Yefutidaolu

Chapter 341 Let's Go Have Tea

Xia Youdu finally agreed.

To be honest, at that time... she couldn't refuse, she didn't dare to refuse.

In fact, Xia Youdu was also conflicted. Logically speaking, she shouldn't be afraid.

This place is still the Netherworld, no matter what. Gao Jian may seem arrogant, but that's only because the big shots of the Netherworld haven't made a move. What he did is incomprehensible. He broke through ten true disciples of the Netherworld with his sixth-realm cultivation, which is already extremely terrifying. But if you really want to say that he poses any threat... it's not that serious.

Any elder could easily suppress Gao Jian with a flick of their wrist.

Therefore, upon careful analysis, she has absolutely nothing to fear; Gao Jian has no real ability to deal with her.

However... fear is something that can't be controlled.

Even a child can be afraid when encountering a strange relative who would never harm them. She felt an uncontrollable fear of Gao Jian, as if she had seen a natural enemy.

If Xia Youdu was a lazy, spineless cat in front of her master, then she was a bristling, hissing Hakimi in front of Gao Jian.

Fortunately... she's an adult after all, and she was able to control her behavior.

So she followed Gao Jian and left the place.

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Soon, she sat in the small house where Takami used to live, the one she had brought him there.

Once you step inside, the outside atmosphere seems to disappear, as if you've been instantly isolated by an invisible curtain.

Instead, there was a simply furnished stone room with a low table and two stools.

The air was filled with the refreshing scent of spring water, and... an indescribable aroma of tea that unconsciously calmed the mind.

On the low table, a set of simple and elegant celadon tea set was arranged meticulously. On the stove, a pot of spring water was making a fine and even "bubbling" sound, with steam rising from it.

Xia Youdu sat stiffly on the futon, her body still tense, as if ready to face a fatal attack at any moment. She couldn't understand why this man, who had just ruthlessly killed Ghost King Wu Feng in the hellish dungeon a moment ago and exuded a suffocating aura, would suddenly bring her to such a place... for tea?
Gao Jian sat opposite her, his demeanor calm and composed, a stark contrast to his earlier demeanor. The bloodstains and murderous aura on his body seemed to have been cleansed by the atmosphere of the stone chamber, vanishing without a trace.

He extended his hand, which had distinct knuckles but was unusually steady at the moment, and with fluid movements, began to warm the cup, take the tea, and pour the water.

This stark contrast did not lessen Xia Youdu's fear; instead, it replaced it with a deeper and more unsettling confusion.

Who is he?

Just now, he seemed like a demon, so frightening that she couldn't speak? And now, he's a refined gentleman skilled in tea ceremony, calm and composed as a deep pool?
Which one is the real him?
Or perhaps... this chilling "stillness" is merely a temporary repose of the destructive storm, like a turbulent undercurrent beneath a calm sea?
Gao Jian gently pushed a cup of clear, bright tea with a rich aroma to Xia Youdu.

"Please." The voice remained calm.

Xia Youdu looked at the clear tea in front of her, then at the calm, unfathomable face opposite her. She carefully extended her slightly trembling hand and picked up the warm teacup. The aroma of the tea was soothing and calmed her considerably.

She took a sniff first, then blinked.

After taking another sip, Xia Youdu's eyes lit up: "It's milky smooth and fragrant. I prepared this tea myself, so why can't I brew it myself?"

That's right, since Gao Jian is in the netherworld, it's impossible for him to get any good water.

Gao Jian then reached out and poured some water on his finger: "It's just water. The tea prepared in Youming is naturally good tea, probably worth a hundred gold pieces. So the problem lies with the water."

"If the water for brewing tea comes from a clear pool in the mountains, it will be sweet. If it comes from a river or stream, it will taste salty and sweet when it encounters a clear pool or large marsh, but if it has rapid waves, waterfalls, springs, or many boats, it will taste bitter and turbid."

"The water from the Netherworld comes from the depths of the Yellow Springs. Its yin energy is too heavy, which will inevitably disturb the aroma and flavor, making it unsuitable for brewing tea. Therefore, I use the water I brought with me. It comes from Cangzhou, a water town with many spiritual peaks and excellent springs in the mountains, suitable for drawing and boiling. The clear streams in the mountains are all good water, fragrant, sweet and rich, hence the difference."

“Impossible. How could I not know that the water in the Netherworld is bitter? We usually use spring water from outside, but it still doesn’t taste like yours.” Xia Youdu shook her head.

As she spoke, she also observed Gao Jian's movements.

Every step was precise and fluid, with a rhythmic quality. The porcelain teacup spun between his fingers, and as hot water was poured in, he controlled the tea leaves' unfurling and buoyancy with perfect precision. His focused gaze remained fixed on the tea, his expression as calm as ever, a stark contrast to the man who had just been roaring.

