Chapter 157 Mr. Zhang on the Tea Mountain
Inside the Never-Sleeping Lodge, one person seemed to have victory firmly in their grasp...
Xianming gently lifted the teapot and slowly poured Mengyu a cup of hot tea.
"Immortal Tea Master! You poured me such a full cup of tea, and it's so hot! You're obviously not letting me drink this cup of tea!" Meng Yu said with a grin.
"You little rascal! You still haven't improved at all!" Xianming put down the teapot and picked up a small palm-leaf fan to gently fan himself.
Her black hair swept across her smooth neck, and her red lips and white teeth appeared and disappeared as the palm-leaf fan was being fanned, causing Meng Yu's lips to curl up with a wicked smile!
"You brat!" Xianming tapped Meng Yu on the head with her palm-leaf fan. "Don't let your imagination run wild!"
Meng Yu pressed his hand below his navel, looking embarrassed, and leaned closer to Xianming, "Xianming-jun, please teach me again..."
"Get lost!" Xianming tapped Meng Yu's head and said, "Back then, you hadn't met anyone you liked, and I was free, so I was just playing around with you! Now that you have someone in mind, you'd better stay away from me!"
Meng Yu slowly lay down, reaching out to touch Xianming's jade-like toes, and said with a hint of sadness, "Xianming, Guan Yue... doesn't like me."
Xianming paused for a moment, then lifted her foot to meet Meng Yu's finger. "Don't rush, that child might not have figured it out yet!"
"When will he finally see the light?" Meng Yu muttered, gazing at the misty roof of the Nevernight Lodge, twirling Xianming's toes. "He's been... I haven't even complained about him..."
Xianming frowned slightly, paused for a moment, bypassed Meng Yu's hand, and slowly reached out to Meng Yu's cheek, poking Meng Yu's thick skin with her toes, saying, "Back then, I taught you for a long time, how come you have so little patience?"
"It's not that I'm impatient, it's just that this silly boy has fallen for Yao'er!" Meng Yu said dejectedly, stroking Xianming's feet.
Xianming covered her mouth and chuckled, "He likes that girl Su Yuyao? Do you think Xuanfeng will let him off the hook?"
"I don't know if Lord Xuanfeng will spare him, but I certainly won't!" Meng Yu said fiercely. "When I find an opportunity, I will definitely teach him a lesson!"
Xianming smiled without saying a word, picked up her teacup and took a small sip.
Longjing carried a wooden tea box into the Never-Night Lodge. He glanced at Meng Yu, who was lying on the ground playing with the jade feet of the fairy tea, and said with slight displeasure, "Meng Yu, the tea that Lord Qi Meng ordered is ready!"
"I understand! I have to go!" Meng Yu stood up, took the tea box, and said, "Immortal Mingjun, shouldn't you also go and see Lord Xuanfeng? I heard he's seriously injured! As his father, it wouldn't be right for you not to care!"
"You little brat! Don't be so disrespectful to me!" After saying that, Xianming glanced at Longjing, and seeing that Longjing's expression was unpredictable, she didn't say anything more.
"How am I being disrespectful?! Lord Xuanfeng has taken Nu'e as a concubine! Although Nu'e is not a formally married woman, she can still have children! However, Lord Xuanfeng was subjected to the Qi Whip, which will damage his manhood! What if he gets hurt... hehe... Aren't you in a hurry to have a grandson?" Meng Yu said with a grin.
Xianming sneered and picked up her teacup. "Longjing."
"exist!"
"Beat him up!" Xianming took a sip of her tea.
Longjing didn't respond. Instead, he grabbed Mengyu's belt and carried him to the tea garden like a chick.
"Put the tea box down," Longjing said expressionlessly.
Seeing that Longjing was getting serious, Meng Yu quickly begged for mercy, "Immortal Tea Lord! Immortal Tea Lord! I was wrong! Please be magnanimous and let me go! Brother Longjing! Good brother! Let me go!"
Longjing snatched the tea box and put it aside, then casually broke off a twig and lashed it at Meng Yu.
"Hey! Longjing! I'm begging you, and you're really going to hit me?!" Meng Yu broke free from Longjing's grasp and hid in the distance. "Where did I go wrong?! Lord Zeyuan has Hongzhu! So, Mother Yi gave Lord Xuanfeng a Qilan! It's all to see who will have a child first!"
Xianming was startled!
Why did Yi's mother, who clearly knew that Ze Yuan couldn't have children, still put Qi Lan next to Xuan Feng at this time? Why did she have to do it now, right when Su Yu Yao appeared?
