Chapter 217: Sending Tea Leaves

Upon hearing this, everyone remembered that the assessment between him and Lu Xun had not yet concluded, and they all turned their eyes to Elder Tian.

“You won…”

Elder Tian sighed, his face filled with bitterness.

Comparing appreciation skills with the very author of the calligraphy and painting? What kind of joke was that? Even if he wanted to declare him the loser, he couldn't bring himself to say it! Furthermore, by signing his name, the painting's quality had improved by nearly an entire level.

“Teacher Zhang, this is your Tranquility Tea!”

After Zhang Xuan won, Tian Gang brought over the teacup. Steam rose from it, and the fragrant aroma was so invigorating that even before drinking, it refreshed the mind and uplifted the spirit.

After taking the tea, just as everyone thought the young man would drink it and enjoy its aroma, he flipped his palm and slowly poured it onto the ground.

Splash! The aroma spread, filling the air with its refreshing scent.

“Teacher Zhang…” Seeing such a precious cup of tea poured directly onto the ground, Liu Ling, Huang Yu, and the others were all startled, their faces revealing disbelief. This was Tranquility Tea, something countless people longed to drink but couldn't. Even a Master Teacher's apprentice like Huang Yu wasn't qualified to drink it, yet he just poured it away… What a waste! Everyone looked on with regret.

“Zhang Xuan, my grandfather kindly invited you to drink such precious tea, and you simply poured it out. What exactly do you mean by that?” Tian Long suddenly stood up.

Someone offers you tea, and you pour it out in front of them—that's a blatant insult. What's more, even he wasn't qualified to drink this tea, yet this young man wasted it. It was unforgivable! In his fury, he couldn't hold back, regardless of whether the other party was a Grandmaster of Calligraphy and Painting.

“What a pity!” Ignoring the other's furious outburst, Zhang Xuan clasped his hands behind his back. Gazing at the verdant scenery outside the hall, he seemed to let his mind wander, sighing softly.

“Stop pretending! You yourself poured the tea out, and now you say it's a pity? Do you really think there's no one in my Tian family?” Tian Long's rage flared.

He poured out the tea himself, and now he was expressing regret? What was he trying to do? Was he doing this on purpose? The others were also bewildered, unable to fathom what Teacher Zhang was up to.

Liu Ling, Zhuang Xian, and the others exchanged puzzled glances. As Master Teachers, they possessed extraordinary discernment and could usually perceive many things. Yet, when facing this young man, they found their abilities utterly ineffective and useless. They couldn't discern his cultivation, nor could they tell what he was thinking, or what his next move would be… It was as if the man was enveloped in an enigma. Especially now, pouring out the tea and risking offending Elder Tian... what trick was he playing? If there truly was no turning back later, should they step in and try to mediate?

As everyone remained utterly bewildered, Zhang Xuan turned around and looked at Elder Tian, who stood not far away.

“Tranquility Tea, which brings clarity and serenity, grows on the peaks of cold mountains and is harvested after its flowers bloom. When properly prepared, it should allow one to maintain a mind as calm as still water for a hundred breaths. Yet, this cup can only last for twelve breaths. Such perfectly good tea leaves have been wasted. If that's not a ‘pity,’ then what is?”

“You… how did you know that this tea could only maintain a mind like still water for twelve breaths?” Elder Tian, who had been somewhat angered himself, couldn't help but be stunned upon hearing these words. According to ancient texts, Tranquility Tea's efficacy was said to last for a hundred breaths. Yet, no matter how he brewed it, he could only achieve about twelve breaths. He had always dismissed the written accounts as baseless claims, but hearing Teacher Zhang casually state it now, he was instantly startled. “You didn't even drink it, did you? You didn't drink it, you didn't even taste it, yet you knew the tea's efficacy?”

“You used deep well water from the Three Gardens Terrace, exposed it to direct sunlight for two days, and boiled it for half an hour to brew the tea; you employed the Seven-Heart Swirling Hand technique for preparation; your teacups and tea set were the Green Lantern Lamps personally crafted by Master Ceramicist Wu Qingzi; and before brewing this pot of tea, you bathed and changed, abstained from meat for seven days, and adjusted your mindset to achieve a state of still water. You meticulously pursued perfection in every step, fearing any oversight or error. Yet, unfortunately… the Tranquility Tea you brewed still did not achieve its maximum efficacy. In fact, it could even be called a defective product!”

“You…” Elder Tian looked as if he had seen a ghost, dropping the teacup he held onto the table without even realizing it. What the young man said… was entirely accurate! The water for the tea indeed came from the deep well at the Three Gardens Terrace, and he had indeed used the Seven-Heart Swirling Hand. The tea set was also the Green Lantern Lamps. He had bathed, changed, and eaten vegetarian for seven days before brewing… These were all his secrets, unknown even to Master Liu and the others, and certainly not to Tian Long. How could Teacher Zhang possibly know all this? And… described in such precise detail? Legend had it that true Grandmasters of Tea Ceremony could discern a tea's flaws and issues merely by observing, smelling, and tasting, providing guidance that led to significant improvement. Could it be… he wasn't just a Grandmaster of Calligraphy and Painting, but also a Grandmaster of Tea Ceremony? If that were truly the case, with his guidance, perhaps he too could break through his final bottleneck and advance to a higher realm? His body trembled, and Elder Tian's expression instantly became agitated, his hands shaking uncontrollably. Just as he was about to cautiously inquire, he heard Tian Long roar angrily from the side.

