Walking all the way to the outskirts of the market.
Yu Meng Niang waved her hand lightly, and a house materialized on the ground, not too large, about an acre in size. Entering it, there were tables, chairs, cabinets, boxes, stoves, lamps, candles, and various pots and utensils, fully equipped.
"Please come in," Yu Meng Niang said, leading the way and sitting down by the table.
After sitting down, the slit in her skirt slipped open, revealing her calves and part of her thighs.
But she was used to it, looking at Li Qi and asking, "Do you prefer tea or wine?"
"Tea will do," Li Qi followed her inside and sat opposite her.
The iron-eating beasts did not enter; they rolled outside, playing with each other, seemingly unconcerned with what was happening inside.
So Li Qi left them outside.
Yu Meng Niang nodded and carefully took out some tea leaves, preparing to brew them for Li Qi.
"This is the tea from the Northern Garden of Wu Deity Mountain, a Fourth Rank expert named Xie Beiyuan created this variety using the leaves from the Immortal Tea Tree of Penglai Immortal Mountain. It has the reputation of being 'upright and graceful, lush and flourishing.' Sir, this is already my best tea."
She was very respectful but also cautious.
"No need, use these," Li Qi stopped her and took out a few dried yellow tea leaves himself.
He had casually taken them from his teacher, never expecting they would be useful now.
Looking at those two dried yellow leaves, they seemed like ordinary roadside leaves. Yu Meng Niang frowned slightly.
But she didn't say anything; saving a pot of valuable tea was something she welcomed.
She casually took Li Qi's tea leaves and put them into the pot.
Yu Meng Niang's tea-making skills were excellent, every move filled with grace, elegant and dignified, making it hard to dislike her.
Placing the tea leaves in the pot, she conjured fire in her hands to roast the tea inside.
Freshly picked tea needs heat to release its fragrance. She first roasted the leaves over low heat, then added high heat, stirring quickly. After a few minutes, the aroma began to emerge as she finished roasting on-site.
Then, she rotated her wrist, using the Wu Yu rain invocation technique to summon sweet spring water.
Fine tea holds its fragrance, which is brought out by water; without good water, one cannot discuss fine tea.
Water and fire are crucial for tea.
With her technique, sweet spring water appeared from the void, clear and resonant, flowing gently. Even drinking it plain, one could taste its freshness and richness, showing the quality of the water.
She started brewing the tea.
First, she held the tea in her hand, waiting for the water to fill the pot, then poured the tea immediately, covering it with the lid.
After three breaths, she poured the contents into a basin and then back into the pot.
At this moment, the fragrant aroma filled the air before her nose, and the color did not settle.
Smelling this fragrance, Yu Meng Niang looked surprised.
This aroma and spiritual energy far exceeded the imitation Penglai Immortal tea she had.
What kind of tea is this?
But her hands didn't stop.
After three more breaths, she settled the floating residue, then poured the tea into cups. The tea was milky, smooth, and fragrant, clearly a top-grade product.
As the tea maker, she should have let Li Qi try first, but she couldn't help but eagerly take a cup herself, blowing away the steam.
Before the cup reached her lips, the fragrance filled her nose.
Then she took a sip.
The abundant spiritual energy filled her entire body, her small world instantly becoming rich in moisture, generating sweet dew in the Huachi Palace, clouds and rain circling around the Niaowan Palace, making her small world seem much more stable.
Her foundation was strengthened.
Opening her eyes, her expression was complex: "What... what kind of tea is this? Such effects can truly be called 'the Way of Tea,' right?"
True skill approaches the Way.
Cultivating tea to such a level can indeed be called 'the Way.'
Taking a sip of this tea, her aversion to Li Qi dissipated significantly.
Bringing out such precious tea leaves showed that he was at least not stingy.
Li Qi shook his head slightly and said, "The establishment of the Way lies in practical matters and theoretical reasoning; later generations follow, thus achieving immortality. How can one belittle it as just a single object?"
Yu Meng Niang became solemn, her expression reverent: "Sir, I will remember your words."
This gentleman, first taking out such precious tea leaves, then speaking so wisely...
Therefore, the aversion caused by his earlier staring at her legs and asking about the price of her private item had largely dissipated.