"Longjing, what did Su Yuyao do after entering the Heavenly Palace, besides causing a scene in the Tianyi Hall and spending a night in the Female Mother Palace?"
Longjing stopped what he was doing, lowered his head to think for a moment, then raised his head and shook it.
"So what are they all busy with in the Heavenly Palace right now?"
"It's nothing, it's just that Qi Lan has moved into Fu Guang Palace and is managing all the affairs of Fu Guang Palace as the mistress of the house."
"Doesn't her mother care?"
Longjing lowered his head and did not respond.
"How can Mother Goddess manage this!" Meng Yu cried out, squatting behind the tea tree, clutching his head. "Isn't Hongzhu also a female immortal, yet she holds the position of a celestial wife of a celestial lord!"
"Longjing!" Xianming shouted, "Go and find out about Su Yuyao! Everything from when she entered the Heavenly Palace until now! The more detailed the better!"
"Yes!" Longjing glared at Meng Yu, threw down the branch, and retreated.
Meng Yu rubbed his arm, picked up the tea box, raised his eyebrows, and called out in a silly manner, "Immortal Tea Master! You're busy! I'm leaving!"
Xianming frowned, fidgeting with her fingertips as she stared at her teacup, seemingly lost in thought, and paid no attention to Meng Yu.
Holding the tea box, Meng Yu slowly turned around, a slight smile playing on his lips. His previously playful expression gradually transformed into a cold, sinister allure, his eyes revealing an almost imperceptible murderous intent...
Xianming suddenly smiled, then abruptly raised her eyes to stare at Meng Yu's back, narrowing her eyes thoughtfully.
...
The tea mountains are shrouded in mist, their peaks layered with verdant greenery, glistening like a painting.
Among the lush tea bushes, squatted an old man dressed in a brown robe. He had a small bun on his round head, with a twig inserted in it. He had long eyebrows, kind eyes, a broad nose, and a thick mouth, and his sparse beard was dangling among the leaves.
"Mr. Zhang!" Xianming, carrying a white robe, slowly stepped onto the path, clasped her hands in a deep bow to the old man, and said, "Xianming greets Mr. Zhang!"
"Oh? Xianming?" Old Mr. Zhang stood up, stroked his soft beard, and waved to Xianming with a smile. "You've come at the perfect time! Come and see my newly planted tea!"
Xianming stepped forward with a smile, “The leaves are thick and dark green, so the taste must be mellow, sweet, and unforgettable!”
"I think so too! If your father were still alive, we could have a chat over tea! Now that he's gone, I don't even have anyone to drink tea with!" Mr. Zhang said with some disappointment.
Xianming smiled slightly and said, "My father is no longer fortunate enough to enjoy such delicacies. I wonder if I am?"
"Hahahaha!" Old Mr. Zhang laughed loudly, "Your palate is even more discerning than your father's! I dare not give you this new tea! However, there is an aged tea that might suit your taste!"
On the tea mountain, there is a precipice, and on the precipice is a simple thatched hut, with a simple tea table by the window.
Mr. Zhang and Xianming sat on either side of the tea table.
Xianming placed the dark, glossy tea leaves into a gaiwan covered with tea stains, and slowly poured in lukewarm water along the side of the cup to gently unfurl the tea leaves.
He quickly filtered out the crystal-clear amber-colored tea soup, which was full of tea aroma and rich honey fragrance.
Mr. Zhang took a sip of tea and said with a smile, "Xianming, your tea-brewing skills are better than anyone else's!"
Xianming lowered her head slightly, "It's because Mr. Zhang's tea is so good that I was able to brew such a good flavor."
Mr. Zhang nodded. “That’s right. No matter how good your skills are, it’s useless if the tea is bad. But… if it’s a good tea, and you don’t brew it properly, but instead deliberately ruin it just to make the person drinking it feel disgusted, then you’re making a big mistake!”
Xianming paused for a moment, then turned to look out the window without saying a word.
“Mr. Zhang, look!” Xianming said, gazing at the tea mountains outside the window. “Looking down from the high peaks, picking fresh branches amidst the clouds. Such a beautiful scene, such a fine cup of tea, yet you have no kindred spirit to share it with. In the end, it is your tragedy!”
Mr. Zhang sighed deeply and nodded heavily. “You’re right! This is indeed my sorrow! I know how painful and difficult it is to bear this sorrow, so I want to keep this pain to myself and not let others continue to suffer it.”
Upon hearing this, Xianming smiled and turned her head, saying, "I am not as noble as you. My idea is... to let everyone taste this pain!"