“How dare you call the tea my grandfather brewed a defective product? Who do you think you are? Believe it or not, I'll teach you a lesson right now…” Upon hearing this, Elder Tian's eyebrows twitched, and he nearly fainted. He had reached a bottleneck in the art of tea ceremony, unable to make a breakthrough for many years. Now, the young man had precisely articulated the issues with his Tranquility Tea brewing. With proper guidance, he might finally break through, but then… this fellow had to interrupt! Wasn't he just causing trouble? Furthermore, he wanted to teach a lesson to a prominent figure who was likely a Grandmaster of Tea Ceremony… “You useless ingrate!” If it weren't for his constant animosity towards Teacher Zhang, Elder Tian wouldn't have harbored such strong prejudices himself. If only they had befriended him earlier, they wouldn't have provoked his displeasure. “Damn it!” The more he thought about it, the angrier he became, and his beard bristled. “Shut up!”

“Ah? Grandpa…” Tian Long hadn't expected his grandfather to scold him so harshly. He froze on the spot, his face a mask of confusion.

“Get lost, don't get in the way here!” With a wave of his hand, Elder Tian quickly rose to his feet. He took a few steps to stand before Zhang Xuan, clasping his fists and bowing deeply, like a respectful and devout student. “Teacher Zhang is absolutely right. What I brewed is indeed… a defective product, far from demonstrating the true efficacy of Tranquility Tea…”

He had no choice but to admit it. What the young man had stated was entirely accurate; he must have truly seen something. If Elder Tian were to deny it now, he would surely incur the other's displeasure and potentially miss a crucial opportunity for improvement.

“This…” “Tranquility Tea can maintain a mind as calm as still water for a hundred breaths?” Upon hearing Elder Tian's admission, everyone erupted in a clamor, staring at the young man not far away as if he were a monster. Huang Yu and Bai Xun, in particular, kept running their hands through their hair, feeling utterly disheveled. When Teacher Zhang first arrived, hadn't he been completely ignorant of the Way of Tea, knowing absolutely nothing? How could he now see all these details at a glance, causing Elder Tian to humble himself and personally admit his mistake? Lu Xun and Wang Chao, who stood nearby, were even more exasperated. “Isn't this guy supposed to be a good-for-nothing? A Grandmaster capable of creating Five-Realm Calligraphy and Painting, and someone whose insights into the Way of Tea left Elder Tian utterly impressed… Who the hell had ever seen such an incredibly capable ‘good-for-nothing’?”

“Teacher Zhang, I still hope you can point out where I went wrong, so that I may correct it and avoid wasting such precious tea leaves.”

“I came to your Tian family as a guest, invited by the three masters who hold me in high regard. Yet, I was met with contempt and forced into an assessment…” At this, Zhang Xuan shook his head, looking at the elder before him. “Do you believe that treating a Grandmaster of Calligraphy and Painting in such a manner constitutes proper hospitality?”

“I…” Elder Tian's face was flushed with embarrassment. If the young man were an ordinary person, it might have been excusable. But the crucial point was that he was a Grandmaster of Calligraphy and Painting, and quite possibly even a Grandmaster of Tea Ceremony. Not only did he fail to show due respect to such a figure, but he also subjected him to an assessment… This was blatant disrespect. A Master Teacher must not be insulted, and the same applies to a Grandmaster. In any profession, reaching such a level meant transcending countless ordinary people, attaining an exalted status. Even in a Conferred Kingdom, such individuals commanded immense respect. Yet, he himself had become muddled in his thinking…

“To be honest, I originally didn't want to say much, but since you sincerely ask for guidance, I can give you a reminder.” Zhang Xuan looked over indifferently, his expression calm. “Grape wine in luminous cups… Even fine wine requires specialized vessels, let alone a renowned tea? Tranquility Tea is meant to concentrate and calm the mind. Although the Green Lantern Lamps are treasures left by a master, they clearly possess a fire attribute. Fire is inherently heating and restless. How can one achieve tranquility with such a vessel? This is the first point. The Way of Tea is the Way of Calming the Mind. Bathing, changing clothes, and abstaining from meat for seven days are indeed acts of respect. However, if tranquility is the goal, why hold a birthday banquet? With the noisy crowd, one's mind is already far from calm. How can one brew the most perfect Tranquility Tea under such circumstances? This is the second point! Consider these two points carefully; they may well benefit your understanding of the Way of Tea. I have other matters to attend to, so I shall not linger. Farewell!”

Zhang Xuan waved his hand and began to walk away.

“Teacher Zhang, please wait…” Before Zhang Xuan had taken two steps, Elder Tian hastily stepped forward.

“Teacher Zhang, your two pieces of advice have enlightened me, this is a small token of my appreciation, please accept it.” After speaking, he gestured, and a box appeared in his palm. He gently opened it, and a rich tea aroma immediately wafted out.

“Tranquility Tea leaves?” “This is at least… two taels?” “The Tianxuan Kingdom only produces three taels a year, and he's giving away two taels at once?” Upon smelling the fragrance, Liu Ling and the others' eyebrows shot up, and they were all stunned. This was undoubtedly a grand gift! One must understand that Tranquility Tea was so precious that even Emperor Shen Zhui rarely had the opportunity to drink it. For Elder Tian to immediately offer two taels of tea leaves, enough for at least a dozen brews… his generosity was truly astounding.

It seemed… Teacher Zhang's two pieces of advice, though seemingly simple, must have provided Elder Tian with significant insight. Otherwise, he wouldn't have been so extraordinarily generous… While shocked, they also understood that such a gift was not given lightly. For Elder Tian to part with such a large quantity of tea, it indicated that… what the young man said must have struck at the heart of the matter, providing Elder Tian with immense benefits. He hadn't even tasted the tea; he merely glanced at it and pointed out its flaws, leading Elder Tian to willingly offer him such a gift… Just how many more surprises did Teacher Zhang have in store? How much more about him remained unknown to them?