So, she calmed down: "Observing your actions and words, you are not a stingy person, nor unreasonable. So presumably... you are not trying to intimidate or steal, nor are you interested in me because of my appearance. Then, does this ankle bracelet really have something special about it?"
Li Qi was stunned, silent for a while, then asked, "You don't know? Then why were you unwilling to sell it to me?"
He thought she knew the value of the item and wanted to keep it for herself, but she didn't know!
Why did she insist on it?
Even setting up a defensive stance and sending away the guide, pretending to have a sincere conversation.
Li Qi was quite puzzled.
However, Yu Meng Niang lowered her head, blushing: "I didn't know its value, but it is a personal accessory I've carried for a long time. I thought you were trying to get close to me through it... "
But she quickly bowed in apology: "After talking with you, I realized you're not like that. It was my mistake, please forgive me."
Li Qi felt embarrassed.
Rubbing his temples, he said, "Meng Niang misunderstood. I already have someone I love, how could I seek another? Now that the misunderstanding is cleared, we shouldn't need to be so guarded, right? Could you tell me the price? This item is indeed useful to me."
As he spoke, Li Qi tapped on the table.
Suddenly, some hidden formation around them failed.
Her witchcraft formations were...
Shallow.
If not for fear of ruining her sense of security and face, he would have casually broken them upon entering.
Seeing the formation fail, Yu Meng Niang was shocked and stood up.
But just as she stood, she heard Li Qi speak.
Li Qi said, "Your six positions mimic the six yao of divination, representing day and night as cycles. Six positions interacting to form timing, speaking of the power of heaven riding the six energies to shape changes, governing the four seasons and controlling heaven and earth, forming a self-contained prison. The concept is good."
"But during the setup, there wasn't enough yang energy, and the traces of the Wu Yu method were too strong, causing excessive yin energy."
"Yang energy is the beginning of all things, hence it's said, 'first among all things.' Insufficient yang makes the heavenly body weak, unable to act virtuously. If the earthly body isn't smooth, how can it bear weakness? Just pointing out the slight position and establishing yang virtue hidden beneath, breaks your prison."
Li Qi explained calmly, breaking down her formation's core and weaknesses easily.
In front of true knowledge, Yu Meng Niang's hidden techniques were useless.
Initially, when Li Qi spoke the first sentence, Yu Meng Niang was terrified, thinking he was showing his true intentions after pretending.
But as Li Qi continued, analyzing her weaknesses and improvement methods, she couldn't help but listen.
No cultivator could resist such temptation.
Perhaps one word from him could save ten years of contemplation.
She knew this gentleman was guiding her.
When Li Qi finished speaking, Yu Meng Niang felt as if her cultivation methods had merged into one, insights illuminating her understanding.
These realizations, some get from a master's guidance, others naturally understand, but many cannot comprehend no matter how hard they try.
So that's how it is, so that's how it is.
Yu Meng Niang's numerous doubts and confusion turned into "so that's how it is."
How many people are stuck on this phrase, unable to figure it out.
Li Qi himself was a scholarly type, spending at least ten hours a day reading, mostly secret classics and notes others couldn't access.
Not only did he read, but he also practiced extensively.
Though it might not seem significant, Li Qi could even instruct Shen Shuibei in witchcraft.
He could independently complete all preparations for a grand ceremony, understand parts of the Great Zhu's notes, and exchange ideas with Shen Shuibei, even teaching her about rituals.
From any perspective, Li Qi was considered an expert among lower ranks.
His words enlightened Yu Meng Niang, awakening her like a dream, leaving her with only "so that's how it is."
Only those who have experienced it know how precious these four words are.
Her heart no longer harbored aversion but was filled with shame.
After listening seriously to Li Qi's words, Yu Meng Niang stood straight, solemnly bowing: "Sir, you repaid kindness for malice, not only forgiving my suspicion but also guiding me. I have nothing to offer in return. If you truly need this item, I willingly give it to you."
She removed the string of bells from her ankle and placed it before Li Qi.
But Li Qi pressed her hand down: "Clearing up misunderstandings is enough, but no need to give it away. Pay whatever price it's worth."