Looking at the frail yet stubborn Xianming, Mr. Zhang said helplessly, "Xianming, you and I are truly bound by fate! You have Xuanfeng, and I have Qinggan! Although I have no marital affection for Qingjin, Qinggan is my child, and I am willing to give everything for him."
Xianming picked up her teacup, took a sip of the warm tea, and savored the rich, sweet and sour taste of grapevines, mixed with an unbearable bitterness.
He put down his teacup and said, "I am not great, so I can understand you, but I cannot do what you say!"
"Xianming, Xuanfeng is a good child! You can't hurt him like this!" Old Mr. Zhang said, slightly agitated.
Xianming turned to look out the window again, her expression indifferent, and said, "I'm a good child too, why would anyone want to harm me?"
"Xianming, who hasn't made mistakes? Even the Queen Mother knows she's wrong! That's why she bestowed the name of Lord Xuan upon Xuanfeng! It was also to comfort you!"
Xianming gave a wry smile. "Xuanfeng was a child who should never have been born. Does it matter what his name is?"
Looking at Xianming, Mr. Zhang knew he couldn't persuade her, so he changed the subject, "Xianming, you came here this time..."
"Oh, nothing special. I just went to Jiujiao Mountain a while ago to help Xuanfeng replenish some vegetation." Xianming's face showed a rare look of joy. "I also saw my sister..."
"Oh! That's wonderful!" Mr. Zhang clapped his hands and laughed with joy.
Xianming smiled sheepishly and said, "I've been staying with you for a while now, and I feel I should get out and about more, so I came to see you today since I didn't have anything else to do!"
"Xianming, please come often in the future! Let's have more chats!"
"Alright." Xianming poured another pot of tea for Mr. Zhang. "Mr. Zhang, how have you been lately?"
"I'm getting old and don't want to worry about anything, so I just tend to these tea trees every day, and I'm quite content with that!"
As he stroked his beard, Mr. Zhang looked hopefully at the tea plantation outside the window and said proudly, "These tea trees are all my children! Each one carries spiritual energy! When I cultivate to the level of Mei Zhan, I also want to use spiritual energy to create a child!"
Xianming smiled and said, "Would the Azure Gold Fairy agree? You must be joking!"
"Hahahaha!" Old Mr. Zhang burst into laughter. "That woman will definitely cause me a huge scene! Then I won't have any peace and quiet!"
“Although Fairy Qingjin doesn’t live here permanently, she comes over occasionally. Why hasn’t she come recently?” Xianming asked, looking at the deserted room.
"Qixiang is pregnant, and she's very busy right now!"
"Oh? That's wonderful news!" Xianming lowered her head and took a sip of tea. "A few days ago, Mother Yi sent Qilan to Xuanfeng House. I wonder if Qilan will be able to conceive soon..."
Upon hearing this, Old Master Zhang's face darkened. "Xianming, I've heard that Xuanfeng is deeply in love with that Su Yuyao! Why do you insist on making things difficult for him?! I disagreed with you discussing this with Qingjin back then! Why send Xuanfeng a concubine for no reason?! Su Yuyao would rather not be a fairy than let Qilan into her home! You..."
"Mr. Zhang! Why are you so agitated?" Xianming put down her teacup and said with a smile, "The last time I met Fairy Qingjin, it was by chance when I came to get tea. We just chatted for a bit. Who would have thought that she would take Qilan into the palace as soon as she got back!"
"You think I don't know what you're thinking?! You're going to all sorts of trouble to make Xuanfeng miserable, just to annoy your mother!"
Xianming smiled and changed the subject, "Fangrui is gentle, generous, virtuous and kind, but I don't know if she can accept the child in Qixiang's belly!"
"It's hard to say! Fangrui doesn't even show her face anymore!" Mr. Zhang said regretfully. "Everyone's focused on Qixiang! Who would pay attention to her then?"
Xianming's eyes trembled slightly. Qilan had been sent to Fuguang Palace, so no one would notice Su Yuyao! Mother Yi deliberately shifted the focus, drawing everyone's attention to Qilan. Why?
He sipped his tea and continued, "Qingju and Qinglv should be very happy to have a younger brother or sister!"
"Oh dear! Don't even mention it! That woman hasn't been coming lately because those two kids found out Qixiang is pregnant and are throwing a tantrum at home!"
Xianming covered her mouth and laughed, saying, "It's clearly about adding a new member to the family! Why has it turned into such a chaotic situation!"