Xia Youdu stared blankly.

I really... don't understand.

This was by no means a pretentious affectation or affectation. The tea ceremony skills displayed by the man before her were more profound and refined than those of many veteran tea masters she had met who had been immersed in the art for decades.

It is an elegance that is ingrained in one's very being, a natural expression that comes from mastering water, fire, tea, and utensils to the extreme, with no superfluous embellishment in the movements.

After listening to Xia Youdu's words, Gao Jian then said, "If it's not a problem with the water, then it must be a problem with the fire. When brewing tea, the wood element is not completely exhausted, and there is still residual smoke. If the smoke enters the soup, the soup will be useless. Therefore, you should first heat it until it is red-hot to remove the smoke and flames, so that it can be drunk well."

"If the broth and fire are not properly balanced, the tea will be mediocre at best, and at worst, it will be weak and tasteless. It must be made with exquisite care and the timing of the process must be just right to bring out the true flavor of the tea, just like jade in its raw state, which can only be revealed through carving."

In the course of their conversation, he offered another insightful comment to the other person.

Xia Youdu's fear had almost subsided by this time.

This person... doesn't seem so scary. Such an elegant person, no wonder he comes from the capital, he really has class!
So Xia Youdu continued drinking her tea, and then said, "You... your name is Gao Jian, right? How should I address you?"

“Just call me Gao Jian, Miss Xia. I know you have a lot of things you want to ask me. Why don’t you ask me now? I’ll definitely tell you what I can. Consider it… building trust.” Gao Jian smiled and said to Xia Youdu.

“Build trust? Mr. Gao, you want me to build trust? I don’t understand.” Xia Youdu was puzzled, not understanding Gao Jian’s intentions at this moment.

“I come from the Imperial Academy, so naturally I don’t want to antagonize Youmingdi. However, due to some things, I still managed to disrupt Youmingdi’s plans, which is why your ancestor captured me. But your ancestor probably doesn’t want to really break ties with the Imperial Academy, so he left me here to see what my attitude is.” “So… your attitude is that you blocked the door to the true disciples of Youmingdi, and then came to me saying it was to gain their trust?” Xia Youdu didn’t quite understand Gao Jian’s line of thinking.

But putting everything else aside, the tea was indeed delicious, and she took another sip.

Gao Jian then reached out and refilled her cup, before saying, "Blocking the door was a last resort. I have no foundation in the Netherworld and no skills to speak of. However, as a martial artist, my only skill is fighting bravely. If I want to attract the attention of the big shots in the Netherworld, this is the only way."

"This is not just a matter of 'making a fool of yourself'... A sixth-realm cultivator fighting against ten true disciples of the Netherworld, four of whom were at the seventh realm, Mr. Gao, you really made a huge splash in the Netherworld." Xia Youdu seemed to be losing his composure and kept glancing at Gao Jian.

"Sigh, it's just embarrassing. I thought everything would go smoothly, but I never expected you, Miss Xia, to appear. You almost caused me to capsize."

"The boat capsized... Does Mr. Gao think the true teachings of Youming Land are a ditch?" Xia Youdu was slightly dissatisfied.

Then, she drank another cup of tea.

However, this time, Gao Jian did not continue the relationship for her.

Gao Jian said softly, "Drink less, three cups are enough. Tea is something to be drunk often, but not in large quantities. Drinking it often will cool the heart and lungs and relieve irritability. Drinking too much will slightly damage the spleen and kidneys, causing diarrhea or coldness. The spleen is originally moist, and the kidneys are the water element; they should be kept dry and warm. Too much is not beneficial."

"A pot of tea can only be brewed twice. The first brew is fresh and delicious, the second is sweet and mellow, and the third brew is almost over. The first brew is like a graceful thirteen-year-old, the second brew is like a young girl breaking out of her shell, and by the third brew, the green leaves have become lush and green." Gao Jian said, putting away the teapot.

Clearly, this answer displeased Xia Youdu.

So she pushed the teacup away and said, "You speak of being as graceful and delicate as a thirteen-year-old, and as youthful and delicate as a maiden in her youth. Is Mr. Gao such a lecherous man?"

"It's just a metaphor, Miss Xia, please don't take it to heart. If you feel offended, then I apologize on my behalf." Gao Jian cupped his hands in apology.

“Since you’re going to apologize, you can’t just offer empty words. Pour me another cup,” Xia Youdu suggested, rolling her eyes.

To be honest, Gaojian tea is indeed delicious. When the tea is brewed, it is as if white flowers float on the surface of the bowl, and the tea surface is like fresh jade milk. She now feels that her mouth is full of fragrance and the aftertaste is endless.

