Chapter 111: Tea Culture

Chapter 111

Tea Culture

The tea ceremony that took place today would surely be remembered for a long time. After drinking the tea, Venerable Lin Kong sat still, immersed in a tranquil state of awakening. After a while, he slowly opened his eyes, set down the cup, and clasped his hands in respect toward the Lady Boss.

"Your words are profound. I have been enlightened."

Nie Shuang was startled and immediately bowed in return. She had not attained any sort of enlightenment herself; she merely repeated the ideas of the tea ceremony that were influenced by Zen Buddhism teachings. Venerable Lin Kong, having studied for many years, had a deep understanding of Dharma. Upon hearing just a few words, he grasped their full meaning instantly, sending chills through her without knowing why.

"Oh no, I only repeated what I’ve learned from others,"

Nie Shuang dared not accept the compliment. Yet, everyone in the event looked at her with admiration. The Lady Boss seemed to be a woman of great wisdom in both commerce and philosophy, earning even Venerable Lin Kong’s respect.

Once his duty was done, Venerable Lin Kong did not stay long. The serene feeling that had washed over him made him want to retreat into solitude and contemplate further. He raised his hands and bid his farewells.

After his departure, the tea house retained an atmosphere of pure serenity. The extraordinary events that had just occurred were beyond explanation, but everyone felt the special ambiance and a deep sense of peace. Mu Rongying began preparing tea again, the sole movement in the room. Clad in her elegant, simple white-blue robe, she was mesmerizing, pure as a white lotus. The gazes fixed on her were filled with admiration.

Since her zither performance the other day, her name had spread throughout the academy. Young scholars were smitten with Young Miss Nie Ying, the Lady Boss’s younger sister. In their eyes, she was almost untouchable—an ethereal beauty, with a sister as an influential figure in Huangjing’s commerce and a brother-in-law who was the renowned General Song Qilin, protector of the northern border. A’Yi had never visited the academy, so no one in the mansion had noticed that Mu Rongying had become the object of affection for many scholars.

After preparing the tea, Mu Rongying gracefully presented the cup to Kang Wang. It was then that everyone realized they were wearing the same color and fabric. It was almost as if their outfits were intentionally coordinated for the occasion!

It had to be a coincidence! Huangjing wasn’t a large city, so buying the same type of fabric wasn’t impossible. However, when they appeared at the same place in the same time, they gave off the impression of a couple.

No way! Surely, they were overthinking it...

But who would have guessed it was Kang Wang’s plan all along? The largest fabric shop in the city was his business. When Nie Shuang took Mu Rongying to choose fabric for her outfit, the shopkeeper naturally reported back to him. The tailor who made Mu Rongying’s dress was then instructed to craft a matching men’s outfit, identical in design and material.

Mu Rongying seemed unaware of the matching attire. She didn’t lift her gaze, and Kang Wang didn’t look at her either. His eyes remained lowered, focused only on the teacup before him. The sight of the two young people facing each other, separated by just an arm’s length, created a sweet atmosphere despite their lack of interaction, which appeared somewhat indifferent.

Handsome men and beautiful women naturally evoked such feelings in onlookers, the young men from the academy consoled themselves...

Once Mu Rongying returned to her seat, Kang Wang finally lifted the teacup and sipped. His slender fingers held the cup delicately, and his hands were as clean and refined as those of a scholar. The warmth from the teacup seeped into his fingertips, and his face remained composed. He had a high, defined nose, so when his thin lips touching the cup, it created a scene of great elegance. Kang Wang’s mannerisms were the epitome of refined grace, and even when he lowered the cup, the sleeve of his robe flowed gracefully, following his movements with a pleasing rhythm. Even the men couldn’t help but admire him. Kang Wang took three sips and then placed the teacup down.

Seeing her before him but unable to reach for her... The feelings in his heart had to be set aside, just like the teacup in his hands. The duties before him still needed to be fulfilled.

Kang Wang felt a deep ache inside, and as he sipped his tea, he exuded an air of detachment. He appeared indifferent and heartless, yet it was strangely alluring.

Kang Wang didn’t show any signs of affection! There’s still hope for them. After all, Kang Wang had never shown interest in any woman in Huangjing before. He had always maintained his propriety. Everyone knew that Xian Fei was strict when it came to choosing a Wang Fei for her son. Young Miss Nie Ying, born into a merchant family, was an impossible match. With this realization, the scholars’ interest in Young Miss Nie Ying intensified even more.

Mu Rongying prepared the final cup of tea. General Song sat with his legs folded beneath him, hands resting on his thighs. His chiseled, handsome face, weathered by the sun, radiated a bold and rugged charm. If Kang Wang was bright like sunlight, General Song was the dark and formidable night. He sat perfectly still, straight-backed like a statue. As a soldier, he was disciplined and had more patience than most. Throughout the ceremony, he did not move a muscle. His presence added an air of authority to the hall, and despite not wearing armor, his commanding stature remained intact.

When General Song lifted the teacup, his large, calloused hand handled it with perfect control. Though used to wielding a sword, his grip was not clumsy at all, but rather steady and assured. His movements lacked the flowing grace of Kang Wang’s but were instead direct and powerful. His sharp eyes lowered as he focused intently on the tea in his cup. He, too, reflected on Nie Shuang’s words. His wife had placed high hopes on the tea ceremony and had even requested his participation. Song Qilin wanted to make his wife proud and didn’t wish to be seen as a rough, unrefined man in her eyes.

Normally, Song Qilin wasn’t one for refined indulgences. Rarely did he pay much attention to what he ate or drank, as life in the military camp had always shaped him to live and eat simply. The young General lifted the teacup, trying to engage his senses to perceive the subtleties of the experience. The sensation that arose was swift, like the feeling he had when galloping on horseback across the battlefield—clear and invigorating. He set the cup down calmly, but in his ears, he could still faintly hear the sound of galloping hooves, and the battle cries of the battlefield.

The others, acting as observers, could sense the distinct atmosphere that surrounded each of the three men as they drank the tea. Each possessed a unique aura: one was filled with the essence of Buddhist wisdom, another with nobility, and the last with martial prowess.

It was a tea ceremony that left a deep impression. Venerable Lin Kong exuded peaceful serenity. Kang Wang was as graceful as the wind. General Song gave off a sense of strength and solidity, like a mountain. It was as if the tea ceremony had drawn out and revealed the very spirit of each person. To cultivate and refine individuals to this level surely required more than just a few years. The tea ceremony was indeed remarkable.The teachers from the academy unanimously agreed that the tea ceremony should be included in the curriculum of advanced arts, alongside zither, chess, calligraphy, and painting. In the future, when the tea ceremony gained wider popularity, Huangjing Academy would be renowned as the first institution to offer such teachings. Lady Boss’s statement about promoting tea culture in Huangjing was certainly not an exaggeration!