Deep inside a secluded, dimly lit Daoist temple, bamboo swayed around a figure sitting cross-legged amid the grove. A stream of water condensed in his hand, and a few emerald flecks flowed with it into the stove as he prepared tea for his coming guests.
Every movement was effortless and unrestrained, following his heart, as though he had become one with Heaven and Earth. The resonance of the Dao accompanied his slightest gesture.
The gently blowing autumn wind, the fluttering bamboo leaves, the youth amid the bamboo sea, the spring water bubbling on the stove, and the blue-green teacups, misty as rain, formed a beautiful picture.
Meng Qi and Zhao Heng sat down quietly. Hearing a faint sound from the kettle on the bronze stove, they knew the water had just begun to boil.
Unhurriedly, Ji Hao swept one hand through the air, gently stirring the power of Heaven and Earth. The teacups flew up on their own. Meng Qi watched with envy written all over his face, wondering when he might possess such flair himself.
Amid the rising white mist, the powdered tea churned and rose to the surface. As it bobbed up and down, it unfurled into dragons and tigers, verdant peaks, and countless other strange, magnificent shapes.
The two watched Ji Hao's leisurely movements. This atmosphere subtly accorded with the principles governing Heaven and Earth, drawing them into a tranquil, peaceful world where their minds grew calm and content.
Almost imperceptibly, their minds became clearer and more ethereal, and their grasp of Heaven and Earth and their own Internal Scenery sharpened. They could not help marveling at the lofty heights of Ji Hao's cultivation.
Of course, Meng Qi would do no such thing. He would only envy Ji Hao for getting another chance to show off before