Chapter 111: Who taught you this?!

Eastern Sea Shore, the Dao Comprehension Tea River winds through.

This river is like a long, slender jade belt, carved and adorned among several sea regions of the Eastern Sea. The water plants are lush and green, the breeze gentle and warm, the water clear and light green, gently swaying, carrying a unique refined charm.

Within it, all the water plants are tea leaves, drifting slowly with the current, exuding a graceful and elegant ambiance.

In the past, the Xia Family governed the Dao Comprehension Tea River. With the arrival of each new year, the Dao Comprehension Tea Gathering would be held grandly.

At that time, refined scholars and talented beauties from all corners flocked to attend. All could ascend the high platform, display their poetic talents, contend in verse and prose, winning the admiration of the people. The Xia Family’s reputation thus flourished, its prestige ever-rising.

After the Qing Emperor Divine Palace unified the Five Realms and Two Heavens, the Dao Comprehension Tea Gathering was taken over by the Qing Emperor Divine Palace, held annually without interruption.

“To savor the clear, cold water, and watch the dust simmer and swirl…”

“To drink and sweep away slumber, so that one’s spirit fills the vast heavens…”

In previous years, at the Tea Gathering, talented youths and fair maidens from all regions would compose poems and match wits, their literary flair hard to distinguish as superior or inferior. Yet this year, a prodigious talent appeared as if from the heavens, suppressing all rivals single-handedly. Standing at the head of the river, reciting off the cuff, their verses seemed born for the ages, every line a masterpiece.

“A bowl moistens the lips and throat, two bowls dispel one’s dryness. Three bowls search the withered mind—only words, five thousand volumes.”

Within a small riverside pavilion, a young girl in white stood graceful and tall, her brows delicate and her features refined, her skin like creamy jade. Her bright eyes sparkled as she glanced about, as if a fairy from the ninth heaven had descended into the mortal world. She was tall and slender, standing by the riverbank like someone who had stepped out of a painting, causing all to be captivated and entranced.

“Four bowls bring a light sweat; all of life’s grievances, scattered through every pore. Five bowls cleanse the flesh and bones, six bowls commune with immortals and spirits.”

White Changsheng held a cup of clear tea in her hands, lifting her head to drink, her movements graceful and carefree.

“White Changsheng congratulates all present! I wish the Scholar of the World a prosperous rise, and everlasting youth!”

She gently placed the tea cup down, and to the dazed and stunned gathering of refined scholars, she offered an elegant cupped-fist salute. Her clear, melodious voice rang out in all directions, filled with confidence.

“These verses are composed by myself. Please, all of you, judge them as you see fit!”

As her words fell, silence enveloped the riverbank. All eyes stared in astonishment at this white-robed beauty before them, momentarily at a loss for how to respond.

“Wonderful! What excellent poetry!”

After a long while, someone finally could not restrain themselves and cheered loudly. A scholar cupped his hands toward White Changsheng. “Miss White, your talent is unparalleled! Brother Jiang is thoroughly convinced. This year’s Dao Comprehension Tea Gathering, the top spot is surely yours!!”

“Thank you for your kind words, Brother Jiang. I dare not accept the praise, I merely displayed what little I have learned.” White Changsheng responded with a cupped-fist salute, her smile as gentle as the spring sun, warm and affable.

As the Sigma of the Changsheng Realm, self-styled as the future master of [Extinguish Sun], and the greatest hope for rescuing her true self, even after losing her second brother, she threw herself wholly into her work, crazily taking on tasks.

It was inevitable.

[Extinguish Sun] required the annual specialty Dao Comprehension Tea Leaves from the Dao Comprehension Tea River, especially the rarest and finest Jiu Xuan Dao Comprehension Tea Leaves. However, by custom, these few Jiu Xuan Dao Comprehension Tea Leaves would all be offered to the Qing Emperor Divine Palace.

Currently, the one in power—Xuan Tian True Lord—was particularly fond of these tea leaves.

In theory, one could try to seize them by force, but who would dare snatch something from the hands of a Huàshén Tiānzūn, especially one who led a great superpower? Moreover, it was said that Xuan Tian True Lord cherished these tea leaves dearly, even stationing the Qing Emperor Divine Palace’s third War General—Hengyuan True Lord—here year-round.

