When Xiao Yan returned from the market, he carried a bag of coarse tea from an old teashop on Wutan City's north street tucked against his chest. It was nothing particularly expensive, but it brewed into a crisp, refreshing drink with a sweet aftertaste, widely recognized as good tea in the market.
Just as he approached his master's courtyard, he happened to see Xiao Mei coming out, though there was something strange about the way she walked.
Xiao Mei saw him too. Her steps faltered, something flashed across her face, and then she lowered her head and hurried past him.
Although Xiao Yan found it a little odd, he did not dwell on it. Carrying his purchase, he pushed open the courtyard gate and walked inside.
"Master, this is a small token of my appreciation. I didn't know what you liked, so I just bought something. I hope you won't think poorly of it."
Li Chen glanced at the tea, nodded, and accepted it. "Mm, that was thoughtful of you."
Being far too invincible, he had already developed a few hobbies, and savoring tea was naturally one of them.
Xiao Yan stood before the table. Seeing him accept the gift finally eased some of his anxiety. He hesitated, then asked, "Master, I just saw Xiao Mei leaving your place. Did she need something?"
"She ran into a little trouble with her cultivation, so I gave her some guidance."
Xiao Yan nodded and asked no further questions. Now that he could cultivate again, his most pressing concern was to return to the Dou Zhe level as quickly as possible.
After all, at the Dou Qi stage, he could not practice cultivation methods and had to rely entirely on his own hard work. Now that he had delivered his gift, he was