Translator: CinderTL
Song Wen retrieved a bronze teapot and conjured a pot of clear water. After heating the water to a boil, he added several vibrant green leaves to the teapot. Immediately, a dense Spiritual Qi and a delicate fragrance filled the misty steam rising from the teapot.
He then poured the tea into two porcelain cups, filling them to the brim.
"Miss Qinglian, this is Spirit Tea from our human race. Please, take a seat and see if this tea suits your palate."
With that, Song Wen lifted the hem of his robe and settled onto a stone bench, raising his cup and draining it in one gulp. As the scalding tea warmed his stomach, he realized with a start:
Since when had he grown accustomed to drinking a cup of Spirit Tea after such... encounters?
Across from him, Qing Lian also "sat" on the stone bench, though her posture was peculiar. Her serpentine tail coiled tightly around the bench, supporting her body as she leaned against its coiled mass. She picked up her cup, studying the swirling steam with curiosity before cautiously bringing it to her nose for a sniff.
The delicate fragrance instantly filled her nostrils, causing her vibrant, vertical pupils to light up.
"It smells wonderful!"
Mimicking Song Wen, she gulped down the tea in one go.
Her delicate eyebrows immediately furrowed.
"Why is it so bitter?"
"All tea brewed by humans, whether the common tea drunk by mortals or the Spirit Tea consumed by cultivators, has an initial bitter taste. But if you savor it carefully, you'll discover a lingering sweetness that follows the bitterness," Song Wen explained, refilling both teacups.
This time, Qing Lian learned her lesson. She picked up her cup and took a small, careful sip.
But after several more sips, her eyebrows remained slightly furrowed. She tasted no sweetness, only a faint, lingering bitterness.
She lowered her hand, intending to set the cup on the stone table, but suddenly remembered something. She brought the cup back to her lips and drained it in one gulp.
"Delicious!"
"More!"
Qing Lian held up her empty cup, forcing a smile. But she clearly wasn't good at hiding her emotions; the smile looked strained.
"Miss Qinglian, if you don't enjoy the tea, why force yourself to drink it?" Song Wen asked.
"Oh," Qing Lian replied, setting down her teacup with a hint of melancholy.
She suddenly recalled her conversation with her big brother from a few days prior: Ji Yin was human, while she was a Willow Serpent demon. Could someone of a different race truly accept her?
Now, even a simple bowl of tea revealed the stark differences between their races, fueling her anxiety.
"Actually, not everyone in the human race enjoys the taste of tea," Song Wen said with a warm smile. "Especially beautiful women like you, Miss Qinglian—they often prefer sweeter things."
A two-foot-tall jade bottle materialized in his hand.
The bottle was crystal-clear, allowing a clear view of the thick, amber-colored honey inside.
"Miss Qinglian, try this."
Song Wen handed her the jade bottle.
Hearing his words, Qing Lian's spirits lifted considerably.
She accepted the bottle and pulled out the stopper.
A rich, sweet aroma wafted out, making her twitch her nose involuntarily. Her face lit up with surprise and delight.
Qing Lian eagerly opened her mouth and gently inhaled, drawing a small globule of honeyed dew from the jade bottle into her mouth.
"Mmm—"
A soft, sweet hum escaped her throat.
Her eyes instantly narrowed into crescent moons as her forked tongue darted out to lick the lingering dew from her lips.
"So sweet! Even sweeter than the ripest berries and the honey from Spirit Peak!"
A blissful, radiant smile bloomed on Qing Lian's face, as vibrant as a spring blossom.
"I'm glad you like it, Miss Qinglian. This bottle of Hundred Flowers Dew is yours," Song Wen said.
Hundred Flowers Dew was meticulously crafted from the nectar of over a hundred spirit plant blossoms. Its exquisite flavor surpassed even the rarest honey produced by Spirit Bees.
However, the dew contained little Spiritual Qi, serving no purpose beyond satisfying one's sweet tooth. Ultimately, it was merely a delicacy sought after by those with a penchant for sweets.
The pragmatic Song Wen would never have purchased such a frivolous item. He couldn't even recall from whom he had obtained it, likely after killing them.
"Thank you, Ji Yin, for giving me such delicious food," Qing Lian said, her vertical pupils sparkling like stars, her heart overflowing with joy. The anxiety that had plagued her earlier had completely vanished.
Song Wen smiled, about to reply, when he suddenly looked up at the distant sky.
King Jianglin's figure appeared on the horizon, rapidly approaching. In an instant, she landed in the cooling pavilion.
"Big brother!" Qing Lian rose to greet her. "You're finally back! Have you finished handling the clan affairs?"
"Mm-hmm," King Jianglin replied, her expression cold, though her gaze involuntarily flickered toward Song Wen standing nearby.
Song Wen stood up and bowed respectfully. "Greetings, King Jianglin."
King Jianglin nodded slightly in acknowledgment.
"Big brother, did you come here for something specific?" Qing Lian asked.
"Nothing in particular," King Jianglin replied. "I just wanted to see what you two were talking about."
"Ji Yin was letting me try some human food and even gave me a bottle of honey syrup. It's so delicious!" Qing Lian held out the jade bottle to King Jianglin. "Big brother, you should try some too."
"No need," King Jianglin said.
King Jianglin pushed the jade bottle aside, gazing at her younger sister with tender affection.
"Since Ji Yin specifically gifted this to you, keep it and savor it slowly."
"Alright!" The jade bottle vanished from Qing Lian's hand, its destination unknown.
"Such deep fraternal affection, like orchids and sweet herbs entwined—truly enviable," Song Wen interjected.
He knew King Jianglin's sudden appearance likely stemmed from guilt.
The king was well aware of her younger sister's affection for Ji Yin, yet she couldn't suppress her own desires. Behind Qing Lian's back, she had used the Purple Lotus Fruit to "cure" Song Wen of its "poison."
Moreover, during their intimate days together, Song Wen had learned from her that Qing Lian hadn't intentionally given him the Purple Lotus Fruit. She genuinely hadn't known its effects, allowing King Jianglin to seize the opportunity.
Song Wen couldn't help but wonder how Qing Lian would react if she ever discovered the truth.
Would she forever despise both Song Wen and King Jianglin? Would she be consumed by remorse? Or would she remain indifferent, given that sisters sharing a husband was commonplace within the Willow Serpent Clan?
Perhaps sensing that Song Wen wouldn't reveal their scandalous affair, King Jianglin lingered only briefly before withdrawing.
(End of the Chapter)
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