Fortunately, the heavens always leave a path. By tradition, the champion of the Dao Comprehension Tea Gathering would be rewarded with one or two pieces of Jiu Xuan Dao Comprehension Tea, as recognition of their extraordinary talent and literary brilliance.

Thus, she entered this Dao Comprehension Tea Gathering under an alias, and by her own strength, overwhelmed all rivals, seizing the entire prize!

On both sides of the riverbank, Wu Ji and Gu Wanqing gazed at the white-robed maiden who had become the center of attention at the Tea Gathering. The countless scholars around her were thoroughly convinced, praising her without end, bowing in congratulations.

“Brother Wu, there’s no problem with Fellow Daoist White.” Gu Wanqing said.

Wu Ji nodded, “Memories can be altered, cultivation can be disguised, and magical treasures can mimic many things. Yet talent, that’s something truly mysterious and almost impossible to fake.”

“With such literary talent, it’s certainly not someone swapped in by the Yutian Day-Swapping Grand Method or the Face-Stealing Substitution Grand Method.”

“Among this batch of newcomers, we’ve uncovered many spies who used those two techniques for substitution. Recently, Xuan Tian True Lord has dispatched large numbers of troops, and many branches have suffered tragic losses. Who knows what immense change has occurred in this era? The Xuan Tian True Lord, who should have died, has actually advanced to Huàshén Tiānzūn.”

At these words, Gu Wanqing was stunned for a moment, then murmured quietly, “Perhaps only by finding Mr. Bai can we know for sure. He once said he’d wait for us in the ‘Future,’ but why is it, after all these years, he still…”

At this time, the Dao Comprehension Tea Gathering had already concluded. White Changsheng received those few pieces of Jiu Xuan Dao Comprehension Tea Leaves, her smile radiant.

Her gaze flowed over the countless admirers below, faces brimming with reverence and love, and suddenly inspired by a refined whim, she raised her tea cup high.

“Today, White Changsheng is in excellent spirits. As you are all about to depart, allow me to offer another poem to send you off.”

“To stand shoulder to shoulder, how can one say there is no…”

Just as the poetic line left her lips, among the crowd by the riverbank, the two who had been conversing suddenly fell silent, hearts stirring—not a ripple, but as if a giant meteorite had crashed into the center of the Eastern Sea, sending forth towering waves!!

Gu Wanqing and Wu Ji’s expressions changed dramatically.

Wu Ji seemed to realize something and reached out to stop it, but it was too late—a streak of escaping light flashed forth!

As White Changsheng was in the midst of reciting her poem, she suddenly felt a chill on the back of her neck. Instinctively glancing back, she found a cold, gleaming sword pressed to her throat and met a pair of fierce, probing, almost ferocious eyes.

“Who taught you that?!”

Morning mist dispersing, the city streets gradually became lively.

Zhou Xuan’s body trembled slightly. As the beautiful dream in his mind faded away like a bubble, he slowly opened his eyes. When his consciousness fully returned, an indescribable sense of comfort surged from below his waist like a tide.

His eyes drifted downward, and he saw a stunning girl with bright red hair and skin fairer than snow, lying between his legs. Her nose was pressed close to that heated spot, engaged in a certain act of feeding.

“Ah Xuan, you’re awake. You looked so energetic, so I took care of breakfast myself. You know, I have the Ancient Desire Beast Bloodline, and I just love eating this kind of thing.”

Seeing Zhou Xuan awake, the Blood Consort withdrew from her feeding state. She lowered her head and gave that heated place a kiss, a crystal-clear thread of fragrant nectar still connecting her cherry lips, her face filled with bliss and sweetness.

“Awoo~ I really liked how wild you were last night. I didn’t expect you to be so fierce. It’s just a pity we didn’t go all the way to the last step.”

“Some little blue bird website said that tasting a sisters’ bowl on New Year’s means you’ll have great luck in the coming year.”

Gurgle~

A sudden sound broke the delicate and steamy atmosphere like a stone thrown into a calm lake. The girl gently pressed her hand to her belly, her cheeks flushing red.

“Ah Xuan, last night was a bit much for me. Could I…”

A large hand gently rested on the girl’s small head, the man’s gaze warm.

“If you want to eat, then eat. You don’t need my permission.”

“Yay!”