavy. Beside her, Guiche and Xuanshui were covered in dried blood, their bodies riddled with wounds.

“My liege, the Immortal Realm’s reinforcements keep coming—they’ve been attacking relentlessly for fifteen days. If we can’t push them back beyond the Underworld Water’s boundary soon, we won’t hold out much longer.”

Xuanshui wasn’t wrong. In all these years, the Immortal Realm had never pursued them so relentlessly or fought with such reckless abandon. Although the Demon Realm’s forces were not weak, the absence of Jiuying had significantly diminished their strength.

Ye Qinming didn’t answer. She closed her eyes briefly, examining her demon core. Things had been too urgent lately—she hadn’t had a moment to pay attention to it. Now, as she focused inward, her heart grew restless.

The crack that had once split her core after repeated overuse of her demon energy had all but vanished. Even the old affliction she had feared would flare up during these past weeks remained quiet. Her demon core was intact—completely unscathed.

For days, she had attributed her recovery to Wuyin’s improving medical skills, surprised that she could repair such severe internal damage in so little time. But now, she realized it wasn’t that simple.

A sudden memory flashed through her mind—the hazy dream where Gu Xiyan lay in her arms, eyes shut tight…

“Your Majesty?”

Guiche’s worried voice pulled her back to reality. She took a deep breath, suppressing the flush creeping up her face. Pushing aside her chaotic thoughts, she spoke calmly, “I understand. So today, I will make them retreat—every last one of them!”

As soon as the words left her mouth, Ye Qinming transformed into a streak of shimmering light, soaring toward the storm-laden skies above the Underworld Water. Yet, despite her outward composure, another thought gnawed at her mind.

She had long wondered how her shattered demon core could have healed itself. Back then, with no memory of the past, she hadn’t realized that Gu Xiyan and Zhuoqing were the same person—so she had dismissed those questions.

But now that her memories had returned, the puzzle pieces began to fall into place. Who else could have restored her demon core? And now that she knew the truth about Zhuoqing’s identity, the answer became painfully clear—the only person capable of saving her life and repairing her core was Zhuoqing.

The realization set her heart ablaze. How blind she had been. She needed to return—immediately. She had to confirm whether that night had truly happened or if it was just a dream. She needed to know whether Zhuoqing had been acting against her will.

This possibility felt like a lifeline. If there was even the slightest chance, Ye Qinming would cling to it with everything she had. And to find out the truth—she had to return to her side, no matter what.

Author’s Note:

Author: Hey, Green Tea, some readers say the White Lotus asked you to “pick the lotus,” but what they really mean is to see her climbing trees.

Green Tea: Nonsense! Xiyan, I… I want to pick the lotus.

White Lotus: Mm, okay. But… I’m scared—it hurt a lot last time. Be gentle.

Green Tea: I… I-I’m not moving anymore.

And from that day on, the heartbroken Green Tea, forever haunted by White Lotus losing her “first blood,” enthusiastically donated countless more.