Li Xiaoya stepped into the cave entrance and found that the walls on either side had been polished perfectly smooth. Every five or six feet, a small square recess held a pot of exotic flowers or herbs. Luminous pearls the size of ox eyes studded the ceiling, lighting the entire passage as brightly as day, while huge slabs of blue-gray stone paved the floor.
"Senior Brother Liu Hang has such a nice cave abode, yet he never invited me over to have a look. What a cheapskate!" Li Xiaoya muttered to himself as he looked around.
The passage was not long, but it wound through several bends. After rounding a few corners, Li Xiaoya finally saw a hall ahead. Directly across from him, Senior Brother Liu Hang sat leisurely sipping tea, a delicate little tea set laid out before him.
"Haha! Senior Brother Liu, I'm here!" Having found his destination, Li Xiaoya jogged over.
"Oh! You're early today. I thought you'd drag your feet for half the day again before coming!" Liu Hang set down his teacup and spoke mildly.
"Of course not! Your junior brother always listens to you. I hurried over as soon as I finished breakfast!" Li Xiaoya immediately denied it, seating himself opposite Liu Hang without waiting for an invitation.
"Since you came so early, have a cup of Spirit Tea!" Long accustomed to his thick skin, Liu Hang did not mind. He turned over a cup on the table, poured some tea, and gestured for Li Xiaoya to help himself before returning to his own drink.
Li Xiaoya had already caught the tea's rich fragrance. He took the cup and inhaled its heart-penetrating aroma, then looked down at the deep green tea, where two tender green leaves floated on the surface. Raising the cup, he