Tea embodies all five elements. The word "tea" itself seems to represent a person amidst plants and trees, receiving the spiritual energy of mountains and rivers. Fire helps water to soothe withered wood, and the flowing water reveals the tea's properties. It is roasted with metal and fire, and simmered by water and fire to extract its essence. In her old abode in the realm of the living and the dead, where the yin energy was heavy, she now has these three cups of tea to harmonize the five elements. She feels completely comfortable and naturally wants to drink more and more, without stopping.

"That won't do. You really can't drink any more. This tea is too yin in nature, and even if I use yang fire to calcine it, I can't remove that. Three cups are enough. Drinking more will harm your body, and excessive drinking will harm your spirit and shorten your lifespan. You'll be easily startled and unable to sleep peacefully, which would be bad." Gao Jian put the teapot behind his back, naturally disagreeing.

Xia Youdu, like a truly lazy cat, gracefully stood up with remarkable resilience, stretched, closed one eye while keeping the other open, her gaze shifting with a playful and slightly tipsy allure: "In that case, I'll go fetch some wine. Wine is fire in water, which can give rise to yang in the primordial sea. Fire rises from water, the cycle of heaven and earth repeats itself. I have some cypress wine hidden here, the essence of the Jade Balance Star. Drinking it will make one feel light. May I drink three more cups to suppress the yin energy, and then exchange it for a cup of tea, Mr. Gao?"

“Uh…” Gao Jian was somewhat surprised by Xia Youdu’s reaction.

Just a moment ago she was terrified of him, but now she has the audacity to haggle with a charming smile. The speed of her change in demeanor is truly astonishing.

She left on her own without asking Gao Jiantong whether he agreed or not.

Gao Jian did not stop them; instead, he brewed another cup of tea and kept the cup warm.

Before long, Xia Youdu indeed brought back the "cypress wine" and did not take the opportunity to escape, but returned.

The wine is clear, with a subtle, warm, jade-like luster. Upon closer inspection, it has a distinctive, crisp scent of pine and cypress, as if it truly contains the essence of stars.

She didn't stand on ceremony and poured herself a drink. At first, it was a bit tentative, but after three cups, the effects of the alcohol, like vines in early spring, silently crept up her face and cheeks.

After three cups of wine, she felt hot and bothered. Gao Jian couldn't refuse, so he handed her a fourth cup of tea, which she happily accepted and drank in one gulp.

A cup of tea and a cup of wine, they lingered like this until five cups of tea and a pot of wine were served, at which point Gao Jian finally put away the stove.

At this moment, as Xia Youdu, his eyes glazed over with drunkenness, leaned limply against the table, humming a tuneless melody, Gao Jian knew the time had come.

He gently put down the empty glass he had been rubbing, making a barely audible sound. Yet, the sound seemed to possess a strange penetrating power, causing Xia Youdu's slightly tipsy, hazy eyes to focus for a fleeting moment.

“Miss Xia,” Gao Jian’s voice remained steady, but with an added air of unquestionable solemnity, “The matter I am about to ask concerns the very foundations of cultivation and is extremely private, which is quite offensive. I apologize in advance and hope that you will forgive me.”

He bowed respectfully, his posture sincere, yet his deep gaze, like a searchlight, was fixed firmly on Xia Youdu's hazy, drunken eyes.

"But this matter is crucial for me, for clarifying some doubts. Forgive my abruptness—"

He leaned forward slightly and asked, word by word, with perfect clarity:
"May I ask, young lady, what kind of cultivation technique do you practice?"

This question is extremely rude, which is why you need to lay out so much information beforehand.

However, I didn't expect her to get herself drunk, but it doesn't matter, as long as I can achieve my goal.

As for Xia Youdu, two delicate blushes rose on her cheeks, and her eyes became increasingly hazy, as if veiled by a layer of misty rain from the Jiangnan region.

The composure he had previously feigned and the reserve he possessed from the Great Immortal Sect had been somewhat diluted by the alcohol.

She rested her chin on her hand, her fingertips unconsciously drawing circles on the smooth tabletop. Sometimes she chuckled softly, sometimes she tilted her head, gazing at Gao Jian with her large, watery eyes, filled with a naive curiosity. Her red lips parted slightly, her breath sweet and fragrant, carrying a faint scent of cypress. Her every move exuded an unconscious, charming naiveté.

This caught Gao Jian off guard.

Why isn't this person saying anything?
Are you drunk and confused?

No way, officer, he still needs to judge Youmingdi's attitude based on Xia Youdu's situation, and he's actually drunk?
His usually brilliant and infallible strategies were put to the test in this situation, leaving him somewhat helpless.

However, at this very moment—

Xia Youdu's eyes darted around, but she sat up: "Are you afraid I won't tell you, Mr. Gao?"

(End of this chapter)