“Hey! Who says otherwise!” Old Master Zhang picked up his teacup and said, “Qinggan’s wife and concubine can cause such a commotion! What about Xuanfeng! I heard that Mother Goddess Yi has driven Su Yuyao out of the Heavenly Palace and blocked her path to marrying into the Heavenly Palace! Now we’ll see if Qilan has the ability to conceive Xuanfeng’s child…”
Xianming's heart skipped a beat. Could it be that her mother was trying to divert attention from Su Yuyao because of Su Yuyao...?
No way!
If Su Yuyao was pregnant, how dare she be so bold as to disregard the safety of her child and break into the Heavenly Palace?
Xianming quickly denied her speculation.
He picked up his teacup, drank it all in one gulp, and calmed himself down.
"Mr. Zhang, the Heavenly Palace is not like the Yin Guo Garden; life and death can be decided in an instant. Therefore, we must remind Miss Qi Lan not to be ostentatious! If something happens to her, it's one thing if it's just her own problem. But it would be terrible if it implicates Qing Gan or even Fairy Qing Jin!"
Mr. Zhang nodded and said, "What you said makes sense. I will send a message to Qingjin and ask her to remind Qilan."
A layer of dark clouds had gathered in the clear sky, and a thick layer of moisture filled the air.
"I should be going now." Xianming stood up and bowed slightly, saying, "Thank you for your hospitality, Mr. Zhang."
Old Mr. Zhang escorted Xianming onto the path. "Xianming, only by letting go of others can you redeem yourself. I understand your pain, but I do not condone your actions of sowing discord between the mother and son. Don't forget, a mother and son are still a mother and son!"
Xianming lowered her eyes and smiled slightly, "Mr. Zhang, farewell!"
The thick steam gradually condensed, forming droplets that fell onto Xianming's face. He looked up at the gray sky. "Xuanyi," he thought, "I also want to let go of my hatred, but I can't!"
The dark clouds parted, and a warm ray of light shone on Xianming's face.
Xianming closed his eyes. The subtle sunlight felt like Xuan Yi's hand caressing his face. He seemed to see Xuan Yi, bleeding from all seven orifices, bidding him farewell. He seemed to see his father spitting blood and collapsing in front of him. He seemed to see that disgusting woman riding on top of him, surging...
"Ugh—" Xianming began to feel nauseous uncontrollably. He suddenly opened his eyes and saw that the drizzle had turned into a torrential downpour, washing away the warmth he had imagined.
Why should I forgive? What right do I have to forgive?! What about what I lost? What about it?!
Mr. Zhang was squatting under the eaves, cooking millet porridge on a small stove. The faint aroma of rice mixed with the chestnut fragrance of green tea wafted towards Mr. Zhang's nose.
Mr. Zhang remained calm. He slightly raised his eyes and asked softly, "Why are you back?"
Behind Mr. Zhang, a sharp tea knife was trembling slightly.
Raindrops pounded against the mountainside, like a silent army of thousands.
"Is the rain too heavy?" Mr. Zhang asked softly again.
The tea knife gradually steadied itself and slowly moved towards Mr. Zhang's neck.
“Child, perhaps my path is wrong, but how can you be sure you’re right?” Old Mr. Zhang looked at the bubbling millet porridge in front of him and said slowly, “I may not concern myself with other people’s business, but that doesn’t mean I’m omniscient. If your path is right, then my path is neither right nor wrong! But have you considered that if your path is wrong, have you left yourself a correct path?”
The tea knife hovered in mid-air, hesitating and struggling.
“Right now, we don’t even know which path is right. Why would you risk cutting off your own escape route?” Old Mr. Zhang slowly raised his hand, stirring the millet porridge with a wooden spoon. “I’ve heard that although Su Yuyao is a bit spoiled and willful, she’s still quite intelligent! And her origins are far from simple! If you follow your path, can you bear to do it?”
The tea knife froze in mid-air.
“Xianming,” Mr. Zhang looked up at the tea mountain in the rain and said, “Your sister’s child has returned. I wonder if your father… will be able to return…”
The tea knife began to tremble again, raindrops dripping onto the blade, slowly pressing the tea knife down little by little.
"Everything in the universe is in a cycle, and ultimately, it cannot escape the law of cause and effect. Only by making the decision to take a step out of this cycle can one achieve true liberation..."
Xianming was already in tears. He didn't want to let go of anyone who had hurt him, but he had become the very thing he hated most...
“I’ll go back inside and wait for you. If you’ve made up your mind, bring this pot of porridge inside. If you insist on doing it your way, then I will not resist!” After saying this, Mr. Zhang stepped into the thatched hut.
The millet porridge is cooked and is bubbling and leaping on the fire, but who knows how much longer it will keep going...
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