Yu Meng Niang sighed in admiration, putting aside her doubts, saying again, "I don't know the price, please pay according to its value."
Now, she had no more suspicions or distrust towards Li Qi, only admiration.
Indeed, it's not easy to earn the title of "sir."
Thinking about it, the discernment of great witches wouldn't choose someone mediocre.
Those chosen must have exceptional talent, character, and wisdom. How could she harbor ill feelings towards such a person?
Truly...
Li Qi, on the other hand, didn't have such complicated thoughts. He merely marveled at her sudden change of attitude, faster than flipping a book, picking up the ankle bracelet.
Since it was just removed from her leg, it still had her body temperature. It was a string of eight bells, one of which bore the inscription: "Bend overwhelming qi, draw vast into inches."
It was because Li Qi recited this verse that Yu Meng Niang had been so wary, thinking he had targeted her long ago.
"Well, better to buy with understanding. Let me explain its function." Li Qi held the item, squeezing it tightly.
Suddenly, it exploded, revealing an arcane, ethereal existence.
Yu Meng Niang was startled, her voice involuntarily rising: "Dao Rhyme!?"
She had worn this for decades, how could she never have noticed the Dao Rhyme inside!?
"Yes, this contains a trace of cosmic Dao Rhyme. 'Draw vast into inches' means exactly that." Li Qi said, then absorbed the Dao Rhyme, causing a special rule to surround him, making him appear both present and absent.
"Try pouring tea here," Li Qi told Yu Meng Niang.
Yu Meng Niang nodded, lifting her cup and splashing it toward Li Qi.
The water stopped in front of Li Qi.
No, it didn't stop.
The water kept moving.
But space was stretched.
Soon, the water fell to the ground.
Draw vast into inches.
Within a short distance, walking into his vicinity extended his surroundings to a hundred zhang.
When Li Qi was affected by external forces, they needed to travel an extra hundred zhang to harm him.
Without sufficient range, they would seem to stop in front of him, falling due to gravity.
Li Qi was a hundred zhang away from everything in the mortal world.
"Neighbors' households number thirty million, yet within a short distance, they are separated by a thousand miles."
Of course, this Dao Rhyme didn't reach the level of separating neighbors by a thousand miles, only a hundred zhang.
If it were a thousand miles, then within a short distance, it would be impossible to break through, an infinitely expanding space.
"A hundred zhang within a short distance... and it's cosmic Dao Rhyme." Yu Meng Niang immediately recognized the preciousness of this item.
That was Dao Rhyme!
Only Fifth Rank experts could gather it from chaotic rule regions beyond the realm!
Even Fifth Rank experts rarely ventured there, as those regions were extremely dangerous, not easily accessible for Dao Rhyme.
Yu Meng Niang's master was a Sixth Rank expert, not qualified to go.
It was rumored that besides some extraordinary individuals, only the princes of Wu Deity Mountain possessed their own Dao Rhyme.
And she actually had a trace!
Although she had promised to give it to Li Qi, she now felt a hint of regret.
This item was too precious.
"Where did you get this?" Li Qi asked.
Meng Niang came back to reality, answering, "Thirty-seven years ago, I found it by accident. But my eyes were poor, and I never recognized its wonder. It was your keen eye that saw the Dao Rhyme within."
As she spoke, her tone became sour, her eyes showing regret.
If her perception had been better, this treasure might have been hers.
Li Qi stood up, pouring out beads from his bag, counting them mentally. Soon, a small mountain formed on the ground.
While pouring, he said, "Rest assured, Yu Niang, I won't take it from you. These one hundred thousand beads of qi serve as rent. This Dao Rhyme has some use for me, so I'll borrow it for three years, calculating three thousand three hundred per year. After three years, I'll return it. Do you trust me?"
Yu Meng Niang's jealousy vanished, completely convinced: "As you wish, sir!"
---
Meanwhile, in the main hall of the banquet, the great witches' gazes pierced through space.
Five or six great witches laughed heartily, pointing at another person: "Old Three Zhu! You lost the bet! Your disciple doesn't resemble you at all!"
Zhu Fengdan's face darkened.
This disciple!
Told him not to reason, yet he still acted like a nice guy!